Harry Diamond
Gameweek 21 of the Fantasy Premier League season sees old rivals Arsenal and Manchester United collide in an intriguing clash at the Emirates, whilst bottom side Sheffield United – buoyed by a shock win in midweek – look for their second Manchester scalp in succession.
Thomas Tuchel’s reign at Chelsea will continue with a home clash against Burnley, whilst champions Liverpool travel to face a West Ham side with a flawless six-game record in all competitions in 2021.
As always we’re on hand to offer our humble advice when it comes to FPL, here are our best choices for that crucial captaincy in gameweek 21:
Ilkay Gundogan v Sheffield United (H)
Manchester City moved top of the Premier League in midweek and are the form team in the division right now, winning their past 11 fixtures in all competitions including a 5-0 thrashing of West Brom in midweek.
Pep Guardiola’s league leaders face another struggling side this weekend in Sheffield United who, despite securing a shock 2-1 win at Manchester United on Wednesday, should prove no match for the title favourites.
Just a matter of weeks ago you would have been deemed crazy for picking Ilkay Gundogan in your squad, and perhaps declared as clinically insane for handing the German midfielder the armband.
However, the 30-year-old is the form player in the game right now following a fantastic run of performances, scoring seven goals in his past eight league appearances to become the driving force of Manchester City’s title push.
Gundogan had never previously scored more than six goals in a league season but is in red-hot form right now, his ownership now up to 12.5% following a season-best haul of 14 points last time out.
Seven goals in his last eight Premier League games.
Ilkay Gündogan can not stop scoring. ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/oK9iAx2t1L
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 26, 2021
The midfielder has continued to ghost into dangerous areas having been given a licence to venture forward and his finishing his recent weeks has been nothing short of clinical.
Key to success in FPL is acquiring in-form players and Gundogan has averaged nine points per gameweek since mid-December, whilst there is a strong chance he will be on spot-kick duties given the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
Harry Kane v Brighton (A)
Brighton’s wait for a home league victory goes on with Graham Potter’s side having failed to pick up three points at the Amex Stadium since June, the visit of Tottenham this weekend looking like another difficult assignment for the struggling Seagulls.
It’s now 10 home games this season without a victory and that torrid run is the chief reason behind the club’s precarious situation, hovering just above the drop zone ahead of the visit of Jose Mourinho’s side.
Spurs have lost just once away from home all season and in Harry Kane possess one of the Premier League’s most in-form players, the forward having netted in each of his past three league games to move just one behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.
It’s now an incredible 23 goal involvements in just 18 league appearances for the England captain this season, whilst he has a strong record against Brighton with four goals in six appearances including netting in the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Expect Kane to feature highly in the most selected captaincy options of gameweek 21, the 27-year-old easily amongst the most reliable FPL assets in 2020/21.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin v Newcastle (H)
Calvert-Lewin’s blistering start to the season has slowed in recent weeks with just one attacking return in his past four appearances, but the forward has the ideal opportunity to get back amongst the goals as Newcastle visit Everton this weekend.
Newcastle are in the midst of a truly dreadful run of form, losing their past six fixtures in all competitions with their football lacking ambition and the pressure beginning to severely increase on the under-fire Steve Bruce.
The winless run stretches back even further with their last victory coming 11 games ago against West Brom in early December, and Everton will fancy their chances of strengthening their top four push this weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost just once in their past eight league fixtures and have picked up impressive wins against Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal during that time, sitting just two points behind fourth-placed West Ham with two games in hand.
Calvert-Lewin’s return from a hamstring injury has boosted their hopes and the club’s 15-goal leading scorer netted in the FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, the England international surely eyeing this week’s visit of the out-of-form Magpies as a chance to move closer towards the Golden Boot.
Harvey Barnes v Leeds (H)
This game shapes as an absolute cracker with both sides likely to push forward in search of goals, the visit of a Leeds side who often lack caution offering Leicester’s attacking assets a chance to shine.
Jamie Vardy’s surgery on a hip issue means the Foxes will be without their leading scorer and talisman for the next month, though Brendan Rodgers will be pleased to have seen several of his stars step up in recent weeks.
James Maddison’s goalscoring form has impressed and won plaudits, but it is perhaps Harvey Barnes who has gone under the radar and offers the key to Leicester’s hopes of success.
The 23-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists in his past six league appearances, with the winger excellent once again in the 1-1 draw with Everton in midweek.
No player created more chances than Barnes’ five at Goodison Park and the youngster can take advantage of the space left by an uber-attacking Leeds side this weekend.
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