Manchester City extended their Premier League winning streak to six games, while Liverpool kept the pressure on the champions with a last-minute winner in a thrilling Merseyside derby at Anfield. Southampton held a struggling Manchester United to a draw, and West Ham get back to winning ways with a crucial win over Newcastle United. Here’s the top performers in this week’s Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week:
GK – Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m): After last weekend’s mauling by Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea needed to recover with a win and did so with a solid 2-0 victory over a newly rejuvenated Fulham side with Claudio Ranieri steering the ship. It was one of Kepa’s busier days in goal at Stamford Bridge this season, and he pulled off several fine saves to secure a vital three points and clean sheet (his seventh of the season) for The Blues.
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DF – Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m): Virgil van Dijk’s ballooning right-footed volley was the unlikely catalyst for Origi’s late winner at Anfield in what was a tight, yet thrilling contest.
Everton were unfortunate not to come away with a point, but this time Liverpool where the side who stole that piece of luck. Another solid defensive effort from the Reds captain earns him a spot in this week’s Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week.
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DF – Shane Duffy (£4.7m): The big Irish defender leveled the score at Huddersfield with a powerful header, before Brighton went onto snatch a 2-1 win away from home. At £4.7m Duffy is a bargain, having already snatched three goals and two assists from the back this season. Brighton always try to utilise his aerial ability from set pieces and he has featured in every minute of Brighton’s Premier League games so far this season.
DF – Ricardo Pereira (£5.1m): Pereira was a key figure in Leicester City’s 2-0 win against Watford, fighting off a Hornets onslaught and helping his side to its fifth clean sheet of the season. In the process lifting The Foxes up to eight place in the table.
MF – James McArthur (£4.7m): McArthur has featured in every Crystal Palace game this season but he has been pretty quiet in front of goal. However, McArthur opened his account with his first goal of the season with a strike against Burnley in a 2-0 win. Palace edge away from the drop zone and up to 14th in the table, with a busy run of fixtures ahead in the month of December.
MF – Aron Gunnarsson (£4.4m): Cardiff went a goal down at home yet again, but it was Gunnarsson who reacted quickly in the box and adjusted his body to knock in an equaliser after Harry Arter sent a looping ball into the area. Gunnarsson was outstanding in midfield for the home side who went onto bag all three points thanks to a wonder strike from Junior Hoilett.
MF – Pedro (£6.3m): Pedro’s quick feet in the box saw him slide the ball beyond Sergio Rico and open the scoring against Fulham. Pedro’s fifth goal of the season for Chelsea, which put Sarri’s side back on track after suffering a crushing defeat against London rivals Tottenham last week.
MF – Solly March (£5m): Solly March was the catalyst for both of Brighton’s goals against Huddersfield Town. March’s delivery has been pivotal for Brighton in recent weeks, and he reaches five assists for the season after an impressive performance this weekend.
MF – Andros Townsend (£5.7m): Townsend’s impressive display against Burnley saw him have a hand in both of Palace’s goals in their 2-0 win over Burnley. Townsend set up the first and capped off a fine performance with a smashing left-footed strike which flew past Hart and rocketed into the far top corner.
FW – Javier Hernandez (£6.2m):
Chicharito has struggled to nail down a place in the West Ham front line this season, but the Mexican poacher managed to grab his second and third goals of the season against Newcastle United in his first 90 minutes of the campaign. The Hammers second away win of the season sees them climb up to 13th in the Premier League table. At just £6.2 and selected by only 1.6% of fantasy managers, Chicharito can be a great buy if you pick him up on a run of good form which he seems to be on at the moment.
FW – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11m):
Aubameyang starred in a thrilling North London derby, opening the scoring from the spot, setting up a goal and going on to grab his tenth goal of the season as Arsenal swept aside Spurs 4-2 at The Emirates. The Gabonese striker has easily translated his superb goalscoring form in the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
A slightly above average points total for my fantasy team with 54 points. A poor performance in the midfield, but managed to earn some valuable points in defence and a starring performance from Aubameyeng. How did your Fantasy Premier League team fare this weekend?
