Premier League Fantasy Football 2013: 5 Top Picks for Week 8
Premier League Fantasy Football 2013 has been difficult to predict, not least because this season's campaign has seen champions Man Utd falter, underdogs Southampton excel and a whole lot of goalless draws. Predicting Chelsea's attacking midfield line-up has been easier, and that's saying something...
Of course, that means many a Premier League fantasy manager has found themselves selecting duds that were believed to be studs.
With the league returning from a two-week hiatus, anticipation is high for the 10 matches that make up Week 8, beginning with Liverpool's Saturday afternoon trip to Newcastle and Crystal Palace's hosting of Fulham on Monday night.
There's no lack of quality in between, with Manchester United vs. Southampton, West Ham vs. Manchester City and Aston Villa vs. Tottenham all intriguing encounters.
The shrewd and successful fantasy football 2013 manager is able to predict the best performers on a consistent basis. Of course, that involves mixing the obvious stars with the lesser-known gems.
Consider the following five players among the most reliable options available for the Premier League's Week 8's encounters.
Liam Ridgewell
1 of 5
West Brom are at home to Stoke this Saturday, a game that should see The Baggies continue to excel defensively.
In seven games, West Brom have conceded just six goals, with only three goals against in their last four games. Liam Ridgewell has been a key part of that stable and successful back line.
By contrast, Stoke boast the worst scoring record in the league with only four from seven. Only two of those goals have come away from home, and they have only netted more than once in a single game this season (a 2-1 win at home to Crystal Palace).
Ridgewell is an ever-present in a West Brom starting line-up who looks more than capable of containing a struggling Stoke side that has lost its last three games.
Despite that, expect West Brom to cope comfortably defensively and for Ridgewell to record another solid performance.
Premier League fantasy football 2013 managers should not underestimate the value of an efficient, yet unspectacular, player. In a season likely to involve major ups and downs, consistency (rather than flair) looks like the smart option this year.
Jack Wilshere
2 of 5
With the arrival of Mesut Ozil and the heady performances of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere feels like the forgotten man of the Arsenal midfield this season. He'll be looking to put that right this Saturday when Norwich City travel to the Emirates.
Ozil picked up a knock in Germany's final World Cup qualifying game against Sweden on Tuesday night, a slight injury that looks as though it will cost the influential playmaker the chance to suit up this weekend.
The absence of Arsenal's talisman gives Wilshere an excellent opportunity to take control of the midfield and act as the general that dictates Norwich's downfall and remind us of his leadership abilities.
Norwich are one of the worst Premier League teams when it comes to possession, averaging just 45.8 percent a game (per WhoScored.com), which gives Wilshere no excuse to underperform.
A big game is expected of the potential future England captain and fantasy football 2013 managers would be foolish to dismiss his potential impact.
Tim Howard
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Everton may not have the finest defensive record in the league over the first seven games, but against Hull on Saturday they face one of the most lacklustre attacks.
Hull have scored just six goals this season, with three of them coming in the 3-2 win over Newcastle late last month. It doesn't take a genius to work out that the other three goals they've bagged so far have come across six games.
An average of half a goal per game is not something to get too worried about, especially when you also consider that Hull average just three shots on target each game (per WhoScored.com).
Fantasy football 2013 managers can take further encouragement by the fact that Everton have let in just three goals in their past nine Premier League home games.
Everton play a very different brand of football under Roberto Martinez than they did under David Moyes, but what hasn't changed is their ability to keep clean sheets at Goodison Park. There are no signs to suggest that Hull are a team capable of unlocking the Toffees' imperious defence.
Michu
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Having been called up by Spain for the first time in his career, Michu will surely go into Swansea's Week 8 home game against Sunderland high on confidence.
A striker of Michu's quality going up against the worst defence in the league creates the possible of a scoreline that is more closely associated with rugby than football.
Swansea have endured a difficult start to the season, already having played Man Utd, Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and high-flying Southampton. That list of fixtures sees them occupying 15th in the table, much lower than they would like and lower than the strength of their squad deserves.
Expect Swansea to begin to put things right against Sunderland and expect Michu to get on the scoresheet in the process. Besides, what would fantasy football be without a high-scoring Spainard?
Luis Suarez
5 of 5
Liverpool travel to St. James' Park Saturday high on confidence. The Reds are sitting joint-top of the Premier League and can be nothing less than ecstatic over the form of the returning Luis Suarez.
In two league starts since returning from his ban, Liverpool's Uruguayan No. 7 has chalked up three goals. That success is in no small part down to the excellent understanding he seems to have with fellow striker Daniel Sturridge.
As if any further incentive was needed to include Suarez in your team, matches between Liverpool and Newcastle rarely lack goals.
This same fixture last season ended with Liverpool travelling back to Anfield with a 6-0 win. In addition, you have to go all the way back to 1973/74 season before you stumble across the most recent 0-0 draw between the two sides (per LFConline.com).
With Newcastle already having conceded 12 goals in the Premier League this season, including seven in their last three, expect the Suarez/Sturridge combination to create plenty of chances.
