By Neil Leverett
- Leicester City host Manchester United in a final day shoot-out for a top-four place in Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 38+
- Aston Villa travel to West Ham, Watford visit Arsenal whilst AFC Bournemouth make the trip to Everton, in the battle to avoid relegation
- Chelsea entertain Wolves, Newcastle welcome champions Liverpool as Manchester City look to send European message in Canaries’ final fling
PREMIER LEAGUE – As the final weekend of an unprecedented Fantasy Premier League season approaches, who do you need for crucial points in Gameweek 38+?
Raheem Sterling
To begin our final picks of the season, we again turn to a reliable source of points in Manchester City and with no FA Cup final considerations for next weekend, Raheem Sterling could be poised to deliver a final points haul in Gameweek 38+.
After inflicting another crushing defeat on a Premier League opponent in Watford last time out, Norwich City play their final top flight game for the moment and the Canaries could be sent crashing back down to the second tier this weekend.
For City, Sterling in particular has six goals and two assists to his name in the last four games, and set to face the same visiting defence that have conceded nine in the same time-frame, the fact the hosts have scored a combined total of 16 goals it their last four outings at the Etihad, will be a chilling thought for visiting steward Daniel Farke.
It’s worth remembering that Norwich beat City when the two sides met earlier this season, but these two outfits are very different right now. Sterling may be four goals short in the race for the Golden Boot, that might not stop City’s flying forward in attempting to go close to Jamie Vardy with 90 minutes of the season to play. At the very least, Sterling will look to reach 20 for the campaign here.
Kevin De Bruyne
In truth, fantasy managers could pick any one of the Citizens’ attack this Sunday to face the bottom side, so we like many in Gameweek 38+ are opting to double up on Manchester City players in the shape of Kevin De Bruyne, who will be looking to make a statement to close out the campaign.
After a remarkable season with 22 assists so far – breaking Thierry Henry‘s record of 20 during the 2002/03 season – the Belgian maestro also has half the amount of goals to his name, with still 90 minutes of the term to play.
As we have documented since the restart, Pep Guardiola‘s men have been on something of a wrecking spree in the goals department having netted at least three times in a game in all but three of their games since mid-June.
Whilst there is the slight concern of rotation ahead of City’s upcoming Champions League last 16 second leg tie next month, that is still over ten days away allowing for the hosts to roll out perhaps their strongest XI again.
As we saw against the Hornets, De Bruyne may now have to juggle penalty duties with Sterling, but after the forward missed his spot-kick on Tuesday evening, the bases are now surely covered either way. City’s talisman will be out to impress.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Gameweek 38+’s fantasy picks to close the season out so far make for heavyweight billing, and the case in no different for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who could give a teetering Watford nightmares.
Having scored just three times since the resumption, the Gabonese’s pursuit of successive top scorer gongs looks to have fallen short, but like Sterling will at least be looking to end the campaign on rousing note.
The Hornets, who last week sacked Nigel Pearson now look a little like the rug has been completely pulled from under their feet and are likely to need a point at least to stay up come Sunday evening.
Hit for four by City last time out as documented, Watford in the past have been a tricky customer for the Gunners and though the hosts will be looking to next weekend’s Cup final, are unlikely to afford the visitors any favours with a weakened starting XI.
It is as yet unclear whether fantasy managers will have Aubameyang at their disposal next term, but if this is his Premier League swansong in an Arsenal shirt, the striker will want to go out with a suitable bang.
Michail Antonio
If there are two players that have ridden to West Ham’s rescue since the restart, Michail Antonio is undoubtedly one of the them who we turn to vital final spoils in Gameweek 38+.
Reaching double figures for the season with his penalty against Manchester United on Wednesday night, the Hammers striker has surely been the form player in the eight games played in the wake of lockdown.
With the same tally in as many games, the East Londoners’ cult hero has scored in all but one of his last six outings and still available for just 7.1 has an ownership of less than 5%, which for a player of such rich form stands to be quite the differential this weekend.
The only caveat to that could be the hosts being safe already, however with Villa needing a win and possibly by a number of goals, this is unlikely to be a tight contest. That puts Antonio in the box seat to end the season on a further high and worth serious consideration for fantasy managers.
Nick Pope
For our final selection of the season, we look to Nick Pope, who has after another impressive season, can earn at least a share of the Premier League Golden Glove award on final day.
With 15 clean sheets so far this term, the Burnley stopper has continued his improvement in Lancashire and as Brighton & Hove Albion visit Turf Moor, the England stopper goes into final day tied with Ederson.
A city shut-out against Norwich looks a more than realistic prospect, but unlike the Brazilian, Pope is likely to be the busier man here and has picked up bonus points in all but one of the Clarets’ three clean sheets since the restart.
Opposite number Mat Ryan could reach double figures should the Australian keep the opposition out also, and this could result in something of a stalemate with both sides with little to play for.
Top of the goalkeeping ranks by 43 points, Pope is a far cheaper alternative to the likes of Ederson, Kaspar Schmeichel and Alisson and as a short-term move for final day, fantasy managers could do worse than go with Pope for Gameweek 38+.
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 38+ deadline is Sunday, 15:00 UK time.
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