Gameweek 26 Preview

After the drama and excitement of last weeks’ FA Cup, the Barclays Premier League returns this weekend for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 26. It looks set to be an interesting one for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, with former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood taking the reins at Aston Villa in his first official game as their new manager, as well as the return of a number of big name players.

Diego Costa (FPL price 10.9) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (6.4) are back from suspension, while Manchester City pair Yaya Toure (10.7) and Wilfried Bony (8.2) return to Premier league action, fresh from helping Ivory Coast to winning the African Cup of Nations.

Match Previews

Having netted a mere 12 goals in the league all season, the lowest number at this stage of any campaign in Premier League history, Sherwood will be looking to transform the fortunes of his new side as they entertain Stoke City at Villa Park. One man who will hoping that he can is Villa frontman Christian Benteke – whether Sherwood can re-ignite the career of the once-prolific Belgian striker and in doing so drag him out of the FPL wilderness remains to be seen.

Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard is currently topping this weeks’ captain poll, with 26.96% of votes, narrowly defeating Man City’s Sergio Aguero (25.84%). Hazard’s Chelsea host Burnley this weekend, with prolific striker Diego Costa returning from a three-match ban after his controversial stomp on Liverpool’s Emre Can, and no doubt hoping he can add to his impressive 17-goal tally this season. With the Spaniard’s ownership having fallen from over 60% to 38.5% during his suspension, can the former Atletico man prove to FPL managers that he is worth his 10.9 price tag on Saturday afternoon?

Arsenal’s decent form of late gives FPL managers a potential selection headache, particularly in midfield. Fit-again Alexis Sanchez (11.3) comfortably remains Arsenal’s most selected player at 30.8%, but given the Chilean’s price, it may be wise to consider some of the Gunners’ other, better value midfield options as an alternative. At a price of 8.9, Theo Walcott’s impressive recent displays following his return from a long-term injury have seen the England winger net twice in his last three league outings, despite not playing the full 90 in any of them. Santi Carzola (8.6) also appears to represent decent value, with two goals and three assists in his previous four league matches. Having also impressed since his return from a lengthy spell on the side-lines, and priced at 9.1, German international Mesut Ozil is potentially another good option, having scored twice in last in his three league games, as well as bagging a goal in the FA Cup, prompting 61,088 of you to draft him in over the last few weeks.

With a blank gameweek coming up next week, can QPR striker Charlie Austin (6.3) reward the 14.6% of FPL managers who have chosen to stick with the forward during his drought as his side visit the KC Stadium? With his form having nosedived of late, with just two goals in his last seven, 393,388 of you have transferred Austin out of your teams since January 1.

After netting twice in his first four league games for the Black Cats, Sunderland and former England forward Jermain Defoe (6.1) faces a race against time to be fit for the visit of West Bromwich Albion to the Stadium of Light after picking up a calf injury. West Brom striker Saido Berahino (5.6) appears to back on many FPL managers’ radars, after scoring seven in his last eight appearances in all competitions – 13.4% of you will hoping that form will continue as Tony Pulis’ side visit the North-East. With 10 league goals in 25 this season, Berahino looks to be great value as well, priced at only 5.6.

After leaving the Old Trafford pitch after just four minutes against Burnley in Gameweek 25, Manchester United defender Phil Jones (5.3) remains doubtful as Van Gaal’s men prepare to take on Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. 16.6% of FPL managers will be hoping Wayne Rooney (10.6) can find the net after his FA Cup goal at Preston on Monday night – the United and England captain has failed to register a goal or an assist in his previous seven league outings, having been deployed in a deeper, midfield role by his manager in recent months. 15.4% of you will be hoping British-record signing Angel Di Maria (9.6) can add to his three goals and nine assists so far; although Ander Herrera (7.1) may represent better value than the Argentine if given the nod by Van Gaal, after impressing in his sides’ 3-1 FA Cup victory at Deepdale.

Popular Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (6.4) returns for the Swans after serving a three-match ban for his dismissal in the FA Cup tie at Blackburn Rovers, looking to reward his 23.4% of owners who have opted to stick with the midfielder.

Champions Manchester City host Newcastle United at the Etihad in the tea-time kick-off, no doubt boosted by the return of midfielder Yaya Toure (10.7) from international duty, along with countryman Wilfried Bony (8.2), signed from Swansea in January for £28 million, and hoping to make his City debut. Top scorer Sergio Aguero (12.8), the most expensive player in the FPL game, remains a doubt with a back injury, meaning 27.1% of FPL managers may be required to re-think their attacking options before Saturday’s game.

Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham at White Hart Lane in one of three Sunday games. After his incredible form this season, Spurs forward Harry Kane (6.3) is now the most popular player in the FPL game, now selected by a whopping 45.8% of managers. With 13 goals and 6 assists for the season, including 8 in his previous 6, it’s not difficult to see why. Can the 21-year-old, who is expected to be called up to Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers next month, continue his recent goal scoring exploits against Big Sam’s out-of-sorts Hammers side?

With a modest seven league goals so far this season, Romelu Lakaku (8.8) has an opportunity to kick-start his season as the Toffees entertain basement club Leicester City. Considering that the Foxes have lost four league matches on the spin, Lakaku could a decent punt for Gameweek 26, even if he is relatively pricey at 8.8. 3.66% of you have backed Lakaku as the best captain in the weekly poll, making the Belgian the fifth most popular option. Left-back Leighton Baines (7.1) remains a doubt for Roberto Martinez’s side having missed the last two league games with a knee injury, and did not even travel to Switzerland for Everton’s Europa League match against BSC Young Boys on Thursday night.

The final and perhaps most intriguing match-up of Gameweek 26 sees fourth-placed Southampton entertain Brendan Rodgers’ in-form Liverpool side at St Mary’s. Defender Ryan Bertrand (5.7) serves his final match of a three-game ban for the Saints, while Graziano Pellè (7.7) will be hoping to end his 8-match goal drought and re-capture his impressive early-season form, as will the 14.8% of managers who have stuck with him. As for the visitors, outgoing Captain Steven Gerrard (8.6) and Raheem Sterling (8.4) remain major doubts for the Reds, with hamstring and foot injuries respectively.

Ones to Watch

Wilfried Bony (8.2) – Returning victorious from the African Cup of Nations and hoping to make his debut this weekend, it will be interesting to see how much of a role the Ivorian forward will play in Manuel Pellegrini’s team. With City’s main man Aguero doubtful for Saturday’s game, Bony may well be given the nod against the Magpies ahead of new teammates Edin Dzeko (7.9) and Stephan Jovetic (7.8), and will be looking to add to his impressive 9 league goals in 20 appearances so far this campaign. Was also the Premier League’s leading goal scorer in 2014 with 18 goals.

Yaya Toure (10.7) – Man City’s loss has been the Ivory Coast’s gain for the last five gameweeks, and the recent dip in form has been in no small part to the absence of their talismanic midfielder. While Toure was captaining his national side to glory, City managed only one win in five without him. Pellegrini will be hoping for a change in fortune come Saturday tea-time – Yaya’s return gives them every chance of this happening.

Christian Benteke (7.4) – Having had ten attempts on goal in Villa’s FA Cup win over Leicester City, Benteke is clearly a man eager to find his form again and impress his new gaffer – the visit of Stoke City to the West Midlands gives the Belgian forward the ideal opportunity to do just that.

Saido Berahino (5.6) – Back in favour under new boss Tony Pulis, the youngster will hope to continue his recent impressive form against a troubled Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Also a potential steal at just 5.6.