GameDay Squad EPL Gameweek 9 preview

Welcome to round 9 where the Classic Cup action gets underway through qualifiers. Let’s take a look at who we should be targeting for our teams.

Leeds v West Ham:

Despite a terrible most recent performance from West Ham against Brentford, there’s potential to bounce back against Leeds if historical performances are anything to go by. Leeds have only beaten West Ham once the past five meetings at home, while they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 13 total games against them. The defensive style that new manager Nuno is trying to instill seems to be having some teething issues, particularly when it comes to the West Ham counter attack, which does mean a reversal of recent history with Leeds is possible and a clean sheet more likely.

Last five fixtures:

L Home	ALL	WH Home
L 2-2 WH G: Paqueta	L 1 - 3 WH	L 1-3 WH G: Bowen A: Bowen, Paquta
1-2	2-2	3-2 G: Bowen
1-2 G: Soucek A: Bowen	3-2	0-2 G: Bowen
1-1	0-2	0-2
2-1	1-2	2-2

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Leeds: Blocks (5th)

●     West Ham: Shots on Target (4th), Key Passes (5th), Accurate Crosses (3rd), Aerial Duels Won (1st)

Recommended Players:

●     Anton Stach

●     Sean Longstaff

●     Joe Rodon

●     Gabriel Gudmundsson

●     Karl Darlow

●     Lucas Paqueta

●     Jarrod Bowen

●     Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Newcastle v Fulham:

A game that appears hard to predict. Newcastle seem to have found their form, while Fulham have hit a roadblock and have conceded a fair few over the past month. Fulham have managed to win the previous two games, however the last three times that Newcastle have won this fixture they have gone on to keep a clean sheet. Newcastle defenders and their goalkeeper could be the way to go.

Last five fixtures:

N Home	ALL	F Home
N 1-2 F G: J Murphy, Jimenez, Muniz A: Robinson	N 1-2 F	N 1-3 F G: Jimenez, Barnes A: Muniz, Iwobi, J Murphy
3-0 G: Burn A: Gordon, Guimaraes	1-3	1-0 G: Guimaraes
1-0	1-0	2-0 G: Burn A: Guimaraes
1-1	2-0	4-1 A: Guimaraes
0-0	3-0	2-0 G: Schar

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Newcastle: Successful Dribbles (3rd), Interceptions (2nd), Blocks (4th), Clearances (5th)

●     Fulham: Shots on Target (5th), Fouls Drawn (2nd)

Recommended Players:

●     Nick Pope

●     Bruno Guimaraes

●     Alex Iwobi

●     Anthony Gordon

●     Nick Woltemade

●     Raul Jimenez

Chelsea v Sunderland:

Sunderland could cause problems for Chelsea here as they’ve frustrated many teams this season with their sturdy defence. I could see a revitalized Chelsea attack (through the return of Enzo) managing to break through in a similar way that United did against Sunderland. Recent history is hard to come by or reference in this one given they last played in 2017.

Last five fixtures:

C Home	ALL	S Home
C 5-1 S	C 5-1 S	C 1-0 S
3-1	1-0	2-3
3-1	2-3	0-0
1-2	3-1	1-2
2-1	3-1	4-3

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Chelsea: Tackles (4th), Blocks (2nd)

●     Sunderland: Accurate Crosses (2nd)

Recommended Players:

●     Joao Pedro

●     Enzo Fernandez

●     Pedro Neto

●     Marc Cucurella

●     Reece James

●     Robert Sanchez

●     Robert Roefs

●     Trevoh Chalobah

Man Utd v Brighton:

An inform Man Utd may tempt a lot of coaches, however Brighton have been recently very successful against Utd. Brighton have won the past two meetings, but have also won the past three times they’ve played Utd at Old Trafford.

Last five fixtures:

MU Home	ALL	B Home
MU 1-3 B G: Mitoma, Minteh, Rutter, B Fernandes A: Mitoma, Minteh	MU 1-3 B	MU 1-2 B G: Welbeck, Diallo A: Mitoma
1-3 G: Welbeck	1-2	2-0 G: Dalot
1-2 A: Welbeck	2-0	0-1
2-0 G: B Fernandes	1-3	0-0
2-1 G: Welbeck A: B Fernandes	0-1	0-4

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Man Utd: Shots on Target (5th), Aerial Duel Wins (2nd), Saves (1st)

●     Brighton: Successful Dribbles (1st), Fouls Drawn (3rd), Saves (5th)

Recommended Players:

●     Yankuba Minteh

●     Danny Welbeck

●     Bryan Mbeumo

●     Bruno Fernandes

●     Senne Lammens

Brentford v Liverpool:

Even an out of sorts Liverpool is hard to go past in this fixture, which they’ve been dominant in for quite some time. Ivan Toney (no longer at Brentford) has been the sole Brentford goalscorer in the past five meetings, which Liverpool have won all five. Liverpool have 12 goals in those five games. While Liverpool have won the past five meetings at Brentford, those are their only two wins in the past five games there. Salah is the standout player for this fixture with five goals and an assist in the past five games.

Last five fixtures:

B Home	ALL	L Home
B 0-2 L	B 0-2 L	B 0-2 L G: Salah
1-4 G: Salah, Gakpo, Mac Allister A: Salah, Gakpo	0-2	0-3 G: Salah (2)
3-1	1-4	0-1 G: Salah A: Van Dijk
3-3 G: Salah A: Robertson	0-3	0-3 A: Robertson
1-1	0-1	0-1

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Brentford: Shots on Target (3rd), Key Passes (2nd), Fouls Drawn (4th), Saves (4th)

●     Liverpool: Interceptions (1st), Blocks (3rd), Clearances (4th)

Recommended Players:

●     Cody Gakpo

●     Mo Salah

●     Virgil van Dijk

Wolves v Burnley:

Here’s a fixture that’s likely to be low scoring based on their previous history. Not only has there been only five goals combined in the past five meetings, but there’s also been five combined clean sheets. Burnley have lost all of their away games this season, which could indicate it’s finally time to pick Wolves players.

Last five fixtures:

W Home	ALL	B Home
W 2-0 B	W 2-0 B	W 1-1 B G: Bruun Larsen
1-0 G: Hee Chan	1-1	0-1
0-0	1-0	1-2
0-4	0-1	1-1
1-1	0-0	0-2

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Wolves: Key Passes (5th), Successful Dribbles (2nd), Accurate Crosses (4th), Interceptions (5th), Fouls Drawn (1st)

●     Burnley: Shots on Target (1st), Key Passes (1st), Accurate Crosses (1st), Aerial Duel Wins (4th)

Recommended Players:

●     Jaidon Anthony

●     Quilindschy Hartman

●     Hugo Bueno

●     Martin Dubravka

●     Joao Gomes

●     Jhon Andrade (Arias)

●     Josh Cullen

●     Jorgen Strand Larsen

Aston Villa v Man City:

Man City will absolutely dominate poor old Aston Villa won’t they? I wouldn’t be so sure. Aston Villa have the wood over City in the home fixtures recently having won their last two home fixtures against them. City have won three of the past five meetings, but they have all been home games. It has been eight Villa home meetings since City last kept a clean sheet and ten total meetings since they kept one. Rogers (a goal and two assists) and Foden (four goals, including a hattrick) have been the dominant forces in the past five meetings, while Haaland has only one goal and one assist in his four total meetings with Villa.

Last five fixtures:

AV Home	ALL	MC Home
AV 2-1 MC G: Rogers, Foden A: McGinn, Rogers	AV 1-2 MC	AV 1-2 MC G: Silva, Nunes A: Doku
1-0	2-1	1-4 G: Rodri, Foden (3) A: Doku, Rodri, Rogers
1-1 G: Haaland	1-4	1-3 G: Rodri, Watkins A: Haaland
1-2 G: Dias, Silva, Watkins	1-0	2-3 G: Cash, Rodri A: Watkins, Digne
1-2 G: Foden, Rodri, McGinn A: Watkins, Silva (2)	1-3	0-2 G: Silva A: Rodri

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Aston Villa: Interceptions (4th), Tackles (2nd)

●     Man City: Tackles (1st)

Recommended Players:

●     Josko Gvardiol

●     Gianluigi Donnarumma

●     Morgan Rogers

●     Phil Foden

●     Erling Haaland

Arsenal v Crystal Palace:

A fixture most will think would be a game of defences, likely leading to a low scoring affair, however recent games between the two have been anything but that. The past five meetings have produced 21 goals between the teams, while the last five Arsenal home games against Palace have resulted in 23 goals combined. There has been two clean sheet between the teams from the past five meetings with both being Arsenal. Gabriel has two goals and an assist in the past five meetings, Mateta two goals and Saka two assists.

Last five fixtures:

A Home	ALL	CP Home
A 2-2 CP G: Trossard A: Timber, Wharton	A 2-2 CP	A 5-1 CP G: Sarr, Martinelli, Rice A: Gabriel, Saka, Rice, Calafiori
3-2 G: Mateta A: Saka, D Henderson	5-1	1-0
5-0 G: Gabriel Mag (2), Martinelli (2), Trossard A: Rice, Saka	3-2	2-0 G: Martinelli
4-1 G: Saka (2), Martinelli A: Saka, Trossard	5-0	0-3 G: Mateta
2-2	1-0	3-1 G: Martinelli

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Arsenal: Blocks (1st), Clearances (1st)

●     Crystal Palace: Successful Dribbles (4th), Accurate Crosses (5th), Interceptions (3rd), Saves (2nd)

Recommended Players:

●     Declan Rice

●     Bukayo Saka

●     Victor Gyokeres

●     Gabriel

●     Williams Saliba

●     David Raya

●     Daniel Munoz

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest:

An interesting subplot to this game comes from the recent firing of attacking style manager Postecoglou and hiring of defensive style manager Dyche. We know Forest is very capable of a defensive game plan and that could be the catalyst for a positive result against Bournemouth. Coming off the back of a 2-0 win over European Powerhouses Porto in midweek, we’re likely to see something similar from Forest in the coming weeks. Can they hold off one of the better attacking teams in the league who most recently beat them 5-0?

Last five fixtures:

B Home	ALL	NF Home
B 5-0 NF G: Kluivert, Semenyo A: Kluivert, Tavernier, Adams (2)	B 5-0 NF	B 1-1 NF G: Wood, Semenyo
1-1 G: Hudson-Odoi, Kluivert	1-1	3-2 G: Wood A: Wood, Gibbs-White, Senesi
1-1	1-1	3-2 A: Cook, Gibbs-White
1-0	3-2	2-1 G: Brooks
2-0 A: Brooks	1-1	0-0

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Bournemouth: Shots on Target (5th), Successful Dribbles (5th), Aerial Duel Wins (3rd), Tackles (3rd), Clearances (2nd)

●     Forest: Shots on Target (2nd), Key Passes (3rd), Successful Dribbles (5th), Saves (3rd)

Recommended Players:

●     Djordje Petrovic

●     Marco Senesi

●     Adrien Truffert

●     Justin Kluivert

●     Antoine Semenyo

●     Neco Williams

●     Nikola Milenkovic

●     Matz Sels

●     Elliott Anderson

Everton v Tottenham:

The final fixture of the round could be a dour affair. Everton have not lost a home game against Spurs in the past seven meetings (six draws). There has only been two clean sheets combined in the last eight Everton home meetings, which was a 0-0 between the teams. Kudus has never scored against Everton (played them three times with his previous club, West Ham) and only has one previous assist against them. Richarlison is the inform man in this matchup (against his old team) with four goals in the last four meetings, but there’s a risk he may not start.

Last five fixtures:

E Home	ALL	T Home
E 3-2 T G: Ndiaye, Richarlison A: Gueye (2)	E 3-2 T	E 0-4 T G: Romero A: van de Ven
2-2 G: Richarlison (2) A: Udogie	0-4	1-2 G: Richarlison A: B Johnson
1-1 G: Keane	2-2	0-2
0-0	1-2	0-5
2-2	1-1	1-0

Statistics (Top Five in the League for Conceding):

●     Everton: Key Passes (4th), Aerial Duel Wins (5th)

●     Tottenham: Key Passes (5th), Fouls Drawn (5th), Tackles (5th), Clearances (3rd)

Recommended Players:

●     Jack Grealish

●     James Garner

●     Iliman Ndiaye

●     Jordon Pickford

●     Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

●     Mo Kudus

Goalkeepers:

●     Pope ⭐️

●     Raya

●     Donnarumma

●     Sels

●     Petrovic

Uniques: Dubravka and Lammens

Defenders:

●     Gabriel ⭐️

●     N Williams

●     van Dijk

●     Cucurella

●     Rodon

●     Hartman

●     Senesi

●     Chalobah

●     Truffert

●     Gvardiol

Uniques: H Bueno and Gudmundsson

Midfielders:

●     Grealish ⭐️

●     Bruno Fernandes

●     Longstaff

●     Foden

●     Andrade (Arias)

●     Mbeumo

●     Kudus

●     Enzo Fernandez

●     Guimaraes

●     E Anderson

Uniques: Garner and Stach

Forwards:

●     Haaland ⭐️

●     Saka

●     Semenyo

●     Salah

●     Gakpo

●     Minteh

●     Gordon

●     Joao Pedro

●     Jaidon Anthony

Uniques: Kluivert and Woltemade

…And that’s a wrap! Best of luck with round nine.