As the dust settles on a hectic Double Gameweek 19, we look forward to the next four gameweeks that come thick and fast with four sets of fixtures over a 12-day period. Gameweek 19 revived many managers’ hopes this season with many finishing in the 100 club, resulting in some colossal jumps in rank whilst for others it resulted in a sharp descent down their mini-league tables. As we are now officially into the second half of the season, all managers have been awarded their second wildcard and for some it couldn't come at a better time. Gameweeks 20 to 23 provides hopeful managers the opportunity to once again revive their season or further improve on an impressive Gameweek 19. Whether you're playing your wildcard or just planning on taking a few hits over the next number of weeks, we hope to provide a guide to the best teams to target over this upcoming busy period.
MAN CITY
It goes without saying that FPL managers would be foolish to go without Man City assets at any point during the season but especially now as the Sky Blues face West Brom (a), Sheffield United (h), Burnley (a) & Liverpool (a) in their next four. They have found their form at the right time and with Liverpool slipping and the title race hotting up, it looks City’s to lose. We could be looking at four wins from four for City in the coming games despite them missing their playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) through injury. There is an endless list of talent in Pep Guardiola's squad and we have no doubt the likes of Phil Foden (£6.3m), Ilkay Gundogan (£5.5m) & Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) can fill the void of KDB in the midfield as the link between defence and attack. Gundogan has been in great form of late and is expected to be given penalty responsibilities in KDB’s absence so should prove huge value in the coming weeks. As good as Man CIty are in attack, they're equally spectacular in defence as they boast the best defensive record in the league so far this season with an impressive 13 goals conceded in 18 games. If you're looking to spend that extra bit of cash in defence, then Joao Cancelo (£5.8m) is a no-brainer as he poses a great threat down the flanks as well as being (more or less) a staple in the impermeable back four.
LEICESTER
Currently sitting in third place and just two points off the top, Leicester have been a ridiculously consistent side under Brendan Rodgers in the league. It feels like Leicester players are fixture-proof at times and can prove explosive during periods of the season. The Foxes have quite an appealing run of games with Everton (a), Leeds (h), Fulham (a) & Wolves (a) between gameweeks 20 and 23. A Leeds side that don't seem to know how to or want to defend, a weak Fulham side that have admittedly found some form of late and an extremely underperforming Wolves team that have struggled since Raul Jimenez (£8.2m) sustained his horrible head injury should be no match for an in-form Leicester. Despite their talisman Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) missing the next few weeks through injury, there are a number of players in Rodgers’ squad that will cause danger to any defence. Harvey Barnes (£6.8m) has amassed 32 points in his last five games and is certainly having one of his best periods as a Leicester player. In Vardy’s absence, Barnes should see more of the ball in the attacking third and he's not afraid to take on defenders and unleash a barrage of shots every game. Another Leicester player who should benefit from Vardy’s absence is Youri Tielemans (£6.4m), who appears to be on penalty duties when the striker is off the pitch and Leicester are leading the league for penalties won all season. If you're looking for a differential however, Vardy’s direct replacement up top in Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.6m) may finally get a run of games in the side and could well get his name back on the scoresheet. At just 0.3% ownership, the Nigerian could prove to be a slick signing to shoot you up your mini-league table.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Some may find this surprising but we back Crystal Palace to find some form in the next four gameweeks and their fixtures certainly help with this prediction. Palace play West Ham (h), Wolves (h), Newcastle (a) & Leeds (a) in their next four. After struggling for goals so far this campaign, Palace have gone out and signed Jean-Philipe Mateta (£6.0m) on loan from Mainz. The French striker has scored seven goals in 15 games this season for the Bundesliga side and with Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) and Wilfried Zaha (£7.3m) supplying him up top, he’s bound to hit the ground running in England. If you’re looking for value at the back, look no further than Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m). The left back has earned his spot back on the team sheet after impressing Roy Hodgson in Patrick Van Aanholt’s (£5.4m) absence and it doesn't look like the Dutch man will be taking his spot back anytime soon.
ASTON VILLA
The surprise package of the season, Aston Villa have proven great value for money in our FPL teams so far and should continue to do so in the coming weeks as they face Burnley (a), Southampton (a), West Ham (h) & Arsenal (h) in their next four. As well as this favourable set of fixtures, there is potential for a double gameweek in GW23 for a number of teams and with Villa having two games in hand at the moment, they look set to be gifted a double. Ross Barkley (£5.9m) returns after a number of weeks sidelined through injury to bolster the attack an already has Bertrand Traore (£5.9m), Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) and of course Jack Grealish (£7.7m) firing on all cylinders. If Watkins can find his feet again in front of goal there should be ample supply from his aforementioned teammates and the points will come.
Of course, there are a number of other in-form teams such as Man Utd and Arsenal whilst others have favourable fixtures around the corner like Chelsea. As ever, Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) is a must-own this season and should continue to be so over gameweeks 20 to 23. On the contrary, Timo Werner (£9.2m) has had an awful start to his Chelsea career and just can't seem to catch a break in front of goal. It's hard to ignore his conversion rates this season for the Blues but there is no denying his talent which he showed for a sustained period atr RB Leipzig. If there's ever a time to turn his season around, it’s now, and we think he just may start to click in the coming weeks.
