Gameweek 13 Fantasy Preview -- Sunday games
Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesWill Manchester City's Carlos Tevez finally be given a start this weekendManchester City at Chelsea headlines the Premier League games for the day.
Emotion on the pitch and in the stands will be high as the Blues, minus Roberto Di Matteo, take the pitch with Rafa Benitez trying to get more RPMs from a slumping Chelsea team (7-3-2, third). The trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar as the lone striking option was Di Matteo's fatal Italian Job. What Roman Abramovich wants, Abramovich gets, and Benitez is no fool so he will have Fernando Torres in the starting lineup until El Nino becomes a grandfather, especially with Daniel Sturridge dealing with a hamstring issue.
City, atop the Premier League going into the weekend, is the only undefeated team in the league (8-4-0) and while its defense is criticized, just ten goals have crossed the line into Joe Hart's net. At the other end, City has poured 25 goals into the nets of opponents. City comes off Champions League elimination and if The Scarf ever plays Maicon after his hibernation on Karim Benzema's goal, it will be too soon. Carlos Tevez did not start and should be in the first XI, along with Sergio Aguero, who are both monster fantasy forwards. David Silva is rounding back into good fantasy form. Vincent Kompany is an injury doubt.
John Terry is out injured, as is Frank Lampard. Petr Cech had to make 10 saves against Juventus and still got beat 3-0.
Swansea City-Liverpool
The early game features the Swans (4-4-4, 10th) against 11th place Liverpool (3-6-3). Swansea City has the best fantasy steal in Michu, seven goals, 80 points and a salary of just 6.5.
Liverpool's offense is Luis Suarez. He has taken an incredible 72 shots with 20 on target and 10 resulting in goals in 12 matches. He is a bargain at 9.0. On Thursday he came off the bench for 30 minutes as his team drew 2-2 in Europa League at Anfield.
Southampton-Newcastle
Rickie Lambert is the fifth best fantasy point-getter for the Saints (2-2-8, 19th). The veteran who has modeled uniforms at many levels may only be wearing a Premier League kit for one season. His team leaks goals in tsunami fashion; 30 so far with no sign anyone can fill the holes.
Newcastle (3-5-4, 12th) is limping along, sans the magic of last season. Jonas Gutierrez and Yohan Cabaye are out. Miracle goal-scorer Papiss Cisse has one goal in 12 matches and just 27 fantasy points. On the other hand, the player he overshadowed last season, Demba Ba has scored eight of the Magpies' 13 goals and is the fourth best fantasy forward in the Premier league. Newcastle had a 1-1 tie in Europa League action.
Tottenham-West Ham
The London derby features a Spurs team that was done in against Arsenal by the lunacy of Emmanuel Adebayor against Big Sam Allardyce's Hammers that were lulled into Stoke's seventh draw of the season.
West Ham (5-4-3, seventh) will be without Matt Jarvis and will trot out the Pony Tail, Andy Carroll, who has still not scored a Premier League goal for either West Ham or Liverpool. Kevin Nolan is the big fantasy threat and could easily have registered a brace the last time out. West Ham is an excellent fantasy team for defensive points, having only given up 12 goals. Jarvis and Yossi Benayoun could be available for selection.
Spurs desperately need Moussa Dembele, who played in the Europa League game. Adebayor is on ice for another two matches because of his straight red card. Gareth Bale scored a goal against the Gunners. Clint Dempsey is shooting blanks and has not scored since before Halloween.
Europa “action” saw Spurs come away with a 0-0 draw.
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