Newcastle United’s upcoming schedule from Gameweek 11 suggests managers in Fantasy Premier League should be wary of investing in their key assets.
Newcastle face Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the space of six Gameweeks, opponents who all score three or higher in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR).
Newcastle’s schedule
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | ARS (H) | 4 |
| 12 | BOU (A) | 2 |
| 13 | CHE (H) | 3 |
| 14 | MUN (H) | 3 |
| 15 | EVE (A) | 2 |
| 16 | TOT (A) | 3 |
It is a run which may well limit the output of Kieran Trippier (£7.0m).
The right-back has soared to the top of the defender standings on the back of four clean sheets, six assists and 54 points his last five Premier League appearances.
By contrast, he managed a mere five points across the first four Gameweeks against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Although Newcastle’s schedule dents the appeal of bringing in Trippier now, the underlying statistics indicate that his owners should hold onto the 33-year-old due to his huge potential for attacking returns.
Trippier’s 29 key passes and seven big chances created both place among the top two players in 2023/24 Fantasy.
Time to ditch Spurs assets?
Spurs are also set to embark on a tougher run of opponents from Gameweek 11 which could persuade many managers to abandon their double-up on Son Heung-min (£9.6m) and James Maddison (£8.1m).
The league leaders face Chelsea, Villa, Man City and Newcastle among their subsequent six matches, at a point where Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham United have far kinder fixtures which lifts the appeal of obtaining their assets.
Spurs' schedule
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | CHE (H) | 3 |
| 12 | WOL (A) | 2 |
| 13 | AVL (H) | 3 |
| 14 | MCI (A) | 5 |
| 15 | WHU (H) | 2 |
| 16 | NEW (H) | 4 |
However, Son’s new role as a striker under Ange Postecoglou suggests he could be a “season keeper” for many managers.
The South Korean has averaged 10.0 points per match since being moved up front, with his total of 60 points in that period being joint-top alongside the tally of Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) among all players in Fantasy.
See: Keep or sell Maddison and Son in Fantasy?
Postecoglou’s arrival has also made a big impact on Spurs’ backline.
Four clean sheets in the opening nine matches have helped Guglielmo Vicario (£5.2m) top the goalkeeper standings, while Cristian Romero (£4.9m), Micky van de Ven (£4.7m) and Pedro Porro (£5.2m) all rank among the top seven defenders.
But with their chances of clean sheets looking limited, a move for Crystal Palace assets could prove a very profitable tactic.
According to the FDR, four of the Eagles’ five matches from Gameweek 11 onwards score only two.
Crystal Palace’s schedule
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | BUR (A) | 2 |
| 12 | EVE (H) | 2 |
| 13 | LUT (A) | 2 |
| 14 | WHU (A) | 3 |
| 15 | BOU (H) | 2 |
Centre-back Joachim Andersen (£4.9m) is only eight points behind Trippier at the top of the defender standings thanks to his impact at both ends of the pitch.
Managers playing their Wildcards, meanwhile, should target Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) as their go-to goalkeeper.
Stock up on Man Utd assets
Man Utd are another side who are also set to embark on a kind run of opponents from Gameweek 11.
They face Fulham, Luton Town and Everton in successive matches from that point.
While the Red Devils’ poor form is likely to deter would-be investors, their schedule may persuade owners of Bruno Fernandes (£8.3m) to hold for the short-term.
