The Scout helps managers in Fantasy Premier League to plan ahead for Gameweek 21 and beyond. Remember, you can now save up to FIVE free transfers.
Crystal Palace
Interest in Palace’s key players looks set to escalate following their home encounter with Chelsea this weekend.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), each of their EIGHT matches from Gameweek 21 onwards score no more than three.
Indeed, FOUR of Palace’s five matches between Gameweeks 21-25 score a mere two in the FDR, with visits to Leicester City and West Ham United followed by home meetings with Brentford and Everton.
Palace's fixtures GW21-28
| GW | Opp. | FDR* |
| 21 | Leicester (A) | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | West Ham (A) | 2 |
| 23 | Brentford (H) | 2 |
| 24 | Man Utd (A) | 3 |
| 25 | Everton (H) | 2 |
| 26 | Fulham (A) | 3 |
| 27 | Aston Villa (H) | 3 |
| 28 | Ipswich (H) | 2 |
*1 = easiest possible fixture, 5 = hardest possible fixture
Oliver Glasner’s side offer budget-friendly options in defence and attack across this spell.
The main interest is likely to be in midfield, with Ismaila Sarr (£5.9m) and the fit-again Eberechi Eze (£6.6m) competing for managers’ attentions.
Sarr is certainly the form pick. Since securing a regular starting role in Gameweek 9, he has averaged 5.0 points per match and claimed a team-high 55 points.
His 27 shots and 15 chances created are both among Palace’s top two players during that period, while the Senegalese’s 18 shots on target are more than TWICE that of any team-mate.
Eze, meanwhile, has served a timely reminder of his potential with a goal and 10-point haul against Southampton last time out.
Eze's goal v Southampton
On the volley, Ebere Eze 😘#CPFC // #CRYSOU pic.twitter.com/Il7Ne9gQzY
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 29, 2024
But perhaps crucially, Sarr has scored or assisted 44 per cent of his side’s goals this when selected this season, compared with the 30 per cent of Eze.
At the back, Daniel Munoz (£4.7m) has boasted one of the greatest goal threats of any defender in Fantasy this season.
The Colombian’s 20 shots in the box rank second in his position, while his eight big chances – or situations where a player is expected to score – are more than any other defender.
Although the underlying statistics favour Munoz, centre-back Trevoh Chalobah (£4.4m) is shaping up as a strong alternative.
Chalobah has three goals and three clean sheets in his 12 appearances since joining the Eagles on loan in the summer. Indeed, his average of 4.5 points per match has been bettered by only three defenders in Fantasy this season.
It is worth noting, though, that Chalobah is unavailable for selection in Gameweek 20 as he cannot face his parent club Chelsea.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vitor Pereira's arrival as head coach has helped Wolves collect seven points from their last three matches.
But unlike Palace, they are now set to embark on a difficult run of opponents in the coming period.
Wolves' fixtures GW21-25
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Newcastle (A) | 4 |
| 22 | Chelsea (A) | 4 |
| 23 | Arsenal (H) | 4 |
| 24 | Aston Villa (H) | 3 |
| 25 | Liverpool (A) | 5 |
*1 = easiest possible fixture, 5 = hardest possible fixture
From Gameweek 21 onwards, FOUR of Wolves' subsequent five matches score at least four, which is bound to limit interest in their players in Fantasy.
Talisman Matheus Cunha (£7.0m) has already dropped eight per cent in ownership - down to 17 per cent - after being handed a suspension which means he misses Wolves' match at home to Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 20.
In defence, Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.8m) backers look best-served to seek out a budget replacement, with Palace pair Munoz and Chalobah providing an easy solution.
