The announcement of the new breakaway European Super League on Sunday prompted a whirlwind 48 hours in the world of football, as ex-players, pundits and fans were overwhelmingly united against the project.
An already elongated game week became a sluggish eternity due to all of the European Super League drama, but thankfully a regular one will be uninterrupted this weekend, albeit without Carabao Cup finalists Manchester City and Tottenham.
A quick turnaround to Game Week 33 is a chance to restore normality and remember what matters the most for the rest of the season. Football Castle, thus, provides the best choices with the deadline at 18:30 GMT on Friday, 23rd April 2021.
Goalkeepers
Robert Sánchez(£4.5m) is in good form with nine clean sheets this season and faces relegated Sheffield United on the back of a shutout at Stamford Bridge.
Quite simply, the misfiring Blades would find it difficult against a backline that has kept the third-most Premier League clean sheets in 2021, behind Chelsea and Man City.
Emiliano Martinez(£5.4m) is joint-second in the Premier League for clean sheets and faces West Brom who have scored eight times in their last two games. Although the Argentine has only one clean sheet in his last seven games, he secures points despite conceding and has been the difference for Aston Villa between the posts with his saves.
Defenders
Lewis Dunk(£4.9m) has led Brighton to three clean sheets in four matches and will expect another against a Sheffield attack that has scored once in six games.
Only three defenders have had more shots on goal than Dunk this season and his attacking threat especially at set pieces means he is the pick of their defensive options.
Trent Alexander-Arnold(£7.4m) has been one of Liverpool’s best players in recent weeks having also impressed against Leeds. The full-back teed up Sadio Mané for the opening goal and has now returned the maximum bonus points in each of his last four Premier League matches (12 in total) after scoring once, providing two assists and keeping two clean sheets to register 40 points.
Newcastle have been much improved recently, but Alexander-Arnold’s hot streak can continue on Saturday.
Ricardo Pereira(£5.9m) has been thrust back into the thick of the action since returning from a long-term knee injury and now performs an attack-minded role on either wing-back position. Top four-chasing Leicester host Crystal Palace on Monday night and the Portuguese would be up for a good evening against the Eagles who have only one win in their last five games.
Midfielders
Jesse Lingard(£6.6m)
Although the 28-year-old limped off with a cramp after scoring at Newcastle, Lingard should return in the top four six-pointer against Chelsea and continue the brilliant form which has seen him blank only once in 10 starts for West Ham.
Mason Greenwood(£7.1m) is getting himself into some decent late-season form with four goals and an assist in three games including 15 points last time out against Burnley. Leeds, however, have conceded only three times in their last six home games and Greenwood is a wild pick.
Mo Salah(£12.6m) was rested in GW 32 against Leeds and should make a return to the lineup against Newcastle. Although the Magpies have now dug a gap from the bottom three, Salah is in the Golden Boot race with the injured Harry Kane who doesn’t have a GW 33 fixture anyway.
The Egyptian has two goals in his last three games and would be looking to claw back Kane’s two goals advantage.
Forwards
Patrick Bamford(£6.5m) could star in the tantalizing clash against Man United who will have an eye on their midweek Europa League semi-final against Roma. Although Leeds were thrashed 6-2 in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford, this is set to take a much different course with Marcelo Bielsa’s men having toughened up to the challenges of the Premier League and scored a late winner and equalizer each against Man City and Liverpool in consecutive game weeks.
Although his three-game drought has yielded only one assist, Bamford is heavily involved in Leeds’ attacking play and could add to his 14 goals and seven assists this season.
Chris Wood(£6.3m)
With three goals and two assists, Wood is top of the Premier League for shots on target across his last six matches. The New Zealander faces Wolves in GW 33 looking to continue his sparkling late-season run.
Kelechi Iheanacho(£6.1m)
The Nigeria international just can’t stop scoring, notching 10 goals in his last seven matches in all competitions, including the winner in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton for his 15th goal of the season.
Iheanacho is a prime captaincy candidate against Crystal Palace in GW33, especially with Harry Kane’s absence for the Carabao Cup final.
