Kevin De Bruyne (BOU, new)

De Bruyne (10.3), time and time again continues to defy Einstein’s theorem on Pep’s rotation policy. He has now played in all 18 gameweeks which no other City attacker can boast. With Man. City now heavily odds on to triumph in the Premier League this year, picking up their star player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) seems like a no brainer. Having scored in each of his last two league appearances, the Belgian international has now been directly involved in 14 league goals this season (six goals and eight assists). Of the midfielders only Salah (10.0), with 34, has taken more than De Bruyne’s 23 shots on target during this season while his total of 56 attempted assists is more than any other in the game. Over the last four gameweeks no other midfielder has produced more than De Bruyne’s seven shots on target, while only Charlie Austin (6.2) and Harry Kane (12.8) have taken more amongst all players, with eight and nine respectively. The Man. City magician has provided 12 attempted assists during his last four and only Sánchez (11.8) and Özil (9.3) have produced more, with 14 and 15. Bournemouth travel to the Etihad in gameweek 19 having conceded 10 goals in their last five games and with City scoring 14 goals in their last five games the odds are certainly stacked in the favour of their most creative player. Newcastle then host Man. City in gameweek 20 and the Magpies are winless in their last five games also conceding 10 goals in the process. So, the prospects look good for the Belgian playmaker who is predicted to score 11.5 points over the next two.

Nicolas Otamendi (BOU, new)

Otamendi (6.2) now has as many goals (four) as Sánchez, such is his influence upon set-pieces this season and only Alonso (7.0), with his 11, has taken more shots on target than the Man. City defender, who has seven. The Argentinian has been an ever present fixture of Man. City’s line-up this season, missing out on a solitary occasion in gameweek 12 through suspension. Man. City have kept a very respectable total of eight clean sheets this season and only Arsenal, Burnley (nine) and Man. Utd (10) have kept more. Over the last four gameweeks the 29-year-old has won more aerial duels, 10, and made more ball recoveries, 23, blocked shots, 3, and interceptions, 6, than any other Man. City defender. With strong underlying stats like these it is no surprise that Otamendi has picked up 11 bonus points this season, compared to the 4 bonus points managed by his Man. City teammate, Walker (6.6). Bournemouth have the daunting task of venturing north to face City in gameweek 19 and with only one goal in six games versus “top six” opponents so far a clean sheet looks most likely. Then in gameweek 20 Man. City travel to St James’ Park to face a Newcastle side that have not scored in their last two games at home to Everton and away to Arsenal. A Fix algorithm projection of 10.1 points over the next two gameweeks certainly suggests clean sheets/attacking points are likely.

Romelu Lukaku (lei, BUR)

Lukaku (11.3) has fast become the forgotten man in recent weeks, delivering his owners limited points during a baron run which has seen the Man. United forward find the back of the net on just one occasion in nine league games from gameweek eight to 16. However the Belgian international appears to have put his goal drought behind him, having found the back of the net in each of the previous two league games against Bournemouth and West Brom. His season total of 10 league goals ranks him joint fourth in the race for the Golden Boot, and only Kane and Salah, with 37 and 34, have taken more than Lukaku’s 28 shots on target. Pogba’s (7.9) return will give the Man. United forward a further boost. Mourinho’s side have scored an average of three goals per game with Pogba in the team this season, compared to just 1.5 goals per game without him, highlighting the French midfielder’s importance. It is Leicester away in gameweek 19 for Lukaku and co. which is likely to be the tougher of the two contests over the next two gameweeks. However, Leicester have conceded eight goals in their last five games and 14 goals in just six games against the “top six”. Burnley at home looks to be more appealing on paper, even with their solid overall defensive record. The Clarets have shipped in eight goals in five games so far this season up against “top six” opponents and Lukaku is predicted to score 8.6 points over these next two.

Marko Arnautovic (NEW, bou)

Arnautovic (6.8) has really knuckled down in recent weeks and is beginning to justify his 25 million pound transfer fee. The eagerness to help out all over the pitch was evident during West Ham’s win over Stoke which saw the Austrian international tracking back on numerous occasions to help his team out. Moyes has shown he still has what it takes to manage in the Premier League with West Ham now unbeaten over the last three league games picking up seven points against tough opposition in Chelsea, Arsenal and Stoke. Arnautovic has contributed to 50% of his team’s four goals over that period and his total of 12 shots from inside the box during the last three gameweeks is more than any other player. During that same period the West Ham midfielder has managed four shots on target which puts him on par with the likes of Coutinho (9.0), Lukaku and Sterling (8.5). Only Mahrez (8.6), De Bruyne and Ince (5.5) have registered more, with five, amongst midfielders. First up for Marko in gameweek 19 is Newcastle who have leaked 10 goals over the last five gameweeks. Then in gameweek 20 West Ham will line-up against Bournemouth away. The Cherries have shipped in seven goals during their last three home games, so the prospects look good for a revitalised West Ham and an out of position Arnautovic.

Charlie Austin (HUD, tot)

Austin (6.2) has the pedigree to make a mockery of his modest price-tag in FPL, with a record that reads 9 goals in his last 15 Premier League starts. The Englishman’s recent form of five goals in his last six gameweeks has propelled him to first choice at Saints and he is therefore likely to start the next two fixtures. During the last four gameweeks which includes an appearance off the bench against Chelsea, the 28-year-old’s total of eight shots on target is just one fewer than Kane’s nine and no other player has managed more than the pair. When analysing forwards over the same period only Benteke (7.6) and Lacazette (10.3) with five and six have had more ‘big chances’ than Austin, who has four. Huddersfield make the long journey south for gameweek 19 and will be hoping to improve upon their recent run which has seen them ship in 15 goals in their last five away games. Spurs will then present a tougher test in gameweek 20, but even they have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven league games, conceding 11 in that time frame. Austin has all the credentials to walk away with 10+ points from these two fixtures.