Fixture This: Dec/Jan's top runs

Teams that should bring you FPL joy well into the new year

Amid the blizzard of matches taking place over the festive season, it’s easy to become a bit short-sighted in your FPL outlook, but with some big fixture swings in the weeks ahead – not to mention the second Wildcard becoming available from GW20 – it pays to plan ahead with your transfer strategy.

Here are the teams with the 5 best fixture runs – and the players most likely to flourish – to help you kick off the new year on the right foot:

<Bournemouth>
With a great run from GW18-25 (BUR, ARS, bha, whu, WAT, nor, BHA, AVL), the Cherries look like they could provide exceptional value in both defence and attack over next 8 gameweeks.

Following his 10 points vs Chelsea, Aaron Ramsdale (4.6m) is now the joint-top-scoring goalkeeper in the game, with 70 points – a total that’s all the more remarkable given he has only 4 clean sheets and no penalty saves (although he does have one assist!). Given his knack for picking up save and bonus points, he looks a fantastic set-and-forget option until early Feb.

Injuries to regular central defensive partnership Steve Cook (5m) and Nathan Aké (4.9m) could dent Bournemouth’s appeal, but it should mean their other fit defensive assets – Rico (4.4m), Francis (4.4m), Mepham (4.3m) and Stacey (4.3m), the back four who shut out Chelsea – should be assured starters.

At the other end of the pitch, midfielder Harry Wilson (6m) is surprisingly their top goal-scorer with 6, and could be a hell of a differential when he returns from injury in the next game or two, as could Josh King (6.1m), who has 3 goals and 3 assists so far, and is the designated penalty taker.

<Crystal Palace>
Apart from their away trip to City in GW23, Palace have largely favourable fixtures all the way through to GW29 (new, WHU, sou, nor, ARS, mci, SOU, SHU, eve, NEW, bha, WAT). They also have the join-second-best number of clean sheets (6), although they are also the league’s second lowest scorers, with 15.

Goalkeeper Vincente Guaita (5.1m) is playing out of his skin right now, with hauls of 8-8-10-8 in his last 4 games, the latter particularly impressive since it came from max bonus and 9 saves with no clean sheet. Martin Kelly (4.4m), meanwhile, continues to offer great value (until the defensive injuries clear up at least).

Attack-wise, Wilfried Zaha (6.8m) is the only real option, and 3 goals in his last 5 games (after zero in his previous 12) suggest the mercurial Ivorian could be entering a prolonged purple patch.

<Aston Villa>
At times this season, Villa have looked like a team that’s in the Premier League to stay, but they currently sit outside the bottom 3 on goal difference alone, and are on a 3-game losing run. Nevertheless, their kind fixture run from GW18-24 (SOU, NOR, wat, bur, MCI, bha, WAT) suggests it’s now or never for The Villains.

Just 3 clean sheets so far this season doesn’t exactly inspire huge confidence in their defensive assets, especially with England international Mings (4.5) out injured and there are better-performing budget picks elsewhere, but full-backs Guilbert (4.4m) and Targett (4.4m) have 2 assists each and could be worth a punt for your 5th defensive slot.

The standout pick, however, is Grealish (6.2m), who has plundered 4 goals and 4 assists from his advanced midfield role, and is central to his team’s attacking play. With no returns in the last 6 and 9, respectively, McGinn (5.7m) and Wesley (5.7m) are probably best avoided.

<Everton>
The Toffees have rediscovered their tenacity under Big Dunc’s caretaker managership, and their fixtures suggest they could rise up the table over the next few weeks. With the exception of City away in GW21, Everton’s favourable run stretches all the way to GW26 with ARS, BUR, new, mci, BHA, whu, NEW, wat, CRY.

Given the injury doubt hanging over Digne (5.7m), it’s hard to recommend anyone in their defence, although Holgate (4.4m) at least offers occasional out-of-position attacking threat. Further up the field, however, Richarlison (7.9m) has 4 goals in his last 6, and looks most likely to profit over the next few games – but keep an eye on the form of Calvert-Lewin (5.7m) too.

<Spurs>
With the Mourinho era now well and truly underway, Spurs look distinctly unlike a Mourinho team, conceding 7 goals in his first 5 league games. On the other hand, they have scored 14 goals in the same period, making them a very attractive attacking prospect ahead of a GW18-24 run that sees them face CHE, BHA, nor, sou, LIV, wat, NOR.

They might not be keeping clean sheets, but Spurs’ defensive assets are still clocking up points, particularly Aurier (5.1m), who has 2 assists in the last 5, and Vertonghen (5.2m), who has a goal and an assist in his last 2.

In midfield, it looks like a straight shoot out between Son (10.1m) and Alli (8.7m) – the South Korean has 3 goals and 6 assists in his last 8, while Dele has 5 goals and 3 assists in his last 9 – but those with lesser budgets may want to consider Moura (7m), who’s chipped in with 3 goals in the last 5 (4 starts).

Harry Kane (10.9m) remains an option of course with 4 goals and an assist in his last 8, but given the value offered by his midfield colleagues, its hard to justify the extra outlay – although that does make him an intriguing differential for those willing to take a punt on him (i.e. not me).

-Pablo