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Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 12

FPL is back after a break, is your team ready for the upcoming Gameweek?

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 12

Eden Hazard (Photo: Facebook)

International breaks are a welcome break for some, but most football fans don’t know what to do when the English Premier League isn’t on.
And for those brave souls who play Fantasy Premier League (FPL), there are potential landmines everywhere, with injuries and suspensions to take stock of.
Each week, thestatesman.com will help to make the right moves on the FPL with a comprehensive article on who to buy for the coming gameweek.
The indicators are:
Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.
Prices marked with a (+) indicate an increase in Base Price.
Prices marked with a (-) indicate a decrease in Base Price.
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Middlesbrough (A), Spurs (H), Man City (A), West Brom (H), Sunderland (A)
Price: 5.5
Score: 45
Ownership: 9.9%
Why yes: Chelsea are keeping clean-sheet after clean-sheet, six in a row to be precise. Against struggling Middlesbrough, there may yet be another rout.
Why no: Those who have the likes of Cesar Azpilcueta, Marcos Alonso should steer clear of Courtois. Games against Spurs and Manchester City will be tough. 
Defenders
Patrick van Aanholt
Team: Sunderland
Fixtures: Hull (H), Liverpool (A), Leicester (H), Swansea (A), Chelsea (H)
Price: 5.0
Score: 26
Ownership: 4.1%
Why yes: A win at Bournemouth has revitalised the flagging Black Cats and against the relegation rivals Hull City, they have a perfect game to build on their good run of form. Expect van Aanholt to be in the thick of action on both ends of the pitch.
Why no: Plenty of FPL managers have Jordan Pickford in their sides and playing both is a high-risk strategy which is unlikely to bring rewards. Fixtures after Hull aren’t the kindest.
Leighton Baines
Team: Everton
Fixtures: Swansea (H), Southampton (A), Man Utd (H), Watford (A) and Arsenal (H)
Price: 5.3 (-)
Score : 21
Ownership: 4.7%
Why yes: With Hector Bellerin missing for a while, Everton’s flying full-back is a worth option. Back from injury, and playing against a Swansea side that can’t stop losing, Baines is likely to plunder some serious points. After that debacle against Chelsea, the Toffees are likely to blitz the Swans
Why no: Age is catching up to the once ever-present defender and Everton’s defence this season hasn’t been as tight as their fans would have hoped. Managers who have the likes of Seamus Coleman/ Phil Jagielka should avoid Baines.
Midfielders
Eden Hazard
Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Middlesbrough (A), Spurs (H), Man City (A), West Brom (H), Sunderland (A)
Price: 10.1 (+)
Score: 82
Ownership: 28.5%
Why yes: Chelsea are the most in-form team in the league and Hazard is their most in-form player. Which makes this choice a no-brainer really, even if you have Diego Costa in your side. Could run riot against lowly Middlesbrough if they manage to expose them early.
Why no: The Belgian is terribly expensive and games against Spurs and Manchester City won’t be plain sailing. Somewhat surprisingly, Middlesbrough are known to run a tight ship, so those expecting a one-sided result may be in for a disappointment. Hazard isn’t much of a differential as well.
Anthony Martial
Team: Manchester United
Fixtures: Arsenal (H), West Ham (H), Everton (A), Spurs (H) and Crystal Palace (A)
Price: 9.3 (-) 
Score: 24
Ownership: 2.7%
Why yes: With Ibrahimovic (And possibly Rooney?) out of the picture against Arsenal, Martial is in line to add to really get his 2016-17 season going. A player who lives for the big games, Martial may just prove to be a key player in a fixture that has always been high on goals.
Why no: Where he plays is anybody’s guess, with Marcus Rashford likely to lead the line. Under Jose Mourinho, United stifle their opponents attacking firepower, so if the clash becomes a tactical battle, Martial may not get too many chances.
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku
Team: Everton
Fixtures: Swansea (H), Southapton (A), Man Utd (H), Watford (A) and Arsenal (H)
Price: 9.9 (+)
Score:
Ownership: 34.8%
Why yes: Everton have been in a bit of slump but Lukaku has still been providing the goods consistently. After a blank against his ex-employers Chelsea, Lukaku will go all out to put a stuttering Swansea to the sword. Probably the only consistent player in the whole Toffees squad.
Why no: The Belgian isn’t much of a differential and is quite pricey for sure.
Jermain Defoe
Team: Sunderland
Fixtures: Hull (H), Liverpool (A), Leicester (H), Swansea (A) and Chelsea (H)
Price: 7.4 (+)
Score: 61
Ownership: 15.2%
Why yes: One win is all it takes to ignite a stirring run and while Sunderland are someway off reeling off win after win, their prospects look good against Hull. Their de facto striker Defoe is in decent form, making for a great bargain buy.
Why no: Defoe isn’t much of a differential, and the fit-again Victor Anichebe is a cheaper option as well. Sunderland aren’t the most dependable side in the Premier League, and with David Moyes at the helm, one never knows what happens next?
PS: The Gameweek 12 deadline is 11.30 am GMT/5 pm IST, so make sure all transfers are completed before that!

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