The FA Cup Fourth Round covered the weekend schedule for many clubs up and down the country, but that does mean a full Premier League round of fixtures has to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
With only two weeks to go before the Champions League and Europa League resume, February is a very busy month for the top clubs in the Premier League. That is especially the case for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea who have progressed to the League Cup Final and the FA Cup Fifth Round meaning they will be playing two games a week for the entire month and squad rotation is going to be key to the managers as they also try and maintain the momentum picked up.
The fixtures are split over two days this midweek and it gives Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United the chance to put some pressure on their rivals for the Premier League title and the top four places. There are big games for those clubs fighting against relegation too as Fulham host Brighton on Tuesday and Southampton host Crystal Palace on Wednesday and Fantasy Football is back this week too.
Below you can read the selections from the games as well as the stand out players for Fantasy purposes, although I did mention I am thinking of a new way to promote the players I like going forward.
Arsenal v Cardiff City Pick: The Premier League is back after last weekend was reserved for FA Cup Fourth Round action.
Arsenal were one of those clubs involved, but a 1-3 home defeat to Manchester United really upset the locals. I really am not sure why the Arsenal fans are so quick to jump on a few negative results and I believed they would give Unai Emery some time to transition his team as he would like, especially after hounding out Arsene Wenger at the end of last season.
Perhaps the overachievement earlier in the season has raised expectations too much, but Arsenal were picking up results that they perhaps had not deserved to at that time. The substitutions made by Emery in the long unbeaten run suggested he had the Midas touch, but that has not been the case as much recently.
To be perfectly frank I am not sure what the Arsenal fans are moaning about- yes it is never nice to lose at home in the Cup and defeats to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup and Manchester United in the FA Cup would have hurt. However Unai Emery has his team just 3 points out of the Champions League spots and they are still involved in the Europa League with the ambition to return to the premier European competition still very much the goal for the club.
The fans should be happier at the end of this ninety minutes anyway as Arsenal can join Chelsea on the same number of points if they win this game. They should be able to do that with the better performances in recent weeks coming at the Emirates Stadium and they are facing a Cardiff City team struggling for goals and confidence.
It is going to be an emotional evening for Cardiff City who play for the first time since Emiliano Sala's plane went missing over the English Channel just days after signing for the club. While that search continues privately, most will accept that Sala's fate has been decided and it is going to be hard for the players and fans even if he had not yet pulled on the shirt for the club.
Neil Warnock has to try and help the players through a difficult time, but this fixture looks a tough one and his focus may already be on the next two League games against Bournemouth and Southampton where Cardiff City have more chances to earn points. Against the top teams Cardiff City have conceded too many goals and they don't score enough and I do think that will be the case here too.
Arsenal have recently beaten the likes of Burnley and Fulham by two or more goal margins and even through their defensive problems I think the home team will be able to do that here.
Fantasy Star: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang- I can see many people picking him with what looks a relatively comfortable home game to come. The Gabonese striker remains in good form through Arsenal's inconsistencies.
Alternative: Saed Kolasinac- I considered him if only because this should be a good chance for Arsenal to keep a rare clean sheet. The left back is also a threat going forward and good for an assist or two.
Fulham v Brighton Pick: This is a big game for Fulham who are trying to somehow put a positive run together and give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop. It has also become an important one for Brighton and Chris Hughton who selected a weakened team in a very open FA Cup that means having to go through a Replay and that decision was made with the Premier League games to come in mind.
Failing to get a result in their two League games this week will make that FA Cup selection stand out, but Hughton does enjoy the support of the fans who are going to give him time as manager after the successes of the last couple of years.
Claudio Ranieri does not enjoy that same rapport with the Fulham fans yet and the Italian manager is facing increasing pressure as his team can't find any consistency. With games against Brighton and Crystal Palace to come this week, Fulham have to be targeting at least four points to give them hope of closing the gap to those teams outside the bottom three in the Premier League table.
It should make this a tense fixture on what is going to be a cold evening in London on Tuesday with some suggestions it could even be snowing. The performances on the pitch have not exactly warmed things up for the Fulham fans, but they have given it a go at home and I do think a little more fortune would have seen better results for them.
Finding the balance between attack and defence has been difficult and this Brighton team do offer more of a threat going forward away from home than they did twelve months ago. However they also look a little vulnerable defensively despite the organisation and shape given to them by the manager and the layers may have underestimated the chance of seeing at least three goals here.
I do think both teams will have opportunities to find the net and there is enough on the line to think neither manager will settle for a point. It will do Brighton more good than Fulham, but the home team pushing ahead may leave spaces to exploit and I will back at least three goals to be shared out between these teams on Tuesday evening.
Fantasy Star: Aleksander Mitrovic- he is on penalty duties and likely to be the key to any points Fulham can get out of this one.
Alternative: Shane Duffy- has scored a couple of big goals for Brighton away from home and Fulham do look vulnerable from set pieces.
Huddersfield Town v Everton Pick: A new manager can sometimes give a team a real boost in confidence, but it is going to take more than that for Huddersfield Town to escape the trapdoor in the Premier League this season. At least the arrival of Jan Siewert may make the transition from David Wagner a little easier for the players to manage with the new boss also fresh off the Borussia Dortmund II production line.
Siewert has had a few days to get his ideas across to his new team, but Huddersfield Town have to find a major source of goals to have any chance over the next couple of months. The preparation has probably already begun for life back in the Championship after three special seasons under David Wagner, but Siewert has to hope there is some fight left in his players.
This could be a good chance for Huddersfield Town to earn some priceless points as they host an Everton team who have been struggling for consistency. Marco Silva is under pressure and he won't have been helped by a controversial goal awarded to Millwall in their upset win over Everton in the FA Cup Fourth Round on Saturday.
Everton did crush Burnley 1-5 at Turf Moor at the end of last month, but they have been erratic away from home and it is very hard to know what to expect from them. The 5 losses in 6 away games in all competitions have seen Everton go down at Brighton, Southampton and Millwall in their last 3 away games and I do think this is a team that is struggling to perform for the manager.
On a pure talent level Everton should be beating Huddersfield Town easily and the home team have lost 5 in a row in front of their own fans. However I do think Everton are looking just as short as they did in the Cup tie at Millwall and The Terriers have had a few more days to prepare and could have a positive reaction for a new manager.
Ultimately I wouldn't risk too much on this selection because Huddersfield Town are a poor side and Everton have shown flashes of their ability. With that in mind I will back Huddersfield Town with a start to avoid defeat at the very least.
Fantasy Star: Lucas Digne- I know I've written I fancy Huddersfield Town to get something from this game, but the lack of goals can't be ignored. Lucas Digne also strikes a mean free kick so assists and goals are also relevant for him.
Alternative: Jonas Lossl- if Huddersfield Town are going to get a point, maybe investing funds on a cheap goalkeeper is the way forward for this one. Jonas Lossl will need a big game for The Terriers to secure any point they potentially earn.
Wolves v West Ham United Pick: Both Wolves and West Ham United were considered clubs who could focus on the FA Cup and have a very deep run in a competition that was going to lose at least two of the big six by the end of the Fourth Round. Tottenham Hotspur were also going to exit, while both Wolves and West Ham United had away trips to struggling clubs from League One.
Unbelievably both clubs found themselves trailing by multiple goals at Shrewsbury Town and AFC Wimbledon respectively, but Wolves were able to come from 2-0 down to earn a late 2-2 draw and enter the hat for the Fifth Round.
West Ham United were not so capable as they trailed 3-0 at League One bottom club AFC Wimbledon and were eventually beaten 4-2 in a fixture that left manager Manuel Pellegrini 'ashamed'. Many of those starters won't get many opportunities through the remainder of this season and Pellegrini will be expecting a big reaction from his players on Tuesday.
It is a tough ground to get that reaction considering West Ham United have lost 3 away games in a row and conceded at least twice in each defeat. On the other hand Wolves have won 4 of their last 6 at Molineux and beaten the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in that run.
Nuno Espirito Santo will pick a much stronger team for this League game than he did in the Cup and I do think Wolves have the edge with home field the key. They have been scoring plenty of goals at home of late and I expect them to expose the vulnerable West Ham United defence while the latter set of players will have really taken a big confidence hit from the defeat at AFC Wimbledon.
There will be a stronger West Ham United team out for this one too, but I think Wolves at home are a tough proposition for many teams. They should have enough goals to edge this one and I will look for Wolves to win this one, but backing them on the Asian Handicap at least returns half your stake in the event of a draw.
Fantasy Star: Raul Jimenez- came off the bench to give Wolves a lifeline in their two goal recovery in the 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday. Leads the line for Wolves and should have chances in this one.
Alternative: Diego Jota- playing further up the pitch and well rested after his hat-trick exploits last time out against Leicester City. Getting to grips with the Premier League now.
Manchester United v Burnley Pick: I stated on Saturday that I was not convinced Burnley were too bothered about the FA Cup Fourth Round tie at Manchester City, but they have suffered multiple times on that ground over the last eighteen months. The 5-0 defeat was thus not a big surprise, but Burnley have had more success at Old Trafford having earned a point in each of their last two visits here.
Sean Dyche will remind his players of that and try and get them to ignore the strong run that Manchester United have been on.
Any team that wins 8 in a row in all competitions has to be respected and Manchester United look to be playing with a confidence that has been missing in the last twelve months. They are getting forward in numbers and teams are beginning to feel the pressure of the attacking talent Manchester United have.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to be given credit for taking off the handbrake from his team and the players have responded with smiles leading to very strong performances. The win at Arsenal on Friday was arguably the best performance of the lot as Manchester United fully deserved a 1-3 win at the home of a top four rival and I expect them to back that up on Tuesday.
You know Burnley will be physically tough and defensively well organised, but they have struggled against the top clubs this season. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have had comfortable away wins against them, while Manchester City (twice) and Arsenal have beaten them by two or more goals at home.
They were involved in a stubborn 1-0 defeat at Wembley Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur, but the home team missed a lot of chances that day and Burnley are going to need to ride their luck in a similar manner here. At the moment Manchester United have too many players in good form to believe that will happen and I will look for the home team to win by a comfortable margin on the night.
Fantasy Star: Paul Pogba- Marcus Rashford has been the key player for Manchester United of late, but Paul Pogba's driving runs through the middle has led to more shots on goal than earlier in the season. Back on penalty duty too.
Alternative: Victor Lindelof- Manchester United have struggled for clean sheets, but Victor Lindelof been the stand out performer in the defence. Getting closer to a first goal for United in the last couple of games too.
Newcastle United v Manchester City Pick: There is a clear difference in squad depth between Newcastle United and Manchester City and the performances in the FA Cup Fourth Round on Saturday underlined that.
Both Rafael Benitez and Pep Guardiola will pick stronger teams for this Premier League fixture as both Newcastle United and Manchester City are desperate for the three points for differing reasons.
However let's not beat around the bush and state that Benitez would rip your arm off if you handed him a point right now. That was the case when these teams played last season at St James' Park as Newcastle United barely came out of their defensive shell and ended with a comfortable 0-1 defeat to Manchester City.
I don't think Benitez is going to change his opinions for this one and I expect Newcastle United to sit in with a lot of numbers and hope to steal something on the break. The main ambition will be to contain Manchester City though and make sure Newcastle United have something to steal in the final twenty minutes, but it is a big ask on the current form of the two teams.
Manchester City have been scoring goals for fun over the last month and while the majority of the biggest wins have come at home, they have scored at least three goals in back to back away Premier League wins. This Newcastle United team have conceded at least two goals to Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at home this season and I fully expect Manchester City to have too much for their hosts and put the pressure on Liverpool.
My gut feeling is that Newcastle United are going to hope for something to break their way and they may well decide to accept a defeat as long as they are not hammered in this one. With a limited threat the other way, I think Manchester City will be able to win this one with a clean sheet to boot.
Fantasy Star: Raheem Sterling- been well rested and should be itching to go. Scored the winner at St James' Park last season and also against them earlier this season too.
Alternative: Leroy Sane- another who has been well rested and should cause plenty of problems for Newcastle United.
Did want to stick Sergio Aguero here, but Gabriel Jesus is pushing him as a starter. Aguero has an amazing record against Newcastle United, but the majority of those goals have been at the Etihad Stadium.
Bournemouth v Chelsea Pick: This is a busy month coming up for Chelsea who have received the plaudits for their Cup exploits, but need to make sure they are finding some consistency in the Premier League. With Arsenal and Manchester United breathing down their necks, Maurizio Sarri is under pressure to get Gonzalo Higuain ticking immediately, while the Europa League is another potential avenue back into the Champions League.
Getting back into the premier European competition had to be the top goal for Sarri when he was appointed manager back in July and Chelsea have opened the door to the teams below them by winning half of their last 6 Premier League games.
They have remained strong away from Stamford Bridge though and I think Chelsea are facing Bournemouth at the right time with the home team struggling for consistency over the last couple of months. The Cherries have only lost 1 of their last 6 home Premier League games, but they've been visited by three of the top six so far this season and lost each of those games.
Bournemouth do have goals in the side which makes them dangerous, but Callum Wilson is a doubt for this one and that does hurt their chances. Dominic Solanke is not yet ready to make his debut and I can see a rested Eden Hazard inspiring Chelsea to a win at a ground where they have enjoyed plenty of success since Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League.
As a Manchester United fan I would love to see Chelsea slip up here, but I don't think that happens on Bournemouth's current form and they can become the latest top six club to win at the Vitality Stadium. The Blues may need two goals to get it done, but Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have hit at least two goals in visits to this ground in the 2018/19 season and I would not be surprised to see Chelsea do the same in an important away win.
Fantasy Star: Eden Hazard- boring selection, but he should be back in his favourite position and is the key performer whenever Chelsea play well.
Alternative: Gonzalo Higuain- I am not sure how Higuain is going to fit in with Chelsea in terms of getting used to the English style of football, but he should have chances for a first goal against a struggling Bournemouth team.
Southampton v Crystal Palace Pick: Teams sitting in 14th and 15th in the Premier League meet on Wednesday and neither Crystal Palace or Southampton can feel very comfortable about their current positions.
Both teams are 3 points clear of Cardiff City in 18th place and that means the winner in this League game may begin to feel they are going to be able to pull away from the relegation zone. However the losing team will be in danger of being dragged into a very tough relegation battle and that makes this an important and potentially tense fixture.
Out of the two teams Southampton may be trending in a more positive direction with consecutive League wins behind them at the same Crystal Palace have lost twice in a row in the Premier League. However The Eagles have shown they can be very effective away from home and Southampton remain vulnerable defensively to say the least.
On the other hand Southampton have looked very good going forward with some key players reinvigorated by the arrival of Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager and I do think this could develop into a very good game of football.
It may be one for the neutrals rather than the fans who will know the importance of winning this fixture, but the attacking threats coupled with the defensive issues suggests we could see at least three goals here. The last 6 games at St Mary's have all featured three or more goals, while 4 of the last 5 Crystal Palace games away from Selhurst Park have done the same.
5 of the last 7 between these clubs at St Mary's have also produced three or more goals shared out and I will back that to be the case in this one too.
Fantasy Star: Nathan Redmond- been in fine form under the new manager for Southampton and a real threat in the final third.
Alternative: Andros Townsend- this could be a fun game to watch and Townsend can take advantage of space afforded to him as Southampton perhaps focus on Wilfried Zaha. Perhaps on penalties too if Luka Milivojevic is on the bench.
Liverpool v Leicester City Pick: Two teams who should be well rested come into the live television offering from the Premier League on Wednesday night and both Liverpool and Leicester City are searching for the points for differing reasons.
The form of the two clubs is quite different too with Liverpool looking like they have bounced back effectively from early losses this month while things have worsened for Leicester City and Claude Puel.
The Frenchman has to be feeling the pressure as Leicester City manager with the defeat to Newport County in the FA Cup looking worse and worse when you think of the teams remaining in that competition. Winning silverware should be important to a team like Leicester City, but Puel has prioritised finishing 7th over a strong Cup run and that won't fit well with the agenda of the owners nor the fans.
It would be easy for the Leicester City players to down tools if they are as unhappy with Puel's methods as they seem to suggest, but instead they have rallied around their manager. Whenever Puel has been under pressure Leicester City have found a big performance but doing that at Anfield looks a long shot.
Liverpool have been very strong here with 9 straight wins and they have begun scoring plenty of goals. The 4-3 win over Crystal Palace ten days ago saw Liverpool score three or more goals for the fourth consecutive game at Anfield in the Premier League and they may need more of the same considering the defensive problems that still surround the club.
I would expect Virgil Van Dijk to be passed fit for this one, but Leicester City are capable of causing problems with the speed they have in the final third. They have given the top six clubs problems in fixtures against them and Leicester City could do the same for Liverpool despite losing 6 of their last 7 visits to Anfield including the last 3 in a row.
However they have only been beaten by more than two goals once in that run of visits and Leicester City can make this one a competitive outing too. Like I suggested with Crystal Palace, backing Leicester City with a two goal start on the Asian Handicap looks the way to go even if Liverpool may ultimately win the game.
At worst I would imagine the stake would be returned unless the Leicester City players have checked out on Claude Puel.
Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- another uninspiring selection, but Liverpool might need to outscore Leicester City with their defensive problems and Salah has four goals in last three at Anfield.
Alternative: Roberto Firmino- looks to be back in form and amongst the goals and Liverpool should have the majority of chances in this fixture.
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford Pick: If everyone was fit and firing for Tottenham Hotspur you would expect them to be too strong for Watford, but this is a very difficult patch for the home team. Mauricio Pochettino has been criticised for some of his comments made in the aftermath of the FA Cup exit on Sunday, but I really do feel he is overachieving by keeping Tottenham Hotspur in the top four while working with very little financial support.
That lack of support does mean the squad depth suffers and he could not risk key players burning out at a time when Dele Alli and Harry Kane are set to be on the sidelines for at least another month.
Mauricio Pochettino will feel justified in his approach if he can guide Tottenham Hotspur to a couple of wins this week when they host Watford and Newcastle United. The squad is still stretched though and Watford are proving to be no pushovers as they want to continue with the momentum they have put together.
A single loss in 10 games in all competitions is a very strong run for a club like Watford, while they have been even better on their travels. The Hornets are unbeaten in 6 on their travels in all competitions, but they have won 4 of those and have scored at least twice in each game.
They are still falling short against the very best teams though and Watford have lost all 5 games played against the top six in the Premier League since beating Tottenham Hotspur at home. The side have a poor record when visiting Tottenham Hotspur in the League too and I do think the players are going to bounce back from their Cup exit at Selhurst Park and prove the manager was right to rotate his squad.
Watford may play their part here, but I will back Tottenham Hotspur to win a fixture featuring two or more goals.
Fantasy Star: Christian Eriksen- should be back having been rested on Sunday and the key attacker who can supply the goals and assists for Tottenham Hotspur.
Alternative: Troy Deeney- if Watford are going to challenge Tottenham Hotspur, Troy Deeney may be the best avenue for goals.
MY PICKS: Arsenal - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Fred
Fulham-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.40 Betfair Sportsbook
Huddersfield Town + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Fred
Wolves - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor
Manchester City Win to Nil @ 1.91 Bet Victor
Chelsea to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet Fred
Southampton-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Betfair Sportsbook
Leicester City + 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Victor
Tottenham Hotspur & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet Fred
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