The first month of 2020 has already flown by, and just 13 games remain for our Premier League sides between now and the end of the season.
But let’s look back for now, as we give you the Fantasy League team of the month* for January.
It won’t come as any surprise that we could’ve filled almost a whole XI with Liverpool players as their flawless season continues.
But rules is rules, and this has given rise to some unheralded and unexpected names in the lineup.
Starting at the back, Jack Stephens has his moment in the sun. The Devon-born defender has been a key part of Southampton’s frankly extraordinary renaissance since that defeat, and with Maya Joshida departing to Sampdoria last month, there is more scope for him to become a regular in the Saints’ defence.
Next to midfield and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Similarly to Stephens, the 27-year-old has been part of a team that looked dead and buried, but that has sprung back into life.
His versatility and energy have been a big factor in the Hornets’ Nigel Pearson-led turnaround, and with three goals and two assists already this term, he could build on that to drag his side further out of the relegation mire.
Finally up top, and Chris Wood. With 10 Premier League goals this season, perhaps he should no longer be unheralded.
And in Jay Rodriguez, Burnley look to have one of the most potent front twos in the league (ignoring that most sides play with one…)
That was none more so evident at Old Trafford in their hugely impressive 2-0 win on January 22, when both Wood and Rodriguez were on target.
Having done a retro, now let’s look forward to February.
And once again, we’ve oiled up the cogs in our Fixture Difficulty calculator. In essence, the lower the number, the easier the fixtures.
So here it is in all its glory**:
| Liverpool | 110 |
| Sheffield United | 115 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 120 |
| Crystal Palace | 140 |
| Newcastle United | 140 |
| Burnley | 150 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 155 |
| Aston Villa | 160 |
| Everton | 175 |
| Southampton | 180 |
| Manchester United | 185 |
| Arsenal | 200 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 215 |
| Leicester City | 220 |
| Chelsea | 225 |
| Norwich City | 225 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 225 |
| Manchester City | 230 |
| Watford | 230 |
| West Ham United | 240 |
As if the odds weren’t already stacked against the chasing bunch, Liverpool have only gone and got themselves the easiest (by our system!) run of fixtures.
Incredibly, their three games in February are against…the bottom three.
Take nine points from those matches (West Ham, Watford and Norwich) and they will have an astonishing 80 points from just 28 games.
Two of those sides – West Ham and Watford – are, conversely, at the other end of the difficulty spectrum as – even aside from their respective games vs the champions-elect – they both face a tough month.
Norwich already look condemned but the remaining two relegation spots could be filled by any of six teams.
Sheffield United also look to have a favourable few weeks ahead as they look to consolidate what would be a remarkable top six place.
And they used the transfer window to bolster their ranks, with the likes of Panagiotis Retsos, Richairo Zivkovic and the sought-after Sander Berge all arriving at Bramall Lane.
To conclude, we’ll sign off with your ‘Five to Watch’, where we pick one player per position who we think will star during the month to come:
| Pos. | Player | Why? |
| GK | Alisson | Bit of a no-brainer this month. Since Joe Gomez has come back into the Liverpool side, they can’t stop keeping clean sheets – to the obvious benefit of the big Brazilian’s points tally |
| FB | Patrick van Aanholt | Back fit and with his future at the club uncertain, the attack-minded Dutchman should have a point to prove |
| CB | Jack O’Connell | Nine shutouts already this season and will face some blunt attacks in February |
| MF | Conor Hourihane | The Villan has three goals and two Fantasy League assists in just ten appearances this term, and should add to that now he is over injury |
| ST | Gabriel Martinelli | Already the first Gunners’ teenager since Nicolas Anelka to score 10 goals in a season, the 18-year-old is going from strength to strength under Mikel Arteta |
Happy February Fantasy League-ing!
*Caveats to our team of the month (TotM) selection:
- We keep a two players per team quota in place
- We keep formation considerations too – most of the higher-scoring players are strikers, but that wouldn’t be a team!
- Where there are ties for points and neither of the above apply, we make a subjective judgement
** Caveats to our Fixture Difficulty Calculator:
- It includes Sunday 1 March fixtures
- It doesn’t take into account that the Carabao Cup finalists may have their fixtures re-arranged outside of this period
