Here we are with the final instalment of 2023 of the Head to Head Hive FPL. No point getting sentimental in regards to things that have happened in the past because there is a whole load of considerations for managers to make in the near future.
Firstly, the Premier League takes a mini hiatus after GW20 with the FA Cup 3rd round next weekend and then the so called 'winter break' meaning that GW21 is spread out across a period of 10 days.
Within that period, Premier League stars from Asia and Africa will also be leaving to join up with their national teams. The way the EPL fixtures are scheduled does mean that for some players, they might just miss just a couple of games but for others whose nations make it through to the later stages then it could be GW25/26 before you see them strutting their stuff again in 'Old Blighty'.
Then of course we have the January transfer window which is due to open next week and it's likely that we'll see some action. Will Chelsea move for a centre forward? Could Newcastle look to bring in reinforcements in goal? Can Spurs find cover at centre-back? Any potential move have ramifications for current FPL players.
But fear not! If it's all getting too much, managers do now have the option of using their 2nd wildcard of the season.
As for GW20, here are the matches to watch...
Luton host Chelsea with the Hatters having won back to back Premier League matches for the first time this season. If they win again, they'll move (at least temporarily) out of the relegation zone and of course they do have a game in hand!
Also towards the foot of the table there is a massive game between Palace and Brentford. The Bees have lost 4 on the trot in the Premier League while Palace, despite some decent performances, haven't tasted victory in their last 8 matches. Yes, it's still relatively early in the season but there are the makings of bottom 3rd of the league beginning to form and a victory for either of these 2 would help pull them away from the melee of a relegation scrap.
Further up the league and FPL managers will note that Villa, City, Liverpool and Spurs all enjoy home advantage this week.
After impressive back to back wins against City and Arsenal, Villa have stumbled somewhat in drawing at home to Sheffield United and then letting a 2 goal lead slip at Old Trafford. Burnley meanwhile have taken 8 of their 11 Premier League points on the road this season and so are perhaps not the pushovers that they might appear to be.
City themselves host bottom club Sheffield United in what you'd assume will be a damage limitation exercise, while Liverpool go up against a Newcastle team that is rapidly dropping down the league table.
Finally, Spurs vs Bournemouth certainly has the potential for goals. Between them the 2 clubs have seen 44 goals scored in EPL matches this month with the ICT showing Solanke ranked 1st for goal threat over the last 5 GWs and Son ranked 6th during the same period.
GW19 Results
Prizes for winners of last week's head to head matches will be sent soon.
Division 1
Division 2
GW20 Fixtures
Division 1
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Two sides sitting just outside the relegation zone and hoping for a win to move them clear of the drop. Espada Numero Uno have been on a dream run of 3 consecutive victories while in the same period, Legion FC have failed to win.
On paper you'd have to say that Espada look good to make this 4 in a row and move ahead of their opponents today. Trent Alexander Arnold had a slow start to the season but is now showing the kind of form that lead to his hefty price tag as the start of the campaign. He as well as Pedro Porro look far more likely to offer points than any of Legion FC's players.
Similarly the lack of Solanke further forward means that Espada hold an advantage. How long can Legion FC persist with a £14mil asset sat on the bench?
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Lazz got a much neeeded win in GW19 to maintain contact at the top of the table while I Feel Qatari also tasted victory in their bid to avoid the drop.
TAA, Udogie and Cash all enjoy home advantage this weekend which is a significant advantage at the back for I Feel Qatari especially when considering that Lazz are reliant on 2 Everton defenders with the Toffees having conceeded 6 goals in their last 3 games.
Further forward, Alvarez becomes a more attractive investment while Haaland is absent, if nothing else due to the fact that he now appears to be on penalty duty too. Meanwhile Kudus has scored in his last 3 home games for West Ham who entertain a Brighton side yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season.
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There's not much to choose between these 2 squads in set-up or league position. However, Inzanagi FC will be keen to break a run of 4 matches without a win that has seen them slip into the bottom half of the table.
At the back it's the battle of the inverted Spurs full backs in Porro v Udogie with the former having contributed his 7th assist of the season in GW19. TAA has 4 assists himself this season with 3 of them coming in the last 7 GWs.
Further forward and Hee Chan is having a wonderful spell of form albeit that it's about to be interrupted by South Korea's involvement in the Asia Cup - you'd imagine they'd progress to at least the semi-finals. Meanwhile Eddie Nketiah hasn't started a Premier League match since the beginning of November.
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Creekside's recent form has taken them to 2nd in the league, 6 points off top place but with a fixture that they must fancy winning against a Content Creators team that they've heavily outscored lately.
With the drop-off in form of both Newcastle and Kieran Trippier then Creeskide certainly hold the advantage at the back with Porro and Trent.
In midfield, Salah hasn't had the best few weeks but you'd still be brave to back against him coming good in what will be his last appearance before departing for AFCON.
The decision to captain Almiron in the last couple of weeks hasn't worked out well for Content Creators and with the Toon Army travelling to Anfield you'd have thought that tactic will require a rethink.
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Whyte FC's great run of form came to an end in GW19 but they remain in the mix at the top of the table. Suffragette City meanwhile have suffered back to back defeats leaving them firmly in the relegation zone at the half way point.
The differentials in this one are few and far between. With a couple of defenders unavailable, Suffragette City are limited in their options at the back unless they dip into the transfer market. However, with Porro and Senesei playing against each other, then Whyte FC's players may end up taking points from one another.
In midfield it's Son vs Bowen, with both players playing in a more advanced role and contining to put up good numbers. Whyte FC have held onto Haaland for now but Suffragette City's differential in the returning Foster has made little impact this season.
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Shamzy's lead at the top of Division 1 has narrowed but is still an impressive 6 points as we enter the second half of the season. They've been top of the league for the majority of the time, can they hold on for the next 4 months? FC Mckane's excellent run of form has faltered in recent weeks but this would be a great time to rediscover it!
The forward line-ups for both sides are identical but Shamzy FC can still bank on the in-form Kudus and Hee Chan banging in the goals for one final week before they depart for their national sides. Do Shamzy FC bite the bullet now and transfer one of them out or wait until next week?
At the back there is very little to choose between the 2 sides. Villa will certainly hope to tighten up defensively in their game against Burnley. Konsa and co. haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 3 while normally reliable Everton and Newcastle are looking similarly fragile in defence at the moment. Offensive output looks more likely from one of the Spurs full-backs.
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Nonz FC's great run of form has propelled them back into the top half of the table and if they can continue it in GW20 they'll move ahead of today's rivals thoth442 FC. With plenty of differentials across all areas this should be one of the contests to watch this weekend.
In goal it's likely to be West Ham's Areola fresh from his heroics against Arsenal up against Chelsea stand in Petrovic. Chelsea have struggled to keep clean sheets all season and face a tough prospect at Kenilworth Road.
Elsewhere at the back, thoth442 have 2 Arsenal defenders but the Gunners have kept just 1 clean sheet in their last 6 Premier League matches and the underlying stats suggest they aren't quite as good from set-pieces this season either. With Tsimikas and Robertson out injured it looks as though Joe Gomez might get an extended run in the Liverpool side - he's never scored for the Reds...
Darwin and Alvarez vs Solanke and Watkins should be a really good battle. Nonz FC do have a bit of a selection dilema brewing with 3 players out injured and Kudus and Salah soon to depart for international duty, it suggests either a wildcard or a points hit is imminent in the coming weeks.
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Another match between 2 teams sat next to each other in midtable. One side will be looking to move into the top half while the other will be left looking nervously over their shoulder.
On paper you'd say that Hiveheadz have the slighty better looking defence for GW20 with Porro and Cash enjoying home advantage. Saliba and Gabriel will probably cancel each other out so Yagman's best bet for players making a difference at the back are Castagne and Guehi.
However, with Wissa also in the team it means that for Yagman's forward differential to suceed then Guehi will almost certainly lose his clean sheet bonus. Elsewhere it's a battle between Spurs forwards Son and Richarlison. If either of them can work out the offside rule then they might be in business!
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Likodra FC beat second from bottom BlockchainFPL last week despite leaving 26 points on the bench. The Amirians will be hoping that their opponents are in a similarly charitable mood this week so that they can break their epic losing streak and close the 6 point gap at the bottom.
Much of Likodra's recent success has been built on their plethora of attacking full-backs and you'd certainly imagine that they provide them the edge again in this match.
Further forward and things are pretty even. The Amirians do hold an advantage in as much as they posses the man of the moment in Solanke while Likodra also have a couple of players missing through injury and suspension.
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Neither side has breached the 1000 point barrier yet this season and on current form, that mark must still feel a long way off for BlockchainFPL!
Having 3 Newcastle players in the squad during a period of 7 defeats from 8 games in all competitions doesn't help and with a couple of injuries in the squad as well then desperate times may call for desperate measures.
Augment FC will be banking on West Ham to continue their good form in a home fixture against a Brighton side that is yet to keep a clean sheet this season while all of BlockchainFPL's attacking differentials face tough away fixtures in GW20.
Division 2
Good luck in your head to head matches this week!