The Indian Super League rolls into action on matchday 7, while the midweek spectacle of the English Premier League brings along an intense footballing schedule for the Nostragamus fantasy managers.
The week promises extreme jubilation simply because of the vigorous games lined ahead, with Inter Milan hosting AS Roma in Serie A, while Lazio welcome league leaders Juventus at Stadio Olimpico. Back in England, Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby, and a certain Jose Mourinho will return to Old Trafford; now as boss of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Premier League action will resume over the weekend and it has something very special in store; the Manchester Derby. City, who now trail leaders Liverpool by a considerable margin, will host their noisy neighbours, Manchester United at the Etihad on Saturday.
ISL, on the other hand, has Mumbai City FC hosting Kerala Blasters, while Hyderabad FC and Jamshedpur FC have FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC to play for respectively. That said, here we give you five of the safest options so that you can have a rather relaxing week.
SUNIL CHHETRI
Club: Bengaluru FC
Match: Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC captain, Sunil Chhetri had a slow start to the new Indian Super League campaign, but has now gone on to score three goals in three consecutive games; including a 55th-minute winner against Kerala Blasters at home. Up next for him and his team is Odisha FC, who have won just one of their last five games and have drawn three.
Chhetri, who looked completely out of form earlier in the campaign, has now seemed to have put on his scoring boots and is on a fine run. Expect him to make a telling impact on the night.
ROY KRISHNA
Club: ATK
Match: NorthEast United vs ATK
ATK captain, Roy Krishna sent the home crowd in an absolute frenzy when he scored the injury-time equalizer against Mumbai City FC on Saturday. The goal took his tally to four in six games, and the Fiji international will look to up his figures when his team travels to Guwahati to face NorthEast United, who like ATK, too played a 2-2 draw against Mumbai.
Read | The Roy Krishna story: From Fiji via New Zealand to India
ATK, having scored 12 goals in six games, average 2 goals per game and Krishna has played a big role in most of them.
RAHEEM STERLING
Club: Manchester City
Match: Burnley vs Manchester City
Regardless of City’s result against Newcastle United during the weekend, the fact remains that Raheem Sterling is their biggest threat. And now that City are 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, expect Sterling to go all out when his team travels to Turf Moor to square off against Burnley on Tuesday (Wednesday, 1:45 am IST).
Having scored eight Premier League goals so far, Sterling will be key to City’s attack against the Clarets given that uncertainties remain over the return of striker Sergio Aguero. The 24-year-old, who averages 3.2 shots per games, is an odds-on favourite to either score or have an assist on the night. Keep him in your team and you’re set to have a roar.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Club: Liverpool
Match: Liverpool vs Everton
Five assists – two of which came during a 2-1 win over Brighton - and a goal in 14 league games remain a respectable return for a defender. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has continued his domination this season and when a misfiring Everton pay a visit at Anfield, expect him to give his neighbours a run for their money.
The young right-back is only one of the three Liverpool players to have played every single of the Premier League action so far, and given Everton’s attacking frailty, just expect him to deliver his usual vicious crosses into the area.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ
Club: Inter
Match: Inter vs AS Roma
22-year-old Lautaro Martinez has developed a telepathic understanding with fellow attacker Romelu Lukaku this season. The duo has been scoring goals for fun and their attacking link-up has been nothing but a pure treat even for the neutrals. The Argentine has scored three goals in his last two appearances across all competitions, and that has taken his tally to 11 goals this season.
So when Roma, who are struggling for consistency, pay a visit to San Siro, just count on Martinez to give you bonus points; it can either come from goals or even an assist.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @bengalurufc
