This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
Gameweek 33 of the Premier League features an abbreviated schedule, as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool will be at Wembley to represent three-fourths of this year's FA Cup semifinalists.
As a result, their respective originally scheduled matches versus Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers and Hull City, respectively, were rescheduled, leaving just seven matches on the Premiership fixture list for this weekend.
With Liverpool off, Southampton could jump back into the top six Saturday, depending on their result at tenth-place Stoke City.
Meanwhile, a Crystal Palace team that has reeled off five wins from their past six matches will strive to keep the good times coming at home versus a struggling West Brom outfit.
While the Baggies still appear safe from relegation, 19th-place Burley's attempt to crawl out of the basement will continue at Everton, and last-place Leicester will have similar hopes of survival when Swansea City visits King Power Stadium.
At the other end of the table, Saturday's marquee matchup takes place at Stamford Bridge, as first-place Chelsea's title quest will be tested by a red hot, albeit banged-up, Manchester United team fresh off dismantling rivals Manchester City last weekend.
Speaking of the Citizens, they'll be desperate to right the ship at home Sunday versus a West Ham team that has also slipped-up in recent weeks.
On that note, Newcastle has lost five straight games heading into their home game Sunday versus Tottenham, who took just one point from their past two games, against Burnley and Aston Villa.
With that shortened schedule in mind, let's try to pinpoint some fantasy difference-makers in the Best XI for Gameweek 33.
Goalkeeper
Lukasz Fabiankski
In his first season as a No. 1 goalkeeper in the Premiership, all Fabianski has done is secure 11 clean sheets through 31 games. Only Southampton's Fraser Forster and Liverpool's Simon Mignolet have more scoreless outings (13) at the position, and Fabianski boasts a decent chance at closing the gap this weekend. That's because the Polish international will play last-place Leicester City. Although the Foxes have won consecutive games, scoring five goals over that span, they've still produced merely 15 goals at home this season. That mark ranks fourth-worst in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Fabianski has earned clean sheet points in three of Swansea's last five away matches, totaling 19 saves over that span as well.
Defenders
Leighton Baines
Despite their rough start to the campaign, Everton's usually solid defense has shored up to rank 10th in the league in goals allowed. In fact, the Toffees have conceded just two goals over their recent four-game unbeaten streak, which stands a good chance of continuing at home versus Burnley on Saturday. The Clarets have not scored in five of their last six matches, so Everton's best defender, Baines, is a stellar selection for Gameweek 33. The Englishman also brings eight assists into Saturday's match, evidencing the established offensive threat he carries along with the aforementioned defensive prospects.
Jose Fonte
While fellow Southampton defenders Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand tantalize most fantasy owners, Fonte has quietly been plenty impressive himself. To that point, no defender or goalkeeper sports more clean sheets than Fonte's 15 on the campaign. One of those unblemished performances came versus Stoke City earlier this season, so Fonte and Southampton's league-best defense will be going for the shutout against the Potters in Premiership play this weekend. Considering Stoke's current four-game winless streak, as well as Southampton's aspirations for Europe, Fonte could lead an inspired performance at the Britannia Stadium.
Joel Ward
Along with having started all of Crystal Palace's 32 Premier League games this season, Ward has played all 2,880 minutes of the Eagles' revived campaign. Under new manager Alan Pardew, only Arsenal and Manchester United have earned more points (18) than Palace's 15 over the last six matches. While Ward's first goal of the season came over that stretch, it's somewhat surprising that the Eagles have failed to keep a clean sheet during their recent ascent. However, this weekend's home match versus West Brom seems primed for such an awaited clean-sheet occasion. No team has scored fewer than West Brom's nine away goals this season, making the always-involved Ward an enticing proposition this weekend.
Midfielders
Eden Hazard
A nominee for the PFA Player of the Year award, Hazard set up the deciding goal in Chelsea's 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers last weekend. That contribution served as Hazard's eighth assist of the campaign and brought his tally to three goals and two assists over his last five Premier League outings. The Belgian has yet to score against this week's hated opponents, Manchester United, but he's undoubtedly Chelsea's best scoring option with top striker Diego Costa (hamstring) still sidelined. Furthermore, the Red Devils will be without defensive-minded players Michael Carrick (calf) and Phil Jones (ankle), and could deploy the in-form but tactically naïve Juan Mata on the right against his former club. That might result in more opportunities for Hazard to burst forward from his left wing position and cause danger for United's back line.
David Silva
The left side of attack is where both of Manchester City's goals against Manchester United came last weekend, and Silva was responsible for creating the Citizens' early opener. Overall, the Spaniard has seven assists to go with a career-best 12 goals thus far. Silva's second goal of the campaign came in October against West Ham, who he'll have the opportunity to face once again this weekend. City's poor form has been well documented lately, but Manuel Pellegrini's men still lead the Premier League in both goals scored (65) and home goals (40). Meanwhile, only lowly Leicester has shipped more goals than West Ham over their last three road trips.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Despite fellow midfielder Ki Sung-yueng leading Swansea with seven goals, Sigurdsson remains the Swans' creative maestro. To that point, the Icelandic international's nine assists are the third-most across the Premier League, and Sigurdsson also boasts five goals to his name. Additionally, his assist total includes a helper against Leicester earlier this season and the Foxes are still involuntarily tied for the top-flight's second-worst defense heading into Saturday's match versus Swansea. Undefeated in their last three games, the Swans and Sigurdsson should like their matchup this weekend, as the player and club both look to end this season on the kind of high notes they started it on.
Yannick Bolasie
A standout performer last weekend, Bolasie netted a hat trick as Crystal Palace beat Sunderland 4-1. In doing so, Bolasie quadrupled his season goal tally. Knowing that, some may write off his hat trick as an aberration, but it was actually more of a reward for the excellent season he's put together. Bolasie leads Palace with 57 shots, including 16 on goal, and he also offers great service to his teammates. Some records credit Bolasie with six assists, but the official Premier League website credits him with 10. That latter account ranks Bolasie only behind Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas and Manchester United's Angel di Maria, putting him in elite company. This weekend, the in-form Bolasie will get to prove his stock some more against a West Brom defense that leaked three goals to last-place Leicester in Gameweek 32.
Forwards
Glenn Murray (C)
Along with his teammate Bolasie, Murray has been a revelation for Crystal Palace this season. Since returning from a first-half loan spell at Championship side Reading, where he scored eight goals in 18 starts, the 31-year-old Murray has fired six goals and three assists over his last six games in the Premiership. That includes a goal and two assists at Sunderland last weekend, which should have Murray's confidence buzzing in advance of Saturday's home game versus West Brom. No team has conceded more than West Brom's 10 goals allowed over their past three games and the Baggies have failed to win their past 10 away games in the league. With such horrible form up against Murray's flying form, the veteran Englishman earns this week's Best XI captain's armband.
Harry Kane
Tied for the Premier League's top scoring mark with 19 goals this season, Kane has been held at bay in Spurs' past two games. However, the last time Kane went three straight league games without scoring was back in early December, which should encourage fantasy owners hoping for the youngster to bounce back in Sunday's tie at Newcastle. Only Queens Park Rangers have let opponents score more times than Newcastle this season, and the Magpies were beaten 4-0 by Tottenham the last time they met. That came during a cup match in December, when Kane was among the match's scorers. Now, with the Magpies having lost five consecutive games, Kane is provided with a timely opportunity to add to their misery.
Sergio Aguero
Along with Chelsea's Diego Costa, Aguero is the other player tied with Kane on 19 Premier League goals this season. The Argentine pulled level thanks to a brace at Manchester United last weekend, when he was one of very few bright spots for Man City. Fortunately, the Citizens get to return to the Etihad Stadium this weekend and face a West Ham team whose form has escaped them lately. As previously discussed, no team scores like Manchester City at home and Aguero is their unquestioned talisman. With that dynamic at hand, Aguero could very well contribute toward Man City extending their current six-game streak in all competitions of at least two goals per game against West Ham.
