EPL Fantasy Preview: Week 25

Hey, the Winter Olympics have started! I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to the curling action. I wish curling was covered more than the NFL. I love it when the skip slides the stone and the sweepers do their part to have the stone land in the house. THAT is athletics at its best! (Note: I'm not kidding. I really do love curling.)

Wait, what am I talking about? Oh right, it's another weekend full of English Premier League action. Don't forget that matches will be shown on the USA Network this weekend due to the Olympics holding NBC hostage for the next couple of weeks.

Liverpool hosts top of the table Arsenal in the big match this weekend (unless you count the Man United-Fulham match, which I do). Let's take a look at who to play and who to bench as Fulham falls farther down the road of despair:

Goalkeepers

• David de Gea (Manchester United) - Surprise David! You get a completely useless Fulham attack to play against this week. If you would like, you can probably bring a lawn chair and sit in that most of the match. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Tim Krul (Newcastle) - What happened to the Magpies? Did all of the players wake up one day and finally realize they live in Newcastle? That would affect my play. Look for Chelsea to run them ragged. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• David Marshall (Cardiff City) - Cardiff is going down. That is all. (VERDICT: BENCH)

Defenders

• John Terry (Chelsea) - Am I crazy or should he be on England's World Cup team? (VERDICT: PLAY)
• David Luiz (Chelsea) - Let's just agree that Chelsea will keep Newcastle scoreless, okay? (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Brede Hangeland (Fulham) - Add Hangeland to the group of defenders I am confident I could beat off the dribble. Robin van Persie and gang will have their way with him. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton) - The Saints are playing great football right now. Look for it to continue against mighty Stoke! (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa) - STULTZ GUARANTEE OF THE WEEK: The Hammers will take down the Villains with 3 or more goals. (VERDICT: BENCH)

Midfielders

• Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) - If Liverpool is to win this match, their midfield must outplay Ozil. At Anfield, thy bidding will be done. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• David Silva (Manchester City) - City were shut out by a good Chelsea side. Norwich City is NOT Chelsea. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) - Do Spurs fans despise this guy as much as it seems? (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Jack Colback (Sunderland) - The Black Cats (yes, that is their real nickname) have won two in a row and suddenly find themselves in 14^th place. Hull City will not stop this train at THE STADIUM OF LIGHT! (My favorite stadium name in history!) (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - Part of the old guard at Stamford Bridge, Lampard is waiting on a new contract. If he keeps the Blues winning, he will be worth every penny. (VERDICT: PLAY)

Forwards

• Clint Dempsey (Fulham) - Let's hope he is saving his goals for the World Cup. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Robin van Persie (Manchester United) - Healthy? Check. Playing against Fulham? Check. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - Another guarantee: he will score against Arsenal AND Piers Morgan will have a breakdown on Twitter when he does. (VERDICT: PLAY)

I hope everyone has a great weekend and it is full of enough downhill skiing and moguls to fill you for a lifetime. As always, feel free to tweet me (@brianjstultz) or email me (brianjstultz@gmail.com) with any questions, comments or if you happen to be a Nigerian prince who needs my bank account information to transfer your money into. I'm sure you are good for it.