Fantasy Premier League Insights Ahead of Liverpool vs Manchester United
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who have moved away from Mohamed Salah—currently owned by less than 40% of teams—are likely feeling anxious as Liverpool prepares to host Manchester United.
Salah boasts an impressive record against United, with 13 goals and six assists in 15 league matches.
This week’s decision hinges on what FPL managers value most: form, statistics, or historical performance.
Currently, both Salah's form and statistics suggest he may not be worth his price tag, having scored just two goals and provided four returns this season. His expected goals tally stands at only 2.13 over seven games, with just five shots on target.
This week’s team does not include Salah, opting for Erling Haaland as captain and a more balanced budget allocation.
However, this decision could backfire dramatically!
The team of the week is constructed based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100 million budget, simulating a Free Hit scenario.
Don’t miss our FPL special Q&A with expert Holly Shand, live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST on Friday, October 17.
How Did Last Week's Team Perform?
It was a stellar week, with nearly all players delivering returns!
Antoine Semenyo shone again with 18 points, while a combined 38 points from a double Arsenal and double Newcastle defense bolstered the overall score.
Can we achieve a three-figure total again?
FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek Eight
Keeper and Defense
Bart Verbruggen, Brighton, £4.4m - Newcastle (h)
Newcastle has made headlines for their stellar defensive record this season, achieving a league-high five clean sheets. However, they have yet to score away from home, resulting in three 0-0 draws and only six shots on target. If this trend continues, Brighton could secure their first clean sheet of the season.
Gabriel (£6.3m) and Jurrien Timber (£5.9m), Arsenal - Fulham (a)
Last week, I noted: “West Ham (h), Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h), Sunderland (a), Burnley (a).” This favorable run for Arsenal still holds, making their defenders a worthwhile investment.
The duo delivered a combined 19 points last week. While Fulham away can be unpredictable, they may be without a recognized striker again.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4.1m - Wolves (h)
Alderete and his center-back partner Nordi Mukiele (£4m) are excellent budget defensive options for this week. Alderete has accumulated 53 defensive contribution points this season, earning two bonus points twice, while Mukiele closely follows with 48 points and two bonuses. Alderete is favored due to a higher expected goal involvement (xGI) of 0.9 compared to Mukiele’s 0.4, facing a Wolves side that has struggled with just one goal and one point away from home.
Midfielders
Eberechi Eze, Arsenal, £7.6m - Fulham (a)
With Martin Ødegaard sidelined, Eze is poised for an extended run in the Arsenal lineup, making him an appealing FPL option. He leads many underlying statistics for Arsenal midfielders, averaging 3.85 shots per 90 minutes, significantly higher than Bukayo Saka’s 2.33, with 11 of those shots taken in the box. Although he has yet to score, his involvement in 38% of Arsenal's goals while on the pitch is noteworthy.
Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth, £7.9m - Crystal Palace (a)
Semenyo retains his spot here until further notice. While Palace away is a challenging fixture, he might be fixture-proof.
Jaidon Anthony, Burnley, £5.7m - Leeds (h)
Leeds is a targetable opponent away from home, conceding an expected goals total of 5.5 compared to just 2.3 at Elland Road. With four goals, Anthony is Burnley’s best attacking threat and is an attractive option as a fifth midfielder.
Jeremy Doku, Manchester City, £6.6m - Everton (h)
Doku is somewhat of a minutes risk, but his last two home games have each yielded 10-point hauls. He is Manchester City’s second-most creative player, involved in 27% of the team’s goals while on the pitch. His pace could prove advantageous against Everton’s Jake O’Brien, who, despite his solid performances, is a 6ft 6in center-back playing out of position.
Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea, £6.7m - Nottingham Forest (a)
The injury to Cole Palmer is unfortunate for Chelsea but could enhance Fernandez’s FPL value as he is likely to continue in an advanced role. He ranks fourth in the league for expected goals (xG) with 3.66 and second among midfielders. With eight shots in the box, six big chances, and three goals, he could be a strong midfield pick, especially considering he is also on penalties.
Strikers
Erling Haaland (captain), Manchester City, £14.5m - Everton (h)
Like Semenyo, it’s hard to imagine a team without Haaland at this point. The absence of alternative premium assets, particularly with Palmer injured, means he should fit into everyone’s teams.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.7m - Brentford (h)
Bowen’s transition from midfielder to forward this season may have deterred some FPL managers, but he has quietly excelled, ranking as the third-highest scoring forward. With a favorable fixture run ahead, including matches against Leeds and Burnley, he could be a valuable addition. Brentford has conceded eight goals away from home in three games, making this an opportune match for Bowen.
Substitutes' Bench
Martin Dubravka, Burnley, keeper, £4m - Leeds (h)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds, £5.5m, striker - Burnley (a)
Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City, £5.9m, defender - Everton (h)
Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace, £4.9m, defender - Bournemouth (h)
Total team cost: £97.7m