Fantasy Premier League Managers Face Dilemma with Isak's Arrival
The Premier League returns this weekend following the international break, presenting a dilemma for many Fantasy Premier League managers.
Liverpool has signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British-record £125 million on transfer deadline day. The pressing question now is whether he will start against Burnley on Sunday.
Should Fantasy Premier League managers take a risk and include him in their teams, or is it wiser to leave him out for Gameweek 4?
This week’s FPL expert Holly Shand, along with the team from The FPL Podcast by BBC Sport, discusses this week’s critical FPL talking point.
'Too Early to Include Isak'
Holly Shand: For Gameweek 4, I recommend sticking with the Liverpool players you already have. It’s best not to buy or sell until the starting lineup becomes clearer. Although the match against Burnley is appealing, there’s no certainty that Isak will be included in the starting eleven. His August has been disrupted, with inconsistent training and no competitive minutes played. He managed only 18 minutes across two fixtures for Sweden during the international break, making it unlikely he will feature this weekend.
Chris Sutton: I believe it’s too soon. I seriously doubt he is match-fit, so it would be unreasonable for Liverpool to start him when Hugo Ekitike is performing well. This situation allows Liverpool to gradually integrate him into the team, giving him minutes to build up his fitness. Including him in your Fantasy team at this stage would be unwise.
Impact of Isak's Arrival on Salah
Holly Shand: Looking ahead, Isak is likely to take on the number nine role, which could lead to Cody Gakpo and Ekitike competing for playing time on the left. Liverpool's Champions League campaign kicks off against Atletico Madrid next week, making squad depth essential. Ekitike has gained an additional 400,000 new owners ahead of Gameweek 4, having contributed to three goals in the first three gameweeks, ranking just below Mohamed Salah in ownership among Liverpool players. Only Joao Pedro and Erling Haaland have scored more fantasy points than Ekitike among forwards.
Statman Dave: I anticipate that Gakpo's playing time will be limited if Ekitike occupies the left position. Given Ekitike's two goals and assists, it seems unlikely he will be benched. Gakpo may see more time as a substitute or start and then be replaced, with Isak being the long-term player. Isak is poised to score significant points, and he and Salah can complement each other effectively. While there is speculation that Salah is the focal point of the attack, that notion is misleading. Salah is not performing at his expected level, but the partnership between them makes sense. Isak can provide opportunities, while Salah has the speed to stretch defenses, which works well together.