Last week’s differential selections paid off nicely. Florian Wirtz returned in style with a goal and maximum bonus points, while Michael Keane justified the faith of patient managers with a clean sheet, DEFCON points and a pair of bonus.
With momentum building at this stage of the season, Gameweek 19 offers another chance to push on with some differential picks.
Our strategy balances attacking potential with defensive coverage:
⚽ 3 attacking player – midfielders or forwards
🛡️ 2 defensive players – defenders or goalkeepers
This ensures coverage across the pitch while prioritising FPL points, essential for Gameweek success.
Newcastle are about to embark on one of the most attractive fixture runs in the league. Matches against Burnley (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leeds (H) and Wolves (A) place them second for attacking difficulty in the Fixture Planner over the next four Gameweeks.
Targeting one of their attacking assets could prove decisive for managers looking to climb the ranks as the festive period winds down.
The 24-year-old England international has featured in 13 league matches so far, scoring twice and registering two assists. However, his underlying numbers strongly suggest more returns are imminent. Gordon has accumulated 4.45 expected goals (xG), been presented with eight 'big chances', and taken 15 shots inside the box — production that typically leads to a higher goal tally over time.
A trip to Burnley feels like an ideal opportunity for that correction. The Clarets are conceding 1.89 goals per game on average, the third-worst defensive record in the league, and remain vulnerable down the flanks.
Recent form adds further encouragement. As highlighted in the Match Centre, Gordon has scored two goals in his last five matches, posting an xG of 2.7, hitting four shots on target, and supplying two FPL assists from seven attempts.
With Newcastle expected to dominate both possession and chances during this favourable run, Gordon’s direct running and willingness to attack defenders make him a high-ceiling differential for Gameweek 19 and beyond.
Admittedly, the 20-year-old Gambian winger has been underwhelming in recent Gameweeks, with his minutes dropping as Brighton look to manage workloads during a congested schedule.
That wider context is important. Despite reduced game time, Minteh has still appeared in 18 league matches and amassed 75 FPL points, the most of any Brighton player — a point highlighted in the Opta Stats Sandbox. His seven assists are bettered only by Cherki (eight) across the league, while an expected assists (xA) figure of 4.28, the fifth-highest overall, underlines just how involved he remains creatively.
Brighton’s upcoming run — West Ham away, followed by Burnley at home — stands out as an appealing short-term window. If Minteh returns refreshed and regains a more central role in the attack, the upside is clear. At just £6.0m, he represents a calculated gamble for managers willing to back a revival in minutes and returns.
Manchester United’s upcoming fixtures — Wolves (H), Leeds (A) and Burnley (A) — are about as good as it gets from an attacking perspective, making them increasingly difficult to ignore in FPL.
The 26-year-old Brazilian has featured in 15 matches this season, returning three goals and one assist. What really stands out, however, is the volume behind those returns. As shown in his Opta Shot Map, Cunha has taken 50 shots, a tally bettered only by Haaland (68). He has registered 27 efforts inside the box, hit 19 shots on target, and accumulated an xG of 5.01 — numbers that strongly suggest he should have more goals to his name.
With such a favourable run of fixtures ahead, this feels like an ideal window for Cunha to regress positively towards his underlying statistics. If Manchester United find attacking rhythm, he is well placed to benefit.
Cunha shapes as a well-rounded differential who could quickly punish non-owners. However, his status may not last long — at the time of writing, he is already the second most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 19, signalling growing momentum among FPL managers.
This may feel knee-jerk after his explosive 17-point haul against Newcastle, but there is more substance here than a single standout performance.
The 20-year-old Dane has quietly emerged as one of the most intriguing enablers in the game. With Manchester United stretched by AFCON absences, Dorgu has been deployed out of position as a winger, as shown in the Match Centre lineup from the Newcastle match.
Crucially, he appears nailed in that role for the foreseeable future. His average position map against Newcastle reinforces that point, with Dorgu operating as United’s fourth most advanced player on the pitch.
All of this comes at a bargain price of just £4.1m, significantly boosting his appeal from an FPL value perspective.
Defensively, Manchester United have not been convincing this season, managing just two clean sheets so far. However, upcoming fixtures against Wolves (H), Leeds (A) and Burnley (A) offer a strong opportunity to improve on that record.
Given the quality of these fixtures, combined with his advanced role and price point, Dorgu stands out as a compelling differential punt with genuine upside.
Newcastle’s run of fixtures against Burnley (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leeds (H) and Wolves (A) is not only attractive from an attacking perspective — it also greatly boosts their defensive appeal. Over the next four Gameweeks, they sit top of the Fixture Planner for defensive difficulty, and Hall offers a particularly interesting route into that back line.
At just 20 years old, the England international has grown into his role, combining defensive reliability with occasional attacking threat. His advanced positioning allows him to contribute at both ends, enhancing his appeal as a budget defender.
Away at Burnley, the clean sheet potential looks strong, while Hall’s extremely low ownership makes him an excellent option for managers looking to move away from heavily owned premium defenders without sacrificing fixture quality.
Gameweek 19 is shaping up to be another high-variance week, where smart differential picks can drive meaningful rank gains. With fixtures falling kindly for Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester United, these five players offer varied routes to upside — whether through explosive attacking returns or budget-friendly defensive points.
If last week’s returns are anything to go by, backing the right differentials at the right time can make all the difference.
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