In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 31 are discussed. Every FPL Gameweek, picks will be in the below format:
1x Defender or Goalkeeper
2x Attackers less than £8.5m
2x Attackers £8.5m or over
Salah took a whopping 12 shots in Gameweek 30 against Brighton which has taken top for shots (56) amongst all players in home matches this season, despite the Egyptian international missing a number of games. He is also top for ‘big chances’ (BC) (17) and ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (11.59) in home games. As the below image from our Predicted Lineups feature shows, he is rated at 100% to start despite the short turn around Liverpool have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (fourth) with only Man. City (120) taking more shots than their 115. The Merseyside outfit are ranked second for xG (12.87) despite playing just five games over the aforementioned period. Their visitors Sheff. Utd. have conceded 17 goals over the same period (19th) while only Luton (101) have conceded more shots in the box (SiB) than their 85. Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 10.5 for Salah.
Saka failed to find the back of the net against Man. City but the England international is still third for goals scored (three) amongst midfielders over the last three Gameweeks with only Bowen and Havertz (four each) faring better. He has taken nine shots in the box (13) and is ranked 18th for xG (1.51). As the below image from our Fix Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 6.4 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Arsenal have scored 17 goals over the last six Gameweeks (first), the Gunners are ranked sixth for SiB (61) and are ranked 13th for xG (8.67). Their visitors Luton are joint-bottom for goals conceded (17) over the same period while no side has allowed opponents more shots (141) or conceded a higher ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (18.25) than the Hatters. Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 7.1 for Saka.
Isak’s brace against West Ham made it four goals over the last six Gameweeks for the Swedish international with only Semenyo, Muniz and Watkins (six each) more prolific amongst forwards over that period. Meanwhile, only Haaland (10) has scored more goals in home matches than his nine amongst forwards and he is also joint-top for BC (17). As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is the most transferred in player for Gameweek 31. Newcastle have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (fourth) and seventh for xG (9.78). Their visitors Everton have conceded nine goals over the same period and have kept no clean sheets. The Toffees are ranked eighth for shots conceded (72) and 10th for xGC (8.54). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 4.9 for Isak.
Darwin will be looking forward to getting back on the scoresheet as top of the table Liverpool host bottom club Sheff. Utd. at Anfield, the Uruguyan international has scored three goals at Anfield this season and notched eight assists as well. As the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows, he has racked up 58 FPL points in home matches (sixth) and only Haaland (9.61) has registered a higher xG than his 9.47. Meanwhile, no team has scored more goals (40) in home matches than Liverpool this season and the Merseyside outfit are also top for shots (367) and xG (43.99). Their visitors Sheff. Utd. have conceded 32 goals in away matches (16th) this season and have kept no clean sheets on their travels. The Blades are ranked 16th for shots conceded (249) and 15th for xGC (29.55) in away matches. Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 7.1 for Darwin.
With Alexander-Arnold expected to miss out, Bradley should continue starting at right-back for Liverpool and the 20-year-old has attempted nine assists over the last six Gameweeks with only Robertson, Gusto (10 each) and Doughty (12) faring better. Meanwhile, only Doughty (seven), Bogle (eight) and Dunk (nine) have taken more shots than his six. Liverpool have conceded just four goals over the last six Gameweeks (third) and have kept one clean sheet. Meanwhile, only Arsenal have allowed opponents fewer SiB (25 vs 32) over that period than the Merseyside outfit. Sheff. Utd. have scored just five goals over the same period with only Everton (four) faring worse. The Blades are bottom for shots (43), BC (seven) and xG (4.87). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 6.2 for Bradley.
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