In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 38 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

Erling Haaland (WHU)

Haaland's brace against Spurs made it nine goals in the last six Gameweeks for the Norwegian international, as the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows over that period he is top amongst forwards for shots in the box (SiB) (22), shots on target (SoT) (15), 'big chances' (BC) (13) and 'Expected Goals' (xG) (7.52). Man. City have scored 26 goals over the last six Gameweeks (first) and are top for SoT (58) and xG (18.62). Their opponents West Ham have conceded 16 goals over the same period (16th) and have kept no clean sheets. The Hammers are ranked 18th for 'Expected Goals Conceded' (xGC) (15.02). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 8.3 for Haaland.

Mohamed Salah (WOL)

Liverpool will be looking to send Klopp off with a bang and as the below image from our Match Stats feature shows, despite finding the back of the net just once over their last five matches Salah is top amongst their players for xG (1.7) and SoT (six) while he is second for assists (two). Liverpool have scored 14 goals over the last six Gameweeks (sixth) and are top for shots (153). Their visitors Wolves have conceded 16 goals over the same period (16th) and have also kept no clean sheets. The Midlands side are ranked 17th for shots conceded and 11th for xGC (12.32). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 7.7 for Salah.

Cole Palmer (BOU)

Palmer leads the way for goals scored (six) amongst midfielders over the last six Gameweeks, the 22-year-old is top amongst midfielders for shots (30), SoT (12), BC (seven) and xG (5.00). He is also fourth for BC created (five). As the below image from our Opta Player Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 9.1 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Chelsea have been prolific over the last six Gameweeks with only Man. City (26) scoring more goals than their 22. The London side are second for BC (28) and fifth for xG (16.02). Their visitors Bournemouth have conceded 12 goals over the same period (10th) and have kept two clean sheets. The Cherries are ranked 13th for shots conceded (105) and xGC (12.80). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 7.1 for Palmer.

Kai Havertz (EVE)

Havertz total of four goals over the last six Gameweeks is only bettered by B. Fernandes, Trossard (five each) and Palmer amongst midfielders while the German international has also racked up three assists and is second for 'Expected Assists' (xA) (3.37). As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is currently the third most transferred in player this week. Arsenal have scored 17 goals over the last six Gameweeks (fourth) and are second for shots (133). Their visitors Everton have been strong defensively with just seven goals conceded over the aforementioned period (fourth) and five clean sheets (first). The Toffees are ranked ninth for shots conceded (92) and fourth for xGC (8.43). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 5.1 for Havertz.

Joško Gvardiol (WHU)

With a whopping 66 FPL points across the last six Gameweeks, Gvardiol has become a key player for Man. City and has notched four goals and two assists over that period. He trails only Alexander-Arnold (13) for shots (12) while no defender has landed more SoT than his six or registered a higher xG (1.80). Man. City have conceded just four goals over the last six Gameweeks (first) and have kept four clean sheets (second). No team has allowed opponents fewer shots (45) than the Manchester side over the aforementioned period. West Ham have scored nine goals over the last six Gameweeks (11th) and are ranked 16th for SoT (27). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a 50% chance of a Man. City clean sheet and a point score of 4.1 for Gvardiol.