In loving memory of Phil Goldring / @FPL_Loon
With questions surfacing in relation to Agüero’s (11.5) availability, we turn our attentions to his striking partner, Jesus (10.7), who scored 13 points from just 60 minutes in gameweek eight. Jesus, has a better goals scored and goals conversion % when compared to Kane (12.8), Lukaku (11.8) and Morata (10.2) over the last six gameweeks. He has also managed the same amount of assists as both Lukaku and Morata during that time. A Fantasy Premier League (FPL) involvement (assists and goals) every 62.6 minutes since making his debut in January 2017, is truly sublime. That record includes a total of 13 goals and five assists across 17 games played. Burnley have been resolute in defence, with Pope (4.5) proving to be an able deputy in the absence of club captain, Heaton (4.9), but Man City’s goal statistics speak for themselves - 24 goals in their last five league games. Surely, the Pope cannot even reason with Jesus and co. in gameweek nine, and with a Fix algorithm prediction of 5.5 points many existing and new owners will be captaining the Brazilian.
Alonso (7.0), should greatly benefit from Morata’s return in gameweek nine, given his ability to hold up play in attack, taking pressure off the defence. A clean sheet is therefore more likely. Chelsea need to bounce back this weekend after winning just four points from their last four league games. Alonso was unlucky not to score versus Crystal Palace in gameweek eight, after getting on the end of a Fàbregas (6.9) corner, forcing a save from Speroni (4.0). No other defender has had as many shots, or shots on target as Alonso this season, as can be seen in our info-graphic below, and his attacking threat is on par with his 2016/17 record. So, returns appear to be just around the corner. While Marco Silva has Watford playing well, Chelsea cannot afford anything but a win after two losses on the bounce - Expect a win to nil here. The left wing-back is projected to score the second most points via our Fix algorithm for gameweek nine, with 6.2.
Antonio (7.5), and his West Ham teammates will play three sides that sit 14th or lower over the next five gameweeks, including Crystal Palace and Leicester who currently reside in the relegation zone. This is a period where positive results are a must. With Carroll (5.9) suspended following his sending off, Antonio’s attacking attributes will be more widely relied upon in gameweek nine. The English winger has delivered an FPL involvement every 148.1 minutes in the Premier League over the last three seasons, and will be looking to improve upon his nine goals and eight assists from last term. Brighton have managed to win just two games from eight so far, and have conceded an average of 1.25 goals a game. West Ham should be looking to score a minimum of two goals here, and we back Antonio to be involved with a Fix algorithm rating of 3.8 points.
Walker (6.6), has been spearheading plenty of attacks from defence in recent weeks, and is currently ranked the number one defender in the game for final third passes. With plenty of attention being placed on Man. City’s attacking players recently, it only makes sense to focus our attentions on an “attack” minded defender. The marauding right-back has converted three assists already this season from five attempts, highlighting his efficiency in the final third of the pitch. If budget does not stretch to owning three attacking players from Man. City, then the 5.60 points per million spent, that you currently get for Walker, is a good return. Particularly, when you consider that Sterling (8.1) has provided the best return on investment of all Man. City players, with 6.17 points per million. With Walker, we are presented with a guaranteed starter who will get involved in attacks, and looks more likely to keep a clean sheet in a reformed City defence. So, if you are looking to avoid the midfield minefield, Walker appears to be a safe bet, with a projected Fix algorithm score of 5.2 points for gameweek nine.
If the Top Five Key Players were decided upon name alone, Choupo-Moting (5.6) would have been involved in gameweek one. But, since we are in the stats business, he has had to bide his time and earn his stripes. Stoke’s advanced midfielder has matched last week’s differential, Richarlison (6.2), for goals and expected FPL involvements, which can be seen in our info-graphic below. The Cameroonian has averaged more shots over the last six gameweeks when compared to Richarlison, Ritchie (6.0) and Groβ (5.7), and has had more over the season (24) than the likes of Sterling, Alli (9.4), and De Bruyne (10.0). Bournemouth have conceded 11 goals in their last seven games, at an average of 1.57 goals a game and Stoke will be looking to make amends after gameweek eight. Despite conceding seven, The Potters did manage to put two past high-flying City, which on another day could have looked more respectable. With a Fix algorithm projection of 4.6 points, Choupo-Moting’s propensity to shoot, and Bournemouth’s tendancy to leak goals, we hope Choupo becomes our fourth differential pick to return attacking returns in a row, and our seventh success of the season.
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