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Fantasy Premier League managers have had some time to dwell on their teams since the end of Gameweek 23 as cup fixtures meant there was no Premier League action over the weekend.
However, recent days have served up plenty of news for consideration. Manchester City and Everton are now due to enjoy this season’s first Double Gameweek in round 25.
While many managers will be flocking towards City assets, it’s worth remembering that they will face a blank GW in round 27. With that in mind, the Free Hit chip may be a better course of action for GW25.
First though, there’s the small matter of GW24 to deal with. Big guns Liverpool, Manchester United, City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal all face relatively comfortable fixtures so there may be some big hauls in store.
Here are a few tips ahead of this GW.
CAPTAIN – MOHAMED SALAH | LIVERPOOL | 13.6M
Mohamed Salah was our captain pick for GW23 and he delivered with a brace in Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Crystal Palace. The second goal was opportunism at its finest and that’s exactly what you want from your FPL asset – breaking his neck to get the final touch on a ball that was creeping over the line anyway.
The Egyptian has now registered an incredible six double-figure hauls in just the last eight GWs. The oppositions against whom he blanked in that time? United and City.
He’s feasting against the lesser sides and Leicester are next to enter the slaughter house. The Foxes travel to Anfield having conceded 62 shots inside the box in the last six GWs. Only Cardiff City have allowed more over that period.
ALTERNATIVES
PAUL POGBA (8.5m) is on a remarkable run of form as well, delivering attacking returns in five of the last six GWs with three of them resulting in double-figure hauls. He shone for United in the FA Cup win over Arsenal as well and should spend more time closer to the goal at home to Burnley.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (11.3m) has blanked in three of the last four GWs but his underlying stats are impressive. Over the last six GWs, only Marcus Rashford (18) has had more than his 17 shots inside the box. Meanwhile, his opponents Cardiff have conceded a league-high 77 shots inside the area over the same period.
BOLD CHOICE
EDEN HAZARD (11.0m) hasn’t been up to his usual standards and neither have Chelsea. However, he looked like his old self again during the League Cup win over Tottenham with Olivier Giroud playing through the middle. Gonzalo Higuain’s impact could bring the best out of the Belgian who boasts a fine record against Bournemouth.
TWO TO WATCH
SON HEUNG-MIN | TOTTENHAM | 8.6M
Spurs face an inviting fixture at home to Watford and with Harry Kane and Dele Alli both sidelined, they will have to turn to Son Heung-min for goals. The South Korean has returned from international duty after his country were eliminated from the Asian Cup in the UAE. With his ownership dropping to around five per cent during his absence, he represents a fine differential as well.
DIOGO JOTA | WOLVES | 6.0M
His hat-trick last in GW23 has certainly caught the eye but Diogo Jota has been on the radar for a while. He’s delivered in four of his last five starts, racking up a tally of 43 points in that time. Wolves have good fixtures coming up and the Portuguese is almost playing in a front two along with Raul Jimenez while boasting an ownership of just over two per cent.
TWO TO AVOID
DELE ALLI | TOTTENHAM | 8.9M
Many FPL managers had the good sense of drafting in Alli following Kane’s injury and he scored against Fulham. However, he also pulled his hamstring and has been ruled out until March. While it’s less than ideal to immediately drop him again, Son’s return and Spurs’ fixtures make it necessary, really.
RICARDO PEREIRA | LEICESTER | 5.3M
Ricardo Pereira hasn’t actually done as well as people seem to think lately. A goal and two assists are his attacking returns since GW eight and he’s picked up just four clean sheets over that time. Leicester have Liverpool, United and Spurs in their next three.
