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A strange Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 7 saw several big-hitters fail to deliver.
Liverpool’s forwards blanked while Sergio Aguero was benched for the Premier League champions. However, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez all chipped in with points for Manchester City.
Chelsea picked up their first clean sheet of the season while elsewhere, Matt Doherty and Ricardo Pereira were the highest scorers with 15 and 13 points respectively.
Joshua King and Jamie Vardy were the big winners up front.
GW8 though sees Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United travel to Brighton, Southampton and Newcastle while City host Wolves.
An intriguing encounter awaits at Anfield where Liverpool entertain Leicester City.
Here are a few tips to help guide you through GW8.
CAPTAIN – PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG | ARSENAL | 11.0M
Arsenal’s top gun may be the most reliable captaincy candidate not just for GW8 but even until GW11. The north Londoners face a leaky Bournemouth defence at home this weekend before then playing Sheffield United (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Wolves (H).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has delivered returns in each of the seven Gameweeks so far and with Alexandre Lacazette still injured, he’s enjoying a greater volume of chances up front.
The Gabon international has scored seven goals and has even picked up an assist so far. He’s showing no signs of slowing down having now scored 17 times in his last 17 games for Arsenal in all competitions.
He’s likely to hit the target again when he takes on a Bournemouth side that is yet to keep a clean sheet.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in fine form.
ALTERNATIVES
RAHEEM STERLING (12.1m) has been a little hit and miss lately but did score last week. Starting from the bench against Dinamo Zagreb in midweek suggests he should start at home to Wolves. His second half display in which he bagged a goal and assist should boost his confidence as well. He’s primed to deliver against Wolves who will be coming off a trip to Turkey where they face Besiktas in the Europa League.
TAMMY ABRAHAM (7.6m) blanked in the last two GWs but looks very promising with the number of chances he’s getting. He’s had nine big chances in the last four GWs including one v ones against both Liverpool and Brighton. His 21 shots inside the box is second only to Aguero who is also the only player he trails for expected goals.
BOLD CHOICE
TEEMU PUKKI (7.2m) has also blanked in his last two games and, unlike Abraham, hasn’t threatened the goal as much. However, he’s back at home this weekend where he’s delivered in all three games, registering five goals and two assists in those fixtures. With Aston Villa visiting the Canaries, this may be the week for the Pukki Party to resume.
Teemu Pukki is a bold captaincy choice.
ONE TO GET
CALLUM WILSON | BOURNEMOUTH | 7.9M
Apart from Aubameyang, Callum Wilson is the only other player in FPL this season to deliver returns in every GW. With five goals and three assists, the Bournemouth striker has been plugging away and is the fourth-highest for points among forwards. He travels to Arsenal this weekend but the Gunners are hardly convincing defensively having failed to keep a clean sheet since the opening round.
Callum Wilson is one to bring in.
ONE TO AVOID
MOHAMED SALAH | LIVERPOOL | 12.5M
This may seem harsh on Mohamed Salah who hasn’t done too badly at all but dropping or steering clear of him now could be a shrewd move. The Egyptian is the second-highest among midfielders for points and has only blanked twice so far but his fixtures over the next five GWs are worrying with Leicester, United, Spurs and City to face in that time.
Salah has maintained his price all season and is unlikely to rise during this period so you could get him back for more favourable fixtures later on without taking a hit. In the mean time, funds from his sale can be reinvested in other areas, especially up front where Aubameyang looks like the player to own.
It might make sense to drop Mohamed Salah.
BARGAIN BUY
AARON CRESSWELL | WEST HAM | 4.9M
It may seem like an obvious pick after Aaron Cresswell has scored in each of the last two GWs but that’s what you want from your defenders. He has great attacking potential with his crosses being aided by the presence of Sebastian Haller as a target in the box. He takes a good number of set-pieces and even scored a free-kick against United.
Meanwhile, West Ham as a defensive unit have encouraged, keeping three clean sheets in their last four games. They should be able to add to that tally when Palace come to visit.
Aaron Cresswell is a cheap option.
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