By Graham Ruthven, in dialog with Jonas Sand Låbakk
Introducing our skilled
Jonas is a 21 12 months outdated scholar who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, ending forward of 11 million different managers. So who higher to supply skilled recommendation?
Learn his skilled recommendation each week.
*Don’t overlook the FPL deadline for this spherical – make your transfers and kind your group out earlier than 11:00 GMT on Saturday 18 January*
The Eye Check vs. The Stats
There isn’t any Premier League winger in higher type proper now than Anthony Gordon (7.6m).
Certainly, the Newcastle United winger has returned in every of his final six gameweeks in a row with the Magpies presently probably the most in-form group within the league. Alexander Isak’s 9 targets in these six video games have caught the attention, however Gordon’s contribution shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Gordon has averaged 0.59 Anticipated Aim Involvements (xGI) per recreation over the course of Newcastle’s six-game profitable run, registering 9 factors in GW21.
Newcastle face Bournemouth subsequent earlier than a conflict with Southampton. Trickier exams towards the likes of Manchester Metropolis, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool await in February, however Gordon and the Magpies have proved their skill to beat anybody.
Gordon, together with Lewis Corridor (4.9m) and Isak (9.3m) are one of the best picks from Newcastle.
Erling Haaland and Isak are the one forwards (as outlined in FPL) to have scored extra Premier League targets this season than Chris Wooden (6.9m) who’s spearheading Nottingham Forest’s shock high 4 problem.
The New Zealand worldwide has scored 13 targets from simply 7.35 Anticipated Targets (xG), indicating that he’s massively over-performing. Wooden has had the golden contact in entrance of objective, however might a course correction come sooner or later sooner or later?
Nonetheless, that course correction hasn’t occurred but and a few FPL managers had been made to remorse their choice to bench Wooden towards Liverpool in GW21 when he opened the scoring after solely eight minutes.
Wooden’s objective got here from his solely shot of the sport and was from a chance with an xG of simply 0.16, highlighting the ruthlessness of his end into the underside proper nook.
Forest host bottom-of-the-league Southampton in GW22 and so it wouldn’t be shocking if Wooden continued his glorious type with one other strong return. Wooden can be a penalty taker for Forest, boosting his probabilities of an enormous factors haul.
Lengthy shot
Ibrahima Konaté (5.1m) solely has 49 FPL factors to his identify this season. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t put you off the Liverpool defender in your group.
Konaté has missed six of Liverpool’s final eight league matches because of damage, however is now out there once more and is in line to begin extra video games from this level on with Joe Gomez now sidelined.
Owned by simply 3.5% of FPL managers, Konaté might be a beneficial differential in your group. What’s extra, Liverpool have an upcoming match towards Ipswich City in GW23 and a double gameweek in GW24. This might be time to deliver the defender into your group.
The Liverpool centre again doesn’t carry a lot of a objective risk, registering simply 0.08 xGI per 90 minutes this season. Nonetheless, the Reds have conceded simply 18.2 xG this season, the bottom of any group within the league.
Konaté’s low possession, clear sheet potential and upcoming double gameweek makes him a participant to think about.
Upcoming video games to comply with
GW22 has the potential to provide a variety of high-scoring video games and large returns for widespread FPL belongings, however three matches particularly stand out.
Desk-toppers Liverpool journey south to face Brentford in what might be some of the fascinating matches of the weekend.
Brentford have scored 29 targets at house this season, greater than some other group within the Premier League. In the meantime, Liverpool have one of the best away attacking document within the division (28 targets in 10 video games).
This match ought to produce targets, so contemplate Mohamed Salah (13.7m), Cody Gakpo (7.4m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.2m) and Bryan Mbeumo (7.8m).
Second-place Nottingham Forest may even face Southampton after their disappointing defeat to Manchester United on Thursday which noticed the twentieth place group conceded three targets in 11 minutes.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s group have been in glorious type at each ends this season, due to this fact attacking and defensive returns are to be anticipated from Forrest this weekend. Gamers to observe on this recreation are Wooden (6.9m), Ola Aina (5.3m) and finances possibility Neco Williams (4.3m).
Lastly, Chelsea will host Wolves on Monday night time with the Blues seeking to finish a run of 5 league matches and not using a win.
Nonetheless, Enzo Maresca’s group are a strong guess to show round their type towards their relegation-threatened opponents. Cole Palmer (11.4m) has scored in three of his final three video games in all competitions and will return as soon as extra on Monday.
Nicolas Jackson (8.1m) and Reece James (4.8m) are additionally value contemplating after the latter scored a freekick in his cameo off the bench towards Bournemouth in GW21. He might be differential going ahead.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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