By Graham Ruthven, in dialog with Jonas Sand Låbakk
Introducing our professional
Jonas is a 21 yr outdated scholar who, like FotMob, hails from Norway.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 offer professional recommendation?
Learn his professional recommendation each week.
*Don’t overlook the early FPL deadline for this spherical – with two video games on Friday evening make your transfers and get your workforce sorted earlier than 6pm BST on Friday 16 Might*
The Eye Take a look at vs. The Stats
Bukayo Saka (10.3m) has been a irritating FPL asset to personal recently.
Whereas the Arsenal winger is again in motion after a interval out by way of damage, Mikel Arteta has rested him in a number of Premier League matches to maintain him recent for the Champions League.
Now, after all, the Gunners are out of the Champions League with Arteta’s workforce additionally solely taking part in for pleasure within the league with their prime 5 place all however secured.
Having did not ship a FPL return in any of his final six video games, Saka’s current kind has been underwhelming. Nevertheless, his underlying numbers make for betting studying, suggesting he may quickly discover his finest kind once more.
Saka is averaging a powerful 0.76 Anticipated Purpose Involvements (xGI) per 90 minutes this season. On prime of this, the Arsenal winger created 4 possibilities and missed one Huge Likelihood in opposition to Liverpool. He may have completed with extra than simply two factors.
Arsenal have a tough sport in opposition to Newcastle this weekend with the Magpies chasing Champions League qualification. Nevertheless, the North London outfit have backside facet Southampton on the ultimate day. Saka could possibly be in line for a giant haul.
Ollie Watkins (8.9m) has flown underneath the radar this season, significantly in comparison with earlier seasons of FPL.
The Aston Villa ahead has given FPL managers a headache in current weeks with Unai Emery chopping and altering between Watkins and Marcus Rashford. Now, although, Watkins is in line to start out the ultimate two video games of the season with Rashford sidelined by way of damage.
Watkins has notched 23 purpose involvements (16 objectives, seven assists) from an xGI of 16.6 this season. This interprets to 0.61 xGI per 90 minutes, highlighting the Villa ahead’s pure skill to place the ball at the back of the web.
Rashford’s damage, and Marco Asensio’s current misses from the spot, means Watkins could possibly be on penalties for Aston Villa to complete the marketing campaign. Villa have fixtures in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in GW37 and GW38, which is likely to be two beneficial fixtures such is the contrasting priorities of the groups in query. Watkins could possibly be a wise choose.
Lengthy shot
Pedro Neto (6.1m) is owned by simply 1.3% of FPL managers, and this isn’t shocking contemplating how the Chelsea winger has carried out all season.
Nevertheless, Nicolas Jackson’s pink card in opposition to Newcastle United means Neto may begin as a centre ahead for Chelsea within the remaining two video games of the season with different choices corresponding to Marc Guiu and Christopher Nkunku damage doubts.
Tyrique George (4.5m) has been talked about by some as a possible candidate to start out up entrance after performing this function within the Convention League, however Neto could be a extra skilled selection. He has, in any case, performed there within the Premier League this season. He has additionally performed 90 minutes in his final 5 league outings.
Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Ruben Amorim may relaxation a number of gamers with the Europa League remaining across the nook and so this could possibly be an excellent alternative for the Blues to proceed their problem for Champions League qualification.
Upcoming video games to observe
There are a handful of matches value following from a FPL viewpoint this weekend.
Aston Villa welcome Tottenham Hotspur on Friday evening with the hosts determined for factors to complete within the prime 5. Watkins, Morgan Rogers (5.7m) and perhaps even Asensio (6.1m) are gamers who could possibly be value a punt.
One other match on Friday evening shall be value your consideration with Chelsea taking over Manchester United.
Enzo Maresca’s workforce are in an analogous spot to Villa of their efforts to make the Champions League whereas United are in an analogous spot to Spurs forward of the Europa League remaining subsequent week. Cole Palmer (10.5m), Neto and Marc Cucurella (5.4m) needs to be in your radar for this match.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
Do you know you could observe stay Fantasy factors with FotMob? Merely choose any Premier League sport, swipe to the Lineup tab, and press the massive ‘Fantasy’ button! Obtain the free app right here.