With the new Premier League season just around the corner, Fantasy Premier League managers will now be thinking of building their initial Fantasy Squad. The roster of players to choose from is huge, but with the 100 million budget, you will need to make your choices carefully. Amongst the roster, there are some individuals that have proved their capabilities in the previous seasons with stellar performances. This is a list of those players, it is a good idea to have a few of these as your marquee signings as your initial FPL players in your 2020-21 squads ahead of the FPL Gameweek 9.
With Mohammed Salah out for coronavirus and Tottenham being the victim of a terrible fixture swing, we are going to take a look at some early transfers as the watchlist returns with players who caught the eye over the last weekend, which was held before the international break took place. Here are five players to look for fantasy squads for FPL Gameweek 9 and beyond.
Bruno Fernandes (Midfielder) 10.6 million
Bruno Fernandes earned his third double-digit haul of the season, as he played a direct hand in all three of United’s goals in the win over Everton. His 6 shots during the game week could only be bettered by Harry Kane with 7. Amongst FPL Midfielders, only Son and Salah have landed more than his 10 shots on target this season. Only Salah can better his 20 attempted assists and only James Rodriguez and Jack Grealish have created more big chances than his 3. Manchester United have scored 7 goals in the last four game weeks, with only Chelsea and Southampton fairing better. Just two of their next 10 fixtures are rated higher than a 3 on the Fixture Difficulty Ratings with meetings against West Brom, Southampton, and West Ham up next. The baggies have conceded 10 goals in 4 away matches this season, on par with Liverpool, and no side has shipped more.
Matt Targett (Defender) 4.5 million
Aston Villa earned their 4th clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win over Arsenal as Matt Targett recorded his 1st assist of the campaign. The left-back attempted 13 final third passes during the match behind only Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley among teammates. He has provided just 5 attempted assists this season but they have each come in the last two games. During that period only Joao Cancelo has attempted more amongst defenders. Over the last four game weeks, Targett’s 11 touches in the opposition’s box can only be bettered by five defenders, Ben Chilwell, Andy Robertson, Cancelo, Furlong, and Lamptey. Aston Villa has conceded the joint fewest number of goals this season while only Wolves and Southampton can equal their clean sheet tally. Their schedule over the next seven game weeks includes Brighton, Newcastle, Burnley, West Brom, and Crystal Palace, five teams that are rated 2 on the Fixture Difficulty Ratings.
Alternatives – Vladimir Coufal (Defender) 4.5 million
Tariq Lamptey (Defender) 4.8 million
The next 9 game weeks see Brighton face just two teams rated higher than a 3 on the Fixture Difficulty Ratings, giving Tariq Lamptey the potential to add to his 1 goal and 3 assists. Only Andy Robertson has more touches in the opposition’s box this season amongst FPL Defenders. A first clean sheet of the season for Lamptey saw him pick up 6 FPL points in Gameweek 8 and he now has 15 FPL points in his last two game weeks. The young under 21 Englishman has had the most number of assists than any of his Brighton teammates and with Trent Alexander Arnold out with a long term injury now might be the best time to jump on the Seagulls defender who is currently one of the best defensive options around the 5.0m mark.
Alternatives – Kyle Walker Peters (Defender) 4.6 million
Hakim Ziyech (Midfielder) 8.2 million
It is surely no coincidence that Hakim Ziyech made his return from injury and Chelsea have started clicking going forwards with 10 goals in their last four game weeks with only Southampton managing more. He has started in each of his last two game weeks, where he has amassed 1 goal and 3 assists to average his 12.5 points per game. Over that period he has made 8 key passes and has been involved in 40% of the Blues’s goals this season. No player has created as many as his 4 big chances in that time but do keep in mind that Chelsea’s upcoming schedule isn’t overly appealing. With Leeds United being the only fixture with a Fixture difficulty Rating of 2 in the next ten game weeks, Ziyech is definitely the most tempting purchase among Chelsea assets (Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell) but Bruno Fernandes and Kevin de Bruyne though both being more expensive can earn more points.
Diogo Jota (Midfielder) 6.5 million
After a Champions League hattrick last midweek, inform Diogo Jota was rewarded with a start against Manchester City in game week 8. He took 3 shots in a 1-1 draw with only Kevin De Bruyne attempting more, while his 0.53 non-penalty expected goals figure was the highest of any player during the match. The 23-year-old has made 3 Premier League starts in the last 6 game weeks, where he scored 3 goals and averaged 8.3 points per 90 minutes. Also on a per, 90 minutes basis over that period his average of 2.1 shots on target ranks top amongst teammates while his 2.7 shots in the box are joint best equal with Salah. Liverpool ranks joint third with 7 goals in the last four game weeks while no team has created more than their 12 big chances. With Mo Salah out this week for coronavirus, the Reds will rely heavily on Diogo Jota to bank on his form for goals and assists. Meetings with Brighton and Fulham in the next four game weeks can help him maintain those numbers.
Liked our analysis of FPL Gameweek 9, check out this fixture watch series to know and plan in advance about the fixture swings, injuries, player forms, and more.
Which players among these are you thinking of featuring in your Starting lineup for the FPL 2020-21 season? Did you choose any from our FPL Gameweek 9 WatchList? Let us know in the comments section below who is on your FPL Gameweek 9 Watchlist!
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