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Fantasy Premier League: GW8 preview

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Due to last week’s match cancellations and this week’s impending cancellations for Liverpool, United, Leeds, Palace, Brighton, and Chelsea, most of us will be looking to make transfers this week and use our wildcards before the international break. We’ve compiled a shortlist of players to buy, sell, keep, avoid and monitor, as well as a handy guide for wildcarding in either Gameweek 8 or 9.

Players to buy

PLAYER

Aleksandar Mitrovic (6.9M)

FIXTURES

Forest (A), Newcastle (H), West Ham (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.58 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

PLAYER

Alexander Isak (7.0M)

FIXTURES

Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A), Brentford (H)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.83 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

B+

Mid-priced forwards are going to be extremely popular moving forward, as there are some fantastic options to keep all the way until Gameweek 16. Mitrovic and Isak both have fantastic fixtures, so I’d highly recommend transferring them in ahead of Gameweek 8.

Whilst they are extremely desirable this week, I wouldn’t take hits to transfer out Gabriel Jesus (8.1m) to get to them. If the upgrade to another position is significant, then it may pay-off, but I think managers have been too quick to write-off Gabriel Jesus after a couple of blanks in the last few weeks.

Players to sell

PLAYER

Mohamed Salah (12.9M)

FIXTURES

Postponed, Brighton (A), Arsenal (H)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.72 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

PLAYER

Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.4M)

FIXTURES

Postponed, Brighton (A), Arsenal (H)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.19 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

Things change very quickly in FPL, as the premium Liverpool players have quickly become undesirable assets to the eyes of many. We quickly forgot that Liverpool put 9 past Bournemouth. I think some perspective is needed in how we view players such as Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. They are still quality players who can get returns against any opposition, and they’ve shown it consistently over the last few seasons. I’d expect Liverpool to turn their form around once several players return from injury.

That being said, Liverpool have some tough fixtures to come and Mo Salah and Trent take up a lot of money in your team. I’d sell them for good Gameweek 8 players or wildcard them out in either Gameweek 8 or 9. I think it’s a good idea to have a plan on how you can get them back, as their fixtures improve from Gameweek 12 onwards. Don’t spread the money around the team too much if you really want Mo Salah back by Gameweek 12.

Players to keep

PLAYER

João Cancelo (7.1m)

FIXTURES

Fulham (A), Liverpool (H), Palace (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.09 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

B+

PLAYER

Gabriel Martinelli (6.5m)

FIXTURES

Brentford (A), Tottenham (H), Liverpool (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.61 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

B+

Joao Cancelo continues to tick-over as one of the best FPL defender options, as Manchester City are very capable of getting clean sheets and Cancelo is a regular name on the team sheet.

Gabriel Martinelli is still incredible value at 6.5m and is probably the most desirable option to keep out of all the Arsenal players. Despite some tough fixtures coming up, I think he can still manage to get a few returns against big teams. He was unlucky not to score against Manchester United.

Players to avoid

PLAYER

Marc Cucurella (5.2M)

FIXTURES

Postponed, Palace (A), Wolves (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.12 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

C+

PLAYER

Dejan Kulusevski (8.1m)

FIXTURES

Leicester (H), Arsenal (A), Brighton (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.33 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

B-

Chelsea blank in Gameweek 8 and Marc Cucurella is likely to share minutes with Ben Chilwell (5.8m) at left wing-back. It’s unsure who Graham Potter will favour in this position, so its probably not worth bringing them in until we get more information. Reece James (6.0m) is a better option and you could save money by going with Wesley Fofana (4.4m).

Dejan Kulusevski is good when he plays, but it’s never a guarantee, as Richarlison (8.5m) has been in good form and scored two goals against Marseille in the Champions League last week. Whilst Leicester City is a great fixture this week, I wouldn’t bring him in due to his minutes risk.

Players to monitor

PLAYER

James Maddison (7.9M)

FIXTURES

Spurs (A), Forest (H), Bournemouth (A)

FORM

MINUTES

STATISTICS

0.19 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

PLAYER

Lucas Digne (4.7M)

FIXTURES

Southampton (H), Leeds (A), Forest (A)

MINUTES

FORM

STATISTICS

0.11 NPxG + xA per 90

RATING

Despite a slow start to the season, James Maddison looks to be a great option from Gameweek 9 onwards. He has some fantastic fixtures, he’s Leicester’s primary playmaker in attack, and he’s a major threat from set-pieces.

Lucas Digne is a good option for 4.7m, as Aston Villa have a good stretch of fixtures all the way until Gameweek 16. The Frenchman is a decent attacking threat from left-back and is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Captaincy candidates

PLAYER

Erling Haaland (12M)

FIXTURE

Wolves (A)

NPxG per 90

1.22

xA per 90

0.10

RATING

PLAYER

Harry Kane (11.4M)

FIXTURE

Leicester (H)

NPxG per 90

0.61

xA per 90

0.20

RATING

PLAYER

Gabriel Jesus (8.1M)

FIXTURE

Brentford (A)

NPxG per 90

0.58

xA per 90

0.26

RATING

B+

PLAYER

Kevin De Bruyne (12.2M)

FIXTURE

Wolves (A)

NPxG per 90

0.25

xA per 90

0.47

RATING

B+

PLAYER

Heung-min Son (11.7M)

FIXTURE

Leicester (H)

NPxG per 90

0.34

xA per 90

0.20

RATING

B+

Despite Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea blanking this weekend, there are plenty of good captaincy options to choose from. Erling Haaland will be a popular choice again, as Manchester City host Wolves at the Etihad.

If the Norwegian’s minutes are managed in their midweek Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund, then he’ll be sure to start and get minutes against Wolves. The same situation applies to Harry Kane, who you’d expect to start and play close to 90 minutes if he can be managed against Sporting CP. Leicester City are struggling defensively, so this is a fantastic fixture to target. Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Heung-min Son are all great alternative options too.

Wildcard Tips for Gameweek 8 & 9

FPL managers have one wildcard to use before Gameweek 16, which is the last Gameweek before the World Cup break. Managers will have the opportunity to make unlimited transfers during the World Cup break again before Gameweek 17. Therefore, wildcarding in either Gameweek 8 or 9 will be a popular choice, as it’s a good time to transfer in players who have good fixtures until Gameweek 16, and some teams such as Liverpool and Arsenal have more difficult fixtures over the next couple of months.

Reasons for wildcarding in Gameweek 8:

If you have multiple Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Leeds, and Man United players in your team;
If you are not able to field a starting XI with free transfers or even after a -4 hit. I would avoid taking anything more than a -4 hit, as you might as well wildcard if your team is needs significant repair for Gameweek 8;
There are some good fixtures to target for Gameweek 8. Transferring in players such as Alexander Isak (7.0m), Kieran Trippier (5.3m) and Nick Pope (5.1m) are great choices for their game against Bournemouth, and Harry Kane (11.4m), Heung-min Son (11.7m) and Ivan Perisic (5.6m) are great choices for their game against Leicester City;
You’re able to beat price drops/rises. Liverpool players are likely to drop in price due to their blank and difficult fixtures;
You can bring in Leicester City players such as James Maddison (7.9m) or James Justin (4.7m), and bench them for Gameweek 8 because Andreas Pereira has a great fixture against Nottingham Forest

Reasons for wildcarding in Gameweek 9:

If you are able to field a good starting XI using your free transfers or by taking a -4 hit;
Money shouldn’t be an issue if you have Mohamed Salah (12.9m), as you’re able to transfer in expensive players such as Harry Kane or Heung-min Son for a one-week punt (and possible captaincy option) against Leicester City in Gameweek 8, and then transfer them back out in Gameweek 9 using your wildcard;
You can transfer differential players in for Gameweek 8, who you wouldn’t want in the longer term;
If you want to captain Mo Salah for Gameweek 9 against Brighton Hove & Albion;
If you’re wanting players from any of the teams who blank in Gameweek 8 for the longer term;
More information can be gathered after Gameweek 8 and the international break;
You can change your wildcard team to adapt to any injuries during the international break

James' team selection

I had two free transfers before the Gameweek 7 deadline which I was keen to use once I knew the games were going to be cancelled. I transferred in Kieran Trippier (5.3m) and Alexander Mitrovic (6.9m) before they both rose in price, as I knew I would want them from Gameweek 8 onwards and I wouldn’t have been able to bring them in if I waited longer (I now have 0.0m in the bank).

With one free transfer available, I’m considering taking a -4 hit to field a decent starting XI this week, and then wildcard in Gameweek 9. There are a number of desirable players that I want from Gameweek 9 onwards, who blank or have a poor fixture this week. Some of these players include Wesley Fofana (4.4m) Wilfried Zaha (7.2m), James Maddison (7.9m), and Ivan Toney (7.2m).

I’m likely to bring in Heung-min Son (11.7m) for Mohammad Salah (12.9m) to target Leicester City, and either Jarrod Bowen (8.1m) for Luis Diaz (8.2m) or Ivan Perisic (5.6m) for Reece James (6.0m). I think the team is looking pretty good considering the cancellations and blanks. All the best everyone!