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Welcome back! We’re in the midst of European fixtures, so make sure you keep a close eye on your key assets in midweek to see what you’re left with after Thursday’s Europa League play. Last week, FPL managers were left with a difficult decision to make, Liverpool’s Mo Salah sitting out after contracting coronavirus. The positive news is that he has tested negative for virus and is expected to play in the Champions League at publication time. Wilfried Zaha is another highly-owned FPL asset who has recently contracted the virus, missing last week’s game and looking doubtful that he’ll return this weekend. Here are our picks:
Goalkeepers
Łukasz Fabiański - £5.0Mil - Aston Villa (H)
The Hammers have looked solid at the back lately, recording back-to-back clean-sheets coming into game-week 10. Fabiański now has an impressive four clean-sheets to his name and faces an Aston Villa side who didn’t look overly potent last week. Fabiański has had to work hard for his clean-sheets, being called into action plenty of times to the tune of eight bonus points so far.
Ederson - £6.0Mil - Burnley (H)
Although Manchester City have been inconsistent at both ends of the pitch this season, the Citizens face a Burnley side who have scored only a dismal four goals in eight games so far this season and have previously blanked at the Etihad in recent seasons. You wouldn’t bet against the City registering a third clean-sheet of the season.
Defenders
Lucas Digne - £6.1Mil - Leeds (H)
Digne impressed last game-week after picking up an impressive two assists, bringing his total to five for the season. Up next is a Leeds side that, while playing well at times, has leaked 17 goals this season. Leeds was unable to break-down 10-man Arsenal last week, so this match could provide Digne with points potential at both ends of the pitch.
Timothy Castagne - £5.7Mil - Fulham (H)
Castagne has missed the last three weeks to a hamstring injury but is hopeful for a return in time to host the Cottagers. The attacking full-back impressed in the first few game-weeks, picking up a goal and three assists. He should be able to spend a fair amount of time in the attack half this week against a weak side that has shipped plenty of goals so far. Castagne is reasonably priced and has relatively low-ownership (8.9%) considering his potential.
Vladimir Coufal - £4.6Mil - Aston Villa (H)
The West Ham United new boy has settled into life well, looking lively and confident with two assists to his name already. He is part of a side that has looked resolute at the back this season, cheap budget pick with low ownership (2.2%) and great attacking potential.
Midfielders
Diogo Jota - £6.6Mil - Brighton (A)
What a season this guy is having so far! Even with Salah’s impending return to the side, you can’t see that Jota is the player to make way. He has taken his chances and is increasingly getting more game-time. Jota is explosive, netting three goals in his last four league appearances. He’s a fantastic value who doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon (but watch today’s CL match to see how he looks by the end).
Bruno Fernandes - £10.8Mil - Southampton (A)
This is a player who is becoming increasingly hard to leave out of our player picks. He’s in a great run of form and is at the center of everything in this Manchester United side. He now has three goals and an assist in his last two games, bringing his totals to six goals and three assists. It’s worth noting that on Tuesday evening, he bagged a brace in the Champions League victory over Istanbul Basaksehir.
Pablo Fornals - £6.5Mil - Aston Villa (H)
Pablo Fornals has had a pretty strong season so far, with two assists and four goals in total, with a goal and assist in the last three game-weeks helping to fill the void left by the injured Michail Antonio. Fornals linked up well with Haller last time out, providing an assist.
Raheem Sterling - £11.5Mil - Burnley (H)
Manchester City and Sterling have struggled to get going this season, which shows in Sterling’s sinking ownership of 4.6%. Sterling could prove himself to be a great differential pick, having an enticing fixture against a Burnley side that has suffered at the hands of Manchester City in recent years: back-to-back 5-0 defeats at the Etihad in the league.
Forwards
Jamie Vardy - £10.2Mil - Fulham (H)
The Foxes’ talisman may have blanked the last time out, but that hasn’t stopped FPL Managers from drafting him in for this fixture (currently up to 25% ownership). Before the defeat to Liverpool, Vardy had three goals and two assists in three fixtures. This is very encouraging for his owners with an enticing victory against strugglers Fulham who have conceded 18 goals so far this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - £7.8Mil - Leeds (H)
The Calvert-Lewin offensive doesn’t look to be slowing down soon, nor does the faith in him by FPL managers as he’s continuously drafted into sides and sits as the highest owned player in the game (60%). Calvert-Lewin continued his strong form with a brace last time out and now faces a Leeds side that has conceded its fair share of goals this season.
Sergio Aguero - £10.3Mil - Burnley (H)
Similar to Sterling, Aguero is another low-owned (1.2%!) Manchester City pick who can be absolutely unplayable on the day. He is very much a forgotten man at the moment due to injury, but he could be the solution for the Citizen’s shyness in front of goal. Pep surely expects a big reaction from his side and a promising home fixture against Burnley is the perfect opportunity.
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What do you think of our picks this game-week? Any good differentials on your list? Will you move on any high-profile assets? Please share with us in the comments!
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