FPL Game-Week 4 Player Picks

It wasn’t a week to remember in FPL for a lot of fantasy managers out there. Frustration was evident and rightfully so as captaincy favorites Kevin De Bruyne and Timo Werner both failed to deliver, and there was a flurry of unexpected results.

The highlight of the week for me was Leicester absolutely thumping Manchester City in their own backyard, suddenly increasing the appeal of Foxes as fantasy assets.

If you had an abysmal week in FPL, don’t worry as it was the case for most of us. Let’s take it on the chin and try to move forward and make the most of a brand new opportunity in the form of game-week 4. Here are my picks in each position ahead of the fixtures this weekend.

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Goalkeepers

Alex McCarthy - £4.5mil - vs West Brom (H)

Southampton won against Burnley at Turf Moor, quite surprising given how strong the Clarets are at home. The Saints looked rigid defensively, and Alex McCarthy was impressive between the posts. The English shot-stopper is the highest owned goalkeeper in FPL, and he rewarded his owners with his first clean sheet of the season. The visitors West Brom have looked goal-shy apart from their game against the Blues, so I am expecting the Saints to keep the back door shut — McCarthy earning decent FPL points in this fixture.

Rui Patricio - £5.5mil - vs Fulham (H)

Wolves suffered a major loss at the London Stadium against the Hammers, but I think they’ll be back to their defensive best when the Cottagers visit the Molineux this weekend. Wolves are usually rock solid at the back at home, and even though Fulham will most likely adopt a fairly attacking approach, I don’t see them scoring against that back line. The addition of Nelson Semedo from Barcelona will only improve Nuno’s side defensively, plus their next four fixtures are mouthwatering for FPL investment all over the pitch.

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Defenders

Timothy Castagne - £5.6mil - vs West Ham (H)

The Foxes signed the Belgian defender to replace the departing Ben Chilwell, and he has certainly looked sharp for the in-form Leicester side. They face a lackluster West Ham at the King Power Stadium, and after the demolition of Pep Guardiola’s side last time out, they’ll be brimming with confidence. I can see a clean sheet for Leicester, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Castagne bags an attacking return as well this weekend. He is a solid pick, plus the Foxes have a fairly favorable schedule over the next 10 Game-weeks.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - £7.5mil - vs Aston Villa (A)

Our favorite FPL defender hasn’t quite performed to his expected level, but he did produce a trademark assist against the Gunners. Liverpool visit Villa Park to face a Dean Smith’s side who looked quite impressive in their wins against Sheffield United and Fulham. As improved as Villa are looking, the sheer quality of the Liverpool squad will be too much for them to get anything out of this game. I am backing Trent to score big in this fixture and reward us all with a massive haul.

Nelson Semedo - £5.5mil - vs Fulham (H)

As a massive Barca fan, I have only admiration for this guy. He’s just phenomenal going forward. I have no doubts on him being the next Matt Doherty for us FPL managers, and he is reasonably priced as well. Fulham’s defense just looks poor, so Nelson’s ability on the ball and his threat going forward will just prove too much for the Cottagers to deal with. He might be a cheeky differential with a very favorable run of fixtures coming up for Wolves. And yes, he has been signed to replace Doherty, so he will most certainly start every game once he has settled in completely; he’s just too good to be sitting on the bench.

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Midfielders

James Rodriguez - £7.7mil - vs Brighton (H)

Well, he has been pivotal to what we have seen from Everton so far, and there is nothing to suggest that won’t continue. He was unlucky to not score points at Selhurst Park, but he faces the Seagulls at Goodison Park, and this could prove to be a very lucrative fixture for the owners of the Colombian talisman. He needs to be instrumental for Everton to have any shot at qualifying for Europe this season, and he absolutely looks up for the challenge. He has a manager who trusts him, so everything is pointing towards a great season for James.

Daniel Podence - £5.6mil - vs Fulham (H)

The Portuguese winger missed the last match against the Hammers through injury but is set for a return when the Cottagers visit the Molineux this weekend. He seems to have filled the void left by Diogo Jota, looking potent going forward. The Cottagers are leaking goals — 10 conceded in just three games. I can see this game going only one way, and from what we’ve seen so far, Podence will likely be involved in the goals. He is a bargain if he keeps on performing the way he has been. He is a solid pick ahead of the favorable Wolves fixture schedule.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - £11.9mil - vs Sheffield United (H)

This one is the maverick pick of the weekend for me. As good as Sheffield were last season at keeping the back door shut, they don’t seem convincing at all so far this season. They have lost all three games up until now, and I can see that continuing when they travel to face the Gunners at the Emirates this weekend. In my opinion, the Blades can’t afford to sit too deep as they are under pressure with no points in the table so far, and such a forward posture might play into the hands of Arteta’s men. Aubameyang hasn’t performed the way we were expecting at the beginning of the season, but he is usually strong at home, so I can see him scoring decent points in this fixture.

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Forwards

Raul Jimenez (C) - £8.6mil - vs Fulham (H)

This is the pick that requires the least explanation. Jimenez is lethal in front of goal, and he faces the worst defense in the league at home so that’s prime captaincy material right there. He’s a straight swap from Timo Werner for those growing impatient with the German striker already. Jimenez has multiple tasty fixtures coming up, and he is as reliable as it gets in terms of expected point returns. Don’t think too much; just get him in your team.

Danny Ings - £8.4mil - vs West Brom (H)

This guy is becoming fixture-proof now. He managed to score two goals against Spurs and also scored the winner at Turf Moor. He faces a lackluster West Brom side at St. Mary’s, and I just don’t see anything other than a comfortable win for the Saints. In fact, he is a great differential for the captaincy this weekend alongside Jimenez, and this really seems like a week where one of them could help you make massive gains compared to the conservative ones.

Jamie Vardy - £10.0mil - vs West Ham (H)

He is just ridiculous is all I can say. Vardy has already scored five this season, and he doesn’t look like he is going to stop anytime soon in this relentless Leicester side. The Foxes face West Ham who will quite honestly be involved in the relegation battle this season. The way the Foxes are playing, this could turn out to be a high scoring one at the King Power Stadium. Brendan Rodgers seems to have found that spark they somewhat lost in project restart last season, and after the demolition of the Citizens, the momentum is theirs to lose. I am not ruling out another golden boot for Vardy; he just keeps getting better in front of goal.

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What do you think of our picks this week? Whom are you adding or dropping? What are your predictions for this week? Any strategy you are planning to use? Please let us know in the comments section below!

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