Knowing we get unlimited transfers during the FIFA World Cup, we should only be looking at the next four game weeks.
If you still have your wildcard, now is the time to use it. As ever, form and fixtures are at the forefront of our decision-making process so note that West Ham, Manchester City, Everton, Spurs and Liverpool are right at the top of the fixture ticker.
After losing to Liverpool, I’m expecting a big response from Man City and I think every FPL manager should be tripling up on the best team in the league.
Phil Foden (8.3) has started every league game this season and unlike seasons gone by, he doesn’t feel like a downgrade on Kevin De Bruyne (12.3). You can do a lot with the 4m you save and there is very little to split them in terms of FPL output.
Joao Cancelo (7.3) and Erling Haaland (12.1) are, of course, no brainers and off the back of a midweek rest, I’m expecting City to go big against Brighton. Rightly so, Haaland (12.1) will be captained by the masses once more, myself included.
Do you buy Darwin Nunez?
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on August 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Liverpool produced a ton of chances midweek and despite being a minutes risk, Darwin Núñez (8.8) has really caught my eye and I’m likely to bring him in this week if Klopp gives him the thumbs up in his press conference. Whilst Klopp often hooks him early, with a few injuries in the squad I think Darwin starts the remaining four fixtures pre-World Cup if he stays fit.
Even if he starts three out of four, I expect returns. His ‘per 90’ stats are insane this season and whilst he’s only registered four attacking returns, his underlying numbers show he’s got all the potential to become an FPL must-own. He ranks first among all Premier League players this season for shots (6.95 per 90), touches in the opposition box (10.74 per 90) and non-penalty expected goals (0.89 per 90).
I speak a lot about a player's ceiling and it plays a major part in my thought process when transferring players in. Foden or Darwin for example this week, I think, have a high ceiling of say 15 points.
The teams they play, the opposition they face, the pedigree they have, etc, all add to the value I place on their head.
High Ceiling Players
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Two high-ceiling players over the last few seasons have been Heung-min Son (11.8) and Harry Kane (11.5) but I have been really disappointed by these potentially explosive assets so far this season. Kane has ticked along nicely with only two blanks but when you’re spending big money on a player you’re never going to captain (blame Haaland), you need a higher chance of that 15-pointer.
Between Kane and Son, the duo have only registered double-digit returns three times this season and the way Spurs are playing they never look like they’re going to score three or more goals.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool often look like they have more than two goals in them, which is why their players carry a higher ceiling and, therefore, have earned more love from me in the transfer market.
I’m looking forward to this mini sprint until we get to use the unlimited transfers chip and will be playing aggressively this week with a 4-point hit - Foden and Darwin in for Leandro Trossard and Harry Kane.
Fortune favours the brave, right?