By Caroly Kipkoech
Thirty-one gameweeks down, seven to go in the Fantasy Premier League. Gameweek 31 ended on Thursday, and we have quick turnaround ahead of Gameweek 32. Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne all got well-deserved breaks from the action in the midweek games. However, it’s doubtful that the rotation roulette is over. FPL managers should look to build a strong bench over the next few weeks as the fixtures become more critical and more congested.
FPL experts are providing managers with everything they need to know ahead of the BGW29 whose deadline is on Saturday, 6 April at 13:00 (EAT). Eleven of the best players have been chosen for gameweek 32.
BEST FPL TEAM AHEAD OF GW 32
FORMATION: 3:5:2
GOALKEEPER: Stefan Ortega (Man City)
Manchester City’s backup goalkeeper is currently the cheapest starter in Fantasy due to an injury to Ederson. Ortega visits Crystal Palace side who have scored more than a single goal in just one of their six matches under new head coach Oliver Glasner.
DEF: Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal)
The Polish defender looks set to return to the Gunners’ starting XI after being rested in midweek. Kiwior appears to have secured the left-back berth for the Gunners recently, starting six successive league matches before their win over the Hatters on Wednesday evening. A visit to Brighton gives the Pole the chance to extend that fine run of form. Roberto De Zerbi’s side has struggled in attack for a considerable period, scoring a mere three goals across their last seven matches in all competitions.
DEF: Pedro Porro (Spurs)
Tottenham’s clash with Nottingham Forest looks like one to target this weekend and the Spaniard offers scoring potential at both ends of the pitch. Forest’s tally of 39 goals this season hardly makes them an attacking powerhouse, so the clean-sheet potential is there for Spurs.
DEF: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)
Rayan Ait-Nouri is the most-bought defender ahead of the Gameweek 32 deadline, with good reason given his recent performances and positional switch. With Wolves’ attack depleted by injury, Gary O’Neil has shifted Ait-Nouri up the pitch with the Algerian playing as a left-sided winger and even popping up in centre-forward positions, as demonstrated by his goal at Burnley on Tuesday.
MID: Phil Foden (Man City)
Based on his electric form and City’s upcoming run of fixtures. City’s next four matches look great from an attacking perspective. The title challengers face Oliver Gasner’s at Selhurst Park in the early kick-off Foden has already contributed towards more league goals (21) this season than ever before and based on his exploits against Villa it won’t be long until he overtakes Ollie Watkins at the top of the FPL leaderboard.
MID: James Madison (Spurs)
The Spurs playmaker has been a consistent starter since returning from his latest injury absence, with one goal and three assists in the last nine gameweeks. Ange Postecoglou’s side won the reverse of this fixture 2-0 and will be the heavy favourites. Nottingham Forest haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last six games, conceding nine goals in this period.
MID: Dwight McNeil (Everton)
The Toffee’s winger boasts strong all-round potential at home to Burnley this weekend.
Although he has just a single assist from the Toffees’ last five matches, McNeil has been a major threat. His 12 shots, eight shots in the box, and 13 key passes are all team-leading totals in that spell. McNeil’s set-piece duties could prove decisive for Sean Dyche’s side on Saturday afternoon. Burnley has allowed 93 headed shots this season, the worst record in the league.
MID: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The Egyptian edges out his fellow premiums as the captain favourite for this weekend, as he travels to Old Trafford. Opponents Manchester United face an injury crisis in their defense, with Martinez the latest absentee. Salah has a great record against them, with ten goals and four assists in his last eight appearances in the Premier League.
MID: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
The Blues have a fantastic fixture this week against Sheffield United. Overall this season they rank the worst for both total goals conceded and total clean sheets kept. So far this season Palmer has racked up 13 goals and eight assists. In his last six matches, the midfielder also collected a massive five goals and five assists. .
FWD: Erling Haaland (Man City) – CAPTAIN
Haaland was completely rested for Man. City’s midweek win against Villa places the Norwegian international in good stead to start against Palace at the weekend. He has scored eight goals in away matches this season with only Watkins (nine) being more prolific amongst forwards.
FWD: Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak continues to grow in popularity in FPL and could be the most transferred in player for Gameweek 32, having scored in four consecutive games. He has six goal involvements during this purple patch, with his routes to points high given that he’s on penalties for the Magpies. He sits top among forwards for big chances on goal in this spell, with five.
