By Caroly Kipkoech
With the next Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline almost upon us, we’re getting team reveals from our scouts as a set of entertaining fixtures are set to be played, including a clash of the heavy weights as Manchester City will welcome Arsenal to the Etihad. Another thrilling fixture will be a London derby between Westham and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
This week, many managers will be weighing up the pros and cons of rolling a free transfer into their Wildcard next week or addressing a pressing issue.
Fantasy Premier League experts are providing managers with everything they need to know ahead of the GW five whose deadline is on Saturday September 21, 2024 at 13:00 EAT.
BEST FPL TEAM AHEAD OF GAMEWEEK 5
FORMATION: 3:4:3
GOALKEEPER: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)
The Seagull’s goalkeeper offers many routes to returns at home to Nottingham Forest. Verbruggen has produced a clean sheet and two save points in his two appearances this season, averaging 4.5 points per match.
DEF: Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool)
The Liverpool right-back has blanked just once in his first four outings under Arne Slot, collecting three clean sheets and two bonus points. Alexander-Arnold also boasts strong potential for assists. His 11 key passes and three big chances created both rank among the Reds’ top two players.
DEF: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
The Spanish left-back offers potential at both ends of the pitch at home to Wolves. Digne has created four big chances – more than any other defender in Fantasy, and has earned an assist in each of the last two Gameweeks.
DEF: Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
The Scottish full-back is among the defenders tipped to shine in Gameweek five. The Reds lead the way with three clean sheets this season and just one goal conceded from seven big chances allowed on their goal. Bournemouth failed to score in their last game, while Robertson has had two shots on target, including one big chance. He’s on some Liverpool corners, creating six chances this season.
MID: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah leads the AI rankings as the best captain pick for FPL Gameweek 5 when Bournemouth visit Anfield. Salah has had one of his best starts to a Premier League season which is encouraging in the Arne Slot era, producing double-digit hauls in three of his four games. Liverpool have a great record against Bournemouth, with Salah producing nine goals and one assist in nine Premier League appearances against them.
MID: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Arsenal have not scored a goal this season without the involvement of Bukayo Saka. 4 assists and 1 goal in four games demonstrate a blistering start to the season for the winger, with plenty more yet to come. Many managers opted to transfer him out this Gameweek due to the tough fixtures against Tottenham and Man City, forgetting one vital fact; he can score points against any opposition.
MID: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
The Place star remains a favourite, despite producing just one attacking return so far this season. Eze sits third for shots this season with 18 and he’s also created eight chances. Expect a big performance from him against Manchester United, a club he continues to be linked with for a future move.
MID: Dwight McNeil (Everton)
The winger ranks joint-top among midfielders for both chances created (16) and big chances created (four) so far this season. It is demonstrative of McNeil’s importance to the Toffees that he has set up half of their goalscoring opportunities and two-thirds of their big chances so far. McNeil has a goal and two assists to his name ahead of this weekend’s trip to Leicester and is currently selected by just one per cent of gaffers.
FWD: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – CAPTAIN
It was a delight to see Ollie Watkins back in significant minutes for Aston Villa last weekend and significantly back on the scoresheet, scoring a brace from six shots and four big chances on goal. That’s the clinical finishing we expect from him, following 37 goal involvements in 27 appearances last season. The great fixtures continue for Aston Villa, with the visit of Wolves next in this big local rivalry, with their opponents conceding 11 goals in their opening four games.
FWD: Dominic Solanke (Spurs)
Tottenham newcomer Dominic Solanke returned to the squad against the Gunners after missing their previous two games with an injury. He has the potential to be a gem this season, priced at £7.5 million as Tottenham’s main striker. He is still waiting for his first Tottenham goal, with a home game against Brentford a great opportunity. The Bees are without a clean sheet in this campaign.
FWD: Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
Leicester still await their first Premier League win since promotion after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s added time penalty denied them three points on Saturday but the evergreen Jamie Vardy has started the season in fine form with two goals in his first four matches. With an expected goals (xG) of 0.74, he’s still getting into dangerous positions. However, against an Everton side struggling defensively, he could be primed for a big haul.
