The Gameweeks are ticking by and before you know it, we’ll be halfway through the season. It feels like quite a strong template is forming, with Mo Salah, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka being heavily coveted as Erling Haaland’s ownership falls by the wayside.
Isak, Palmer and Enzo are popular after returns in consecutive Gameweeks, while Salah continues to find new suitors.
The Fantasy Premier League is characterised with its busy December schedule with a lot of games.
The Gameweek 16 deadline is set at a time of 16:30 (EAT) on Saturday so make sure to get your house in order before clocking off for the weekend.
BEST FPL TEAM AHEAD OF GAME WEEK 16
FORMATION: 3:5:2
GOALKEEPER: David Raya (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s clean sheet prospects look as good as any this week – opponents Everton have scored just five goals in their last six matches, blanking in four of those games.
Raya is also in on his own merit: he is FPL’s joint-third highest-scoring goalkeeper and has kept a clean sheet in each of his last two home matches.
DEF: Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
With Konate out injured, Joe Gomez is currently enjoying a rare run of starts in Liverpool’s backline.
Gomez has been picked in Arne Slot’s last three line-ups, including twice in his favoured position of centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool have kept two clean sheets in the games that both have started alongside each other.
The Reds have by far the best defensive record in home matches this season having only conceded three times in seven fixtures at Anfield ahead of Fulham’s visit this weekend.
DEF: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Seven clean sheets have been the driving force behind the Dutchman’s early-season success in Fantasy. Van Dijk has also stepped up his goal threat ahead of Liverpool’s match at home to Fulham – he has had three shots from set-pieces over their two matches without the injured Konate, compared with only five across his first 12 appearances.
DEF: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
The ongoing doubts over Gabriel’s (£6.2m) fitness means Timber is picked as the best Arsenal defender at home to Everton. The right-back has returned 20 of his 47 points this season over the Gunners’ last two at Emirates Stadium, combining a goal and two clean sheets with two bonus points.
MID: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
The Argentinian’s prospects in Fantasy have taken a huge turn for the better thanks to his new advanced central midfield role. Fernandez has three goals, two assists and 35 points over the last four matches and Chelsea’s long-term schedule indicates he can emerge as the No 1 budget midfielder for many Gameweeks to come.
MID: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – CAPTAIN
It takes a lot to displace Mohamed Salah from the top of the rankings right now, given that he’s scored in seven consecutive Premier League games. He’s produced ten double digit hauls in 14 appearances this season, which is amazing consistency. Fulham have produced some defensive consistency this season but are without a clean sheet in four, conceding seven goals in this time.
MID: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Backing a player who is currently second in the overall points standings and second only to Mo Salah in terms of FPL ownership to perform well isn’t exactly rocket science.
Maresca’s Chelsea face Brentford who have been the Premier League’s great entertainers this season, but they have done their best work at home: 22 of their 23 points have come at the Gtech.
MID: Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth’s barnstorming winger has had six more attempts than Palmer, despite playing 67 fewer minutes and 12 more than Salah in just five extra minutes of game time.
Semenyo is an excellent fourth or fifth choice midfielder, particularly for favourable fixtures like West Ham at home. The Hammers rank fourth-bottom for goals conceded (28) and shots faced (238).
MID: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
He comes into this game in great form, having been involved in all three of Arsenal’s goals in their Champions League win this midweek. He has two goals and four assists in the last four FPL gameweeks, too. Set-piece goals have been crucial to the Gunners in this time, with Saka sharing corner duties, as well as being on penalties.
FWD: Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
An injury to Callum Wilson means that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak will be a mainstay over the festive period, having produced three goals and two assists in his last four Premier League starts. That takes him up to nine goal involvements in 13 appearances this season. Newcastle United have one of the best fixture runs over the festive period, with this weekend’s home game against promoted Leicester City the perfect entry point for the Magpies penalty-taker.
FWD: Mattheus Cunha (Ipswich)
Since a spike in ownership ahead of Gameweek 13, Wolves striker Matheus Cunha has produced three successive blanks to frustrate the quarter of the playing pool who own him. Despite this, he remains a great forward option at home to Ipswich Town this weekend. The Tractor Boys have conceded in 11 consecutive games.
