Last week was a cracker for this column as the recommended team picked up a whopping 74 points. Of the goalkeeper and three defenders, four kept clean sheets, while Johan Manzambi and Declan Rice both got big scores in midfield, and Erling Haaland as captain got two goals & three bonus points.
It’s always a great feeling to have a good week with a couple of differential picks, but now attention turns to FPL Gameweek 8 as we select the fixtures, players and outside punts for what looks set to be a cracker.
FPL Gameweek 7 Team
GK: Verbruggen – 6pts
DEF: Gvardiol – 0pts, De Cuyper – 6pts, Calafiori – 6pts
MID: Rogers – 2pts, Gros – 2pts, Manzambi – 11pts, Rice – 9pts
FWD: Haaland (C) – 26pts, Joao Pedro – 2pts, Solanke – 4pts
TOTAL: 74pts
FPL Gameweek 8 Target Fixtures & Players
Arsenal (vs Everton, home)
The Champions continue to grind out results and will take heart from their point away to Bayern Munich in Europe. That game took it’s toll though with Bukayo Saka going off with a troubling-looking injury, but with Everton struggling for goals and Arsenal so good at the back, a defensive double-up makes a lot of sense this weekend.
Top picks:
- David Raya (6.1m) – Took the lead in the goalkeeper charts with his clean sheet at Forest, and will fancy his chances of another one at home to the Toffees.
- Ricardo Calafiori (5.9m) – Possible rotation risk after a big couple of games, but his form has been superb.
- Ezri Konsa (4.6m) – Remains a very solid option, and picked up nine points last week, his best return of the campaign.
- Declan Rice (7.3m) – The heartbeat of this Arsenal team and scored a brilliant first goal of the season against Bayern on Wednesday night.
Chelsea (vs Tottenham, home)
Chelsea got a good win away at Everton last weekend and now return home to west London for a derby against rivals Tottenham. Xabi Alonso is finding his feet and his team are scoring plenty of goals, so they’ll fancy their chances of beating Spurs.
Top picks:
- Mike Penders (4.4m) – A real differential in the coming weeks with Emiliano Martinez sidelined. Tottenham have struggled for goals on the road, so the Belgian has clean sheet potential here.
- Cole Palmer (9.7m) – Has had a quiet few weeks but all eyes will be on Stamford Bridge for this game and they’re the matches he tends to thrive in.
- Morgan Rogers (8.0m) – A cheaper alternative to Palmer but no less of a threat in Chelsea’s potent attack.
- Joao Pedro (7.9m) – Blanked at Everton last week but still looks by far the second best forward in the game after Haaland based on value and output.
Brentford (vs Hull, away)
Brentford took the lead against Liverpool last week and then Vitaly Janelt’s red card swung the game in Liverpool’s favour. The visit Hull looking to bounce back but still in very healthy shape at this stage of the campaign. The Tigers are without a win in five since their back-to-back wins at the start of the campaign, so siding with Brentford assets looks a solid play for FPL Gameweek 8.
Top picks:
- Kristoffer Ajer (4.5m) – Plenty of Defcon potential for the Norwegian this weekend, as well as clean sheet prospects.
- Kevin Schade (6.2m) – Brentford’s best midfield option after a cracking start to the season, has good prospects for the trip to the MKM.
- Thiago (7.8m) – The Brazilian has had a mixed start to the campaign but is getting the chances and should only be a matter of time before he explodes.
Manchester City (vs Aston Villa, away)
A tough assignment for City at a ground they’ve struggled at in recent years, but their form has been superb and you wouldn’t bet against them making it eight wins from eight to consolidate their lead at the top of the table.
Top picks:
- Josko Gvardiol (5.8m) – Tough to call on a City defender this week but with Nico O’Reilly a doubt and 25%-plus ownership, Gvardiol gets the nod.
- Phil Foden (6.8m) – Foden took his chance after starting against Ipswich last week and backed up his goal with a hattrick in the Champions League, with Semenyo out injured for a while, Foden could make a mockery of this price tag over the coming months.
- Erling Haaland (15.7m) – Another two goals last weekend as Haaland extended his lead in the race for the Golden Boot, featured on the bench in midweek, and this is a tough game for City, so it’ll be surprising if he doesn’t feature.
Leeds (vs Sunderland, away)
Leeds got a solid point at home to Manchester United last weekend and visit a Sunderland side with only one win so far this season. The Yorkshire side will be confident of a victory on their trip to the north east.
Top picks:
- Tarik Muharemovic (5.0m) – Defcon magnet who is a points threat in both boxes.
- Ao Tanaka (4.9m) – An alternative pick from the Leeds midfield, Tanaka has got two assists so far this campaign and looks dangerous when he picks up the ball in the opposition half.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (6.1m) – Justifying why he was the most popular sub-6.0m forward at the start of the campaign.
FPL Gameweek 8 Captaincy
Declan Rice (C) – It’s a tough pick this week but Declan Rice is a solid pick based on recent form, two assists in the last two Premier League games, a superb equaliser against Bayern in midweek, and Defcon potential too.
Joao Pedro (VC) – The forward has been in fine form at Stamford Bridge this season and should relish a London derby against Spurs.
Worth a Punt
Ferdi Kadioglou (4.4m) – Kadioglou missed Brighton’s first match this campaign, and picked up a zero in Gameweek 2 against Chelsea, but in the last four gameweeks he’s averaging 6.5 points and looks a good differential in Brighton’s defence, who have the joint best record in the league.
Alex Iwobi (5.4m) – Picked up 11 points last week and has been one of Fulham’s shining lights this campaign, has attacking potential for a trip to Coventry.
Johan Manzambi (6.0m) – Would be nailed as a pick for this week if it weren’t for a small injury doubt. Has been superb in Aston Villa’s recovery from a difficult start to the season.
Brandon Thomas-Asante (5.0m) – The forward came in for Coventry’s first win of the season against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 5, and since then has picked up two assists. He looks a good budget enabler in the third striker spot.
FPL Gameweek 8 Team
GK: Raya (6.1m)
DEF: Calafiori (5.9m), Ajer (4.5m), Muharemovic (5.0m)
MID: Rogers (7.9m), Rice (7.3m) (C), Foden (6.8m), Manzambi (6.0m)
FWD: Haaland (15.7m), Joao Pedro (7.8m), Thiago (7.8m)
SUBS: Dubravka (4.0m), Iwobi (5.4m), Kadioglou (4.5m), Tanaka (4.9m)
TOTAL: 99.6m
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