Players To Pick
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Alexander Isak (8.5m) is finding form after a slow start to the season, netting three goals and assisting one against Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Isak faces a struggling West Ham side with Newcastle, who are returning to form.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s encouraging fixtures over the festive period make Cole Palmer (10.9m) almost essential to own. Despite two recent blanks against Arsenal and Manchester United, FPL managers should expect Palmer to have more opportunities to influence these next games. Nine out of eleven of Chelsea’s fixtures score just two on the fixture difficulty rating.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah (12.9m) achieved another double-point haul, scoring and supplying an assist in Liverpool’s victory against Aston Villa. Salah faces a Southampton side that have kept only one clean sheet this season. The Saints also have injuries in defence which may add to their struggles.
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
Liverpool have boasted the strongest defence in the league so far with six clean sheets. Ibrahima Konaté (5.4m) is a reliable pick, having contributed to five of those clean sheets. The French defender has also scored once this season and supplied an assist.
Differentials
Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
If you are struggling to find the money to add Palmer to your team, then Pedro Neto (6.2m) could be a great value pick for Chelsea’s good run of fixtures. Neto has a goal and an assist in three starts for Chelsea and also scored for Portugal in the international break. His ownership is just 1.2%.
Vitaly Janelt (Brentford)
While Bryan Mbuemo (7.9m) and Yoane Wissa (6.1m) are the go-to Brentford picks, Vitaly Janelt (4.9m) is in good form for the Bees. Janelt has three assists and a goal in his last five games, yet is only owned by 0.6% of FPL managers.
Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Despite not starting his last two games, Harry Wilson (5.2m) has amassed 19 points. It is very likely that Wilson’s minutes will start to improve, or he may even start. Wilson could be worth a punt against a Wolves side with just one clean sheet this season.
Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)
Ben White (6.2m) being injured means that Jurriën Timber (5.5m) could have an opportunity to get a run of games. Arsenal’s fixtures start to improve in difficulty which could mean that the Gunners may rediscover their defensive solidarity. Timber is owned by just 1.5% of FPL managers.
Captaincy Options
Mohamed Salah has the form and the fixture to deliver a big haul this weekend. Erling Haaland (15.2m) faces a Spurs side without the pace of Van de Ven in the back line. Cole Palmer faces newly promoted Leicester.
Bukayo Saka (10.1m) is also a consideration at home to Nottingham Forest. Saka has only blanked once at home this season.
