Spot the Differential – Gameweek 14

After last week’s selection Wilfried Zaha came good with a 10-point haul in Crystal Palace’s 5-4 defeat to Swansea City, we’re putting our faith in an unheralded Liverpool midfielder, a forgotten man at White Hart Lane and Middlesbrough’s bulldozing centre forward to shine in Gameweek 14.

Emre Can

With Philippe Coutinho having been ruled out for around five weeks with an ankle injury, Fantasy managers have predominantly been looking to the likes of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson and fellow Red Sadio Mane as a replacement.

But should you need to free up funds, in particular for your three-man forward lines, then Coutinho’s Liverpool team-mate Emre Can may just fit the bill.

The German international has netted in two of his last four appearances, and perhaps, more importantly, is starting to look more certain of a place on the teamsheet having started the last six league matches.

Can has seen his price rise this week, having been transferred in by over 10,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bosses, although he’s still available at a bargain price of 4.9.

The midfielder has posted some impressive underlying statistics over the last four Gameweeks, registering nine shots from inside the box, ranking him joint-third among all midfielders, while he’s also created eight chances over the same period.

Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to take on Bournemouth tomorrow, lining up against a side who conceded twice to Sunderland in their last match at the Vitality Stadium.

With further kind fixtures (WHM, mid, eve, STO) to come over the next five Gameweeks, Can, who’s currently only sat in 1.8% of FPL squads, could be worth considering as an enabler to free up funds elsewhere in our 15-man rosters.

Dele Alli

Tottenham Hotspurs’ Dele Alli is currently being overlooked as Coutinho replacement, although a Gameweek 14 haul could quickly address that.

The England international got back among the attacking points last weekend with an assist in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, and now embarks on three hugely appealing home fixtures (SWA, HUL, BUR) over the next four Gameweeks.

Alli has seen his price drop from an initial 8.5 to 8.1 in FPL, having managed just three goals and two assists so far this term.

But after scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists last term, he has proven pedigree as an FPL asset, and facing off against three of the weakest defences in the Premier League, could well be worth a roll of the dice for those chasing big deficits in mini-leagues.

Swansea City shipped four goals at home to Crystal Palace last week, while they have conceded seven goals in their last three away matches.

Hull City have also been particularly vulnerable on their travels, conceding 15 goals in their last four away trips, while Burnley are equally fragile away from home, having conceded at least three goals in four of their five away matches.

Alli is currently owned by just 4.8% of FPL managers, and given he’s a name few seem to considering as a Coutinho replacement, there’s no doubt that a return to form for the Spurs midfielder would provide instant dividends for those wiling to take the gamble.

Alvaro Negredo

After registering his first goals since his debut on the opening day with a brace against Leicester City last weekend, and with a plum home fixture against Hull City on Monday night, Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo looks a solid option for Gameweek 14.

Priced at 6.3, the Spanish striker also has some reasonable underlying statistics from the past four Gameweeks, registering seven shots from inside the box, with five of those hitting the target.

Hull travel to the Riverside having conceded three goals to Sunderland on their last visit to the north-east – a match where both Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe mustered double-digit scores.

The former Man City forward has seen his ownership rise back up to 13.2% in FPL on the back of over 55,000 transfers in this week, but with the Spaniard likely to be found in many unmanned “ghostship teams,” he should still be able to provide a boost in rank if he delivers on Monday night.

‘Boro also face favourable match-ups against Swansea and Burnley later this month, so for those who are looking for an alternative from the likes of Defoe and Southampton’s Charlie Austin as a cheaper third forward option, Negredo may prove an interesting route to follow.