Spot the Differential – Gameweek 10

Gameweek 9 was less than kind to our differential suggestions, but we’ve got two influential midfielders and a budget defender from a big ticket team to repair the damage.

A mix of form, fixtures and home advantage are at play for our trio, which should help to offset the bigger price tags involved.

Mesut Ozil

After producing a spectacular display in last weekend’s 5-2 victory over Everton, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil looks a ready-made differential option for Gameweek 10 as the Gunners host Swansea City.

The German international registered a goal, assist and maximum bonus points at Goodison Park and should be full of confidence heading into this afternoon’s clash.

Sunday was the first time Arsene Wenger has named Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette in the same starting XI this season.

The schemer supplied eight key passes, three more than any other player in Gameweek 9.

Arsenal’s total of 21 shots inside the penalty area against the Toffees has been matched just once, by Manchester City back in Gameweek 6, this season.

So against a Swansea side with just one win from their last six matches, the 1.8%-owned playmaker looks primed for another big performance.

While the Welsh outfit have only conceded one goal in their four away trips, they have perhaps been fortunate – Paul Clement’s side sit third for the most shots faced on the road with 80.

The Swans will also be without first choice left-back Martin Olsson, who is expected to be ruled out with a hamstring injury.

That could mean either Kyle Naughton or Sam Clucas having to play in an unfamiliar role of the left side of the Swansea defence.

Now available at just 9.3 in Fantasy Premier League, Ozil is considerably cheaper than both Sanchez and Lacazette.

Looking back to his best, he looks well worth a roll of the dice for Gameweek 10, particularly if you’re building a Free Hit line-up.

Riyad Mahrez

Another big name edging back to his best form is Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian has a goal, two assists and three bonus points over the previous two Gameweeks and struck a goal in the midweek EFL Cup win.

Faced with a promising home fixture against Everton tomorrow, he has the platform to maintain his red-hot form for the Foxes.

The Toffees parted company with Ronald Koeman on Monday, leaving David Unsworth as the caretaker manager.

Although they put in an improved performance in their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Chelsea, Everton head to the King Power Stadium desperately short of confidence, having won just one of their last eight in the league.

They have conceded eight goals over the last four Gameweeks, while only Crystal Palace (24) have allowed more shots on target than the Toffees (23) during the same period.

Mahrez has been the main man for Leicester so far. He leads the way for shots with 19, ahead of Jamie Vardy (17), and is also level with Marc Albrighton for the most chances created, with 10.

Impressively, he has been involved in 54% of Leicester’s goals when on the pitch, contributing a goal and five assists.

Setting us back just 8.4 in FPL, and boasting an ownership of only 3.9%, Mahrez should be firmly back in the thoughts of Fantasy managers.

Alberto Moreno

Okay, so bear with us.

Liverpool may be heading into this afternoon’s home clash against Huddersfield Town on the back of a 4-1 defeat to Spurs, but there are several reasons why Moreno stands out as a differential option.

For starters, the Reds are the top-ranked defence in home matches, conceding just once at Anfield. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s side have only allowed five shots on target at home – fewer than any other team.

Moreno has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent performer at the back, seeing off the claims of summer arrival Andrew Robertson, who hasn’t featured for the Reds since mid-September.

The Spaniard has the potential to deliver at both ends of the pitch later today.

From left-back he has produced 34 crosses this season, including seven successful open-play crosses, ranking him third among FPL defenders.

He has also fired seven shots on goal – more than any other Liverpool defender – while his nine penalty area touches are second only to Joel Matip (12).

His talents aren’t limited to the final third, though.

Moreno is ranked first for tackles won in the Reds back four with 20.

And he’ll face a Huddersfield side who have failed to score in their last three away matches.

His proficiency across these different areas has seen the left-back excel in the Bonus Point System (BPS) and he outperforms all other Liverpool defenders for minutes per BPS (4.9).

Setting us back just 4.5 in FPL, he offers a route into the Reds’ backline and, at that price, can always be benched for away matches.

Moreno is sat in only 2.8% of FPL squads and also has the chance of taking the odd set-piece if Philippe Coutinho is ruled out this afternoon.