The Watchlist Updated – Midfielders

Having covered goalkeepers and defenders, our series of Watchlist articles continues with a review of the updated midfield ladder for the upcoming period.

Our Watchlist rankings can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.

They give an indication of our thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors that are contributing to the given rank.

After netting his fifth of the season in Sunday’s loss at Spurs, Mohamed Salah climbs to the top of our midfielder standings as Liverpool prepare to embark on a very encouraging run of fixtures.

From now until Gameweek 21, Jurgen Klopp’s side are handed 11 eye-catching matches (HUD whu SOT stk bha EVE WBA bou SWA LEI bur) in the next 13 rounds of fixtures.

Only encounters with Chelsea and Arsenal, in Gameweeks 13 and 19 are regarded as tricky, though the Egyptian has already produced double-digits against the Gunners in Gameweek 3.

The top midfielder for shots in the box (26) and efforts on target (28), Salah is our preferred Red ahead of Philippe Coutinho. He could also seize spot-kick duties.

Currently, the most popular midfielder in FPL, Salah’s 32% ownership looks set to rise over the next few Gameweeks.

Raheem Sterling (8.2) slips off the summit after warming the Man City bench at home to Burnley last weekend.

The England star had started each of the previous five league matches when available, but his spot among the subs served a reminder of Pep Guardiola’s unpredictable rotation policy.

Furthermore, he also played 120 minutes in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Wolves.

Nonetheless, the numbers underline his potential as the league leaders prepare to face West Brom, Arsenal, Leicester, Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham in the next six Gameweeks.

Only Sergio Aguero among the City contingent can better Sterling for shots (27 to 22) and efforts in the box (22 to 17), while a total of six goals is more than any other midfielder.

His team-mates David Silva and Leroy Sane (both 8.6) are also included in our update.

Rested on Tuesday evening, Silva is the secure pick – he has started all nine league matches and already has a goal and six assists to his name.

Yet Sane’s ascent to top scoring midfielder in FPL highlights his ability to deliver points despite limited minutes. Although he’s only started five of the opening nine, the German has racked up five goals and four assists, delivering four successive double-figure hauls in front of his own fans.

Watford’s in-form Richarlison moves up into third spot in the rankings ahead of some kind-looking matches.

An assist away to Chelsea was his sixth set of attacking returns in nine, with points also accrued against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal underlining his fixture-proof appeal.

The top-ranked midfielder for touches in the box (65) and shots (32), he’s second only to Salah for efforts in the area (23) and has the schedule to remain in our midfields for the foreseeable future.

Between now and Gameweek 21, Marco Silva’s men face STK eve WHU new bur cry HUD bha LEI SWA, with only home encounters against Man United and Spurs in Gameweek 14-15 providing stern tests.

Our faith in Arsenal’s attack took a turn for the better after their 5-2 demolition of Everton.

There was no coincidence that came about after Arsene Wenger decided to unleash his three big-hitters in the same XI for the first time, with Alexis Sanchez delivering his first goal (and double-figure haul) of the season at Goodison Park.

Despite missing one of the last four Gameweeks, the Chilean is still top for shots (19) among midfielders over that period and sits joint-first with team-mate Aaron Ramsey (7.0) for efforts on target, with seven apiece.

Sanchez is second only to Kevin De Bruyne for key passes from Gameweek 6 onwards and has returned points in all three recent outings.

As we revealed in our recent Frisking the Fixture review, the Gunners’ upcoming schedule is somewhat mixed, though. While home matches with Swansea and Huddersfield and a trip to Burnley look promising, encounters with Man City, Spurs and Man United in the next six could deter investment.

The mid-priced Ramsey, meanwhile, is ranked further down after mirroring Sanchez’s weekend goal and assist. The pair are joint-top for shots (22) for Wenger’s side, with the Welshman second only to Alexandre Lacazette for efforts in the box (16 to 17).

Pascal Gross continues to stand out as Brighton’s likeliest source of Fantasy returns.

The playmaker has scored twice and also chipped in with four assists – all earned in the last six Gameweeks – and has played a part in 67% of their goals when on the pitch.

Priced at 5.8, he’s the second top midfielder in terms of value on the back of 48 points. Sitting in 15% of squads, he hosts Southampton, Stoke and Palace in the next seven and also travels to Swansea and Huddersfield.

Handed a role up front by Roy Hodgson, Wilfried Zaha wasted little time announcing his return from injury by firing the Gameweek 8 winner over Chelsea.

With Christian Benteke still stuck on the sidelines for 4-5 weeks according to today’s press conference, the Ivory Coast international has the schedule to produce goals and assists as Palace bid to clamber to safety.

Now down to 6.7 and owned by just 3%, Zaha has five home fixtures (WHU EVE STK BOU WAT) allied with trips to Brighton and West Brom in the next eight Gameweeks.

We’re also keeping an eye on Ruben Loftus-Cheek (4.5), who was the only positive to come out of the midweek cup loss to Bristol City, according to the official match report. Handed a start, he provided an assist in the 4-1 loss and could leap onto our radars if, like Zaha, he’s handed a central role for the Eagles.

Meanwhile, Man United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan continues to plummet in our estimations.

The Armenian has delivered just one goal in the last six Gameweeks and dropped to the bench for Saturday’s loss at Huddersfield. Although we reckon his start remains secure, that lack of output –in addition to matches against Spurs and Chelsea in the next two – means he continue to ship owners at a steady rate.

Over 170,000 FPL managers have parted company with Mkhitaryan since last weekend – more than double the number of any midfielder.