Spot the Differential
28 April 2018 2204 comments
James H James H
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With only three Gameweeks to go, opportunities to catch mini-league rivals or achieve any pre-season targets are fast running out.

With that in mind, we’ve picked three differentials who have the potential to make an impact for the final push.

A rested Manchester City star, Chelsea’s in-form front-man and a Liverpool player who could benefit from rotation all earn our seal of approval ahead of today’s deadline.

Leroy Sane

After being rested for last weekend’s 5-0 win over Swansea City, we’re expecting Leroy Sane to return to the Manchester City starting line-up for their trip to West Ham United on Sunday.

The German international had been one of City’s form players prior to Gameweek 35, producing two goals and two assists from his previous six league appearances.

Over the last four matches, only David Silva (11) has created more chances than Sane among City players, while the wide man also registered nine shots over that period.

Interestingly, his last four goals have all come on the road, offering encouragement ahead of the London Stadium clash.

The Hammers have conceded 17 goals in their last seven matches, while only Stoke City (73) have allowed more shots over the last four outings than West Ham’s 63.

Following their attacking returns last time out, it is Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling who are leading City targets this week.

They are the second and third most transferred-in players, gaining over 200,000 new owners between them.

By contrast, Sane has only been snapped up by 13,000 FPL managers, while his ownership sits at just 11.8%.

Now priced at 8.6 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the winger might be worth taking a chance on if you believe he has had his rest and is the attacker most likely to play all four remaining matches.

With such a kind run-in (whu HUD/BHA sot), that potential pitch-time could make all the difference.

Olivier Giroud

With three goals in his last three matches in all competitions, and having seemingly established himself as Antonio Conte’s first-choice striker, Olivier Giroud can be a relevant Fantasy asset once again.

Found in only 1.8% of FPL squads, the cultured Chelsea target man looks an ideal option as a differential in a front three.

Since making his Blues debut in Gameweek 26, the Frenchman has produced more shots (23) and penalty area attempts (21) than any other team-mate, despite making just three starts.

His average of a shot every 26.1 minutes is superior to Alvaro Morata (35.3), Eden Hazard and Willian, who have both managed an attempt every 50 minutes.

After netting the opener in the 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton, Giroud should enter this evening’s encounter at Swansea City full of confidence.

His prospects should also be boosted by the fact the Swans have injury concerns over both Federico Fernandez and Kyle Bartley.

In addition, Carlos Carvalhal’s side have conceded nine goals over the last four matches, with no other team allowing more during that spell.

Giroud’s performances have played an important part in Chelsea recording three successive wins and, with confidence levels rising, the 8.2-rated forward should be on our radars once again.

Conte’s men crucially play twice in Double Gameweek 37 (LIV/HUD), and having proved he can make an impact as a substitute, even if he doesn’t start one of those fixtures, Giroud may be worth the gamble.

Danny Ings

A plum home fixture against Stoke City, and the fact Jurgen Klopp is likely to protect Sadio Mane ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League semi-final, make Danny Ings an intriguing differential option.

Mane picked up a minor problem against Roma on Tuesday night and missed training on Thursday.

So after leading the line against West Bromwich Albion last weekend, and getting on the scoresheet, Ings may again start as the central striker, with Roberto Firmino possibly set to move to the left of the front three.

And if the Reds have the luxury of making early substitutions, it is perhaps Salah and Firmino who are most likely to be withdrawn, giving Ings the opportunity to play the full 90 minutes.

He produced three shots and received two big chances at The Hawthorns – more than any other player involved.

This afternoon’s match-up with the lowly Potters could hardly be more inviting.

They have conceded more goals (65) and given up more big chances (85) than any other side.

Paul Lambert’s men also need to win at Anfield in order to keep their fading survival hopes alive, which could make for an open encounter.

Available for just 5.4  and owned by only 0.2% of managers in FPL, Ings represents the ultimate differential for Gameweek 36.

Liverpool enter today’s match having scored 16 goals in their last four home matches in all competitions, and look primed to heap further misery on Stoke.

As a one-week punt, Ings should be a tempting option for managers needing to pull a Fantasy rabbit out of the hat.

  1. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Cap Kane or Salah if you’re chasing?

    1. Fresh_From_Desh
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Kane

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Always go with form for your captain pick

    3. TrollMasterDeluxe
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Kane for me beacuse I dont have Salah 🙂

  2. mr messi
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play Lingard or Gudmundsson?

  3. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Is it crazy to go without Salah or City players this gameweek? Cant seem to find any solution without involving hits which i dont mind but ML's are soo tight, dont know what to do. Plus i read a preview which said sterling might be rested so def not keen on bring him in for a hit :confused:

    Ddg -- Ryan
    Cedric Lowton Maguire -- Smalling Alonso....(worth starting smalling?)
    Son Pogba Mahrez Willian -- Gross
    Kane Barnes Vardy

    A: Gross + Vardy >> King (benchfodder) + Jesus (-4)
    - gives city coverage but worth a hit?
    - I will likely take a hit (for the same moves) next gw anyways so might as well take it now?
    - will do mahrez >> sterling next gw

    B: Save FT and reassess
    - Likely do gross / mahrez / vardy >> king + Sterling + Jesus (-4) next gw

    As you can see, same options..just case of whether to take the hit this gw or not..ideally would like to save incase we get new info from the weekend or one of my players get injured but no city is scaring me

  4. Kanga roo
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Stoke 4 pts from avoiding relegation with swans a game in pocket. they won't be parking any buses today

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Defend for 80 mins and try to win in the last 10 mins when Pool are tired and some players are subbed.

      1. Kanga roo
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Defend for 80 mins. Good luck Potters

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Need a win desperately but do they have the cattle to beat Pool B+ team?

    3. SkipperTG
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Have you ever seen a lambert team play?

  5. Plagued by indecision
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    NOw torturing myself over Kane/Salah captaincy conundrum and whether to bench Willian and start Kenedy...

    1. Fresh_From_Desh
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Are u chasing?

      If so go Kane.

      Chelsea can still catch spurs so conte will play his strongest team which is why Willian will play

      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I’m 16 behind in ML but fairly sure leader will cap Kane.

        1. Fresh_From_Desh
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Mmmmm

          Not sure then

    2. Onwards
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I've captained Salah & started Kennedy so would advise doing the opposite.

      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        HAha! Why? Surely if you’ve started Kenedy you reckon he’ll do the business.

  6. JackQualt
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I’m finished this probably the hardest captaincy pick of the season!!

    Salah with reduced minutes
    Or a dodgy Kane with a desperation for the golden boot?!

    Surely the only reason Salah comes off is if Liverpool are winning comfortably, and if that’s the case with mane and ox missing it can only be Salah who’s got them there right? Especially with bobby out wide?

    1. JackQualt
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      *finding

    2. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I mean Kane always bangs at the end of the season and that desperation could work in his favour.

  7. Zenith UK
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on this settled team;

    Pope
    Vert, Lowton, Chilwell
    Son, Sane, Willian, Kenedy
    (K)ane, Jesus, Vardy

    DDG, Gudmund, Smalling, Monreal

    Gives me 12 DGW players next week as well, where I may be tempted to make one or two changes.

  8. barcaa7
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Murray to Jesus
    Gudm to King
    (-4) Thoughts?

  9. Gruu
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Start Barnes (BRI) or Mili (LEI)?

    1. SkipperTG
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Barnes

  10. fridge
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone got any good tips on things to do to take your mind off the Salah game? GTG?

    De Gea
    Tark. Christensen. Vert
    Eriksen. Sterling. Willian. Lingard
    Kane (c) Barnes. Jesus

    Ryan. Ibe. Morgan. Lowton

    1. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Turn off your phone til GW37?

    2. QuintonFortune25
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Your triple Spurs and Kane captain will bring home the bacon, don't worry about it.

  11. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    DDG
    Smalling - Lowton - Long
    Alli - Mahrez - Sane - Son
    (K)ane - Lukaku - Barnes

    Ryan - Morgan - VdH - Cook

    GTG or take a hit? .5 ITB.

  12. Ratatouille
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Some people are saying Stoke will play a tough which I agree. But can they be better than Roma, who got trashed 5-2? Come on guys, you just know Salah will get double figures so don’t make a stupid excuse not to get him and captain him!

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Roma got battered cos they went head to head with Liverpool. Stoke probably won't do that. Even so, you'd expect Salah to score.

    2. Naboo
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Get him? We've all had him since week 1

    3. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      That’s not how it works

    4. Well you know, Triffic
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Roma defended like a League 2 team.

    5. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      By your assumptions then Roma are in the CL Final because they slapped Barca across the pitch in that 3-0 romping and we all know Barca make Liverpool look like Accrington Stanley.

  13. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Aaarrrgghhh!
    Racing toward GW36 with no Salah v Stoke...Stokeeeee 😮
    Rival has WC BB TC, I have TC37 and 30(-4) lead ATM
    Cheers 🙂

    _
    [A] No Salah Plan (-12)

    36: G2G (-4)
    37: Willian Christensen > Sané Naughton (-4)
    38: Sané Alonso > Salah Robertson (-4)

    _
    [B] Mo Salah Plan (-16)

    36: Willian Alonso > Salah(c) TAA (-12)
    37: Salah Christensen > KDB Smalling (-4)
    38: KDB > Salah (FT)

    _
    DDG
    Vertonghen Christensen Lowton
    Sterling Son Willian Milivojevic
    Kane(c) Jesus Barnes

    (Ryan Lingard Chilwell Alonso)

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers Q

    2. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Are you missing a transfer on B? I can't see why it's -12?

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Already on a -4

  14. Borran
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Lukaku to Jesus? I have no other Man City players.

    1. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I've done that

  15. Joga Bonito®
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    What’s the Liverpool lineup?

    1. Pogboom
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Karius, Trent, Gomez, Van Dijk, Klavan, Moreno, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Ings.

  16. Smitser
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play lingard or gross?

  17. barcaa7
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Murray to Jesus
    Gudm to King
    (-4) Thoughts???

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Yes

  18. Blens
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Best scoring defender to bring in:

    1) VVD
    2) TAA
    3) laporte
    4) other

    6.0 itb

    1. Kanga roo
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      VVD due a goal

  19. Pogboom
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Please suggest.

    A. De Gea or Karius
    B. Lowton or Morgan

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      DDG and Morgan

  20. Fishy-o
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Currently on WC ready to BB next week

    De Gea, Fabianski
    Bavies, Smalling, chilwell, VDH, dummett
    Sterling, sane, Willian, son, Kennedy
    Kane, Jesus, j ayew

    GTG?

    Should I

    1, keep Salah and Ward in this week for Smalling and willian then -4 next week

    2, nite the bullet and risk going without Salah this week to save -4 next week.

    1. wolves_simmo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Same dilemma.

    2. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I'd take the punt. You obviously think Salah is going to score points and you have enough cover at the back to not start Smalling.

  21. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Lukaku > Jesus -4?

    1. william prunier
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Next week

    2. BigAsGiroud_
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      na

      1. Fresh_From_Desh
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        No

    3. benpilmer
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Arsenal game has goals written all over it

  22. Magic Box
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play Mili or Gudmundson?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Gudmundsson

      1. rrcmc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Why not Mili (out of interest)?
        i toss up Barnes or Mili

  23. BigAsGiroud_
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    What should I do about Christensen??
    A) to Otamendi (-4)
    B) to Kompany (-4)
    C) to anyone else for a hit
    D) Hold and hope he'll start

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      D

      1. rrcmc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        depends on your view of whether he starts the DGW. he is big rotation risk for me so could ditch for an enabler DEF who plays DGW and make squad better elsewhere?

  24. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    On a WC.....Who to bring in and play this week?

    Willian or Arnie?

    Will have both in 37 regardless.

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Willian

      1. Fresh_From_Desh
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Willian

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Arnie. City will concede and WHU need a result

  25. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Which option?

    A) Mahrez to Sane

    B) Lukaku/Mahrez to Jesus/Sterling for -4

    C) Save FT

    1. Rex Lapis
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C

    2. william prunier
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Save

    3. La vida FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Got to be tempted by A if chasing

  26. Kabayan
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    DDG
    Vert - Long - Lowton / Morgan - Alonso
    Mahrez - Alli - Pogba - Willian / Gross
    Kane (C) - Vardy - Barnes
    1 FT, 1.2 itb.
    A. Willian to Sane
    B. Pogba to Sterling
    C. Mahrez to Sterling
    D. G2G and Save FT

  27. SuperMario
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Lukaku has the potential to haunt a lot of people this week..

    Arsenal B team focused on Europa League. Jose would fancy giving Arsene a hammering before his retirement. #teamrom

    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Arsenal B team might be better than their A team

  28. trinzoo
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play:
    A) Dummett
    B) Chilwell

    1. 111SWFC111
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

  29. 111SWFC111
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Struggling with this one due to Liverpool team leak, so any advice appreciated!

    1) start Robertson
    OR
    2) start Chilwell
    OR
    3) start Mustafi

    1. rrcmc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      ooo, toughy.
      AE hasnt been wrong yet so Robertson likely a 1 pointer
      Chillwell has assist and BP potential
      Arsenal will concede but Mustafi has GS potential

      Chillwell scrapes it for me

  30. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    From 1-10, what are the chances of these starting both DGW fixtures?

    A) Alonso
    B) Bavies
    C) C...Murray

    1. rrcmc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A) 8/10; final to prepare for and chasing CL places
      B) 8/10; looking to keep the CL place
      C) i honestly have no feeling for this one