A Manchester City defensive double-up and alternative attacking options at Everton are top of our differentials list for Gameweek 4.
We’ve also looked at Brighton’s home match with Fulham where we believe there will be plenty of goals.
All three options we have picked out as differentials this week are in under five percent of teams and could help propel their owners up the Fantasy Premier League worldwide rankings.
Aymeric Laporte (£5.5m)
Ownership: 2.9%
With some uncertainty over the best Manchester City midfield options, suggestions have arisen that there could be merit in doubling-up on their defence, on top of the 33 percent owned Benjamin Mendy (£6.3m).
After all, no side has allowed fewer shots on target than the champions even if they have only kept one clean sheet so far. Upcoming fixtures against Newcastle (home), Fulham (home), Cardiff (away) and Brighton (home) all have strong potential for shutouts.
Centre-back Aymeric Laporte (£5.5m) can offer an additional way into that defence having played every minute of the season thus far, John Stones (£5.5m) and Vincent Kompany (£5.4m) rotating around the Frenchman.
However, the 24-year-old can offer more than just defensive returns as the key set piece threat for the champions so far in 2018/19. His three efforts from dead ball situations led to his goal last week at Wolves, and he now goes up against a Newcastle side that ranks third-worst for set piece attempts allowed in the first three Gameweeks. Furthermore, only Brighton have given away more fouls than Newcastle thus far, meaning there are sure to be plenty of free kicks for Laporte to latch onto in Gameweek 4.
Set pieces were a particular area of strength for Man City in 2017/18, with only Arsenal and Bournemouth netting more goals from such situations than Pep Guardiola’s men.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m)
Ownership: 1.5%
Everton playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) could prove a powerful differential in Gameweek 4. Despite ranking fifth in the league for chances created (eight) he is in just 1.5 percent of teams. His low ownership obviously stems from the more obvious threat posed by cheaper options Richarlison (£6.7m) and Theo Walcott (£6.7m).
But there is still plenty for the Icelandic international to offer in Gameweek 4, especially with Richarlison suspended for the next two league matches. In his role as the Toffees set piece taker, he is top for successful crosses so far in 2018/19 (eight).
The absence of the division’s top set piece target Michael Keane (£5.0m) and Richarlison could damage Sigurdsson’s appeal somewhat, but that may matter little considering the quality of their Gameweek 4 opponents Huddersfield.
The Terriers have conceded nine goals in their opening three matches, having allowed 57 shots and 11 big chances. For all three of those statistics, they rank bottom in the division.
Glenn Murray (£6.5m)
Ownership: 0.9%
Despite having a very favourable fixture in Gameweek 4, Brighton forward Glenn Murray (£6.5m) sits in just 0.9 percent of squads.
Fulham are yet to concede fewer than two goals in a match this season as a result of their ongoing problems at the back.
That statistic opens the door for Brighton to continue their fine form in front of the Amex Stadium faithful.
The Seagulls have found the net five times in their last three home matches, which were against top class opposition Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, the latter on two occasions.
Former Crystal Palace striker Murray has an excellent record when playing at home as well. When he was involved in a home match during the 2017/18 campaign, he played a part in 41 percent of the goals scored.
He continued that form by netting in Brighton’s 3-2 win over Manchester United in Gameweek 2, and can do so again against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
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5 years, 8 months agoHAZARD !