Spot the Differential

The best FPL differentials to consider for the new season

The Gameweek 1 deadline is now upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some differential options for the start of the season.

As always, we’ve selected three players with an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing, who represent viable alternatives to some of the more popular assets out there.

Christian Pulisic

Willian and Pulisic make case for Chelsea double-up with Norwich on horizon
  • FPL ownership: 6.6% (4.8% at the time of writing)
  • Price: £8.5m
  • GW1-5 fixtures: bha | LIV | wba | CRY | SOU

Despite a slow start, Christian Pulisic (£8.5m) enjoyed a fine first season at Chelsea, and hit top gear upon the Premier League’s resumption back in June.

The United States international contributed a combined eight goals and assists in just nine league appearances during Project Restart, and went on to score in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

That kind of output suggests a big campaign lies ahead.

In yesterday’s press conference, manager Frank Lampard confirmed Pulisic is in contention for Monday’s trip to Brighton, and with an ownership of just 4.8% at the time of writing, could be an explosive differential for those willing to gamble on him starting. Saying that, an appearance off the bench might not be the end of the world for owners, considering his ability to haul from limited minutes, as evidenced at Anfield last season.

The Blues’ opponents in Gameweek 1, Brighton and Hove Albion, head into the season with plenty of optimism themselves after a busy transfer window, though it’s worth noting they shipped 11 goals in just three home games against Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United during the restart, while doubts linger over their ability to keep things tight against the best attacking setups in the league. 

Following the arrivals of Kai Havertz (£8.5m), Hakim Ziyech (£8.0m) and Timo Werner (£9.5m), competition for places at Chelsea is fierce right now. However, we think this could have a positive effect on Pulisic, who could now take his game to another level and thrive alongside such quality.

James Ward-Prowse

  • FPL ownership: 4.7%
  • Price: £6.0m
  • GW1-5 fixtures: cry | TOT | bur | WBA | che

James Ward-Prowse (£6.0m) may only have registered nine attacking returns last term, but with the Saints going from strength-to-strength, we’re backing the England international to kick on this season.

A product of the Saints academy, Ward-Prowse has become a vital part of manager Ralph Hasenhüttl’s midfield unit, and played every minute of the club’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign. 

It has been suggested the departure of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (£5.0m), and re-introduction of Oriol Romeu (£4.5m) to the starting XI, will give the Southampton captain a bit more freedom to get forward, which is encouraging, but there is no getting away from the fact his ability from set-pieces and delivery from wide areas is the main attraction.

Ward-Prowse whipped in a massive 72 crosses from Gameweek 30+ onwards, more than any other player, while his 20 shots ranked joint-ninth amongst midfielders. Add to that free-kicks, corners and a share of penalties with Danny Ings (£8.5m), and we think there is a lot to like here. 

After a disappointing start to last season, Southampton performed well once Hasenhüttl had settled on his 4-4-2 / 4-2-2-2 system. Their away form was only bettered by Liverpool and Manchester City, while just the Manchester clubs collected more points during Project Restart.

The Saints are unbeaten in their last five league matches on the road, and take on a Crystal Palace side in Gameweek 1 who have won just four games all calendar year, all of which bodes well for Ward-Prowse and Southampton’s prospects this weekend.

Dele Alli

  • FPL ownership: 3.3%
  • Price: £8.0m
  • GW1-5 fixtures: EVE | sou | NEW | mun | WHU

This season feels like a defining moment for Dele Alli (£8.0m), after another disappointing campaign last time round.

However, his performances under Jose Mourinho in the early weeks of his tenure offers hope he may be able to find his best level again. 

Under Mourinho’s stewardship, there was an immediate improvement in Alli’s output, which saw him go on a run of four goals and three assists in five matches, while his underlying statistics suggest he may be being overlooked.

Since Mourinho’s first game in charge, amongst midfielders, only Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Mohamed Salah (£12.0m) and Sadio Mané (£12.0m) accumulated big chances at a faster rate. His expected goal data was also encouraging, and trumped that of team-mate Son Heung-min (£9.0m), despite seeing fewer minutes.

While I’m unsure how much we can read into pre-season, Alli’s displays have offered promise, having registered two assists in a 3-0 home win over Ipswich Town before scoring in a 4-1 victory at Reading.

Up first for Tottenham Hotspur is Everton. While the Toffees’ will no doubt look a much better unit with their new midfield recruits, it may take time for them to gel, while their poor away record last term saw them concede 35 goals – only five teams gave up more.

Heading into the new season, it is vital for Alli to keep himself fit and find a bit more consistency in his performances. If he can do that, while retaining an attacking midfield role, he could be in for a big season.

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2,172 Comments Post a Comment
  1. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can you help me out by picking 2 out of these 3 strikers pls?

    a. C.Wilson
    b. C. Adams
    c. A. Mitrovic

    Thanks in advance fam. 🙂

    1. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Adams - dont' fancy the other 2.

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      AC

    3. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not a fan of any of the 6/6.5 fwd options, but probably A & B out of these

    4. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      AC

    5. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Currently on A & B....

    6. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A and C, both are nailed on and the focal point of their team.
      Adams is a rotation and substitution threat, playing second fiddle to Ings.

    7. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      AB

    8. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks for the replies all 😉

  2. Lexi2014
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Greenwood or James Rodriguez?

    1. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      James for me

    2. MaoCalzone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Greenwood (if he's likely to start)

    3. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have Greenwood but doing a lot of late thinking. Iceland has not helped his short term prospects me think!

      Only for Iceland I would say Greenwood but logic now is to avoid for a week or two. I cant have him as bench fodder for 2 weeks..

    4. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      As for Rodriguez, a big gamble. Rich a safer bet if want Everton otherwise best to look elsewhere

  3. davewg59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best 5m defender apart from Egan?
    Coady or Davies
    None of the 5’s offer attacking returns

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss - some goal threat

      1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nailed enough? Also card magnet

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah - first choice back three is Boly Coady Saiss

    2. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dier?

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Keane

    4. Ballistics
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zouma.

    5. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      got Dier myself. Blind faith in the Jose's second season effect

  4. Vasshin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Please RMT
    Option A
    Ryan/4.0
    Robbo justin lascellas walker-pieters / 4.0
    Auba Salah Alli Saint-Maximin/ Bissouma
    Werner Mitrovic /Martial
    0.5 in bank so
    Week2 Auba & werner out kdb and Aguero in (price will change so had to do with -4 hit as it is for whole season)

    Option B

    Same as option A but use that 0.5 in bank to upgrade
    either Lasceles to Davies or Sais
    Or Robbo to TAa

    And in week2 just change Auba to KDB but won’t have enough fund for Aguero

    Option C
    Option A with Martial to Ings/Jimenez and keep the itb for week2/3 to bring kdb martial aguero

    Option D
    Forget about Aguero for now so
    From option A change Martial to Ings/Jimenez and upgrade 2 defenders with 1.0 that would be upgrading robbo to TAa and lasceles to Davies
    And change Auba and ings/Jimenez to kdb and martial for -4

    Thanks

  5. faux_C
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Trossard + Richarlison
    or
    Barnes + DCL
    ?

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm in the dcl or richa conundrum too 🙁
      Think I'm going richa

  6. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sam Johnstone apparently saved 5 of 8 pens in 2018/19. Less exciting in 2019/20 with 1 of 5

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Regression

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Tricky to know how it continues

        a fifth of one pen this season?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Playing vs United might help 😉

  7. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Quick team name check!

    Marvelous Success here in homage to the two heroes. Anyone gone for Vinagre Stroke?!

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If anyone needs a childish team name..

      Timo and Pogba: Ake-na Mata-ta

  8. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mitro or Adams

    Plzzz help

    For GW 1 only

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Adams

    2. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Adams

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mitro

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Im on Adams atm

  9. mbrucie
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy (Steer)
    TAA / Davies / Justin (KWP / Mitchell)
    Auba / Salah / Son / ASM / Soucek
    Werner / Ings (Davis)

    Thoughts?

    1. mbrucie
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      G2G

  10. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which 4.0 fodder GK you going for? I have Nyland but his ownership is quite high so he could get a price drop at some point?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ryan Walton

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Has to be the other villa keeper. Steer or somejing like that

      He shd start

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Same issue though, his price may drop when he stops starting?

    3. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Button

    4. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Rn on Button, a sound choice?

    5. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Steer

    6. Binny
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Villa also looking to sign Martinez. I’ve gone Button

    7. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Button

  11. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any last minute changes I should make?

    Mccarthy
    Vinagre TAA Walk-peters
    Salah(c) Auba ASM Alli
    Ings Mitro Werner

    subs, nyland, bissouma, dallas, taylor

    0 itb

    thanks!

  12. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Suggestions appreciated!

    McCarthy
    TAA, Davies, Egan
    Salah, Aubameyang, Son, ASM, Soucek
    Werner, Wilson

    (Nyland, KWP, Mitchell, Davis)

    1.5 ITB reserved for Son -> Fernandes.

    Cheers

  13. Team Bobcat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Greenwood too much of a risk for GW2?

    Does Iceland antics effect his chances of playing for ManU in the short term?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He is training on his own too

      1. Team Bobcat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        His fitness and ability not my concern really. I fear he will be reprimanded by ManU in some shape or form.

        Bench fodder for three weeks is too much of a headache for my team. Rashford may have to be called upon

  14. Kuyt Hero
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Soucek (as 4th mid) plus 5.0 defender

    or

    ASM plus 4.5 defender (would mean Trent, 3 x 4.5s and a 4.0)?

    Thanks!

    1. billnats
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Soucek and Davies

      1. Kuyt Hero
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks mate

        1. billnats
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          A) Davies & 4.5M
          B) KWP & Soucek

          1. Kuyt Hero
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            B, currently have both too, but thinking about whether I can swap KWP to Justin or another 4.5m as not sure I want to double up on Soton def

      2. Boly Would
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Agree with this

    2. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Soucek is better than ASM so it has to be the top one.

      1. Kuyt Hero
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers mate

      2. NULL-X-VOID
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        This

        And people are really overlooking that New Def after the new signings, they've been horrible, for sure would leak a lot of goals in, same with WHU

  15. billnats
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Davies & 4.5M
    B) KWP & Soucek

    *One would most likely sit on bench anyway

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  16. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi all

    A) Ramsdale, Walker Peters, Bissouma
    B) Mccarthy, Justin, Soucek?

    Thanks and best of luck for the season!

  17. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Newbies - remember to set a team now that you are relatively happy with, because it's likely the main FPL site will become slow and sluggish tonight and crash tomorrow morning. Same for this site.

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      this

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      way to go in not having a head start

  18. faux_C
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Areola added!

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Oooh

  19. Glad He Ate Her
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who else is punting on Pulisic?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wont start this gw

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks Frank

  20. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Egan worth the 0.5 over Justin?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes better fix

    2. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      any day

  21. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1. Son
    2. Alli

    Cheers

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      it depends on your budget, if money's not an option, Son always

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      2

  22. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    And...

    1. KWP
    2. Vinagre
    3. Saliba / Holding

    Thanks

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1,2

  23. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy + Egan or Ramsdale + KWP?

  24. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Areola at 4.5 could be an interesting choice compared to McCarthy and Ryan

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Just a fancy name nothing else

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        LoL

    2. faux_C
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm getting him instead of Ryan so I can get a Brighton DEF.

  25. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Davies+Soucek
    B) Justin+ASM

  26. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can anyone tell me why Saliba would start ahead of Gabriel?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Luiz and Sokra injured

      1. CrouchDown
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Would it not be Gabriel and Holding?

  27. Beat_FPL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi All,
    New to the members section etc..
    Keen to know your thoughts?

    McCarthy (Nyland)
    TAA - Davies - Saliba - KWP - Mitchell
    Auba (vc) - Salah(C) - Alli - ASM - Bissouma
    Werner - Ings - Mitro

    any villa fans know who will start in goal until Heaton is fit?

    1. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Should do fine, pretty template around here.

    2. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      emi martinez

  28. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alli or James Rodríguez + 0.5m?

  29. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Am I G2G?

    McCarthy
    Justin - Saliba - Taa
    Salah - Auba - Son - ASM - Soucek
    Werner - Ings

    Subs: Steer, Brewster, Mitchell & Taylor

    0.5m Itb to do Ings > Martial after GW1.