The Gameweek 1 deadline of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is almost upon us, which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some differential options for the start of the season.
As always, weโve 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 Fantasy assets out there.
SADIO MANE
- FPL ownership: 4.5%
- Price: ยฃ12.0m
- GW1-5 fixtures: nor | BUR | CHE | lee | CRY
Sadio Mane (ยฃ12.0m) was not at his best during the 2020/21 season but finished strongly and still managed double figures for both goals (11) and assists (11).
As a result, he ended the campaign as the fourth-highest scoring midfielder with 176 FPL points but he has largely been overlooked in pre-season due to the popularity of team-mate Mohamed Salah (ยฃ12.5m), whose ownership currently sits at 51.1%.
In his own words, Manรฉ labelled last season as the worst of his career, as fatigue and a lack of confidence meant that he often missed that explosiveness in the final third which makes him such a threat. However, a four-week break over the summer seems to have worked wonders, as he has looked remarkably sharp in Liverpoolโs recent friendlies and finished as the Redsโ top scorer during pre-season, combining three goals and an assist in five appearances.
The return to form of Trent Alexander-Arnold (ยฃ7.5m) could be key, too. The right-back’s quick switches of play via those long diagonal passes to Manรฉ are hugely important in Liverpoolโs ability to stretch their opponents, and when performing at his top level, heโs often able to find his teammate at the far post ready to tap home a cross.
Liverpoolโs favourable early schedule also looks promising for their attacking prospects, with matches against Norwich City, Burnley and Crystal Palace in the opening five Gameweeks.
Itโs fair to say we saw a dip in Manรฉโs usual standards last year, but following an impressive pre-season, he could be a nice differential for those willing to move away from the midfield template.
ISMAILA SARR
- FPL ownership: 3.5%
- Price: ยฃ6.0m
- GW1-5 fixtures: AVL | bha | tot | WOL | nor
Ismaila Sarr (ยฃ6.0m) impressed in the Championship last season, finishing the campaign with a total of 13 goals and five assists.
Itโs also worth noting that his output increased significantly after Xisco Muรฑoz took charge, when he returned the 23-year-old to his natural position on the right wing either in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.
In 16 league matches under former boss Vladimir Iviฤ, Sarr scored just three goals and made two assists. However, in his 23 appearances under Muรฑoz, he registered ten goals and three assists, which suggests that heโll be Watfordโs main attacking weapon again in 2021/22.
Muรฑoz aims to get his wingers on the ball as often as possible, and as a result, the wide areas are where most of the Hornets’ attacking threat stems from. His partnership with Kiko Femenรญa (ยฃ4.5m) down that side also caught the eye and was a key component to last seasonโs success.
Another interesting thing to note is that in games when Troy Deeney (ยฃ5.5m) wasnโt on the pitch, the two players who won penalties โ Joรฃo Pedro (ยฃ5.5m) being one, Sarr the other โ ended up taking them. Crucially, the Senegalese winger was fouled on five of the 10 occasions that led to a penalty last season.
Watford start with an appealing run and sit top of our Season Ticker for ease of fixture in Gameweeks 1-7. This weekendโs opener against Aston Villa could be a good one for Sarr, too. Dean Smithโs side have been trialling a new look 4-4-2 system in pre-season which has at times left them a little too open and susceptible to counter-attacks. Given that the Senegalese wingerโs acceleration is so difficult for any defender to deal with, he may be able to exploit space in behind, then.
Sarr has established himself as a key player for Watford in recent seasons and with an ownership of just 3.5%, could be a useful differential for the opening rounds.
RYAN BERTRAND
- FPL ownership: 2.1%
- Price: ยฃ5.0m
- GW1-5 fixtures: WOL | whu | nor | MCI | bha
Ryan Bertrand (ยฃ5.0m) looks set to start the new campaign as Leicester Cityโs first-choice left-back, having impressed at his new club in pre-season.
During last weekendโs 1-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, the 32-year-old impressed defensively and also got forward well to support team-mate Harvey Barnes (ยฃ7.0m). He even registered a pair of assists in the recent 3-2 friendly win over La Liga outfit Villarreal.
Crucially, his ability from set-pieces appears to have been recognised by manager Brendan Rodgers, as he has been immediately handed a share of dead-ball duties. In fact, one of those assists we mentioned above arrived via a free-kick.
Defensively, the Foxes only have one recognised centre-back who is fit and available right now: รaglar Sรถyรผncรผ (ยฃ5.0m). That may cause alarm, but itโs worth noting that versatile squad man Daniel Amartey (ยฃ4.0m) stepped in against Man City and demonstrated that he is more than capable of filling in, at least until a new centre-back arrives, with Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard (ยฃ5.0m) reportedly on his way. That suggests that the absences of Jonny Evans (ยฃ5.5m) and Wesley Fofana (ยฃ4.5m) might not affect them quite as much as first feared.
Leicester start 2021/22 with a reasonably favourable set of fixtures and play Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Burnley before the end of September. Encouragingly for Bertrand and Barnes, there could be plenty of space to attack down the flanks against Bruno Lageโs Wolves this weekend, with his full-backs often asked to advance high up the pitch.
Bertrand is an underrated player, and with his ability to contribute points at both ends of the pitch, is a tempting investment given Leicesterโs early schedule.
