Moving Target

FPL new signings: Sterling back on watchlist after Chelsea move

Raheem Sterling (£10.0m) is at his cheapest Fantasy Premier League (FPL) starting price since 2017/18.

The England winger should stand a better chance of more sustained game-time this season, too, after Chelsea snapped him up in a £47m move from Manchester City.

The 27-year-old becomes the Blues’ first major signing since they were taken over by a consortium led by Todd Boehly this summer.

Prior to his move, Sterling was sitting in just 3.8% of FPL squads. Can he now enter the thinking as a ‘cheaper’ third premium asset in our Fantasy teams?

We assess the new Chelsea winger in our Moving Target report.


RAHEEM STERLING: FPL HISTORY

SeasonTeamStarts (sub appearances)GoalsAssistsFPL points
2021/22Man City23 (7)137163
2020/21Man City28 (3)109154
2019/20Man City30 (3)206204
2018/19Man City31 (3)1715234
2017/18Man City29 (4)1817229
2016/17Man City29 (4)714149
2015/16Man City23 (8)6396
2014/15Liverpool34 (1)710158
2013/14Liverpool24 (9)97132
2012/13Liverpool19 (5)2682
2011/12Liverpool0 (3)003

Born in Jamaica, Sterling moved to London aged seven and was developed at Queens Park Rangers’ academy before Liverpool prised him away in February 2010.

The youngster made his debut against Wigan Athletic as a 17-year-old in March 2012 and went on to be given a prominent role in the team by Brendan Rodgers soon after. However, it was the latter half of 2013/14 when he kicked on, with a series of outstanding performances that helped Liverpool achieve a second-place finish in the Premier League.

Sterling played one more season on Merseyside before he opted for a fresh start at Man City in the summer of 2015, where he has spent the last seven seasons.

Joining for an initial £44m, he went on to score 131 goals in 339 games, winning four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups.

Of those goals, 78 have been registered in 161 top-flight appearances over the last five seasons: only three players – Mohamed Salah (£13.0m), Harry Kane (£11.5m) and Jamie Vardy (£9.5m) – have been more prolific over that period.

Sterling scored 13 goals in 30 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, but he has undoubtedly slipped down the pecking order at City over the last few years, with his minutes slowly reduced and opportunities to influence the biggest games limited.

SeasonStartsSubbed onMins playedMins per appearance
2021/222372,15871.9
2020/212832,54782.2
2019/203032,66580.8
2018/193132,79382.1
2017/182942,60979.1
2016/172942,53176.7
2015/162381,95863.2

After playing 2,793 Premier League minutes in 2018/19, Sterling’s total has dropped year-on-year for the three seasons since, while forwards Erling Haaland (£11.5m) and Julian Alvarez (£6.5m) have arrived at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

That perhaps suggests that Sterling is a declining force, but his expected goal (xG) data confirms he still has plenty to offer.

SeasonGoalsxGxG deltaMins per xG
2021/221314.41-1.41149.8
2020/211011.08-1.08229.9
2019/202019.09+0.91139.6
2018/191713.70+3.30203.9
2017/181816.25+1.75160.6

The shot locations he roots out are also worth touching on: Sterling registered 13 efforts inside the six-yard box last season – only Diogo Jota (£9.0m) and Tomas Soucek (£5.5m) managed more – while his xG per shot of 0.23 meant than an average shot of his had a 23% chance of finding the net. For context, Son Heung-min (12.0m) and Salah’s tallies were 0.19 and 0.15 respectively.

It is worth noting, however, that while the quality of chances that fall his way are generally excellent, he isn’t quite a top-level finisher. Son, for example, has exceeded his xG tally by a combined +22.57 over the last five seasons; Sterling has overachieved by a mere +3.47.

RAHEEM STERLING: FPL PROSPECTS FOR 2022/23



493 Comments Post a Comment
  1. XX SMICER XX
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this team?

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo Justin Digne
    Salah Neto Foden Sancho
    Jesus Kane

    Turner Dunk Andreas 4.5FWD

    1. svgcr
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Is the plan to rotate Dunk & Justin? Would downgrade Dunk to Neco otherwise.

      Like the Foden pick.

      Monitoring Sancho as well. Wait and see ATM

      1. XX SMICER XX
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Correct - they rotate nicely over first 8/9 weeks.

    2. XX SMICER XX
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It’s either
      A. Sancho + £5m Defender
      B. Rashford + Chilwell / James

      Have a feeling that Sancho is being overlooked due to Rashfords price

  2. Cheeky Onion
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Happy with this threemium if Andres/Neco can make the odd contribution.

    Raya
    Robbo - Cancelo - Tomiyasu - Jonny
    Salah - Son - Neto - Andres
    Haaland - Jesus

    4.0 - Neco - 4.5 - 4.5

    Leaves 0.5m ITB to hop on an early cheap bandwagon which will be needed with this structure

    1. Cheeky Onion
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Tempted to do Son + Jesus > Saka + Kane to save an extra 0.5

      1. aapoman
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I think Son and Jesus are worth the extra 0.5

        1. Cheeky Onion
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          So do I. Saka seems the reliable pick but Jesus could have a very big year. I think if we find out who's on pens will determine it

    2. XX SMICER XX
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I personally think threemium works best with 3/4 4.5m

      1. Cheeky Onion
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I could upgrade Neco to a more reliable defender. Might also do Sanchez/Steele for GK just to be safe

        1. XX SMICER XX
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I think Neto Andreas is too weak for 3rd & 4th Midfield slots

          1. Cheeky Onion
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            It's shaky af indeed, and will be a headache trying to pick a (C)

      2. XX SMICER XX
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        *Defenders
        Would give you a better midfield

    3. svgcr
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      would get TAA with the extra 0.5

      1. Cheeky Onion
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Had him at first, but with this formation I think I'll thank myself for having the added flexibility of some $ ITB. They tend to share points but TAA has the advantage of set pieces

  3. balint84
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Azpi or Schär?

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Neither will start

    2. lugs
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Azpi is leaving and Schar might lose his place

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Azpi could be leaving

    4. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Both are really bad options

    5. Sameobi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Botman over Schaer at 4.5, but the best option in the Toon is Trippier by miles.

  4. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this draft I just pulled? Don't hate it personally. Has template players and few differentials

    Mendy
    TAA Robbo Cash Tomiyasu
    Salah Sterling BrunoG Neto
    Haaland Jesus

    4.0; Andreas, N.Williams, Archer

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Is Sterling & Bruno better than 2 * 8m Midfielders?

      1. aapoman
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I can see Sterling being a great option at Chelsea. Just need to monitor how he is getting in the group in preseason.

        1. XX SMICER XX
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I do like the Sterling pick and think he will start most games.

          Any way of stretching to Son? Robbo to Chilwell and Cash to 4.5m?

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Good team. No differentials spotted though

      1. Cheeky Onion
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Sterling the only one - could be a great shout and most team will struggle to fit him in. I'm going to wait on him personally

    3. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Very, very good

  5. Bene_the_horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A.Reece James
    B. Laporte

    Who’s the best 6 million defender? Or alternative?

    Cheers!

    Cheers!

    1. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. Pascal
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Chilwell but Perisic or Trippier are interesting as well.

  6. sirmorbach
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Friends, please:

    A. Henderson + Chilwell/James
    B. Mendy/5.0 keeper + Cash

    1. Cheeky Onion
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Tough one. I think Chilly/James biggest appeal is the offensive output - Chelsea's backline seems a bit of a question mark for now which makes me hesitate to get Mendy

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

      A

      The likely difference in points between Mendy and Henderson will probably be a lot smaller than the points difference between Chilwell/James and Cash (providing they stay healthy all season).

  7. Steal Your Faes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Greetings Fellow Travelers,

    If there's a private league out there that is made up of Deadheads, I'd love to get a code for that. I can't be the only one on the planet who is passionate about both.

  8. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Solved it!

    Mendy
    Taa Cancelo Castagne Perisic
    Salah Martinelli Diaz JWP
    Jesus Haaland

    Bench: Sanchez Williams Pereria Greenwood

    1. Mama Murphy's chair
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Could you do anything with 0.5 if downgrade Sanchez on bench.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Need to have a look. You right a 4m keeper will do. Prob only need to look at the first 6-8 gameweeks if a early wildcard is used so Mendy should be fine with 4m sub.

    2. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Make Sanchez a 4m GK.

      Castagne probably has better alternatives at 4.5m.

    3. SAUCY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Sanchez to 4.0
      Mendy to 4.5
      JWP to Coutinho/Raphinha/Zaha
      Diaz to Bowen

      And you’ve got the winning set and forget team right there

  9. Sillet Bang
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Any Cov fans on here want join a supporters league?

    1. CCFC 1987
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      hey there

  10. goriuanx
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Raya
    Trent - Cancelo - Chilwell - Tomiyasu - Neco
    Salah - Luis Diaz - Bailey
    Haaland - Kane

    Balcombe - Colback - Greenwood - Andreas

    Really like this one. Fit in all the best players at the expense of 1 player I don't really want, Bailey.

    Neco and Andreas rotate quite nicely. Would take 2's and an occasional clean sheet or goal contribution in return to accommodate the best players in the game.

  11. lugs
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    will Pope be nailed to start the season ?

    i really want the Newcastle keeper, and i think Pope will be nailed eventually but Dubravka is pretty good too and it just seems unfair if he gets dropped for no reason

    1. sulldaddy
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Id guess yes after signing him.
      He is on my roster for now

  12. Jonesfromthere
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Meslier 4.0
    TAA Laporte Perisic Trippier 4.0
    Sterling Saka Maddison Wissa 4.5
    Kane Haaland 4.5

    Not too shabby

    1. TanN
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Quite nice and balanced.

      I'm personally going to wait and see with sterling...
      In which case I'd go for Diaz instead and then upgrade Wissa to Odegaard (for example). Saka could then become Kulu or Mount or Foden etc to give a wider variety

  13. goriuanx
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1547279047125860359?t=uwhj6xD_3NNPy7yZQk76Bg&s=19

    Chelsea in talks to sign Kimpembe after signing Koulibaly. They've upgraded their defence big time.

    1. TanN
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Not sure Koulibaly is an upgrade on Rudiger ?

      Kimpembe would be an upgrade on Christensen though!

      Good news for a city fan, don't want Ake to leave

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Koulibaly is better than Rudiger imo

        Romano just said they want to sign Kimpembe + Ake.

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Would be a very nice signing, perhaps City didn't want to sell another asset to a rival, especially considering they'd need to replace this one

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Romano said they want Kimpembe + Ake

        1. TanN
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Crikey really shaking up their defence could be a while for them to gel which would reduce the appeal of Chilwell/James maybe

          Chelsea are my dark horses (along with arsenal maybe) this year. Can see one of them getting 2nd place over Liverpool.

          The Chelsea defence will be inmense:

          Chilwell Ake Kouli Kimpembe James

          1. Marty McFly
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Chelsea to finish higher than Liverpool is 9/2 with most bookies. Fill your boots lol.

    3. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Ha, I tried to make a joke involving Ake and a triple K but FFS think I'm gone all white supremacist!!!

      1. Andy_Social
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Fabrizio Romano
        @FabrizioRomano
        More on Chelsea. Levi Colwill, now likely to leave on a permanent deal this summer - as Tuchel and Boehly are working to sign three top centre backs.

        Chelsea and Levi Colwill will make a decision soon - as Koulibaly deal is done, Kimpembé and Aké in talks.

        Boehly is going for all 3.
        Keep an eye on Levi if he goes to a PL side. Prob 4.5m and could be good value.

        1. Klose_Call
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Levi was solid for Huddersfield last season (bar the own goal against Forest, but that's my bias talking as a Reds fan). Could see him moving on to a mid-table team - more inclined to see him on the £5m side but still would be good value.

  14. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Still not convinced that haaland can match the output of two 8.0 mids.

    It comes down to
    A. Haaland, Neto, ASM
    B. Wilson, Mount, Foden

    1. TanN
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Why Neto and ASM? Have you gone threemium?

      If not then you need to go B I think can't see Neto and ASM offering good routes to returns

      1. George Agdgdgwngo
        • 15 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Nah, big at the back instead.
        Robbo, Taa, Cancelo and chilly

    2. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      If you captain him, he's the equivalent of 3 x 8m mids

    3. EugeMurts
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      B

  15. TanN
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Meslier (Raya)
    Trent Trippier Perisic Cash Tomiyasu
    Salah Kulu Saka (Martinelli Andreas)
    Haaland Jesus (Greenwood)

    My plan is to use Martinelli to rotate with defenders when they have a tough fixture.
    I think Martinelli isn't nailed but at 6.0m offers a fairly cheap route into the arsenal attack and with 5 subs could be a good idea.

    If not I would downgrade Marti to another 4.5m and do Trippier to James

    1. Klose_Call
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Martinelli more likely to get game time this season - whether he hits those goals and contributions still keeps me hesitant of getting him onto the team. But fair play if he's a rotation option for yah.

      Been seeing Cash feature more; curious if Digne would be the wiser choice, as he'd be more involved in set pieces.

      1. InsertPunHere
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        A lot of that might have been me tbh - big cash fan since I brought him in on a wildcard GW27 for a cool 29 points. Imo he’s the more consistent returner, and his threat from open play outweighs Digne’s from set pieces for me.

    2. Fish up a tree
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Hold up you got 4 arse there..

  16. sirmorbach
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    James + Díaz or Robbo + Coutinho?

    1. Dragon1983
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      James and Diaz

  17. SAUCY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A or B please chaps?

    A) Son & Mitrovic
    B) Kane & Coutinho/Raphinha/Zaha

    Thanks

    1. Dragon1983
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      B Cout

    2. yoyoyoyoyoyoyo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A

  18. Dragon1983
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Think i am there with first draft and wait and see how friendlies go - how is this looking ? Any obvious mistakes?

    Ederson
    TAA, Cancelo, Persic, Trippier, Tomy
    Salah, Diaz, Rashford, Neto, Andreas
    Kane, Wilson, Greenwood

    Thanks.

    1. yoyoyoyoyoyoyo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Assuming you’re playing 5-3-2 bit of a waste having Neto on the bench? Could use the extra mil to get Chilwell/James

  19. yoyoyoyoyoyoyo
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A) 5-2-3 with Jesus
    B) 5-3-2 with Saka

  20. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Not seeing a lot of Kulu in teams. Are Diaz and Mount the 8s of choice? If so, why? (When Diaz means 1 of Taa Robbo and Mo need to go)

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I have him, if that makes you happier (though why it should is another matter altogether).

  21. tai31YNWA
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    RMT
    raya
    taa,chilwell,cancelo,trippier,perisic
    salah,neto,wissa
    haaland,kane
    thanks alot

  22. Mr Pwps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Please comment on my initial ‘safe’ squad with a few tweaks (in brackets) to accomodate Stirling in an alternative lineup:

    Raya
    Chilwell(Tomiyasu), TAA, Cancelo, Perisic
    Salah, Diaz(Sterling), Neto Guimares
    Kane, Jesus

    Balcombe, Kovacic(Andreas), Neco, 4.5FW

    Incidentally, looking to swap Kane for Haaland in GW2.

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Safe

  23. BarryFabregas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    RMT

    Mendy

    Trippier TAA James Chilwell Tomiyasu
    Salah Sterling (bought in while at City so have 4 CHE) Neto
    Harland Jesus

    Raya
    Andreea
    Chukka
    Taylor (Forest)

  24. Dale Sartip-Zadeh
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Like seeing Stirling do well

  25. Damien Sartip-Zadeh
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Stirling has great prospects