Just one Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline ago, we checked out the general status regarding fixtures.
So, this time, let’s split the six-Gameweek study into defence and attack, where there’s a difference in the teams to target.
This is particularly useful for Gameweek 8 Wildcard users, as nailing such coverage can allow free transfers to build up. And it’s already known that all managers will have five of them heading into Gameweek 16.
As always, our colour-coded Season Ticker is the primary source for this piece.
Using this tool as a Chief Member, you can even set your own difficulty ratings, should you disagree with ours. And new, as of this season, is the ability to customise the colours!
ATTACKERS: SIX GAMEWEEKS OF FIXTURES
ARSENAL
In the words of Zophar, Arsenal smelled blood from poor Liverpool and Manchester City results and quickly put themselves on top of the league, despite tough-looking early fixtures.
Regardless of the confusing penalty situation, managers should aim for either Bukayo Saka (£9.9m) or Viktor Gyokeres (£9.1m), as both look good.
Saka boasts multiple routes to points, while summer signing Gyokeres sits joint-third for box shots (15) and has racked up six big chances.
BRIGHTON + HOVE ALBION
On the south coast, Brighton have the third-best expected goals (xG, 11.36) tally. But their problem, from an FPL perspective, is squad depth.
Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) is the sole midfielder or forward to start all seven matches, yet neither Georginio Rutter (£5.7m) nor Danny Welbeck (£6.3m) exceed four of them.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
The Seagulls were the latest team to deny Wolverhampton Wanderers a 1-0 win by equalising late on. The last-placed side have slightly improved, but it’s hard to make a case when they’re on the fewest goals (five) and big chances (five).
Then again, owners of Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.4m) may want to hold off on selling the goalless forward. Hampered by a lack of match fitness, he should be fine to face Sunderland (a) and Burnley (h).
WEST HAM UNITED
Whereas West Ham United are hoping a new manager bounce can reverse an awful beginning that puts them third-worst for goals (six) and big chances (10).
Up next is three home games from four fixtures. There’ll be a temptation to punt on playmaking penalty-taker Lucas Paqueta (£5.9m), but talisman Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) is nailed-on for 90 minutes and has somehow squeezed out three goals. Even Crysencio Summerville (£5.5m) is a differential shout.
EVERTON
Merseyside investment is also recommended. If an imminent trip to Man City can be navigated, when Jack Grealish (£6.9m) is ineligible, covering Everton with either him or Iliman Ndiaye (£6.5m) oozes potential.
The latter, like Paqueta, takes spot kicks and is featured on our Assists Imminent table.
LIVERPOOL
As for the reigning champions, they’re second in the league table, rank third for shots (103) and are joint-third when it comes to goals (13) and big chances (19).
However, we’ve had to investigate why Mohamed Salah (£14.4m) keeps underwhelming. Though he’s still credited with four more attacking returns than mega signing Florian Wirtz (£8.1m). A flop so far, the German has dropped to Liverpool’s bench a couple of times.
Similarly, each of Hugo Ekitike (£8.7m), Alexander Isak (£10.6m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) have been rotated out at least once.
DEFENCES: SIX GAMEWEEKS OF FIXTURES
ARSENAL
Back to the Gunners, the question for many isn’t whether to invest in their backline but how many is enough.
Already established as the best Premier League defence, David Raya (£5.7m) has helped them concede the fewest goals (three), attempts (56), shots on target (18), big chances (five) and expected goals (xGC, 4.39).
Ahead of the Spaniard, Jurrien Timber (£5.9m) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.7m) dominate individual defenders for attempts and xG. They join Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz (£5.6m) on the most penalty area shots (nine), while Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.3m) outdoes his colleagues for big chances (two).
CHELSEA
Although injuries are Chelsea’s ongoing problem, at least they’ll have Trevoh Chalobah (£5.1m) back from suspension by Gameweek 8.
No other defender betters his three big chances, and he’s also fourth for attempts (eight). Perhaps goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (£4.9m) is the preferred route for coverage.
BRIGHTON + HOVE ALBION
His former club join the Blues in stopping the joint-fourth most shots on target (22). Yet no clean sheet has been completed in these opening weeks. Surely one is due?
That’ll boost Jan Paul van Hecke‘s (£4.4m) appeal, having scored Brighton’s aforementioned equaliser at Wolves.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Meanwhile, only rivals Arsenal have conceded fewer goals than their five, but xGC data says it should’ve been 8.82. Spurs have Guglielmo Vicario‘s (£5.1m) 24 saves to thank for this.
It means he’s the number three goalkeeper for points (35), outdoing the most-owned FPL defender Micky van de Ven (£4.8m) and frequent crosser Pedro Porro (£5.6m).
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
On the other hand, Wolves are underachieving. They’ve let in 14, but it should instead be just 9.52, with a bunch of underlying stats tending to hover around mid-table.
For managers predicting success from their next two outings, Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) seems to be preferred between the sticks. Late August arrival Ladislav Krejci (£4.5m) has only played four matches, but already bagged a goal and ranks amongst the best defenders for shots on target (three) and xG (0.76). Furthermore, his days at Sparta Prague include a good penalty record.
LEEDS UNITED
Finally, newly-promoted Leeds possess the sixth-best xGC tally (8.13) despite conceding on 11 occasions.
Also impressive is that only Arsenal and Newcastle United are preventing fewer big chances (nine). That’s why cheap enablers Joe Rodon (£4.0m) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (£4.0m) could be handy against Burnley and West Ham.
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