Brentford, Everton and Leeds United assets are on our differentials radar in Gameweek 9 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
All three of these players have an ownership of 5% or lower.
- READ MORE: Why we could see a ‘DefCon’ defender points boom in FPL 2025/26
- READ MORE: Which Forest players could excel in FPL under Dyche?
IGOR THIAGO
- FPL ownership: 4.3%
- Price: £6.1m
- GW9-13 fixtures: LIV | cry | NEW | bha | BUR
With five goals scored in the first eight Gameweeks, Igor Thiago (£6.1m) enters Saturday’s home match against Liverpool in good nick.
The Brazilian was a constant menace in east London earlier this week, finding the net and only narrowly missing out on a second due to an offside call.
Despite suffering a serious knee injury in 2024/25, Thiago has started every league match this season, playing a crucial role for Keith Andrews’ side.
Indeed, the 24-year-old has been directly involved in 56% of Brentford’s Premier League goals when on the pitch.
He has also produced 18 shots, the third-most of any forward, and eight of those have been big chances.
“What we’ve seen from Igor Thiago is that he will score goals.
“He’s a handful. He’s a personality.” – Keith Andrews on Igor Thiago
Liverpool travel to the Gtech Community Stadium without a clean sheet in eight matches in all competitions, a period which has seen them concede 12 goals.
Furthermore, only two teams have conceded more big chances than Arne Slot’s side (14) over the last four Gameweeks.
Brentford, meanwhile, have already taken points off Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester United at home, so they look primed for another strong showing in front of their own fans.
Part of only 4.3% of squads, Thiago can deliver great value over the next few Gameweeks, with further favourable clashes against Brighton and Hove Albion and Burnley to follow.
MICHAEL KEANE
- FPL ownership: 0.9%
- Price: £4.5m
- GW9-13 fixtures: TOT | sun | FUL | mun | NEW
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite (£5.3m) won’t be returning to the pitch any time soon after suffering an injury setback.
Consequently, Michael Keane (£4.5m) gets our vote ahead of Sunday’s home match with Tottenham Hotspur.
The stand-in centre-back has enjoyed a solid campaign thus far.
Keane, who costs just £4.5m in FPL, has kept two clean sheets in four home matches in 2025/26.
He has also registered an impressive 78 defensive contributions (DefCon), the eighth-most of any defender and only 14 fewer than his partner at the back, James Tarkowski (£5.5m), who is much more expensive.
Above: Defenders sorted by total defensive contributions (Tot) in 2025/26
Keane also boasts a decent set-piece threat – only three defenders have had more shots than his eight over the season so far.
Tarkowski, by contrast, has one.
Everton, meanwhile, sit third on our Fixture Ticker over the next seven Gameweeks, facing five opponents that rank in the bottom half for non-penalty expected goals (NPxG): Tottenham Hotspur (14th), Sunderland (17th), Fulham (15th), Newcastle United (12th) and Nottingham Forest (13th).
With the potential to produce points at both ends of the pitch, Keane is firmly on the radar as a budget differential.
SEAN LONGSTAFF
- FPL ownership: 0.9%
- Price: £4.9m
- GW9-13 fixtures: WHU | bha | nfo | AVL | mci
With Leeds United in desperate need of three points when they entertain West Ham United, it may be time to take a chance on budget midfielder Sean Longstaff (£4.9m).
It’s been a relatively slow start for Daniel Farke’s side this season, who sit 16th in the table after eight matches.
However, Longstaff’s underlying stats suggest he’s the man most likely to deliver on Friday.
Longstaff has created 17 chances in 2025/26, the joint-most of any FPL midfielder except Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m).
Out of those key passes, nine have been produced from corners and free-kicks.
Notably, West Ham are bottom for set-piece goals and attempts conceded, as well as headed chances allowed.
Longstaff has also produced DefCon points in two of his three home starts, having fallen only three short against Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 7.
Regarding goal threat, eight shots over the last five Gameweeks is a respectable tally, although it is worth noting that most of his threat has arrived from outside the penalty box.
Still, costing less than £5.0m, Longstaff could be a very decent enabler for the upcoming period, with further appealing matches against Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest to come.
