Opinion

The Digest – Gameweek 33

The Digest brings the curtain down on Gameweek 33 as we assess the key player, the team and the big talking point to emerge from the weekend’s action.

Christian Eriksen puts us on alert ahead of two Double Gameweeks following a season-high return at Stoke.

Manchester United’s options open up ahead of their own double-header, while Mohamed Salah’s status as a must-have looks set to be determined by tonight’s Champions League tie.

The Player

At a point when many of us are looking to bring back Harry Kane for Double Gameweek 34, Christian Eriksen served a timely reminder of his potential for Spurs’ pair of fixtures with Manchester city and Brighton.

Having watched Son Heung-min and Dele Alli produce two sets of double-figure hauls over the previous three outings, the Dane delivered a 15-point haul, netting both Spurs’ goals in the 2-1 win at Stoke. That was his biggest return of the campaign so far.

Eriksen’s performance merely heightens our dilemma as we look for the best route into Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield – to sum it up, the Dane has 32 points from Gameweek 29 onwards, Alli 37 and Son 38.

Yet it’s Eriksen who has emerged as the most popular target of the three since last weekend – he’s claimed 54,000+ new owners, leaving Alli (19,000+) and Son (16,000+) in his wake.

Encouragingly for his new backers, over those last four matches, Eriksen is joint-top for both shots (14, level with Son) and key passes (eight, level with Alli) for the north London side.

However, his threat remains mainly confined to long-range – only three of those efforts arrived in the box, far less than Son’s 12.

Crucially, Eriksen has missed just one league match this season – against Southampton in Gameweek 24 – due to illness and has played all but four minutes of the last 16 league outings he has been available for.

Even with a FA Cup semi-final against Brighton on his agenda, then, Eriksen – along with Alli – looks an assured starter from this point onwards. Son, arguably, less so, though his 167.8 minutes per goal, compared with Eriksen (268.6) and Alli (328.9), illustrates what the South Korean can achieve with less pitch-time.

With a superb schedule to end the season following a blank Gameweek 35 (WAT wba & NEW LEI), Eriksen looks well-placed to maintain his current form.

Nonetheless, with Kane potentially stealing free-kicks off him around the box in his quest for the Golden Boot, and Son excelling at Wembley Stadium, in particular, there’s arguably a case for trebling up on the Spurs attack for the run-in.

The Team

Similar to Spurs, Manchester United approach their pair of Double Gameweeks in fine fettle.

The very nature of their second-half fight-back at the Etihad Stadium, coming from two goals behind to win and deny City the title, has persuaded many managers to reconsider the Red Devils.

Until recently, Romelu Lukaku seemed the one viable pick in Jose Mourinho’s attack – he went into the derby with three goals and two assists in four.

Since then, Paul Pogba’s brace has made him the most wanted midfielder ahead of Saturday’s deadline, while Jesse Lingard’s recent form – more so for England – adds an option in the mid-price bracket.

We must also re-assess Alexis Sanchez.

A pair of assists against Pep Guardiola’s side helped last season’s top scoring FPL player to a second successive double-digit haul. Owned by 3% to Lukaku’s 29% and costing 11.5 to 11.6, the Chilean could emerge as a powerful differential for showdowns with West Brom and Bournemouth’s dodgy defences.

His propensity for explosive returns could hold the advantage over Lukaku when it comes to the captaincy – the latter has managed one set of double-digits since Gameweek 5 and a total of three from 31 starts.

Indeed, that tendency for single-figure hauls could be a factor for those mulling over the Kane v Lukaku dilemma – the Spurs man has hit 10+ points in eight of his 29 starts.

However, the flat-track bully theory is to Lukaku’s advantage – all but one of his 15 league goals have been scored against teams outside of the top eight.

At the back, Chris Smalling’s Fantasy popularity continues to grow in light of Sunday’s derby winner.

The number one defender for transfers in this week, he has now started each of the last ten Gameweeks and fired the winner against City – his third goal of the season.

Although it seems that Smalling and Eric Bailly are the first-choice central defenders, we only have to look back to Gameweek 32 – when the Ivorian was benched at home to Swansea with one eye on the derby – as an indication that we can’t take Mourinho’s teamsheets for granted.

Wednesday’s trip to Bournemouth could potentially be the rotation hotspot – that takes place three days before United face Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final the following Saturday.

Given that they will have 24 hours less to prepare for the fixture, it wouldn’t be unlike their manager to freshen up his options, if only to make a point.

The Talking Point

Liverpool’s shock first-leg performance against Man City in the Champions League has already had a major impact on how we assess Mohamed Salah’s Fantasy potential over the remainder of the season.

Should the Reds defend their three-goal advantage tonight and book a place in the semi-finals, there’s a fear that Jurgen Klopp could manage the Egyptian’s domestic minutes.

That’s hardly the ideal scenario for his 59% owners at a point where the likes of Spurs, United, Chelsea and Leicester’s big-hitters all have two Double Gameweeks to come.

Indeed, over 302,000 have already parted company after he limped off early against City last week, while more than 63,000 have sold Salah since Saturday’s deadline – more than any midfielder.

Yet after being left out of the goalless draw at Everton, the winger is back on the teamsheet for Liverpool’s return trip to the Etihad this evening, having shrugged off a minor groin complaint.

Arguably, should Salah be subbed early, a start at home to Bournemouth this weekend looks on the cards. Klopp’s men have already put four past the Cherries at the Vitality this term and Salah’s ability to deliver huge hauls at Anfield is peerless – nine of his 15 home starts have harvested double-digits.

However, the Champions League semi-final schedule could impact on Klopp’s thinking.

The first and second legs are played in the midweeks after Gameweek 35 (wba) and Gameweek 36 (STK), while the Reds face a trip to Chelsea in Gameweek 37, at a point where 12 teams will play twice.

Selling Salah this week for a midfielder with two doubles, then bringing him back temporarily with the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 35, could now be viewed as a viable tactic. Dare we risk it, though?

With the Golden Boot still up for grabs, a visit from Brighton in Gameweek 38, the case for holding is equally convincing.

Tonight’s events could change everything, and we’ll have a Burning Question on this very subject later in the week as we firm up Double Gameweek plans.

3,231 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mweene
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A) de gea and gross

    B) Courtois and lingard?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Lloris and Lingard?

      1. Mweene
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Possible - think spurs only have potentially 1 CS whereas Chelsea have a possibility in 2

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Thats true, I was looking at long term prospect...

          1. Mweene
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Sorry - should have specified on a free hit

    2. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. DaddyPig
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    4. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    5. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      b for me

  2. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Bottomed last page (almost) so reposting...

    Help me out here.

    DDG / Hennesey
    Alonso / Mustafi / Dunk / Lowton / Morgan
    Mahrez / Son / Willian / Salah / Gross
    Auba / Vardy / Barnes

    I'm playing BB this week.

    Should i do:
    A) Mustafi & Auba > Kaku & Smalling
    B) Mustafi & Auba > Kane & Dummet/Masuaku
    C) Son, Auba & Salah > Kane, Sanchez & 5.6 mid (-4).

    Chasing in my ML. 70pts behind, but i'm not giving up!

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      C would make sense for chasing a lead, but A probably better. A imo

  3. QuintonFortune25
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Auba to Kane to give me 13 DGW players for BB? Anything else worth a hit?

    DDG - McCarthy
    Alonso - Vertongen - Mustafi - Lowton - Morgan
    Alli - Mahrez - Willian - Gross - King
    Kane - Lukaku (c) - Barnes

    0.5 ITB 0FT.

    1. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      No, good to go.

      1. QuintonFortune25
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers pal

  4. Trovsmash
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A. Auby to Kane (own son & alli)
    B. Auby to Lukaku & a 4.5 to Smalling for -4

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Which 4.5?

  5. DaddyPig
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Is this ok guys? Been staring at it for too long and want to check before pressing ‘make transfers’ on the -8

    de Gea Ryan
    Smalling Alonso Vert Morgan Tarkowski
    Sanchez Mahrez Willian Gross Cork
    Kane Vardy Barnes

    It was
    Salah, Stephens, Son, Aub
    > Sanchez, Smalling, Cork, Kane.

    Thanks so much!

    1. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I wouldn't sell Salah this week but looks decent otherwise.

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Why you wanting to sell Salah?

    3. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Selling Salah and Son could easily backfire, both very explosive. What's another route to Auba to Kane which keeps Salah and Son?

    4. DaddyPig
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks guys, back to the drawing board. Appreciate the responses. I did wonder about Salah!

  6. Prøfeßör …
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Please choose one (close to bottomed):

    A) Son & Milivojević
    B) Lingard & Groß

    B may score more in GW 34 but I'm leaning with A long-term. B means Groß will likely be stuck in my team for the rest of the season, but Lingard provides Man United attacking 'cover.' Son means I'm blocked from getting in Eriksen or Alli for GW 36.

    Thanks,

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers both.

  7. balint84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A) stephens to azpilicueta for -4 and do the bb with pope
    B) save stephens, no -4, no chelsea cover and no bench boost. (bb gw 38)

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You don't need Chelsea
      Bench boost regardless?

      1. Whats the Huth
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Obviously would have to sell Stephens though. Chelsea isn't necessary though

        1. balint84
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          i can not trust smalling/jones to start both games, but azpili will do - have burnley and leicester players.
          if I do the bb I need to get rid of Stephens and chelsea has double on gw37.

  8. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Play this week
    A) Mustafi
    B) Robbo

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B

    3. Expected Toulouse
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B. Arsenal not great away, Pool good at home defensively.

  9. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A. Auba > Lukaku(c)

    B. Auba Lingard > Sánchez(c) Austin (-4)

    C. Auba Milivojevic > Salah Austin (-4), Kane(c)

    DDG Ryan
    Alonso Christensen Vertonghen Lowton Chilwell
    Mahrez Son Willian Lingard Milivojevic
    Kane Aubameyang Barnes

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A tough one. I like b or c.

    2. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A. Rival has Kak and could TC, feels defensive despite being 'the original plan'

      B. Sets me up for a swift Salah reaquisition. Austin also has DGW37.

    4. Expected Toulouse
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B.

    5. Kai
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B

  10. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Are the free hitters keeping Salah this week?

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Nope

    2. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Waiting on Anfield Express to guide me

    3. rdamjan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Nope. SanChez. Have nothin to lose really, chasing big time...

    4. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      no probably not although i fear him :/

  11. aarrgghh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Play Davies or Robertson?Afraid that Davies only gets City game.

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Robo

      1. aarrgghh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah think so too.And propably getting both 'cause I have Jones too.(don't know how it's still possible)

    2. Kai
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Robo might also be benched and appear for a 1 point cameo.

  12. NOMONEY
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    all this talk about salah getting rested is nonsense. they definitely need him this weekend, it just shows how much difference he made last night, and its not only his goal, its his presence in the team that gives confidence to the team as a whole!

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I do agree.
      I'm terrified of getting rid on my FH team. Think I'm going to keep

    2. NOMONEY
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      should keep, he just keeps getting better and better

    3. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      What are we doing about Robertson tho...

    4. Amsterhammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      They need him agreed. Doesn't mean he'll start. My advice is stick with him but I'm only 75% certain he'll start. Hopefully Klopp will confirm either way in the pressers or we get a leaked line up.

  13. Expected Toulouse
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A. Adrian/Mee/Alonso/Auba to Pope/Lowton/Smalling/Lukaku (-12) BB
    B. Alonso/Mee/Firmino to Smalling/Lowton/Lukaku (-8)
    C. Salah/Firmino/Auba to Sanchez/Kane/Barnes (-8)
    D. Mahrez/Firmino/Auba to Cork/Lukaku/Kane (-8)

    DDG Adrian
    Alonso Davies Mee Robertson Fernandez
    Salah Alli Mahrez Shaqiri Milivojevic
    Aubemyang Firmino King

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Just do a -4

      Downgrade alsono to a 4.5 and upgrade Auba to Kane.

      1. Expected Toulouse
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers. Alonso + Auba to Lowton + Kane or Lukaku + Smalling?

  14. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Salah + Auba --> Pogba + Kane for -4.

    I think ditching Salah now makes perfect sense. Could be rested this weekend and does not have a double. GW35 I can have him back with my FH. GW36 he could be saved for upcoming semifinal, and GW37 he has only single gameweek which is away to Chelsea. Thoughts?

    1. Kai
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Only if chasing and hope that he blanks.

      1. Amsterhammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah if chasing this is logical.

    2. -SB-
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I’d keep Salah.

  15. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    DDG Ryan
    Alonso Mustafi Vertongen Lowton Morgan
    Salah Mahrez Son Willian Gross
    Aubameyang Vardy Barnes

    2 ft 1.1 itb
    Want to ditch Auba and Mustafi and I'm worried about Son gametime,can someone please suggest who to buy ( could take one hit) FH in 35
    Cheers

  16. Big Col
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    which are the better picks?

    A) Lingard. (Concerned about gametime)
    B) Tadic. (Think Southampton could pick up points to avoid relegation)

    Only If B above, which is better?

    C) Smalling
    D) Mustafi +4.

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Could also look at JWP as an option.

  17. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Courtois or Lloris?

    Only for GW 34?

  18. balint84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    buy 2

    A) Azpili
    B) Moses
    C) Valencia
    D) Smalling

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Azpi, Valencia.

  19. TheEgyptianKing
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Any of these good ideas?

    Aubamenyang/Murray/D.Silva -----> Kane/Tadic/Barnes (-4)

    A/M/D.s ----> Kane/Milojevic

    Or do I need Lukaku badly?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You need Luka badly if you think he scores well, otherwise not 😮

  20. Patch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Already have Mahrez, Willian, Gross, Matic

    Therefore little point getting rid of Salah (I could upscale Matic to a Spurs mid if needed)...but not many will match what Salah can do on managed minutes anyway...

    The crucial question for me is what on earth to do with Robertson...perhaps sell for a DGW defender...???? Or just keep???

  21. Clasher4ever
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will yoshida play both games in dgw?
    iam short of auba+ salah + alonso to kane, sanchez,cedric?

    1. Clasher4ever
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      short by 0.1

  22. balint84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A) azpi+valencia+lingard+bench boost-8
    B) valencia/azpi+pogba+bench boost-4

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B with either Azpi or Valencia

  23. Heavy Data
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    this team going in to this week

    DDG
    Chilwell/Mee/Alonso
    Sanchez(c)/Mahrez/Willian/Son
    Kane/King/Barnes

    Coleman/Van Dijk/Van Aanholt/Van La Para

    Shall i do Van Dijk to Smalling? Have exact money. Already taken hits. Behind ML leader by 100 points.

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      VVD to Smalling for a hit won't make any difference in your ambitions for the season. I'd keep. Smalling may not even play both.

      1. Heavy Data
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Ye there is no hope for my season. He still has all his chips left and ive spunked all mine

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          You'll need a couple of leftfield captain picks, especially in the DGWs. It's not impossible but very hard without chips.

  24. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Peps loyalty to otamendi in these last few weeks has been one of the major reasons for their collapse. He has been abysmal.

  25. TAB
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    G2G ?

    DDG-Ryan
    Lowton-Tarkowski-Alonso-Morgan-Valencia
    Cork-Pogba-Son-Mahrez-Willian
    Murray-Kane(C)-Vardy

  26. KB Gone 4Ever?!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Current FH team for GW34 - chasing 100 point lead in two mini leagues:

    DeGea (Nordfeldt)
    Maguire Alonso Lowton (Rosenior Goldson)
    Eriksen Mahrez Lingard Hazard (Romeu)
    Kane Lukaku Vardy

    Good to go?

    Dropped Salah as chasing - too big a risk?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Looks really good. I dropped Salah and I'm not chasing much. Could be season-defining either way and a good outcome is as likely as a bad one.

      1. KB Gone 4Ever?!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks - not sure who to captain. Thoughts?

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Kaku is safest but I'm wondering about Kane is
          as City's confidence is shot.

          1. KB Gone 4Ever?!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            My thoughts too

            Cheers

    2. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Very good. Good TV is seems. Cannot afford all this defence.

      1. KB Gone 4Ever?!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        TV106.5 - but at a cost - hence chasing 100

  27. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    COURTOIS
    VALENCIA Morgan Tarkowski
    Willian A.San(c)hez Alli CORK
    Kane Vardy Lukaku

    A. Keep
    B. DDG Christensen Albrighton
    C. Ryan Simpson Hazard for Willian
    D. Options?

    Also have Mahrez bought for 8.6, selling to go different from ML leader, as chasing a big gap

    1. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      FH

  28. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    High OR so have to try something different...

    De Gea Ryan
    Bailly Smalling Cedric Morgan Lowton
    Alli Eriksen Son Mahrez Hazard
    Vardy Wood Austin

    Feels fairly liberating.

    Anyone else going for something different?

  29. Cheshire Duck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Hi Guys.
    If I use my "free hit" chip before using my weekly free transfer, will I have 2 FT next week ?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. Up the tics
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      No unfortunately

  30. Up the tics
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    DDG - Ryan
    Christensen - Smalling - Robertson - Morgan - Lowton
    Salah - Mahrez - Son - Willian - Gross
    Auba - Vardy - Barnes
    2FT 1.5ITB

    Auba >> Lukaku
    Not sure what to do with my other transfer, another spurs mid? Any suggestions?