Spot the Differential

Morata a tempting differential after four goals in as many games

It’s that time of the week again when we present the cases of three Fantasy Premier League differentials who are all owned by fewer than 3% of FPL bosses.

A much-maligned striker going through a purple patch in front of goal and two midfield gambles are our choices this week, with explanations detailed in the article below.

Alvaro Morata (£8.7m)

FPL ownership: 2.7%

Perhaps the most obvious differential pick for Gameweek 11, the in-form Chelsea striker looks set to return to the Blues’ starting XI for the visit of Everton after being rested in midweek for the Europa League tie against BATE Borisov.

Morata seems to have nailed down a starting spot in the Premier League in the short-term at least, having started the last three fixtures for Maurizio Sarri’s side in the top flight.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) is the only FPL forward who has scored more goals than Morata (four) over the last four Gameweeks, while the Spanish striker has had more shots on target than any player in his position during this period.

No FPL forward has registered more big chances than Morata during the last four rounds of Premier League matches.

Chelsea as a club have also had more attempts on goal and big chances than any other Premier League side from Gameweek 8 onwards.

In Eden Hazard (£11.3m) and Willian (£7.4m), the Blues possess two of the statistically most creative midfielders in the Premier League this season – which could bode well for Morata’s rate of chances against the Toffees.

Marcos Alonso (£7.0m), meanwhile, has already registered as many assists in 2018/19 (seven) as any FPL defender did in the whole of last season.

Everton are one of five Premier League clubs yet to record a clean sheet on the road this season and only three other teams in the division have allowed more big chances than Marco Silva’s troops away from home.

Chelsea also welcome a leaky Fulham side to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 14, for any FPL manager looking further ahead.

Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.0m)

FPL ownership: 2.3%

A risky pick this, underscored by the fact that our maverick friend Luke singled out Shaqiri as his differential on this week’s Scoutcast.

With James Maddison (£6.9m) ruled out of Gameweek 11 with a knee injury and a mid-price midfield spot up for grabs in many FPL squads in the Leicester City midfielder’s absence, Shaqiri potentially fits the bill as a short-term gamble.

For those Fantasy managers who have the rare luxury of a settled squad, perhaps two free transfers and few fires to put out elsewhere, Shaqiri could be an intriguing, one-week punt who could then be moved on in Gameweek 13, possibly for someone like Anthony Martial (£7.5m).

Those FPL bosses still sitting on their Wildcards and planning to use that chip in the coming weeks also have the fall-back of knowing that Shaqiri could be easily dispensed with without their squads suffering any long-term damage from such a nonconformist gamble.

The reason Shaqiri has entered out thinking for Gameweek 11 is that the Swiss midfielder wasn’t risked for the trip to Belgrade on Tuesday for personal/political reasons and offers Jurgen Klopp fresh legs in one of the attacking midfield positions.

It needn’t take the benching of Mohamed Salah (£13.0m), Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) or Sadio Mane (£9.8m) for Shaqiri to feature, either, as Klopp has rolled out a 4-2-3-1 formation for the Reds’ last two home fixtures against Red Star and Cardiff City.

Adam Lallana (£6.9m) would seem unlikely to feature in one of those positions as he did against the Bluebirds, having flattered to deceive against the Serbian side in midweek.

Shaqiri has delivered three assists in his two league starts for Liverpool this season and came off the bench to score against Neil Warnock’s side in Gameweek 10.

The former Stoke City player also has the best chance creation rate among his Liverpool midfield colleagues in 2018/19 and has a better minutes-per-shot average than Mane.

Liverpool’s opposition needs little introduction, meanwhile, with Fulham having conceded more goals than any other Premier League side this campaign. The Cottagers are also the only club in the top flight yet to keep a clean sheet.

Demarai Gray (£5.4m)

FPL ownership: 1.1%

Facing the Premier League’s leakiest defences in Burnley and Fulham in the next four Gameweeks either side of encounters with Brighton and Watford, Gray is a candidate for those FPL managers who want a Leicester asset for the visit of Sean Dyche’s porous Clarets this weekend.

With Maddison out, Gray’s place in the starting XI looks secure in the short-term – particularly after his goal against Cardiff last weekend.

Daniel Amartey‘s (£4.4m) injury may also aid Gray’s security of starts, with Ricardo Pereira (£5.0m) now seemingly no longer an option in midfield with his services needed at right-back.

Gray has the ability to play wide left as he did against Cardiff last weekend or, perhaps less likely, through the middle – possibly in behind Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) in Maddison’s absence – as he demonstrated against Liverpool in Gameweek 4.

Marc Albrighton (£5.2m) has the edge over Gray creatively and could stand to benefit from Maddison’s absence at set-piece situations, but Gray offers the bigger goal threat, averaging a shot on goal more often than Albrighton this season.

More impressive is his penalty box touch count – Gray has racked up more of those than any Leicester midfielder this season (including Maddison) by some distance and the same number that Ryan Fraser (£6.1m) has managed despite playing almost 400 fewer minutes than the Bournemouth winger.

Burnley, Fulham and Brighton have conceded more shots in the box than the other 17 Premier League sides this season.

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492 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Next week would you do Hart Maddy to Button Martial or Wilson Maddy to Jimenez Martial??

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      First for me providing you have a sound gk

  2. mikess
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Fabianski
    Alonso, Robertson, Mendy
    Salah(c), Hazard, Sigurdsson, Kenedy, Murphy
    Aguero Arnautovic

    Patricio, Doherty, Yedlin, Kamara

    A) Siggy > Shaqiri

    B) Murphy & Aguero > Mane & Wilson - 4

    1. Paulinho14
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      would save transfer

      1. mikess
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

      2. mikess
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Not feeling my last 3 mids

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I'd keep Siggy tbh, will get a few points next week for sure...

          1. mikess
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah hopefully

    2. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Save

    3. Devils-Red
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I would save Siggy. Has Cardiff at Home next week.

    4. Devils-Red
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Gameweek* (after IB)

  3. premierglaser
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Here's the squad... 0.2 ITB, 2FT. Thinking -4: Mitro + Maddison + Foster --> Laca + 4.4 mid + 4.0 gk, madness? This is a pretty short term move, haven't WCd yet.

    Fab-Foster

    Alonso - Robertson - Mendy - Doherty - WBA

    Haz - Mane - Maddison - Rich - 4.4

    Aguero - Arnie - Mitro

    Alternatives?

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No for me

  4. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    For all those Salah triple captainers, what's the most likely outcome
    :
    A) Blank
    B) 6
    C)10
    D)12)
    E) MONSTER HAUL!

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      D

    2. Paulinho14
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      D

  5. Paulinho14
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    play two out of these 3:

    a) Mendy
    b) Doherty
    c) Success

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A c

  6. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Worth a -8 (over 2 weeks) ?

    Hennessey, Trippier, AWB, Bilva and Fraser

    >>>>

    Fabianski, Doherty, Mendy, Felipe Anderson and Hojberg

    1. Paulinho14
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      no. never do a -8 before international week

    2. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Difficult to say

    3. gryffsonofarthur
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No

    4. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Why not I've done it over one, but it's for Arnie and Anderson so injury permitting its for two months...

  7. Tokosbobet88
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling + Fraser to Salah + diangana for s hit ?...can't resist Salah tbh

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Alternative captain choice?

      1. Tokosbobet88
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        got kun haz Arnie

  8. Shifty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Really struggling with this one and need some help!

    Foster - Patricio
    Alonso VVD Mendy Doherty AWB
    Salah Hazard Fraser Richarlison Stephens
    Aguero Arnautovic Ings

    2 FT but 0 in the bank

    Can't see anything obvious and I really want to have 2 FT over the international break because I could make some nice swaps and some time to mull over Salah, Mane and Sterling.

    Any thoughts? Or burn the FT.

    Thanks!

    1. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Burning feels right I think

      1. Shifty
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        yeah...just needed a sense check. thanks

    2. FPL Laurenzo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Depending on your international break swap plans - you could take out Ings for 4.5 and bank the cash

    3. RamaLangaDingDong
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Foster to Ryan or Fabianski...?

  9. The Big Fella
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I am debating shifting Mendy out for Laporte. On the surface, it may seem sideways but I missed his hauls at the beginning of the season and now his attacking potential is lessened depending who Pep plays on the wing whereas they both get CS points. I have earnt 1 or 2 assists with him only. It will get me a precious 0.3m. Does anybody have an opinion on this?

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Maybe if/when you need the 0.3m, but wouldn't do it for the sake of money itb

        1. The Big Fella
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Hmmmm I will think about it. I have 0ITB and STILL have Peltier. I wanted to sell Salah after this week for Sterling (keeping Mane) and then upgrade Wilson to Morata but I think Morata has gone up 0.1 because I am now just short. If Salah scores 1 or 2 though, he will go up in value (as will Mane if he does)

      • Pinturicchio10
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Basically weakening your team unless that 0.3 is needed for a massive upgrade.

          1. The Big Fella
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            How is it weakening it though? Laporte has more points than Mendy (although Mendy did miss 3 games) and his attacking points have dried up a little

            1. Pinturicchio10
                5 years, 4 months ago

                He's got one point less than Laporte, with less game time, and has outscored Laporte by a few points since his return. It's a downgrade to swap these players.

                1. The Big Fella
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Hmmm I will think on it. It won't be this week anyway. I am looking to use my WC in a couple of GWs

        • Infamy, Infamy
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Maddison and Fraser to Mane and Diangana for -4? Already have Salah and Wilson.

        • Niho992
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Whos on penalties in Newc?

          1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Kenedy

        • Waylander
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Is Bilva > Martial worth it this week for FT?

          Or just wait til next week?

          Cheers.

          1. The Big Fella
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            It is going to be a low scoring game in my opinion so I would wait unless you think there may be price changes between now and then

          2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Do it martial will score

            1. The Big Fella
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              I don't think either will and I think both will get 2 points so he may as well as wait to see if Martial gets injured or whatever

        • Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          who would you bench from
          Doherty Yedlin Brooks or Success?!

          currently on Yedlin but worried Success won't even start!

          1. Pinturicchio10
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Doherty

              1. Rinseboy
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                if I'm honest I actually really wanna play him!

                1. Pinturicchio10
                    5 years, 4 months ago

                    Odd. Yedlin then I suppose.

            • Lignja
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Can I get some help on this team, have no idea what to do...

              Fabianski
              Alonso, Robertson, Doherty
              Salah, Hazard, Richarlison, Madison
              Aguero, Wilson, Arnautovic

              Hamer, Hojberg, Wb, Bennett 1 ft 0.5 itb

              1. Devils-Red
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Could get Felipe Anderson for Maddison for a punt. Nice run of fixtures except Man C in GW13.

            • George James
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              AWB or Billing first sub?

              1. korbendallas82
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Billing. Palace to poor.

                1. korbendallas82
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Billing first sub. Sorry.

                  1. korbendallas82
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 4 months ago

                    Billing.

                    1. korbendallas82
                      • 10 Years
                      5 years, 4 months ago

                      Bling.

            • Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Takeout

              A kfc
              B fish n chips

              1. George James
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                KFC chicken with chip shop chips. Easy

                1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Good idea never thought of doing that

            • Gamer18
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Should I make any changes?
              Rui
              Robertson Trippier Mendy
              Willian Maddison Richarlison Salah
              Aguero Lacazette Wilson

              Speroni WB Peltier Stephens
              2 FT
              0.2 ITB
              wildcard still available.

              1. zm82
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Maddison is injured and I would replace him, but then he will likely return for the next game week so it is not an easy choice. Maybe bring someone cheaper this week to enable you to get Martial after the international break as he has some good fixtures and is scoring goals in almost every game.

            • Dude1234
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Anyone see the ‘bollocking on bbc’!