Pro Pundits

Why I’ll be holding Liverpool assets through Blank Gameweek 18 and beyond

In her latest column, FPL Community’s Holly Shand reveals why she’ll be resisting the urge to cash in on premium Liverpool assets this weekend.


The hard work has been done to be prepared for Gameweek 18 but I’ve paid very little thought to what happens beyond this point for my side. I’ve clawed my way up from a rank of 1.5 million to the top 400k but fear the impact of Wildcards from those around me. How can I keep moving up?

We appear to have hit a crossroads surrounding Liverpool players. My gut feeling was to hold Sadio Mane (£12.2m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) but I’m seeing a lot of talk within the community on moving them on (including from fellow Pro Pundit Andy). I’m in a fortunate position of having the likes of Matt Targett (£4.4m), Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) and Martin Kelly (£4.4m) to come in for me and start in Gameweek 18, which does make the decision a little easier.

Now I do struggle with patience a little more than the average Fantasy manager, and more so when I see expensive players on my bench instead of the pitch. Having zero funds in the bank does little to help me to become more patient, while sitting on the most expensive player and most costly defender in the game. In fact, a move away from Alexander-Arnold to a budget defender could free up as much as £3.0m.

I love projections when it comes to making transfer decisions, regularly utilising the feature in the Members Area. Despite the perceived tough fixtures for Liverpool (with Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all in the schedule after the blank), Salah and Mane are still projected to be comfortably among the top ten scoring midfielders. When it comes to defenders, Alexander-Arnold is projected to be top for FPL points, with one fixture less than his nearest competition. That is very telling! 

Alexander-Arnold has three returns in his last four, only hampered by rotation in Gameweek 17 and remember, Liverpool have just kept two clean sheets on the bounce.

In my thinking beyond Gameweek 18, I’d love to add Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) to my midfield. Liverpool were in a similar position of having tough fixtures last Christmas, with many managers jumping ship to Manchester City assets, but they won every single game convincingly, with Salah himself having a particularly fruitful festive period.

We can see from Jurgen Klopp’s teamsheets in the FIFA Club World Cup exactly where his priorities lie. This season is Liverpool’s best chance of winning the title in the Premier League era, nipping at Manchester United’s heels for the most titles in history.

Liverpool are not going to be taking their foot off the gas anytime soon, tough fixtures or otherwise. They’ve been labelled as bottlers too many times for Klopp to jeopardise their title chances.

They might have an eight-point lead but until they are over the line and the Premier League trophy is in their hands, I’ll be holding their assets in my FPL team and might even embrace a triple up.


Holly, the founder of FPL Community, has two top 10k finishes in five FPL seasons, is a regular guest on the FPL Show and recent addition to the Scoutcast line-up.

3,068 Comments Post a Comment
  1. fplfansss
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which one?

    A. Ings to Jimenez
    B. Abraham to Rashford
    C. Save FT

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    3. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    4. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe B

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

      C

  2. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Choose
    A) Trent and Maddison to
    Aurier & Alli
    B) Tammy & Maddison to
    Rashford & grealish/Lucas
    C) Trent and Tammy to
    Aurier & Kane

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish or Moura?

  3. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G2G?
    Pope
    Lundstarm Rico Kelly
    Grealish Alli Martial KDB
    Vardy Jiminez Rashford

    Button Zaha Chilwell TAA

    Cheers

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice

  4. nelluckram
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just did Mane & Maddison - > Sterling & Martial and I feel horrible about it

    Feel the need to captain one of them to get the most out of my transfers...

    Other options are Son & KDB...

    What would Jesus do?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not much he would just take it as it comes

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He'd fill in for Aguero

    2. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial could be good diff, give him the band if you are feeling naughty

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm so tempted. Can't handle a 4 pointer though

      2. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If Rashford does well then so does Martial.... RIGHT??

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Both son and Kdb are good picks - don't sweat. I'm flipping between them. Though why I don't just bail and go Jimenez I don't know

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Think I'm on Sterling. Watch this go tits up (Liverpool fan). Should have mentioned I'm 2 points ahead in a money league that ends GW21 and I've spent January's rent on Xmas...

  5. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start McGinn or Cantwell?

    1. fplfansss
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell has strong home records

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      People still own McGinn.

    3. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell.. Mcginn isn’t doing anything unfortunately

    4. nelluckram
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd go Cantwell based on current form and home record

  6. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last 4 wks:

    SiB:

    KdB=5
    Alli=8
    Rashy=9
    Son=7

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford time

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Next step check the opponents

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        True. Leicester tighter then Chelsea in that respect. Watford I assume are crud but I think they will give it a right go vs MU.

  7. Crystal Alice
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one
    A Kelly (new)
    B Rico (BUR)
    C Maddison (mci)

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  8. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aubameyang captain anyone? He has three double-digit hauls away from home this season.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good choice, I was looking at him but cant afford. I feel that this game will have most goals

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      But he dosent like his new manager, player power - avoid Arsenal.

  9. ChadW98
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mousset -> kane for -4?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Next GW

  10. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed sorry..

    Mane and Ings to Grealish and Kane for free?

    I'll get Salah/Mane in later on WC probably

    1. Blunder fc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep ings just move mane to a premium mid

  11. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Took a -4 to get this lot

    Pope
    Aurier Lundstram Kelly
    KDB Son(c) Alli Martial
    Vardy Rashford Jimenez

    Button Cantwell Soyuncu Mings

    Good luck all

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Attack is close to mine bar Son Jimenez > Grealish Abraham, so you maybe better off, only I don’t take any hits

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good luck fella

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks class mate GL

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers fella

  12. Weilong7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play 2:

    Mount
    Soy
    Greenwood

    Cpt:

    Son
    Alli
    Rashford

    Thanks.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      None
      Rashford

  13. dwight
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No idea who to bench?? I’ve changed it a hundred times lol

    Ryan
    Lundstram, Rico, Kelly, Targett
    Son (C), Alli (VC), KDB, Grealish
    Vardy, Abraham
    Bench: Maddison, Mousset

    1/ Maddy/Mousset
    2/ Targett/Mousset
    3/ Kelly/Mousset
    4/ Targett/Maddy
    5/ Kelly/Maddy

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1

    3. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

    4. dwight
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks guys

  14. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I could happily captain any of 8 players in my team...weird GW!

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same

  15. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain kdb or rasford or son?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB

    2. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son

    3. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The million dollar question! Armbands been on kdb all week but polls say rashford/son.

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Christina been posting info through the morning,

      Last 4 wks:

      SiB:

      KdB=5
      Alli=8
      Rashy=9
      Son=7

  16. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What do you think about Jota (C)?
    Wolves will be all over Norwich with their playing style..

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good pick, but i prefer Jimi

      1. Kaptenen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah Jimenez is a consistent point machine but i think Jota could go crazy as he has found some form lately

  17. Kip
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So, who’s putting their pool assets in the starting 11 just to mess with the others in your ML?

    o/

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me, putting Elneny and Reid as well 😆

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mane(c) TAA(vc)

    3. Crystal Alice
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah with Mane (c)

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

      Mess with them real time and do like one chap suggested, captain and vice Pool boys.

      1. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        ...if you have the cojones....

  18. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    People expecting much rotation today or will most teams play their strongest XI and rotate for fixtures on 26th and 28th December?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      There is a very good article on this somewhere on site.

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

      26th and 28th is likely

    3. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I dont expect much rotation since the top half team all have important encounters.

      I think we’ll see some players rested in midweek. A few highly owned players ( Lund, Grealish) might pick up their fifth yellow this gw as well

  19. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to Captain this weekend?

    A) KdB
    B) Jesus
    C) Richarlison

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  20. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    El Ghazi overlooked

  21. TM44
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Team set for this GW, GTG?

    Pope

    lundstrum rico soyuncu

    Alli maddison sterling(c) kdb

    Vardy abraham ings

    Subs: button, cantwell, tomori, robbo

  22. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Have 1 FT... Change anything? Or save FT?

    Gazzaniga
    Aurier Lundstram Rico
    KDB Alli(VC) Martial Cantwell
    Rashford(C) Vardy Abraham

    Button; Zouma Soyuncu Mane

  23. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any point getting this Martin fella? The keeper. I am on a WC but no point if Fabianski is due back

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      4 weeks ish for Fabianski

  24. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who To C if You have both
    A- Rashford
    B- Kane

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  25. Blunder fc
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Why are people on here looking to sell ings this week, surely against villa he's captaincy material

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fancy villa this week
      Also want to sell ahead of masses and Kane is a slight upgrade. Just slightly.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Captaincy? Villa are extremely good defensively at home

  26. KDB4PREZ
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to captain? First to 2 gets the armband.

    A) Son
    B) Ali
    C) KDB
    D) Rashy

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      D

    3. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm going with KDB

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

      A

  27. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    One last try.

    Mane and Ings out
    Grealish and Kane(c) in for free?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't lose Ings - Villa top for shots in box conceded

    2. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn’t

    3. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks guys

  28. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anything worth a -4 not sure on 4 at the back

    Pope
    Lundstarm Targett Rico Kelly
    Martial Son Alli
    Jiminez Vardy Rashford

    Button Guendouzi TAA Salah

    Cheers

  29. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sounds like Vardy won't be playing boxing day from Rodgers comments. Then it's City, Liverpool and a blank. Maybe time to sell?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What did he say?

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        The Leicester boss, whose side travel to third- placed Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 GMT), added: "You cannot risk the fitness of a player.

        "You play on the 26th, a high-intensity game against Liverpool, fighting for the result. In football, it's the second day where the players suffer.

        "You get that first day of recovery but it's the second day where it's really tough for a player.

        "If we go along that route then the second day, instead of recovering, we're kicking off at 5.30pm at West Ham.

        "It's just nonsense really."

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Think he is more likely to miss the Newcastle game after

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Meant he'll miss the game on 28th (West Ham)

    4. Blunder fc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fixtures are good after that and everyone must have lots of value ties up in him

    5. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Probably still score

  30. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On Wc and want to get Kane instead of Rashford ?
    Yaaaay
    Naaay
    BTW i have both Alli & Son