Pro Pundits

The best FPL players to buy ahead of Blank Gameweek 31

Six-time top 5k finisher Utkarsh Dalmia – aka Zophar –  highlights some of the leading Fantasy Premier League candidates for a Free Hit squad.


Fantasy Premier League managers are just picking up the pieces from what was supposed to be a Double Gameweek 29 but we can waste no time brooding, with the season-defining run-in approaching and Blank Gameweek 31 looming large.

I’m not going into chip strategy too much in this piece, with that topic having already been discussed in a recent article.

Instead, I’m focusing on players who I believe are good picks for a Free Hit squad in Gameweek 31 or for you to acquire now.

Most of you will know this by now but the Premier League fixtures going ahead in Gameweek 31 are:

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Bournemouth
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Burnley vs Watford
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham

First off, let’s have a look at the xGOT (expected goals on target) non-penalty data from the last four Gameweeks to see which of these teams are showing form in attack:



In terms of my own team, Ayoze Pérez (£6.2m) is likely to make way for Sarr ahead of Saturday’s deadline.

I’m unsure if I’m going to use the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 31 as I only have four active players right now (Alexander-Arnold, Salah, Doherty and Jimenez) but with the Sarr transfer this week, I can get to seven by subsequently transferring in Jota and Mané for a hit.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.1m) are the candidates to drop out.

The only players I would likely miss out on would be Pope, Antonio, Wood and another defender, so that’s a decision I’ll be making closer to the date.

Hope you enjoyed reading and good luck with whatever strategy you decide.


An FPL veteran of 10 seasons, Utkarsh Dalmia has been a member of the site right since 2009 and has finished in the top 5k in six of those campaigns, with a best finish of 17th in 2010. A Chelsea fan based in India, he relies heavily on statistics for his FPL decision-making process.

1,044 Comments Post a Comment
  1. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What do you expect from a west ham reserve?

  2. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    And just like that 2 goals needed to win.

    Let's do it boys!

  3. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Daniele Rugani from Juventus tested positive for coronavirus... :O

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not surprising. I'm surprised it's taken this long for a footballer to get it.

    2. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Bye bye PL and Pool’s debut PL title 😆

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Assassin booked.
      Watch your wing mirrors forever!

    2. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      not bold enough a prediction to be linking

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

      🙂 still not had an answer after two hours 🙁

    4. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hope you have predicted them winning the league so you can link that in a few of weeks

  4. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rio loving it because Liverpool are going out.

  5. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Oh my, LFC are on their way out.

  6. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    All the injuries this season coupled with the bad luck tonight...

    It’s just not meant to be for Liverpool this season.

  7. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Covid backwards = Divoc. Must be a sign surely.

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You are brilliant Jarvish. 😆

  8. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Adrian is a convenient escape goat, but fact is that for all intensive purposes LiVARpool have been soundly outplayed today irregardless

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Escape goat 😆

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Brilliant 😀 😀

      2. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Hahaha
        Sounds like my Uncle Stan.

    2. WD27
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You're either stupid or have no idea about real life football. Dominated 180 mins of football against a negative team to be let down by a terrible keeping

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Its a doggy dog world mate, gotta be ruthless to make it and Liverpool werent which is why Athletic are the better side tonight

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Woof

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            *barks*

            1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Handbag dog

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

      Irregardless! Lol

      1. Birds of Prey
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        irregardless is not a word-- try regardless

    4. Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ban this sick filth

    5. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pissed or what ?

    6. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      'Intensive purposes'

    7. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      'It's a doggy dog world'

      This is God tier trolling

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Definitely trolling but it's entertaining trolling.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          He's like a bowl in a china shop.

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            😛

          2. BUZZBOMB
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            An axe in dent waiting to happen. If thats not being too pacific.

            1. Hulk Smash
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Bit of a damp squid

    8. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      English your 3rd language?

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

    Alisson in goal double defence looked good, Adrian in goal no defenders looks better.

  10. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Said this before - don't ever diminish the accomplishments of the invincibles and utd treble team. It's the home stretch that counts to achieve something special and this 'Great' Liverpool team is out of every cup competition by march lol

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Invincibles never won the CL......

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It's a very good Liverpool side but the fact is it's also one of the weakest premier leagues since the competition started, possibly with the exception of the season Leicester won it.

  11. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Less chance of Klopp resting his main players now even when they have picked up the PL title.

  12. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    If pool lose this, I can see Everton doing a number on them.

  13. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I hate you Adrian.

    Atleti have attacked for maybe 6 mins the whole match.

    FFS

  14. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sergio Romero to Liverpool in the summer?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Past it. Just like Lloris, Reina, Adrian. Go for someone young as backup.

      1. Lukakuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It's a bit strange that keepers have such long careers. I thought reactions start getting slower and slower in your thirties.

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

      Such a waste of a career really for Romero being second fiddle to DDG.

  15. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rugani from Juventus has been tested positve for Corona. All football will soon be suspended.

    1. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes. we will be lucky if the games go on this weekend

  16. Will Kane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Reserve keepers are always going to be a problem. It's hard enough to find one reliable keeper let alone two, and you can't keep two top keepers happy anyway. The backup guy is always going to be dodgy.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pure bad luck, Liverpool’s season with injuries.

  17. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Think Athleti missed a trick by playing this defensive from the start. With Adrian in goal, had they attacked from the start, they could have wrapped it up within the 90 minutes.

  18. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Good annoying set of fixtures coming up to prolong Liverpool's wait for their title. Everton, Palace and City. Make them wait!!

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The biggest of all is now Coronavirus. Won’t be surprised if the league first gets delayed and then called off completely... Pool’s wait shall go onnnnnn

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thrash Everton.
      Nervy win vs Palace.
      Celebrate vs City.

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thrash Everton.
        Nervy win vs Palace.
        Celebrate vs City.
        Wake up.

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Why is that not realistic? Have you seen Liverpool's record against Everton this season? They play Palace at Anfield, which has been a fortress for Liverpool in the PL. And if they win their two games, they will be celebrating vs City.

          1. fedolefan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Pretty sure thrash Chelsea, thrash Atletico would have been on that list too.

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Nope. Put a weak team out against Chelsea, which massively reduced their chances of winning.

              Atletico are a class (maybe even more than one class) above Everton and Palace. You aren't thrashing Atletico.

    3. SEXY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Could still bottle that too!

  19. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Morata is a lazy sod.. hes only just on and is lumbering about.

    1. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aye. It's like playing with 10 men most of the time.

  20. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Great news this for us Pool triplers 😎

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No good if you have double LIV defence like me 😆

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That's everyone though

      1. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        The Salah & Mane version

  21. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Morata doesn't want to be out there. Showing no intent.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Assisted the winner

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Moving around the pitch like a 50 yo

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

      Aged really well, this.

  22. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    PL needs a new TV deal so that the big guns can buy all the good players again and dominate in the CL.

  23. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    120 minutes plus demoralizing loss for the Pool players... still captain material this GW?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Never really were.

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      5-day break enough to freshen up.

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep. Play like this vs Everton and they will win 4-0+ vs Everton. Keane, Holgate and Pickford won't cope with this.

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The league is all that's left. They'll need to vent out frustration somewhere.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        The league is already won, cant see them playing out of their skin for it

  24. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Robbo looks to be struggling

  25. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    TAA headbutt?

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Like Zidane?

  26. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    TAA head butting Morata

  27. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    In fairness them Athletico lads can defend when they want to.

  28. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    All done... bye bye Pool 🙂

  29. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Oh dear