Spot the Differential

Signing Cancelo a week before fixture swing can give FPL owners the edge

Fantasy Premier League managers could turn to Manchester City, Aston Villa or Crystal Palace to replace their Liverpool defenders for Gameweek 9.

Key members of the Reds’ back-line leave teams in their droves following the international break, so we have used this week’s Differential column to identify three exciting replacements; all of whom we think have the ability to deliver points at both ends of the pitch over the forthcoming weeks.

As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing.

João Cancelo

Cancelo stars for City as Sheff Utd's weak right-side bodes well for Chelsea
  • FPL ownership: 2.4%
  • Price: £5.4m
  • GW9-13 fixtures: tot | BUR | FUL | mun | WBA

João Cancelo (£5.4m) endured a tough first season in England, but is now starting to shine.

Since making his first Premier League start of the campaign in Gameweek 5, the Portugal international has amassed 24 FPL points, averaging six per game. In that time, he has registered two clean sheets and, despite only providing one assist, has created more chances than any defender in the entire division.

Having performed as a right full-back in his first appearance against Arsenal, he has since been deployed on the left in Benjamin Mendy’s (£5.9m) absence. It remains to be seen what will happen when the Frenchman returns from injury, but given Cancelo’s excellent form, it is hard to see an immediate route back into the team.

Since losing 5-2 to Leicester City back in September, Manchester City have conceded just four goals in nine games in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets. While many FPL managers will be looking at Gameweek 10 as the optimum time to invest in their backline, there could be value in going a week early, given Matt Doherty’s (£5.8m) positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and the fact most of Tottenham Hotspur’s chances tend to be conceded from their right-side.

Manchester City’s left-back problem has been a theme throughout Pep Guardiola’s time at the club, but the recent form of Cancelo has perhaps provided a solution. Consistency will now be the key to retaining his place, but if he can do that, it’s hard to envisage him being a differential too much longer. 

Matt Targett

  • FPL ownership: 2.4%
  • Price: £4.5m
  • GW9-13 fixtures: BHA | whu | NEW | wol | BUR

Matt Targett (£4.5m) has been a solid performer for Aston Villa since joining from Southampton in 2019, making the left-back spot his own.

A product of the Saints academy, he has played a key role in a defence that has already kept four clean sheets in seven attempts this season, and perhaps doesn’t get the praise his performances often deserve.

The Englishman is yet to miss a single minute of league action so far, and with Jack Grealish (£7.5m) regularly drifting infield in front of him, plenty of space often opens up for him to attack. He’s got a good delivery too, which he showed in flashes against Arsenal last time out, when he provided the cross that was turned in by Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) for Villa’s first goal in their 3-0 win.

Interestingly, the 25-year-old scored his first goal for the club when he netted an injury time winner against this weekend’s opponents, Brighton and Hove Albion, back in October 2019.

This time, with Tariq Lamptey (£4.8m) likely to surge forward for Albion and support their attack, Targett could have his hands full defensively on Saturday, but at the same time, gaps could appear if space is left in behind. That has certainly been the case so far this season, with the Seagulls giving up 17 of their 42 chances down their right-flank, compared to just nine from the left. 

Still priced at just £4.5m, Targett offers the cheapest route into Villa’s defence, and could be a solid set and forget option given their appealing fixtures.

Patrick van Aanholt

  • FPL ownership: 0.7%
  • Price: £5.4m
  • GW9-13 fixtures: bur | NEW | wba | TOT | whu

Having just returned from a long-term injury, Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) looked back to his best against Leeds United before the international break.

The Dutchman supplied an assist and carried plenty of goal threat, registering three shots in the box. Determined to get forward at every opportunity, his attacking runs created space for Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) and Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m) to thrive and gave them a cutting edge which has been missing without him in the team.

In his absence, Tyrick Mitchell (£4.1m) has impressed, but it was evident against Leeds just how much they’ve missed the 30-year-olds attacking nature, which leads us to think he’ll retain his place in the starting XI come Monday.

Despite often struggling in attack, Crystal Palace have had a bright start to the season. They sit eighth in the table, and looking at the run of games coming up, they have the potential to pick up points given the struggles of goal-shy Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, and to a slightly lesser extent Newcastle United.

In Gameweek 8 there were signs of progress. The expectation now is that results should pick up, and with the possibility of goals and clean sheets, at least in the short term, van Aanholt could be a nice pick-up for those in search of a differential currently owned by just 0.7% of FPL managers. 

1,986 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FredrikH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    G2G?
    Martinez
    Coufal James Cancelo
    Ziyech Barkley Bruno Rodriguez
    Kane DCL Watkins

    Forster Salah Lamptey Mitchell

    1. Arcaddde
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probably a bit too much money on the bench for me with 2 playing subs and incl. £6m on the bench.
      Not sure I would be holding Kane on a WC.

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

        It's not a WC. Took a -8 to get this. Got rid of TAA, Son and Brewster to bring in Cancelo Bruno Watkins.

    2. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks decent to me

  2. El Lobito 10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish. Four goals in...four games v Brighton. Captain!

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

    Keep getting different responses just gonna try it a last time. Which three should I play this week. Justin Cancelo Coufal Mitchell Dallas? Feel Mitchell has a good chance of a clean sheet, just depends if he will play? Confused...

    1. chrismoo75
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'll bite. I doubt Mitchell will play but never fancy Leeds to keep a CS. Would rather Dallas on off chance he gets attacking return

      1. Mane Mane Mane
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers, yeah Coufal is nailed on for me, can’t decide between the other four options which make the final two

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Justin Coufal Dallas.

      Cancelo first sub with Mitchell last. Really don't think Cancelo starts. Would love to be proven wrong though!

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

    Salah>Mane seems to be overlooked generally, why?

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

      Bruno fever

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

      WBA preferred to Leicester. I think Mane has the better stats than Salah (excl pens). Could be a great differential.

    3. Super Sharpe Shooter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpool ravaged by injury and weren't playing that well anyway, which I guess makes Mane less appealing

  5. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    salah to
    A bruno and (c) him v w brom, also sou w ham coming up
    B kdb
    C sterling
    can do son to city player next week
    cheers

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

      Depending on how you'd like to line up in the next 3GWs with MUN and MCI assets

      1. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, Bruno got couple good fixtures, big cap pick this week to
        Will prob bring in city players next week
        Cheers

  6. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I feel there are not enough questions about Salah and if he will play Brighton...

  7. AF90
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robertson, Pulisic, Salah -> PVA, Fernandes, KDB -4?

  8. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Saiss... Will he get minutes this week with covid related illnesses elsewhere? No update on team news for wolves on here yet.

  9. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Everton can only win on Sunday so maybe this is a reason to pick DCL over Grealish as captain?

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

    Trent & Salah to who?

    Can afford literally anyone..

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

    Cancelo and Bruno?

  12. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else noticed that Grealish returns in the same fixtures that he did last season (exc.liverpool) ?
    So he is gonna haul Vs BHA?
    On the other hand Everton will have more chances at Craven Cottage and if they manage to score 3 then DCL may be a better option than Grealish.
    Also own Ziyech but I didn't bought him as a captain contender. I just want him to be in my team and deliver 6 pts every week

    1. Super Sharpe Shooter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Grealish has played a lot of football in the break and will have expended a lot of emotional and physical energy making his mark with the England team. I have him but concerned he will have a quiet one