Spot the Differential

Updated fixtures boost case for Maguire and Man United defence

The Gameweek 17 deadline is almost upon us which gives us the opportunity to have a look at some differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks from Manchester United, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, who we think have the potential to make a big impact.

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

Harry Maguire

  • FPL ownership: 3.6%
  • Price: £5.4m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: AVL | bur | liv + ful | SHU | ars

Manchester United are now unbeaten in nine league games, and following Tuesday’s late win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, have put themselves in the thick of the Premier League title race.

One of the key players for the Red Devils during that run of improved form has been Harry Maguire (£5.4m).

The England international has bounced back following a tough start to the season, and could be a shrewd differential pick for FPL managers on the lookout for a new defender.

Following yesterday’s fixture announcement, United now have a favourable schedule which includes games against Burnley, Fulham and Sheffield United in the next five. In fact, between Gameweeks 17 and 25, they sit top of the ticker from a defensive perspective. Obviously, they need to improve at the back having already conceded 23 goals, but it does feel like progress is being made and a clean sheet in midweek now gives them something to build on.

However, the real appeal lies in Maguire’s goal threat. Since the beginning of the season, the 27-year-old has registered more shots and attempts in the box than any defender in the game, while he ranks third for excepted goals (xG). For context, his 17 shots in the box is only three behind team-mate Bruno Fernandes (£11.2m).

Importantly, Maguire has been ever-present for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, and with his ability to contribute FPL points at both ends of the pitch, is a tempting New Year investment.

Gabriel Martinelli

  • FPL ownership: 0.8%
  • Price: £4.9m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: wba | CRY | NEW | sou | MUN

Next up is an interesting budget option at Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m), who has recently returned from a six-month spell on the sidelines.

The Brazilian has now started back-to-back league matches, and been central to the Gunners’ upturn in form which has seen them beat Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Admittedly, it took them a while to get going against Albion, but they found their rhythm in the second half, with youngsters Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m), Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) and Martinelli pulling the strings. The inclusion of the young trio behind a striker has galvanised Mikel Arteta’s side, and with a great run of games against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United coming up, they could offer real value. 

However, if it comes down to goal threat alone, I’d put Martinelli comfortably ahead right now. His clever movement and knack of being in the right place at the right time will see plenty of goalscoring opportunities come his way, and having netted 10 goals from 26 appearances across all competitions last season, his potential is evident. 

His link-up play with Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) down Arsenal’s left-side has also stood out, which is important considering Arsenal’s next two opponents concede plenty of chances from that side of the pitch.

After a turbulent few weeks, Arsenal will be hopeful of moving up the Premier League table in 2021, and with Martinelli making an instant impact upon returning to the starting XI, they could yet turn their season around.

Eberechi Eze

  • FPL ownership: 0.9%
  • Price: £5.8m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: SHU | ars | mci | WHU | WOL

Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) has impressed for Crystal Palace this season, developing into his side’s main creative outlet.

Since becoming a regular starter in Gameweek 8, he ranks top amongst team-mates for chances created, big chances created and successful take-ons, while only Andros Townsend (£5.7m) has attempted more crosses. 

Key to his appeal is this week’s opponents Sheffield United, who are still without a win all season. The defensive data tells us that they have given up a significant amount of chances from their right flank. In fact, only West Bromwich Albion have conceded more from that zone this season, which is relevant with Eze operating off the left in Roy Hodgson’s 4-4-2. 

It’s also worth noting that the Blades have often looked vulnerable defending set-plays, having allowed 72 attempts on goal from dead-ball situations so far, more than any other side. With Eze being known for his ability from set-pieces and drawing fouls from the opposition, he could be set to profit in Gameweek 17.

Palace currently sit 15th in the Premier League table and despite a dip in form over Christmas, looked more assured in Monday’s draw against Leicester City. A win on Saturday would see them rise above Newcastle United, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers into 12th spot, at least temporarily, and they won’t get a better chance than against the Blades.

While three attacking returns is a fairly modest total for Eze so far, he is an exciting player with big potential, and given his opponents defensive vulnerabilities, could be set to add to his tally this weekend.

1,606 Comments Post a Comment
  1. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 1 to play

    Stones
    Dallas
    Semedo

    others are Keane and Coufal

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas. He won't get a clean sheet but I think there'll be goals so you never know with him.

  2. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will the City and Chelsea game be going ahead do we think? I have Taylor who ain't going to play but if that game is off I lose Chilwell and Dias too so I'm down to Cresswell and Walker-Peters.

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No reason for it to be off

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Just wasn't sure with the whole Covid thing and City's game this week being postponed because of it.

        1. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          They went back to training the other day so it looks cool

  3. Agger
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi guys, was there any news on which Man City players had to self isolate?

    I've got De Bruyne, Sterling and Cancelo, any of these 3 won't be in squad vs Chelsea?

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like all three are fine.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Stones ?

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Looks good for him too.

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Thanks

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      .....

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rumours Cancelo was one of the Covid victims - but just rumours at the end of the day

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

    Which one? 2FTs

    A) Taylor, Mahrez > Barnes/Raphinha Dallas
    B) Taylor, Mahrez > Lowton, Rashford
    C) Mahrez, DCL > Barnes/Raphinha, Vardy

    1. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Barnes + dallas

  5. Andrew
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bring in Rashford for Son this week if the alternative was "burning a transfer" - doesn't sit right but literally nothing else I want to do with only 0.1m in the bank

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well I'd rather have Rashford than Son right now so if I had nothing else to do then yes, absolutely.

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Of course Son plays Leeds and has yet to blank more than two games in a row this season so...

        1. Andrew
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah and heavily owned in my mini-league - seems fraught with risk

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No. Son vs Leeds > Rashford vs Villa

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Selling Son vs Leeds ??
      I'd not do it on gunpoint !

      1. Andrew
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Haha!

    4. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm capping Son ahead of Bruno...

  6. TAT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you play this possible FH team in GW 18, or try and field the team below (8 players max):

    Leno
    Stones- Dias - Maguire
    De Bruyne - Fernandes - Son - El Ghazi
    DCL - Kane - Watkins/Wood
    (Darlow - Saka - Holding - Kilman)

    Martínez
    *Taylor* - Dias - Cancelo
    Son - Fernandes
    Watkins - DCL

  7. white lightning
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just after some advice please. Who would you play:
    (a) Adams or
    (b) Stones or
    (c) Dallas

    Cheers.

    1. krzys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably Stones.

  8. MMN
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    When are the rest of the pressers?

    1. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      See tweets

      1. MMN
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What about the rest? We didn't have 15 yesterday did we? Mainly looking out of Taylor.

  9. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    HNY! Help needed. Team:

    Martinez
    Trent Robbo Cancelo
    Salah Bruno Grealish Soucek
    Kane DCL Bamford

    Steer Anguissa Balbeuna Mitchell

    2 FTs - I think I need Son this week. Building towards FH18 / BB or TC GW19 (not sure). What’s the best way to get Son in?

  10. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Struijk likely to keep his place for dgw19?
    No return date given for Cooper

    1. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Txs, won't go there then

  11. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Tough one here lads...

    Bench one:

    A) Soucek
    B) Holding
    C) Cancelo

    Currently benching Cancelo (possibly has Covid, and tough fixture) but it doesn’t sit well having him benched

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely Soucek. Chelsea will probably follow the template of Sevilla, Spurs, United and play conservatively - I expect a CS for City.

  12. dylano21
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Most likely to get more points for GW 17-18-19 ?

    A) Bailly
    B) Stones

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

      B

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    3. krzys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

    Is Strujik likely to keep his place when Cooper returns?

    1. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

  14. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth it to take out Moh for KDB

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm not bothering. KDB obviously is a great option for DGW but he has been terrible value up until this point.

    2. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah kdb has to prove himself. He got good fixtures but so far no value for the money

  15. Pieterke30
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi folks!
    Who’d you start?

    A. Soucek (eve)
    B. Adams (LIV)

    Why?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Che

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Adams (just)

  16. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Happy New years all! Can't decide whether to play 11 doublers in GW19 or push for BB19 with 14 doublers. Have 2FT's and 0.3m

    Martinez -- Forster*
    Cancelo Dallas Coufal -- Taylor* Lamptey*
    Bruno Kdb Salah Son* -- Burke*
    Watkins Bamford DCL*

    A: Lamptey >> Holding (if i dont BB) followed by Taylor >> Stones in gw18
    B: Lamptey >> Lowton (if i BB) followed by Taylor >> Stones in gw18
    C: Lamptey >> Stones and decide next gw whether to BB or not. could do taylor >> Lowton or Holding next gw

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Im looking at A

  17. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    G2G Save FT? Debated Firmino and Taylor to DCL and Maguire
    Or Martial and Maguire?
    Martinez
    Konsa Mitchell Holding
    Salah Son Bruno Saka
    Bamford Firmino DCL

    Steele Soucek Kilman Taylor

    Cheers

  18. Alan_T
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start Pulisic (CTY) or Saka (wba) ???

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sak

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Puli

    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka

  19. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Happy new year! Best option for DGW19?

    A) Zouma, Alioski, Vardy
    B) Robertson, Cancelo, Rodrigo
    C) Dallas, Balbuena, Vardy
    D) Cancelo, Alioski, Vardy.

    Thinking D for balance (will have 2 City, 2 Leeds, 2 Liverpool + Vardy).

    Cheers.

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ta

    2. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      D

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

  20. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo
    Dias
    or
    Maguire?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C or D. Wait for City presser (probably D)

  21. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Adams (LIV) or Burke (cpl)?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Adams

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

    Any games likely to be off this GW?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nothing reported. Yet.

      1. SuperG
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        BREAKING: Rumours Palace game is off.

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fulham Burnley would the most likely, but we won't know until tomorrow or Sunday I'd say

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

    Which City players are rumoured to have Covid?

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Walker, Jesus, Ederson definite.

      Torres and Cancelo rumoured, although pics of Cancelo at the training ground but that in doubt. Hopefully Pep will confirm at 1.30

  24. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Morning Everyone!!!! Which 3 would you play here???
    A- Zouma
    B- Stones
    C- Dallas
    D- Coufal
    Many thanks!!

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A,C,D

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Oooh interesting mate, why not Stones out of interest mate??

  25. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Really don't know who to captain.

    Gone Salah last two gws.

    A) Son
    B) Kane
    C)Bruno
    D) Salah?.

    Thanks and HNY to u all.

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have them all and I'm going Kane

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Im on son and own all of them.

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have got Kane (C) out of those four

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

      A

    5. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I am going (K)ane

    6. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have wall of them and on Kane but really like Son too

  26. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Happy new year everybody 🙂

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same to you.

  27. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Currently, around 100 points behind the top 10k, Can the gap be reduced to around 50 If I play FH and BB in 18 and 19 successfully? 😀

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No Chucky.
      Season over !
      😀

      (Of course. 50 points can be covered over 3 weeeks)

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        cheers amy.. season-defining GWs coming up...

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

      Depends on his score

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

    Score predictions for this lot?

    Son
    KDB
    Cancelo
    DCL
    Watkins

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

      11
      10
      0 (covid)
      13
      2

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

        Thanks mate. Fair analysis. I’ve got 2FTs here. Would you just tidy up Taylor to Stones or Lowton and burn the other one?

        Could also do KDB >> Son(C) or Johnstone >> Martinez or Adams >> Watkins.

        McCarthy
        Robbo, Dias, Coufal
        Salah, KDB, Bruno, Raphinha
        DCL, Bamford, Adams
        (Johnstone, Dallas, Soucek, C.Taylor*)

  29. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So Pep has a press conference 1.30. Deadline at 4.30.

    Last minute transfers!!!!!

  30. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Done a -4 from lamptey to saiss..