Spot the Differential

Phillips can offer excellent value as Liverpool prepare for fixture-swing

Gameweek 31 is almost upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some more differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Leicester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, who we think have the potential to make an impact.

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

Nathaniel Phillips

  • FPL ownership: 1.9%
  • Price: £4.0m
  • GW31-35 fixtures: AVL | lee | NEW | mun | SOU

Academy product Nat Phillips (£4.0m) has taken his chance at Liverpool this season and now offers Fantasy managers exceptional value.

The 24-year-old spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at VfB Stuttgart, where he helped them gain promotion to the Bundesliga. Having arrived back at Anfield ahead of the current season, he wasn’t expected to feature in many games, but has been thrust into action after injuries to key defenders Virgil van Dijk (£6.2m), Joe Gomez (£5.2m) and Joel Matip (£5.4m).

The Englishman has now made 11 Premier League appearances and alongside January loan signing Ozan Kabak (£5.0m), has kept back-to-back Premier League clean sheets. The duo have formed a decent centre-back partnership, and despite a challenging Champions League night earlier this week, it is worth remembering Real Madrid are an altogether different proposition to what they will face domestically during the run-in.

Crucially, the performances of Phillips have the added bonus of allowing Fabinho (£5.4m) to return to midfield. Jürgen Klopp’s side badly missed the Brazilian as a number six, and look a far better side with him sitting in front of the back four.

Up next for Liverpool is Aston Villa, who could be missing Jack Grealish (£7.5m) again this weekend. After that, the Reds take on Leeds and Newcastle, before closing the season with games against West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Phillips costs just £4.0m, and as one of the cheapest starting defenders in the game, could be a quality enabler for the remainder of the season.

James Maddison

  • FPL ownership: 5.0%
  • Price: £7.1m
  • GW31-35 fixtures: whu | WBA | CRY | sou | NEW

James Maddison (£7.1m) returned with an appearance off the bench against Manchester City in Gameweek 30, having missed six matches through injury.

The playmaker had been in exceptional form prior to being side-lined, producing five goals, three assists and 64 FPL points between Gameweeks 17 and 25.

Unsurprisingly, the attacking midfielder has been Leicester City’s main creative outlet this term. Amongst team-mates, he leads the way for final-third touches, successful crosses and chances created, plus expected assists (xA).

However, since late last year, Maddison’s goal threat is improving too, something he touched on in an interview in January: 

“Me, the gaffer and Jack, the analyst, sat down and looked at where I can get more goals. Playing a bit deeper, I was a No.8 today, and breaking into the box and getting beyond that last line and really, kind of, almost smelling where the ball is going to drop. It’s not an easy thing to do. Frank Lampard was the best at it, arriving late and scoring goals, and that’s what I did today.” – James Maddison

Now shooting closer to goal, in more central areas, he has found the back of the net 11 times this season, eight of which have come in the Premier League.

Personal motivation could be a key factor, too. If Maddison is to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship this summer, he will need to play a starring role during the run-in. Encouragingly, the fixtures offer him an opportunity to do exactly that, as Brendan Rodgers’s side face West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Newcastle United between Gameweeks 32 and 35.

Whether fielded out wide, as a number 10 or deeper, Maddison has found a way to impact games, and could be a smart differential for those on the lookout for a new midfielder.

Rob Holding

  • FPL ownership: 3.4%
  • Price: £4.2m
  • GW31-35 fixtures: shu | FUL | EVE | new | WBA

Another budget defender you might want to consider is Rob Holding (£4.2m).

Following the news that David Luiz (£5.4m) will miss a number of weeks with a knee injury, we think the Englishman is likely to start alongside either Gabriel Magalhães (£4.9m) or Pablo Marí (£4.4m), who are both left-footed.

As the clubs only naturally right-sided centre-back, Holding is the obvious candidate to replace Luiz, and with a schedule that sees Arsenal take on Sheffield United, Fulham, Newcastle and West Brom in the next five Gameweeks, he can offer FPL managers real value.

This season, the 25-year-old has started 21 Premier League matches, and kept eight clean sheets during that time. He has arguably been Mikel Arteta’s best defender, and as a result, was rewarded with a new contract back in January.

Despite a poor showing against Liverpool last weekend, Arsenal do appear to be heading in the right direction. Since Boxing Day, when they beat Chelsea 3-1, they have played 16 Premier League games, winning eight, drawing four and losing four, so their form has generally been good. The arrival of Martin Ødegaard (£6.0m) has added another creative option, and their forthcoming schedule offers encouragement that they can kick on and finish the season strongly.

Holding is likely to keep his place at centre-back in the coming weeks, and at £4.2m, could be a good bargain option for your squad.

1,194 Comments Post a Comment
  1. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thinking I'm set..

    Kasper Forster
    TAA Dias Rudiger Coady Holding
    Bruno Salah Jota Lingaard Son
    Kane Nacho Davis

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

      Mine is quite similar. I’m going Alonso over Dias as the upside is huge. And Saiss over Coady.
      Midfield is the same... blend of form and fixtures.

      1. matiakez
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That's fair. Alonso is tempting.

  2. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What are Wildcarders doing who already have Martinez as GK?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am selling.

      Thanking him for his heroics and cashing in on profits.

      Mendy in.

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold for Mendy

  3. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Coady, Saiss or Fofana on wildcard?

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

      Saiss for me

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

    A) Shaw, Madders, Bamford (8th attacker)
    B) Rudiger, ESR (8th attacker), Vardy

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B hopefully ESR starts now Odegard is out

  5. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench
    A) Coady
    B) Shaw

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  6. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GTG?

    Mendy
    Rüdiger Christensen Holding
    Salah Bruno Son Jota
    Kane Vardy Iheanacho

    Forster Philips ESR Amartey

    1. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why are you playing Holding over Philips? Other than that, yes.

      What do you think of mine?

      Pope
      Stones, Cresswell, Rudiger
      Salsh (C), Mount, Bruno, Lingard, Gundo
      Kane (VC), DCL

      Forster, Dallas, Bamford, Mitchell.

      1. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Good question. I will likely play Philips.

        I guess this isn’t a WC?

        Players look good for this week!

        1. artvandelay316
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Thanks, appreciated.

        2. artvandelay316
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          It's not a WC, no.

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What’s the thinking behind Chelsea triple up?

      1. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Value, form & fixtures.

        Excluding the 10 men hammering of course...

        1. artvandelay316
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yes my plan also was to bring in three Chelsea, but putting it off until next week now, and also pondering Liverpool instead, given their fixtures.

  7. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    Rudiger, Dias, Phillips
    Lingard, Salah (C), Bruno, Jota
    Vydra, Iheanacho, Kane

    Forster | Son, Coady, Coufal

    Is this starting 11 okay?

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Id start Son over Vydra

  8. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which one on a WC?

    Team 1:

    Mendy Foster
    Coady Phillips Coufal Shaw Holding
    Salah Sterling Fernandes Lingard Jota
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra

    (Sterling > Son next week)

    Team 2

    Mendy Foster
    Coady TAA Coufal Shaw Holding
    Salah SON Fernandes RAPHINHA Jota
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Team 1

  9. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Captain -

    Gundogan
    Kane
    Vardy

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kane I think. Gundogan is the brave pick

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Definitely not Gundogan for his cameo off the bench.

      Kane.

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        There’s no cameo, he starts.

        1. Totalfootball
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          How so sure ?

          1. No Kane No Gain
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            My gut. He’s only played one game in the last 3 for city. Surely he plays this one

            1. St Pauli Walnuts
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Devil's advocate, he surely plays the next two after this in CL and FA Cup.

    3. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundogan

  10. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Has Dan Burn lost his spot or still returning from injury? Need a defender for week 33 and they have shu if not Veltman

  11. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC please? 200k so trying to stay away from template where possible but some seem to important to leave out. Seems to be a lot of money in defence too.

    A)
    Mendy/Forster
    Cresswell Dias TAA Digne Alonso
    Son Jota Gundo Saka Neto
    Vardy Kane Watkins

    B)
    Or this
    Alonso for Rudiger
    Jota for Salah
    TAA for Phillips

    Thanks

  12. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Going for Alonso (C).
    I thought he'd be popular captain pick but so far it looks like only 0.01% are doing likewise.
    He was likely to get a double digit return last week only for the sending off.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ballsy

    2. Lionac
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Did this last GW. Regretted after Kane brace...

    3. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Very nice punt

  13. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Coady, Saiss or Fofana on wildcard?

    Thanks

  14. Slim25
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo, AWB, Stones
    Bruno, Gundo, Salah, Lingard
    DCL, Kane, Bamford
    (Button, Raph, Soy, Veltman)

    2 Ft's 0.5m in bank.

    What would be the best option? Cheers!
    A: Cancelo & Soy - TAA & Holding
    B: Soy & Raphinha - Holding & Jota

  15. si
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jesus or Kun?

    1. Cowboy John
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kun. I'm surprised he's not getting more mentions on here...?

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kun

  16. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Captain Sterling or Salah?

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Salah

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sterl

  17. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sterling C ?
    Yaaaay
    Nope

    1. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sterli but expect nothing

  18. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    If you have Gündo would you
    A - Keep
    B- Sell

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      keep, cheap way into city attack. Will probably miss some games but not likely to come on as a sub so as long as you have a good bench its perfect

  19. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) Neto, ESR (8th attacker), Vardy
    B) Lingard, Madders, Bamford (8th attacker)

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  20. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gtg?
    Mendy
    Alonso,Rüdiger,TAA,Cresswell
    Fernandes, Son, Lingard, Jota
    Kane, Lacazette

    Lloris, Raphinia, Bamford, Shaw

    Will be captaining one of Fernandes,Alonso,Lacazette or Jota.
    Undecided.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      G2G

  21. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Shaw(tot) or Raphinha(mci)?

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Shaw

  22. Drogo
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I got Lacazette as captain and Kane as vice captain. Foolish?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      There are worse things you could do

  23. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would you make any changes for my WC? Or G2g
    Iheanacho or Neto?

    Mendy Forester
    TAA D.Sanchez Coady Holding Fofana
    Salah Jota Fernandes Son Esm
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sanchez is a brave move. Otherwise it looks good.

  24. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC Options

    A)
    Mendy/Forster
    Cresswell Dias TAA Digne Alonso
    Son Jota Gundo Saka Neto
    Vardy Kane Watkins

    B)
    Mendy/Forster
    Cresswell Dias PHILLIPS Digne RUDIGER
    Son SALAH Gundo Saka Neto
    Vardy Kane Watkins

    C)
    Mendy/Forster
    Cresswell Dias TAA HOLDING Alonso
    Son SALAH Gundo Saka Neto
    Vardy Kane VYDRA

    Please and thanks for any thoughts

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

      A

    2. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      c

    3. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B is very good.
      Can you change Watkins?

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah flexible on that.

    4. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks folks, tough choice need need settle one and log out I think

  25. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Deciding whether to replace Martinez.. on wildcard.

    Who to go for?
    A) Schmeichel
    B) Mendy
    C) stick with Martinez

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Stuck on this top. Currently on B

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  26. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy Forster
    TAA Coady Holding XX XX
    Salah Son Jota XX XX
    Kane Nacho XX

    A) Shaw, Fofana, Neto, Vardy + ESR (8th attacker)
    B) Shaw, Fofana, Lingard, Madders + Bamford (8th attacker)
    C) Shaw, Rudiger, Gundo, Vardy + ESR (8th attacker)
    D) Rudiger, Fofana, Lingard, Vardy + ESR (8th attacker)
    E) Rudiger, Fofana, Pereira, Fernandes + Davis (8th attacker)
    F) Shaw, Veltman, Lingard, Vardy + ESR (8th attacker) :p

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C if leading, B if chasing

  27. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would you do any of these for a -4? 4.1 ITB.

    A. Martinez > Mendy
    B. Digne > TAA (Bruno > Salah next week)
    C. Digne > Phillips (Gundo, Antonio > Salah, Iheanacho next week)

    Sanchez (Martinez)
    Dias, Digne, Cresswell (Targett, Struijk)
    Bruno, Lingard, Son, Gundo, Jota
    Bamford, Kane (Antonio)

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Id save

  28. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No Wildcard... and 0.6 itb would you simply do Dallas to Rudiger?

    Pope
    Alonso Shaw Veltman
    Aubameyang (C) Son Fernandes Lingard Raphinha
    Kane Calvert-Lewin

    Martinez Watkins Dallas Lewis

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Save the transfer

  29. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    First and only RMWC post, I apprrciate Any suggestions 🙂

    Mendy (Forster)

    TAA - Rudiger - Castagne (Holding, Shaw)

    Salah - Bruno - Sterling - Lingard - Jota

    Kane - Iheanacho (Vydra)

    Plan is Sterling to Son next GW

    1. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Strong WC, Front 8 must be the most popular picks seen on site.

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lovely

  30. Cuchulain
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) TAA + Neto
    B) Phillips + Jota + 2.1 itb