Spot the Differential

Pogba’s new role makes him a useful FPL differential for Triple Gameweek

Triple Gameweek 35 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 West Ham United, Aston Villa and Manchester United who we think have the potential to make an impact.

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

Paul Pogba

  • FPL ownership: 2.2%
  • Price: £7.6m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: avl + LEI + LIV | – | FUL | wol

Paul Pogba (£7.6m) has been one of Manchester United’s top performers in recent weeks, producing some of his best football since returning to Old Trafford from Juventus in 2016.

The French midfielder struggled with several minor injuries and a bout of COVID-19 earlier in the season. However, since regaining full fitness, he has become a vital asset to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, which has coincided with a new, hybrid role on the left of United’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

The more advanced position means he is generally further up the pitch when United reach the final third, where he has the vision and ability to quickly switch play. And that’s led to a big improvement from Pogba, who has scored two goals and registered four assists in his last ten matches across all competitions. He also ranks joint-second amongst team-mates for shots in the box, and third for chances created over the last six Gameweeks.

The Red Devils are now unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches, and after the latest fixture amendments were announced earlier this week, now visit Aston Villa before back-to-back home matches against Leicester City and Liverpool in Triple Gameweek 35.

While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly which, if any, of United’s assets will be handed three starts, Pogba’s versatility enhances his chances, and now in a really good moment, could be an effective differential for the remainder of the season.

Michail Antonio

  • FPL ownership: 5.0%
  • Price: £6.4m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: EVE | bha | wba | SOU

Gameweek 34 saw the return of Michail Antonio (£6.4m) to West Ham United’s attack.

The 31-year-old was back in the starting XI after recovering from the hamstring injury which forced him off against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and it didn’t take him long to impress.

His quickfire double, finishing off crosses from Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) and Saïd Benrahma (£5.9m), turned the game in the Hammers favour, and he was perhaps unfortunate not to return more, as he ended the game with six goal attempts, two big chances and 12 penalty box touches. 

In fact, Antonio’s expected goal involvement (xGI) total of 1.43 was not bettered by any other Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player in Gameweek 34, and as pointed out by Neale in his Scout Notes, it is merely a continuation of a season-wide trend as no forward with substantial game-time to their name has a better rate of xGI per 90 minutes.

Manuel Lanzini’s (£6.4m) performance also caught the eye, with the Argentine excelling in a deeper role in Declan Rice’s (£4.7m) absence, and as a result of their win, West Ham now sit fifth, just three points behind Chelsea with four games to play. 

With a crucial run of games coming up against Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton, Antonio can finish the season strongly, and could be one of the very best FPL differentials for the run-in.

Anwar El Ghazi

  • FPL ownership: 1.2%
  • Price: £5.2m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: MUN + EVE | cry | tot | CHE

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m) has not always been a guaranteed starter at Aston Villa this season, but has now scored in back-to-back matches and made a real impact.

The Dutchman’s Gameweek 34 strike at Everton took his tally to eight in the Premier League, making him the Villans’ top scorer behind Ollie Watkins (£6.5m), and there is no doubt that at his best, he has the ability to be a real game-changer.

Interestingly, captain Jack Grealish (£7.5m) recently labelled El Ghazi as Villa’s best finisher at the club, and it was easy to see why at Goodison Park, as he bent the winner past an excellent Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) late on. He also hit the woodwork and enjoyed plenty of success running at Carlo Ancelotti’s backline, which is encouraging.

The winger’s shoot-on-sight policy is evident in the numbers, too. Amongst all midfielders per 90 who have played a reasonable number of minutes, he ranks second for goal attempts, fifth for big chances and third for expected goals (xG), only behind Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) and Gareth Bale (£9.1m).

At this stage, we should point out that longer term, this move carries more risk, as it’s likely we’ll see El Ghazi drop out of the starting XI upon Grealish’s return. However, if the England international continues to be ruled out, and you fancy a short-term differential punt, this could be a good one.

2,781 Comments Post a Comment
  1. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Digne -4 in for:

    A Rudiger out

    B Bellerin out

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    3. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    4. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bellerin.

    5. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B and Yes!

  2. AutoFill 2021
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    GK- Sanchez to Guita and Thomas (Leic) to Mitchell (-4)?

    GK - DGW
    Feel Thmas will be benched.

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

      Thomas is benched according to an itk I think.

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

        Don't love Mitchell as a replacement though.

  3. Eirern
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chances of Philips (Liv) and Rudiger playing?

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      High

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      35/100

    3. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      100/35

  4. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Siggy or Zaha?

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha

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

      Siggy

  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What's with all the Digne love?

    Thought Everton defence was awful.

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lots of attacking potential

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DGW fever (along with good fixtures). I've had him for a while now. Did good work in the first DGW but has been meh since.

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

      Yeah but it's fun isn't it. Plus good fixtures 2 following weeks.

    4. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Plays 180 mins and could easily get attacking points.

    5. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This is true, but he should get a good share of corner duties with Rodriguez out, increases his chance of attacking returns. Also has the best fixture in 36.

  6. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who's everyone captaining?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bruno

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mo

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

      Salah

    4. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah

    5. MightyGar
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bruno TC. The potential 9x score is too tasty to resist

  7. Dexters Laboratory
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A) Kane/Greenwood/Lingard (-4)
    B) DCL/Son/Greenwood (-8)
    C) Kane/Son/Lingard (-0)

    Will Holding start both
    1) Yes
    2) No

    Thanks!

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes

  8. ccarmi2208
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A - Adams or
    B - Benteke

    cheap striker option with DGW

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B - Goals imminent

      1. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Think he only deals with assist

        1. Fitzy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          6 goals & 2 assists, so that's not right

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

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

      B

  9. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bench Son or Jota ?

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Son

      1. dansmusen
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I also have my BB maybe Son is worth doing it ?

        1. Dexters Laboratory
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          It's now or never

          1. dansmusen
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Yes seeing the remaining fixtures i did my BB. Son is to good to bench vs Leeds

  10. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    FH defence is currently:
    Digne, TAA, Maguire
    Can I do better?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Castagne for Maguire and Henderson?

      1. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Interesting. Got Guiata at the moment in goal.
        Could go with Hendo and Castagne instead of Guaita and Maguire.

      2. Shteve
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        This sounds like a good idea especially after Ole's comments on Maguire today

        1. Boss Hogg
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Missed these comments. What did he say?

          1. Shteve
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "Harry Maguire, he’s played every minute for us in the Premier League since he came. I don’t think that’s possible now. That’s another stat that he could have been very, very proud of but I can’t really see that happening now."

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Probably not .. Great defense

    3. arkom
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maquire --> Shaw or Robertson

      1. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        You think Shaw over Maguire?

        1. arkom
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Yes

  11. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Cavani or DCL

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DCL

      1. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        * obviously in real life Cavani is an absolute Boss though.

    2. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DCL

    3. Inter Me Gran
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DCL

    4. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DCL

    5. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      DCL. Cavani only gets one game I reckon.

  12. arkom
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Greenwood or Rashford to captain?

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Greenwood

    2. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bruno or Salah?

  13. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Think if you're missing players in GW36, you might as well go Digne over the United defs, as it is 2 games each, then Everton have Sheff Utd at home.

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

      Totally agree, am doing it for this reason.

  14. Inter Me Gran
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Son to Zaha (-4) for GW35 only?

    1. Teomi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      just did... might backfire but yolo!!

      1. Inter Me Gran
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ha, it’ll defo backfire if I do it now!

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

      Yes

  15. TopCorner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    bench order is currently,

    1. Lingard 2. Fofana 3. Holding

    agree or change anything?

  16. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What transfer to do ?
    A- Dunk > Kabak / Ward
    B- Areola > Gauita
    C- Neither
    Would Cost -12 but BB Activated

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Go for it .. the triple digit score will be worth it

  17. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play 1
    A) holding
    B) rudiger

    Have mendy

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  18. Torres76
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lindelof at 4.8m? Any takers?

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not the worst option if saving money. He should play 2, same as the others.

  19. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any changes you would make on FH or G2G?

    Gamble with Bruno and going with Salah(C) tempted by Vardy too if Man.Utd play weak side vs them

    Guaita (Forster)
    TAA - Digne - Shaw (Holding - Mitchell)
    Salah(C) - Bruno - Rash - Zaha (ESR)
    Vardy - Nacho - DCL

  20. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    would you BB Meslier/Son/Bamford/Veltman ?

  21. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any news of Zaha?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not mentioned on pressconference

      1. Pukkipartyy
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ok...then have to Greenwood and manage gw36 somehow...

        Thanks!

  22. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy
    Trent - Rudiger - Holding
    Salah - Bruno - Rashford - Jota
    Kane - DCL - Iheanacho

    (Forster) - (Bowen - Coady - Amartey) - 0.2 ITB - 1 FT

    A) Amartey -> Mitchell and start him over Holding
    B) Save FT

    Cheers!

  23. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A. Cavani & Siggy
    B. Cavani & Zaha
    C. DCL & Greenwood
    D. DCL & Zaha

    Currently on C

    1. ManUtdFan977
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      dcl and zaha

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

      Yep, C

    3. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      D

  24. cescpistols111
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best move? 1FT, 2.4 ITB. No chips left.

    A. N.Williams -> Mitchell & start over Lingard
    B. Son -> Greenwood
    C. Save FT, use 2FT before GW36 to move some blank players.

    Leno
    Shaw (v) Kabak Rudiger
    Bruno (c) Son Jota Lingard
    Kane Vardy DCL

    Forster Coady Burke N.Williams

  25. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    where has gw35 gone on the ticker.. trying to decide transfers

    1. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just click the prev. GW button bottom left of the ticker

      1. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        ty

  26. Pickle juice
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Please help which one for Rudiger (-4)

    A. Digne
    B. Shaw
    C. maguire
    D. Someone else
    E. Keep rudi

    Thanks

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      E. because hes currently the best player in Chelsea

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Mount?

  27. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Do you think Holding can play both games this DGW or i just play Lingard instead ?

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He can but very hard to know if he will

  28. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Losing Kane for DCL...madness?

  29. The punt of no returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Looking for a cheap mid with a dgw35 AND playing gw36. I’m torn between JWP, Eze or El Ghazi (who has played 180 mins last two matches)
    Any help appreciated

  30. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Which Utd?

    A) Henderson
    B) Defender (will have to skip Castagne)

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A