What We Learned | Week Twenty-Three

Another curious weekend in the Premier League. Glad I’m not a tipster (anymore). Only the most optimistic – or maybe just mystic – Palace fans would’ve backed their team before kick-off. And not even the bench would’ve fancied it at 2-1 down in the 87th minute.

Likewise, Sheffield United and Newcastle pulled late – and really late – rabbits out of the hat. Goal scorers Fleck and Hayden feature in just 3.4% and 3.8% of FPL teams. But that’s Fleck’s 5th in 11. Better than Son (TOT), Willian, Mount (CHE) and Silva (MCL) among others.

And Wolves didn’t look like ending their 3-match winless run – and Saints’ 5-match unbeaten one – after 35 mins. Not being 2-0 down so much, but when Shane Long scores against you, the omens can’t be good. Remarkably 1.9% of you have on the books.

Even more remarkably, only double that figure have Liverpool’s now nailed-on central defensive stalwart Gomez in their team. At £5.2m he looks a snip. Act accordingly. It’s only a matter of time before he completes the clean sweep in the Form XI.

And after that seamless segue (that’s Segway to you), here’s the rest…

PlayerClubPriceSelection %
AlissonLIV£6.1m9.6%
DEF 
Alexander-ArnoldLIV£7.5m39.6%
RobertsonLIV£7.0m20.1%
Van DijkLIV£6.4m40.7%
AzpilicuetaCHE£5.8m5.7%
MID 
GrealishAVL£6.5m20.2%
MahrezMCL£8.5m9.2%
ManeLIV£12.4m40.5%
ATT 
AgueroMCL£11.9m39.6%
IngsSOU£6.9m27.9%
JimenezWOL£7.5m16.7%

Back shufflers…

There’s only so much champions-elect Liverpool to be spread through the team, of course. And there are cut-price alternatives on offer in Enda Stephens (SHU) at £4.4m and Digne (EVE) at £5.7m. And his mate Holgate (EVE) is developing into a sub £4.5m bargain.


Middle-men…

A little gentleman’s Grealish (AVL) is essential these days. And Duda (NOR) is no dud. Despite the fact that currently NONE of the FPL universe has taken the plunge. I appeal to the 3.1% of you that still have Ceballos (ARS) in your team to have a little word with yourselves.


Forward thinkers…

So, what to do in the absence of Kane (TOT), Rashford (MUN) and Aubameyang (ARS) for a couple, perhaps several weeks and the rest of season (in reverse order)…? Jimenez (WOL) is the obvious pick. But outside him, it’s tricky. Jesus (MCI) and Firmino (LIV) don’t deliver the minutes or end product they should. So then you’re in the straw-clutching territory of Calvert-Lewin (EVE) and Ayew (CRY). Let’s just hope rat boy Vardy (LEI) gets through his sticky patch sharpish.


That’s how it looks from here.

Matt