We’re hoping that Pep Guardiola goes to present us some definitive information on Erling Haaland in his pre-match information convention on Friday however I would not depend on it.
If there’s some doubt about him taking part in within the sport in opposition to Crystal Palace then I believe I will promote him with a view to getting him again earlier than gameweek 19 or 20. Bear in mind Haaland would not have a fixture in gameweek 18 with Manchester Metropolis away on the Membership World Cup.
Now some FPL managers will see this as a waste of helpful transfers however I will chase the potential upside by bringing Dominic Solanke into my staff for Bournemouth’s video games in opposition to Luton and Nottingham Forest, and I can even use the revenue to get Son Heung-min into my staff who did my rank a whole lot of injury together with his 17 factors in opposition to Newcastle in gameweek 17.
It is an equally viable technique simply to place Haaland in your bench for the subsequent couple of weeks in the event you really feel your squad is powerful sufficient to deal with his absence.
And naturally if Guardiola tells us that Haaland goes to start out in opposition to Palace on Saturday then it is enterprise as standard and ignore all of the above.
As you make your transfers this week simply concentrate on which gamers are one yellow card away from a suspension – among the many well-liked picks you will discover Abdoulaye Doucoure, Hwang Hee-Chan, Future Udogie, Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, John McGinn and Jamaal Lascelles.
Captaincy
If Haaland would not play otherwise you simply do not wish to take the chance on him then Mohamed Salah is a superb candidate for the captaincy at dwelling in opposition to a Manchester United defence that might be weakened by the absence of Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.
There’s loads of different selections for the non-Salah homeowners although – Son away to Nottingham Forest, Bukayo Saka or one among his fellow Arsenal attackers at dwelling to Brighton, Solanke at dwelling to Luton and presumably Julian Alvarez or Phil Foden for Manchester Metropolis’s sport in opposition to Crystal Palace relying on the Haaland information.
Fixtures to focus on
Statman Dave got here up with the attention-grabbing suggestion of Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson on this week’s Fantasy 606 podcast to focus on a run of fixtures that begins with a house sport in opposition to Sheffield United this weekend.
Our co-host Chris Sutton identified although that this already appears like a special Blades’ staff below Chris Wilder and one which saved a clear sheet within the 1-0 win in opposition to Brentford in gameweek 16.
I am fairly pleased with Cole Palmer as my one Chelsea participant for this sport however I would not be in opposition to anybody bringing one among their defenders in and I’d nonetheless lean in the direction of Levi Colwill as my first alternative regardless that he did not begin the final sport in opposition to Everton.
We additionally mentioned the thought of doubling up on the Tottenham assault and Richarlison has out of the blue come again into the reckoning after his 15-pointer of their 4-1 win over Newcastle.
They’re away to Nottingham Forest on Friday night and observe that with video games in opposition to Everton, Brighton and Bournemouth earlier than the tip of the yr.
It would not actually matter who they play as a result of you recognize they will be on the entrance foot and bringing somebody like Richarlison, Brennan Johnson or Dejan Kulusevski into your midfield may simply break up the template 5 of Son, Salah, Saka, Palmer and Anthony Gordon that will help you attempt to achieve an edge on the remainder of the sector.
We additionally wait to listen to from Eddie Howe on the extent of Gordon’s hamstring harm that noticed him come off simply after the hour in opposition to AC Milan on Wednesday.
Differentials
We have most likely missed the boat on Marcos Senesi’s goalscoring exploits for Bournemouth, one in every of the wins at Crystal Palace and Manchester United, however there have been two clear sheets in there as nicely and also you’d again them to maintain some extra given the shape they’re in below Andoni Iraola. Senesi is barely owned by 2.3% of managers within the sport.
Raul Jimenez’s possession is at an identical stage so he might be a pleasant possibility if you wish to go in opposition to the extra well-liked Dominic Solanke transfer. He scored three of the objectives in Fulham’s 5-0 wins in opposition to Nottingham Forest and West Ham and a drained Newcastle staff are subsequent of their sights at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Gabriel Jesus nonetheless ranks as a differential at 4% possession going into Arsenal’s dwelling sport in opposition to Brighton in gameweek 17 and Leon Bailey’s one other one you may wish to think about given his contribution to Aston Villa’s beautiful wins in opposition to Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal.
Gamble of the week
Getting Richarlison into your midfield to attempt to break from the template could be my shout for gamble of the week or possibly a Darwin Nunez captaincy in opposition to Manchester United because the Uruguayan appears to finish his run of six Premier League video games with no purpose.
Alistair Bruce-Ball presents the Fantasy 606 podcast alongside former Premier League winner Chris Sutton and Statman Dave. You’ll find the podcast by looking for ‘Fantasy 606’ on the BBC Sounds app, then simply click on subscribe.