Best Differential Picks for this weeks FPL
Gameweek 12 throws us some interesting games in the final round of FPL before the last break for Internationals ahead of the packed festive fixture list. We will, of course, talk more in focus on players set up for that festive run over the International break, but to kick things off here is the GW12 under the radar picks.
Shaqiri
7.0m
Liverpool
2.3%
Liverpool face Fulham at home. Shaqiri was rested for the UCL matchup for political reasons. Fulham have conceded 29 goals in 11 games. Liverpool have scored 21 in 11. This is the recipe we have going into the Sunday kick off.
Shaqiri has contributed for Liverpool when he has played, either on the flanks or as a CAM, with the latter likely, and with Liverpool's poor form at the moment, his introduction to the side coinciding with a turn in form could see the Swiss attacker nail a place in the side for a while. This is as fragile as the Salah-Firmino-Mane triumvirate has been since the start of last season and Shaqiri is uniquely placed, with a good fixture and on a wealth of set pieces to take advantage.
His playing at the weekend, and playing well in a good win just before the International break could see him return as viable option over the festive rotation, with the other Liverpool attackers likely to rotate with a hefty price tag, Shaqiri could be a mid-range pick. However even if he does not cement a place in the team long term, this fixture, on paper, is as good as it gets this season. With 1 goal and 4 assists from extremely limited playing time this season and 17 goals+assists last season in a poor Stoke side, this could be a risk worth taking.
Diangana, Balbuena and Felipe Anderson
4.5, 4.4 and 6.8
West Ham
0.1%, 0.8% and 3%
West Ham's fixtures are a thing of beauty. I do not think in my time playing FPL (11 years) I have seen a run like this, especially over such a congested time.
Excluding one match with Manchester City after the international break, West Ham play:
- Huddesfield (a),
- Newcastle (a),
- Cadiff (H),
- Crystal Palace (H),
- Fulham (a),
- Watford (H),
- Southampton (a),
- Burnley (a)
- Brighton (H)
All before FPL takes its January break for the 3rd round of the F.A. Cup.
With Marko Arnautovic taking most the FPL headlines there are a few options that could also be considered...
Diangana
At just 4.5m he offers a budget option in your midfield. With Yarmolenko out for the season and Snodgrass dropping back into midfield, Grady Diangana could add to his 2 goals and 1 assist this season (in all First Team competitions) as he continues his playing time. Pellegrini has remarked on him playing ‘… very well', and after completing a lot of match time since Yarmolenko's injury and being denied a clear penalty against Burnley his direct attacking, speed and enthusiasm could be a good foil for the more cerebral Marko Arnautovic.
Balbuena
Has played every minute for West Ham in the league this season and in that time had 13 goal attempts from Center Back, which is only 1 less chance that record signing Brazilian attacker Felipe Anderson. His xG is also impressive with 1.91, more again than Anderson at 1.76. But it isn't just his attacking that stands him out, crucially his baseline bonus which sits at a staggering 158 is far in excess of center back partner Diop's 120 and interestingly the 9th highest baseline bonus in the league. With his good price, attacking threat and good BPS, his marriage with this impressive fixture list could almost be deemed a must own FPL festive pick.
Felipe Anderson
He showed his worth last weekend and should add to his 3 goals and single assist in the coming weeks, especially as one major statistic is not correlating. That being his chances created to assist ratio, Anderson has created the 9th highest amount of chances in the league this season with 23 chances, but from that only 1 has been converted. This 23/1 ratio has to be corrected by law of averages, an owner would hope, in the coming weeks.
Until Next Time...
Make Good Choices!
Jared
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