It is a big week of change in the FPL landscape, with major injuries coming to Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Son leaving for the AFC Asian Cup and Chelsea and Arsenal showing indifferent form � all while Aguero is ousted by Gabriel Jesus as first choice at Manchester City. While managers carve up their teams to survive this influx of new data and variables we NEED to keep one eye firmly on the first incoming BLANK Gameweek of the season (27) which is only a handful of games away. With definite blanks for Everton and Manchester City and possible blanks for Tottenham, Chelsea, Brighton and Burnley � we have to make any decisions now with this in mind.
Ings
5.5m
Southampton
5.2% TSB (teams selected by)
5ppg (points per game)
Fixtures: Everton (H), Crystal Palace (H), Burnley (a), Cardiff (H), Arsenal (a), Fulham (H)
Blank in GW27: NO � Game vs Arsenal confirmed
While Llorente sits at a similar price point, his lack of previous data in premier league football leads me slightly away from the big Spaniard, even with his fantastic fixtures. Could see Spurs favouring Alli and Lucas up top. However, Spurs have never seen the absence of Son and Kane at the same time and if Llorente is to be kept happy at the club this is the prime time for him to come to the fore. Firmly on the watch list but at 5.6m he is an easy switch from a more assured FPL asset � Danny Ings.
Danny Ings has had some bad luck with injuries but he should be returning this weekend. Ahead of him lays 4 home fixtures in 6, a game in GW27, and Fulham and Cardiff at home. He has 5 points per game and has returned in FPL in both his stints at Burnley and Southampton (ignoring Liverpool). Southampton are playing a more pressing vertical 4-2-2-2 at times under their new management, leading to 2 strikers being needed to run the channels, pick up a lot of play, and arrive in the box for more goals. Southampton have 10 goals in 6 games including games against Manchester City and Chelsea, and have a good run where Ings, who is also primary penalty taker, could provide a good option for you squads in the short and mid term.
Alli
8.9m
Spurs
3.0% TSB (teams selected by)
4ppg (points per game)
Fixtures: Fulham (a), Watford (H), Newcastle (H), Leicester (H), Burnley (a), Chelsea (a)
Blank in GW27: Currently YES, but if Chelsea overturn Spurs in the League cup semi final, Spurs will play Burnley in GW27.
Well Kane's injury rips up many plans for Spurs' cracking run, a few players now come into consideration if you are looking for differentials to benefit over these games. Lucas Moura, Lamela and of course Llorente are option, but with injuries and questions over who will play when � one definite we have is that if fit Dele Alli will play. In the past some of Dele Alli's best form has come when Kane has been absent as he plays more traditionally in a Roberto Firmino-esque false 9 position allowing fast runners (Lucas for example) to provide width and pace in attack. Alli has had an indifferent season to date but always has the potential of bursting into life and with 3 home games in a row after the trip to Craven Cottage its now or never.
Interestingly he provides managers with an easy route back in for Son in 3 GWs time as the South Korean is at a similar price point.
Dubravka
5.0m
Newcastle
0.6% TSB
3.6ppg (Points per game)
Fixtures: Cardiff (H), Man City (H), Tottenham (a), Wolves (a), Huddersfield (H), Burnley (H)
Blank in GW27: NO � Game vs Huddersfield confirmed
Yes, Newcastle aren't great. Yes, Newcastle have a bit of an injury crisis at the moment. But Dubravka has a great fixture in GW23 and the best fixture in the blank gameweek (where he plays Huddersfield). Fabianski still provides managers a better route into an active goalkeeper in the mid and long term, but Dubravka is a differential and rotates fantastically with a Brighton keeper over the next 6 Gameweeks (either Ryan 4.4m, but more likely Button 4.0m � as Ryan is expected to be away a bit longer as Australia reach the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup) giving you this rotation:
Cardiff (H), Fulham (a), Watford (H), Wolves (a), Huddersfield (H), Burnley (H).
Dubravka has only 68 saves to Fabianski's 83, but does have 6 clean sheets to Fabianski's 4. Is this a classic case of overthinking, or is it a potential differential for an interesting run of games.
Note: Fabianski plays Fulham in GW27.
Until Next Time...
Make Good Choices!
Jared
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