Get ahead of the Group Chat thanks to our new regular column from FPL expert Jonas Sand Låbakk.
By Graham Ruthven, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk
Introducing our expert
Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, finishing ahead of 11 million other managers. So who better to provide expert advice?
Read his expert advice every week.
*Don’t forget the FPL deadline for this round – make your transfers and sort your team out before 11:00 GMT on Saturday 18 January*
The Eye Test vs. The Stats
There is no Premier League winger in better form right now than Anthony Gordon (7.6m).
Indeed, the Newcastle United winger has returned in each of his last six gameweeks in a row with the Magpies currently the most in-form team in the league. Alexander Isak’s nine goals in those six games have caught the eye, but Gordon’s contribution shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Gordon has averaged 0.59 Expected Goal Involvements (xGI) per game over the course of Newcastle’s six-game winning run, registering nine points in GW21.
Newcastle face Bournemouth next before a clash with Southampton. Trickier tests against the likes of Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool await in February, but Gordon and the Magpies have proved their ability to beat anyone.
Gordon, along with Lewis Hall (4.9m) and Isak (9.3m) are the best picks from Newcastle.
Erling Haaland and Isak are the only forwards (as defined in FPL) to have scored more Premier League goals this season than Chris Wood (6.9m) who is spearheading Nottingham Forest’s surprise top four challenge.
The New Zealand international has scored 13 goals from just 7.35 Expected Goals (xG), indicating that he is massively over-performing. Wood has had the golden touch in front of goal, but could a course correction come at some point in the future?
However, that course correction hasn’t happened yet and some FPL managers were made to regret their decision to bench Wood against Liverpool in GW21 when he opened the scoring after only eight minutes.
Wood’s goal came from his only shot of the game and was from an opportunity with an xG of just 0.16, highlighting the ruthlessness of his finish into the bottom right corner.
Forest host bottom-of-the-league Southampton in GW22 and so it wouldn’t be surprising if Wood continued his excellent form with another solid return. Wood is also a penalty taker for Forest, boosting his chances of a big points haul.
Long shot
Ibrahima Konaté (5.1m) only has 49 FPL points to his name this season. However, this shouldn’t put you off the Liverpool defender for your team.
Konaté has missed six of Liverpool’s last eight league matches due to injury, but is now available again and is in line to start more games from this point on with Joe Gomez now sidelined.
Owned by just 3.5% of FPL managers, Konaté could be a valuable differential for your team. What’s more, Liverpool have an upcoming match against Ipswich Town in GW23 and a double gameweek in GW24. This could be a good time to bring the defender into your team.
The Liverpool centre back doesn’t carry much of a goal threat, registering just 0.08 xGI per 90 minutes this season. However, the Reds have conceded just 18.2 xG this season, the lowest of any team in the league.
Konaté’s low ownership, clean sheet potential and upcoming double gameweek makes him a player to consider.
Upcoming games to follow
GW22 has the potential to produce a number of high-scoring games and big returns for popular FPL assets, but three matches in particular stand out.
Table-toppers Liverpool travel south to face Brentford in what could be one of the most interesting matches of the weekend.
Brentford have scored 29 goals at home this season, more than any other team in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Liverpool have the best away attacking record in the division (28 goals in 10 games).
This match should produce goals, so consider Mohamed Salah (13.7m), Cody Gakpo (7.4m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.2m) and Bryan Mbeumo (7.8m).
Second-place Nottingham Forest will also face Southampton after their disappointing defeat to Manchester United on Thursday which saw the 20th place team conceded three goals in 11 minutes.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s team have been in excellent form at both ends this season, therefore attacking and defensive returns are to be expected from Forrest this weekend. Players to watch in this game are Wood (6.9m), Ola Aina (5.3m) and budget option Neco Williams (4.3m).
Finally, Chelsea will host Wolves on Monday night with the Blues looking to end a run of five league matches without a win.
However, Enzo Maresca’s team are a solid bet to turn around their form against their relegation-threatened opponents. Cole Palmer (11.4m) has scored in three of his last three games in all competitions and could return once more on Monday.
Nicolas Jackson (8.1m) and Reece James (4.8m) are also worth considering after the latter scored a freekick in his cameo off the bench against Bournemouth in GW21. He could be a good differential going forward.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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