As we approach the Christmas period, this midweek slate of matches poses challenges for FPL managers.
Injury concerns regarding key players—such as Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace—, potential rotation, and limited updates from managers following many press conferences post-Tuesday’s 18:00 GMT deadline add to the complexity.
So, what’s the best approach? Focus on players anticipated to log significant minutes while avoiding points deductions as much as possible.
Though this may prove easier said than done.
The team of the week has been chosen based on the current FPL prices, adhering to a £100m budget, as if you were utilizing a Free Hit.
Join our FPL special Q&A with expert Gianni Buttice, live on the BBC Sport website, this Tuesday at 15:30 GMT.
How did last week’s team perform?
Key contributions from Phil Foden (13 points), Igor Thiago (13), and Dango Ouattara (12) resulted in a commendable 60-point week. Quite impressive!
BBC Sport FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 14
[BBC Sport]
Goalkeeper and Defence
Matz Sels, Nottingham Forest, Goalkeeper, £4.7m – Wolves (a)
Wolves have struggled offensively, going four games without a goal, while Sels benefits from playing behind a solid Sean Dyche defense that recently held Liverpool at bay in their last away match.
Daniel Munoz, Crystal Palace, £5.9m – Burnley (a)
Although Palace’s fatigue may be a concern given their packed schedule, Munoz seems relentless, consistently pushing forward on the right side. He is the second-highest scoring defender this season, scoring 14 points in his last away game against a struggling Burnley team.
Trevoh Chalobah, Chelsea, £5.1m – Leeds (a)
Chalobah has started in six consecutive matches and has accumulated four clean sheets and one goal during that span, including a goal against Arsenal last Sunday. His current form makes him a strong value pick.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £6m – Sunderland (h)
If you acquired Van Dijk as a replacement for Gabriel, it was likely due to Liverpool’s favorable fixture list. Despite conceding three goals at home to Forest, he managed a clean sheet against West Ham and has an expected goal involvement of 0.7, indicating potential for an attacking return.
Midfielders
Will Harvey Barnes score for the fourth consecutive time against Spurs this week? [Getty Images]
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United (captain), £8.9m – West Ham (h)
Fernandes is always a solid FPL option, though predicting his scoring can be tricky. With 35 chances created this season, he leads midfielders in that department and with an xG of 4.81, he ranks high among his peers.
Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth, £7.8m – Everton (h)
After an unproductive outing against Sunderland, Semenyo was still active, taking three shots in the box and creating four chances. A matchup against Everton at home should provide an excellent opportunity for a breakout performance.
Mikel Merino, Arsenal, £5.9m – Brentford (h)
Merino has consistently contributed over his last three games starting as a makeshift striker. With Arsenal expected to make rotations, he stands a good chance of another start against Brentford.
Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest, £5.3m – Wolves (a)
Anderson has displayed remarkable consistency, missing only four defensive contribution opportunities this season. His ability to contribute assists or goals makes him an attractive pick for a budget midfielder.
Harvey Barnes, Newcastle, £6.4m – Tottenham (h)
With three goals in his last three matches, no midfielder has matched Barnes’s impressive performance. As Newcastle takes on a vulnerable Spurs defense, he could be set for another strong showing.
Forwards
Alexander Isak scored his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday against West Ham [Getty Images]
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £14.9m – Fulham (a)
Despite two consecutive scoreless outings, Haaland has a solid history against Fulham, netting twice in his previous three visits to Craven Cottage. However, consider a different captaincy choice if feeling adventurous.
Alexander Isak, Liverpool, £10.4m – Sunderland (h)
Opting for last season’s standout striker, Isak, could be a gamble worth taking—even if he has only netted once this season. Sunderland’s defense has weakened recently, which could provide the opportunity Isak needs for a breakout performance.
Substitutes Bench
Martin Dubravka, Burnley, Goalkeeper, £4m – Crystal Palace (h)
Piero Hincapie, Arsenal, Defender, £5.4m – Brentford (h)
Chris Richards, Crystal Palace, Defender, £4.6m – Burnley (a)
Marc Guiu, Chelsea, Forward, £4.2m – Leeds (a)
Total team cost = £99.5m