Quite a few big teams have favourable fixtures this week, meaning GW9 could be a high scoring one.
Manchester City should ease past Burnley, whilst it’s hard to look past a comfortable Liverpool victory. Unsurprisingly there is numerous players from both in this team!
Selected below a strong team for Gameweek 9, which should score well and still has £0.3m left of a £100m budget.
Matthew Ryan (£4.5m): Newcastle United (A) & Jamal Lascelles (£4.8m): Brighton (H)
Newcastle United’s home fixture with Brighton is arguably the best contender for a goalless draw this weekend, meaning I’ve put these two together.
Brighton kept their first clean sheet of the season last time out against West Ham United and travel to a side that have scored just three times in four home matches.
Brighton themselves have scored just twice on the road this campaign and have a poor record away from home this calendar year.
Jamal Lascelles averages a goal every 10 Premier League matches and his price has dropped meaning he is one to consider this weekend.
Newcastle 0 Brighton 0: 13/2 with Betfred
Matt Doherty (£4.8m): Watford (H)
Wolves defenders have proven to be a real asset over the last few weeks, none more so than Matt Doherty.
The Irish full-back has recorded an incredible 41 points over the last four game weeks, including three double digit hauls.
Three clean sheets, two assists and a goal is a fantastic return and given Wolves’ approach, Doherty is effectively playing as a right midfielder.
Wolves host a Watford side out of form on the weekend and few would back against another home victory.
Benjamin Mendy (£6.2m): Burnley (H)
Manchester City have the joint best defensive record this season having kept four consecutive clean sheets.
On Saturday they welcome Burnley to the Etihad and it’s hard to look past another blank for the opposition.
Benjamin Mendy returned to fitness prior to the international break, starting in the goalless draw away at Liverpool.
Five assists and two clean sheets have helped Mendy earn an impressive 37 points from just five matches this term!
Offensively Manchester City look much better with Mendy in the team and given the fact he missed the recent international break, he is a must have this weekend.
Joe Gomez (£5.1m): Huddersfield (A)
The versatile Joe Gomez is having an excellent campaign and is becoming one of the first names on Jurgen Klopp’s team sheet.
On the back of a superb display in Spain, Gomez will look to continue his fine form away at Huddersfield on the weekend.
Liverpool have the joint best defensive record this term, whilst Huddersfield are yet to score a goal at home this campaign!
Despite a surprisingly poor record on the road against struggling sides, you’d be a brave man to back against Liverpool on Saturday.
David Brooks (£5.0m): Southampton (H)
Bournemouth’s excellent start to the season shows no sign of coming to an end and a differential to consider is David Brooks.
Owned by just 1.3% of FPL managers, Brooks has scored in back to back Premier League matches and is valued at just £5.0m!
With Ryan Fraser a major doubt, Brooks will remain in the XI and a home fixture against Southampton is as good as it gets.
Eden Hazard (£11.3m): Manchester United (H)
Despite a good start to the FPL season, I am kicking myself that I can’t get Eden Hazard into my team!
With his value increasing by £0.8m already this season, it is becoming harder and harder to find room for the highest scoring player.
On Saturday they host Manchester United in the early kick-off and usually this fixture would be a red flag; however it’s impossible to ignore the form of Hazard.
Manchester United are having a poor season and Hazard will surely increase the pressure on Jose Mourinho.
Match Preview: Chelsea vs. Manchester United
Raheem Sterling (£11.2m): Burnley (H)
Buoyed by an incredible performance for England on Monday evening, Raheem Sterling is definitely a key player for FPL managers this weekend.
32 points in the three home games Sterling has featured in this term is an incredible return, finding the back of the net in them all, whilst claiming six from a possible nine bonus points.
At £11.1m some are put off by the price of Sterling; however he has proven himself over the last 18 months as an excellent FPL option.
Raheem Sterling anytime goalscorer vs. Burnley: 10/11 with Sky Bet
Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.0m): Huddersfield (A)
With Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane major doubts (granted the former now appears likely to start), Xherdan Shaqiri appears to be in line for a rare Premier League start.
Shaqiri was excellent in his one start this campaign, assisting twice in a 3-0 home victory over Southampton.
For obvious reasons, just 2% of FPL managers own the former Bayern Munich winger and at just £7.0m, he could be a real differential this weekend.
Roberto Firmino (£9.3m): Huddersfield (A)
Another Liverpool option to consider this weekend is Roberto Firmino, a guaranteed starter given the injury news elsewhere.
His form this season has been disappointing and as a result his price has dropped to an affordable £9.3m. Despite that he is still owned by over 20% of FPL managers.
He scored in this fixture last term and you’d fancy him to bag another one here against one of the two poorest sides in the division.
Roberto Firmino first goalscorer: 9/2 with Betfair
Sergio Aguero (£11.3m): Burnley (H)(Captain)
Just under 40% of Sergio Aguero’s FPL points this season came in GW2 and he has been consistently subbed around the hour mark.
Despite these stats, you simply can’t ignore the Argentine forward!
Aguero was given a break during the international period and there is no chance of rotation here given the fact Gabriel Jesus was away with Brazil.
Burnley have faced more shots than any side this division and if Manchester City score early, they could rack up a cricket score!
Substitutes bench
Ben Hamer (£4.0m): Liverpool (H)
Michael Keane (£4.9m): Crystal Palace (H)
Josh Murphy (£4.8m): Fulham (H)
Raul Jimenez (£5.6m): Watford (H)
