Gameweek 8 Preview and Team selection
My current team for Gameweek 8
Finally after the international break, Premier League football is back this weekend and we are at Gameweek 8 in Fantasy Premier League. This break felt long after my green arrow in Gameweek 7 as I wanted to keep the ball rolling but I am still very hopeful I can do just that.
My team appears to be in pretty good shape post international break but let’s hope there are not too many players carrying small knocks or injuries in my team. The only current question marks are of course still Joao Pedro of Brighton who is still out and who I do need to deal with soon. Alongside this, Kai Havertz has a knock due to a knee injury and has a 75% (FPL) chance of playing.
Having said that, here’s how my team currently looks going into Gameweek 8…
Formation 3-5-2
Goalkeeper-
Starting- Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest away): After a couple of tougher fixtures and not a good start to the season, I am hoping it starts to click for Crystal Palace this week. There is certainly a chance of a clean sheet against Nottingham Forest but they are also in great form but until I wildcard I am stuck with Henderson in goal.
Defense-
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool vs Chelsea at home): A difficult fixture for Liverpool this week with their first proper test of the season against a talented Chelsea team who have started the season well. A clean sheet may be a push but Trent was fantastic for England over the international break so hopefully an attacking return perhaps.
Pedro Porro (Tottenham vs West Ham at home): Porro has been disappointing since I brought him in with only a clean sheet against Manchester United his only return. The biggest issue has been his attacking threat, but West Ham are a chance for him to make amends.
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa vs Fulham away): Digne in the last Gameweek was fantastic, receiving an eight-point haul for the clean sheet alongside two bonus points and the playing points. Fulham poses a chance for both a clean sheet and an attacking return this week.
Midfielders-
Emile Smith Rowe (Fulham vs Aston Villa at home): Smith Rowe has struggled somewhat the last two weeks with only a combined four points, however, Fulham have been scoring even in the tough last two fixtures. With Joao Pedro still injured too I am starting him, he has been good and can be great again this week.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool vs Chelsea at home): Salah blanked last time around against Crystal Palace in a hard-fought Liverpool win. With the tough Chelsea fixture this week and Arsenal next week it may be time to sell him soon to free up funds but I also want to keep a Liverpool attacking asset and Salah can score against anyone so looks good this week.
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa vs Fulham away): After his back-to-back returns in Gameweeks 5 and 6, Rogers blanked last week against Manchester United. However, he continues to start getting the minutes and has a high attacking threat and potential so he stays for now and starts for me again.
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle vs Brighton at home): The rage transfer for Morgan Gibbs-White getting sent off remains in my team. He has not yet scored any real points for me but again I am stuck with him for now and he has Brighton this week so a much better chance for a return. The minutes are there enough to keep for now but I may move him on soon.
Bryen Mbeumo (Brentford vs Manchester United away): This man has been a revelation this season with a great price tag at 7.5 million for the current 6th overall top scorer in the game. He is also the most transferred in player ahead of Gameweek. While I did not start with him, I am very glad I now have him and he is sure to get more attacking returns in the upcoming fixtures.
Forwards
Kai Havertz (Arsenal vs Bournemouth away): A slight injury doubt this week and worry but I personally think he will start and can get goals against Bournemouth away. Some tougher fixtures and tests are coming up for Arsenal though.
Erling Haaland (Captain: Manchester City vs Wolves away): Haaland takes my captain's armband this week against bottom of the league Wolves who have conceded a league high 21 goals. Manchester City could win this by five or six on their day so I am 100% captaining Haaland and am not against triple captaining him this week either.
Bench-
Hákon Valdimarsson (Brentford vs Manchester United away): Understudy to Dean Henderson in my team and Mark Flekken at Brentford. Maybe he comes into Brentford’s starting 11 at some point due to injury or poor form.
Wout Faes (Leicester vs Southampton away): Faes may come off the bench for me this week if Havertz is not fit enough to play and with Southampton away there is a chance for a Leicester clean sheet and Faes always has some threat from set pieces. He is first sub over Antonee Robinson this week.
Antonee Robinson (Fulham vs Aston Villa at home): Robinson has mainly been a bench option for me recently and currently has three returns from the first seven Gameweeks. Hoping I do not need him to come off the bench this week but he could return still of he does.
Joao Pedro (Brighton vs Newcastle away): Really not good that he is still out and will most likely move him on next week if he is still out as his price is back down to 5.5 million and could lower further. Hopefully we see him back soon though.
Most transferred in players-
Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford (233,484 transfers in): A great relatively cheap option for the returns he is getting. What a breakout season I only see more points for the rest of the season. A must buy for me. - Great transfer in
Brennan Johnson, Spurs (204,047 transfers in): Another player on my radar. He has some recent returns and could be a great budget option in the Spurs attack if his minutes remain. - Good transfer in
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal (202,489 transfers in): Sake is a great FPL option. He has great minutes, can score goals, gets assists and bonus points, there is not much to go against him. His price is pretty hefty at 10.1 million though and he is a slight doubt but normally plays even when flagged. - Great transfer in
Dwight McNeil, Everton (191,389 transfers in): Everton did not start the season well but they are picking their form up with a win and two draws in their last three matches. McNeil has two double digit scores for them this season but blanked in the other five weeks. A good budget option perhaps but this seems like too many transfers in for him. - Could be good
Cole Palmer, Chelsea (176,196 transfers in): Palmer’s price has already risen .3 to 10.8 million. This is also justified as he is so good and explosive. If you can find the funds definitely fit him into your team. - Great transfer in
Most transferred out players-
Luis Diaz, Liverpool (236,232 transfers out): Liverpool faces Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two before some slightly nicer fixtures. Diaz was great starting the season but was benched in Gameweek 7 against Crystal Palace. Diaz will also be returning from international duty with Colombia so may be benched to start with. He is a minutes risk but can return when he plays. - Could be a good transfer out
Joao Pedro, Brighton (179,016 transfers out): Was a great option but perhaps not anymore. If he comes back soon he could return to his early season form. Unfortunately though, the injury looks like he will be out at least a few more weeks, probably a sell. - Good transfer out
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (159,995 transfers out): The FPL King himself. Salah gets slept on every season as people think he will slow down and never does. He is currently the third highest scoring player in the game behind Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer. He does cost 12.7 million though and someone like Palmer or Saka frees up funds for elsewhere so not a bad transfer out if the money is improving your team elsewhere. - Could be a good transfer out
Noussair Mazaraoui, Manchester United (134,469 transfers out): Mazaraoui is one of my favorite defenders in FPL right now. However, he is perhaps a little overrated. He does have attacking threat and Manchester United have shown they can keep clean sheets but if you want to get rid of him fair enough. - A good transfer out
Alexander Isak, Newcastle (132,166 transfers out): Isak was one of the most popular players entering the season, however, never really lived up to expectations. He did not play the last two Gameweeks with injuries and is a doubt once again. At 8.3 million he is too pricey to keep hold of. - Great transfer out