The internal debate swirling around the minds of Fantasy Premier League managers is whether to join Team Mo or Team Erling this weekend.
Mo Salah and Erling Haaland are the standout captain choices in Gameweek 14 and while that is generally the case most weeks rarely has that decision been so difficult to make. Both are in action on Sunday with Salah up against Fulham at Anfield at lunchtime, and Haaland facing Tottenham and their full-back heavy backline later that day.
Just a few weeks ago it would have been much easier to make the call. Salah has been an FPL demon at Anfield with a return of 62 points in home games 11 better than any other player in the game. In theory, he has an easier fixture against a team currently situated in the bottom half as opposed to one pushing for the top four, but it’s not quite that straightforward.
Tottenham’s much-discussed injury and suspension crisis makes Haaland incredibly tempting too. Ange Postcoglou named a starting line-up without a recognised centre-back or defensive midfielder against Aston Villa and while Spurs were unfortunate to lose they look understandably lightweight in that area. Ollie Watkins scored one and could have easily ended up with the match ball.
i‘s top scorers in Gameweek 13
- Tomas Soucek – 8 points vs Burnley: A big differential pick who delivered the goods. Soucek left it late but his 91st-minute strike at Turf Moor sealed three points for West Ham and eight points for the minority of FPL managers with him in their teams.
- Erling Haaland – 7 points vs Liverpool: Captaining Haaland was a slight risk given the calibre of City’s opponents but it was one that paid off as he outscored his two main armband rivals Mo Salah and Son Heung-min.
- William Saliba – 6 points vs Brentford: An Arsenal clean sheet looked in doubt a few times but they just about managed to keep the Bees before nicking a dramatic winner. Kieran Trippier is the only defender with more FPL points than Saliba this season.
*These players all featured in our Fantasy Football newsletter. Sign up here for our full starting XI here
There is plenty besides the Salah vs Haaland sideshow to watch out for. Goals will surely be in plentiful supply when Newcastle host Manchester United, while Burnley vs Sheffield United is the very definition of a relegation six-pointer. It’s early days, but the loser of that game, if there is one, will surely be making a swift return to the Championship by the time May rolls around.
The Gameweek 14 deadline is at the later time of 1.30pm on Saturday 2 December:
This is an extract of i’s Fantasy Premier League tips. Sign up here to receive the newsletter every week this season for our full 11-player team, advice on the best captain and more!
Gameweek 14 fixtures
Saturday 2 December
3pm kick-off unless otherwise stated
- Arsenal vs Wolves
- Brentford vs Luton
- Burnley vs Sheffield Utd
- Nottingham Forest vs Everton (5.30pm)
- Newcastle vs Man Utd (8pm)
Sunday 3 December
2pm kick-off unless otherwise stated
- Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
- Chelsea vs Brighton
- Liverpool vs Fulham
- West Ham vs Crystal Palace
- Man City vs Spurs (4.30pm)
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Reece James will have had sweat-inducing nightmares about Anthony Gordon on Saturday night. The in-form Newcastle winger tormented Chelsea’s captain to such an extent that James ended up getting sent off for wearily hauling him to the ground after having his pocket picked.
Gordon scored once and set up another in that game to maintain his excellent record at St James’ Park this season. The 22-year-old is yet to blank in home matches, combining four goals with four assists; 75 per cent of his 69 points have come in front of the Toon Army.
Newcastle’s next opponents Manchester United have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League but the underlying numbers suggest they have been fortunate, and indebted to the rapidly improving Andre Onana, for doing so. According to Understat, Fulham, Luton and Everton managed a combined xG of 4.09 against them.
Price: £5.9m Points: 69 Gameweek 14 fixture: Man Utd (h)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
A knee-jerk selection after his goal against City? Quite possibly, but then Liverpool do have a good run of fixtures that the versatile Trent Alexander-Arnold can benefit from.
The Reds face Fulham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in their next three games, all of whom rank in the bottom six for expected goals (xG) this season. That should boost Alexander-Arnold’s clean sheet potential, but obviously if you’re parting with £7.9m for a defender they need to provide attacking output too.
And the 25-year-old is improving in that regard. Alexander-Arnold has had double the number of shots (with 10) and trebled his number of big chances created (with three) in his last five appearances compared to his first five of the campaign.
Price: £7.9m Points: 46 Gameweek 14 fixture: Fulham (h)
Jeremy Doku (Man City)
Jeremy Doku is not going to play every Premier League game but there are two factors that boost his chances of retaining his starting place against Spurs. The first is that he is in absolutely electric form, as the aforementioned TAA will no doubt attest; the second is that his searing pace can exploit Spurs’ notorious high line to devastating effect.
Although Doku did not manage a goal or assist during City’s draw with Liverpool, he still managed to collect all three bonus points thanks to his attacking efforts. The Belgian attempted an absurd 18 dribbles (succeeding with 12) and also created a team-leading four chances. Both metrics are valued in FPL’s bonus points system.
City have a notoriously patchy record against Spurs, albeit mainly in north London, but there is no better time to play Postecoglou’s side while they are hamstrung by crippling injuries and suspensions. A Doku dribbling masterclass could be on the cards once again.
Price: £6.7m Points: 48 Gameweek 14 fixture: Spurs (h)
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Upcoming fixtures against Luton (h), a depleted Brighton (a) and Sheffield United (a) have FPL managers clamouring for a bit of Bryan Mbeumo in their lives. At the time of writing, the Cameroonian is the second-most bought player ahead of Saturday’s deadline, behind only the Liverpudlian livewire Gordon.
Mbeumo has risen to the challenge of becoming Brentford’s temporary talisman remarkably well, leading from the front and even assuming penalty taking responsibility in Ivan Toney’s absence. Only five players in FPL have earned more points this season than Mbeumo and all five are considerably more expensive than he is.
Those writing off Luton clearly haven’t seen much of them recently and Rob Edwards’ side are bound to make life as tricky as they can for Thomas Frank’s players. Nevertheless, the Hatters are still searching for their first clean sheet in the top-flight and if that continues beyond this week you’d assume Mbeumo had something to do with it.
Price: £7m Points: 76 Gameweek 14 fixture: Luton (h)
Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
One of these days Darwin Nunez will score four goals and earn a monstrous FPL points tally and when that happens you’re going to wish you had him in your team. Maybe Fulham at Anfield will be the game when it all just clicks.
Against City, the Uruguayan had one of those games where his feet seemed allergic to the ball. A big chance to score in the first half withered down to a half-chance and then barely a chance at all when Nunez got the ball stuck under his studs after being slipped through on goal.
That blank means Nunez has scored just once in his last six league games, but he is still being provided with opportunities if not creating them for himself. Erling Haaland is the only forward in the division to have more shots and big chances than Nunez so far.
Price: £7.6m Points: 55 Gameweek 14 fixture: Fulham (h)
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