No Haaland but Mbeumo in – our FPL team of the week

Sam Johnstone, Wolves, keeper, £4.5m – Leeds (h)

This week’s most likely 0-0 draw is Wolves vs. Leeds. The visitors have only scored once in the top flight this season, and that was a penalty, while the home side have only scored once in one Premier League game this season.

We went again after last week’s decision to pick Fulham’s Bernd Leno over Leeds.

Leeds United’ Joe Rodon, £4 million-Wolves (a)

Rodon has proven to be a good budget choice despite Leeds’ struggles up front.

He has 38 defensive contribution (defcon) points so far, and he has only two goals so far against a Wolves side.

Everton (h) Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £6. 1 million

Van Dijk has clean sheets in his past two games and is a new defcon accumulator, posting 50 this season (21 in the Bournemouth game alone).

There’s a good chance that the Dutchman will be defensively adept enough to earn enough bonus points because this version of Everton is expected to be more attacking.

Fulham, Joachim Andersen, £4.5 million (h) Brentford

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, £7.5 million – Newcastle (h)

Semenyo’s early-season form has made him almost indispensable, and his stats are incredible.

Only Haaland has recorded more shots, boxes, expected goals (xG), goals, and big chances overall. That is a long list.

The Ghanaian is undoubtedly the best choice right now among midfielders.

Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, $8.1 million-H, Chelsea

Manchester United has 10 more shots than any other team, which is next on the list after Chelsea and Liverpool, which might surprise you.

Only Manchester City (8.41) has a higher xG than United (8.24). Chelsea (8. 17) has nine goals while United has four, while City has eight.

What does that mean? United have had a bad luck in the attack because teams typically perform closer to their xG over time.

And for United, Mbeumo (xG 1.17 and one goal) has been their shining beacon so far. Without the returns, Semenyo’s numbers are nearly as good as Semenyo’s (both have 12 shots and five of them).

Mohamed Salah (captain), Liverpool, £14.5m – Everton (h)

This season, you need at least one of Salah and Haaland, and I’m backing the latter’s success in the Merseyside derby.

Despite his subpar open-play ability, Salah has many paths to return. For a further week, support him.

Spurs, £7 million-Boston (a) Xavi Simons

Simons has made a fantastic addition to Spurs’ lineup.

Although there isn’t enough information to support this choice, the Dutchman is playing Son Heung-min in a 4-3-3 for a dominant Spurs side in a game that looks likely to be competitive.

Worth the risk.

West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, £5.9 million, Crystal Palace (h)

West Ham last faced the humiliating defeat when they were asked to bounce back with a 3-0 victory.

The Hammers and Graham Potter will use talismen Jarrod Bowen and Paqueta to give it a lot of work.

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, £7.8 million, Manchester United (a)

Joao Pedro takes over for Semenyo in midfield if Semenyo is the player to watch out for.

In three of their four games, he has returned, and United’s defense is unfunny.

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, £7.6 million-a-burnley (a)

Burnley has conceded the league’s worst expected goals (xGC), which is one goal and a half worse than the team closest to them.

They have only allowed seven goals in their recent games against Liverpool, but they have done so well in that regard.

Jose Sa, Wolves, £4.5m, keeper – Leeds (h)

Everton (h) defender Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool, for £5.5 million.

Burnley striker at £5.0 million, Lyle Foster, from Nottingham Forest (h)

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, AFC, for £4.5 million (a)