Salah, Fernandes and Wood – FPL tips & team of week

Is it time to leave Cole Palmer behind? How can Bukayo Saka be replaced? And the perennial dissent between Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland?

Before gameweek three, Fantasy Premier League players will have plenty to think about, but our Free Hit team is a source of inspiration.

After analyzing the statistics, I’m confident this side will help me finish off on a high as I wrap up my final week of work for Thomas Woods, a regular BBC Sport FPL expert.

As if you were playing a Free Hit, the team of the week is chosen based on the current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget.

The Free Hit team received 48 points for a blank from captain Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, who were both not even playing.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Joao Pedro were arguing 50-50 last week, as I reported. Mateta won the game and won two points later. One more goal would have been given to Pedro, who had scored one and assisted two.

Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, £5 million Fulham (h)

Sanchez, a top stopper for Chelsea, is a good starting choice. In six of Fulham’s previous seven games at Stamford Bridge, Sanchez kept a clean sheet in Chelsea’s opener against Crystal Palace. Without Lucas Paqueta’s incredible goal in West Ham’s 5-1 win in Gameweek 2, he would have had another chance.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, £6. 1 million (h)

Cucurella is quickly gaining popularity as a FPL essential. He scored an assist for Chelsea’s opener against the BBC Sport Free Hit team last week. Expect more attacking contributions this weekend, and hopefully a clean sheet from him.

Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, West Ham (h) for £5.5 million (h)

With Forest’s “Mr. Reliable,” who collected a whopping 145 points in 2024 and 25 respectively, we’re turning to a favorite from last season. Although the centre-back hasn’t really started to dominate the FPL this year, a home match against West Ham, who have already scored one and given up eight goals so far this season, seems appealing.

Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg, £4.5 million, Sunderland (a)

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah, £14.5 million (captain) – Arsenal (h)

This weekend, Salah will serve as our captain. Arsenal may have a very difficult home match against Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s gung-ho attacking style has been successful so far this season. Salah has already scored once and assisted in three of his previous four games against the Gunners.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, $ 9 million – Burnley (h)

In this entire week, is there a Manchester United player? The underlying statistics suggest Ruben Amorim’s side will perform well away from Burnley, putting their midweek woes to the side. Expect Fernandes to make a comedic appearance if that’s the case. The Portuguese is playing more aggressively these days, but if he had scored his penalty at Fulham, he would still have scored 12 points thanks to defensive contribution tallies. After scoring two in United’s shootout defeat of Grimsby in the Carabao Cup, Fernandes will likely continue to score from the spot.

Newcastle midfielder Harvey Barnes, £6.5 million- Leeds (a)

If you need a differential, winger Barnes might be a wise choice if your ownership is only 0.7%. He hasn’t been as successful this season due to his string of ricky away matches against Aston Villa and at home against Liverpool. The Englishman will however play Leeds, who last conceded five at Arsenal, in a more visually appealing game this weekend. With teammate Anthony Gordon currently serving a three-game suspension, he can expect plenty of minutes. Barnes started just 17 of his 33 Premier League starts last year, contributing 14 goals.

Brentford midfielder Dango Ouattara, £6 million – Sunderland (a)

Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood, West Ham (h) for $7.7 million

To the strikers, Chris Wood is the only thing that can be overlooked. The Forest legend will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing West Ham, who shipped five goals last week, after scoring two goals in his side’s final home game against Brentford.

Joao Pedro, Chelsea, forward, £7.6m – Fulham (h)

This week, I hope I’m not having the same problem with Joao Pedro. The Brazilian faces a Fulham side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in either of their two matches this season, following his goal and two assists at West Ham. He is a member of the team.

Aston Villa, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace, forward, £7.5 million (a)

Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr, £5 million Bournemouth (h)

Everton defender Michael Keane, £4.5 million – Wolves (a)

Sunderland defender Omar Alderete, £4 million (h)