Trust Watkins and triple up on Liverpool – FPL tips & team of the week

Jesse Lingard was the final player to score a goal for Manchester United against Liverpool at Anfield on December 16, 2018!

Since then, Mohamed Salah has netted five times in the fixture.

How they approach the Liverpool vs. Manchester United game will determine a lot of fantasy Premier League managers’ success this week.

The past four games at Anfield have finished 0-0, 7-0, 4-0 and 0-0.

United could also park the bus, which would result in a fantasy heist.

Do you defend yourself or do you recruit someone like Diogo Jota or Luis Diaz?

The second wildcard chip is now accessible on the FPL website, as you might have noticed.

Does it make sense to play right away?

Obviously, this is a team-dependent question. You might be completely unsporting or injured to death.

But in most cases I’d say, ‘ Woah, hold your horses’.

Why?

Firstly, both Salah and Cole Palmer are owned by nearly seven in 10 FPL managers.

With Bukayo Saka injured and Erling Haaland underperforming, they are the two key players. You probably already have at least one, which is unlikely to be a bad thing considering how early in the season you may bet against them.

Second, we’ll soon be informed of the alternate week Everton vs. Liverpool AND the availability of the assistant manager chip from Gameweek 24.

If you can’t get your team right with free transfers, the wildcard will be crucial in these weeks’ preparation.

Reliable captain Salah, Diaz, Alexander Isak and Nikola Milenkovic were the key performers.

Unfortunately, six blanks meant the team trundled to a middle-of-the-pack 68 points.

Matz Sels, Nottingham Forest, keeper, £4.8m – away at Wolves

Without banned talisman Matheus Cunha, Forest’s miserly defense is aiming for a third straight clean sheet when they face a Wolves side.

Since week 11, Cunha has been involved in 53% of Wolves ‘ goals, scoring nine.

They could really struggle without him, which is understandable since everyone scores against Tottenham when he leaves the field, so it doesn’t really matter.

Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City, £6m – home to West Ham

Without Jarrod Bowen, who is injured, pulling the creative juices, does anyone think West Ham should score at Etihad Stadium?

I don’t, so in comes Gvardiol who, despite the Gabriel hype, has the most goals for a defender this season.

The Croatian has had a league-high 28 shots this season, 23 of those in the box. So there are a good chance that he will have at least one chance to score.

Antonee Robinson, Fulham, £5m – home to Ipswich

The left-back from America might become a fixture for this team. He has a league-high seven assists for a defender and, even after recent price rises, is great value.

Ipswich, despite a superb win over Chelsea last time, are the league’s third-lowest scorers.

Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth, £4.4m – home to Everton

Everton have seven of their past nine games scored but are the kind of clean-sheet gift that keeps on giving.

Huijsen, a youngster from Bournemouth, has made a significant impact since receiving three clean sheets and nine bonus points, two of which came in double-digit goals.

He’s a big threat from corners.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, £7.2m – home to Manchester United

One game, one goal, 15 points and FPL managers are piling on to the Trent train!

The right-back has risen in price twice in two weeks. You can tell a lot of points are coming from him now that he only returned three times in ten games last week at West Ham.

Mohamed Salah (captain), Liverpool, £13.6m – home Manchester United

The Egyptian king has scored against United more Premier League goals than any other player.

In the past, in a ‘ tricky ‘ fixture like this, you might have considered sticking the captain’s armband on another player but don’t even think about it.

Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford, £7.7m – away at Southampton

After a run of just 15 points in five games between weeks 11 and 15, those FPL managers who remained committed to Mbeumo.

He’s the third highest midfield points scorer. Brentford has a lot of goals, so they must relish a first away win this week against sluggish Southampton.

Luis Diaz, Liverpool, £7.6m – home to Manchester United

Given the six-day break between the West Ham game and their clash with Manchester United on Sunday, it’s likely that Arne Slot will give him another start. The Colombian did well for this team in gameweek 19.

Will the points they score outweigh the times they are rested and give you a one-pointer is Diaz, Jota, and Cody Gakpo’s only real concern in the long-term FPL?

Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest, £5.2m – away at Wolves

Forest have FPL options all over the pitch and continue to surprise with their sensational season thus far.

Elanga is a great low-cost alternative to team-mate Morgan Gibbs-White (£6.4 million with five returns in five games), and he has returned in his previous four games.

Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa, £8.8m – home to Leicester City

Since 19 October, Watkins has scored one goal in open play in every other game, which makes it obvious why Unai Emery chose to let Jhon Duran play center-forward for Villa.

But, with Duran suspended, this is a major get-right chance for Watkins.

Leicester have conceded 14 goals in their last four away games, and Watkins is still collecting solid underlying data.

He had six shots in the box and three big chances last time against Brighton, but he only managed one penalty save.

Alexander Isak (vice captain), Newcastle, £9.2m – away at Spurs

With eight goals in six games, it’s impossible to leave out right now.

Carlos Miguel, Nottingham Forest, keeper, £4.8m – away at Wolves

Adam Armstrong, Southampton, striker, £5.1m – home to Brentford

There could be goals in this one and Armstrong seems to be in favour, ahead of Cameron Archer, up front for Saints.

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea, midfielder, £5.1m – away at Crystal Palace

At this price, with guaranteed minutes in a top team, it’s hard to find any better goal threat.

Ezri Konsa, Aston Villa, defender, £4.4m – home to Leicester City

You cross your fingers for a goal because Leicester allowed 20 shots from set pieces and had a decent clean-sheet chance.

Total team cost: £98.1m

Julio Enciso, Brighton, midfielder, £5.4m

The Paraguayan has allowed more than six shots per 90 minutes of play in the past four games.

He’s a shoot-on-sight type, and two seasons ago, when he appeared on the scene and spent a few months playing for the Brighton team, he became a bargain.

Tottenham – Newcastle (h), Arsenal (a), Everton (a)

Spurs’ assets don’t really like the next two games, but their schedule starts to really improve.

That Everton game is followed by Leicester (h), Brentford (a), Manchester United (h), Ipswich (a).