Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 18 Tips, Team of the Week, and Haaland’s Return

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players are anticipated to benefit from a Boxing Day fixture list, as the top three clubs are scheduled to play at home. This includes Liverpool hosting a defensively vulnerable Leicester City. Additionally, current champions Manchester City, who have been facing difficulties, are set to play Everton at home in what would typically be considered an advantageous match for them. Nevertheless, this period is also characterized by significant squad rotation, prompting consideration of which players, beyond the established stars, should be targeted for the upcoming gameweek. Bukayo Saka’s injury simplifies the decision-making process when selecting high-value players. The featured Team of the Week has been assembled adhering to current FPL player valuations, designed to fit within a £100m budget, akin to utilizing a Free Hit chip. Last week, the team achieved a robust score of 84 points, largely attributed to the performance of Captain Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and an exceptional defensive lineup. This strong performance was particularly timely, given that three selected players did not start their matches and the anticipated high-scoring output from Chelsea did not materialize. Further insights are available by listening to the latest Fantasy 606 podcast on BBC Sounds. Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham, goalkeeper, £4.1m) is recommended for an away fixture against Southampton. While West Ham’s defense has not been consistently strong this season, Fabianski represents a highly economical choice and is set to face the league’s lowest-scoring team. His inclusion is considered logical, especially when factoring in the expenditures for other players in this week’s squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, £7.1m) is highlighted for his home match against Leicester City. With half of the season completed, his current FPL contributions of six clean sheets and four assists, along with only one double-digit scoring week, are considered modest for a player of his caliber. Although there is a minor possibility of him being rested for the Leicester home game, Alexander-Arnold’s potential for significant points in gameweek 18 is substantial. Furthermore, his ownership by just over one in five FPL teams positions him as an unexpected differential option. Rico Lewis (Manchester City, £4.6m) is suggested for the home fixture against Everton. This recommendation reiterates a previous assessment: “Everton have failed to score in six of their past seven games so a Manchester City defensive asset is a must.” Lewis is identified as the most affordable option, is expected to feature, and represents the strongest creative threat among defensive choices for those unable to acquire Josko Gvardiol. Lewis Hall (Newcastle, £4.6m) is included for the home game against Aston Villa. Hall has recorded consecutive clean sheets and has established himself as a leading budget-friendly defender. Although it is challenging to anticipate Newcastle securing a clean sheet against Villa, Hall possesses attacking potential, ranking among the top three defenders for expected assists over the last four gameweeks, trailing only Alexander-Arnold and Antonee Robinson. This video can not be played Saka’s point contributions are expected to diminish, whereas Salah’s are projected to persist. Mohamed Salah (captain), Liverpool, £13.5m, is designated for the home fixture against Leicester City. His consistent performance warrants his selection as a permanent captain until further notice. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, £9.5m) is suggested for the home match against Everton. There is a widespread anticipation that Manchester City will, at some point during their current challenging period, regain their form and secure a decisive victory. This week presents a potential opportunity for such a turnaround. De Bruyne is considered a high-risk, high-reward selection for a game that could easily result in a 5-0 scoreline if City performs to its previous standards. He has been rested and has recorded a FPL return every 75 minutes across his last three appearances. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, £5.6m) is recommended for the home fixture against Crystal Palace. He recently scored against Manchester United from one of his four attempts on goal, and his underlying performance metrics remain exceptional. The Ghana midfielder has accumulated 67 shots in 16 games this season, averaging just under four shots per match, statistics that consistently suggest a strong likelihood of FPL returns. The home encounter with Palace is identified as a potential high-scoring game, thus Semenyo can be selected with confidence. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham, £6.2m) is suggested for an away game at Southampton. The author clarifies that these two midfield selections (Kudus and the subsequent pick) were made prior to their respective goals in gameweek 17. Regardless, Kudus provides an entry point into West Ham’s offensive lineup for those who cannot afford Jarrod Bowen or seek a distinct player choice. The Ghanaian player’s attacking statistics this season are marginally behind Bowen’s, with 43 shots compared to 36, and expected goals (xG) of 4.02 versus 3.56. Southampton, despite achieving a 0-0 draw against Fulham in their last outing, remains a team considered vulnerable to attacking players. Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace, £5.7m) is recommended for the away fixture against Bournemouth. With Eberechi Eze’s potential continued absence, Sarr is positioned to assume a pivotal role for Palace in a match that could prove to be highly engaging. The Senegal winger has registered four FPL returns in his last two appearances and a total of seven returns across just 10 starts this season. Given a favorable schedule of games extending until early March, Sarr represents an excellent economical choice in midfield. Ismaila Sarr has accumulated four goals and three assists this season Erling Haaland (vice captain), Manchester City, £14.8m, is included for the home game against Everton. The striker has scored only three goals in his last 12 league appearances, a notable contrast to his early-season form when he netted 10 goals in five matches. His selection is not primarily supported by recent statistics but rather by the combination of a favorable fixture (despite Everton’s defensive enhancements) and the anticipation that Manchester City’s performance will ultimately improve. Had this match occurred in gameweek three, the majority of FPL players would likely have chosen Haaland as their captain. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal, £6.8m) is recommended for the home fixture against Ipswich. While Saka’s injury represents a significant loss for Arsenal, their home match against Ipswich is considered an unmissable opportunity. Jesus is currently in exceptional form, having scored a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup followed by two goals against Crystal Palace on Saturday. He demonstrated the potential to score even more and is a certainty to start as a forward against relegation-threatened Ipswich. The bench selections include Remi Matthews (Crystal Palace, goalkeeper, £3.9m) for an away game at Bournemouth. Cameron Archer (Southampton, striker, £5.0m) is listed for the home match against West Ham; Archer is identified as a potentially strong budget bench striker, given Southampton’s favorable run of fixtures in the new year. Jan Bednarek (Southampton, defender, £4m) is also included for the home game against West Ham. Cameron Burgess (Ipswich, defender, £4m) is selected for the away fixture at Arsenal. The inclusion of these two inexpensive defenders is primarily for budget considerations, with the expectation that they will not be required to enter play from the bench. The total cost for this team amounts to £99.4m. Diogo Jota has registered six FPL returns despite starting only seven games this season. Diogo Jota (Liverpool, midfielder, £7.2m) is discussed. When available for selection, Jota possesses one of the most favorable points-per-minute ratios in FPL. The Portuguese midfielder has been absent for the majority of the season, and the ongoing festive period, characterized by frequent squad rotation, positions him as an inherently risky choice. Nevertheless, Liverpool faces a beneficial sequence of fixtures extending until gameweek 26, suggesting Jota could offer substantial value should he secure regular starting positions. Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures include Leicester (home), West Ham (away), and Manchester United (home). It is evident that, with seven out of 10 FPL players owning Salah, considering additional Liverpool assets is advisable to fully leverage their favorable fixture schedule leading up to gameweek 26. This strategy could involve investing in defensive players, which may be costly and necessitate budget reallocations, or opting for attacking talents such as Jota, Luis Diaz, or Dominik Szoboszlai. 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