Spring has officially arrived with the first Premier League weekend upon us, and regardless of whether the winter months have seen you storming ahead or scrambling to catch up, here are some strategies to consider for your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team.
Utilising Fantasy Football Hub’s AI-generated predictions, we’ve identified the top players for FPL Gameweek 31. If you’re unsure about your next move, take a look at the AI-recommended transfers available here!
A recent serious hamstring injury to Gabriel during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham has significantly altered the landscape for key defensive options. The most popular defender in FPL is now among the players being transferred out the most leading into Gameweek 31.
Nonetheless, Arsenal’s defensive lineup remains critical, sitting third in clean sheets this season with a total of 11. They have conceded the fewest ‘big chances’ (40) and have an outstanding league record of only 25 goals against. Additionally, they have recorded three clean sheets in their last six matches.
In light of Gabriel’s absence, fellow defender William Saliba is rising in the AI rankings ahead of their encounter with Everton, surpassing Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace and Josko Gvardiol from Manchester City. Saliba has netted two goals this season, and although Gabriel’s injury poses risks for Arsenal’s clean sheet potential, he remains a strong option.
Midfielder: Mohamed Salah vs Fulham (A) – 7.4 points
As the weekend’s fixtures approach, Mohamed Salah remains the top anticipated pick according to AI predictions, making him the ideal captain choice. This is despite a rare absence of goals in the recent Merseyside Derby, marking his first blank since Gameweek 22, where he registered just one significant chance.
Prior to the derby, Salah had achieved an impressive tally of nine goals and four assists over eight games, bringing his season total to over 300 FPL points. He has enjoyed 17 double-digit point hauls this season, with spot-kick responsibilities significantly contributing to this tally; he has converted penalties nine times in the league.
His away form has been particularly striking recently, racking up four of those 17 double-digit hauls in his last four away games, which included encounters with tough opponents such as Manchester City, Aston Villa, Everton, and Bournemouth.
Alexander Isak has a five-day window to recover from a groin injury which forced him off in the 65th minute of the 2-1 victory against Brentford, as the Magpies prepare to head to Leicester City for Monday Night Football. He is anticipated to be fit for the match.
Due to limited playing time, his predicted score for this match is lower at 5.4 points, based on an estimated 64 minutes of play; however, if he can manage closer to a full 90 minutes, his projection could rise to around seven points. Should he be fit, he represents a viable alternative captain option to Mohamed Salah.
Isak netted in the last match, bringing his career tally to 20 goals for the second consecutive season. He has already scored once against Leicester this season, posting an impressive 11 points in the reverse fixture thanks to a goal and an assist. It’s worth noting that Leicester City has kept only one clean sheet this season.
Bournemouth has seen a noticeable decline in form after enjoying an unbeaten streak during December and January, having accrued just a single point from the last four league matches, which included unexpected home losses to Brentford and Ipswich Town.
Forward Evanilson, owned by just 3.8% of managers, has made three starts since returning from an injury that sidelined him for a significant part of January. He has rediscovered his form, scoring twice since getting back in the starting XI, leading to a total of 11 attacking contributions this season.
If top scorer Justin Kluivert remains sidelined due to injury, Evanilson could take up penalty duties, enhancing his potential for points. However, he missed his last penalty attempt during a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea back in September.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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