FPL team of the week and tips: Go all in on Erling Haaland and Man City in Fantasy Premier League (2024)

Published

22 August 2024

Some familiar faces were in the points as the Fantasy Premier League season kicked off and hopefully you had the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz or Bryan Mbeumo in your side.

Or, if you ignored my advice, captain Mohamed Salah - the week's top point scorer.

If not, well a fresh gameweek is a chance to go again so here's our Team of the Week to give you some transfer ideas.

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

Bernd Leno, Fulham, goalkeeper, £5m - home v Leicester

Ten clean sheets for Leno last season and the German has a decent chance of another at home to Leicester.

The Foxes were toothless in the first half of their 1-1 draw against Spurs and their goal chances will rest firmly on the shoulders of 37-year-old Jamie Vardy, who is unlikely to manage a full 90 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, defender, £7m - home v Brentford

The only reason you wouldn't have Alexander-Arnold in your team is the price. At £7m this season it is that little bit easier to squeeze him in.

Eight points v Ipswich on the opening weekend (a clean sheet and two bonus) and it should have been way more.

The right-back created two big chances and had an expected assists (xA) stat of one - creativity that should continue at home to Brentford.

Daniel Munoz, Crystal Palace, defender, £5m - home v West Ham

The Colombian right-back played more like a right winger in the defeat by Brentford last Sunday, although his attacking position wasn't backed up by statistics.

On the eye test though, you can see the forward threat that got him four assists in the final 10 games of last season and his knockdown led to Palace's goal.

Palace weren't shy of a clean sheet towards the end of last season so Munoz can earn points at both ends of the pitch.

Josef Gvardiol, Manchester City, defender, £6m - home v Ipswich

The backbone of this week's team is Manchester City, who I expect to thump Ipswich at home, so their best player in each position is in.

Gvardiol was perhaps the star of the final third of last season from an FPL perspective, scoring four goals from April 13 onwards from left-back.

On Sunday against Chelsea he was much more reserved, with an xGI (expected goal involvement) stat of just 0.1. But that says as much about manager Pep Guardiola's tactics against strong opposition as it does for Gvardiol's long-term FPL prospects.

Phil Foden, Manchester City, midfielder, £9.5m - home v Ipswich

There aren't many midfielders in the game who have ever scored a hat-trick - Foden got two last season.

He's a bit of a minutes risk, having not had much of a pre-season but 45 minutes from the bench against Chelsea bodes well.

The multi-goal potential and the link-up with Erling Haaland is too much to pass up.

Son Heung-min, Spurs, midfielder, £10m - home v Everton

Another pricey addition to the team but if you could pick one attacking player from Tottenham no matter the price it would always be Son.

Everton conceded three goals at home to Brighton and have injury and suspension problems already in defence.

They don't appear to have a senior right-back available so Son could have a field day hurtling down that left wing.

Ben Brereton Diaz, Southampton, midfielder, £5.5m - home v Nottingham Forest

Aside from the aggro he caused in the sending off of Newcastle's Fabian Schar, the Chile forward could easily have scored last Saturday.

He hit a hatful of goals for Blackburn in the Championship and showed his Premier League credentials with six in 14 at the end of last season on loan for Sheffield United.

Two shots in the box and two big chances was promising in his first Saints start - next up a Nottingham Forest side that kept only four clean sheets last season.

Diogo Jota, Liverpool, midfielder, £7.5m - home v Brentford

It's a Salah v Haaland choice in this team again without the cash to have both.

Jota could cover Salah this week at home to Brentford, after his goal on the opening day playing out of position (OOP) as a centre-forward.

The Portuguese forward has scored more than a goal every two games over the past two seasons when he has started a match - his issue has been minutes and staying fit. He's fit now so goes straight into the midfield.

Antoine sem*nyo, Bournemouth, midfielder, £5.5m - home v Newcastle

In the absence of Dominic Solanke and with new signing Evanilson on the bench, sem*nyo led the line against Wolves.

Playing OOP as a centre-forward, he had five shots, two on target, one big chance and a goal.

sem*nyo could get another game up front before Evanilson is eased into the team. If not he'll likely take one of the wide positions and provides a fantastic goal threat for his price.

Erling Haaland, Manchester City, striker, £15m (Captain) - home v Ipswich

No messing about here. The best striker in the game, a full pre-season under his belt, at home against a promoted side.

No underlying stats needed to back this up - we know Haaland could score three or more on his day. If you don't own him, hide behind the sofa. If you do then slap the armband on him!

Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham, striker, £6m - home v Leicester

Muniz didn't have much of a sniff against Manchester United on Friday but don't let that put you off.

Fulham were unlucky not to get a result at Old Trafford and played some good football.

Brazilian striker Muniz scored a goal every two starts last season and a home game against promoted Leicester promises the chance to continue that run.

Subs bench

Dean Henderson, Crystal Palace, keeper, £4.5m - home v West Ham

Expect Crystal Palace to keep a few clean sheets at home this season.

Micky van der Ven, Spurs, defender, £4.5m - home v Everton

A budget entry into a Spurs defence you'd expect to improve this season if they can stay injury-free.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Southampton, defender, £4m - home v Nottingham Forest

A popular bench pick, you could play Harwood-Bellis this week if injuries hit, as Nottingham Forest at home could result in a clean sheet.

Daniel Jebbison, Bournemouth, striker, £4.5m - home v Newcastle

This team's third sub with a chance of a goal if he comes off the bench.

Total cost: £95m (as of Thursday 22 August)

Yankubah Minteh, midfielder, Brighton, £5.5m

In just 45 minutes on the pitch, Brighton's new boy Minteh caught the eye with his pace and produced an assist before being subbed off because of concussion protocol.

Minteh was a left wing-back on the team sheet but this Brighton side will be fluid and expect him to pop up in several positions this season - his assist came from the right wing!

The Seagulls have a juicy run coming up from week four, starting with home games against Ipswich and Nottingham Forest.

At £5.5m, Minteh could end up being a bargain.

Fulham - Leicester (h), Ipswich (a), West Ham (h)

With two home games in the next three AND two games against promoted sides, it makes sense to look towards Fulham - especially if you have a disappointing week-one player to replace.

Fulham have bargain options at both ends of the pitch depending on your needs.

Take a look at Muniz, Emile Smith Rowe, Leno or Antonee Robinson.

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