POSITIONAL RANKINGS 2018/19: FPL Gameweek 4

With so many transfer trends and varying levels of form impacting the strategies of FPL players around the world, ahead of each Gameweek we will be providing our top ten selections in each position (GK, DEF, MID, FOR) for standalone rounds of games. Our player selections will be based purely on our opinion of those players on our watchlist any given week, with may positively sway FPL or Draft players with their own thoughts and decisions heading in to a Gameweek. All aboard.

Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 4 Deadline

For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page.

FPL Gameweek 4: Goalkeeper Selections

1) Ederson (MCI) - £5.6m+ - vs. Huddersfield (H)

Despite blanking against Wolves last weekend, Ederson enters the strongest position of all shot-stoppers in the league when Man City host both Newcastle and Fulham. The Brazilian has big expectations for points this weekend, though don’t expect many save points against a Newcastle side that will park the bus. An assist is more likely.

2) Alisson (LIV) - £5.5m - vs. Leicester (a)

You can’t argue the merits of Liverpool defenders right now having kept a trifecta of clean sheets to begin the season. Alisson has made 2 saves in each game so far and due to Liverpool’s attacking dominance, it’s becoming easy work for the commanding Brazilian. Leicester pose a threat (of kinds), though Jamie Vardy is suspended, much to the relief of any ‘Top 6’ club.

3) Jordan Pickford (EVE) - £5.0m - vs. Huddersfield (H)

Due to Phil Jagielka and Richarlison receiving red cards this season, poor old Jordan Pickford hasn’t really been in contention to earn a clean sheet. Home fixtures against Huddersfield and West Ham should finally add points on the board. Pickford’s a pick of pure faith at this point, but has the fixtures to back up his Fantasy appeal.

4) Wayne Hennessey (CRY) - £4.5m – vs. Southampton (H)

Hennessey has been outstanding for Crystal Palace to begin the season and we fancy the Welshman to come in to contention as an FPL option as a cheap bargain with decent fixtures. Danny Ings is potentially injured and Southampton struggle in front of goal, to aid Hennessey’s appeal this weekend.

5) Kepa Arrizabalaga (CHE) - £5.5m - vs. Bournemouth (H)

We’re not sure what to make of Kepa so far this season as his introduction to the Premier League hasn’t really been in the limelight. Bournemouth have been in good form in front of goal, but we’d be fools to suggest that an in-form Chelsea side weren’t favourites to steal the points and earn a clean sheet.

Other considerations that didn’t quite make the cut:

Round off our picks would have been Matt Ryan (BHA), David de Gea (MUN), Petr Cech (ARS), Michel Vorm (TOT) and Lucas Fabianski (WHU).

FPL Gameweek 4: Defender Selections

1) Benjamin Mendy (MCI) - £6.4m + - vs. Newcastle (H)

2) Aymeric Laporte (MCI) - £5.5m - vs. Newcastle (H)

Man City rightfully top the charts this week as they are set to entertain Newcastle this Saturday evening. Benjamin Mendy’s attacking threat could reap massive rewards against a defence that will be loading the double-decker bus at The Etihad. Mendy makes sense, and so should the inclusion of goal-scoring Laporte, who looks to have nailed on a starting place in Pep’s side, but the rotation wheel might strike against Laporte’s favour this week.

3) Marcos Alonso (CHE) - £6.7m+ – vs. Bournemouth (H)

The Chelsea left-back offers the perfect quartet of FPL potential (goals, assists, clean sheets, bonus points), and is currently indispensable to players. A double header of home games just makes Alonso’s inclusion just that bit sweeter.

4) Andrew Robertson (LIV) - £6.1m+ - vs. Leicester (a)

5) Virgil van Dijk (LIV) - £6.0m - vs. Leicester (a)

Sergio Aguero is the standout captaincy choice for most FPL players due to his fixture against Newcastle, but also because there is a perception that Leicester away will be a difficult fixture for Liverpool. Form suggests otherwise and we expect Liverpool’s defensive points to grow week-on-week, especially without Jamie Vardy’s presence in attack.

6) Kieran Trippier (TOT) - £6.0m - vs. Leicester (a)

7) Jan Vertonghen (TOT) - £6.0m – vs. Leicester (a)

As English football fans, we absolutely adore Kieran Trippier. We adore him even more when he carries on his form from the World Cup in Russia to club level with Spurs. Trippier’s already scored a brilliant free-kick, and set up a Harry Kane header from a corner. Despite a few testing fixtures, Trippier is looking the real deal and has effectively halted Christian Eriksen’s appeal as an FPL option.

8) Seamus Coleman (EVE) - £5.5m – vs. Huddersfield (H)

Everton need to keep 11 men on the field to realistically have a fighting chance at keeping a clean sheet this season, or they just need to come up against an attack that will struggle this season. Huddersfield look like they’ll be in the latter category this season, so we’re tipping Seamus Coleman to be the go-to option of Everton’s defensive picks this week. The right-back should have freedom to advance into attacking areas at a whim, especially with Richarlison’s presence missing this weekend.

9) Luke Shaw (MUN) - £5.1m - vs. Brighton (a)

Man United’s start to the season has caused a storm in the media, with the only shining light coming out of this being Luke Shaw. If Man United are to keep a clean sheet this weekend, something we won’t rule out, it’ll be Luke Shaw owners that will be most delighted. The full back has been in good form, has just been recalled into the England squad, and could use the game at Turf Moor to make a point to Gareth Southgate ahead of the Nations League debut against Spain next week.

10) Patrick van Aanholt (CRY) - £6.5m – vs. Arsenal (H)

Southampton’s lack of flair in attack is perfect timing for a well-drilled Palace side that will be relying heavily on PVA and Jeffrey Schlupp supplying ammo down the left-flank at Selhurst Park. With Max Meyer pushing for a start, PVA and his advances up the pitch, make him the standout Palace option alongside Mamadou Sakho, with the latter likely to rack up BPS points like they’re going out of fashion.

FPL Gameweek 4: Midfielder Selections

1) Mohamad Salah (LIV) - £13.0mil vs. Leicester (A)

2) Sadio Mane (LIV) - £9.9mil vs. Leicester (A)

3) James Milner (LIV) - £5.6mil vs. Leicester (A)

Nothing changes at the top for the fourth straight week. Either of يمكن أن يكون مادة الكابتن ، والمسلمين المقيمين في صفوف ليفربول سوف يعيثون الفوضى في فريق روي هودجسون. Also, James Milner is here for the ride after some convincing performances in the past three weeks.

4) Bernardo Silva (MCI) - £7.6mil vs. Newcastle (H)

5) David Silva (MCI) - £8.4mil vs. Newcastle (H)

Nothing changes in second place for the fourth straight week. Manchester City midfielders are prone to rotation but the two that aren’t are the two Silva’s, and against Newcastle we expect both to be on the receiving end of fantasy points.

6) Theo Walcott (EVE) - £6.7mil vs. Huddersfield

Richarlison out, Walcott in. Everton midfielders have represented excellent value in the FPL so far this season. Even when they Toffees are down to ten Walcott is a ruthless outlet of pace that has been on fire since the arrival of Marco Silva who has revitalized the career of the England international. Huddersfield at home should represent a fixture full of potential for fantasy points.

7) Pedro (CHE) - £6.6mil vs. Bournemouth (H)

8) Eden Hazard (CHE) - £10.6mil vs. Bournemouth (H)

Chelsea have surprised people with their start to the season, but we’re not. They have talent and arguably the most depth in their squad only behind Manchester City. At the top of the pecking order are the two wingers either side of Morata, both on form, and both are pivotal to ‘Sarriball’ where they explot the spaces. Bournemouth have been good but without a real test yet, so it could be a humbling experience for the Cherries.

9) Henrikh Mkhitaryan - £7.1mil vs. West Ham (H)

The Armenian midfielder would have dropped out of the positional rankings were it not for Arsenal’s easiest away fixture of the season. This could be a rout for the Gunners.

10) Lucas Moura - £7.1mil vs. Watford (A)

How can we not include the Brazilian winger after his stellar performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford? Playing as a forward next to Kane he is doing all the leg work Kane won’t, and his efforts were rewarded. Three goals in his last two games must have Javi Gracia having sleepless nights thinking about Sunday afternoon.

FPL Gameweek 4: Forward Selections

1) Sergio Aguero (MCI) - £11.3mil vs. Newcastle (H)

The irony of Aguero being top of this list is that the Argentine has only secured one return out of the three so far this season and were it not for the mammoth week in GW2 he probably wouldn’t be top of this list. Newcastle hate Aguero, and in past seasons this has been a fixture to consider using your triple-captain chip. Aguero retains his list at the top over this potential.

2) Roberto Firmino (LIV) - £9.5mil vs. Leicester (A)

Yet to score in the league, the Brazilian has been the chief playmaker for the Reds notching two assists so far. Leicester fear a heavy defeat to a Reds who are looking for a fourth consecutive win. Sooner or later Firmino will break his duck, and it could be this week.

3) Harry Kane (TOT) - £12.5mil vs. Watford (A)

This doesn’t feel right, we can’t wrap out heads around Kane scoring in August. We’d have bet good money that Kane would haven’t even made the power rankings, but that plan has been torn to sunder. Two goals for Kane in two games has proved the doubters wrong and having scored in the 2-0 win for Spurs at Wembley versus Watford you’d not want to doubt the World Cup Golden Boot winner anymore.

4) Wilfried Zaha - £7.1mil vs. Southampton (H)

The Ivorian has been consistent so far this season, registering two goals, but also picking up a yellow card every time the forward has scored. Playing behind Benteke is bringing the best out of Zaha who is running off the Belgian and playing in a free roam role. Southampton aren’t the defensive colossus they were, especially with Mark Hughes captaining their leaky ship.

5) Marko Arnautovic (WHU) - £7.0mil vs. Wolves (H)

Penalties, open play goals, still playing as a forward. Arnautovic has somewhat lived up to his hype in the early part of the season. The Austrian is on par with Firmino and Zaha in terms of output at this stage, but he isn’t ranked higher due to returning from an injury, and we aren’t ignoring the fact the Hammers have been woeful to watch up until this point. Arnautovic is their only shining light right now.

6) Aleksandar Mitrovic (FUL) - £6.6mil vs. Brighton (A)

Newcastle let a keeper go. Why did Rafa let him leave? Why did he let him leave to another relegation rival? Why did Fulham only pay £20mil for him? Will he score against Newcastle later in the season? Probably. The current top scoring forward has four attacking returns in his past two fixtures, and with Brighton having yet to keep a clean sheet, fantasy managers will be hoping for more returns.

7) Cenk Tosun (EVE) - £7.0mil vs. Huddersfield (H)

We have rated the Turkish forward so far this season. His interplay with the other Everton forwards has been class to watch and has been deserving of a goal. Without Richarlison the emphasis of the Toffee’s attack will be on Tosun and Walcott, and Huddersfield look like they are already priming for a return to the Championship if they don’t reorganise.

8) Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (ARS) - £10.9mil vs. Cardiff (A)

The FPL’s prodigal forward has let everyone down so far. During pre-season the Gabon forward was a favourite to win the golden boot at the end of the season. It is only early days, but if Pierre can’t score against Cardiff then there is no hope for him.

9) Alvaro Morata (CHE) - £9.0mil vs. Bournemouth (H)

The Spaniard is an overlooked forward pick this week, but we think that is because the focus is on Hazard and Pedro who are both in great form. Picking up nine points from nine and emphasising on a free-flowing football style might make this encounter a goal fest with two progressive managers.

10) Calum Wilson (BOU) - £6.2mil vs. Chelsea (A)

We finish the list with the in-form Cherries forward, we can’t rule him out, and with Chelsea having a problem with keeping goals from going into the back of their net it could another fruitful adventure for Eddie Howe who has previously won at Stamford Bridge.

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All aboard.