POSITIONAL RANKINGS 2018/19: FPL Gameweek 8
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 8 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 8: Goalkeeper Selections
1) Joe Hart (BUR) - £4.6m+ - vs. Huddersfield (H)
The Englishman has made 35 saves this season, more than any other Goalkeeper, which is nearly a point-per-game in FPL. Huddersfield are ideal opponents to add a third clean sheet of the season with the Terriers simply woeful in front of goal.
2) David de Gea (MUN) - £5.9m - vs. Newcastle (H)
Dave hasn't featured much at all in our Rankings this season due to Man United's troublesome start to the season. Never fear though as lowly Newcastle visit Old Trafford with FPL players and 20.1% that own de Gea, desperate for a first home clean sheet of the season. The Toon don't look like they'll get out of their own half in this one.
3) Alisson (LIV) - £5.6m - vs. Man City (H)
You won't find many occasions in which we back against City season season, though a visit to Anfield warrants one. Man City hate visiting Anfield and with The Brazilian in goal, we're banking on the Brazilian and The Reds to continue their spell of not conceding a home goal in the Premier League since February.
4) Rui Patricio (WOL) - £4.5m - vs. Crystal Palace (a)
A compact Wolves side take on a Crystal Palace side who have failed to score in all 3 of their home matches this season, losing 2-0 to Liverpool (GW2), losing 2-0 to Southampton (GW4) and drawing 0-0 with Newcastle (GW6). Patricio could help complete the jenga this weekend.
5) Bernd Leno (ARS) - £4.8m - vs. Fulham (a)
Waiting for an opportunity to cement his place in Arsenal's team, an injury to Petr Cech is timely for FPL players who might consider the £4.8m option in a green patch of fixtures, which kicks off against a Fulham side who look like they'll be doing more defending than attacking this weekend.
FPL Gameweek 8: Defender Selections
1) Marcos Alonso (CHE) - £6.9m - vs. Southampton (a)
2) Kieran Trippier (TOT) - £6.2m - vs. Cardiff (H)
3) Toby Alderweireld (TOT) - £5.9m - vs. Cardiff (H)
4) Luke Shaw (MUN) - £5.1m - vs. Newcastle (H)
5) Ben Mee (BUR) - £4.9m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
6) Andrew Roberton (LIV) - £6.3m - vs. Man City (H)
7) Matt Doherty (WOL) - £4.6m - vs. Crystal Palace (a)
8) Aaron Wan-Bissaka (CRY) - £4.3m - vs. Wolves (H)
9) Harry Maguire (LEI) - £5.5m - vs. Everton (H)
10) Jose Holebas (WAT) - £4.9m - vs. Bournemouth (H)
Gameweek 8 features a range of potential in defensive options, with Chelsea, Spurs, Man United and Burnley the favourites to keep a clean sheet this weekend. Marcos Alonso is still the most valuable defender to boast, with the left-back scoring against Southampton at Stamford Bridge last season.
Elsewhere, Andrew Robertson is deserving of a spot as Man City's hardest fixture of the season awaits, whilst there is arguments for both Wolves and Crystal Palace defenders this week (watch this space, a 3-3 draw is incoming).
Our selections are rounded off by two players you could cast an uncertain eye over - Maguire and Holebas - as potentially tricky home ties await, though faith in these assets this weekend might be your saving grace if you haven't loaded up on the above picks.
FPL Gameweek 8: Midfielder Selections
1: Eden Hazard (CHE) - £11.1mil vs. Southampton (A)
2: Lucas Moura (TOT) - £7.4mil vs. Cardiff (H)
3: James Maddison (LEI) - £6.6mil vs. Everton (H)
4: Sadio Mane (LIV) - £10.0mil vs. Man City (H)
5: Mohamad Salah (LIV) - £12.9mil vs. Man City (H)
6: Anthony Knockaert - £5.5mil vs. West Ham (H)
7: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (BUR) - £5.9mil vs. Huddersfield (H)
8: Roberto Pereyra (WAT) - £6.3mil vs. Bournemouth (H)
9: Mesut Özil (ARS) - £8.3mil vs. Fulham (A)
10: Ryan Fraser (BOU) - £5.9mil vs. Watford (A)
The top ten midfield picks really speak for themselves this week. At the top of the mountain is Eden Hazard, who has so far been the season’s best player up till now, and we’d be fools to ignore his potential in the form he is in.
There are lots of promising home games with James Maddison, Liverpool duo Mane and Salah, Knockaert who has a promising run of fixture upcoming, and in-form Gudmundsson of Burnley aren’t overlooked. Near the top of the pack is Lucas Moura, who is only there due to the fixtures potential as it is Cardiff, and we also have Özil has been surprising people with his goal scoring form.
At this point the German doing anything and not having a bad game says it all. Ryan Fraser Makes up the list as there is potential for the Cherries to make a splash at Vicarage Road against a Watford who are wobbling.
Just missing out:
Raheem Sterling (MCI) - £11.0mil vs. Liverpool (A)
Theo Walcott (EVE) - £6.6mil vs. Leicester (A)
Richarlison (EVE) - £6.6mil vs. Leicester (A)
Manchester City’s trip to Anfield is a miss, the Citizens record has been poor in recent years. Everton also have a tricky game at Leicester, and with Richarlison struggling to get back to form it isn’t advised to really trust them this weekend.
FPL Gameweek 8: Forward Selections
1: Harry Kane (TOT) - £12.5mil vs. Cardiff (H)
Who else would be number one after a two-goal haul against Huddersfield? England Captain Harry Kane is the automatic pick at number one as his next opponent is Cardiff, like Huddersfield, have been leaking goals. This is a fixture where FPL players would be hoping for the Harry Kane show to light up their Gameweek.
2: Romelu Lukaku (MUN) - £11.0mil vs. Newcastle (H)
Despite Manchester United’s mini ‘crisis’ we don’t think it is as bad as they say, not every team has look convincing, it is a part of poor performances, luck, and the media making a storm out of every single move Mourinho makes. If we drank some water aggressively and was have a photo of said event taken place, most of the media would call it as an Armageddon-level event. Meanwhile, there is Newcastle who are legitimately in a mini-crisis with their team unable to make a connection on the pitch. If there was a time to strike when the iron is hot, Romelu Lukaku has the capability to put a few wrongs of recent weeks right.
3: Alexandre Lacazette (ARS) - £9.5mil vs. Fulham (A)
Arsenal are on a bit of a winning run, and whilst Arsenal Fan TV erupts into civil war because their team is playing good football, Unai Emery finally realised the playing Alexandre Lacazette was a good thing. The Frenchman is the league’s most in-form striker and against Fulham there is an expectation for a repeat of even more fantasy returns to his name.
4: Jamie Vardy (LEI) - £8.9mil vs. Everton (H)
The former England striker has stepped up his game now that the Foxes fixtures have cleared up. In his last two games Vardy has two goals and an assist, and if there is anyone we’d tip for goals in Everton’s trip to the King Power we would put our money on Jamie Vardy terrorizing the prone Everton backline.
5: Roberto Firmino (LIV) - £9.4mil vs. Man City (H)
Finally, we can’t ignore Liverpool’s potential against their title rival Man City, the Reds tend to show up against Man City no matter the cost, and Roberto Firmino scored against them in this fixture last season, and in the Champions League knockout stage. Liverpool may have lost their Champions League game against Napoli, but it was clear they were keeping their reserves in the tank for the big fixture this Sunday.
Just missing out:
Sergio Aguero (MCI) - £11.4mil vs. Liverpool (A)
Calum Wilson (BOU) - £6.3mil vs. Watford (A)
There is no space for Aguero this week with this fixture a massive doubt for Manchester City, and there are better options to keep Calum Wilson out of the primary striker rankings for the seventh Gameweek.
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