POSITIONAL RANKINGS 2018/19: FPL Gameweek 9
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 9 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 9: Goalkeeper Selections
1) Ederson (MCI) - £5.7m – vs. Burnley (H)
Gameweek 9 looks like it is back to business for Ederson’s steady climb up the FPL points charts. 5 assists and an assist have gone a long way for the Brazilian’s 25.1% ownership, and we envision the half-dozen to be completed when goal-shy Burnley visit The Etihad.
2) Alisson (LIV) - £5.6m – vs. Huddersfield (a)
FPL players are beginning to double up with Liverpool defensive assets, rather than banking on attackers, as the Fab Three lack form in front of goal right now. Alisson is always on the verge of a bonus point due to his good ball work and looks a safe bet to add to his 5 clean sheets this season.
3) Rui Patricio (WOL) - £4.6m – vs. Watford (H)
Wolves have gone 6 games without conceding 2 goals in a single game, and with 4 clean sheets in 5 matches, we wouldn’t rule them out of adding a 5th when a Watford team that has gone off the rails in recent weeks, visit Nuno’s high-flying side.
4) Martin Dubravka (NEW) - £5.0m – vs. Brighton (H)
Members of our team had to talk me (Rob) from putting Martin Dubravka at the top of our keeper standings this week. The shot-stopper has just entered an absolutely delicious run of fixtures, and Newcastle will be aiming to start their season against a Brighton side who have struggled away from home. If Dubravka does the business this weekend, I won’t be talked off the ledge next weekend.
5) Neil Etheridge (CAR) - £4.6m – vs. Fulham (H)
Cardiff have really impressed us at home this season, though the results don’t do Neil Warnock’s side any justice. Cardiff are compact and edgy in attack, but without the killer blow. This is exactly the type of match which could see Alexsander Mitrovic out-muscled by a strong and organised Cardiff defence.
Missing out:
Begovic (BOU), Arrizabalaga (CHE), Ryan (BHA), Pickford (EVE)
FPL Gameweek 9: Defender Selections
1) Aymeric Laporte (MCI) - £5.7m – vs. Burnley (H)
2) Benjamin Mendy (MCI) - £6.2m – vs. Burnley (H)
Man City’s major problem keeping FPL players happy this season will be rotation and managing minutes. This doesn’t seem to be the case with Aymeric Laporte, who was outstanding in Man City’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Benjamin Mendy also returned to the fold but was largely defensive, though we envision the full-back to be at his attacking best against a Burnley side who will park the bus. Doubling down seems irresistible this weekend.
3) Andrew Robertson (LIV) - £6.3m – vs. Huddersfield (a)
4) Virgil van Dijk (LIV) - £5.9m – vs. Huddersfield (a)
Liverpool have taken some knocks during the international break, though it looks like the situation has been blown out of proportion (somewhat). Andrew Robertson is fit and firing and an automatic selection near the top of our rankings, whilst Virgil van Dijk is a slight doubt, but his inclusion is more of a nod of Liverpool’s defence, which could easily see Joe Gomez partner Dejan Lovren this weekend if the big Dutchman is rested away at Huddersfield.
5) Matt Doherty (WOL) - £4.7m – vs. Watford (H)
Wolves’s good start to the season has allowed full-back Matt Doherty to race into our hearts as FPL players. Managing 3 double-digit returns from his last 4 fixtures, Doherty’s goal against Crystal Palace has put his stock and ownership at an all time high. Watford are tricky customers, but ones that can be overcome.
6) Marcos Alonso (CHE) - £7.0m – vs. Man United (H)
The most expensive defender in the FPL right now, like Robertson, is an automatic lock for most players – the definition of the ‘set and forget’ model that many are applying this season. Alonso featured in both of Spain’s international fixtures, and with Man United visiting the Bridge this weekend, a tense encounter looks to be emerging. With other defensive priorities, we will stick with Alonso in our line-ups due to his dual defensive and attacking threat.
7) Kieran Trippier (TOT) - £6.3m – vs. West Ham (a)
Spurs are playing fire with FPL players right now, going from hot to cold at the flick of a switch. One player who is keeping the consistency alive is Kieran Trippier’s, whose advanced positioning and set-piece capabilities are keeping him afloat the top defensive players in the FPL. 22 points from 3 games is a worthy return, and even though West Ham are rejuvenated and a threat in attack, Trippier is Spurs’s main influence right now and could delivered even more sweet riches to his faithful ownership.
8) Jamaal Lascelles (NEW) - £4.8m – vs. Brighton (H)
If Newcastle are to begin their run of good fixtures on the right foot, then it’ll be Jamaal Lascelles who will be in contention for bonus points on a weekly basis. The Newcastle captain is a safe bet as he’s not tied to England at the international stage which mean club priorities matter most. The only downfall is a lack of confidence in the camp, though the two-week break might have down The Magpies some good to kickstart their campaign.
9) Hector Bellerin (ARS) - £5.4m – vs. Leicester (H)
Often criticised for bad crossing and inept defensive displays, Hector Bellerin has had a decent start to the new season. Many pinned that Lichsteiner was going to walk into Arsenal’s team, though his arrival has put Bellerin’s head straight. The Spaniard was influential in the recent win at Fulham, and if Leicester don’t have their shooting boots on them, Bellerin will build on his 28 points to start the season.
10) Sean Morrison (CAR) - £4.9m – vs. Fulham (H)
Much like Neil Etheridge’s inclusion, this is a winnable game for Cardiff on paper, so we shouldn’t overlook the dominance of Sean Morrison in the air in each penalty area, especially against a Fulham side that have leaked 2+ goals in 7 of their 8 league games. Could be the player that puts Mitrovic on borrowed time for FPL players.
FPL Gameweek 9: Midfielder Selections
1: Mohamad Salah (LIV) - £12.8mil vs. Huddersfield (A)
2: Raheem Sterling (MCI) - £11.1mil vs. Burnley (H)
3: Bernardo Silva (MCI) - £7.6mil vs. Burnley (H)
4: Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE) - £7.4mil vs. Crystal Palace (H)
5: Richarlison (EVE) - £6.8mil vs. Crystal Palace (H)
6: Eden Hazard (CHE) - £11.3mil vs. Man United (H)
7: Lucas Moura (TOT) - £7.4mil vs. West Ham (A)
8: Ryan Fraser (BOU) - £6.0mil vs. Southampton (H)
9: André Schürrle (FUL) - £5.9mil vs. Cardiff (A)
10: Anthony Knockaert - £5.5mil vs. Newcastle (A)
Liverpool away at Huddersfield, Man City at home against Burnley, and Everton at home against Crystal Palace all make sense for the obvious reasons…they represent the best goal threat for the weekend. Eden Hazard slips down the ranking due to an early fixture against Manchester United and old boss Jose Mourinho, if it was at any other fixture Hazard would top the charts.
Making up the rest of the list is Moura for Spurs who has a good game against West Ham, Ryan Fraser at home against a struggling Southampton, André Schürrle against the league’s weakest team Cardiff, and lastly Anthony Knockaert who travels to a Newcastle still without a win. There are a lot of chances in the last four, mostly because it is a leap of faith that the fixture is better than the player.
Missing out:
Theo Walcott (EVE) - £6.6mil vs. Crystal Palace (H)
James Maddison (LEI) - £6.9mil vs. Arsenal (A)
Sadio Mane (LIV) - £9.9mil vs. Huddersfield (A)
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (BUR) - £6.0mil vs. Man City (H)
Mesut Özil (ARS) - £8.3mil vs. Leicester (H)
Roberto Pereyra (WAT) - £6.2mil vs. Wolves (A)
FPL Gameweek 9: Forward Selections
1: Sergio Aguero (MCI) - £11.3mil vs. Burnley (H)
Any home fixture for Manchester City can’t be disputed, even if there are doubts over the number of minutes that Aguero will get at the weekend. Burnley have looked sharper in their recent fixtures which sets up an interesting fixture. The Etihad is a sanctuary for goals which makes Aguero the most anticipated source of points this weekend.
2: Roberto Firmino (LIV) - £9.3mil vs. Huddersfield (A)
Huddersfield have had one of the worst defences this season, shipping the second most goals only behind Fulham. Liverpool need to get back to scoring goals, and it is the dream fixture to start getting the red goal machine back in motion.
3: Alexandre Lacazette (ARS) - £9.6mil vs. Leicester (H)
The Frenchman has been in electric form since Unai Emery used his brain and started the striker. Arsenal have scored a minimum of two goals in every single game of the season, barring their 2-0 loss to Manchester City on the opening gameweek. Emery has got Arsenal scoring goals as good habits, and right now there is no dispute over their potential in any fixture.
4: Harry Kane (TOT) - £12.5mil vs. West Ham (A)
Spurs have had a good record at the London Stadium. Harry Kane scored two goals the last time out when Spurs visited, and most recently, he got two assists in England’s monumental win against Spain in the UEFA Nations League. Kane cannot be overlooked this gameweek.
5: Calum Wilson (BOU) - £6.4mil vs. Southampton (H)
The Coastline Clash is upon us, two teams hugging the waters of the channel going to war over three points. Bournemouth have been an improved unit this season, and their maverick has been Calum Wilson who has a staggering six returns from this season. The Englishman cannot be discounted at home in the derby, and with the way he has been contributing goals it could be seven from nine.
Missing out:
Jamie Vardy (LEI) - £9.0mil vs. Arsenal (A)
Aleksandar Mitrovic (FUL) - £6.9mil vs. Cardiff (A)
Romelu Lukaku (MUN) - £10.9mil vs. Chelsea (A)
Raúl Jiménez (WOL) - £5.6mil vs. Watford (H)
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