24 Dec, 2024

Game Week 18: SamFPL’s Key Questions

Game Week 18

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Raul Jiménelf: Keep or Sell?

As mentioned in the last article, Raul wasn’t expected to start every game during the festive period, and we may see him benched in one of the remaining two games in December. Jiménelf was benched vs. Southampton, and I highly recommend selling him for more nailed assets during this hectic period.

My Plan for João Pedro

Pedro got back-to-back 90-minute starts against WHU and CRY but has looked disappointing. Pedro was playing as a false nine and drifting wide on the left side. It looks like his output is truly affected by the absence of Welbeck. I know you’re fed up, but selling him isn’t a priority in my opinion. You should prioritize selling Saka, who is out for months, for example. However, the Brazilian is still on penalties and facing BRE at home, one of the worst teams defensively away from home with 2 xGC/game as the 3rd worst team. Only Leicester and Ipswich are worse.
We can wait and give him his last chance before switching to players like Mateta or Gabriel Jesus Christ, who are firmly on my watchlist for Game week 19 as potential replacements! Check out the Transfer Wizard to view all of these within the Game Week slider.

Bukayo Santa Replacement

Unfortunately, Saka had to be substituted in the 24th minute of Saturday’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace due to a hamstring injury and was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, clearly in distress. Arteta has revealed that Saka has injured his hamstring and is set to be side-lined for many weeks.

Apparently, there is no standout pick to replace Saka. Salah and Palmer are the only picks that can compensate for this loss, but I believe most of the active teams will have both for weeks now. So basically, it’s a strategy rather than a direct replacement for me. I’ll discuss the available options and my current plan with you.

Martinelli / Ødegaard

Arsenal faces IPS next Gameweek, and their schedule is still decent. I consider two picks from their midfield:
SnØwdegaard is going to be on penalties and a few set pieces during Saka’s absence. On the other hand, Martinelli looked impressive on the right side after Saka’s withdrawal vs. CRY and provided one goal and an assist. His positions were amazing, cutting into the box and making him an explosive pick.

Díaz and Jota

Both are great players in Liverpool’s attacking system, but I’m quite sure they won’t both start the remaining games in December. Jota may start vs. LEI, but I don’t expect more than 70 minutes. The lack of security in minutes puts me off, to be honest.

Foden

Foden has been very disappointing this season, and his minutes aren’t secured at all! Will he start the next three games? I’m not sure. However, City has very decent fixtures, and he may be a differential to own.

Bruno Fernandes

Absolutely nailed-on player. Mount’s injury enhances his minutes at number 10, and he’s on penalties. He’s been consistent over the last eight Game weeks before he blanked against Bournemouth. However, his stats vs. BOU were pretty good—0.86 expected goal involvement. He was very unlucky not to come away with a return. Apart from Liverpool in GW20, the fixtures are pretty decent: three home games in the next five, and the away one is against WOL.

Sarr

Sarr is in hot form and scored vs. Arsenal. He also had two missed big chances. The fixtures turn good in GW19 vs. SOU, but he has no penalties, and the BOU (A) and CHE games in the next three fixtures put me off.

It looks like we have some extra funds in the bank after downgrading Saka to one of these options, and I’ve decided that my replacement for Saka is going to be a two-player combination rather than one direct pick. Simply, we’re going to free up the funds tied up in Saka in order to afford Isak or Alexander-Arnold.

This makes your squad look much stronger, and this upgrade in your frontline or defence should bring more points and enhance your two transfers. I’m slightly leaning towards Bruno Fernandes for the security he provides, in addition to getting Trent ahead of his amazing next two fixtures.

Is Alexander-Arnold Essential?

As mentioned before, your transfer for a Liverpool defender can ultimately be done in GW18, as Alexander-Arnold was firmly on my watchlist. Liverpool failed to keep a clean sheet in their last two games vs. Fulham and Tottenham, but now the fixtures turn favourable for their defenders.

The next two games are against LEI and WHU! Simply put, they’re poor attacking teams, and the Reds have a great chance of keeping clean sheets. Leicester is the worst team for headers conceded, shots from set plays conceded, and xGC! Liverpool defenders will likely score headers as Trent provides them with his brilliant crosses.

The Hammers in GW19 are the 3rd worst team for xGC at home as well. Liverpool will score many goals, and Trent should be involved!

But isn’t Trent overpriced? I believe he’s a bit expensive, but we have the funds, and we can afford him now as most of us will enter the next few Game weeks without Saka or Ho-Ho-Haaland. He is a great punt!

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By: SamFPL

Last Updated: 24/12