Who are the best FPL Challenge GW9 picks? In a week where players score double if they’ve been at a club for five seasons or more, we use Opta data to find the top players to target this week in the Premier League.
They say good things come to those who wait. That’s certainly true in this week’s FPL Challenge. Gameweek 9’s rule twist rewards loyalty, with players who have been at their current club for five or more seasons earning double points.
So, who are the stalwarts worth trusting this week? As ever, we’ve turned to our Opta data to help build our team.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford: Everton vs Tottenham (H)
There’s not a lot of choice between the sticks this week. Only three qualifying goalkeepers have scored any points this season, and one of them – Alisson – is sidelined through injury. That leaves us choosing between Jordan Pickford and Emiliano Martínez.
With Everton hosting Tottenham on Sunday, Pickford feels like the more sensible play. Spurs looked uninspired in midweek, registering just 0.88 xG against Monaco on a Champions League matchday full of attacking fireworks elsewhere. David Moyes’ side are a much better prospect at home, and Spurs are winless in their last six visits to the Toffees (D5 L1).
Martínez, by contrast, faces the unenviable task of keeping out an in-form Erling Haaland.
For those tempted to look outside the double-points pool, Robert Sánchez (home to Sunderland), Djordje Petrovic (home to Nottingham Forest) and Nick Pope (home to Fulham) would all be fine options – but where’s the fun in that? We’re chasing upside.
Defenders
Gabriel Magalhães: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (H)
At this point, it feels mandatory to include an Arsenal defender every single week in FPL. Fortunately for us, Gabriel Magalhães is eligible for double points under this week’s rule.
Arsenal’s defensive numbers under Mikel Arteta this season have been nothing short of elite. So good in fact, that they’re on pace to challenge Chelsea’s long-standing Premier League record of just 15 goals conceded in a single campaign.
Gabriel also offers a genuine threat at the other end. His header from a set-piece against Atlético Madrid in midweek was another reminder of how dangerous he is in the air. He also got an assist in that game, too, as well as one in the win over Fulham last weekend. A player with huge haul potential at both ends of the pitch feels like a no-brainer.
Reece James: Chelsea vs Sunderland (H)
Speaking of hauls, Reece James delivered a 24-point one in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last time out. The Blues captain remains one of the most explosive assets in the game whenever he’s fit, given how often he gets forward and his role on attacking set-pieces. His Opta player radar screams attacking involvement.
James was rested in midweek as Chelsea cruised past Ajax 5-1 in Europe, so he should be fresh for a favourable home fixture against Sunderland.
Elsewhere, Pascal Struijk (home to West Ham) could appeal given the Hammers’ woeful display against Brentford, while Harry Maguire (home to Brighton) is worth a look if you believe in the Manchester United revival.
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Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United vs Brighton (H)
We’re choosing to attack United’s form through Bruno Fernandes. Despite playing deeper this season, often as part of a midfield two, Fernandes remains one of the league’s best creators. He’s averaging 2.8 chances created per 90 minutes, a figure bettered only by Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku (3.0). He remains on penalties, too.
His assist for Maguire’s winner at Liverpool last weekend was his 52nd in the Premier League. Since his debut in February 2020, only two players have assisted more in the competition.
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool vs Brentford (A)
Mohamed Salah may not be in vintage form, but he’s still Mohamed Salah… right? Liverpool snapped their four-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek, and the Egyptian, rested for that game, should return fresh for the trip to Brentford.
According to our player game-level prediction model, Salah’s projected goals figure (0.48) trails only Haaland (0.67), Viktor Gyökeres (0.60), and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (0.52) heading into the weekend. It’s tempting to overthink and fade him, but we’d be kicking ourselves if he went off and we’d ignored him.
Bukayo Saka will be a popular pick too, given Arsenal’s formidable form.
Forward
Erling Haaland: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (A)
The pickings are slim up top this week, with only three FPL forwards qualifying for double points: Jarrod Bowen, Danny Welbeck, and Ollie Watkins. Bowen remains stuck in a poor West Ham side, while Welbeck and Watkins face less-than-ideal fixtures against Man Utd and Man City respectively.
So, while Haaland doesn’t qualify for double points, he remains impossible to ignore. His form, output, and underlying metrics are on a different level. In fact, there’s an argument he’s effectively worth double points anyway, given he has more than double the number of points of the next-highest scoring forward in the game (João Pedro).
Sometimes, simplicity is the best strategy. And there’s no simpler decision in FPL than Haaland.
Opta Analyst’s Team Reveal: Gameweek 9 FPL Challenge Picks
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FPL Challenge GW9 Picks: Double Points for Long-Serving Players Opta Analyst.
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