Gameweek 30 was marked by the standout performances of three premium choices after FPL managers deliberated throughout the international break on whom to pick. However, there’s little time to dwell on the past weekend’s outcomes as a midweek round of fixtures swiftly follows Easter. With another Fantasy Premier League deadline looming and a full slate of midweek matches in store, managers are faced with more decisions to make, particularly after notable displays from midfielders like Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah.
Luis Diaz (£7.5m)
While Mo Salah undeniably stands out as the top Liverpool asset, Luis Diaz is making a strong case for himself as the second-best option, potentially surpassing Darwin Nunez based on his recent performances. The Colombian forward showcased his abilities by scoring Liverpool’s equalizer against Brighton on Sunday with a well-taken finish, narrowly missing out on another goal due to a VAR decision for offside.
Despite the disallowed goal, Diaz has been in excellent form, contributing four goals and three assists in his last eight matches, highlighting his confidence on the pitch. However, there have been concerns about his inconsistency in front of goal in recent months. Nonetheless, his xG of 5.32 over the last eight games indicate that he has been getting into promising positions, even if he hasn’t converted all of them.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£5.7m)
Ahead of their upcoming home match against Fulham, Morgan Gibbs-White has shown a notable improvement in consistency. Gibbs-White has recently provided consecutive attacking returns for only the second time this season, contributing an assist and earning seven points against Luton Town and Crystal Palace. The underlying statistics reveal that he is the standout attacker for his team by a significant margin.
During Gameweeks 27-30, Gibbs-White has recorded eight shots and 13 key passes, both of which are the highest among Forest players. His tally for key passes is at least eight more than any other player on the team. Additionally, the biggest threat that the club faces is only Manchester City and Tottenham with the other fixtures a lot easier, comparatively.
Moreover, Gibbs-White has consistently played the full 90 minutes for the club when available, indicating his importance to the team and suggesting that this trend is likely to continue.
Bukayo Saka (£9.0m)
Although Bukayo Saka didn’t manage to score against Manchester City, the English midfielder still ranks third among midfielders for goals scored (three) in the last three Gameweeks, with only Bowen and Havertz (four each) surpassing him. He has taken nine shots inside the box and ranks 18th for expected goals (xG) with a tally of 1.51.
Their upcoming opponents, Luton, have been struggling defensively, being joint-bottom for goals conceded (17) over the same period and allowing the most shots (141) and highest expected goals conceded (xGC) (18.25). It does mean that Saka could get himself back on track against Luton and yet while it was Manchester City, the forward’s performance was rather concerning for FPL managers.
He hasn’t scored in his last three games and hasn’t assisted any in his last two which means that he may be due one. Yet as FPL managers know well, goals and assists are never guaranteed which makes the Englishman a little risky given the options out there.
Ben Brereton (£5.0m)
Arguably the riskiest option on this list, Ben Brereton has shot up many a wishlist after his performance against Fulham last weekend. The forward netted twice and assisted another as the Blades walked away with a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw. It meant that the forward would make the perfect different pick for anyone interested as he is currently only a part of 0.1% of FPL teams.
However, the chances of his form continuing is slim which is what makes Brereton a risky option to have but the forward might just be worth his fee if he does continue scoring goals. The chances of that happening might be low but the Blades’ toughest fixtures going forward are Liverpool, Chelsea Manchester United and Tottenham. The rest are all comparatively easier and Brereton will likely play every one.
Mykhailo Mudryk (£6.3m)
Say it quietly but Mykhailo Mudryk might have hit upon a nice vein of form for himself. The forward has struggled ever since his mega move to Chelsea but has contributed to nine goals this term. Two of those have come in his last two games which includes a goal-scoring substitute appearance against Newcastle United. That earned him a start against Burnley, where he assisted one in a 2-2 draw.
Not only that, over those two games, Mudryk had an xG of 1.16 and an xA of 1.49 which is rather impressive given that the Blues scored 5 goals over that period. However, starts for the forward aren’t guaranteed but given the run of form he has found himself in, it makes him an interesting option to have.