It was another tricky week where low scores were the norm, injuries and suspensions stung, while almost every replacement for one of FPL’s stars put their hand up for selection.
Here’s what you need to be across, as we build up to FPL Gameweek 13.
When does FPL Gameweek 13 start?
Saturday 25 November, 10:00pm AEDT
Fresh from yet another international break we couldn’t ask for a better fixture to kick FPL Gameweek 13 off. Liverpool host Manchester City in a throwback title clash akin to the bouts these two partook in at the end of the 2010s and beginning of the current decade. City are reeling after a dramatic draw with Chelsea, but possess the world’s greatest goalscorer and a form side unafraid any opposition, while Jurgen Klopp will be rejoicing in the early success of his youthful midfield rebuild as well as the return of Mohammed Salah’s career best form and Darwin Nunez playing like a footballer.
FPL Gameweek 13 notes
Who replaces Maddison?
Is it time to trust Chelsea’s attack?
Yes, they showed out against nine-men Spurs. But, most sides would’ve. Their 4-4 draw with Manchester City, though, is a far more impressive feat, with each of Mauricio Pochettino’s front four contributing to a goal.
Nicolas Jackson (£6.8 I 4.8%) continued his hat-trick form to calmly finish Chelsea’s third, Cole Palmer (£5.1 I 6.3%) converted a late, late penalty to secure the draw, Raheem Sterling (£6.9 I 6.7%) prodded one home, and Conor Gallagher (£5.4 I 0.4%) provided the corner, won by an expertly hit free-kick from Reece James (£5.3 I 3.9%), for Thiago Silva’s (£5.0 I 3.4%) goal.
They may be inconsistent, they may be wild, and they might not have the strongest defence to work off the back of, but there is something exciting building in Chelsea’s attack. In Palmer and Sterling they have too in-form wingers of completely different builds; one’s a silky playmaker, the other is an intelligent mover.
Nicolas Jackson (£6.8 I 4.8%) has found his scoring boots, and frighteningly they still have last season’s Bundesliga top scorer, Christopher Nkunku (£7.3 I 0.5%), to come back.
Who replaces James Maddison?
What do FPL players worldwide and Ange Postecoglou have in common? They’ll all be scratching their heads at this question in the coming weeks. With 63 points, James Maddison (£8.0 I 19%) is the seventh highest scoring midfielder this FPL season and, at his price point, there are few better options.
But, given the ankle injury sustained in the Chelsea loss, he’s expected to be out until January. So it’s time to assess his replacements.
Mohammed Salah (£12.9 I 45.7%) is back in form and rightly the most expensive midfielder in the game. Already this season, the Egyptian has 10 goals and 4 assists — with these figures looking unlikely to slow down anytime soon. At his price, it would require moving heaven and earth to trade up from Maddison, but if it can be done it almost needs to be.
Martin Odegaard (£8.3 I 14.6%), Bukayo Saka (£8.6 I 49.9%), and Heung-Min Son (£9.7 I 40.8%) are all equally impressive players, with the latter two having better seasons, and they’re all much easier to trade up to from Maddison. You can’t really go wrong with either option as a Maddison replacement, although some questions may come around Son’s form without his playmaker behind him.
Jarrod Bowen (£7.6 I 28.7%) is one of the Premier League’s form wingers, with a delightful goal-scoring record who won’t break the bank when traded for, as are Raheem Sterling (£6.9 I 6.7%) and Bryan Mbuemo (£6.8 I 22.5%), while Cole Palmer (£5.1 I 6.3%) is a risky cheaper option who frees up cash for improvements elsewhere in the squad.
Thank god for Haaland
I’m sure most managers smart enough to captain the Norwegian goalscoring robot also known as Erling Haaland (£14.0 I 82.7%) will be singing his praises.
In an otherwise low scoring match week, with many stars either absent or misfiring, Haaland’s brace in an enthralling encounter against Chelsea proved worthwhile to those who own him, no doubt contributing to over half their weekly points tally.
Wonderful Watkins continues hot streak
Villa’s brilliant striker, Ollie Watkins (£8.4 I 43.4%), continued his fine form to begin the season after he swept his side’s third goal home in their rout of Fulham at the weekend. In a brilliant and fluid Aston Villa attack, capable of punching holes through sides in many ways, Ollie Watkins is a shining light; his movement and finishing is paramount to the way Unai Emery’s men play.
However, that’s not to say their success hinges all on the Englishmen’s right boot. Villa have a cast of additional talent all quietly plodding along this season, including the likes of Douglas Luiz (£5.6 I 12.1%) and John McGinn (£5.5 I 0.8%), who’ve both been exceptional to begin the campaign. And a special shoutout must be given to Moussa Diaby (£6.8 I 15.1%), arguably the Premier League’s signing of the season, who’s cross for Watkins was his sixth assist of the campaign to go with 3 goals.
Are the Hammers back?
After netting in a record-breaking run of away fixtures, Jarrod Bowen (£7.6 I 28.7%), finally put the ball in the back of the net in front of his home fans. It was a goal that kickstarted West Ham’s fight back against Nottingham Forest which ended in their first victory in five rounds. Are they back?
It’s too early to tell, but that’s not to say there isn’t value in their side. Bowen is pretty much an FPL must, James Ward-Prowse (£6.1 I 9.2%) grabbed his first assists since the fourth match of the season in a performance signalling his early season purple patch might be a more permanent fixture of the season, while Lucas Paqueta
Transfer targets under 15% ownership
DEFENDER: Reece James (£5.3 I 3.9%)
MIDFIELDER: Cole Palmer (£5.1 I 6.3%)
FORWARD: Nicolas Jackson (£6.8 I 4.8%)
