FPL Gameweek 7 was a flood of excitement; there were goals, red cards, upsets, and even a Premier League cherry was popped.
Here’s what you need to be across, as we build up to FPL Gameweek 8.
When does FPL Gameweek 8 start?
Saturday 7 October, 9:00pm AEST
Luton Town host Tottenham Hotspur just days after they take on Burnley in a midweek catch up fixture. It will be a tough encounter for Rob Edwards’ men, even with the glow of their debut Premier League victory over Everton still hanging over Kenilworth Road. Ange Postecoglu has Spurs looking a different outfit, playing lights out, attacking football that has proved too much for more formidable opponents, such as Liverpool.
FPL Gameweek 8 notes
Reds cost Reds as Spurs continue soaring
Ange Postecoglu’s Spurs are second in the Premier League! I repeat, second in the Premier League! Many wondered where their goals would come from in Harry Kane’s absence, but Heung-Min Son (£9.2 I 21.4%) has stepped up, scoring his sixth of the season against Liverpool. While he won’t get credited with the assist, the South Korean’s finish wouldn’t have been possible without James Maddison’s (£7.9 I 30.4%) defence splitting pass playing Richarlison (£6.7 I 1.5%) in seconds earlier.
Spurs were given a fair few helping hands this game, it must be admitted, with Jurgen Klopp’s men receiving two red cards, having a Luis Diaz (£7.6 I 9.5%) goal dubiously disallowed, and conceded a Joel Matip (£4.9 I 0.5%) own goal at the death. Regardless, it will be onwards and upwards for these two sides, who continue cementing their position as two of England’s elite.
United’s worrying creative struggles continue
In the end a fabulous first half thunderbolt from Danish defender Joachim Andersen (£4.7 I 9.7%) proved the difference against an injury riddled, toothless Manchester United side. The worry for Erik Ten Hag is that even with nearly 80% possession United failed to unlock a diligent Palace defence as their main threats came on the break or from set pieces. For owners of Marcus Rashford (£8.9 I 28.2%) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.4 I 20.5%), United’s patchy form and seeming creative inability should be a worry, while their key defensive injuries should further drive the nail into Andre Onana’s (£4.9 I 20.4%) FPL coffin.
Newcastle have found their feet
After a poor start to their season, Eddie Howe’s men have kicked into life. Their 8-0 thumping of Sheffield United last week proved the jolt they needed. Against a lacklustre Burnley, Newcastle were again in fine form. Miguel Almiron (£6.3 I 4.8%), who registered a never-ending purple patch last season, belted the opener home before an Alexander Isak (£7.6 I 20.2%) spot kick sealed the three points. For the fifth game in all competitions, Newcastle kept a clean sheet.
With their league-leading defence from last season has finally beginning the new campaign, owners of Kieran Trippier (£6.7 I 41.4%) can breath a sigh of relief, with the skipper adding his fourth assist of the season against Sheffield United.
For Burnley, it might be time to begin contingency planning for the Championship next season, with Vincent Kompany’s youthful side looking more and more inept at this level with each passing week.
Time to go all in on Villa?
In what might be the most surprising result of the Premier League season, Aston Villa hammered 6 past Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton. Ollie Watkins (£7.9 I 20.1%) had a fabulous day, nabbing 3 fine goals and an assist, while Moussa Diaby (£6.7 I 12.3%) and Matty Cash (£4.8 I 21.1%), who both laid one on for their in-form striker, ratified their position as fantastic FPL prospects.
For Brighton, it’s back to the drawing board for the tinkering De Zerbi, who might need to put the constant changes into his back pocket for a while. Does he think he’s Pep? Amongst a host of Brighton stars who had a day to forget Pervis Estupinan’s (£5.3 I 60.9%) performance was most glaringly poor with the Ecuadorian conceding an unlucky 26th minute own goal and failed to return for the second half. Is his place in jeopardy?
Collective effort ratifies Arsenal’s title credentials
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, Arsenal benefited from some utterly stupid Bournemouth tackles handing them two penalties on a platter. But, Arsenal once again looked humming. Martin Odegaard (£8.5 I 22.1%) pulled strings, Bukayo Saka (£8.7 I 58.6%) was Bukayo Saka, and even Kai Havertz (£7.1 I 1.7%) scored! I repeat, Kai Havertz scored! At the back, David Raya (£4.8 I 3.1%) kept a clean sheet while even Ben White (£5.5 I 9.6%) found himself on the scoresheet.
On a day when fellow title challengers City and Liverpool faltered and North London rivals Spurs surged, the pressure was on Mikel Arteta’s men to continue confirming last season was not anomaly. And they did just that.
Luton’s Premier League cherry popped
For most teams, a 2-1 win over Everton isn’t anything to right home about. Luton Town aren’t most teams and this win, the first in their fledgling Premier League history, will be sang from the rooftops for months. With his third goal of the season, striker Carlton Morris (£5.6 I 8.4%) cemented himself as a steady, cheap striking option. For Everton, the one positive is Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s (£5.8 I 1.0%) second goal of the campaign.
Bowen fires West Ham closer to Europe
Immediately after the ball was played to onrushing right back Vladimir Coufal (£4.5 I 0.8%) Jarrod Bowen’s (£7.2 I 14.6%) arms leapt up, urging his fullback to play it his way. He did and the England winger swept home his fifth goal of the Premier League season. Is he now an FPL must? Elsewhere, Alphonse Areola (£4.2 I 32.1%), everyone’s favourite goalkeeping cheapie, kept his first clean sheet of the Premier League season.
City aren’t invincible!
For a good while there it seemed like Manchester City would never lose again. A well oiled machine, they ooze control right across the park, and with Erling Haaland (£14.1 I 92.2%) they’re capable of plucking a goal from practically anywhere. But, in the absence of Rodri (£5.6 I 7.0%) protective presence, Wolves proved there are chinks in the sky blue City armour.
They may be small chinks, but they exist nonetheless Pedro Neto (£5.6 I 4.1%) continued his fine form with an electrifying run to force Ruben Dias’ (£5.5 I 8.7%) early own goal. Owners of Julian Alvarez (£7.0 I 32%) will delight in the spritely Argentine’s delightful free kick which continued his fine form, even if the side around him floundered.
Chelsea get back on track
It was far from polished, Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Fulham, but it got the job done. Assured performances across the park, particularly from the sides defence and midfield, were key to the most relieving win of the club’s recent history. Cole Palmer (£4.9 I 0.3%) sparkled on the right wing, as did Mykhailo Mudryk (£6.3 I 0.85%) on the opposite flank. The Ukrainian capped a lively, industrious first half with a calm finish for his slotted his first goal for the club at the 24th time of asking. But perhaps Chelsea’s most impressive performer was Levi Colwil (£4.5 I 4.1%).
The makeshift left-back seemingly had more license to maraud forward this game, exemplified by his fine assist for Mudryk, and while normally not his natural position, Ben Chilwell’s (£5.5 I 12.8%) sustained absence, Marc Cucurella’s (£4.8 I 0.4%) newfound comfort at right back, and Ian Maatsen’s (£5.2 I 0.1%) preference further forward means the position is Colwill’s for the foreseeable future.
Transfer targets under 15% ownership
DEFENDER: Ben White (£5.5 I 9.6%)
MIDFIELDER: Jarrod Bowen’s (£7.2 I 14.6%)
FORWARD: Carlton Morris (£5.6 I 8.4%)
