What we learned from the World Cup...
Our verdict on the Premier League stars who featured in Qatar + tips for the packed Xmas schedule + the best-rested FPL options...
Still salivating over Messi? Getting your head round Emi Martinez’s bizarre golden glove celebration? Trying to figure out what, exactly, is a ‘Salt Bae’?
After one of the most entertaining World Cups in living memory, it’s time to shake-off those post-Qatar blues and get your head back into Fantasy Premier League. Because from Boxing Day onwards, the Premier League fixtures come at you thick and fast.
As Graham noted in his excellent newsletter yesterday, there is a vital opportunity to rejig your team with unlimited transfers before the next transfer deadline. The festive FPL Gameweeks are as follows:
Gameweek 17 - 26-28 December (transfer deadline at 11:00 GMT on 26 December)
Gameweek 18 - 30 December - 1 January (transfer deadline at 18.15 GMT on 30 December)
Gameweek 19 - 2 January - 12 January (transfer deadline at 16:00 GMT on 2 January)
I’ll round this newsletter off with a look back at what we learned from the World Cup and an assessment of the best options from the players who didn’t feature. But first, a few key tips for navigating this hectic but crucial festive period:
Make the most of your free wild card - now is a great time to look back on what we saw in the first 14/15 games of the Premier League season and consider if the balance of your team is right. Make sure you focus your strategy on long-term value rather than targeting quick fixture-based hits.
If Gameweek 17 doesn’t go your way, don’t panic - we haven’t even reached the halfway point of the season and, after a World Cup break, we are in unchartered territory. There’s every chance early results might be a bit funky, so it’s sensible to allow a bit of time for things to settle before considering buying into or selling out of players.
Keep an eye on injury and line-up news - this is key throughout the season but even more so when the fixtures pile up in December and early January.
Don’t forget the Fulham/Chelsea double in Gameweek 19. The fixtures aren’t exactly ideal (Fulham face Leicester away while Chelsea host Manchester City, before the sides play each other at Craven Cottage on 12 January), but it’s worth having a plan to get the assets in you want ahead of time.
This is Messi’s world - but an FPL trio also shone for the champions
And so to Qatar and the 2022 World Cup. For Argentina this may have been Messi’s show, but Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez (GK, £4.9m), Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister (MID, £5.4m) and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez (FWD, £6m) have all significantly enhanced their reputations over the last month or so.
Given all three played the full 120 minutes of an exhilarating final against France on Sunday and have since been celebrating in Buenos Aires, there is a strong chance none will feature in the immediate post-Christmas fixtures.
Mac Allister, who registered a goal and assist during the tournament, is the most appealing option once he returns to action. He scored an impressive five goals in 14 Premier League games for the Seagulls prior to heading to Qatar this season. His central role in a progressive Brighton side will only be enhanced by his World Cup showing and, crucially, he should continue penalty taking duties.
The only real question is whether or not Brighton can keep hold of him during the January transfer window. That, combined with his expected absence until the New Year, should be enough to make FPL managers hang fire for now.
Martinez could also be the subject of transfer speculation, but even if he isn’t, Villa’s porous backline - they’ve conceded 22 goals in 15 Premier League games this season - combined with the number of cheaper options available between the sticks is probably enough to make you look elsewhere.
However, keep a watchful eye on Villa’s defensive performance against Liverpool (H) and Tottenham (A) in Gameweeks 17 and 18, as after that the fixtures soften up significantly, with Wolves and Leeds United travelling to Villa Park, followed by an away trip to Southampton.
Alvarez will clearly have his opportunities limited by the presence of Erling Haaland (FWD, £12.2m), but don’t rule the forward out completely. He was extremely impressive in Qatar and could see his minutes increase as the campaign progresses - particularly with City competing for multiple trophies. Should Haaland get injured, Alvarez immediately vaults into the top tier forward category.
England attackers flourish
It might have been familiar heartache for Gareth Southgate’s men but not before they had impressed at both ends of the pitch.
From an FPL perspective, the performances of Bukayo Saka (MID, £8m) (3 goals), Marcus Rashford (MID, £6.7m) (3 goals), Phil Foden (MID, £8.3m) (1 goal, 2 assists) and Harry Kane (FWD, £11.6m) (2 goals, 3 assists) all stood out.
England’s quarter final exit means all four should also be relatively fresh for the return to Premier League action. Rashford’s price tag should put him at the top of your Christmas shopping list, Saka has been consistent and takes penalties, Foden operates in the league’s most potent attack (although the rotation risk is ever present) and Kane has delivered week-in, week-out this campaign. We wouldn’t be surprised to see all four produce big points hauls over the coming weeks.
Harry Maguire (DEF, £4.7m) did a good job repairing his damaged reputation with some excellent performances at centre half, but with Lisandro Martinez (DEF, £4.5m) and Rafael Varane (DEF, £4.8m) both fit, the centre back faces a stiff task convincing Erik ten Hag to pick him. Luke Shaw (DEF, £4.8m), another solid England performer, looks a much better FPL bet, offering the key combination of clean sheet points and attacking threat.
Manchester City’s John Stones (DEF, £5.4m) was also impressive in Qatar but faces stiff competition for a starting berth at centre half from fellow World Cup stars Manuel Akanji (DEF, £5m), Nathan Ake (DEF, £5m), Ruben Dias (DEF, £5.9m) and Aymeric Laporte (DEF, £5.8m). If you trust any of those City defenders with a place in your team, make sure you have decent cover on your bench in case Pep Guardiola leaves them out.
Kyle Walker (DEF, £4.8m) kept France’s Kylian Mbappe relatively quiet in a losing cause in the World Cup quarter final, having edged out Kieran Trippier (DEF, £4.9m) as Southgate’s preferred choice at right back. The City defender was a near guaranteed starter prior to getting injured and, while his attacking upside is limited, at £4.8m he represents an ultra-low cost route into the league’s best defence.
Portugal’s shining star…wasn’t Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was, as always, the major talking point for Portugal at this World Cup, although the focus largely centred on his lack of involvement.
Away from Ronaldo, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (MID, £9.8m) was undoubtedly their most eye-catching FPL performer, registering three assists and two goals in just four outings in Qatar.
That represents a welcome return to form for a player who has disappointed in the 2022/23 campaign so far, delivering just two goals and two assists in 13 starts. United now look a better organised, more coherent side than when the season started and with Ronaldo finally out of the picture at Old Trafford, Fernandes is both their undisputed attacking focal point and penalty taker.
With the next three fixtures against Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (A) and Bournemouth (H), Fernandes is currently in just 2.8% of FPL line-ups. Don’t forget, this is a player who delivered 32 direct goal involvements (18 goals, 14 assists) in 2020/21 and has averaged over 6.2 FPL points per game in the Premier League.
Joao Cancelo’s (DEF, £7.4m) relatively lean creative season continued, with the roaming full back failing to register an assist in Qatar having laid on just two goals in 15 games prior to the World Cup. However, he has found the net twice and remains a central part of this elite Man City attack.
With Leeds (A) and Everton (H) next up, there’s every chance of a positive regression to the mean over the festive period.
The Perisic dilemma
FPL managers who have been confounded by Ivan Perisic’s (DEF, £5.5m) spotty start to life as a Premier League player were once again given a sniff of what might be after the wing back/winger’s impressive showing in Qatar.
Deployed as a genuine attacking winger for Croatia, the Spurs man was integral in their eventual run to third place, bagging three assists and a sensational headed goal in seven matches.
The problem in selecting Perisic is the uncertainty over his playing time. He has passed the crucial 60 minute mark required to deliver clean sheet points just eight times in 15 appearances, meaning you could be left relying heavily on attacking returns to bag you points.
With Kane, Son Heung-min (MID, £11.6m) and Dejan Kulusevski (MID, £8m) now fit, there also appears little chance of him taking on the more advanced role he occupied in Gameweek 15 at Anfield.
Finally, Brighton duo Kauru Mitoma (MID, £4.9m) and Pervis Estupinan (DEF, £4.5m) may not have stolen headlines in Qatar, but both showed their quality in flashes during the group stages and are worth keeping on your radar as low-cost differential options.
The best of the rest-ed
As I mentioned earlier, we are into the unknown with a midseason World Cup giving some players a genuine break from action. However, if you believe, as many do, rested players will have an edge over the remainder of the season, below are a few players you might want to take a look at for your FPL team.
Mohammed Salah (FWD, £12.8m)
The Egyptian may not have shone quite as brightly this season, but he has unquestionably been the top FPL asset in the previous two campaigns and is a prime candidate to explode into life post-World Cup.
Erling Haaland (FWD, £12.2m)
Out of Pep’s cryochamber and back into action on 28 December at Elland Road, there’s every reason to expect the Norwegian’s record-breaking start to his P|remier League career to continue.
Kieran Trippier (DEF, £5.9m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (DEF, £7.2m)
Both went with England to the World Cup but neither featured beyond the group stages and so, in theory, they should be relatively fresh come Boxing Day. Both of course offer big attacking upside, although Liverpool’s shaky defensive performance so far this season is a concern.
Callum Wilson (FWD, £7.4m)
Bagged an assist as a substitute against Iran at the World Cup, played just 48 minutes in total and, most importantly, returns to Newcastle without any injury concerns. Prior to Qatar, Wilson had delivered 6.3 FPL points per 90 minutes played in 2022/23.
Dejan Kulusevski (MID, £8m)
Quietly sensational beginning to his Premier League career, bagging 14 assists, six goals and 6.7 FPL points per 90 minutes played. Also offers differential appeal, with fewer than 5% of managers selecting the Sweden international.
Reece James (DEF, £5.8m)
James might have started for England at the World Cup had he been fit. Delivered 6.8 FPL points per 90 minutes last season. Chelsea’s defence might not be the most reliable but James is among the best attacking full backs in the league and, with appealing fixtures and a double Gameweek on the horizon, should be on every FPL manager’s radar.
Thanks as always for reading. Have a great Christmas, a fantastic New Year and a points-filled festive period in FPL. There are some exciting Fantasy Gameweek updates coming in the New Year - stay tuned…
Cheers
Tom and Graham