Fantasy Premier League: Three essential FPL tips ahead of GW19 | OneFootball

Fantasy Premier League has given us a very short turnaround between deadlines, so there’s no time to lose.

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of our FPL columns, but we’re back with tips on what transfers to make, the best captain picks, and more ahead of Gameweek 19.

Fantasy Premier League GW19 deadline: Sunday, 29 December, 13:00 BST

Join our Fantasy Premier League mini-league: wdr671

Fantasy Premier League: Three essential FPL tips for GW19

The one player you must buy this week

Some serious regrets on this FPL manager’s part after I opted to use my two free transfers on a Liverpool double-up instead of getting Alexander Isak (£9.1m) and Anthony Gordon. Both Newcastle United men found the net, while Luis Diaz didn’t play and Trent Alexander-Arnold came out with two points.

Unless I want to take a hit or sell Nicolas Jackson before he faces Ipswich (and I would really rather not do either) then I will have to go another week without Isak, who has been in sensational form of late. He has been on a roll since returning from injury, scoring ten goals and making three assists since GW8.

The Swede has returned in eight of his 11 appearances during that period, and one of those blanks came when he was a second-half substitute against Crystal Palace. Much like his late season goal rush in 2023/24, he is scoring just about every time he takes to the pitch right now.

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Since making his recovery, no player has accumulated more big chances, non-penalty expected goals or shots on target than Isak. Only Mo Salah (12) can boast more goals over those 11 gameweeks.

The Magpies face back-to-back trips to Manchester United and Tottenham next up, but there are goals in those games. Those are followed by consecutive home games against a rejuvenated Wolves and Bournemouth, Southampton away, and Fulham at St. James’ Park. It’s not the greatest run of fixtures, but you would back the striker to score against anyone at the moment.

With many of the Premier League‘s best forward options tailing off (or, in Matheus Cunha’s case, facing suspension) in recent weeks, then Isak is an absolute must-buy ahead of GW19.

Best FPL captain for GW19

This week’s armband is a toss-up between Cole Palmer (£11.3m) and Mo Salah (£13.5m), but for me there’s a clear winner for me.

Palmer is a great pick for this week as Chelsea face Ipswich Town away, who are second from bottom in the table. But the Blues have not been their fluid selves in recent weeks and Portman Road has been not the most welcoming of venues this season.

Salah, meanwhile, is in absolute God mode. The winger has returned more than one goal involvement in five of his last 11 outings and only blanked twice this season. Liverpool travel to London this Sunday to face a West Ham United side that has been leaking goals; they’ve conceded 11 in the past six gameweeks alone.

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Isak is a decent differential for captaincy if you’re looking to gain rank and take the risk. He’s up against a Manchester United team that are at sixes and sevens at the moment, so don’t be surprised if he fills his boots at Old Trafford.

Lastly, and I can’t believe I’m saying, but if you’ve held onto Erling Haaland (£14.8m) this long, then you’re probably fine with captaining him against Leicester City this weekend. Man City are abysmal and the Norwegian is in the worst form of his career, but there are goals to be had at the King Power Stadium. If he doesn’t hit the mark in this tie, then you really can forget him as an FPL asset.

The best Saka replacements in FPL

Mikel Arteta confirmed this week that Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for over two months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury, so there is no point holding onto the Arsenal winger. Indeed, there has been a mass exodus in terms of his ownership, although he is still in 15 percent of FPL teams.

One of the most popular moves appears to be a straight swap for teammate Martin Odegaard (£8.4m), particularly as he will likely be on penalties in Saka’s absence. But I don’t like picking an option from the same team when they’re attack has just been significantly weakened.

I like Liverpool attackers Luis Diaz (£7.5m) and Diogo Jota (£7.2m), especially at their price points, but as the Leicester game illustrated, they are at risk of rotation during this period of the season. That risk is heightened by the fact Arne Slot has all of his attacking options available to him.

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Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) is in good form for Newcastle, getting a goal involvement in five of his last six Premier League appearances. He’s a bit of a differential, too; less than 12 percent of managers have him at the time of writing. A triple-up with Isak and Lewis Hall (£4.7m) is far from outlandish.

If you’re looking for someone in the cheaper bracket, then Ismaila Sarr (£5.8m) might be your guy. The Crystal Palace winger has finally found a bit of form since his summer move, bagging a brace against Brighton before scoring against Arsenal. The Eagles have a decent run of games in the near term, with Southampton up next at Selhurst Park. That’s followed by Chelsea at home, Leicester and West Ham away, and Brentford home.

These picks assume you already have one or both of Salah and Palmer, but if for some reason you don’t then just get them in.

Read – Top FPL tips to help you master Fantasy Premier League

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