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Welcome to the Gameweek 18 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! While we digest our Holiday lunches and dinners from the day beforehand, the EPL action kicks off bright and early on December 26 with Man City hosting Everton.
On a football-filled Thursday, there are eight games before a little dessert plate of Brighton vs. Brentford and Arsenal vs. Ipswich on Friday. The biggest Boxing Day games are Newcastle vs. Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest vs. Spurs up North.
The Gameweek 18 deadline for the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season is Thursday, December 26, at 6:00 a.m. ET, when Everton visits Man City. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 18 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 18!
Fallen Starboy
Bukayo Saka is looking at a multi-gameweek absence after a hamstring injury. Who is the best replacement for Arsenal's talisman?
Euan Leith: Only two midfielders, Mohamed Salah (£13.5m) and Cole Palmer (£11.2m), have outscored Bukayo Saka (£10.5m) this season, so there aren't a lot of options to improve your squad.
If you're looking for a one-week punt, I like Jarrod Bowen (7.5m) for his away fixture against Southampton. However, longer-term options include Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m), James Maddison (£7.6m), and Saka's teammates Martin Odegaard (£8.3m) or Gabriel Martinelli (£6.7m).
Jamie Steed: If you already have Palmer and/or Salah, then you have my favored option available to you. That would be to replace Saka with another Arsenal midfielder. Martinelli is a leading option. You can then use that extra money to bolster your attack or defense to offset the drop in points from Saka’s absence.
The FPL Manual (Wale): Based on recent form, I’m more driven to target midfield assets like Liverpool’s Luis Diaz (£7.4m) or Spurs’ James Maddison. However, I believe Man United’s Bruno Fernandes is a safer option to bet on, thanks to his guaranteed minutes and penalty duty.
The update Bukayo Saka owners didn't want to see 🤕
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the Arsenal midfielder will miss "many weeks" with a hamstring injury 🚨#FPL pic.twitter.com/xRB0MD9Q9W
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 23, 2024
Who is Keeping a Clean Sheet in Gameweek 18?
Euan: Arsenal has found a way to concede now and then, but even their run of tough luck will run out versus Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners own the best xG defense (4.6 xGA) at home, while the Tractor Boys have the third-lowest xG (7.5) on the road.
Jamie: There’s a strong case to be made for Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. I’ll dig a little deeper and pick Brighton. They’re at home to a Brentford side that’s just blanked at home for the first time this season. They’ve only scored six goals away from home (eight games). While Brighton’s defensive record isn’t great, this is an ideal opportunity to get their first clean sheet in 10 games.
Wale: I’m backing Arsenal to keep a clean sheet. The Gunners host Ipswich at the Emirates Stadium. The Tractor Boys are ranked third for the fewest goals scored in the league, with only 16 thus far. As such, Arsenal's defensive assets are favorites for our wrapped Christmas clean sheet points.
What Defensive Player is Providing Attacking Returns?
Euan: Leicester leads the league in headed goal attempts conceded (61) and goal attempts from set pieces attempts conceded (93) this season. As a result, I'm backing Liverpool's Captain, Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m), to find a goal in his Christmas cracker against the Foxes.
Jamie: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) got his third assist in three games on Sunday. He’ll get the chance to add to his tally at home to a Leicester City side that’s conceded seven goals in their last two games.
Wale: Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez (£4.7m) is my top recommendation for attacking returns. The Cherries have a solid run of form, especially at home. Kerkez has amassed 25 FPL points in his previous five matches and is expected to add to his tally when Bournemouth hosts Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Best Midfielder or Forward Who Isn't Rostered
Who is rostered in 10 percent of teams or less who can grab those FPL points?
Euan: Liverpool's fixture versus Leicester is a prime fixture to target in Gameweek 18. Diogo Jota (£7.2m) is someone I'm backing to get the return goals (not presents) on Boxing Day.
The Portuguese striker has come off the bench for the last two league games but played midweek in the Carabao Cup. If that trend continues, Jota should get the start versus Leicester and gift the Anfield faithful plenty of holiday cheer.
Jamie: I mentioned him as a Saka replacement, and Martinelli will have a great chance to pay dividends immediately. We’ve seen from Martinelli that his goals come in clusters, so Saturday’s strike might be the start of a rich run of form.
Wale: Despite Man City's struggles, one player that pricked my interest with his hunger to score in Gameweek 17 was Phil Foden (£9.1m). The 24-year-old opened his EPL goal-scoring account with a late strike against Aston Villa, earning him 9 points.
The Cityzens hope to turn their fortunes around with a favorable home tie against Everton. Foden, who has just 4.2% ownership, could be a solid differential option for Gameweek 18.
Haaland? Foden? Gvardiol? 💭
With upcoming fixtures against Everton, Leicester and West Ham, the #FPLPod team chat through Man City assets for the festive period 🎄#FPL
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 23, 2024
Who is a Player You Want but Can’t Get for Gameweek 18 in FPL?
Euan: I want to take Jamie's advice and hop on an Arsenal midfielder after Saka's injury, but I'm a little hesitant to go all-in before seeing what Mikel Arteta does in the first game. So I want Martinelli, but I don't think I have the guts to bring him to my side.
Jamie: At some point, Erling Haaland (£14.9m) will start scoring again. That could begin this Boxing Day with a home fixture against Everton. I just can’t justify spending so much of the budget on someone out of form on a team so out of form.
Wale: Chris Wood (£6.6m), Nottingham Forest’s in-form forward, has already scored 10 goals before Christmas. His 35.71% goal conversion record among forwards gives me the impression that Wood could go crazy against Tottenham next.
Unfortunately, I’d prefer to give Joao Pedro one more week against Brentford and will have to ignore bringing Wood to my fantasy team.
Who’s Getting the Captain’s Armband?
Euan: Since Gameweek 8: 12, 10, 9, 14, 13, 13, 18, 5, and 21. That's Mohamed Salah's FPL points. Don't overthink the easiest present you can give your FPL team this holiday season.
Jamie: Salah is in a prime spot for a big week. Sunday was his fifth double-digit return in his last six games, and another one is on the cards at home to Leicester City.
Wale: I rolled the wrong dice last week and missed out on captaining Salah (£13.4m) in Gameweek 17. It was rough watching Salah bag 21 points for those who captained him. Safe to say, I have learned my lesson.
With nine consecutive FPL attacking returns and no sign of slowing down soon, I will be backing the Egyptian king with the armband against Leicester at the Anfield stadium.
The best of Mo Salah 👑
The Egyptian's 21-point haul against Spurs was his third-highest ever #FPL return! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/lCiDLiM1ME
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 23, 2024
What’s your Bold Prediction for Gameweek 18?
Euan: Eight home sides, except Southampton and Wolves, claim belated Christmas victories. This increases the pressure on Ange Postecoglou as Spurs slip to 12th in the table. For FPL purposes, Salah stuffs his stocking with three more returns against Leicester.
Jamie: Wolves add to Manchester United’s misery, and Matheus Cunha (£7.1m) becomes the leading points-scoring striker.
Wale: I anticipate a harvest of goals this Boxing Day, with Liverpool scoring four goals past Leicester City. Chelsea and Man City will secure home victories against their upcoming opponents, while Chris Wood scores a brace against Spurs. Meanwhile, Postecoglou's job will be scrutinized.
Only Erling Haaland (102) has more points than Matheus Cunha among all #FPL forwards this season 🥈
Did the @Wolves forward feature in your Gameweek 17 side? pic.twitter.com/R1bpo5Aps9
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 22, 2024
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