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Fantasy Premier League Elite Team Reveal: Corey Baker

15 Aug. 2024

Elite XI: FPL Team Reveal by a Manager with 1 x Top 1k and 4 x Top 5k Finishes

With an impressive track record in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Corey has achieved 1 Top 1k finish and 4 Top 5k finishes, consistently placing among the elite FPL managers worldwide.

In this article, we'll take a look at his latest draft ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline. Don't forget, you can follow his every move and get push notifications for his draft updates with the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.


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Fantasy Premier League Team Reveal from an Elite Manager

A self-confessed numbers man, Corey uses a statistical approach when it comes to managing his squad, focusing on a combination of expected data metrics merged with a deep tactical understanding of Premier League managers and their squads.

Goalkeepers (GK): Gunner between the sticks

Corey has opted for the cheap and cheerful £4.5m (plus £4.0m burner) option between the sticks. With the GK options at this price point feeling particularly underwhelming this season, the variety in goalkeeper picks is quite diverse.

Corey has opted for Dean Henderson (£4.5m), who is expected to be the first-choice keeper for a Crystal Palace side who improved under Oliver Glasner at both ends of the pitch. According to Opta Stats Sandbox, Crystal Palace were the 5th best defensive side last season in terms of Expected Goals Conceded (55.64) and Total Shots Conceded (463).

Palace Defensive Stats

Defenders (DEF): Options at the back

The first thing that strikes you about Corey’s defence is the variety of options he has at his disposal. Many drafts feature 2 x £4.0m burners, however, Corey has opted to place Valentín Barco (£4.0m) in his starting XI, leaving more expensive alternatives Vitalii Mykolenko (£4.5m) and Esri Konsa (£4.5m) on the bench. Barco has impressed in pre-season and is on set pieces for Brighton, leading many to predict that he could be this season’s John Lundstram.

“In the back I like an additional punt on Barco for his price, and potential set piece duties, and Munoz for his underrated attacking prowess. Until a transfer comes in, Burn is nailed and cheap with some set piece threat. So, then all that remains is filling in my 2 x £4.5m defenders. I’ve gone for Konsa and Mykolenko for now. Villa are adequate defensively and have a couple tough fixtures early, but by Gameweek 3 Konsa should be a true asset. My 2nd £4.5m defender is currently Mykolenko but that could change for sure. Nothing much in that position for me.”

Midfielders (MID): Egyptian King on the wing

Ignoring the current trend of excluding Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) in favour of Diogo Jota (£7.5m), Corey is setting his stall with the greatest FPL asset of all time, even if this means compromise elsewhere.

Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) represents the next most expensive midfielder in the squad, with highly owned Eberechi Eze (£7.0m) a close second. The budget picks of Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m) and Morgan Rogers (£5.0m) are unproven in the Premier League but carry high expectations for their price points.

As we can see from the Fix Comparison Matrix, Salah is required to do the heavy lifting for Corey’s midfield and, at £12.5m, he absolutely must!

Comparing midfielders with the Fix Comparison Matrix

“I considered Saka in my premium midfield position, but Liverpool’s fixtures are so much better. Arsenal have three tricky road fixtures in the first five, while Liverpool have three home games and Ipswich on the road in the first five. Salah seems to be pretty nailed under Slot thus far, has often started well, and is the best captain option for Gameweek 1. Morgan Rogers was very good in limited minutes last year and seems certain to start at least a game or two. At his price, a failed punt is easily handled. You could of course forego Eze for a cheaper option, Smith-Rowe perhaps, which could set you up well if they deliver. In my view, I have decided that Eze has too much upside."

Forwards (FWD): Haaland joins Salah

According to our recent survey, approximately one third of FPL managers have elected to stretch their funds to cover both Salah and Erling Haaland (£15.0m), with fewer managers willing to go without Haaland than without Salah, should one of the two be sacrificed.

It is interesting to compare the two giants using Opta Player Heatmaps. Both players have mind-blowing statistics, with Haaland edging Salah on goal threat, and Salah beating Haaland against creative metrics. It could be argued that it is closer between the two than their price suggests, however, Haaland will probably start the season more assured under Pep Guardiola than Salah, who will be playing in a new system under Arne Slot. Perhaps that is where the extra cash becomes worthwhile.

Salah vs Haaland stats

Chris Wood (£6.0m) – who is only owned by 4.8% of all FPL managers (Live Insight) – makes up the third spot.

Corey's GW1 draft

This, of course, is merely an early draft and will be subject to change. Our Elite XI managers will be tweaking and refining their squads as new information presents itself.

If you want to keep up-to-date with Corey’s (or any other Elite XI managers’ with a combined 83 top 10k finishes) moves, then head over to the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool and be sure to turn on notifications and alerts to find out when our managers have updated their squads.

By Matt Whelan

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