If you are the sort of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) manager who enjoys going against the grain – or takes satisfaction from finding hidden gems before the crowd – then lowly selected players (differentials) can often provide value and offer a source of points which won’t be shared by many other managers. As long as the player picks are justifiable, differentials can give you an edge over your mini-league rivals.

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In this article we look ahead to Gameweek 12 and find players from each position who are currently selected by less than 10% of managers, but could reward their owners in the upcoming Gameweeks.

DEF: Tino Livramento

• Cost: £4.3m
• Selected by: 0.3%
• Next Fixture: BOU (a)

Often in FPL, a problem for some managers can be an opportunity for others. Those who have played this game for a few seasons will be familiar with Tino Livramento (£4.3m). Following his breakout season for Southampton in 2021/22, he quickly became a highly owned FPL asset, and could have gone on to achieve legendary status, had a long-term injury not dampened his season.

With Dan Burn (£4.7m) injured, Livramento is most likely to jump in at the vacant right-back spot. A sub-£4.5m route into one of the best defences in the league is difficult to resist, especially when you add potential attacking returns into the mix.

In Newcastle’s midweek Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund, Lewis Hall (£4.3m) started at left-back, Kieran Trippier (£7.0m) stayed on his usual flank, and Livramento was played as a right-winger. It is noteworthy however, that Hall was substituted at half-time, with Livramento reverting to a full back role. However, if Livramento gets any time in a more advanced position, he could yield points beyond clean sheets.

MID: Pascal Gross

• Cost: £6.3m
• Selected by: 1.6%
• Next Fixture: SHU (h)

A home game against Sheffield United – for one of the most attacking teams in the league – is about as good as it gets. Unfortunately, De Zerbi’s unpredictable line-ups narrow the amount of nailed Brighton attacking options down quite considerably.

Enter Pascal Gross (£6.3m). If you are looking for a differential option to the highly owned Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) – or someone to partner the Japanese international in your midfield – then Gross could be a great shout.

He is cheap; he is (more or less) nailed, and he is the sixth best midfielder in terms of attempted assists (per 90 minutes) according to Opta Stats Sandbox. His direct goal threat is down from last season (only registering 0.16 xG per 90) but we know historically that Gross is capable of both goals and assists.

FWD: Taiwo Awoniyi

• Cost: £6.4m
• Selected by: 2.1%
• Next Fixture: WHU (a)

One of the biggest surprises of the season has been how poor West Ham have been defensively. West Ham is ranked 16th for Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) with a whopping 21.22 (compared with Manchester City’s 9.13). They are ranked 17th for total shots conceded (191), and joint 16th for goals conceded (20).

Perhaps we need to reevaluate West Ham as being a difficult side to score against? And if we do, a great differential forward emerges: Taiwo Awoniyi (£6.4m).

Recently back from injury, Awoniyi is ranked fourth best for goals (per 90), amongst forwards, and could be in for another return against a leaky West Ham. Looking beyond the West Ham game, Nottingham Forest is finally about to embark on a great run of fixtures – #1 for attacking according to our Fixture Planner – which runs right up until Gameweek 18.

By Matt Whelan

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