In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 23 are discussed. Every FPL Gameweek, picks will be in the below format:

1x Defender or Goalkeeper

2x Attackers less than £8.5m

2x Attackers £8.5m or over

Headliner – Erling Haaland (eve)

Despite only 15 appearances, Haaland is still leading the Golden Boot race with 14 goals while only Watkins (65), Solanke (67) and Darwin (72) have taken more shots than his 60 this season. No forward has been afforded more ‘big chances’ (BC) or registered a higher ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (15.24) tally than the Norwegian international. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is the most bought player ahead of the Gameweek 23 deadline. Man. City have scored 13 goals over the last six Gameweeks (third) with only Liverpool (56) landing more shots on target (SoT) than their 37. They are also ranked third for shots (101) with only Arsenal (122) and Liverpool (142) faring better. Their hosts Everton have conceded eight goals over the same period (seventh) and have kept three clean sheets. However, the Toffees are ranked 19th for shots conceded (103) and 13th for ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (10.68). Our Predicted Points tool currently projects a point score of 5.8 for Haaland.

Ollie Watkins (shu)

Watkins found the back of the net against Newcastle which took him to third spot for goals (10) amongst forwards. As the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows, only Solanke (61) has taken more shots in the box (SiB) (61) than his 59 while he is third for SoT (26). Meanwhile, no player across all positions has registered more FPL assists (11) and only J. Álvarez (47) has created more chances than his 32. Villa have found the back of the net nine times over the last six Gameweeks (10th), the Midlands side are ranked sixth for SoT (31) and xG (10.89). Their hosts Sheff. Utd. Have conceded 13 goals over the same period with only Brentford (14) more porous. The Blades are ranked 11th for shots conceded (86) and 16th for xGC (11.47). Our Predicted Points tool currently projects a point score of 5.3 for Gordon.

Anthony Gordon (LUT)

Gordon has been one of Newcastle’s most influential players this season, as the below image from our Match Stats feature shows over their last five league matches he is third amongst their players for goals (one) and second for both xG (1.5) and SoT (four). Newcastle have scored 11 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Man. City (13), Spurs (14) and Liverpool (15) more prolific. The Magpies are top for BC (21) and second for xG (14.85). Their visitors Luton have conceded six goals over the aforementioned period and have kept two clean sheets. The Hatters are ranked eighth for both SiB conceded (47) and xGC (8.21). Our Predicted Points tool currently projects a point score of 5.2 for Gordon.

Dominic Solanke (NFO)

Solanke (12) trails only Haaland (14) for goals amongst forwards this season and the 26-year-old is top for SiB (61) and third for xG (10.86). Over the last six Gameweeks, only Wood (six) has scored more goals than Solanke (four) and the Bournemouth forward is third for SiB (17) despite having played two games fewer. As the below image from our Opta Player Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 4.9 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Bournemouth have scored seven goals over the last six Gameweeks (13th) and are ranked 18th for xG (6.30). Their visitors Forest have conceded 12 goals over the same period (16th) and have kept no clean sheets. They are ranked 12th for shots conceded (89) and 11th for xGC (9.95). Our Predicted Points tool currently projects a point score of 5.1 for Solanke.

Kieran Trippier (LUT)

Trippier registered his first assist over the last six Gameweeks against Villa and while his attacking returns have dried up of late, the underlying numbers are still strong. Despite playing only four games over the aforementioned period, he is still second for attempted assists (13) amongst defenders and fifth for ‘Expected Assists’ (xA) (1.16). No defender has registered more assists (eight) over the campaign. Newcastle have conceded 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (15th) and have kept just one clean sheet. The Magpies are bottom for both shots conceded (110) and xGC (16.43) over the aforementioned period but it is worth mentioning that they have kept more clean sheets in home matches (six) than any other side this season. Luton have scored 11 goals over the same period (fourth) but are ranked just 10th for xG (9.56). Our Predicted Points tool currently projects a 40% chance of a Newcastle clean sheet and a point score of 5.2 for Trippier.