In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 24 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)

Haaland marked his return to the Man. City starting lineup with an assist against Brentford, the Norwegian international still leads the Golden Boot race (14) despite making just 17 appearances, he is also still top for ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (15.69) and ‘big chances’ (BC) (28) amongst forwards while only Solanke (62) and Watkins (61) have taken more shots in the box (SiB) than his 61. As the below image from our Opta Player Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 6.5 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Man. City have scored 14 goals over the last six Gameweeks (fourth), the reigning Champions are third for shots (107) and second for shots on target (SoT) (43). Their visitors Everton have conceded 10 goals over the same period and have kept two clean sheets. The Toffees are ranked 16th for shots conceded (98) with only Chelsea (99), Burnley (100), West Ham (105) and Newcastle (115) faring worse. Our Predicted Points and Stats tool currently projects a point score of 5.7 for Haaland.

Ollie Watkins (MUN)

Watkins appeared back to his best against Sheff. Utd., as the below image from our Match Stats feature shows over Villa’s last five league matches he is top amongst their players for goals (two), xG (1.7), SoT (six) and assists (five) while only Bailey and D. Luiz (11 each) have created more chances than his seven. Villa have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (seventh), the Midlands side are ranked ninth for SiB (58) and seventh for xG (11.35). Their opponents Man. Utd. have conceded 11 goals over the aforementioned period and have kept just one clean sheet. The Red Devils are ranked 11th for SiB conceded (58) and sixth for xGC (8.73). Our Predicted Points and Stats tool currently projects a point score of 4.7 for Watkins.

Darwin Núñez (BUR)

Darwin will likely be back in the Liverpool starting lineup after a benching against Arsenal, the Uruguayan international has scored three goals over the last six Gameweeks and as the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows he is top amongst forwards for shots (26), SiB (18), ‘big chances’ (BC) (seven) and xG (4.12). Liverpool have scored 16 goals over the last six Gameweeks (first) and are also top for both shots (118) and xG (14.72). Their visitors Burnley have conceded 11 goals over the same period and have kept just one clean sheet. Only West Ham (105) and Newcastle (115) have allowed opponents more shots than the Clarets over that timeframe (100). Our Predicted Points and Stats tool currently projects a point score of 4.6 for Darwin.

Richarlison (BHA)

Richarlison has been the league’s form player with six goals over as many Gameweeks, the Brazilian international trails only Saka for SiB (15 vs 14), BC (six vs five) and xG (3.13 vs 2.94) amongst midfielders. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is currently the most transferred in player this week. Spurs have scored 14 goals over the last six Gameweeks (fourth) and are ranked fifth for both shots (88) and SiB (63). Their visitors Brighton have conceded eight goals over the same period (fifth) and are ranked seventh for xGC (9.37). Our Predicted Points and Stats tool currently projects a point score of 5.2 for Richarlison.

Alexander-Arnold (BUR)

Alexander-Arnold should be back to full fitness after limited minutes against Arsenal in Gameweek 23, the right-back trails only Trippier for attempted assists (60 vs 51) amongst defenders while no defender has created more BC (12). He is also second for shots (29) with only Porro (37) faring better. Liverpool have conceded just seven goals over the last six Gameweeks and have kept two clean sheets. Only Arsenal (35) and Man. City (33) have allowed opponents fewer SiB than the Merseyside outfit (37). Burnley have scored eight goals over the last six Gameweeks (15th), no side has attempted fewer SiB (38) than the Clarets over that period while only Palace (5.95) have registered a lower xG than their 6.25. Our Predicted Points and Stats tool currently projects a 50% chance of a Liverpool clean sheet and a point score of 6.5 for Alexander-Arnold.