FPL Gameweek 4: Top Five Key Players

Fantasy Football Fix 30 Aug. 2023

In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 4 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

Unlock all Elite Manager's live team reveals, access all tools and win your Mini-Leagues with 50% off - claim now!

Headliner – Erling Haaland (FUL)

Haaland already finds himself at the top of the goal scoring charts with three goals in as many matches, The Norwegian International is top amongst forwards for shots (16) shots on target (SoT) (seven), and Expected Goals (xG) (3.07). Only Awoniyi (20) and Wissa (22) have notched more FPL points than his 19. As the below image from our Fix Heatmaps feature shows, he averaged 8.9 FPL points per game at the Etihad last season. Man. City have scored six goals with only West Ham (seven), Villa (eight) and Brighton (nine) more prolific. No side has taken more shots in the box (SiB) (44) than the reigning Champions and they are fifth for xG (6.88). Their opponents Fulham have conceded just five goals in their three matches, but are ranked 19th for SiB conceded (45). No side has registered a worse Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) tally than the London side (9.45). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 7.8 for Haaland.

Use a range of pitch maps to help inform your transfers.

Mohamed Salah (AVL)

Salah has notched three attacking returns in as many matches with two assists and a goal, only Mbeumo (2.87) has notched a higher xG than the Egyptian International (2.09) amongst midfielders. He has taken 10 shots, which is only bettered by Bowen (11), B. Fernandes (13) and Eze (16). He has also attempted five assists, two of which were BC. Despite some rotation expected in the Liverpool front three, he is rated at 100% to start by the Fix Predicted Lineups feature. Liverpool have scored six goals so far, but their attacking numbers were affected by going down to 10 men early against Newcastle in Gameweek 3. They are ranked eighth for shots (48) And 10th for xG (5.71). Villa have conceded six goals this season with only Luton (seven) performing worse. The Birmingham side are ranked 10th for xGC (4.97) but only sixth for shots conceded (35). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 6.6 for Salah.

James Maddison (bur)

Maddison’s goal against Bournemouth in Gameweek 3 made it three attacking returns (two assists, one goal) for the Spurs midfielder, who has started the season on fire. He is ranked sixth for chances created (nine) and eighth for SiB (seven) amongst midfielders, no Spurs player has attempted more shots or created more chances. As the below image from the Fix Fixture Analyser shows, Spurs have a great run of games long-term which makes Maddison a great buy. The Lilywhites have scored six goals in their three matches and are ranked third for SiB (38). The London side are ranked ninth for xG (5.74) and BC (eight). Their hosts Burnley have conceded six goals in two matches with only Luton (seven) shipping in more. They are ranked ninth for xGC (4.94) despite playing only two games. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.5 for Maddison.

Analyse team’s upcoming fixtures.

Raheem Sterling (NFO)

Sterling registered the season’s biggest FPL point haul with 19 points against Luton in Gameweek three, only Enzo (seven) and Jackson (11) have attempted more shots than his six amongst Chelsea players. while he only trails Enzo (eight) for chances created. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is a very popular target this week with over 700,000 FPL managers bringing him in. Chelsea have scored five goals so far and trail only Brighton (13) for BC (11). Their xG of 7.09 can only be bettered by Man. Utd. (7.24), Villa (7.33) and Brighton (8.2). Ther visitors Forest have conceded six goals in their three matches and are yet to keep a clean sheet. They are ranked 10th for shots conceded (40) And seventh for xGC (4.24).Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 5.1 for Sterling.

Evaluate transfer analytics to see which players are popular with other managers.

Destiny Udogie (bur)

Udogie’s 12-point haul against Bournemouth has now made him the fifth highest scoring FPL defender with 18 points. The left-back has attempted three assists in as many matches and is ranked third for Expected Assists (xA) (0.80) amongst defenders. Spurs have conceded just two goals in the opening three matches with only Man. City (one) being stronger at the back. However, they are ranked 12th for shots conceded (44) and 12th for xGC (5.09), which might need to be factored in vs tougher opponents. Burnley have scored just one goal in their opening two matches, with only Everton (zero) struggling in front of goal more. They have attempted just 15 shots, landed just three on target and created a solitary BC. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a 30% probability of a Spurs clean sheet and a point score of 3.3 for Udogie.