1. xFPL review

xFPL is calculated primarily using expected goals (xG), assists (xA), which combine as Fantasy Premier League (FPL) involvements (xG + xA = xI), as well as expected clean sheets (xC). These numbers are a result of underlying statistics (i.e. shot type and location will give a probability of scoring = xG). xFPL is the combination of these statistics and factors in appearance and bonus points to give an overall expected FPL point score.

De Bruyne tops the Custom Stats xFPL table for gameweek 11 with a score of 14.9. The Belgian took five shots in the box (SiB) and attempted two assists, both of which were ‘big chances’. Salah comes in second with a score of 11.3. The Egyptian took three shots and created a ‘big chance’ as well. No player took more SiB than Zaha (six), he landed two of these on target, registering an xFPL score of 9.4. Meanwhile, no player created more chances than B. Fernandes (eight) this gameweek, which is impressive considering he played only 45 minutes. Two of these were ‘big chances’, leading to an xFPL score of 5.8.

2. Ayling vs. Dallas

Leeds embark on a favourable run of fixtures and using the Fix Heatmaps feature, the attacking numbers of their full-backs Ayling and Dallas are compared for the last four gameweeks. Dallas has been playing in midfield on occasions and posts superior attacking numbers in every category. He has taken five shots to Ayling’s three which explains his superior xG (expected goals) (0.16 to 0.05). He has also attempted four assists to Ayling’s three and in addition has created one ‘big chance’. It is worth mentioning that Dallas has already picked up three yellow cards this season, two more before gameweek 20 would see him serve a one match suspension.

3. Who makes way for Salah?

Salah is the most popular transfer target this gameweek, and managers are parting company with the likes of Ziyech, Grealish, Son etc. to bring the Egyptian in. Using the Fix Comparison Matrix for the last four gameweeks, the numbers are compared across the popular 'transfer out' picks to determine who should make way for the emphatic Liverpool attacker. The averages are used in order to account for the blank gameweek Villa had in gameweek 11. James Rodriguez numbers have been poor of late, he has averaged just 2.0 points per game (PPG) over the last four weeks, the Colombian has averaged just one SoT and two attempted assists per game. Grealish’s numbers on the other hand are very impressive. The Englishman has averaged three shots per game and has attempted as many (three) assists as well. Mahrez leads the comparison for points (9.0), goals (1.0), SoT (1.3), attempted assists (4.3) and ‘big chances’ (0.7) and looks worth holding on to. Despite averaging just 0.8 SoT and 0.5 chances created per game, Son has averaged 7.3 PPG over the last four which makes him hard to drop as well.