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Kevin De Bruyne has gone from being the most sold player one week to the most transferred in the next. Such is life as a high-profile Fantasy Premier League asset.
The Belgian’s merciless dismantling of Arsenal in Gameweek 17 delivered 19 points and certainly caught the eye. But who with Manchester City facing an impressive Leicester City side next, could he star again or will someone else shine in GW18?
It certainly won’t be a Liverpool player – Jurgen Klopp’s side are in Qatar for the Club World Cup instead. And that has made planning for this round all the more difficult for FPL managers.
Further down the Premier League table, Manchester United and Arsenal will travel to Watford and Everton respectively while Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham host his former side Chelsea.
Here are a few tips to help guide you through GW18.
CAPTAIN – SON HEUNG-MIN | TOTTENHAM | 10.1M
Spurs are enjoying a resurgence under Mourinho and welcome a Chelsea side headed in the opposite direction.
With the Blues having kept just three clean sheets this season and none away from home, the home team should be confident of scoring a few goals in this encounter.
Dele Alli, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane have all been among the points lately but it’s Son Heung-min who is the most explosive option.
The South Korean has created four big chances in the four GWs, second only to Raul Jimenez (5) and has the potential for a huge score having delivered three double-figure hauls in his last five GWs.
ALTERNATIVES
MARCUS RASHFORD (9.1m) blanked for only the second time in his last nine games last week and still looked dangerous at home to Everton. He has three goals and two assists in his last four away games and faces Watford on the road this time.
JAMIE VARDY (10.1m) may have seen his eight-match scoring streak ended last week but extended his run of delivering attacking returns in FPL to nine GWs. Leicester travel to City whose defence is hardly convincing while the Foxes – and Vardy – are devastating in the transition.
BOLD CHOICE
DANNY INGS (6.4m) was incredibly unfortunate in GW17 as he hit the post twice and had a fantastic goal ruled out. He still has five goals in his last six though and faces a really poor Aston Villa defence that’s conceded the most big chances in the last four GWs with 15 and will be without the injured Tyrone Mings.
ONE TO GET
VINCENTE GUAITA | CRYSTAL PALACE | 5.1M
Crystal Palace’s set up seems custom-made for Vincente Guaita to rack up FPL points. They defend deep and invite shots from range. His tally of six clean sheets is second only to Kasper Schmechel’s seven but it’s his save points that makes him so appealing. Guaita made nine saves in a 1-1 draw with Brighton last week but still produced eight points owing to three save points and maximum bonus points. He doesn’t face another ‘big six’ side until GW22.
ONE TO AVOID
CHRISTIAN PULISIC | CHELSEA | 7.4M
In the last four GWs, Christian Pulisic has had 13 shots from inside the box, second only to the 14 amassed by Vardy and Mohamed Salah. Yet, the American has blanked for five straight games. Chelsea’s dip in form is part of the reason but Pulisic has also been wasteful with his shooting. Only two of his shots over the same period have been on target. With six of the big six teams to play in the next 10, now is the time to drop him.
Christian Pulisic
BARGAIN BUY
DIEGO RICO | BOURNEMOUTH | 4.4M
Diego Rico is someone who is often left stranded on many FPL teams’ benches along with his steady flow of points. But with few premium options to choose from this week, the Bournemouth defender simply has to start. He’s averaging an impressive 4.54 points per game this term and takes on Burnley at home.
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