FPL tips from the reigning champion: GW 9

From FotMob, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk

We introduce you to our experts

Jonas is a 21-year-old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway, but unlike the frustrated Fantasy Premier League players in the office, he achieved something we could only dream of last season. He took first place in the 2023/24 season ahead of 11 million other managers.

Who better then to give us expert advice every week?

The eye test vs. the statistics

Tottenham Hotspur proved once again that they are one of the better attacking teams in the league, scoring 4 goals against West Ham last weekend. Heung Min Son (worth 9.9 million in the game) may have only just returned from injury, but he looked really strong. He was credited with a goal and even a questionable assist that was later removed from the game. He created two chances and had four shots in the penalty area, but despite being close to the goal he only managed a total of 0.41 xG. Spurs have good games in the future and Son is definitely one to consider for your team.

Raúl Jímenez (5.7m) started the last five Premier League games for Fulham and came back in every single one of them! In GW8, against Aston Villa, he got himself into a lot of good positions. He managed 0.74 xG, but anyone who owned him would have nullified the three big chances he missed and the fact that Andreas Pereira missed a penalty won by Jímenez. The silver lining could be that the Mexican international is now taking the penalty, making him even more valuable.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ games are only going to get better from this game week onwards and I think if you don’t want to go for Jímenez, himself a former Wolves player, then both Jørgen Strand-Larsen (5.5m) and Matheus are Cunha (6.5m) will be a good option given the nature of their upcoming games. Strand-Larsen has scored more points than Cunha this season, but I think I prefer Cunha because he has better baseline stats (0.48 vs. 0.28 xG participations per 90) and because he’s most likely to be on the penalty kill there Pablo Sarabia doesn’t play regularly and Hwang Hee-Chan is out injured.

Long shot

Jarrod Bowen (7.4) probably should have received an assist last weekend but his efforts were not rewarded in West Ham’s defeat to Spurs. This season he has an average of 0.39 xG appearances per 90, which isn’t the best, but I still believe Bowen is a valuable asset if you can integrate him into your team. Bowen is in good form, appears to be making good decisions in the game and remains a creative spark for this West Ham side.

Upcoming games to follow

There is one game in particular in GW9 that I think could be of great use to FPL. That is of course Manchester City at home against Southampton. Many of us own a number of Man City players and I wouldn’t sell them yet, despite their relatively poor defensive form and the fact that Erling Haaland has been shut out for three games in a row. Southampton appear to be in shambles and it could even be Russel Martin’s last game. This is a game where I definitely see 2.5 xG+ for Man City.

Another game I’m looking forward to is Brentford v Ipswich. Ipswich are very weak defensively, conceding a whopping 2.18 xG on average. Yoane Wissa just came back from injury and had a 25-minute appearance against Manchester United but failed to impress. I can imagine a few attacking rebounds from both sides, particularly from Bryan Mbeumo and probably Liam Delap as he seems to be involved whenever Ipswich score.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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