Boxing Day fixtures have an undeniable charm that captivates football fans worldwide.
Perhaps it’s the joy of relaxing with delicious Christmas leftovers while indulging in the thrill of Premier League action.
For Fantasy Premier League managers, this festive period presents a unique opportunity to gain an edge.
The quick turnaround between gameweeks means diligent managers can capitalise on their planning while others, distracted by the holiday festivities, might neglect their lineups.
Don’t be caught off guard!
In this article, we’ll get you up to date on all the FPL Gameweek 18 news and provide some FPL tips to help you optimize your team ahead of GW18.
FPL Gameweek 18 Fixtures
Everton will travel to Manchester City.
Bournemouth will host Crystal Palace.
Fulham have a trip to Chelsea.
Newcastle will welcome Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest are at home to Spurs.
West Ham will face Southampton at St Mary’s stadium.
Wolves have a home game against Manchester United.
Liverpool take on Leicester at Anfield.
Brighton have a home clash against Brentford.
Ipswich are heading to Arsenal.
FPL Assets Leading On Form For Gameweek 18
Let’s start by looking at the current form amongst FPL assets for Matchweek 18.
Goalkeepers:
- Jordan Pickford remains first with 5.2
- Kepa Arrizabalaga moves to second with 4.4
- David Raya is tied for third with 3.8
Defenders:
- Dean Huijsen jumps to first with 6.8
- William Saliba drops to second with 6.6
- Vitalii Mykolenko is tied for third with 6.0
Midfielders:
- Mohamed Salah remains far ahead with 14.0
- Cole Palmer is still second with 9.0
- Kevin Schade moves to third with 7.8
Forwards:
- Alexander Isak stays first with 8.3
- Jamie Vardy is second with 4.8
- Matheus Cunha drops to third with 4.6
Alexander Isak Overtakes Erling Haaland
Alexander Isak has taken the Fantasy Premier League world by storm, surpassing Erling Haaland in global ownership after a string of extraordinary performances.
Haaland, the early-season favourite, had been the most-selected forward in the game since Gameweek 1, but his recent inconsistency has frustrated many managers.
Meanwhile, Isak’s electric form, highlighted by a stunning hat-trick against Ipswich Town, has made him the go-to forward for FPL managers seeking reliable returns.
The Newcastle striker has seen his price rise from £8.5m at the start of the season to £9.0m, yet he remains an incredible £5.8m cheaper than Haaland.
To put that into perspective, selling Haaland could allow managers to not only bring in Isak but also use the savings to fully fund the purchase of a player like Alex Iwobi, who currently ranks 13th in FPL points among all players.
A closer look at the key statistics of the two forwards offers fascinating insights.
Both players boast an impressive 14 goal contributions, but Isak has achieved this feat in just 15 games compared to Haaland’s 17.
While Haaland has attempted 71 shots, Isak trails with 46 but edges his counterpart in shooting accuracy, registering 65.6% compared to Haaland’s 64.4%.
None of Isak’s goals have come from the penalty spot, whereas Haaland has scored one goal from a spot-kick.
Regarding team contributions, Isak’s well-rounded play sets him apart.
He has registered 4 assists this season, significantly outpacing Haaland’s single assist, and has created 7 big chances for his Newcastle teammates, compared to just 2 created by Haaland for Manchester City.
Furthermore, Isak’s passing accuracy stands at 75.5%, comfortably ahead of Haaland’s 67.6%, highlighting his superior link-up play and involvement in Newcastle’s attacking build-up.
The impatience with Haaland among managers is clear.
While Erling Haaland has delivered in patches, Isak’s consistency and all-around contributions make him a far more appealing option.
With over 700,000 managers bringing in Isak ahead of Gameweek 18, it’s evident that FPL managers are starting to favour value and form over reputation.
Alexander Isak’s rise in popularity could mark a significant turning point in the fantasy football season as managers look to capitalise on Newcastle’s attacking potential and leave behind the frustrations of Haaland’s underwhelming performances.
FPL Managers Are Looking For Bukayo Saka Replacements
Arsenal fans and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers were dealt a blow when Bukayo Saka was forced off the pitch after just 23 minutes during Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace.
It has since been confirmed that the injury will likely sideline the star winger for several weeks, with no definitive return date in sight.
This has left millions of FPL managers facing a tough decision: how to replace one of the game’s most reliable assets?
While Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer may seem like obvious replacements, the reality is more complicated.
Both players come with higher price tags than Saka, making them unaffordable for many managers who are already tight on funds.
Additionally, many managers may have already had Salah or Palmer in their teams before Saka’s injury, limiting their options.
For those in search of a suitable replacement, here are three alternatives to consider:
Luis Díaz
The Liverpool forward offers a distinct advantage over other options, having recently been deployed as a striker in both Premier League and Champions League matches.
While Arne Slot’s rotations have caused some FPL managers to hesitate in bringing Luis Díaz into their teams, the Colombian's performances have highlighted his importance as one of Liverpool's key attacking players.
Although Saka has outperformed Luis Díaz in terms of assists, the Liverpool winger has found the back of the net more often this season, with 7 goals compared to Saka’s 5.
Noni Madueke
Despite their draw against Everton, Chelsea have been in excellent form this season, sitting in second place in the Premier League, 2 points ahead of Saka’s Arsenal.
This season, Noni Madueke has matched Saka's goal tally, scoring 5 goals.
Additionally, Madueke has provided 3 assists and, priced at just £6.3m, he could be an ideal replacement for Saka.
This move would not only offer a strong attacking option but also free up a significant amount of funds to reinvest elsewhere.
Justin Kluivert
Recommending Justin Kluivert to replace Saka might seem surprising to many FPL managers.
Still, the underlying statistics suggest he could be a smart choice for those looking for a midfielder capable of delivering returns.
Bournemouth have demonstrated strong attacking form this season, ranking second among all Premier League clubs for attempted shots.
Kluivert has already outscored Saka with 6 goals so far.
At just £5.5m, Kluivert offers an affordable alternative, allowing managers to free up significant funds while still securing a potential source of points.
Are Everton’s Defensive Assets Going Unnoticed?
Everton held both Chelsea and Arsenal to 0-0 draws in their previous two matches.
Although Everton’s general play hasn’t been particularly exciting, it seems FPL managers are overlooking their defensive statistics this season.
In both matches against Arsenal and Chelsea, Everton played with a back four consisting of Vitaliy Mykolenko, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, and Ashley Young.
It might be surprising to many FPL managers to learn that Everton has kept the most clean sheets of any Premier League club this season, tied only with leaders Liverpool, with 7 clean sheets so far.
These 7 clean sheets came against Newcastle, Ipswich, West Ham, Brentford, Wolves, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has accumulated the most points among all keepers in FPL this season, with a total of 73 points.
When looking at their current back four, the following ownership statistics are revealed:
1% of FPL managers own Jarrad Branthwaite.
1.6% of FPL managers own James Tarkowski.
3.8% of FPL managers own Ashley Young (who is currently suspended until 29 December).
4.9% of FPL managers own Vitaliy Mykolenko.
These ownership percentages are incredibly low compared to other defensive options from clubs struggling to keep clean sheets.
FPL managers who have invested in these budget-friendly assets from Everton have certainly earned more points from clean sheets than the vast majority of managers who have dismissed the Toffees' defensive potential.
Are We Finally Seeing The Trent We Expected?
As the most expensive defender in FPL, managers who invested £7.0m in Trent Alexander-Arnold expected him to continue delivering exceptional attacking returns, including assists and set-piece contributions.
However, the season got off to a slow start in terms of attack for Liverpool’s right-back, with just one assist in his first 13 matches.
Since then, Trent has found his rhythm, registering 3 assists in his last 3 games, including a pinpoint cross on the head of Luis Díaz against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
From the start of the 2018/19 season through to the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Trent racked up an incredible 57 assists.
Suppose he can maintain his current form and fend off any interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid in the upcoming transfer window.
In that case, FPL managers can expect to see big point hauls coming from the majestic right foot of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Return Of Gabriel Jesus
With only three starts since the start of the season, Gabriel Jesus has been largely absent for Arsenal.
Before their match against Crystal Palace this past weekend, the striker had failed to register a single goal or assist throughout the season, accumulating a mere 10 FPL points over 16 gameweeks.
However, in his most recent game, Jesus delivered a standout performance, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
This showing appears to have been enough to make him the second most transferred-in player heading into Gameweek 18.
It’s clear that many FPL managers are anticipating more minutes for Jesus following the injury to Bukayo Saka.
At a price of £6.8m, he’s seen as a potential value pick for those looking to strengthen their squads.
Arsenal's next five fixtures are against Ipswich, Brentford, Brighton, Spurs, and Aston Villa.
It will be interesting to see if Gabriel Jesus can deliver on the expectations of the many FPL managers who have brought him into their teams.
The Last Chance For City Assets?
For any Premier League fan, it's highly unusual to see Manchester City sitting in 7th place in the standings.
While their recent dip in form has been well-documented, the next five fixtures could prove to be a pivotal period in City’s season.
After these matches, their upcoming fixtures will become much more challenging, making this stretch of games crucial for the blue side of Manchester.
Manchester City will face Everton, Leicester, West Ham, Brentford, and Ipswich in their next five matches.
Our FPL advice is that these games present an opportunity for current Manchester City assets to rediscover their form and deliver valuable returns for FPL managers who still hope this star-studded squad can return to its dominant ways.
Following this run, City’s schedule becomes significantly tougher, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham all lined up.
That’s a brutal stretch for any team.
If Manchester City can build momentum over the next few weeks, we could see their assets regain popularity among FPL managers as they look to bounce back.
Differential Captain Pick Of The Week:
Antoine Semenyo
With 5 goals so far this season, Antoine Semenyo has registered the second most shots on goal in the Premier League, with only Erling Haaland attempting more.
He’s coming off a strong performance, scoring a goal at Old Trafford to help Bournemouth secure a 3-0 victory over Manchester United.
Next, Bournemouth will face Crystal Palace, who are currently in 16th place in the Premier League standings.
Palace have kept just 3 clean sheets this season, and Semenyo may be primed to cause further problems for their defence.
FPL managers who select him as their captain could see a strong return in points.
Playing Your Free Hit?
Most managers will be saving their free hit for double gameweeks later on in the season.
Those who are tempted to use their free hit this weekend might find some value below:
GK: Arrizabalaga (£4.5m)
DEF: Colwill (£4.6m)
DEF: Dalot (£5.1m)
DEF: Gomez (£4.9m)
MID: Palmer (£11.3m)
MID: Foden (£9.1m)
MID: Salah © (£13.5m)
MID: Amad (£5.4m)
FWD: Jackson (£8.3m)
FWD: Isak (£9.0m)
FWD: Solanke (£7.5m)
BENCH: Killian Cahill (£3.9m)
BENCH: Choudhury (£4.3m)
BENCH: Quansah (£3.9m)
BENCH: Thomas (£3.9m)
Final Thoughts
As we head into Gameweek 18 with the Boxing Day matches almost upon us, the festive football frenzy is in full swing.
The holiday period always brings some unpredictability to the Premier League, and this year is no different.
As the year comes to a close, FPL managers will be hoping their selections can deliver strong returns to finish 2024 on a high note.
With key fixtures lined up, now’s the time to keep an eye on form, injuries, and suspensions while enjoying the excitement of the Boxing Day matches.
Merry Christmas, and may our Fantasy Premier League tips for Gameweek 18 bring you a festive haul of points!
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