EPL GW-5 FPL Player Picks

In a week with a boatload of UEFA action underway, now is the time to wait as long as possible before finalizing any transfers. Newcastle and Leeds kickoff GW-5 on Friday, further compressing an already busy week. With our suggestions this round, hold on for injury updates and clues to come. With that said, here’s the NMA suggested squad:

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GOALKEEPER

David Raya Martin - ( £4.6m / 9.9% / WOL )

Raya is a budget enabler making stops for a Brentford side that is holding the line defensively while short on goal production other than in the impressive opening home match versus Arsenal. The Bees keeper (I’ve been waiting to use that title) has 11 saves already this season, and Wolves will have a lot of chances, so bonus and save points should be coming.

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Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

DEFENSE

Trent Alexander-Arnold ( £7.5m / 34.8% / CRY )

Don’t get cute. Yes, he’s expensive, but he’s predictably the top-scoring fantasy defender in the game. TAA is lining up against Crystal Palace at home and has already banked two assists plus eight bonus points to go along with three clean-sheets in four matches played. Save money elsewhere.

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Pontus Jansson ( £4.6m / 7.0% / WOL )

The giant Swedish center-back is the 6th best defender in FPL with 24 points. He has five bonus points and an assist, and with his height, it feels like a set piece goal is just a matter of time.

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Aymeric Laporte ( £5.6m / 5.6% / SOU )

Laporte is a differential pick at his ownership. The current Spanish national has seen full action the last three EPL game-weeks, even scoring a goal while keeping a 100% clean sheet record in 2021/22. He’s in form and playing a very unconvincing Southampton side at City of Manchester Stadium.

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Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

MIDFIELD

Demarai Gray ( £5.7m / 13.1% / AVL )

Gray has three goals in his last three matches. He’s statistically over-performing, but for those who got burned last season by waiting on bringing in Jesse Lingard when he was the hot hand, at the 25 year-old’s price and versus an unsteady Aston Villa squad, it’s now or never. Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks to be on the sidelines for several weeks, further increasing the confident Gray’s appeal.

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Mo Salah ( £12.5 / 54.4% / CRY )

Nothing is sure in this world except death, taxes, and Mo consistently earning points for your FPL team. The Egyptian has notched three goals and two assists already, plus six bonus points. This weekend he plays at Anfield, and lately Liverpool’s attack is looking the way it did the season they won the title.

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Diogo Jota ( £7.7m / 20.7% / CRY)

Are we spending a lot of funds on Liverpool this week? YES, we are. With Roberto Firmino still seemingly not back to fitness, Jota is a fantastic value at his price. If Liverpool runs riot against Palace in front of the home crowd, Jota will likely be involved. Vicente Guaita let in three Chelsea goals as well as two versus West Ham. Liverpool are in full attack-mode, and Diogo is putting himself in the right spaces for a points return.

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Raphinha ( £6.5m / 15.3% / NEW )

Raphina and Leeds have faced some tough competition thus far, he and the team being unlucky to not have more goals. The Brazilian is Leeds’ creative force, and ambushing a Newcastle side still licking its wounds after a 4-1 drubbing versus Man United should let Raphinha unleash his attacking potential. Newcastle has allowed a league-worst 12 goals.

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Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

FORWARDS

Patrick Bamford ( £7.9m / 13.3% / new)

If he is fit (keep an eye on injury news — there are unofficial reports of a hamstring nagging him), Bamford will do well in this fixture. Newcastle is leaky, and with only one goal plus one assist this season, BamBam will be looking to get on the scoresheet. His underlying stats are decent, and he’s still on penalties.

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Ronaldo ( £12.5m / 39.3% / WHU )

Are you going to bet against an angry Ronaldo who was pulled early from the shock loss to Young Boys in the Champions League opener? No, you are not. With one EPL match under his belt, he has already accrued 13 fantasy points on two goals and full bonus. The Hammers are no pushovers at home, but bet against the Portuguese legend at your peril.

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Teemu Pukki ( £5.9m / 5.4% / WAT )

To be fair, this is a nostalgic pick while also being a budget differential. If a Pukki Party is to be had, and if Norwich wish to claw out of relegation, home versus Watford is the time to do it. He’s still on penalties and did score a goal against Leicester.

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Statistics and information for this article were sourced from fantasy.premierleague.com, fbref.com

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What players are your differentials this week? Waiting until the final minutes to make changes or trying to beat price changes? Please let us know in the comments below! Good luck on those green arrows!

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