The new Fantasy Premier League season enters its fifth week and with the transfer window and first international break of the campaign now firmly behind us, continuity could prove key.
GWK4 was all about new signings and returning stars lighting up the Premier League, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a brace on his Manchester United return, while Romelu Lukaku struck two on his second homecoming for Chelsea, the same number Odsonne Edouard notched on his Crystal Palace bow.
Every single touch from Odsonne Edouard's Palace debut
#CPFC pic.twitter.com/WIqlWDhGDN
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 14, 2021
Our team earned a respectable 63 points last week, with Bruno Fernandes accounting for 16 of those as our captain, while Liverpool pair Trent Alexander-Arnold (12) and Mohamed Salah (8) also produced solid contributions.
The introduction of Ferran Torres did not prove the initial masterstroke it threatened to be, as the City star could only contribute three points, but he and the rest of Pep Guardiola’s attacking stars will fancy their chances of scoring big against Southampton on Saturday.
The one transfer we will make this week comes in attack, as West Ham forward Michail Antonio is out of contention following his sending off against Southampton.
Aston Villa forward Danny Ings could be the man to replace Antonio, with the England international, who totals just £0.1million more than his West Ham counterpart, having already netted twice for his new club following his summer move from Southampton.
Villa are at home to Everton this weekend, not an easy task by any means, but Ings has scored on four previous occasions against the Toffees in the Premier League.
Goalkeeper – Robert Sanchez
Brighton goalkeeper Sanchez collected his second clean sheet of the campaign against Brentford last weekend, taking his season total to 16 points.
The Spaniard has played an integral part in Brighton’s strong start to the season and he will fancy his chances of delivering another shutout when the Seagulls host a Leicester side on Sunday that have underwhelmed so far this term.
Defenders – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, Ben White, Shane Duffy
Injury apart, Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to be the mainstay of most FPL teams this season, with the Liverpool right-back having contributed an assist and a clean sheet against Leeds last week.
A similar performance could follow for the England international against Crystal Palace this weekend and we should be well placed to cash in.
Most chances created in the 2021/22 #PL season so far
@TrentAA – 𝟮𝟬
@JackGrealish – 𝟭𝟯
@Raul_Jimenez9 – 𝟭𝟮
Matt Ritchie – 𝟭𝟮 pic.twitter.com/RXcm9lzW3a
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 15, 2021
Manchester United may be less likely to keep a clean sheet when they visit West Ham, but Luke Shaw, who contributed an assist against Newcastle, is difficult to leave out.
Arsenal and Brighton both kept shutouts last weekend, and with Gunners travelling to Burnley and the Seagulls hosting Leicester, there appears little reason to replace either Ben White or Shane Duffy.
Midfielders – Bruno Fernandes, Mohamed Salah, Ferran Torres, Raphinha
Two of these players pick themselves, with Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah likely to remain part of our team for the long haul after totalling a combined 69 points already this term.
Liverpool ace Salah is also our pick as captain this week, as he could have a field day against Palace at Anfield on Saturday.
The aforementioned Torres could also shine for Man City against Southampton, with the Spaniard’s price of £7.2million making him a worthwhile gamble, especially as he could easily be utilised as a false nine.
Leeds ace Raphinha was perhaps most at risk of losing his place in the team but the Whites are due a win and a performance, as is their Brazilian winger, who may be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a fragile Newcastle on Friday night.
Strikers – Danny Ings and Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney may have only scored one goal since Brentford earned promotion to the Premier League, but he remains the Bees’s main goalscoring threat and could easily notch at Wolves on Saturday.
Villa star Ings is certainly a reliable and affordable option to replace the suspended Antonio, with the 29-year-old averaging over a goal every two games in the Premier League since the start of the 2019-20 season.
Here’s your FPL Gameweek 5 team in full:
