Teams to target: Liverpool, Tottenham
Despite having a difficult start on paper and with performances not quite at their best, the fact Liverpool are second in the Premier League for xG is very impressive.
Mohamed Salah scored twice in his last game, earning a 15 point haul and is a lock in any dream team this week.
Despite their defensive struggles, just one clean sheet in eight, I’d like a Liverpool defensive option going into a home game with Everton.
Everton have just nine goals this season, seven of which have come in their last three matches. They are comfortably under performing their xG and a Liverpool clean sheet looks a good bet.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best pick provided you’ve the funds, but an injury to Andrew Robertson has given us an FPL budget gem in the form of £4.4m Konstantinos Tsimikas.
Were I to add a third Liverpool option, the available again Diogo Jota would be my pick, with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez returning back from South America after international duty.
Tottenham vs. Fulham
Tottenham’s incredible start to life under Ange Postecoglou shows no sign of coming to a halt and they went into the international break top of the Premier League.
Fulham at home is another favourable fixture and you’d want a couple of Spurs assets in a free hit side this week.
Son Heung-Min and James Maddison are the best attacking options, although the former is clearly playing through an injury issue.
Pedro Porro is the best defender pick from Tottenham with the Spanish defender taking up some incredibly offensive positions in the recent win over Luton.
Opposition to target: Brighton, Sheffield United
Manchester City vs. Brighton
Perhaps harsh to pick Brighton as a team to target, but they are yet to keep a clean sheet this campaign and only the division’s bottom three have conceded more goals.
Brighton conceded six in their last away match and things don’t get more difficult than a trip to the champions Manchester City.
Erling Haaland is a must this week on a free hit side and he is the easy captain option once again.
He’s probably the only City option I’d select though, with other attacking options rotation risks and you feel Brighton will likely score.
Sheffield United vs. Manchester United
Sheffield United have been awful this season and there is little to suggest performances are improving.
They welcome Manchester United, who have struggled themselves, to Brammall Lane on Saturday evening and away win is the likely outcome.
Sheffield United are ranked 20th for goals conceded and xGA this season and they look absolutely hopeless at defending set pieces.
Bruno Fernandes as a result would be a lock for me in a free hit side this week.
Raphael Varane should return for United and is probably the most likely defensive option to score from a set-piece.
Other options
Nottingham Forest vs. Luton Town
Luton Town are currently outside the relegation zone, but they have struggled this campaign and few would bet against a Nottingham Forest win here.
The impressive Taiwo Awoniyi is injured otherwise he’d be a really good selection here.
As a result, Morgan Gibbs-White looks a good differential option and as a one week punt or free hit selection, I’d definitely consider him.
Murillo has looked excellent since coming into the Forest team, but in a nice looking gameweek, it’s hard to find room for him.
I do fancy a Forest clean sheet here and as a result, Matt Turner is a great budget selection.
Newcastle United vs. Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have one of the worst injury lists in the Premier League and given their numerous absences, they are going to struggle to score in upcoming fixtures.
Kieran Trippier has been excellent since GW5, returning 44 points in his last four matches!
Unsurprisingly he’s a very popular pick at the moment and is another lock in a free hit side.
GW9 Dream Team: Turner; Varane, Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Porro; Salah, Son, Maddison, Gibbs-White, Fernandes; Haaland (C)
