Gameweek 4 Must Haves and Ones To Watch

As the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season progresses, let's explore the best options across different price ranges and positions, focusing on value for money and recent performance.

Premium Must-Haves

Safe to say if you don't have at least one or even both of these, then you may want to change that

Mohamed Salah (MID - £12.7m)

Leading the pack with 41 points, 3 goals, and 3 assists. His 2.73 xGI suggests continued high performance. Selected by 44.9% of managers. Has been yellow flagged with 75% chance to start due to personal reasons.

Erling Haaland (FWD - £15.2m)

Matching Salah's 41 points with a remarkable 7 goals and 3.93 xGI. His 67.9% ownership makes him nearly essential for maintaining rank.

High-Performing Midfielders

Bukayo Saka (MID - £10.1m)

Arsenal's star with 24 points, 1 goal, and 3 assists. His 2.02 xGI indicates consistent threat.

Luis Díaz (MID - £7.6m)

Excellent value with 32 points, 3 goals, and 1 assist. His 2.49 xGI suggests he's performing above his price point.

Cole Palmer (MID - £10.6m)

Impressive 25 points with 1 goal and 4 assists, though it did all almost come from one game. His 39.7% ownership reflects his impact.

Son Heung-min (MID - £10.0m)

21 points and a 1.80 xGI show his potential for explosive returns.

Second Forwards

Ollie Watkins (FWD - £8.9m)

A slow start with just 9 points and 1 assist. Though his 1.48 xGI suggests consistent involvement and a few missed chances which will probably start being converted.

Bryan Mbeumo (FWD - £7.1m)

Offering excellent value with 24 points and a 1.84 xGI (3 Goals). Low 8.1% ownership makes him a potential differential.

Nicolas Jackson (FWD - £7.6m)

18 points with 2 goals and an assist, showing promise in Chelsea's forward line, with a good run of fixtures to come over the next 4 weeks.

Alexander Isak (FWD - £8.5m)

16 points and 1.38 xGI in Newcastle's strong attack setup is somewhat dissapointing so far but if he can kick on he will remain a strong asset. He was highly transferred out though and could risk a price drop if the form doesn't pick up.

Defensive Assets

Trent Alexander-Arnold (DEF - £7.0m)

20 points and a high 1.70 xGI showcase his attacking potential from defense, as liverpool have a perfect start defensively.

Virgil van Dijk (DEF - £6.0m)

Solid 18 points with 3 clean sheets, offering reliability in Liverpool's backline and a cheaper option to Trent.

Pedro Porro (DEF - £5.5m)

16 points and 34.2% ownership. His 0.93 xGI hints at attacking returns with a goal already on the board.

Cristian Romero (DEF - £5.1m)

Great value at 17 points, including a clean sheet and a goal. Cheap entry into Tottenham's improving defense.

Gabriel (DEF - £6.0m)

14 points with 2 clean sheets in Arsenal's strong defensive unit.

William Saliba (DEF - £6.0m)

A direct alternative to Gabriel to give solidity in the back line, however the North London Derby is a tough fixture up next.

Goalkeepers

Alisson Becker (GK - £5.5m)

21 points with 3 clean sheets, justifying his premium price.

David Raya (GK - £5.5m)

20 points with 2 clean sheets, benefiting from Arsenal's solid defense.

Nick Pope (GK - £5.0m)

16 points and 1 clean sheet, offering value in Newcastle's strong defensive setup.

Differential Picks

Diogo Jota (FWD - £7.6m)

17 points with 1 goal and 3 assists. Low 17.7% ownership offers differential potential.

Kai Havertz (FWD - £8.1m)

22 points with 2 goals and 1 assist. Could explode if Arsenal's attack fully clicks.

Jarrod Bowen (MID - £7.5m)

15 points and 0.72 xGI. Potential for higher returns in West Ham's attack.

Adama Traoré (MID - £5.0m)

17 points with 1 goal and 1 assist. Low price and ownership (3.2%) make him an interesting punt.

Raheem Sterling (MID - £6.8m)

The recent transfer to Arsenal could spark a fire in Sterlin, though its probably a bit early until we see him get some minutes.

Value Considerations

• Luis Díaz (£7.6m, 32 points) and Bryan Mbeumo (£7.1m, 24 points) offer exceptional value in their price ranges.
• Defensively, Cristian Romero (£5.1m, 17 points) provides great points per million.
• Cole Palmer (£10.6m, 25 points) is proving to be a mid-price gem in midfield.
• Among forwards, Ollie Watkins (£8.2m, 23 points) stands out for value.

Conclusion

When building your FPL team, consider:

• Goalkeepers: Weigh premium options like Alisson against value picks like Pope.
• Defenders: Balance attacking defenders like Alexander-Arnold with solid, cheaper options like Romero.
• Midfielders: Mix premium assets like Salah with value picks like Díaz or Palmer.
• Forwards: While Haaland seems essential, pairing him with value options like Mbeumo or Watkins could be key.

Remember to consider fixtures and team structure when making transfers. Don't shy away from calculated risks on differentials to climb the rankings, but also keep an eye on highly-owned players to maintain your overall rank.