Another dreaded fortnight of international football is out of the way which means the return of Fantasy Premier League for game week 9.
You can be sure to expect a blockbuster schedule of fixtures ahead with Liverpool hosting Everton in the Merseyside derby, Chelsea and league-leaders Arsenal doing battle at Stamford Bridge and Manchester City looking to bounce back from successive league defeats against Brighton.
This draws up a dilemma on who to drop and who to pick in your starting teams considering potential rotations due to the international games.
The FootballCastle delivers updates on some of the best picks and captaincy options to evaluate ahead of the Gameweek 9 deadline on Saturday, 21 October at 11:00 BST.
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner (£4.1m)
The American has the chance to make it back-to-back clean sheets against Luton Town who have failed to score in three of four away games in all competitions.
Turner is also likely to get extra points on what could be a comfortable defensive performance.
Alphonse Areola (£4.2m)
Areola is one of the cheapest keepers in the game and is one you could rely on often throughout the season. The West Ham man also has the fixtures to back up his potential.
Defenders
Konstantinos Tsimikas (£4.4m)
The ‘Greek Scouser’ may only have one point in FPL but his appeal is set to soar over the coming weeks with Andrew Robertson undergoing shoulder surgery. Tsimikas will start and his fantastic attacking instincts make him a must-have differential, especially with his lowly 0.4 per cent ownership and bargain price.
What’s more? Liverpool have a good run of fixtures which bode well for their clean-sheet prospects.
Vladimír Coufal (£4.5m)
A slow start to the campaign has preceded four successive assists and the Czech international has the run of fixtures to suggest he can keep up this good form.
A GW9 date against Aston Villa will be an open affair, giving Coufal the impetus to bomb forward and attack spaces left behind by Lucas Digne.
Pedro Porro (£5.2m)
The full-back is enjoying his role as an attacking outlet for Tottenham this season and he has registered 32 FPL points from two assists and three clean sheets in eight games.
Porro is a sure starter and Fulham at home is just another in a run of good fixtures until GW13.
Kieran Trippier (£6.9m)
Trippier is one of the most sought-after defenders in FPL after amassing 44 points, five assists, three clean sheets and 10 bonus points in his last four appearances.
Furthermore, the Newcastle right-back has the ability to continue his run of assists at home in GW9 against the timid frontline of Crystal Palace who have scored only seven times in eight matches.
Midfielders
James Maddison (£8.1m)
The playmaker’s 25 chances created is more than any other midfielder this season and he has already produced two goals and five assists with three clean sheets from only eight games.
Up next is Fulham who have conceded 32 attempts from set-pieces, something which is Maddison’s forte. Notably, the Tottenham no.10 was an unused substitute for England in midweek and he will be fresh for GW9.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£5.8m)
Nottingham Forest host Luton Town with an opportunity for Gibbs-White to step up his goal threat at the City Ground where the Tricky Trees are much stronger.
Indeed, the Hatters are also poor travellers having conceded nine times in four games away from home.
Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m)
Considering that Sheffield United have conceded at least two goals in seven matches this season, Manchester United’s star midfielder can haul massive points for his team who are desperately in search of momentum.
The Blades are the league’s poorest side for conceding shots from set-pieces where Fernandes will look to capitalise.
Pedro Neto (£5.8m)
The talented Wolves forward has already surpassed his FPL points total from last term and no player has more than his six assists so far.
Neto has attacking returns in each of the last six GWs and he faces a Bournemouth side who have conceded three or more goals in the last three matches.
Son Heung-min (£9.5m)
The Spurs captain is playing as a centre forward and is on penalty duties for a very attacking side under Ange Postecoglou. Son has two double-figure hauls already and Fulham represent opponents he could notch a few returns against.
Anthony Gordon (£5.6m)
Gordon has produced four attacking returns in his last three appearances with four of his six goal involvements so far coming at St. James’ Park.
The winger possesses huge appeal as a cut-price differential at home to Crystal Palace in GW9.
Mohamed Salah (£12.7m)
The Egyptian has incredibly delivered three double-figure hauls in the last four GWs, blanking only once all season.
Salah has three goals and an assist in his last four appearances against Everton who will not be pleased with the sight of the 31-year-old at Anfield this weekend.
Forwards
Erling Haaland (£14.0m)
A run of four successive returns was followed by consecutive blank game weeks but the Norwegian is primed to punish Brighton on Saturday.
Haaland notched 26 points in his last two home games and it is difficult to see how the Seagulls survive when they are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Ollie Watkins (£8.2m)
⚽⚽⚽ 🆚 Liverpool (2020/21)
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 30, 2023
⚽⚽⚽ 🆚 Brighton (2023/24)
Ollie Watkins' second @PremierLeague hat-trick! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/rSMUXPZKin
The red-hot striker has four goals and seven assists and he is yet to blank at Villa Park in 2023/24. Watkins boasts full attacking potential with four goals and as many assists in his last four GWs.
Aston Villa have a glorious fixture list until GW13 and West Ham are up next which should see the England striker record another big haul.
