Welcome back for another article. 📖
A tough gameweek with no chips active while overall over 1.7 million were activated, can't complain too much with 79 points and a 4K red arrow to 20.8K. 📉 3 early transfers made already ahead of GW18, will run you through those shortly.
Almost a perfect sweep at the back, clean sheets from Raya, O'Reilly, Andersen and Timber with Van Dijk conceding to 10 man Spurs, which later ended up 9 man Spurs. Semenyo with a goal and maximum bonus, holding on to him a little longer when many sold has been a good call.
The big talking point was the Bruno injury though, we're yet to get something concrete on exactly how long he's out - tests will determine the extent but it seems like he could miss a month potentially, which is 5 or 6 gameweeks.
I was having a look back at my GW1 team, because I remember starting the season with him and he's got to be sold now, Dubravka and Andersen are the only surviving players from my GW1 team. What a throwback this is, Salah and Palmer - no Haaland. Double Spurs defence, Murillo. Oh yeah and Rogers! Who remembers Villa didn't score for their first 4 games, they finally scored in GW5 and I held Rogers and Watkins for all 5 gameweeks without a single return from them. Rogers finally showing what he's capable of lately with 3 braces in his last 6 games. 🔥
Goalkeeper
Raya plays Brighton home, 9 clean sheets is more than any keeper. 🧤 16 big chances conceded is 10 fewer than any other team, they're the only team with under 100 shots in the box conceded with 89, next lowest is Man City with 120.
Defence
In defence it's a back 3 this week, Van Dijk, O'Reilly, Timber. 🛡️
Good coverage on the clean sheet odds this week, Liverpool are top with a 48% chance home to Wolves, Arsenal 44% vs Brighton, Man City are fourth with 36%. Recording before Arsenal play Palace in the league cup where I'm hoping for lots of rotation, with the likes of Timber, Calafiori, Raya, Saka, Rice getting a rest.
Got a call to make between O'Reilly and Mukiele, since Mukiele is home to Leeds. The clean sheet odds are only 5% in favour of O'Reilly. I've benched quite a few Mukiele clean sheets, which I don't mind too much as I'd rather have that depth and bench points than not have it at all. O'Reilly is averaging an expected goal involvement every 383 minutes which is very solid for a defender.
Liverpool have gone 6 games undefeated now after that terrible patch of 3 losses on the bounce last month, and face Wolves home, Leeds home and Burnley home in their next 5. Still waiting for a Van Dijk bullet header, he did have that one vs Man City ruled out, but yeah if he can have one of those goal plus clean sheet games it would be huge. ⚽
Midfield
Let's get in to the midfield where there's been two changes.