***GAMEWEEK 22 DEADLINE: NEXT TUESDAY - 18:00 GMT***
So Jota was the answer. Of all the players brought in to replace Salah or Son all that time ago (the last Gameweek deadline), the Liverpool forward scooped a massive 19 points. He’s also returned FPL points in his two previous games. If you didn’t have him or Gabriel, who managed a 17 pointer in Arsenal’s 5-0 win, it was a frustrating week. The next deadline is still a week away, but I wanted to bring you an update as there are so few FPL deadlines in January - and there have been some big developments with the biggest players in the game. The next deadline is next Tuesday, so I’ll try ton bring you an edition of Extra Life, probably on Monday.
It’s something of a Man City and Liverpool special today - that’s because they’re good at football and have a likely Double Gameweek coming soon… So we’ll get into a bit of early strategy on those. You’re welcome.
Got a good differential? Missing Salah already? Email me: fplislife@substack.com
The Salah news is bad for owners
Some bad Salah news if you have kept hold of him - reports are he’s out for 21-28 days, so a good chunk of time. It also puts him in doubt for the potential Double Gameweek in Gameweek 25, when Liverpool likely have two fixtures (that happens if Liverpool get to the Carabao Cup final). That was a big reason to hold on to him. He potentially misses Burnley at home in Gameweek 24, too. Feels like an easy sell now.
The deadline is a week away and Liverpool have a Carabao Cup game and an FA Cup game before then, so we should get a lot more info on Salah as Klopp will constantly be asked about it.
Haaland back in training
He looks monstrous, too. Again, we’ll get more info before the deadline, but he’ll surely be a big transfer in. Let’s see what happens vs Spurs in the FA Cup on Friday night. If he gets any minutes, he’ll be an easy transfer in vs Burnley - probably even for a -4 points hit for an extra transfer.
City Double coming - & De Bruyne thoughts
The next five Gameweeks look great for City - Burnley this week, and a Double Gameweek coming up in Gameweek 25, when they play Chelsea and Brentford at home (see the graphic below). So a lot of people will understandably be playing Pep Roulette for the next few weeks. De Bruyne and his luscious hair wandered on for 20 minutes vs Newcastle and of course got 12 points - yes he’s insanely good. I’m still hesitant to bring him in given he has said that he will need to manage his minutes - he won’t get a 12-pointer in 20 mins most weeks. Salah’s absence makes De Bruyne easier to buy, though.
For me, the top three options are: 1. Haaland 2. Foden 3. Walker
Brighton fixtures are now amazing
The 0-0 draw vs Wolves was the first time that Brighton hadn’t scored at home all season, which is quite a stat. They have some very buyable assets now and a great fixture run. Estupiñan is an easy buy and got the 8 pointer on Monday night - he is a Bonus Point magnet, too, much like Porro at Spurs. Elsewhere, there are great cheaper options in midfield (Gross £6.5m) and up front (João Pedro £5.5m) if you need to find cash.
A cool graphic on out & out strikers
A rarer breed these days, but this graphic shows us the strikers that touch the ball high up the pitch and in the penalty area. It’s interesting also on Saka - a high amount of touches in the final third, but not in the box - he is staying high and wide. Some are considering moving him on as his FPL returns haven’t been great, but I’m sticking with him for now. He is Arsenal’s 90-minute man.
Liverpool - Trent, Robertson back on the radar
Congrats if you held on to Trent (£8.5m) after his injury - it sounds very positive and could be back for the Fulham game in the Carabao Cup, so he should be fine for the next league game vs Chelsea next Wednesday. The other curve ball is Robertson, who could also be back and is a huge £2.1m less at £6.4m. One to watch.
With Liverpool on the charge and a likely Double Gameweek (they play twice) in Gameweek 25, Liverpool guys are right up there. I mean, even Darwin is scoring. BUT Liverpool will probably have a *Blank Gameweek in Gameweek 26* if they beat Fulham in the Carabao Cup tonight.
My top three Liverpool picks with Salah out: 1. Trent 2. Jota 3. Probably Darwin (but don’t tell anyone I said that).
Bowen, Foden, Richarlison comparison
This is useful because the midfield picks are all quite close in terms of data - we’ve already spoken about Jota and of the three compared below, I find it hard to look past Foden because of the fixtures and the Double Gameweek in Gameweek 25. Foden is unlikely to play all the games, but you’d have to think even if he misses one, he looks a good bet. Richarlison falls down the pecking order as he has a Blank Gameweek (no game) in Gameweek 26. Their game vs Chelsea will be moved as it clashes with the Carabao Cup.
The midfield choice feels like its all about how you see the potential minutes. If you think Jota and Foden will play enough, they are the clear choices. The minutes monsters are players like Bowen, Gross or Eze, who is emerging as a hipster choice.
Gameweek 29 will be a big Blank Gameweek
Not one to stress too much about now, but Gameweek 29 will be a Blank Gameweek, meaning some teams won’t have a game. There’ll be a few Free Hits used that week (the chip that allows you to pick any team for one week only). The higher the percentage, the more likely the fixture will NOT go ahead. We’ll likely have a good few Man City and Liverpool players, so there will be a bit of planning to do. But obviously, you’ve got your favourite newsletter for that. Check out this guy on Twitter for the latest info and I’ll update you next time.
Mauritania have won their first Afcon game
Back in 2011, they were ranked 207 in the world. Here they are beating two-time AFCON champions Algeria. Lovely stuff.
Please get in touch with any FPL dilemmas or general football internet gold. PS - I’m on Twitter here. Please help me grow FPL Is Life by sharing… thanks! Typos entirely deliberate, but thanks for noticing.