Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 31 Preview – Mo Salah’s drought over but which ex-Leeds United striker is in form?

Salah’s goalless streak ended via a cheeky nutmeg finish and we’ll discuss a couple of their defenders who stood out too. Fulham vs Wolves is the Friday game, making this week’s transfer deadline tonight at 6.30pm.

Follow the in-house Yorkshire Post Fantasy Football expert John Mount (@Gameweek38) on Twitter for more FPL hints and tips.

Captain Picks

Mo Salah (£12.4m) vs Aston Villa (H): Salah’s midweek strike in Madrid following last weekend’s goal against Arsenal makes it two goals in two games for the Egyptian, who seems to have overcome his recent goal drought. Although Liverpool lost 7-2 to Villa earlier on in the season, Salah gained 13 points via a brace and a bonus point, making it three goals and one assist over his last three games against the Midlands’ club.

Harry Kane (£11.7m) vs Man United (H): With five goals and two assists in his last five games, Harry Kane is the Premier League’s in-form player. Last gameweek, no player took more shots, had more shots on target or had more big chances than Kane and with Man United having top 4 seemingly in the bag and another midweek Europa League tie to worry about, another Mourinho masterclass could be on the cards.

Differential: Danny Ings (£8.4m) vs West Brom (A): Away at the league’s worst home defence and with a point to prove, if Ings is to make this summer’s England Euro squad, his form must improve sharpish. Last week’s goal and assist against Burnley was a good start and a sign that he is far from ‘on the beach’.

In West Brom, Southampton’s opponents have conceded the most big chances, shots and shots in the box at home this season which is a sign of encouragement ahead of Ings’ trip to The Hawthorns.

The Form Guide - Who’s Hot?

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, £7.3m): Although he’s made headlines for missing out on the England team due to poor form, Trent’s recent Liverpool form has actually been quite good. He has three clean sheets and one assist over his last four league starts and he’s created more chances than any other defender across his last four games (11). With Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle up next, it looks like Alexander-Arnold will have a strong April.

Chris Wood (Burnley, £6.2m): Since returning to the Burnley starting line-up following a thigh strain that kept him out for five gameweeks, Wood has scored three goals and provided one assist over a stretch where he’s had over half of Burnley’s shots on target (11). A win against Newcastle this weekend could end Burnley’s relegation worries and based on the stats, you’d back Wood to be the one to break the deadlock.

Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal, £8.2m): Going under the radar as Arsenal’s top point scorer by being owned by only 6.6% of managers, Lacazette’s three goals and assist over his last four starts bodes well ahead of Arsenal’s relatively straightforward fixture run. Over the next five gameweeks, the Gunners face each of the league’s bottom four sides but as their Europa League quarter final hangs in the balance, Arteta could rotate to keep players fresh in pursuit of their maiden Europa League triumph.

The Form Guide - Who’s Not?

Ilkay Gundogan (Man City, £6m): Having been a popular captain choice not so long ago, Gundogan’s league form has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks having only registered a solitary goal and assist since gameweek 24. Pep Guardiola’s rotation has been the driving force behind this as the German has started only four of City’s last eight league games. As long as City remain in the Champions League, Gundogan’s playtime will continue to be a risk.

Michail Antonio (West Ham, £6.7m): Leaks suggest that Antonio could miss the rest of the season following the hamstring injury he picked up against Wolves on Monday. The West Ham striker limped off in the 36th minute and is set to miss this weekend’s game against Leicester which could be a costly blow for their Champions League aspirations.

Stuart Dallas (Leeds, £5.1m): With only one clean sheet in five games and a tough upcoming schedule, now might be a good time to move Dallas on. Leeds are expected to struggle for the rest of the month as they take on Man City, Liverpool and Man United.

Ones to Watch (Less than 5% ownership)

Nat Phillips (Liverpool, £4.0m, 1.9%): Being the joint third cheapest defender in the game and seemingly nailed on in the Liverpool team, Phillips is a promising differential and a great way into the Liverpool defence. He’s started each of Liverpool’s last five games including consecutive league clean sheets and with Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle up next, you’d expect him to add to his tally.

Daniel Podence (Wolves, £5.3m, 0.9%): Wolves players in general are a solid differential as none of them have over 10% ownership. That could be because they haven’t won in five games but with Fulham, Sheffield United and Burnley up next, a change in form is due. Podence returned from injury last week and managed 45 minutes before being subbed off at half time. Only Neto and Neves have more goals and assists for Wolves this season.

The Explainer

Transfers

After picking your initial squad, you receive 1 free transfer each Gameweek. Each additional transfer you make in the same Gameweek will deduct 4 points from your score.

If you do not use your free transfer, you are able to make an additional free transfer the following Gameweek. If you do not use this saved free transfer in the following Gameweek, it will be carried over until you do. You can never have more than 1 saved transfer.

For example, since you get 1 free transfer per gameweek, if you make no transfers between gameweeks, you will have 2 free transfers in preparation for the next gameweek. You will incur a 4 point hit per transfer over your free transfer allowance.

Point Scoring

During the season, your fantasy football players will be allocated points based on their performance in the Premier League. Remember, every week your captain scores double points, so pick them wisely!

Points Action

1 For playing up to 60 minutes

2 For playing 60 minutes or more (excluding stoppage time)

6 For each goal scored by a goalkeeper or defender

5 For each goal scored by a midfielder

4 For each goal scored by a forward

3 For each goal assist

4 For a clean sheet by a goalkeeper or defender

1 For a clean sheet by a midfielder

1 For every 3 shot saves by a goalkeeper

5 For each penalty save

-2 For each penalty miss

1 to 3 Bonus points for the best players in a match

-1 For every 2 goals conceded by a goalkeeper or defender

-1 For each yellow card

-3 For each red card

-2 For each own goal

For more information on the rules of the game, visit https://fantasy.premierleague.com/help/rules

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