This week’s FPL team targets promoted sides and struggling Wolves, headlined by Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah against Burnley. Key picks include Fulham’s Bernd Leno and Rodrigo Muniz, Arsenal defenders Califiori and Timber, and Crystal Palace’s Mateta, aiming to capitalize on favorable matchups.
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers face a tricky decision this week, especially with the Manchester derby looming. While Manchester City are favorites, their recent record against Manchester United – failing to win since March 2024 and a paltry three goals in four games – casts doubt on Erling Haaland's potential. This, combined with City's current form, leads me to look elsewhere for gameweek four's top FPL performers.
Instead of chasing the obvious, I've assembled a team targeting promoted sides and the struggling Wolves. This selection is built around a £100m budget, mirroring the Free Hit format.
Before diving into this week’s picks, let's recap last week's performance. Bruno Fernandes (10 points), Joao Pedro (9 points), and Chelsea's defensive solidity helped the team achieve a respectable 51 points. However, captain Mohamed Salah disappointed, but he gets another chance to shine this week!
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Deadline day musings
Here's my FPL team of the week for gameweek four:
Goalkeeper:
Bernd Leno, Fulham (£5m) vs Leeds (H): Leeds' struggles in front of goal – just one penalty goal and a league-low five shots on target – make Leno a prime candidate for a clean sheet.
Defenders:
Daniel Munoz, Crystal Palace (£5.5m) vs Sunderland (H): Despite tough opening fixtures, Munoz has delivered returns in every game. Against Sunderland, expect increased attacking threat. His league-leading expected assists (xA) of 0.8 hint at potential for crosses, box touches, and even a goal.
Riccardo Califiori, Arsenal (£5.7m) vs Nottingham Forest (H): Califiori's explosive start isn't a fluke. Ranking first among defenders with seven shots (five in the box) and an xG of 1.13, he offers both defensive stability and attacking potential. While a simple finish against Manchester United inflates his stats, the underlying numbers are encouraging.
Jurrien Timber, Arsenal (£5.6m) vs Nottingham Forest (H): Capitalizing on Arsenal's full-back point potential, Timber joins Califiori. His 24-point haul in the last home game and Arsenal's unblemished defensive record make him a must-have.
Midfielders:
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool (£8.4m) vs Burnley (A): Wirtz is my differential pick. His underlying data suggests a breakthrough is imminent. Leading Liverpool midfielders in xG (0.37) and xA (0.44), he's been unlucky not to return. Burnley's leaky defense – league-high shots conceded, shots in the box, and an xGC of 6.63 – provides the ideal opportunity for Wirtz to explode.
Mohamed Salah (Captain), Liverpool (£14.5m) vs Burnley (A): For the reasons mentioned above, Salah captains the team. Although longer-term investment concerns persist, a fixture against Burnley is too good to pass up.
Jack Grealish, Everton (£6.7m) vs Aston Villa (H): Grealish has been on fire since arriving at Everton with his 21 points (four assists) in the past two games bettered only by Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (22).
Anthony Elanga, Newcastle (£7m) vs Wolves (H): Wolves' defensive woes – conceding eight goals and allowing 34% of chances down their right flank – make Elanga a prime target. His dangerous performance against Liverpool, primarily on the right, suggests he could thrive against Wolves.
Strikers:
Yoane Wissa, Newcastle (£7.5m) vs Wolves (H): A gamble, but Wissa's two DR Congo appearances compensate for his limited pre-season. A debut against the league's worst defense feels like the perfect opportunity.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace (£7.5m) vs Sunderland (H): With Eberechi Eze's departure, Mateta could become Palace's talisman. Having scored 16 and 14 goals in the past two seasons, he's poised to surpass those numbers in 2025-26. Sunderland's poor away record further strengthens his appeal.
Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham (£5.5m) vs Leeds (H): The Colombian appears to be Fulham's first-choice striker so far and he has a decent record for Fulham when he gets minutes.
Subs Bench:
Martin Dubravka (Burnley, £4m), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton, £5m), Igor Thiago (Brentford, £6m), Reinildo (Sunderland, £4m)
Team Total: £97.9m