Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action we’re on hand to provide our best advice for Fantasy Premier League, selecting four options we believe should be the leading contenders for your crucial captaincy.
The FA Cup semi-final schedule means some big hitters do not feature in Gameweek 32, including Manchester City forward and FPL perma-captain Erling Haaland.
Here are four options who could fill the gap this weekend.
Gabriel Jesus vs Southampton (H)
Arsenal’s title dreams have been dented after successive draws with Liverpool and West Ham, with the Gunners twice squandering two-goal leads and finding themselves subject to the inevitable ‘bottlers’ jibes.
Arsenal, however, have shown for much of those games just why this team is currently top of the table. On each occasion the north Londoners flew out of the traps and cut apart their opponents with ease, while the return of Gabriel Jesus has added a welcome dimension to the club’s forward line.
Gabriel Jesus has a phenomenal record when scoring in the #PL ???? pic.twitter.com/fL0qcgJ7B5
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 16, 2023
The Brazilian has scored four goals in three starts since returning from his injury lay-off, rekindling his encouraging chemistry with compatriot Gabriel Martinelli. Jesus will be confident of adding to his recent record against a Southampton side running out of time to save their top-flight status, with three consecutive defeats edging the Saints closer to the Championship.
Jesus could also find himself on penalties for Arsenal, after Bukayo Saka blazed a spot-kick wide at West Ham last weekend. Jesus converted from the spot in Saka’s absence against Leeds on April 1.
Mohamed Salah v Nottingham Forest (H)
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool returned to form with a 6-1 thrashing of Leeds in Gameweek 32, with the Egyptian’s double continuing his impressive recent run.
Salah has now scored seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances, while only three players – Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Ivan Toney – have outscored the 30-year-old this season after Salah netted his 15th league goal of the campaign at Elland Road.
A new Premier League record for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah ????
The Egyptian has now scored the most left-footed goals in Premier League history ???????????? pic.twitter.com/z8vvniD8Sr
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithfuI) April 18, 2023
Liverpool will be confident of building on that win at Leeds when Nottingham Forest arrive at Anfield this weekend. Forest are without a win in ten Premier League games and have dropped into the relegation places as a result, while Steve Cooper’s side are the worst travellers in the division this season.
Forest have taken just six points from their 15 away fixtures, winning just one, and have kept just two clean sheets away from the City Ground.
Ollie Watkins v Brentford (A)
Ollie Watkins can do little wrong right now.
Watkins’ goalscoring form is firing Aston Villa’s push towards European football with the forward producing a centre-forward masterclass in the club’s 3-0 win over Newcastle in Gameweek 31.
Watkins scored twice and created another as Villa thrashed the Champions League-chasing Magpies, securing his best FPL haul of the season with 16 points. The 27-year-old has now scored 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances and has been directly involved in 16 goals in 17 games under Unai Emery.
▪️ Double against Newcastle
▪️ 11 PL goals in 2023Ollie Watkins is the in-form striker in the Premier League ???? pic.twitter.com/qu4UpwfIGn
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 15, 2023
Villa travel to face Watkins’ former club Brentford this weekend, in search of a sixth consecutive Premier League win. Brentford are without a win in five and have lost three league fixtures in a row.
Carlos Vinicus v Leeds (H)
We’re going a little… okay, a LOT left-field with our fourth and final selection, but hear us out here.
Leeds are in dire form right now, having been obliterated during consecutive home defeats to Crystal Palace and Liverpool. The promising early work of Javi Gracia’s reign appears to be unraveling, with Leeds having conceded ELEVEN goals across their last two games.
Fulham returned to winning ways at Everton last weekend and will be in confident mood at the Cottage. With Aleksandar Mitrovic suspended and Daniel James ineligible to face his parent club, it’s expected that Carlos Vinicius will lead the line.
Anybody interested in Carlos Vinícius on FH32?
– FUL play LEE at home
– LEE have conceded 11 times over their last two (20 in last six)
– Surely Vinicius starts up top as Mitro's banned & James can't play against his parent club?
– only 0.2% owned & cheap as chips (£5.4m)#FPL pic.twitter.com/MiCxqTYAsF— FPL Bateman (@FPL_Bateman) April 18, 2023
The Brazilian has scored just twice this season, but has been restricted to seven Premier League starts.
Is it worth the risk? Probably not when looking at the options above, but this one’s a wildcard for the punters, the dreamers and those desperate for a differential haul to climb their mini-leagues.
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