A weekend of shocks, surprises and serious disappointments in the world of fantasy football, as many of the game’s biggest stars failed to deliver on their premium price tags.
If, like me, your team endured a monumental flop this weekend, you’re unlikely to have had any of these unlikely stars in your side.
Here is The Football Faithful‘s FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 8…
???? NO GOALS IN GW8 ????
Aguero
Salah
Aubameyang
Sterling
Kane
Pukki
Firmino
Rashford
Son
Mahrez
C.Wilson
Vardy
James
McGinn
CantwellIt’s an #FPL horror show pic.twitter.com/5h8u69jpOn
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 6, 2019
Ben Foster – Watford – 10 points
Featuring in a team that is yet to win so far this season and were hit for eight by Manchester City just a couple of weeks ago, it is perhaps surprising that the Watford goalkeeper is still owned by 1.6% of all managers at all.
That said, those loyal bosses were rewarded with a haul of 10 points this weekend, as the veteran goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in the Hornet’s goalless draw with Sheffield United.
Foster made three saves to earn an additional save point, whilst scooping three bonus points as the fixture’s best performer.
David Luiz – Arsenal – 15 points
The highest scoring defender in Gameweek 8, Arsenal‘s David Luiz scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Chelsea to hand Unai Emery’s side a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates.
Luiz also played his part in just the club’s second clean sheet of the season, scooping three bonus points to make it a total of 15 for the week.
Jetro Willems – Newcastle – 12 points
The budget defender secured his highest haul of the season, keeping a clean sheet and providing the assist for Matty Longstaff’s winner as Newcastle secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Willems’ performance earned him an additional three bonus points to boost his tally to 12 for Gameweek 8, and having scored one goal and provided one assist with two clean sheets already this season, the £4.5m full-back could prove a sensible budget option for FPL managers.
Lewis Dunk – Brighton – 10 points
The Brighton captain was in excellent form as his side upset an out-of-sorts Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime, winning everything to preserve his side’s clean sheet.
The once-capped England international also provided an assist for Aaron Connolly with a long ball forward, though a yellow card slightly reduced his tally.
Two bonus points were his reward for his commanding display, however, with Dunk finishing Gameweek 8 with a heathy total of 10 points.
Conor Hourihane – Aston Villa – 11 points
The Irish international shone during Villa’s thumping win at Norwich, having been restored to the team for last weekend’s draw with Burnley.
The 28-year-old got forward well, providing the assist for Wesley’s second of the afternoon before scoring his first Premier League with a sweetly struck strike from outside the area. He could have had a second assist, had Wesley not spurned the penalty that he won, though he will be happy with a Gameweek 8 total of 11 points.
James Milner – Liverpool – 13 points
Liverpool’s man for the occasion, Milner’s 95th minute penalty maintained Liverpool‘s perfect start to the new season with a 2-1 victory over Leicester at Anfield.
The veteran midfielder had earlier provided the opener for Sadio Mane, registering 13 FPL points thanks to the awarding of the three bonus. Having struggled for minutes so far this season, this was comfortably the 33-year-old’s highest haul of the campaign.
Sadio Mane – Liverpool – 12 points
One goal and one assist for Liverpool’s Senegalese star, one of the few premium selections to deliver a healthy points total in Gameweek 8.
Mane opened the scoring with his fifth league goal of the season, and 50th in just 100 Premier League appearances since moving to Anfield in 2016.
He was awarded an assist after Milner converted the late penalty he won in stoppage time, with two bonus points boosting his tally.
Mane’s 13 points were already his third double-figure haul of the season, making hima good candidate for any managers looking to dip into the transfer market.
Adama Traore – Wolves – 16 points
Gameweek 8’s Player of the Week, Wolves flying machine Adama Traore delivered 16 points courtesy of his late double in the stunning upset of Manchester City.
A steam-train of a player, Traore’s blistering pace undid the champions on the counter-attack, with the 23-year-old scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at the Etihad.
Having scored just one in his previous 49 appearances for the club, the 0.8% of managers who own the winger were rewarded handsomely for their patience with the former Barcelona prospect.
Raul Jimenez – Wolves – 10 points
The architect of both of Traore’s goals, Wolves‘ forward Jimenez led the line superbly for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at the Etihad.
Jimenez twice sent his electric teammate racing through to score, remarkably registering his first Premier League assists of the 2019/20 season.
Having been an FPL fan’s favourite during Wolves’ successful season last term, the 28-year-old could now be getting back to his best after a slow start to the season.
Aaron Connolly – Brighton – 13 points
What a debut for the Irish teenager, who marked his first start for Brighton with a brace in their destruction of a below-par Tottenham at the Amex Stadium.
The 19-year-old was a constant menace to the Spurs backline throughout the contest, whilst he showed his eye for goal with two well-taken strikes during his side’s 3-0 win.
Connolly’s performance earned him a promotion to the senior Ireland squad for the coming internationals, and should he maintain his place in Graham Potter’s side, his £4.5m price tag should prove a bargain.
Wesley – Aston Villa – 14 points
Signed for £22m from Club Brugge in the summer, Villa spotted the potential in the hulking Brazilian forward and the 22-year-old provided a demonstration of his qualities in the clubs destruction of Norwich at Carrow Road.
The forward scored twice in the 5-1 victory, whilst he could have had a first-half hat-trick had it not been for a penalty miss following a foul on Conor Hourihane. He would later provide the assist for compatriot Douglas Luiz’s superb strike, earning 14 FPL points following his dominant performance.
Join our League
Make sure you join the hundreds of other managers to have joined The Football Faithful’s FPL league using the code m7yqqi, with SpurCarnage FC taking the lead following their impressive 65 point haul this week.
READ – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned
See also – The Football Faithful’s Weekly Awards: Where 19-year-old debutants rule all
