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After a two-week international break, the Premier League is set to resume this weekend and FPL managers will no doubt be excited for the matches to start. Gameweek 4 wasn't a great one for most FPL managers, with a lot of big-name options blanking. I had a sub-par Gameweek, scoring 45 points against the average of 48 points.
The first international break has been a popular time for many FPL managers to use the Wildcard and it comes as no surprise considering how surprising the results of the first few Gameweeks have been. There are plenty of new teams that are proving to be dependable in terms of FPL assets. Certain new signings have also made their impact in the early days of the season.
With plenty of factors to consider, the question to be asked is: Is this just an anomaly, or is this the new normal? FPL managers will choose whether or not to use the Wildcard based on their answer to this question. There is, of course, no right time to play the Wildcard, since it essentially depends on your team. Many top FPL players and experts have opted to play their Wildcards early, indicating that it may not be a wrong choice.
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FPL managers have until Saturday (17th October) afternoon to tinker with their teams ahead of the Gameweek 5 deadline.
Gameweek 5 Deadline: Saturday, 17th October at 11:00 AM (British Summer Time), and 03:30 PM (Indian Standard Time)
Also Read: FPL 2020-21: Best Fantasy Team for Gameweek 4 | FPL Tips
The Fixtures
FPL Gameweek 5 kicks off with the Merseyside Derby. Liverpool travel to Goodison Park on the back of a 7-2 drubbing away to Aston Villa. Manchester City host Arsenal later in the day, while United play away at Newcastle United. Spurs take on West Ham on Sunday, while the Gameweek ends with a Monday night clash between Leeds United and Wolves.
Click here to view the full fixtures for FPL Gameweek 5.
FPL Team Suggested for Previous Gameweek
Here is the suggested team for Gameweek 4 and the points scored.
Goalkeepers: Alex McCarthy (SOU) and Mat Ryan (BHA)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV), Eric Dier (TOT), Ruben Vinagre (WOL), Kyle Walker-Peters (SOU), and James Justin (LEI).
Midfielders: Mohamed Salah (LIV), Harvey Barnes (LEI), Riyad Mahrez (MCI), Marcus Rashford (MUN), and Steven Alzate (BHA).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE), Timo Werner (CHE), and Keinan Davis (AVL)
Captain/Vice-Captain: Riyad Mahrez/ Mohammed Salah
GW 3 Average score: 48
Points Scored(in GW): 45 (-0): 45
Money Remaining: £2.1 m
Factors to consider
1) Pile in on FPL assets from Spurs, Everton, and Villa?: This kind of a question is common in FPL. Every season, a team with excellent FPL assets performs very well at around this stage. Some of them may prove to be consistent, while others may fizzle out soon.
The main question for FPL managers is whether or not they should deviate from their plans and integrate players from the above sides to their FPL teams.
The answer is, without doubt, a yes. All three teams have players in different price ranges and this will help you structure your team well. The underlying stats are good, as are the upcoming fixtures.
I'm not suggesting a complete overhaul of your teams because the assets from Manchester City and Manchester United will deliver sooner or later. However, FPL managers must try to place players from these teams higher on their watchlist for upcoming transfers.
Transfers
This is my fourth season in FPL, and up until now, I have always played my Wildcard during the first International break. This season, however, my FPL team is in good shape and I have a decent overall rank (290k). Therefore, I'm holding my Wildcard for later and making just one transfer for this weekend.
I did want to bring in Heung-Min Son (TOT)(MID)(£9.1 m) after his successful recovery from injury. However, since I had planned to bring him in after Gameweek 5, I decided to give Harvey Barnes (LEI) (MID) (£7.0 m) one more game before transferring him out.
#1 Stuart Dallas in for Ruben Vinagre
Out: Ruben Vinagre(DEF)(WOL)(£4.3 m)- While I had a few other transfers planned, Vinagre's loan move to Olympiacos meant that I had to transfer him out first.
In: Stuart Dallas(DEF)(LEE)(£4.5 m)- Stuart Dallas has certainly impressed me with the eye-test. The Leeds full-back has been among the most attacking FPL defenders this season and has been unlucky not to find the back of the net. While he doesn't guarantee clean sheet points, his high potential for attacking returns makes him a great FPL option.
Best FPL XI for Gameweek 5
Chips activated: None
Point Hits taken(if any): None: 1 Free Transfer
Captain/Vice-captain: Marcus Rashford, Timo Werner, Harvey Barnes or Mohamed Salah/ Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Riyad Mahrez
Picking the captain for my FPL team in Gameweek 5 will be tough. Since I don't have any Spurs attacking options in my team, I don't have any clear captaincy choices. Mohamed Salah will be my first choice considering that he's fully rested ahead of this game. However, his record in away fixtures is putting me off a bit.
Marcus Rashford and Timo Werner have both had quiet starts to the season. However, both of them did well in the international games and have decent fixtures this week. They will be good FPL captaincy options as well. Harvey Barnes against Aston Villa is another option to consider.
Goalkeeper:
Mat Ryan (BHA) - £4.5 m | Opponent: CRY(A): With McCarthy's Southampton taking on Chelsea, I'm going with Ryan in goal. He could keep a clean sheet against a goal-shy Crystal Palace side and get some FPL points.
Defenders:
Stuart Dallas (LEE) - £4.5 m | Opponent: WOL(H): Dallas has a high chance of getting some FPL returns at home against Wolves. He has the third-highest goal threat among FPL defenders this season and is a good option to have in your team.
James Justin (LEI) - £4.5 m | Opponent: AVL(H): James Justin has been a great budget FPL defender. He's set to get some FPL points as Leicester look to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat against West Ham.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV) - £7.5 m | Opponent: EVE(A): Alexander-Arnold has just one attacking return and clean sheet apiece from four matches. He'll have to do well in the Merseyside Derby to justify his premium FPL price tag.
Eric Dier (TOT) - £5.0m | Opponent: WHU(H): The Tottenham centre-back can get some clean sheet points, as Spurs look to tighten up their defence. He does have a slight hamstring problem but is likely to be fit before the match.
Midfielders:
Harvey Barnes (LEI) - £7.0 m | Opponent: AVL(H): The Leicester City winger was unlucky to get a goal ruled out for offside in Gameweek 4. While their opponents have been solid in defence, Leicester have been attacking well and could break them down. Barnes will be at the heart of the action and is bound to get some FPL points.
Mohamed Salah (LIV) - £12.0 m | Opponent: EVE(A): Salah was the lone bright spot in Liverpool's disastrous 7-2 loss against Aston Villa. He is the second most-owned FPL player and will look to carry on the good form and get some more points for his owners.
Riyad Mahrez (MCI) - £8.5 m | Opponent: ARS(H): Mahrez blanked against Leeds United but was pretty creative. He will look to exert more influence against Arsenal in this game and could get some FPL points.
Marcus Rashford (MUN) - £9.5 m | Opponent: NEW(A): Marcus Rashford was on the scoresheet for England in the international break. With Martial suspended and Cavani not fully fit, Rashford could be asked to assume the lone striker's role and could bring in a lot of FPL returns for his owners.
Forwards:
Timo Werner (CHE) - £9.3 m | Opponent: SOU(H): Werner hasn't gotten off to the best start in the Premier League and is yet to find the back of the net. A home fixture against Southampton is an ideal fixture for him to break his duck. With regular left-winger Christian Pulisic returning from injury, Werner may get to play in his preferred position and rake in the FPL points.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE)- £7.3 m | Opponent: LIV(H): Picking Dominic Calvert-Lewin in my Gameweek 1 team was one of the best FPL decisions I've ever made. He has looked like scoring in every game and it won't be a surprise if he continues that run against Liverpool, who haven't been great defensively.
Bench:
GK: Mathew Ryan (BHA) - £4.5 m | Opponent: EVE(A)
1st Sub: Steven Alzate (MID) (BHA)- £4.5 m | Opponent: EVE(A)
2nd Sub: Kyle Walker-Peters (SOU) - £4.5 m | Opponent: CHE(A)
3rd Sub: Keinan Davis (FWD) (AVL) - £4.5 | Opponent: SHU(H)
