Fantasy Premier League tips: FPL transfers, deadline, captains, free hit and Salah alternatives in gameweek 19

Marc Mayo25 December 2021

Covid-19 is once again wreaking havoc on Fantasy Premier League managers’ plans for gameweek 19.

Burnley versus Everton, Liverpool’s game with Leeds and Watford’s trip to Wolves are all off, leading to FPL bosses handing out an extra free hit chip to every player.

Free hits cannot be played on consecutive gameweeks and will see your initial team return afterwards, and will wipe out a double-transfer gameweek if played after a week in which you did not make any transfers.

With the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold out of action on Boxing Day, it is worth thinking hard about where to take your team in the coming weeks - particularly with the Egyptian heading to AFCON next month.

The deadline for GW19 is set at 1.30pm GMT on Boxing Day - and here are our tips of the week...

Marcus Rashford - Manchester United - £9.4m

Sometimes FPL is about taking risks and a fairly expensive player with only two goals and an assist by Christmas is certainly a risk - particularly if he is to replace Salah. But Rashford, down as a midfielder, has been played up front in Ralf Rangnick’s 4-2-2-2 system with Newcastle, Burnley and Wolves up next. If he cannot start scoring now, when can he?

Ben Davies - Tottenham - £4.5m

The most in-form defender playing this gameweek, according to FPL, budget option Davies has become the trusted man in the left-centre-back position for Antonio Conte and faces Crystal Palace at home on Boxing Day.

FBL-ENG-LCUP-TOTTENHAM-WEST HAM
AFP via Getty Images

Bryan Mbeumo - Brentford - £5.4m

While the majority of FPL managers favour Ivan Toney from Brentford, only 1.8 per cent have opted for the winger who tore up the Championship and looks to finally be getting his eye in in the top-flight - with a goal and assist in his last two games.

Kieran Tierney - Arsenal - £4.8m

A trip to Norwich is a prime chance for Tierney to build on the two assists and three clean sheets he has enjoyed since returning to the Arsenal team four games ago. Nuno Tavares played in midweek, meaning the Scot should start on Sunday.

REUTERS

Raheem Sterling - Manchester City - £10.6m

Pep Guardiola’s rotation will undoubtedly sting some managers this week but Sterling may just get a good run against Leicester and Brentford. Recently rested for the Leeds romp, he has scored in each of his last three starts while club rivals Jack Grealish and Phil Foden could remain in their manager’s dog house.

Diogo Dalot - Manchester United - £4.5m

Seemingly Rangnick’s first-choice at right-back, the Portuguese defender has helped the Red Devils secure back-to-back clean sheets in the interim’s two games in charge. Next up are a Newcastle side with one goal in their last three matches.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

Lukasz Fabianski - West Ham - £5m

Southampton’s trip to West Ham is the ultimate clash of two out-of-sorts teams battling injury problems and a general fear of their seasons crumbling well before the final hurdle. Best, then, to plump for a defensive option and Fabianski is a solid bet - with a clean sheet and a penalty save in his last two games.

Reece James - Chelsea - £6.3m

Apologies as James is something of a cliche recommendation but picking through Chelsea’s plans for games against Aston Villa and Brighton is rather perilous. The right-back was, unlike Marcos Alonso, rested in midweek and could certainly play both matches. The same cannot be said with much confidence for any of the Blues’ ailing strikeforce, bar perhaps Mason Mount.

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