The end of the Premier League, and FPL, season is now in sight and we’ve put together this guide as to who you should be picking up this weekend.
It’s another big weekend of Premier League action, with table toppers, Arsenal, taking on bottom placed club, Southampton on Friday night. Brentford and Aston Villa square off on Saturday, in what could be one of the most exciting matches of the weekend, whilst Liverpool and Nottingham Forest square off at Anfield.
Newcastle and Tottenham clash on Sunday in what is, undoubtedly, the highlight of the weekend though. Both clubs are vying for a top four finish and the result in this one could be vital.
With that in mind, we’ve assembled a 15-man squad (within a budget of 100M) you should be considering, taking into account value, points, performances and fixtures when using your wildcard ahead of another blistering weekend of Premier League action.
Gameweek 32 Wildcard picks
Sam Johnstone (£4.4m)
FPL points so far: 13
Fixture: Everton (H)
Johnstone might not be the first name that would spring to mind here but let me share a couple of thoughts… Crystal Palace look like a new team under Roy Hodgson scoring nine times and, crucially, conceding just twice. The first of those goals occurred when Vicente Guaita was in between the sticks but, with the Spaniard out injured, Johnstone has started the Eagles last two games, keeping a clean sheet against Southampton last time out, picking up nine FPL points in the process.
A match against an Everton side that have scored just 24 times this season could be another chance for Johnstone to pick up a similar haul this weekend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m)
FPL points so far: 110
Fixture: Nottingham Forest (H)
A change in shape for Liverpool in the past couple of weeks has seen Alexander-Arnold move into a more advanced, and central, role. It’s paid dividends with the England star looking much more comfortable on the ball, grabbing nine FPL points last weekend. With his ability to find his teammates in attacking positions, and value on set pieces, this feels like an obvious choice ahead of a game against a Nottingham Forest side that haven’t won in 10 Premier League games.
Kieran Trippier (£6.1m)
FPL points so far: 171
Fixture: Tottenham (H)
Seven assists has been the major plus point for Trippier this season, with the England right back being the highest scoring defender in FPL this season. Tasked with taking set pieces, he’s a danger in the final third but Newcastle have also been very impressive defensively, keeping 13 clean sheets so far this season.
Ben White (£5m)
FPL points so far: 135
Fixture: Southampton (H)
He might not like football very much but he’s really quite good at it. White has established himself as Arsenal’s first choice right back this season and put in a string of incredible performances. He’s averaged 4.4 points per game this season, the second highest average of any defender this season (the first being Trippier), and Arsenal host Southampton this weekend, with Saints scoring just 24 goals in 31 games this season.
Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m)
FPL points so far: 180
Fixture: Southampton (H)
Martinelli shows no signs of slowing down this season, claiming 18 FPL points in his last two games, matches that Arsenal have failed to win. It’s been a true breakout season for the Brazilian, with 14 goals and five assists to his name and a clash against bottom side, Southampton, could see him increase one, or both, of those totals this weekend.
Son Heung-Min (£11.6m)
FPL points so far: 121
Fixture: Newcastle (A)
Some have said it’s been a ‘disappointing’ season for Son this year but there aren’t many players in the country that would consider 18 goals in all competitions a disappointment. Those are the levels that Son has set for himself though and, whilst his performances may have been below par at points, he’s stepped things up in the past few weeks, scoring three in his last five games and looking more and more like the dangerous match winner of last season.
Eberechi Eze (£5.4m)
FPL points so far: 120
Fixture: Everton (H)
Even the most ardent of naysayers regarding Roy Hodgson’s return to the club must now be climbing down off their soap box after three wins from three games have almost assured them of Premier League survival this season. The shining stars of the past couple of weeks have, without a doubt, been Eze and Michael Olise. Olise has been in great form, picking up 19 FPL points over the past three weeks but Eze has eclipsed that total, amassing 28 points in that period with three goals being netted in that time.
Mo Salah (£12.8m)
FPL points so far: 180
Fixture: Nottingham Forest (H)
Are Liverpool back? It certainly looked like it last weekend, with their performance against Leeds being reminiscent of the Liverpool of last season that swept everyone in their path away. The real test comes this weekend though where they will have to build on that momentum and put Nottingham Forest to the sword. A 14 point haul from Salah last weekend was his first time hitting double figures for six weeks but he looked sharp and he’ll be trying to hit another big total this weekend.
Gabriel Jesus (£8.2m)
FPL points so far: 97
Fixture: Southampton (H)
Arsenal didn’t seem to miss Gabriel Jesus when he was out injured, with the club maintaining their position at the top of the table throughout his absence, but you can’t deny that his return has given them an added dimension in the final third. In the past three weeks, he’s averaged 8.66 points, scoring four times and reclaiming his place as the first choice striker at the Emirates Stadium.
Ollie Watkins (£7.7m)
FPL points so far: 155
Fixture: Brentford (A)
What is happening at Villa Park?! Unai Emery has led his side to seven wins in eight Premier League games, the Villains currently sit in sixth position in the league and Ollie Watkins has scored 11 goals in 12 games. It’s been a superb couple of months for the club and things don’t seem to be slowing down as they target European qualification this year. Watkins himself will be looking towards 20 goals for the season (he’s currently sitting on 14) and getting his name on the scoresheet against his old club would be a nice way to inch closer to that total.
Dominic Solanke (£5.5m)
FPL points so far: 108
Fixture: West Ham (H)
Bournemouth moved a huge step closer to retaining their Premier League status last weekend when they scored a last minute winner to claim all three points against Tottenham. Solanke got his name on the scoresheet in that game, claiming 15 FPL points in the process, and led the Cherries to 14th spot in the league with a six point buffer over the drop zone. If Solanke can repeat his heroics this weekend, he not only could pick up another haul of points but give his side a huge chance of playing Premier League football next season.
Martin Dubravka (£4.1m)
FPL points so far: 8
Fixture: Tottenham (H)
Fabian Schar (£5.1m)
FPL points so far: 119
Fixture: Tottenham (H)
Vladimir Coufal (£4m)
FPL points so far: 42
Fixture: Bournemouth (A)
Jacob Ramsey (£5.2m)
FPL points so far: 101
Fixture: Brentford (A)