Sam Bonfield selects her six-a-side team as Manchester City and Manchester United players earn double points
Gameweek 4 continues the Fantasy Challenge series “The Kick Off”. This week’s challenge is called “Derby Day”, with players from both Manchester City and Manchester United scoring DOUBLE points. Managers can own a maximum of three players per club in their six-a-side team and there is an unlimited budget.
Here, FPL expert Sam Bonfield reveals her team and explains her thinking, to help you pick your own line-up.
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Goalkeeper
David Raya (Arsenal)
This week it is very tempting to invest purely in players from the two Manchester sides. However, both teams have started the season in good goalscoring form, so I am unlikely to opt for one of their goalkeepers.
Instead I am selecting a goalkeeper who is likely to keep a clean sheet. Raya has a good fixture at Sunderland, with Arsenal having the best Expected Goals Against (xGA) tally in the league.
Over the opening three matches of the season, Arsenal have an xGA of less than one goal (0.93), with the next-best in the league being Man City on 2.68.
Other options that I have considered this week are Brighton’s Bart Verburggen and Liverpool’s Alisson. The latter faces a Fulham side who have struggled in the opening weeks of the season, whilst Verbruggen’s opponents are Coventry City, who have the fourth-lowest Expected Goals (xG) tally in the league.
Defender
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Man City’s Josko Gvardiol has shown real attacking threat so far this season. The Croat has had two attempts on goal, scoring from one of them, while he has also created two chances.
However, across the opening three Gameweeks, Manchester United have the second best xG tally in the league. While a lot of that xG was recorded in the Gameweek 2 fixture against Ipswich Town, it does feel unlikely that Man City will keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 4.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk has also recorded two attempts on goal and has a greater opportunity of a clean sheet at home to Fulham, so I have opted for the Liverpool defender.
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Fernandes is the second top-scoring player this season, with only Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo registering more points. With Man Utd players having their points doubled, the Portuguese star is an essential pick for me in this week’s challenge.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
The second midfielder was a tricky decision. Choosing a Man City midfielder to pair with Fernandes to have both of their points doubled seems sensible. One of the major benefits of FPL Challenge is that we can manage our teams right up until each fixture kicks off. Therefore I have considered picking Rayan Cherki who, outside of Erling Haaland, has scored the most goals for Manchester City in the league this season. Cherki also has the most attacking returns for City, with four. By picking the France international, I would also have the ability to pivot to a different Man City asset if he isn’t in the starting line-up.
However, Chelsea host a Hull side who, despite having kept three clean sheets so far, have been expected to concede 5.05 goals across their opening three matches. Palmer has been in excellent form this season, producing two goals and an assist in the league, as well as scoring twice in the midweek EFL Cup victory over Leeds United. I also like the idea of owning his team-mate Morgan Rogers, who has delivered an attacking return in every Gameweek so far. But the fact Palmer is on penalties gives him the edge, so despite the challenge double points for Cherki, he is my second midfielder pick.
Forwards
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Haaland picks himself. He is in good form, with goals in the league and the UEFA Champions League over his last three matches. He will also have his points doubled, which further solidifies him as the best pick. He will be my captain.
Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
Ideally I would have liked to pair him with a Man Utd forward, but with uncertainty over Benjamin Sesko’s minutes, there are a couple of options. You could pick him, but if he isn’t named in the starting line-up, switch to a different formation and play three in midfield by selecting Cherki or choose a second Man Utd midfielder.
Both Joao Pedro and Alexander Isak are good picks given their home fixtures against Hull and Fulham respectively, despite them not benefiting from double points. Joao Pedro was rested in Chelsea’s midweek EFL Cup match and has two goals and two assists in the league this season. Meanwhile, Isak is just one point behind Haaland after the opening three Gameweeks on 23 points. But Chelsea’s strong attacking numbers mean that I have opted for Joao Pedro as my final pick.
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