Today’s fixtures mark the conclusion of the first half of the Fantasy Premier League season.
As we gear up for the second half, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the standout performers and delve into some intriguing statistics from the campaign so far.
With the second FPL wildcard set to become available and the January transfer window just around the corner, significant changes in Fantasy Premier League strategies and team dynamics are on the horizon.
Exciting weeks lie ahead for managers looking to capitalise on these developments, and we are here to give you all the FPL tips and advice to help you score the maximum number of points in GW19.
FPL Gameweek 19 Fixtures
Leicester are at home to Manchester City.
Southampton will visit Crystal Palace.
Everton welcomes Nottingham Forest.
Bournemouth have a trip to Fulham.
Wolves have an away fixture against Spurs.
West Ham will host Liverpool.
Aston Villa are welcoming Brighton.
Chelsea will travel to Ipswich.
Manchester United are hosting Newcastle.
Arsenal are heading to Brentford.
FPL Assets Leading On Form For Gameweek 19
Let’s start by looking at the current form amongst FPL assets for Matchweek 19.
Goalkeepers:
- Jordan Pickford is still first with 6.0
- Kepa Arrizabalaga stays second with 5.0
- Matz Sels moves to third with 4.5
Defenders:
- Dean Huijsen remains first with 7.0
- William Saliba is still second with 6.7
- Nikola Milenković is third with 5.7
Midfielders:
- Mohamed Salah still remains far ahead with 13.2
- Cole Palmer is still second with 9.2
- Kevin Schade stays third with 7.0
Forwards:
- Alexander Isak remains first with 9.3
- Cody Gakpo moves to second with 6.6
- Matheus Cunha stays third with 5.8
Anthony Gordon Grabs Attention
Alexander Isak may have taken the spotlight in recent weeks, but Anthony Gordon is quickly becoming a favourite among FPL managers.
The Newcastle winger delivered a standout performance in gameweek 18, playing a key role in his team’s commanding 3-0 win over Aston Villa by contributing another goal.
Gordon has been one of Newcastle’s most consistent performers this season, registering 4 goals and 4 assists so far.
His efforts have helped propel Newcastle to 5th place in the Premier League standings.
With 77 FPL points to his name and a selection rate of 12.2%, his popularity among managers continues to climb.
Despite Newcastle’s next two fixtures being tricky away matches against Manchester United and Tottenham, FPL managers are undeterred.
Gordon has emerged as the most transferred-in midfielder ahead of the new gameweek, highlighting the growing trust in his ability to deliver even in challenging situations.
Managers Say Goodbye To Pedro Porro
Tottenham Hotspur fans are likely feeling frustrated by their club’s current position in the Premier League.
Despite scoring 39 goals, just one less than league leaders Liverpool, Spurs find themselves in 12th place.
While their attacking strength is clear, the lack of defensive solidity has been a major issue.
With only 4 clean sheets in 18 matches this season, Tottenham’s backline has struggled to provide the stability needed to rise up the table.
Pedro Porro has been a regular feature in the defence, starting 15 matches so far this season.
However, in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Porro was benched and played just 9 minutes.
Priced at £5.5m, Porro had been viewed as a solid defensive option for FPL managers due to his ability to contribute going forward.
He has scored twice and registered 2 assists this season, which is decent for a defensive asset.
Even though Porro is still selected by 26% of managers, the lack of clean sheets and concerns over his minutes have prompted many FPL managers to transfer him out.
As a result, he has become the most transferred-out defender ahead of the new gameweek.
Assets With The Biggest Rise In Price
As gameweek 19 marks the end of the first half of the season, we can take a closer look at the players who have experienced the biggest price increases since the start of the campaign.
By examining the top price risers in each position, we can identify those who have consistently delivered high-level performances, driving their prices to new heights.
Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez
Sánchez has delivered a total of 66 FPL points this season.
He has started 17 games for Chelsea and has kept 4 clean sheets.
Sánchez has seen a price rise of £0.3m.
Moving from £4.5m at the start of the campaign to £4.8m.
Defender: Ola Aina
Aina has delivered a total of 81 FPL points this season.
He has started every game for Nottingham Forest and has kept 7 clean sheets.
Aina has seen a price rise of £0.6m.
Moving from £4.5m at the start of the campaign to £5.1m
Midfielder: Mohamed Salah
Salah has delivered a total of 186 FPL points this season.
He has started every game for Liverpool and has made 27 goal contributions.
Salah has seen a price rise of £1.1m.
Moving from £12.5m at the start of the campaign to £13.6m
Forward: Nicolas Jackson
Jackson has delivered a total of 93 FPL points this season.
He has started 17 games for Chelsea and has made 13 goal contributions.
Jackson has seen a price rise of £0.8m.
Moving from £7.5m at the start of the campaign to £8.3m
Best FPL Buy So Far
At the end of every FPL season, there’s often one player who delivers exceptional value by consistently outperforming their price tag.
At the start of this campaign, few would have predicted that Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina would be the highest-scoring defender heading into the new year.
Starting the season at just £4.5m, Aina has provided more value than any other defensive asset.
While he hasn’t registered any assists so far, Aina has found the back of the net twice and kept 7 clean sheets, accumulating 13 bonus points along the way.
If he maintains his current form and Nottingham Forest continues to push for a top-4 finish in the Premier League, Aina could prove to be the biggest bargain of the season for FPL managers who backed him early on in the campaign.
Most Selected Player From Each Club
With the upcoming transfer window fast approaching, FPL managers can expect a fresh wave of exciting options to consider.
While some clubs are set to make significant signings in hopes of strengthening their squads, let’s take a look at the most selected player from each club before the window opens.
Arsenal: David Raya – 31.4%
Aston Villa: Morgan Rogers – 23.1%
Bournemouth: Milos Kerkez – 6.6%
Brentford: Bryan Mbeumo – 28.5%
Brighton: João Pedro – 17.5%
Chelsea: Cole Palmer – 68.4%
Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson – 11.4%
Everton: Jordan Pickford – 12.5%
Fulham: Antonee Robinson – 22.4%
Ipswich: Jacob Greaves – 3.6%
Leicester: Wout Faes – 8.8%
Liverpool: Mohamed Salah – 68.3%
Manchester City: Erling Haaland – 31.4%
Manchester United: Amad Diallo – 16.7%
Newcastle: Alexander Isak – 45.9%
Nottingham Forest: Chris Wood – 23.7%
Southampton: Taylor Hardwood-Bellis – 8.4%
Tottenham: Pedro Porro – 26.0%
West Ham: Łukasz Fabiański – 19.3%
Wolves: Matheus Cunha – 24.7%
Nkunku Sees The Biggest Price Drop
At the start of the season, many FPL managers viewed Christopher Nkunku as a potential bargain.
After an impressive stint at RB Leipzig, where the Frenchman racked up 126 goal contributions in 172 games, his £52 million move to Chelsea made him an intriguing prospect.
Priced at £6.5m, Nkunku seemed like great value for a player poised to make an impact in the Premier League.
However, since the start of the season, Nkunku has only made 2 starts for Chelsea.
Despite limited playing time, he has managed to score 2 goals and provide 1 assist in the Premier League.
As a result of his lack of minutes, Nkunku has seen the biggest price drop among all FPL assets, falling £0.7 to his current price of £5.8m.
It will be interesting to see if Nkunku can earn more starts in the second half of the season and potentially return to the form that made him such a standout in the Bundesliga.
Differential Captain Pick Of The Week:
Son Heung-min
With 11 goal contributions so far this season, Son Heung-min finds himself ranked 17th among the top 20 highest FPL point-scorers.
In a Tottenham side that has consistently demonstrated their attacking threat, Son appears to be in prime position to deliver strong returns for managers opting to captain him in Spurs’ upcoming fixture against Wolves.
Wolves are currently just 1 point above the relegation zone, and facing Tottenham away from home could prove challenging.
With the potential for goals, Wolves may struggle to keep a clean sheet, making Son a promising choice for the armband this gameweek.
Playing Your Free Hit?
Most managers will be saving their free hit for double gameweeks later on in the season.
Those who are tempted to use their free hit this weekend might find some value below:
GK: Alisson (£5.4m)
DEF: Colwill (£4.6m)
DEF: Huijsen (£4.4m)
DEF: Aina (£5.1m)
MID: Palmer (£11.4m)
MID: Sarr (£5.9m)
MID: Salah © (£13.6m)
MID: Son (£9.9m)
FWD: Jackson (£8.3m)
FWD: Isak (£9.1m)
FWD: Wood (£6.6m)
BENCH: Vladimarsson (£3.9m)
BENCH: Choudhury (£4.3m)
BENCH: Quansah (£3.9m)
BENCH: Thomas (£3.9m)
Final Thoughts
As the New Year approaches and everyone prepares to welcome 2025, FPL enters an exciting phase where managers will realise that the dynamics and decision-making could shift significantly in the coming months.
The first half of the season has provided clarity on which assets are worth holding until the end of the campaign and which ones no longer pose a viable risk.
With plenty of changes on the horizon, it’s crucial for fantasy football managers to stay informed on FPL news about the latest developments as we head into the second half of the season.
Here’s to hoping that 2024 finishes strong for all FPL managers!
