Last updated on December 13th, 2021
By Matthew Petersen @Matt_Petersen13
The theme of gameweek 16 was penalties as Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United all scored their winning goals via the penalty spot, leaving the top three as it was, while Man United jumped up to 5th place, having won their last three games, as Ralf Rangnick starts to impose his tactics on the side. Meanwhile, Arsenal rounded out the top 6 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Southampton. Spurs were unlucky to have their 2nd postponed game of the season following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. Their game against Leicester this week remains hanging in the balance. On an FPL front, this gameweek was a high-scoring one, with an average score of 55 points where three of last week’s picks returned points
Gameweek 16 top 3 performers:
=1. James Maddison – 16 points (87 minutes, one goal, two assists, clean sheet, 2BPS)
=1. Youri Tielemans – 16 points (90 minutes, two goals, clean sheet, 3BPS)
=3. Jorginho – 15 points (90 minutes, two goals, 3BPS)
=3. Conor Gallagher – 15 points (90 minutes, two goals, 3BPS)
Let’s take a look at this week’s picks, reviewing their GW16 performance and previewing their GW17 points potential, based on recent form and fixtures. There are no Liverpool players chosen this week as a home game against Newcastle could have meant all 6 picks could have been Liverpool players, hence their exclusion (Sorry Newcastle fans!).
1. Conor Gallagher – £6.1m (MID); 25.5% ownership
GW16 review – performance noted under top 3 performers
GW17 preview – Southampton (H)
The Chelsea loanee has been a revelation for Crystal Palace and for all FPL managers who own him. Gallagher has notched six goals and five assists and, as of this week, has earned a spot in the overall dream team for the season. A home game against a Southampton side that has struggled in recent weeks gives him a good chance to continue his good run of form and help propel Palace up the table. In addition, their run of fixtures going beyond the current gameweek includes fixtures with FDRs of 2 and 3 so Gallagher could prove crucial going forward.
2. Mason Mount – £7.6m (MID); 19.0% ownership
GW16 review – 6 points (90 minutes, one goal, yellow card)
GW17 preview – Everton (H)
Mount has been on an impressive run of form lately, netting in his last three games, returning 13, 12 and six FPL points in those respective weeks. Mount’s position in Tuchel’s front three makes him a good OOP option and with a home game against a torrid Everton side that has taken five points from their last 10 games increases Mount’s points potential. For those who don’t have him, he’s a differential option to both Bernardo Silva (£7.7m) and Diogo Jota (£8.0m) or to possibly upgrade on Raphinha (£6.7m).
3. Neal Maupay – £6.3m (FOR); 3.8% ownership
GW16 review – N/A (game vs Spurs postponed)
GW17 preview – Wolves (H)
Maupay didn’t feature in GW16 but has a game against Wolves this week, who have lost their last two games by a single goal. Maupay has notched six goals this season, including two in his last two games, meaning he is Brighton’s talisman and will be raring to get back to action this week. Wolves had started the season strongly defensively but have looked shaky in recent weeks and Brighton have been lucky enough to get a break in this busy period so expect Brighton to come out with a lot of energy to try and get back to winning ways.
4. John McGinn – £5.8m (MID); 1.7% ownership
GW16 review – 2 points (90 minutes)
GW17 preview – Norwich (A)
McGinn has been a key player to Steven Gerrard’s new system and style of play since Gerrard became Villa manager. The Scot has managed consistent game time this season, playing 90 minutes in 14 of Villa’s 16 league games this season, with two goals and three assists to his name already. This game will be tricky as it marks the first time Dean Smith will return to Villa Park since his sacking but Villa will be raring to bounce back from a narrow loss to Liverpool and try to get one over their old manager.
5. Antonio Rüdiger – £6.1m (DEF); 23.0% ownership
GW16 review – 9 points (90 minutes, two assists, 2BPS)
GW17 preview – Everton (H)
The big German is arguably Chelsea’s most important centre-back and he showed that he’s a menace on both ends of the pitch, winning both penalties in Chelsea’s dramatic late 3-2 win over Leeds this past weekend. He has a strong chance at a clean sheet this week, with Everton toothless in attack in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.9m), who has been out since GW4 already. Rüdiger will be hoping he can use his attacking threat and add to the two goals he has scored so far. Expect him also to be a key feature for the rest of the December period.
6. Raheem Sterling – £10.6m (MID); 1.6% ownership
GW16 review – 11 points (90 minutes, one goal, clean sheet, 3BPS)
GW17 preview – Leeds (H)
Sterling scored the winning goal to seal victory against Wolves last weekend and, in doing so, scored his 100th Premier League goal, including his second in as many games. Sterling’s performances have gone under the radar, competing with Jack Grealish (£7.6m) and Phil Foden (£8.0m) for the starting spot on the left-wing. But Sterling has started the last five games and has four goals and an assist to his name already. Leeds are vulnerable defensively so this could be the time to capitalise on Sterling’s low ownership as a big differential option.
*Prices and ownership statistics are correct as of 13 December 2021*
To see the picks of last week, click the link below:
