With plenty of midfielders under the FPL spotlight, we analyse a selection of key names in the build-up to Gameweek 2 as the transfer deadline for fantasy bosses draws steadily closer.
The most owned midfielder successfully lived up to the high expectations on his shoulders in Gameweek 1, Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) firing home with a stunning strike from outside the box in a 2-1 win for Arsenal over Nott’m Forest, earning the England international 10 FPL points in the process. The Gunners travel to Crystal Palace in Gameweek 2 and Saka will be heavily fancied to increase his goal tally. But he won’t be the only Arsenal midfielder in high-demand with Gabriel Martinelli (£8.0m) and Martin Odegaard (£8.5m) also staking a claim for a place in your respective FPL squads. Martinelli recorded an assist in Gameweek 1 and whilst Odegaard didn’t gain an attacking return, such a quality player won’t be kept out of the spotlight for long.
Another club with enticing midfield fantasy assets a-plenty is Liverpool, who host Bournemouth on Saturday. Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) commands plenty of attention having set one up vs Chelsea in Gameweek 1 and would have had a goal himself if not for VAR’s intervention. But it was Luis Diaz (£7.5m) who scored in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge and after having missed much of last season through injury, looked extremely sharp on the left-side of Liverpool’s attacking front three. The Colombian netted twice in this fixture last season, which finished 9-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
One previously high-scoring FPL midfield player has gone somewhat under the radar leading into the new campaign. But it didn’t take West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen (£7.0m) long to remind everyone as to his fantasy credentials last weekend, scoring the opening goal and accruing 9 FPL points in a 1-1 draw vs Bournemouth. Bowen and the Hammers are at home in Gameweek 2 for a London derby against Chelsea.
Brighton meanwhile, are away at Wolves where the highly-owned Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) will be hunting for his first Premier League goal of the season after only recording an assist in Gameweek 1. Fellow wideman Solly March (£6.5m) however, did get on the scoresheet for the Seagulls against Luton and is well-worth a serious look from FPL managers.
