Liverpool know all too well the benefits of unearthing a gem from their academy, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler among the extensive list of graduates at Anfield.
Currently, Jurgen Klopp is reaping the rewards of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s progression on Merseyside, however the boss could soon have another starlet to uncover from the comforts of Melwood.
One name that is making noise from behind the scenes of the first team is 17-year-old Jayden Danns, who has started the 2023/24 campaign off magnificently, suggesting that he could be moving in the right direction towards the senior side.
Jayden Danns' career in numbers
After joining Liverpool at the age of eight, the 2006-born marvel has excelled through the ranks, showcasing the ability and versatility to play as either a striker or as an attacking outlet in midfield.
Born in Liverpool, Danns has made a name for himself within the club’s U18’s side, primarily acting as the squad’s centre-forward thanks to his clinical nature in the final third.
Last season, the teenager gained 17 appearances in the U18 Premier League, where he netted nine goals and secured two assists, a tally that has already been matched this campaign.
In only seven league appearances in 2023/24, the “unplayable” forward, as lauded by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has found himself on the scoresheet nine times, as well as assisting twice to mirror last term’s tally in the early stages of the calendar.
What the future holds for Jayden Danns
Such progression should be highly celebrated at Melwood, considering the striker has scored in seven consecutive games this season to announce himself as one of the most in-form forwards at the club.
Fortunately for Danns, the teen could see his breakthrough higher up the ranks come sooner rather than later, thanks to the lack of conviction that Klopp is currently battling in the first team.
While the 17-year-old has a lot of developing to do before he reaches first-team calibre, the forward is showing signs of a prolific nature and innate confidence, fundamentals that can’t be said this season about some of the Reds’ senior strikers.
Between Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, the manager has two forwards who show the capability of scoring when needed, yet lack the consistent reliability to be considered irreplaceable.
11
10
11
4
2
4
4
0
0
11%
13%
18%
10
2
1
1.5
0.5
0.7
Below the duo is Cody Gakpo, who is also lacking in the final third in 2023/24, having scored two goals in ten Premier League appearances so far, averaging only 0.5 shots on target per game to relay his recent frailties in front of goal.
Aside from the Dutchman's lack of confidence, Nunez's rash decisions in the final third have seen his critics resurface, with him already missing ten big chances in 11 appearances in the league this season, stressing the need for a reliable source of goals.
Liverpool player Cody Gakpo.
If his form continues, Danns could seek a way into the senior side in the near future, with the youngster's streak in front of goal evidently far more ruthless than that of Gakpo and Nunez, with only Mohamed Salah outscoring the teen out of the first team this campaign.
Only time will tell if Liverpool’s difficulty in getting their centre-forward’s firing continues, however, at Melwood, the U18s talisman is certainly making waves of great magnitude to boost his claim to a future promotion.
Leeds United are back in Championship action in the early kick-off on Saturday as they travel away to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The Whites are currently third in the league and are fighting to close the gap between themselves and Ipswich Town and Leicester City in the automatic promotion places.
Daniel Farke's side are seven points away from second and eight away from the top spot as the German tactician attempts to win promotion up to the Premier League for the third time in his career.
Leeds head into Saturday's clash with Blackburn off the back of a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough last weekend, as they came from 1-0 down after three minutes to secure all three points.
Despite that victory, Farke could look to make a few changes to the starting XI from that match and here is our predicted XI to line up at Ewood Park…
1 Karl Darlow
The first change could come between the sticks as Karl Darlow could start for the first time in the Championship since his move from Newcastle United over the summer.
Illan Meslier's performances have left a lot to be desired so far this season and could be taken out of the side after he let in two goals from four shots against Middlesbrough.
Appearances
19
12
Post-shot xG prevented
-1.8
+1.7
Save success rate
62.7%
75%
As you can see from the table above, Darlow's performances on loan with Hull at this level last term were far more impressive than the current Leeds number one's this term, which is why Farke could benefit from bringing the summer signing in for the first time.
2 Archie Gray
Archie Gray for Leeds United.
At right-back, Archie Gray could continue in an unnatural position to him as Djed Spence continues to work his way back to full fitness. The teenage starlet won seven of his 11 duels and completed 93% of his passes against Boro last time out.
3 Joe Rodon
Leeds United's loan defender Joe Rodon.
At the heart of the defence, Wales international Joe Rodon should keep his place after an impressive showing in the 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough.
He won three of his five duels and completed an eye-catching 99% (95/96) of his attempted passes as the Tottenham Hotspur loanee showcased his quality in and out of possession for the team.
4 Liam Cooper
Leeds defender Liam Cooper.
The second change that could be made to the XI is Liam Cooper being reinstated ahead of Dutch central defender Pascal Struijk, who struggled last weekend.
Against Boro, the left-footed enforcer lost four of his six duels – including three of his four on the ground – as the opposition found it far too easy to get the better of him. He was also dribbled past three times and only made one tackle and one interception throughout the 90 minutes.
Cooper, on the other hand, has only been dribbled past three times in ten Championship appearances and won 60% of his duels in those matches.
The Scotland international is an experienced and reliable option for Farke to call upon and Struijk's weak display last time out could tempt the manager to bring the veteran in alongside Rodon.
5 Sam Byram
Leeds defender Sam Byram.
Sam Byram should continue at left-back after a sublime performance from the summer signing from Norwich City against Boro last weekend. He made five interceptions and three tackles to go along with his deflected cross for the equalising goal from Dan James.
6 Ethan Ampadu
Leeds midfielder Ethan Ampadu.
In midfield, Ethan Ampadu should make his 20th start of the league campaign. He has started every Championship match for Leeds since his move from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old enforcer has made his presence felt in the middle of the park with 3.6 tackles and interceptions combined per match.
7 Glen Kamara
Finland international Glen Kamara.
Alongside the Wales international, former Rangers maestro Glen Kamara should keep his place. The Finnish whiz completed 94% of his attempted passes and won five of his seven duels against Boro last time out.
8 Dan James
Leeds forward Dan James.
On the right of the attack, Farke could select Dan James once again as the Welsh wizard has been in fantastic form so far this season.
He scored last weekend and is now up to six goals and four assists in 14 Championship starts for the Whites since the start of the campaign.
9 Joel Piroe
Leeds forward Joel Piroe.
Another player who could start once again is Joel Piroe. The Dutch forward scored from the penalty spot against Boro and is up to eight goals and one assist in the second tier this term.
He has thrived in a number ten position, despite being a centre-forward by trade, and has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer for the Whites.
10 Crysencio Summerville
Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville.
On the left, Crysencio Summerville should star as the electric winger has been in phenomenal form since the club were relegated down to the Championship.
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The 22-year-old whiz has made a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch with a return of eight goals, six assists, and nine 'big chances' created in 14 starts.
Chelsea came into this season on the back of an impressive pre-season campaign and with an element of hope that, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino, they could fight their way back into the European places come May.
However, with 16 games of the Premier League season already played – almost half – the Blues are once again in the bottom half of the table, and based on performances, rightly so.
That said, injuries haven't helped the young side, especially in the case of club captain Reece James, who had to come off against Everton on the weekend and is now set to spend a second spell on the sidelines this season.
While his absence will undoubtedly cause more headaches for Pochettino, there is some good news, as the latest player linked with Stamford Bridge could even replace the Cobham graduate altogether – Denzel Dumfries.
Chelsea transfer news – Denzel Dumfries
According to Italian outlet Calciomercatio, Inter Milan star Dumfries has courted the attention of Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United, with both teams keen on signing the player in 2024.
The interest of United is undoubtedly one of the barriers that the Blues will have to overcome if they want to sign the Dutchman, but the other is the price, as according to Calciomercato.IT, the Nerazzurri will not sell their player for anything less than €40m – which works out to about £35m.
Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries
It would represent another sizeable investment from Todd Boehly and co, though with how well the "monster", as described by journalist Alan Rzepa, has performed in Italy and the uncertainty surrounding James' fitness, it would likely be worth it.
Denzel Dumfries could replace Reece James and Malo Gusto
Now, James is obviously an enormous talent and widely considered one of the best right-backs in world football, but if he can't stay fit for more than a couple of months, then Chelsea simply can not benefit from his talent.
Since making his debut for the Blues in September 2019, the "world-class" 24-year-old, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has suffered 17 injuries – not including the latest one – which have made him miss a combined 463 days of action and 89 games for club and country, per Transfermarkt.
With a record such as that, the chance of James following a career trajectory similar to Jack Wilshere, another uber-talented youngster, is worryingly high. And with Malo Gusto – who is also currently sidelined – not exactly tearing up trees this year, it could be time for the club to look at another long-term solution at right-back.
When comparing the trios' underlying numbers, Dumfries simply has to measure up well with the Chelsea captain; if he can be 75% of the player 100% of the time, it will be more useful to Pochettino.
Unsurprisingly, there are some areas in which the former Wigan loanee comes out on top, such as tackles won and non-penalty expected goals and assists. However, the Serie A defender comes out ahead in plenty of other areas.
Stat (per 90)
Dumfries
James
Gusto
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
0.11
0.07
0.05
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.37
0.41
0.15
Red Cards
0.00
0.17
0.23
Shots on Target
0.29
0.23
0.00
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.78
0.70
0.17
Goal-Creating Actions
0.48
0.46
0.50
Blocks
1.17
0.93
1.17
Tackles Won
0.87
1.86
1.17
Aerial Duels Won
1.84
1.63
0.50
Errors Leading to Goals
0.00
0.23
0.00
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season
Ultimately, for as fantastic as James is, and for as outrageously high as his potential might be, the fact that he can't seem to string a run of games together at age 24 should be – and probably is – ringing alarm bells at Chelsea.
For the reasonable fee of around £35m, the two-time European champions should strongly consider signing Dumfries as he would be a more than adequate player to play in James' place and potentially instead of him if the injuries remain a problem.
Everton have already had a busy summer transfer window, bringing in their new centre-forward, Thierno Barry, who is essentially a direct replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, the Toffees aren’t done there when it comes to attacking signings, and are seemingly looking to sign an attacking midfielder, too.
Well, one man who they seem to show keen interest in is Manchester City academy graduate James McAtee. They are said to be keen to finalise a deal for the England under-21 captain. However, they will face competition from West Ham United, so a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium is far from a guarantee.
Thus, Everton are seemingly in for another Premier League attacking midfielder, if a move for McAtee doesn’t materialise.
Everton’s McAtee alternative
It remains to be seen if the Toffees actually manage to sign McAtee this summer, with the race for the Citizens youngster certainly a close one. It seems that the Toffees are set to enter another transfer battle for their alternative signing to City’s attacking midfield.
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According to a recent report from The Telegraph, David Moyes’ side have an ‘interest’ in signing Aston Villa academy graduate Jacob Ramsey this season. He has ‘previously been looked at’ by Everton who ‘retain’ their interest in the boyhood Villa fan.
They are not the only club that want the 24-year-old. Ironically, they are also set to face competition from Moyes’ former side, West Ham, with Nottingham Forest another team who have made the attacker ‘a primary summer target’ ahead of a possible departure by Morgan Gibbs-White.
As for a price for Ramsey, Villa could demand as much as £30m.
Why Ramsey would be a good signing
At 24 years of age, Ramsey is now an experienced Premier League player. Despite struggling with injuries at times during his career, he has built up a fantastic reputation in the top flight that has led Statman Dave to describe him as a “magic” player.
The Birmingham-born Villa academy star impressed at times last season. He made 46 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and grabbing seven assists in that time. Six of those goal involvements came in the top flight.
If you think those numbers are impressive, then his stats from the 2022/23 campaign really stand out. In the top flight that season, Ramsey bagged six goals and assisted seven, playing 35 games in total. That included a winning goal against Southampton at Villa Park.
Interestingly, the attacking midfielder is noted as statistically and stylistically similar to former Toffees star Adoulaye Doucoure, among players in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref.
More on those stats later, but it is certainly intriguing to note that Moyes wants to sign a player of the same profile as Doucoure, who was so important to him at the start of his second stint in charge at the club.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
The Mali international was vital for the Toffees during his time at the club, with 21 goals and 14 assists in 166 games in that famous Blue shirt.
His winning goal against Bournemouth back in 2023 on the final day of the season kept Everton in the Premier League.
His record under Moyes last season showed just what kind of an impact he had going forward. A box-crashing midfielder, the 32-year-old only played 16 Premier League games under the Scot, but managed three goals and two assists.
Looking at those aforementioned FBref stats from last term, the similarities are clear to see. Ramsey averaged 0.22 goals and assists, and 1.17 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to 0.18 goals and assists and 0.98 key passes each game for Doucoure.
Goals and assists
0.22
0.18
Key passes
1.17
0.98
Progressive passes
3.78
2.88
Goal-creating actions
0.44
0.11
Progressive carries
3.39
1.47
Tackles and interceptions
2.11
2.04
The likeness is apparent, with Ramsey averaging far higher in some stats, such as ball-carrying, adding an extra element to his appeal. Keeping such a profile in the squad could be vital for Moyes and the way he wants his side to play next term. He could become the new Doucoure for the Toffees.
As far as McAtee alternatives go, Ramsey could be the guy Everton bring to play on Bramley Moore Dock next term. Signing a Premier League proven star for just £30m could be one of the bargains of the summer.
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Newcastle United are set to make a massive move to sign a new forward in 2025, according to a former Premier League scout.
Newcastle keen for additions
It was a tough summer for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United, and that has translated into a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign too.
A 3-3 draw against Liverpool in their most recent outing was one of their best performances of a season that has otherwise been inconsistent, with the Magpies having managed just a point more than Manchester United at this point, though the congested nature of the league means that they remain just three points outside the top five.
With a favourable run of fixtures ahead, they will be hoping that they can finally string together a run of form to push back towards the top of the Premier League, but there is concern that they will struggle to strengthen in January amid financial fair play concerns and hefty prices.
Brentford (Away)
Leicester City (Home)
Ipswich Town (Away)
Aston Villa (Home)
Manchester United (Away)
Howe’s demands have been clear since the summer, with the Newcastle boss wanting at least another centre-back and a right-winger added to his side. So far this season, Anthony Gordon has been asked to play on the right flank this season, while Dan Burn has been repurposed in central defence, but neither are long-term solutions at St James’ Park.
There is a hope that the club can move Miguel Almiron on to raise some funds, and now they have been tipped to secure a massive deal in the summer.
Newcastle want to make statement signing
That is according to former Manchester United scout Mick Brown, who has claimed that the Magpies are looking to complete a summer deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
The Bees attacker enjoyed an excellent start to the season under Thomas Frank, with eight goals to his name, leading to the Brentford boss labelling him a “top” player.
“For me, he’s a top player. I’m convinced one day he will play for a bigger club; I will definitely buy him if I was at a bigger club”, Frank explained.
Brentford'sBryanMbeumocelebrates scoring
Now, it is Newcastle that want to secure the Cameroon international, who they believe could be the perfect upgrade on the right-side of attack in the wake of a potential Almiron departure.
According to Brown, Mbeumo is “definitely their top target for the position”, but that it would “take a huge fee” to get him out of the G-Tech Stadium.
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“It won’t happen in January, I’m fairly certain of that, because Newcastle are restricted in what they’ll be able to spend”, he added, pointing to a summer deal being far more likely.
Brentford are not prepared to let Mbeumo leave in January unless a massive offer is tabled for him, something that Newcastle may struggle with midseason. However, the forward has just 18 months left to run on his £45,000 a week deal in London as things stand, and the summer could be the last time for the Bees to land a serious fee for the talent.
His potential summer arrival could finally provide Howe with balance in attack, and allow Gordon to return to his favoured left-wing position while providing a massive upgrade on Almiron for the Magpies.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League table, although it doesn’t really feel like that.
On Saturday, the Gunners swatted aside West Ham 2-0 at home, with Declan Rice breaking the deadlock against his former side, before Bukayo Saka converted a second-half penalty, as the Hammers rarely threatened, underlined by the fact they failed to muster a single shot on target.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium was generally rather flat, possibly due to the rather dull game that was served up to those in attendance, a win that never truly felt in doubt, even at 0-0.
More importantly though, once again, Mikel Arteta suffered an injury to yet another key player; absentees derailed their title aspirations last season, with Gooners everywhere fearful that this could be the case again.
So, if the captain is sidelined for any length of time, should a key figure labelled the “best in the world” start donning the armband?
The latest on Martin Ødegaard's injury
Four days is a very long time in football, as Martin Ødegaard has discovered this week.
On Wednesday night against Olympiacos, the Norwegian was at his sublime, sparkling and scintillating best.
Manager Arteta described Ødegaard’s performance as “phenomenal”, while Dan Sheldon of the Athletic praised his ‘beautiful incisive passing’, outlining how ‘playing slightly deeper’, he was able to control all aspects of the game and really run the show.
However, come Saturday, for a third successive home Premier League game, the 26-year-old was forced off in the first half, plagued by a shoulder issue against Leeds and Nottingham Forest, this time suffering a knee injury.
Arteta said afterwards that the news is “not positive” with Ødegaard leaving the stadium in a knee brace, solemnly concluding “let’s wait… hopefully it is not that bad.”
So, if the skipper is forced to sit out games against Fulham, Atlético Madrid, Crystal Palace and perhaps beyond after the international break, who should be donning the armband instead?
Arsenal's future captain is now the "best in the world"
When Ødegaard has been sidelined both this season and last, the armband has rather been shared around, with Gabriel and Saka among those donning it in recent games.
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However, after yet another excellent display against his former club on Saturday, Rice has really come to the fore as a leader in this Arsenal team.
In football history, 11 players have moved for £100m or more, of which very few proved to be a success and, as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are finding out at Anfield, a price tag that gigantic can weigh even a world-class player down.
Well, Rice has certainly bucked the trend in that regard, unequivocally outstanding every week, with the table below documenting his importance to Arsenal so far this season.
Minutes
676
5th
Goals
1
7th
Assists
2
1st
Completed passes
437
3rd
Key passes
14
1st
Passes into final 3rd
33
2nd
Progressive carries
21
2nd
Corners takes
24
1st
Shot-creating actions
24
1st
Blocks
7
3rd
Ball recoveries
36
1st
Touches
565
3rd
As the numbers emphasise, Rice has become the complete all-rounder.
He leads the way in terms of key passes and shot-creating actions, a large proportion of which will be courtesy of his expert set-piece delivery, as well as ball recoveries, very much contributing across every area of the pitch.
Speaking about Archie Gray in his press conference on Friday, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, of all people, asserted that Rodri and Rice are the “best in the world” in their position, adding that this is because “they can do a little bit of everything”.
It is hard to disagree with that assessment, considering Rice is able to put in a brilliant performance irrespective of where he is deployed, used at the base of midfield from the start on Saturday, before moving higher up following Martín Zubimendi’s introduction to replace Ødegaard.
During his final season at West Ham, one that culminated in Conference League glory, Rice was the club captain, donning the armband for England for the first time against Belgium last year too, underlining his leadership capabilities.
So, if Ødegaard is going to be sidelined for any period of time, Rice appears the obvious candidate to lead Arsenal out at Craven Cottage in a fortnight.
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When Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in 2013, he left behind a squad of Premier League winners. The Red Devils had just beaten rivals Manchester City to the league title, securing Ferguson’s 13th and final time lifting England’s greatest honour. But that trophy only papered over the cracks that would soon appear.
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Choosing his replacement, Ferguson turned towards Everton’s David Moyes. A Scottish manager who was beginning to make a name for himself elsewhere, Moyes likely reminded the legendary Man United boss of himself. On paper, the appointment made plenty of sense and 12 years ago, it was unlike the Red Devils to get things wrong.
Of course, as we now know, over a decade later, that decision sparked the beginning of United’s long downfall which has featured moments that go lower and lower in their history.
Games
51
Wins
26
Draws
10
Losses
15
From a manager that stayed at the club and achieved so much for 26 long years, United gave Moyes just 51 games to make his mark before pulling the plug on his tenure.
At the time, the blame was sent the manager’s way. The assumption was that it simply had to be him. After all, he was the only change at the club, but perhaps that’s where the problem truly lied. Since then, five permanent managers have tried and all five have failed to do what Moyes initially failed to do as United remain sleeping giants.
Before Moyes arrived, however, things could have been so different. Ferguson reportedly approached a manager who soon became a Premier League winner, only to be turned down.
Why Jurgen Klopp turned Ferguson and Man Utd down
As revealed by the former Liverpool manager himself, Ferguson approached Jurgen Klopp before Man Utd hired Moyes, only for the German to turn down the chance to move to Old Trafford as he was already planning for the 2013/14 season at Borussia Dortmund.
It was then just two years later that he was approached with a similar offer from Liverpool, who secured his arrival and went from sleeping giants into a club firmly back at the top of English football. Whilst United continued to struggle, the Reds and Klopp won the Premier League, Champions League and everything in between.
No one knows for sure whether Klopp would have done better than Moyes, Jose Mourinho and others, but evidence from his Liverpool spell gives us a fairly solid indication of how things could have been so different for the Red Devils.
Just as the Premier League title race is hotting up, so too is the race to win this year’s Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
With over 11 million players partaking this year, the competition is fierce, meaning only those who choose the best players every week will stand a chance of winning the grand prize, which this year is a seven-night break in the UK, hospitality at two Premier League matches next season – and eternal bragging rights down the pub.
With that being said, here are the most-picked players in the FPL this season with a detailed look at the top 10. How many have you got in your team?
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Rank
Player
Club
Percentage
Erling Haaland
Man City
73%
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
55.5%
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
40.6%
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford
38.1%
David Raya
Arsenal
30.3%
Josko Gvardiol
Man City
30.2%
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
29.8%
Pedro Porro
Spurs
28.5%
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
28.4%
Luis Diaz
Liverpool
27.5%
10 Luis Diaz (Liverpool) Midfielder, 27.5% selected
Just over a quarter of all FPL players have Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in their team, and it’s easy to see why.
This season, the Colombian has scored five goals and registered two assists in nine Premier League games for Arne Slot’s side – form that has seen him earn a total of 60 FPL points so far. Only five players have earned more.
However, his effectiveness has wavered in recent weeks. He’s picked up just nine points across Liverpool’s last four games, compared to 48 in the four games before that.
Ollie Watkins is one of the most expensive strikers FPL players can buy for their team, currently coming in at a cost of £9.1 million.
So far this season, the Aston Villa hitman has justified his hefty price tag, scoring five goals and registering two assists in nine Premier League games for Unai Emery’s side.
His current total of 51 FPL points is bettered by only four forwards in the top flight.
Value
£9.1m
Total points
51
Bonus points
7
Best FPL gameweek
13 pts v Everton (GW4)
GW10 opponent
Spurs (A)
8 Pedro Porro (Spurs) Defender, 28.5% selected
Pedro Porro has been a steady fixture in Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side this season, starting all nine of their top-flight matches so far. The defender also scored a goal on the opening day against Leicester City and has kept two clean sheets, earning him a respectable total of 30 FPL points.
Those who have the Spaniard picked will be hoping he can soon start registering some assists like the seven he managed last term.
For a long time now, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the highest-scoring defenders in FPL. In the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons, the Liverpool star earned more points than any other defender in the Premier League with respective totals of 210 and 208.
This season, he already looks on course to reach those heights. Nine gameweeks in, the Englishman has 44 points to his name, making him the division’s second-highest-scoring defender behind only teammate Virgil van Dijk, who has 45.
Value
£7.0m
Total points
44
Bonus points
6
Best FPL gameweek
11 pts v Bournemouth (GW5)
GW10 opponent
Brighton (H)
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ByBarney Lane Oct 20, 2024 6 Josko Gvardiol (Man City) Defender, 30.2% selected
With 42 FPL points to his name this season, Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol is currently the Premier League’s third-highest-scoring defender.
Pep Guardiola’s side are yet to taste defeat in nine top flight games this term, and Gvardiol has started in all but one of those fixtures, keeping two clean sheets and scoring two goals in the process.
Players with the Croat in their team will be hoping he doesn’t pick up another injury like he did last year – a knock has him down as a slight doubt for GW10.
Value
£6.2m
Total points
42
Bonus points
7
Best FPL gameweek
10 pts v Wolves (GW8)
GW10 opponent
Bournemouth (A)
5 David Raya (Arsenal) Goalkeeper, 30.3% selected
Last season, Arsenal shot-stopper David Raya scored the second-most points of any goalkeeper in FPL with 135, which was 18 fewer than Everton’s Jordan Pickford.
This term, he’s scored 37 points so far, which is four more than Pickford, but fewer than three other top-flight goalkeepers, those being Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez, Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Manchester United’s Andre Onana.
10 of Raya’s points came in the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Aston Villa back in August, where he kept a clean sheet, made three saves, and scored three bonus points.
Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has been the surprise of the season in the Premier League. The Cameroon international has eight goals in nine games, making him the league’s second-highest scorer behind Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
His good form means he’s already registered 68 FPL points, which is the fourth-most of any player this term.
Brentford’s recent 4-3 win over Ipswich Town proved to be Mbeumo’s most lucrative FPL gameweek, with the striker scoring twice and collecting 15 points.
Value
£7.7m
Total points
68
Bonus points
12
Best FPL gameweek
15 pts v Ipswich (GW9)
GW10 opponent
Fulham (A)
3 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Midfielder, 40.6% selected
Mohamed Salah scores for Liverpool
At the rate he’s going, it’s a wonder why every single FPL player doesn’t currently have Mohamed Salah in their team.
With six goals, five assists and five clean sheets, the Liverpool superstar is the FPL’s highest-scoring player so far this season, with a whopping points total of 84.
Players will be smart to keep him in for the coming weeks, too. Up next for Arne Slot’s Liverpool is Aston Villa, against whom Salah has scored seven times in 11 games. Then the Reds face Southampton, with Salah boasting the exact same record against the Saints.
Value
£12.7m
Total points
84
Bonus points
16
Best FPL gameweek
17 pts v Man Utd (GW3)
GW10 opponent
Brighton (H)
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ByBarney Lane Oct 19, 2024 2 Cole Palmer (Chelsea) Midfielder, 55.5% selected
Cole Palmer’s impressive 79 points total in the FPL this season has come mostly courtesy of two quite astonishing gameweeks.
Against Wolverhampton Wanderers on GW2, the Chelsea midfielder got three assists and a goal in a 6-2 win to pick up an impressive 17 points. Four weeks later against Brighton, he scored all four of Chelsea’s goals in a 4-2 victory, earning himself 25 points.
No player scored more FPL points than Palmer last season with 244. If he keeps scoring points the way he is now, don’t be surprised if he comes out on top again this year.
Value
£11.0m
Total points
79
Bonus points
12
Best FPL gameweek
25 pts v Brighton (GW6)
GW10 opponent
Man Utd (A)
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ByBarney Lane Oct 24, 2024 1 Erling Haaland (Man City) Forward, 73% selected
Seriously, where are the 27% of FPL players that don’t have Erling Haaland in their team?
In his debut season in the Premier League, the Manchester City striker was the highest-scoring FPL player with 272 points thanks to his record haul of 36 top-flight goals. Last season, he scored 217 points, while this term he’s already got 75, which is more than any other striker in the division.
The man is a machine, both at finding the back of the net and earning FPL points.
One Tottenham star appears to be finding some joy on international duty, and has been praised for his heroics following some recent criticism from supporters.
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Right now, there hasn’t been a better time to play City in quite a while, with the Sky Blues enduring four consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
The first of those losses actually came at the hands of Ange Postecoglou, who guided Tottenham to a 2-1 win over City in the Carabao Cup just over a fortnight ago, courtesy of Timo Werner’s first goal since March and a brilliant long-range strike from Pape Matar Sarr.
Man City vs Tottenham
November 23
Tottenham vs Fulham
December 1
Bournemouth vs Tottenham
December 5
Tottenham vs Chelsea
December 8
Southampton vs Tottenham
December 15
However, if they’re to replicate those heroics against a Guardiola side still boasting plenty of quality, they will have to be far better than their last two performances.
Spurs suffered a 3-2 defeat to Turkish champions Galatasaray last week, which arguably flattered Postecoglou, as the home side could have come away with a much greater win considering the chances they created.
That was followed by a dismal 2-1 loss at home to Ipswich Town in the Premier League, with the likes of Radu Dragusin and Pedro Porro enduring nightmares in Tottenham’s last match.
Depending on whether Micky van de Ven will be back at that point, who could come back in to replace the former in Postecoglou’s line-up, both Dragusin and Porro will need to put in far better shifts.
Another star who was subject to criticism after his display against Ipswich was big-name forward Son Heung-min. The £190,000-per-week forward boasts three goals and three assists from his opening eight Premier League matches this season, but supporters weren’t impressed with his performance against Kieran McKenna’s side.
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That is according to pundit John Wenham, who told Tottenham News that Son could get a confidence boost from his South Korea performances on international duty.
The 32-year-old scored his 50th goal for South Korea with a penalty against Kuwait on Thursday, leading his country to a 3-1 win in their World Cup qualifier.
“To reach 50 goals for South Korea is impressive,” said Wenham. “It was a penalty on this occasion. However, you still need to score. I never devalue a penalty, they’re still difficult to convert.
“Therefore, hopefully, that will give Son a confidence booster. He was someone who seemed to take a lot of fan criticism for his display against Ipswich. I don’t think it was against him personally, I just think it is because his standards are so high. He is a world-class player, so people expect a lot of him.”
Norwich City ended their run of seven matches without a win in the Championship by thrashing Wayne Rooney’s struggling Plymouth Argyle side 6-1 at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
A second hat-trick of the season for Borja Sainz and goals from Shane Duffy, Anis Ben Slimane, and Ante Crnac wrapped up all three points for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s team in impressive fashion.
It has been an odd campaign to assess for the Danish head coach with plenty of good and bad moments, as well as many injury and suspension issues to deal with.
He was still without talisman Josh Sargent, midfield maestro Marcelino Nunez, dominant defender Jose Cordoba, and England U21 international Kellen Fisher for the clash with Plymouth, whilst captain Kenny McLean played for the first time in four games after a suspension.
JoshSargentof the U.S. reacts
One player who had a particularly interesting evening against The Pilgrims was central defender Duffy, whose performance somewhat summed up the entire season for the team.
Shane Duffy's performance against Plymouth
The Ireland international scored his second goal of the campaign in the second half to make it 3-1 to the Canaries, rising highest to brilliantly guide Emi Marcondes’ corner into the back of the net.
It was his third league goal for Norwich, from an xG tally of 4.24, and it came after he should have scored in the first half, blazing an effort over the bar from point-blank range after McLean flicked a corner on at the near post.
Duffy’s use of the ball also came with mixed success. He completed a whopping 104 passes but left a lot to be desired after two poor concessions of possession directly led to shots for Plymouth.
The veteran defender also lost four of his five ground duels, as opposition forwards were too quick for the centre-back to deal with at times.
However, as you can see in the clip above, it was his aggressive interception and positive pass that sparked the move for Sainz’s second goal of the game.
It was a match that showcased the best and the worst of Duffy, who provides a fantastic aerial presence and aggression to Norwich’s play out of possession, but who can also be guilty of coughing up the ball in dangerous areas and struggling against quick attackers.
Shane Duffy's performances this season
The 32-year-old colossus, who joined on a free transfer from Fulham in the summer of 2023, has started all 17 of the club’s Championship games this season, which speaks to how much Thorup trusts him to perform each week.
As was illustrated in the clash with Plymouth, Duffy has generally struggled to deal with forwards in challenges on the ground this season, losing 59% of his duels on the deck.
Whereas, his aerial duel success rate of 64% shows that he has, largely, dealt with crosses and long balls. This helps the Canaries to deal with set-pieces and with teams who boast tall or physically impressive centre-forwards, who could bully or dominate weaker centre-backs in the air.
Appearances
17
Goals
2
Pass accuracy
90%
Ground duel success rate
41%
Aerial duel success rate
64%
Duffy turns 33 in January and, given the direction the club is now heading in under Thorup and sporting director Ben Knapper, it would make sense for the coaching staff to have one eye on whom the next player to step into the right-sided centre-back role could be.
One man who stands out as an obvious candidate, after he came on to make his senior league debut for Norwich, is 20-year-old academy graduate Brad Hills.
The England U20 international had been an unused substitute on eight occasions in the Championship this season before his cameo on Tuesday, and the potential is there for him to develop into an upgrade on Duffy.
Why Brad Hills could be an upgrade on Shane Duffy
Whilst there is no urgent need for Norwich to replace the Irishman, or to fast-track Hills’ development, Thorup may have an idea on a timeline for the English titan, who is firmly in the pipeline to become a future star at Carrow Road.
After Hills put pen to paper on a new long-term contract in the summer, the Danish head coach predicted that the central defender will become a “regular starter” for the Canaries in the future.
The 20-year-old star spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Accrington Stanley in League Two and his form in his first season at senior level suggests that he has the attributes to succeed as Duffy’s eventual successor.
Upon his arrival on loan, Accrington manager John Coleman described him as the “pick of the bunch” from the Norwich academy, and he will surely have been delighted with the impact that Hills went on to have on the pitch, winning their Player of the Season award.
Duel success rate
65.6%
Top 15%
Aerial duel success rate
68.4%
Top 11%
Interceptions
1.79
Top 14.4%
Possession won final third
0.15
Top 14.4%
Recoveries
5.58
Top 18.6%
As you can see in the table above, the Norwich-born brute was a dominant force at the back for his side in League Two last term, ranking highly for his duel success rate, recoveries, and interceptions.
The rate at which he intercepted passes and won possession in the final third suggests that Hills could be well-suited to the role that Duffy has in this current Norwich side, as the youngster reads the game well and is aggressive in his play, pushing up to win the ball back for his team in advanced positions.
You also have to be comfortable on the ball to suit a Thorup team and Hills showcased his quality in possession, completing 91% of his attempted passes and winning ten of his 12 duels, in a 4-3 win over Stevenage in the League Cup earlier this season.
The Norwich academy graduate scored an unfortunate own goal towards the end of that match but his general play, with his reliable passing and dominant defensive work, was impressive.
Thorup could, now, look to slowly integrate him into Championship football, after his short cameo at left-back against Plymouth, with a view to him being the successor to Duffy in the future.
The potential, as shown by his statistics in the EFL Cup and in League Two for Accrington, is there for him to potentially be an upgrade on the Irishman, as he can be dominant in duels both on the floor and in the air due to his superior athleticism.
It is now down to Hills to take his opportunities when they come and to remain consistent with his performances, in order to push on and secure a spot in the starting XI.