FPL top picks for Gameweek 27
Utilising the fixture ticker and underlying stats from the Fantasy Football Scout members area, we pick out some of the FPL top picks for Gameweek 27. Considering team and player form, fixture difficulty and stats will help us shortlist some of the best assets for the round ahead.
Looking at the FPL top picks for Gameweek 27 can be extremely useful to managers in their quest for success. Knowing which players to target for the round ahead can help with important decisions like transfers and captaincy.
Note: This article was written before Gameweek 26 started. Any changes in terms of injuries will be updated upon its republishing as we draw closer to the Gameweek 27 deadline. Stats will naturally change during the upcoming Gameweek but won’t take anything away from the selections.
Fixtures
Below we can see the teams at the top with the easiest fixtures all of the way down to the bottom to teams with the toughest fixtures. This will help us pick out some of the best options for Gameweek 27.
Goalkeepers – David Raya
Brentford rank at the top of the fixture ticker this week with good fixtures. This means that Brentford have two opportunities to keep a clean sheet, making their defensive assets even more appealing. They also face two struggling teams which increases the chances of clean sheets.
In the last six matches Brentford rank first for goals conceded (two), joint third for clean sheets kept (three), third best for shots in the box conceded (32) and the best for big chances conceded (four). Because of this the inclusion of David Raya (£4.8m) could be a fantastic one and for that reason makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Robert Sanchez
Brighton rank second on the fixture ticker this week. They also face two teams struggling to string together a consistent run of positive results. This provides two very good opportunities to keep a clean which only furthers the appeal of the Brighton defence.
In their last six matches Brighton rank joint third best for goals conceded (four), second best for shots in the box conceded (30), the best for total attempts conceded (38) and the best for shots on target conceded (nine). Because of this Robert Sanchez (£4.6m) could be a great option.
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal have a fixture against Fulham in Gameweek 27. The league leaders have sustained some of the best defensive stats all season. Although suffering a rough patch without clean sheets, they have now kept two back-to-back clean sheets in a row.
Many will choose to back their offensive players and rightly so. However their opponent’s Fulham rank the second worst for attempts on goal (56), the worst for shots in the box (34) and joint worst for big chances total (six). For that reason, the chances of an Arsenal clean sheet are high for Aaron Ramsdale (£4.9m).
Defenders- Pervis Estupinan
Brighton’s double Gameweek and solid recent defensive stats could indicate further investment in terms of their defensive assets. One of their opponent’s, Crystal Palace, have been struggling to maintain above average offensive stats for some time which boosts the likelihood of a clean sheet.
The standout option in the Brighton defence is without a doubt Pervis Estupinan (£4.7m). As well as two great chances of clean sheets, Estupinan has very good attacking threat and that was apparent after securing five assists in his last seven matches. Pervis Estupinan is probably the most exciting pick in the Brighton defence and for that walks into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Rico Henry
The two Brentford fixtures are simply hard to ignore and the fact they have been maintaining great underlying defensive stats as of late adds to their appeal. Both of their opponents have struggled score goals all season.
In fact Everton and Southampton both rank amongst the worst four teams for goals scored this season (less than 20). With that in mind and the fact both sit near the bottom of the table, the Brentford backline becomes even more interesting. Rico Henry (£4.5m) betters all of his defensive teammates in terms of expected goal involvement in the last six matches.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arsenal have been putting up some great defensive stats this season and we have already seen that their opponent’s Fulham are also struggling offensively as of late. This could suggest selecting an Arsenal defender as a good move.
Whilst many look to the goalkeeper or Gabriel (£5.2m) most should be targeting Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.1m). The Ukrainian showed his potential recently hitting an assist, a goal and two clean sheets in his last three matches. He also ranks above his defensive colleagues for expected goal involvement in the last six games.
Kieran Trippier
Newcastle face Wolves at home in Gameweek 26. The home side rank as the best team in the league for clean sheets kept (12) and goals conceded (15). For that reason it could be absolutely crucial we invest in their defence.
Wolves have struggled for goals all season. With that in mind and the fact that no defender has had a better expected goal involvement in the last six matches (2.25) than Kieran Trippier (£6m), he is an easy addition to the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Trent-Alexander Arnold
Liverpool have been defensively unstable all season but things could be on the turn. The Reds have been successful enough to keep back-to-back clean sheets in their last two matches so we could be seeing defensive improvements.
They face a poor Bournemouth who rank the joint worst team in the league for shots in target (14) in the last six matches so the clean sheet could be on again. Trent Alexander-Arnold has proven to be an elite distributor. Amongst all defenders he ranks second for chances created (13) and joint first for big chances created (five) in the last six matches. Trent has bags of potential this week and because of this makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Midfielders – Solly March
Brighton have two great offensive fixtures this week. Their attack is looking sharp and that can be reflected in their recent stats. Amongst all teams in the last six matches they rank amongst the best five for attempts on goal (87), shots in the box (60), big chances total (21) and shots on target (32).
The standout option in the Brighton attack is Solly March (£5.1m). The midfielder can be extremely explosive in FPL and that can be seen in his recent games where he bagged three double-digit hauls in his last six matches.
Kaoru Mitoma
One of the two teams Brighton face in Gameweek 27 is Crystal Palace. Defensively in their last six matches they rank the worst for shots in the box conceded (73) and the worst for shots on target conceded (37), providing plenty of potential for opposition attackers.
Kaoru Mitoma (£5.4m) is in the middle of a quiet period in terms of output without any returns in his last two matches. However before that Mitoma banked five consecutive returns including two back-to-back double-digit returns. With two great fixtures, Mitoma is an easy inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United are in great scoring form as of late. The Reds have banked two or more goals in five of their last six matches. They go into Gameweek 26 with the hope to extend their chase for the title against the struggling Southampton.
Marcus Rashford (£7.3m) has become an absolute essential in FPL. The midfielder has hit nine returns in his last 10 matches in the PL including four double-digit hauls. Going without Rashford could be detrimental to rank and mini-league position and that is why he is an absolute must amongst the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal have been rampant in their chase for the title. A large factor in that is the amount of goals their scoring. In their last six matches they rank second for goals scored (16), first for attempts on goal (132), first for shots in the box (91) and joint third for shots on target (32).
The standout option in the Arsenal attack is without a doubt Bukayo Saka (£8.5m). The winger has been very consistent this season. In his last six matches he has picked up four returns. Amongst all players in the league in the same period he also ranks first for attempts on goal (29) and second for shots in the box (22). In great form, putting up some great stats, Saka walks into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool rank amongst the best five teams in the last six matches for attempts on goal (98), shots in the box (66), big chances total (17) and shot on target (30). They face Bournemouth in Gameweek 27 who rank as joint second worst for shots in the box conceded (67), the worst for shots conceded (102) and the third worst for shots on target conceded (31).
One player who will be looking to add to their recent form is Mohamed Salah (£12.7m). The Egyptian has bagged three returns in his last six matches including one double-digit haul. With a great fixture ahead and talking penalties, Salah could have massive potential and for that reason makes it into the top picks for Gameweek 27.
Forwards – Erling Haaland
Manchester City will be hoping to close the gap on Arsenal who sit at the top of the league. Recently in the last six matches they rank first for goals scored (19), second for attempts on goal (118), second for shots in the box (78) and first for big chances total (31).
Crystal Palace lay ahead for Manchester City and as we have already seen they rank as the worst team in the league for shots on target conceded. Because of this and due to his high ownership and relentless form, Erling Haaland (£12.2m) could be considered as an essential going into Gameweek 27.
Harry Kane
This season Tottenham rank in the best three teams in the league for goals scored (46), goals in the box (29) and shots on target (129). They face a Nottingham Forest team who rank amongst the worst five teams in the league for key defensive data points like goals conceded and big chances conceded.
Harry Kane (£11.7m) has been in great form this season scoring a huge 18 goals and creating two assists. Amongst all strikers in the last six matches he ranks joint first for attempts on goal (24), third for shots in the box (17) and joint third for big chances total (five).
Ivan Toney
Brentford have a fantastic double this week. They face two of the worst defences in the league in Everton and Southampton, both of whom are struggling at the bottom of the table. Brentford have failed to score just once in their last six matches, scoring two or more in half of those same games.
The standout attacker from Brentford is of course main man and penalty taker Ivan Toney (£7.7m). The Englishman has notched up 14 goals and two assists already this season. With two fantastic fixtures ahead it could be very difficult to leave Toney out of the top picks for Gameweek 27.
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