FPL Gameweek 4 fixtures analysis: Teams and players to target

Fantasy Football Hub's resident captaincy expert Chris Tan takes a close look at the Gameweek 4 fixtures to give Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers an edge over their mini-league rivals.

This in-depth look at the matches ahead, complete with a handy shortlist of players to target, is available exclusively to Hub members.

Chris's verdict on the best Gameweek 4 captaincy options and punts will be available later this week.

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Chris Tan's fixture analysis: Gameweek 4

Anyone with both Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) and Erling Haaland (£15.2m) will have smashed their start this season.

Pep Guardiola called the initial weeks 'pre-season' but now we’re moving to two games per week, it's where the action will heat up and rotation could kick in.

Some of you - myself included - will have seen enough and triggered the Wildcard in the hope of a rebound. Others may have rolled transfers and are looking to take advantage of a few fixture swings. Whatever your situation, there’ll be something of value in this article for you.

FPL Gameweek 4: Fixtures

FPL Gameweek 4: Clean sheet and goalscoring odds

Clean sheets have reverted to being rare again. Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton are your best bets.

City, Liverpool and Chelsea are the teams likeliest to score the most goals.

Team attacking stats sorted by total expected goals (xG)

City, Liverpool and surprisingly Bournemouth dominate.

Team defensive stats sorted by total expected goals conceded (xGC)

Target Ipswich, West Ham, Everton, Southampton and Brentford.

Individual Player stats sorted by expected points (xPts)

FPL Gameweek 4 fixtures analysed

Southampton v Manchester United

The hierarchy seems to have improved and the transfer dealings are much better but on the pitch, it feels like the same old United.

What made it worse in Gameweek 3 is that Arne Slot’s only been at Liverpool for five minutes and they’ve already clearly adopted his system, whereas you’d be hard pressed to describe United’s after three years under Erik ten Hag.

Southampton have the feel of Burnley last season and their manager confirmed that they won’t change their approach.

Saints feel like a team to target for goals, so it’s with regret that I will be parting with Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m) on my Wildcard prior to this one.

Additional factors to consider

Despite only scoring two, United’s xG is good (fifth best) and some would argue they’re due.

They should get plenty of opportunities given Southampton have the fourth highest xGC and have already conceded five.

They have also conceded the joint-most big chances in the league. They allow the most chances from their centre and left. In addition, they could potentially have a weakness defending set-pieces.

Fernandes has averaged the most big chances for Manchester United, he will benefit from Southampton’s positional weakness and he takes the set-pieces. Anyone who has kept patience with him could be rewarded this week.

Outcome

We’ve seen Southampton like to keep possession and to attack, which should play into United’s hands, and the stats suggest United will get the chances. Whether they convert them is another story.

The bookies’ odds indicate a comfortable United win and I’m inclined to agree.

 

Brighton v Ipswich