MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 05:16:30| >> :120:4149:4149:

FPL tips: Seventh heaven for Joe Willock?

FPL tips: Seventh heaven for Joe Willock?
© Reuters
The record-breaking Newcastle midfielder and in-form Burnley striker are our top picks for the final gameweek of the season.

Joe Willock set a Premier League record this week – is he now the man to see your fantasy team over the line?

Newcastle's on-loan Arsenal midfielder became the youngest player ever to score in six consecutive Premier League appearances with Wednesday's winner against Sheffield United.

For one final time this season, we look at the players to consider for the fantasy finale.

Where there's Willock, there's a way

Top midfield picks for FPL gameweek 38
Joe Willock's scoring run makes him an FPL must-have (PA graphic)

The PA news agency has combined FPL's form, cost, ownership and fixture difficulty rating (FDR) into a single Transfer Score for each player.

Form accounts for 50 per cent of that rating and Willock has 36 points in the last six gameweeks – despite being forced to sit out against his parent club during that run – to more than double his season's total.

A £4.8million price tag and 2.6 per cent ownership boost his appeal further and with Newcastle finishing up against Fulham, he trails only Burnley striker Chris Wood in our final-week rankings with a transfer score of 85.

That is eight points clear of his nearest midfield challengers, with Leeds and Tottenham wingers Jack Harrison and Gareth Bale both on 77.

Build with Wood

Top attacking picks for FPL gameweek 38
Chris Wood is our overall top pick (PA graphic)

Despite back-to-back heavy defeats for Burnley, Wood's five goals in three games before that keep his form rating high and with rock-bottom Sheffield United awaiting on Sunday, there is a final chance for the Clarets to sign off with a win.

The New Zealander's ownership is back down to 4.5 per cent after those two quiet outings and at £6.4m, he could still have the final say in your mini-league.

His transfer score of 88 leaves him well clear of Leeds' Rodrigo (77) in attack, the Spaniard riding high from his three goals in two substitute appearances against Tottenham and Burnley. He has the potential to frustrate Patrick Bamford's 3.4 million owners, though the England hopeful still had a goal and an assist when they started together at Southampton in midweek.

Roberto Firmino (75) completes the attacking podium for gameweek 38 after three goals and an assist in Liverpool's last four games.

Leeds still strong in defence

Top defensive picks for FPL gameweek 38
Nat Phillips breaks into a Leeds-dominated defensive selection (PA graphic)

While Marcelo Bielsa's side are represented in our midfield and attacking picks, it is in defence where they remain the strongest presence.

Ezgjan Alioski's transfer score of 82 is the highest among defenders this week – the North Macedonia international has two assists and two clean sheets in the last three games – and Luke Ayling ranks third on 73.

The pair sandwich Liverpool's in-form Nat Phillips (79) – and that is even without the season's top-scoring defender Stuart Dallas, hampered by high ownership, or second-ranked goalkeeper Illan Meslier making this week's podiums.

Liverpool's Alisson Becker, still boosted by his goal against West Brom, nudges ahead of Sheffield United's Aaron Ramsdale for top spot in goal (both on 82) while Chelsea's Edouard Mendy is third on 69.

ID:448472: cacheID:448472:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7193:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United's Jack Harrison celebrates scoring their second goal against Burnley in the Premier League on May 15, 2021
Read Next:
FPL tips: Leeds defenders dominate the rankings
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!