Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Midfielders Picks for FPL Gameweek 15
With Christmas just around the corner, the Premier League is delivering an exciting season filled with multiple teams competing for the title, European spots, and the battle to avoid relegation. In the latest weekend fixtures, Arsenal continued their winning streak, while Manchester City secured a controversial draw against Tottenham.
Liverpool secured a narrow victory over Fulham, Newcastle surpassed with a win against Manchester United, and Burnley dominated Sheffield United with a convincing 5-0 triumph, lifting them off the bottom of the table. As we dive into December, the matches are coming thick and fast, with the next Fantasy Premier League Gameweek kicking off on Tuesday.
As managers strategize their moves, contemplating when to use transfers and whether it’s the right time to activate the wildcard (if still available), here are five Midfielders to watch out for in Gameweek 15.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspurs)
Son Heung-min, priced at £9.6 million, has been a standout performer for Spurs this season, netting nine goals and providing one assist. His Expected Goals (xG) stand at 4.83, coupled with an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.7.
In Gameweek 15, Spurs have a favorable fixture against West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite West Ham scoring 25 goals (fifth) with an xG of 22.11 (tenth), their defense has been leaky, conceding 24 goals (fifteenth) with an xGC of 24.6 (sixteenth) and managing just one clean sheet all season.
With Spurs known for their attacking prowess, this match promises to be fruitful in terms of goal-scoring opportunities for both teams. Son, boasting a 44% Goal Involvement, is the talisman for Spurs and is integral to their offensive strategies. As their primary goal threat, he not only has a high likelihood of finding the net but also poses a significant threat in terms of providing assists.
Even without James Maddison, Spurs have demonstrated their ability to create and score, and with Son potentially playing as a number 9 during the busy December period, he could emerge as one of the essential players to have in your fantasy football team.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka, priced at £8.8 million, recently broke his goal-scoring drought in Gameweek 7 and has accumulated five goals and seven assists, making him the third-highest-scoring midfielder in the fantasy football game. His Expected Goals (xG) of 4.47 and Expected Assists (xA) of 4.48 (second overall) highlight his consistent attacking threat.
In Gameweek 15, Arsenal faces a favourable fixture against Luton, presenting a promising opportunity for the Gunners. Luton’s defense has been vulnerable, conceding 26 goals (seventeenth) with an xGC of 30.4 (second-worst). Meanwhile, Arsenal has scored 29 goals (fourth) with an xG of 26.3 (seventh), and their attacking prowess was evident in their performance against Wolves, where they recorded the second-highest xG (2.92) of the gameweek.
Anticipating a comfortable win, Arsenal is ranked as the second-favourite to score 2.5+ goals (55%) in Gameweek 15. Saka, serving as their talisman, boasts the highest Goal Involvement (35%) among his teammates. With a high likelihood of starting in the December crunch period and potentially being the penalty taker, Saka is poised to capitalize on this favourable fixture, making it an opportune time for fantasy football managers to consider him for their squads.
Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Forwards Picks for FPL Gameweek 15
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah, priced at £13.1 million, has been in stellar form this season, notching 10 goals and six assists while only blanking in two games. With the second-highest Expected Goals (xG) of 9.51 and the fifth-highest Expected Assists (xA) of 3.76, Salah is among the top performers in the league.
In Gameweek 15, Liverpool faces Sheffield United (A), and Salah is expected to shine once again. Liverpool is the clear favourite to score 2.5+ goals with an impressive 62% probability. Jurgen Klopp’s team has scored 32 goals (second) and boasts the highest xG (30.05) in the league, indicating their attacking prowess.
On the defensive end, Sheffield United is statistically the weakest team, having conceded the most goals (39) and possessing the worst xGC (30.8). This suggests a challenging night for Paul Heckingbottom’s side against Liverpool’s formidable attack.
Salah, a key figure for Liverpool, is a guaranteed starter, takes penalties, and carries one of the highest goals and assist threats in the league. Given the favourable matchup and his consistent performance, Salah is a strong contender for the captaincy in Gameweek 15.
Hee Chan Hwang (Wolves)
Hee Chan Hwang has stepped up as Wolves’ talisman in the absence of Neto. In the last five matches, he has been a standout performer, leading the team in goals with two and ranking first in Expected Goals (xG) with 1.6. Additionally, Hwang has been involved in the creative aspect, generating six chances, and is third for Shots on Target (SoT) with three.
Wolves, as a team, have scored 10 goals in the last six Gameweeks, placing them ninth in the league. They’ve also been proactive in their attacking efforts, ranking ninth in total shots with 74. Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents, Burnley, have struggled defensively, conceding 12 goals in the same period. Only Fulham (13), Chelsea (15), and Sheffield United (17) have been more porous at the back.
With Hwang’s impressive contributions and Wolves’ attacking form, the matchup against Burnley suggests a favourable opportunity for Hwang to continue his impactful performances.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Martin Odegaard showcased a return to his best form in the recent game against Wolves, where he created six chances. His performance aligns with his impressive numbers from last season, where he notched seven assists, ranking fourth for chances created among midfielders with 76.
Examining his shooting prowess, Odegaard took an impressive 93 shots last season, trailing only Rashford (108) and Salah (125). His goal-scoring record was notable as well, finding the back of the net 15 times, with only Rashford (17) and Salah (19) surpassing him in terms of prolificacy.
Arsenal have been in good attacking form, scoring 13 goals in the last six Gameweeks (fifth). They rank fourth for shots (90) and sixth for Expected Goals (xG) with 11.82. Facing Luton, who conceded 11 goals in the same period and kept no clean sheets, presents a favourable scenario. Luton’s defensive struggles are evident, ranking bottom for both shots conceded (119) and xGC (15.62).
Considering Odegaard’s recent form and Arsenal’s attacking statistics, the matchup against Luton provides a promising opportunity for Ødegaard to continue his impactful contributions.