Hello, and welcome to the 7th edition of this season’s Predicting the Dream Team brought to you by me, FPL Texan. In this article, we preview FPL Gameweek 8 of the 2021/2022 season.
In this series, I go head-to-head each week with Fantasy Football Fix to see who can select the best team of the week, their algorithm or myself. It is a classic battle of man vs. machine!
We did not have the article in Gameweek 7, but let’s see who won the matchup in Gameweek 8…
| Manager | Gameweek Points | Overall Points | H2H Score |
| FPL Texan | 55 | 455 | 4 |
| Fantasy Football Fix Algorithm | 51 | 444 | 2 |
As you can see, I won in Gameweek 6!
The deciding selection was Jimenez, who scored 8 FPL points.
Moving on to Gameweek 8, lets take a look at Fix’s team
Fix’s Predicted Team of the Week
Please note that this team is accurate as of Thursday 14th October. However, the algorithm team updates right up until deadline with news from press conferences and potential injuries.
Therefore, to stay completely up to date with the algorithm team, you can check it yourself just before the deadline at FantasyFootballFix.com.
Next, we will look at my predicted team of the week, and reasonings behind each decision.
Texan’s Predicted Team of the Week
ROBERT SANCHEZ
- Price: £4.6m
- Ownership: 24.0%
- Projected Points: 5.0 Points
Sanchez starts in the net this week, with a nice matchup against Norwich. Norwich rank last in xG to start the season, at just 5.8. This bodes well for Sanchez and the Brighton defence, who have been a strong defensive side, with the 5th best xGA in the league to start the season.
Sanchez averages 1.85 saves per game, so there is an outside chance of a save point in this one.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
- Price: £7.5m
- Ownership: 22.0%
- Projected Points: 3.5 Points
Trent is back in the team of the week this week with a matchup against newly promoted Watford. Trent missed last gameweek with an injury, but is reportedly fit and ready for the Watford game. Trent is one of the best defensive assets in the game, with the second best xA per 90 at 0.42. Combine that with Liverpool going up against a Watford side ranking second worst in xG, and Trent could have a double digit week this week.
RUBEN DIAS
- Price: £6.1m
- Ownership: 28.6%
- Projected Points: 6.1 Points
Dias makes the team of the week this week, and is a part of my double City defence. City have again been a top defensive side this season, with the best xGA in the league at 4.0. This week, they face a Burnley side at home who rank 5th worst in xG this season. Whilst Dias doesn’t offer a lot of attacking potential, he is a decent bet for bonus points should City keep a clean sheet.
JOAO CANCELO
- Price: £6.2m
- Ownership: 18.6%
- Projected Points: 5.8 Points
Cancelo rounds out the defence this week. As mentioned above, City defence has an excellent matchup this week so I’ve gone for the double defence. Unlike Dias, Cancelo offers great attacking return potential. With 2 assists to start the season, he ranks 5th best on the team in xFPL points per 90 at 6.35. He also ranks first in xA per 90 and second in xG per 90 amongst defenders on the team.
Providing he starts, a double digit haul is very much on the cards this week for Cancelo in my opinion.
MOHAMED SALAH (C)
- Price: £12.7m
- Ownership: 61.6%
- Projected Points: 7.1 Points
Salah is my captaincy selection this week against Watford. Watford rank 8th worst in xGA so far this season, whilst Liverpool’s attack has been excellent ranking top of the league in xG at 17.90. Salah has been in world class form this season, with 6 goals and 4 assists thus far. He ranks 4th in the league for xG per 90 at 0.67 and 3rd in xFPL points per 90 at 8.32.
Salah is on another level at the moment, and is the clear choice for captaincy this week.
BUKAYO SAKA
- Price: £6.3m
- Ownership: 11.5%
- Projected Points: 3.7 Points
*Ignore the Smith Rowe selection in the graphics. Saka makes his debut in the article this week. He and Arsenal face a Palace side that rank middle of the road in xGA, whilst the same can be said for Arsenal who rank in the bottom five for xG.
Arsenal have looked very good in their last few though, with a full strength squad. Saka has been a key part of their success this season, ranking 3rd in xG per 90 on the team at 0.22 and second for xA per 90 at 0.21.
Arsenal and Saka have been performing well as of late, and I think that will continue this week at home against Palace.
JACK GREALISH
- Price: £7.9m
- Ownership: 17.3%
- Projected Points: 5.7 Points
Grealish makes the team of the week. City have been great offensively, with the second best xG in the league, whilst Burnley rank in the bottom half for xGA. Grealish has put up decent underlying stats to start the season, with an xG per 90 of 0.28, and an xA per 90 of 0.21. He also ranks second in successful final third passes per 90 at 22.81.
Grealish has gotten off to a slow start in terms of returns this season, but I think he will get on the scoresheet in some fashion this week against Burnley.
LEANDRO TROSSARD
- Price: £6.4m
- Ownership: 1.3%
- Projected Points: 3.7 Points
Trossard rounds out the midfield this week. Brighton face Norwich, who have the worst xGA so far this season at 14.00. Brighton attack hasn’t been super either ranking bottom 5 in xG, but I think they will get a few this week. Trossard has been playing well for them, ranking 3rd in xG per 90, and ranks first for shots per 90 at 2.71.
Trossard is my punt this week with a tasty matchup against Norwich, I think we could see the legend of BOSSARD return.
ROMELU LUKAKU
- Price: £11.7m
- Ownership: 36.5
- Projected Points: 2.3 Points
Lukaku starts off the forward line this week. Chelsea have been in top form this season attacking, ranking 3rd best in xG and whilst Brentford have been a strong defensive side this season I see it hard for them to keep Chelsea out this week. Lukaku ranks 6th best amongst forwards in the league for xG per 90 at 0.56 and tied for 3rd best in xA per 90 at 0.32.
Lukaku owners were unlucky not to get a return last week, but I think he will reward owners this week against Brentford.
ADAM ARMSTRONG
- Price: £6.0m
- Ownership: 2.7%
- Projected Points: 3.4 Points
Armstrong makes his debut on the article this week. He and Southampton face a Leeds side that has been poor defensively, ranking 3rd worst for xGA to start the season. Armstrong has looked great this season since joining from Blackburn. He ranks 4th on the team for xG per 90 at 0.26 and 5th for xA per 90 at 0.10. He could also be on pens this week with JWP suspended.
I’ve been impressed with Armstrong so far this season, so with a nice matchup against Leeds he makes the team of the week.
MICHAIL ANTONIO
- Price: £8.0m
- Ownership: 45.6%
- Projected Points: 5.4 Points
Antonio rounds out the team of the week this week. West Ham and Antonio have been in scorching form to start the season, ranking 4th in the league for xG. Antonio has been in the form of his life, with 5 goals and 4 assists to start the season. He ranks 3rd in the league for xG per 90 at 0.75, and 6th for xA per 90 at 0.36.
Antonio is a no brainer in the team of the week when in this form.
Man vs. Machine, Who Will Win?
Now you have seen our teams, who do you think will win this week? Man or Machine?
Let us know in the comments who you think will win!
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More to Come
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