The Scout pinpoints the clubs and players to target for the upcoming period in Fantasy Premier League.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s side are set for an extended run of kind opponents that lifts their prospects in Fantasy for many Gameweeks ahead.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), six of Liverpool’s next eight matches score only two.
That includes a run of matches against Everton, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town in the next three Gameweeks.
Liverpool’s next eight matches
| GW | Opp. | FDR | GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | EVE (H) | 2 | 13 | MCI (A) | 5 |
| 10 | NFO (H) | 2 | 14 | FUL (H) | 2 |
| 11 | LUT (A) | 2 | 15 | CRY (A) | 2 |
| 12 | BRE (H) | 3 | 16 | SHU (A) | 2 |
That fixture run gives Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) the chance to bring in more huge hauls.
The Egyptian’s 15-point return against Brighton & Hove Albion in Gameweek 8 took him to 59 points for the season, joint-top in the player standings.
Salah has delivered double-figure scores in three of Liverpool’s last four, highlighting his major potential as an armband contender to Erling Haaland (£14.0m).
The Reds’ talisman has also been among the most consistent players in 2023/24 Fantasy, blanking in only one of his eight appearances.
Unsurprisingly, Salah dominates the goal threat numbers, ranking top for shots, shots in the box, shots on target and goals for Liverpool.
Who's the second-best attacker?
Darwin Nunez’s (£7.4m) statistics show why he could be a big success if he can secure a regular role. Despite starting only three matches, the Uruguay forward has recorded a team-leading eight big chances.
His numbers fare well when compared with those of Luis Diaz (£7.5m), who has started seven fixtures on the left.
Nunez has matched the Colombian’s 17 shots, has had double the number of big chances, and has also bettered his team-mate for both shots on target and goals.
See: FPL experts' plans for Liverpool players
Although summer signing Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) also features highly for overall shots, only two of his 15 efforts have been from inside the opposition box.
Liverpool’s top goal threats compared
| Player | Shots | Shots in box | Big chances | Shots on target | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salah | 26 | 19 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
| Diaz | 17 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Nunez | 17 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| Szoboszlai | 15 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Gakpo | 11 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Jota | 10 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Who's most likely to get an assist?
Salah’s outstanding season is further highlighted by his creativity. His total of nine big chances created are at least three more than any other player in Fantasy, with his nearest Liverpool rivals managing a mere two.
Elsewhere for the Reds, it’s clear that the arrival of Szoboszlai has heavily impacted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£7.9m) potential for assists this season.
Andrew Robertson (£6.6m) and Szoboszlai have been Liverpool’s main corner-kick takers, with 24 and 15 respectively. Alexander-Arnold, on the other hand, has taken only eight.
This is reflected in Liverpool's list of top creators in the opening stages of 2023/24.
Despite failing to earn any assists, Robertson has made a team-leading 19 key passes, while Szoboszlai places joint-second alongside Salah. Alexander-Arnold, by contrast, has created only 10 chances.
Liverpool’s top creators compared
| Player | Key passes | Big chances created | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robertson | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Salah | 17 | 9 | 4 |
| Szoboszlai | 17 | 2 | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold | 10 | 2 | 1 |
The change in set-piece duties could be crucial for those managers who are considering the Reds’ defence.
Liverpool scored a combined total of 37 goals from set-pieces across the previous two campaigns, finishing in the top two sides for this statistic on both occasions.
Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) has produced a team-high eight shots in such situations, placing him third among defenders in Fantasy.
By contrast, the rest of Liverpool's back four have managed a combined four shots from set-pieces, with Alexander-Arnold offering little to justify his premium price tag.
Liverpool defenders' goal threat compared
| Player | Shots | Shots in box | Set-piece shots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Dijk | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Alexander-Arnold | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Matip | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Robertson | 2 | 2 | 0 |
So, what should managers do?
Essentially, it’s all about Salah when it comes to investing in Liverpool.
His consistent form, added to his potential for huge scores, is offering managers a strong alternative to Haaland for the captaincy.
FPL experts: Is it time to stop captaining Haaland?
Nunez's statistics only serve to highlight how frustrating a pick he can be to own. But if he can finally avoid Klopp’s rotation, his relatively low cost of £7.4m could offer a double-up route into the Reds’ attack.
At the back, a single clean sheet in eight has done little to boost confidence in their premium-priced defenders.
But if Liverpool can accumulate a run of shutouts from their kind schedule, Van Dijk’s big threat at free-kicks and corners could reward managers with bumper hauls.
View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 9 in Fantasy Premier League