Brighton FPL Gameweek 5: Managers flocking to Ferguson
In their previous game before the international break, Brighton continued their excellent start to the season by beating Newcastle United 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from a forward becoming increasingly popular with FPL managers – Evan Ferguson.
The Irish striker took most of the headlines, but the Albion as a team have been superb in an attacking sense across their four games so far.
Brighton rank number one throughout the Premier League for goals (12), attempts (83) and shots on target (36). They have little to fear going to Old Trafford in Gameweek 5 to face an out-of-sorts Manchester United side who have made a slow start to the campaign.
Superb Ferguson
Gameweek 4 featured three hat-tricks in total with Son Heung-min (£9.1 million) and Erling Haaland (£14.1 million) joining Ferguson (£6.0 million) in bagging trebles.
Being only 18-years-old, it was Ferguson who was the standout of the trio in what was a brilliant display against the Magpies overall.
Added to his Gameweek 1 goal past Luton Town, Ferguson now sits behind only Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts. Ferguson is also second to the Norwegian when it comes to overall shots on target (nine).
What makes those numbers even more impressive is that Ferguson has started just two of Brighton’s four matches. Haaland in contrast is undroppable at Manchester City.
FPL managers have responded by making Ferguson the fifth most-bought player over the international break, despite him being ruled out of both the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers with an injury picked up in the Newcastle game.
All eyes will be on Roberto De Zerbi in his pre-match press conference for news on Ferguson’s fitness. If he is declared available for Old Trafford, then expect more to transfer him in.
Ferguson has already risen in FPL price once this season. It would not be a surprise to see him do so again. Buying now might prove to be a shrewd move.
Keep faith in Estupinan
Meanwhile, those with Pervis Estupinan (£5.3 million) will have been frustrated by the late consolation goal at the Amex from Callum Wilson (£7.8 million) which robbed Brighton of a clean sheet against the Magpies.
Brighton are still yet to keep a clean sheet and whilst a lot of focus has been on how many chances they are giving opponents without Moises Caicedo sitting in front of the defence, this is actually part of a wider pattern across the league.
Over the past 20 seasons, there have never been so few clean sheets within the first four Gameweeks. Just 14 have been recorded in 2023-24, compared to the 21 and 26 of the last two campaigns.
If Premier League teams are struggling to record shut outs, then FPL managers may as well focus on defenders that are producing attacking returns.
Nobody has more of these than the three of Estupinan. The Ecuadorian left-back is also ahead of all defenders for penalty area touches (24) and big chances created (three).
Captain Fantastic
A trip to West Ham United could prove tricky for Manchester City but it is still no reason to stray from a Haaland captaincy. He added an assist to his three goals versus Fulham, rewarding such managers with 40 points.
However, those wanting to be different could instead look towards the third man to deliver a Gameweek 4 hat-trick. Son was moved up front by Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou and responded in some style at Burnley.
Now at home to fellow newly-promoted side Sheffield United, over 420,000 have bought Son with an expectation of more goals as Tottenham seek to fill the void left by Harry Kane.
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