Brighton FPL Gameweek 9: Dunk good replacement for Estupinan
The Albion drew 2-2 with Liverpool in their last Premier League outing. It was a game which showed FPL managers wanting a Brighton defender to replace the injured Pervis Estupinan in their team that you cannot go far wrong with Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk.
And that does take into consideration the fact that the Albion visit Manchester City in Gameweek 9. Although a trip to the Etihad Stadium is the most daunting in the Premier League, Brighton tend to save their best performances for the tougher matches.
They won three of last season’s six fixtures with the eventual top three, beat Liverpool in both the league and FA Cup and completed doubles over Manchester United and Chelsea.
In the current campaign, the Seagulls have taken three points off Manchester United and Newcastle – not to mention that draw with the Redmen in their last outing prior to the international break.
Lewis Dunk (£5.0m)
It was Brighton captain Dunk (£5.0 million) who equalised versus Jurgen Klopp’s side. Curiously for a player who has had the most headed attempts of all defenders (eight) and second-most overall, Dunk converted Solly March’s (£6.3 million) free-kick with his right foot.
Lewis Dunk has featured in every league minute so far for Brighton and FPL managers could see him as a good alternative to injured teammate Pervis Estupinan (£5.1 million), who had been one of the most picked players in the whole game before being ruled out.
It was Dunk’s first strike of the season and for someone who has averaged 2.5 goals over the previous four campaigns, there could be more to come.
He ranks fifth amongst FPL defenders for penalty area touches (20), alongside being second for both efforts (12) and shots inside the box (10).
Dunk should also be reasonably well rested for the trip City, having been controversially replaced by Harry Maguire in the England starting XI for Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over Italy.
That despite Dunk being voted Player of the Match when the Three Lions squeaked past Australia 1-0 on Friday.
Evan Ferguson (£6.0m)
About to become a 19-year-old, Evan Ferguson has started five of Brighton’s last six league games, netting three times.
Of all players to have played at least 300 minutes, the Republic of Ireland international is averaging the most shots on target per 90 (2.58).
Since scoring a sensational hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Newcastle last month, Ferguson has looked a little below par.
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed he had been suffering from illness. But with a goal for the Republic of Ireland against Gibraltar, he looks to have overcome whatever the issue was and should expect to cause problems for City.
Captain Fantastic
Meanwhile, the two highest-scoring midfielders both have enticing Gameweek 9 encounters. Last time out, Mohamed Salah (£12.6 million) responded emphatically to his only blank of the season by delivering a 15-point haul.
That takes him up to 59 overall and means he is the sole player to have secured three double-digit scores. Up next is the Merseyside derby at home to Everton.
As for Son Heung-min (£9.5 million), he is classified as an FPL midfielder but continues to be used as Spurs’ centre-forward.
That is in a Tottenham side which have accumulated more attempts (153) and shots on target (56) than anyone else.
With six goals from his past five matches, Son is in brilliant form ahead of Fulham arriving in North London.
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