Brighton FPL Gameweek 4: Stats which show you have to pick Duffy
Despite a disappointing loss to Everton in FPL gameweek 3, Brighton have started the season well and currently sit level on points with Manchester City and Leicester City – with Shane Duffy having played an unlikely role in the Seagulls’ early success.
Duffy had a terrible time of it last season at Celtic, leading many pundits and supporters alike to write him off. The sale of Ben White, the loaning out of Leo Ostigard and Matt Clarke and Joel Veltman having to self-isolate gave Duffy a surprise chance at redemption when he started the opening game of the season at Burnley.
It is one he has taken with both hands and now Duffy looks like one of the best assets in the whole of FPL – especially with such a favourable run of fixtures coming up for Brighton.
Visits to Brentford, Crystal Palace and Norwich City are scheduled in for the next month. With the differential status that Albion players hold, it will not just be Duffy who FPL managers should consider investing in.
So far, the Seagulls have conceded just nine shots on target over the opening three gameweeks. Only three teams – Manchester City, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers – have a lower expected goals conceded from open-play (xGC OP) total.
What makes Duffy (£4.2 million) so attractive is that he combines being part of a solid defensive unit with the prospect of returns at the other end of the pitch.
He has registered eight goal attempts already this season, more than any other defender in FPL. Of those eight attempts, seven have been headed with one resulting in goal – the opener in the 2-0 win over Watford.
The Irishman has also won 18 aerial duels – another league leading total – whilst his 19 successful clearances is second only to Norwich’s Ben Gibson (£4.5m).
With Tariq Lamptey (£4.5 million) and Dan Burn (£4.5 million) still ruled out through injury, Duffy will surely continue to get further starts.
If he does and he continues the form which saw him finish second to Yves Bissouma in the WAB August 2021 Brighton Player of the Month vote, then Duffy appears to be the perfect FPL budget enabler.
In midfield, Pascal Gross (£6.0 million) has registered more touches than any other midfielder in FPL with 246. 147 of those have arrived in the opponent’s half – not bad given Graham Potter has developed a liking for playing Gross out-of-position at full back.
The German has also created nine chances for his team-mates and whipped in a massive 29 crosses – only Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5 million) has attempted more.
Remarkably, Gross is currently owned by just 0.8 percent of FPL managers and as a result, could be an excellent differential in the coming weeks.
Captain Fantastic
With Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5 million) back in the Premier League, many managers are ripping up their teams to fit him in. His ownership already sits at 15.6 percent and that figure is likely to rise as we approach the gameweek 4 deadline.
The Portuguese’ homecoming will be against a Newcastle United side who have conceded eight goals so far this season, and at least two in every fixture.
It is also worth noting that he picked up a ban for Portugal against Republic of Ireland as a result of a yellow card in their first round of September internationals, meaning that he returned to Manchester much sooner and fresher than first anticipated.
If Romelu Lukaku (£11.5 million) is fit following his scan whilst away with Belgium he could also be an excellent option against an Aston Villa side who will be missing Emiliano Martinez (£5.5 million) following his exploits for Argentina over the break.
For managers on the lookout for a differential, Michail Antonio (£7.9 million) has returned double-digits in each of the opening three gameweeks.
Son Heung-min (£10.1 million) could also be a good pick depending on the extent of his calf strain picked up on international duty against a Crystal Palace side who have conceded five goals so far.
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