No changes to FPL squad as GW13 deadline looms

Paul Pogba has been attracting the attention of plenty of Fantasy Premier League shoppers this week but despite the obvious merits of the Manchester United star we’re going to stick with our current crop of midfield options.

In fact, with some favourable fixtures in GW13, there was a temptation to try to accommodate all 5 in this week’s line-up. However, that would mean sacrificing one of Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku or Roberto Firmino and that is something we were not prepared to do.

So, who makes the line-up?

Newcastle United appear to have a slight better chance of a home clean sheet than Swansea City so Robbie Elliot gets the nod over Lukasz Fabianski in goal, with Watford and AFC Bournemouth being the respective visitors.

Jamaal Lascelles is closing in on a first team return but this game might come too soon for him, so Ciaran Clark will line-up in our 3 man defence alongside Arsenal’s Sead Kolašinac and Leicester City’s Harry McGuire, with the latter out to make it a Black Friday for the Hammers in GW13’s curtain-raiser.

Regardless of what went on in Jürgen Klopp’s heart-to-heart with Alberto Moreno, we’ve decided to axe Liverpool’s full-back from our starting line-up this week following his horror show in Sevilla. Eden Hazard has been given licence to roam by Antonio Conte in Chelsea’s new look 3-5-2 and he’s sure to fancy his chances of getting some joy from one of the Reds’ problem positions!

Brighton and Hove Albion visit Old Trafford on Saturday so leaving out Lewis Dunk was a relatively easy call.

In the middle of the park, Leroy Sané and Raheem Sterling are selected alongside the ‘out of position’ Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Reuben-Loftus Cheek.

Some what reluctantly, Richarlison is the man to make way but given that we are banking on a Newcastle clean sheet there is some method to the madness!

There wasn’t much to choose between Lukaku and Kane in the latest Armband Rankings but we’ve opted for the Manchester United man who just shaded it and also has marginally better xG90 + xA90 (Expected goals plus expected assists per 90 minutes) figures this season.

There may have been a few Black Friday bargains on offer – will we regret missing out on them?