FPL Gameweek 14 Preview – More Fixtures and More Injuries

In this FPL Gameweek 14 Preview we will do our usual top talking points, fixture tickers, should I buy/sell, captaincy corner and my moves.

Top Talking Points

Injury Watch

It’s probably not escaped your attention that injuries appear to be higher this season than before. According to Ben Dinnery of Premier Injuries – a great free source for injury news, bookmark it now! – the injuries may be caused by the extra time we are seeing for games this year as he wrote in the Athletic.

We should hear more about Bowen today, ahead of West Ham’s Europa League game and then again hopefully in Moyes press conference. We at Full90FPL are holding out hope he is back for the weekend and don’t recommend selling yet.

I think regardless of whether Mitoma is fit or not, you can sell him with confidence. They have fixture pile ups because of Europe, a thin squad, an injury crisis and they play four of the top eight defences in the league in their next four games with the crappy Burnley being the only appealing fixture.

Blank/Double Gameweek Update

Firstly, just a reminder that Brentford and Man City blank in Gameweek 18. I don’t think that’s any reason not to have Haaland or Mbeumo who you can easily bench for a week. Particularly as they likely double in week 20 (Mbeumo and you likely don’t have any other assets from these teams.

But, the double gameweek still hasn’t been confirmed… The great Ben Crellin still reckons it is on:

https://x.com/BenCrellin/status/1729543778531172516?s=20

Fixture Pile-Up

Gameweek 14 kicks off on Saturday 2^nd December, Gameweek 15 on Tuesday 5^th December and Gameweek 16 on Saturday 9^th December. This means it’s especially important to pick nailed on players at the moment.

No Jeremy Doku for you!

Fixture Tickers

This is a regular stalwart of our pieces throughout the year. We will look at which teams have the best fixtures over the next five gameweeks to help you plan your transfers.

Teams in capitals are home fixtures and teams in lowercase are away fixtures.

Ahead of FPL Gameweek 14 the fixture tickers are looking interesting.

Defensive Fixture Ticker

Newcastle are class and have a great defence, even with their little injury crisis. Trippier is an obvious pick in this run – he has attacking potential and frequently gets bonus points – but he is expensive. Lascelles remains a risk because we just don’t know when Botman will come back. Howe is a liar so we will never know. So, its probably Schar that is the safer pick and he’s not a bad option as he semi-frequently scores worldies which helps him match his 5.2 valuation.

Forest are the 11^th best defence in the league on xGC but they only have 3 clean sheets. So, basically, they are fine. I don’t think I would want to play them away to Wolves or home to Spurs. I wouldn’t advise going there.

Liverpool are the 4^th best defence in the league. Robertson looks likely to be out until January so Tsimikas offers good value at 4.7. Of course, he got rotated with Gomez at one point so perhaps he isn’t 100% nailed but if you have bench depth then I don’t mind getting him in. Still, I’d much rather have him than anyone else. Trent and Virgil are the only nailed ones and they are super expensive.

As for Burnley and Bournemouth, I wouldn’t go anywhere near them. They are two of the worst defences in the league. I don’t mind playing Beyer or someone against Sheffield United (something I will do for rotation reasons) but I wouldn’t be bringing these guys in.

Attacking Fixture Ticker

Nottingham Forest top the attacking fixture ticker this week but without Awoniyi, who is injured until March-ish, then it is slim pickings. Gibbs-White has a good FPL pedigree and is only 5.7. He’s not delivered much this year but he’s underperforming his xG which suggests that he has been a bit unlucky. I don’t really like Elanga as he has outperformed his xGI and got a bit lucky. I wouldn’t really go there with either but don’t mind it in a draft league.

As for Newcastle, all the chat is about Isak but he remains a rotation risk (even with Wilson out). Howe has played Gordon up top and Joelinton can do a job up there (a shit job, but still). Regardless, Gordon remains a good pick but I’m not sure any of the others are great.

With Wolves, its only really Hwang. He’s still performing pretty well and certainly better than I expected at this point but I still prefer Gordon if given the choice.

As for West Ham, this is why we are holding Bowen until we are certain he is injured. He’s easily the best asset for the Hammers. Ward-Prowse ain’t bad either. As for Soucek, there are probably 20 midfielders I would rather have right now. And, if you are getting him as your bench guy then I think that’s a waste of money.

Ignore Burnley. They suck.

Should I Buy?

In this section, we will look to answer the most basic question. Should I buy this player ahead of FPL gameweek 14?

Gordon – Yes. Great pick. Super cheap.

Mbeumo – Yes. Great fixtures. Deal with the blank by benching him.

Zinchenko – Higher upside than Saliba but also a bit riskier (minutes and injury). I like both picks.

Saka – Has been a bit mediocre recently but still getting assists. Good fixtures. Like the buy.

Isak – Sure but buy with caution of rotation.

Doku – No. Man City are rotation nightmares. Grealish is fit again and he basically only has one good game this year.

Tsimikas – Yes. As long as you have bench depth in case he gets rotated again.

Sterling – I’m 50/50 on this. He’s not amazing but has a great fixture run coming up and Chelsea seem to be hitting some form. If Bowen is injured I think he will be one of the guys I consider.

Palmer – He only has 4 pens to his name and Nkunku might be fit again. As I said fixtures are good but he’s not someone I’d rip my squad up for.

Salah – Always.

Haaland – Always.

Darwin – If you can cope with owning the worst best player in the league then its fine. I think Jota is out so he has less competition for striker but still has rotation concerns.

Watkins – Not now. One great fixture and then two terrible ones.

Joao Pedro – No. Brighton are a bit of a mess at the moment.

Should I Sell?

In this section, we will look to answer the other basic question. Should I sell this player ahead of FPL gameweek 14?

Mitoma – Yeah don’t mind the sell.

Bowen – Wait for injury news.

Son – Yeah, bad fixtures. The guy is still class though so it’s not like its urgent.

Alvarez – xG has caught up with him. Don’t mind selling, don’t mind holding.

Maddison – Yes. Injured.

Cash – Hold for one more week. Great fixture this week.

Nketiah – Absolutely sell.

Estupinian – Still injured. Sell.

Diaby – Probably hold for one more week.

Eze – Sure.

Trippier – No way.

Andersen – Why?

Allison – Yes. Buy Raya.

Darwin – He is so infuriating that I don’t mind it.

Watkins – Ahead of Bournemouth? No way.

Captaincy Corner

I think Haaland is probably the best captain this week against a weakened Spurs defence. That being said, Salah isn’t a bad shout against Fulham either.

And, if you want to go rogue then Mbeumo at home to Luton could be big. I still think that’s way too risky though.

James’ Move

It all depends upon Bowen. If he is fit or close to fit then it’s unlikely I make any moves.

That’s it!

Good luck in FPL Gameweek 14! Fingers crossed the FPL gods have a good week for you.