FPL Gameweek 18: Three Bonus Points

A set of festive midweek games gives Fantasy Premier League managers plenty to think about during the holidays.

The next deadline falls early on Boxing Day, or Gameweek 18 as it’s more commonly known this year, with FPL teams needing to be set before an 11 a.m. GMT deadline.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the second wildcard will be available after Gameweek 19 so these are the final opportunities to play the first wildcard before it expires.

Will Manchester City Turn Things Around?

On paper, Pep Guardiola’s team have an easy run of games, with upcoming fixtures against Everton at home, Leicester City away, and West Ham United at home all being given a Fixture Difficulty Rating of just 2 out of 5.

Everton has kept clean sheets in recent games against would-be title challengers Arsenal and Chelsea, so this Boxing Day fixture might not be as easy for City as first thought.

The Toffees have clean sheets in five of six games since Jarrad Branthwaite returned to the starting lineup on a full-time basis.

City must turn things around at some point, though, and it would only take one combination of players, such as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, for example, to start firing in a single game to give them a lift in a run of fixtures.

It could be worth taking a gamble on this happening against Everton at home.

Jesus To Build On Pre-Christmas Momentum

Gabriel Jesus had made only sporadic appearances in the Premier League for much of the season, but a free-scoring performance in the League Cup against Crystal Palace persuaded Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to include the Brazilian in the league game against the same opposition last weekend.

Jesus had not scored in the Premier League at all this season until that game in which he scored a brace, building on his cup hat trick.

Other factors could mean Jesus remains in the team more often than not in the coming months.

The biggest of those is the injury to Bukayo Saka, meaning there is a free space on the right wing. Jesus could take that himself, but even if he doesn’t he could slot in elsewhere.

This doesn’t mean dropping Kai Havertz, either, as the German played in midfield against Palace in the league, with Jesus as a center-forward.

Even if Havertz returns to his position up front, Jesus could play on either wing and could be set for a run in the team.

Join The 66% With Salah

It might already be too late, but it’s probably time to get Salah as 66% of other FPL managers have.

The Egyptian is the best player in the Premier League so far this season and has only failed to register double points in five of the 17 Gameweeks he’s played in so far. On top of this, he’s only failed to register any bonus points in four Gameweeks.

There was, of course, the postponed game against Everton, meaning Liverpool and Liverpool players have an extra game to play to make up for that week off.

With Salah in place, the differentials will come elsewhere, and for Liverpool Dominik Szoboszlai (6.3) and Joe Gomez (4.9) are among the cheaper options likely to feature.

Szoboszlai registered three assists and a goal against Tottenham and will be looking to continue creating for Salah and scoring goals of his own in the coming weeks.