FPL Gameweek 9 – TSZ Top Picks

As the deadline for Gameweek 9 of Fantasy Premier League gets nearer following the midweek filled with League Cup games, we at Team TSZ have compiled our squad of top picks for this specific gameweek, with form, fixtures and pedigree all taken into consideration. The squad is within the allocated FPL budget even when taking into account price rises.

Goalkeepers

David Raya (£6.1m) has a difficult fixture away to Liverpool, but you can never count out the Arsenal defence from keeping a clean sheet, and if any goalkeeper is capable of shutting out the Reds at Anfield, it's Raya. He already boasts five Premier League clean sheets this campaign and is coming off the back of consecutive league shutouts against Nottingham Forest and Everton, picking up 16 FPL points in the process. No goalkeeper boasts more FPL points than Raya's 49. Michael Zetterer (£4.0m) is a placeholder on the bench.

Defenders

Following victories for both Spurs and Newcastle last weekend, we've opted for defenders from each of those two clubs. Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.9m) is in and alongside him is Newcastle full-back Amar Dedic (£4.5m), who is coming off the back of an 11-point haul against Crystal Palace last time out. Newcastle hosts Everton in Gameweek 9, while Spurs are up against a struggling Crystal Palace.

Maxim De Cuyper (£5.3m) is selected for his attacking potential, which puts him in the squad despite a tough fixture away to Man City. Elsewhere, ‘defcon’ magnet Tarik Muharemovic (£5.1m) is averaging over 10 defensive contributions per game with 86 overall this season, ahead of his side's Gameweek 9 trip to Bournemouth. Finally, Hull defender John Egan (£4.1m) represents a budget alternative.

Midfielders

With forward Joao Pedro injured, the smart move is to double up on Chelsea midfielders ahead of the visit of a really poor Man United side to Stamford Bridge. Both Cole Palmer (£9.8m) and Morgan Rogers (£8.0m) should be afforded plenty of joy in this fixture. Palmer especially will want to redeem himself after being sent off vs Spurs. Elsewhere, the brilliant form of Marcus Tavernier (£6.4m) makes him impossible to ignore ahead of Bournemouth's home fixture with Leeds in Gameweek 9. Pascal Gross (£6.2m) would likely sit on the bench and completing the midfield is one of Spurs’ Gameweek 8 heroes in Mathys Tel (£5.6m).

Forwards

Erling Haaland (£15.8m) is the highest-scoring FPL asset in any position with 66 points and has scored in each of his last seven Premier League games, so selecting him is a no-brainer. Nicolas Jackson (£6.7m) looks very much like filling the void left behind by Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa. The Senegal international’s two goals against Haaland’s Man City in Gameweek 8 was his best return of the season and he has now found the net four times in his last four Premier League appearances. Brentford striker Igor Thiago (£7.8m) has now picked up an attacking return in each of Brentford's last four matches, following his third assist in as many games against Hull.