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Today’s briefing is a ~5 min read:

1. Gameweek 17 preview… everything you need to know about the weekend fixtures 🚨

2. Extra time: Jose Mourinho reveals his all-time XI 🤔

3. Fantasy Premier League… the ultimate guide to Gameweek 17 🎯 

Morning Brief 🗞️

Gameweek 17 Preview 🚨

NOTT’M FOREST VS SPURS

Tonight @ 8 pm - Sky Sports

We start the weekend with a Friday 8 pm kick-off and we know what you’re thinking…

Hey Sky, Friday night football again? Boo!

And we agree.

After a long week of work, Friday nights are for relaxation.

And when your team has the potential to drop 3-points straight off the bat, it becomes less relaxing… and more stressful.

Luckily, for the neutrals, this fixture might have enough to warrant a late Friday kick-off.

We’re expecting Ange’s Spurs to step up and provide us with a side of goals to go along with our Friday night takeaway.

Tottenham have scored in each of their last 28 Premier League games. So it doesn’t take a genius to know what that means if they’re coming up against Nottingham Forest.

Don’t get us wrong… Forest is defensively strong at home. Last season they achieved 30 out of their 38 points at home.

But Spurs have the highest xG (8.53) in the previous three gameweeks and we expect that to continue.

• 💉 Quick hit: Dejan Kulusevski is leading in chances created in the league from open play (36) this season.

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ARSENAL VS BRIGHTON

Now this is a tasty fixture.

Two mastermind managers coming together to show off their tactical prowess.

And we know that they like to get experimental (and we’re not talking about their personal lives, promise):

• Wingers dropping into midfield

• Strikers playing like defenders

• And full-backs running the show

If the microphones are pointing in the right direction, you might hear things like “switch to a diamond” or “the pocket is where the space is” coming from the dugout.

It's going to be highly technical stuff. 

But Arsenal go into this game strong favourites:

• Four wins in their last five Premier League games

• The top of the league for expected goals conceded (xGC)

• Brighton have failed to keep a clean sheet this season

• And both teams have scored the same amount of goals (33)

So with Arsenal's defence record superior and both teams matching each other for goals, we can see this only going one way. 

• 💉 Quick hit: Believe it or not… Brighton has beaten Arsenal three times in their last four meetings (including a League Cup game).

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LIVERPOOL VS MAN UNITED

Sunday @ 4.30 pm - Sky Sports

We don’t want to be a Debbie Downer but please don’t let the big names in this clash fool you.

Yes, it’s Liverpool vs Manchester United at Anfield.

Yes, it's first vs sixth.

Yes, both teams have won the most first-division titles in England.

But this weekend it's none of those things. 

The reality is… United’s stats aren’t great and they’ve come off the back of an awful Champions League campaign.

There… we said it.

Liverpool on the other hand has been singing from the same hymn sheet this season and sits top of the league table - with four wins in their last five.

But… the last time they faced each other, Liverpool won by 7 goals to nil.

So, if United want to make their fans happy this season, redemption against their bitter rivals is a great place to start…

• 💉 Quick hit: Liverpool is first for Expected Goals (xG) this season and United is 14th for Expected Goals Conceded (xGC).

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

Jose Mourinho reveals his all-time 11, after selecting from players he managed himself. He will be on John Obi Mikel’s podcast this Sunday to explain his thinking.

Thomas Muller may be paid 250k euros per week and considered a Bayern Munich legend but he is just a regular guy. Don’t believe us? Check out the state of his iPhone…

England are currently missing out on a fifth Champions League spot to Germany and Italy. Sky Sports explains why England still has all to play for and how the UEFA coefficient works.

Anyone for a bad pundit take? Footage has emerged of Gary Neville telling Liverpool legend Graeme Souness “Man United are tough” hours before they got beaten 7-0 away at Anfield last season.

No one likes diving, it’s plain cheating. But if players dive like Micah Richards we are happy to make an exception. 🤣 

FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE 📊

So… it’s that time of the week again.

Good to still have you here with us. If you’re here because you’re chasing those green arrows, then you’re in good company.

You have some time as the transfer deadline is 6 pm tonight.

Let’s get to it, Routers.

THINKING DEFENSIVE 🛡️

Ok, so if you’re looking for some excitement, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro (£5.4m) is the defender to be considering this weekend.

Why? Glad you asked…

• He’s in red-hot form - with four assists in his last five games.

• When you compare this to Trippier at £7m or Alexander Arnold at £8.2m, he looks like a bargain.

• Spurs have a great fixture run - the next five games are great for an attacking full-back to rack up returns.

But, Router, if you’re looking for a more defensively sound asset, look to Pau Torres (£4.6m).

Aston Villa have back-to-back clean sheets against two of the biggest scorers in the league - Arsenal and Manchester City.

As they come out of what should have been a tough fixture run, there will be more opportunities for Villa to get clean sheets.

What’s better…? He’s Villa’s highest-scoring defender (58) this season.

And lastly, Levi Colwill (£4.6m) who can act as this week’s differential defender pick.

Chelsea have been a “bag of revels” this season as Paul Merson so eloquently said last gameweek. You just don’t know what kind of performance you’re going to get from them.

They beat Brighton and drew to Manchester but lost eight games this season to a variety of teams.

Chelsea sits mid-table for xGC this season and they rank lower on that stat the more you look at their recent form.

But, Chelsea’s fixtures are about to swing. Big time. And it might be what they need to restart their season. 

Chelsea faces three of the five worst teams for Expected Goals (xG) in their next five.

So… a sound choice, right? We’d hope so too.

WHOLE LOTTA DIFFERNTIALS 🤔

For those of you selling Haaland, be prepared. You’re about to be swimming in a whole lotta cash.

Ca-ching!

But don’t let it get to your head… and we won’t let you.

With great money, comes great responsibility… or something like that.

Anyway, here are some options to put that mullah to good use… or not.

We know what you’re thinking… Richarlison (£6.6m) is tempting. He’s bagged a brace against Newcastle…

And some managers think he’ll be on penalties once Son leaves for the Asia Cup.

But… that’s a long time from now. The Cup is between 12 Jan and 10 Feb.

Let’s be honest, Richarlison has had one good game this season and it’s far too early to take him seriously as an FPL asset.

If you’re looking to get some bang for your buck, look no further than Cole Palmer (£5.5m).

Despite their recent results, Chelsea’s attacking stats haven’t been as bad as you might think. They’re top five for xG and top four for big chances created.

They face Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge next. Sheffield United ranks fourth worst in terms of xGC away from home, and they’ve conceded the most goals (20 in seven matches). 

Some managers will be thinking of Raheem Sterling (£7.1m), who is a flat-track bully. But… 

• Palmer is on penalties.

• Sterling is a lot pricier than Palmer.

• Pochettino has been preferring Mykhailo Mudryk on the left-hand side.

Be warned… both Chelsea men are on 4 yellow cards, but that gets wiped by GW19!

We couldn’t leave out an Aston Villa midfielder, especially Leon Bailey (£5.5m) who has been on fire recently. 

He has five goals and four assists this season - and at 5.5m, he’s looking like a complete bargain. 

Villa’s fixture run is looking good which could see the in-form Bailey continue returning.

But, Emergy said Bailey was “completely tired” when being withdrawn at half-time in Gameweek 16. 

So… he’s not nailed on to start.

Good luck, Router!

If you can’t get enough of our FPL content, head over to our latest blog to get your fix…

As ever, feel free to share your team with us by simply replying to this email… you’re not alone, Router.

MEME 😆