The Premier League returns this weekend after the international break, and many Fantasy Premier League managers may have a conundrum on their hands.
Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British-record £125m on transfer deadline day and the question now is whether he will start at Burnley on Sunday.
Do Fantasy Premier League managers gamble and throw him into their teams? Or do you leave him out for Gameweek 4?
This week’s FPL expert Holly Shand and the guys from The FPL Podcast by BBC Sport debate this week’s FPL talking point.
‘Too early to throw Isak in’
Holly Shand: I think the key for Gameweek 4 is to stick with the Liverpool assets you have, do not buy or sell this week until the starters become clear. There’s the appealing fixture of Burnley away, but there’s no guarantee Isak starts in that game. He has had a disrupted August where he hasn’t trained consistently or played any competitive minutes. He only played 18 minutes across two fixtures for Sweden over the international break and so it would be a surprise to be on the team sheet this weekend.
Chris Sutton: I think it is too early. I very much doubt he is up to match speed, so why would Liverpool throw him in from the start when Hugo Ekitike is performing anyway. It is a perfect situation for Liverpool because they can just nurture him into the team and give him minutes and gradually build that fitness. To throw him into your Fantasy team would be ridiculous.
How could Isak arrival impact Salah?
Holly Shand: Going forward, Isak will dominate in the number nine role, which could see Cody Gakpo and Ekitike in a battle for minutes on the left. Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid next midweek, where they’ll need this squad depth. Ekitike has had another 400,000 new owners ahead of Gameweek 4, having delivered three goal involvements in the opening three gameweeks, with only Mohamed Salah more highly owned from this Liverpool team. Only Joao Pedro and Erling Haaland have scored more fantasy points among forwards than Ekitike.
Statman Dave: I think Gakpo’s minutes will be limited with Ekitike potentially playing on the left. With Ekitike’s two goals and assists I doubt he would be the one who is dropped. Gakpo would see more minutes off the bench or start and then get taken off with Isak the long-term player. Isak will score a lot of points and him and Mo Salah complement each other. There is lots of talk that Salah is the main guy and everything goes through Salah, so Isak won’t get anything, but that is rubbish. Salah is not playing anywhere near the level we expect but how they complement just makes more sense. Isak is the opportunity to feet, Salah can stretch the back line – it works.
