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Your daily dose of Premier League insights - powered by data, driven by AI. From top transfer tips to captain picks, we break it all down in under 10 minutes.
Welcome to Who Got The Points? I'm Archer, and here's what you need to know in the next seven minutes. We're reviewing Gameweek Seventeen's defensive heroes, unpacking the Bruno Fernandes injury crisis, and getting you set for the Boxing Day bonanza of Gameweek Eighteen. Deadline is Friday the twenty-sixth of December at six thirty PM, so let's get into it.
First, the rapid-fire news bulletin. Bruno Fernandes is doubtful with a hamstring injury, just twenty-five percent chance of playing. He lasted forty-five minutes against Aston Villa before being withdrawn, and Manchester United face Newcastle on Boxing Day evening. Over eight hundred thousand managers have already shipped him out. If you own him, you need to act fast.
Second, Arsenal's Piero Hincapie picked up a knock in the Everton match but is listed as seventy-five percent likely to play. He bagged ten points with a clean sheet and maximum bonus in Gameweek Seventeen, but Mikel Arteta's rotation in the cup suggests he'll manage minutes carefully over the festive fixtures. Monitor the pre-match updates closely.
Third, Manchester City finally kept a clean sheet, beating West Ham three-nil. Pep Guardiola's side face Nottingham Forest away on Saturday lunchtime, and Forest have been defensively solid at home. City assets are back in form, but that's not an easy fixture. Fourth, Liverpool face Wolves at Anfield on Saturday. Arne Slot's men won two-one at Spurs despite not being at their best. Wolves under Vitor Pereira have tightened up recently, so expect rotation from Slot with matches coming thick and fast.
Now, our Wednesday special theme: who scored the most defensive contribution points in Gameweek Seventeen? Let's highlight the standout defenders, goalkeepers, and midfielders who delivered on the defensive front.
Arsenal's Hincapie tops the charts with ten points. He started and played the full ninety minutes in the one-nil win at Everton, keeping his second clean sheet of the season and earning maximum bonus points with his defensive work. Priced at five point five million pounds, he's owned by just three point one percent of managers. The issue? Arteta rotates heavily, and that knock adds uncertainty. Arsenal face Brighton at home on Saturday, a decent fixture, but if you're bringing him in, be prepared for rotation risk across the festive period.
Tete from Fulham bagged nine points with a clean sheet, full ninety minutes, and three bonus points in the one-nil win at Nottingham Forest. He's just four point five million pounds and owned by less than one percent. That's four clean sheets this season from fourteen appearances. Marco Silva's Fulham have improved defensively, and they face West Ham away on Saturday. For a budget enabler, Tete offers solid value if you need to free up funds, but Fulham's defence isn't elite. He's a differential if you're chasing ranks.
Matheus Nunes from Manchester City scored eight points with a clean sheet, ninety minutes, and two bonus against West Ham. At five point four million pounds and two point two percent ownership, he's flying under the radar. City have kept six clean sheets this season, and Nunes has been involved in that defensive solidity. City face Forest away, then Chelsea at home in Gameweek Nineteen. If you're looking for a City defender without breaking the bank, Nunes is a shout, but City's fixture swing gets tougher soon.
In midfield, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers exploded with fifteen points, scoring twice in the two-one win at Manchester United. He's seven point two million pounds, owned by nineteen point two percent, and has seven goals and three assists this season. Rogers is in blistering form, averaging eight point two points per game recently. Villa face Chelsea away on Saturday evening, a tough test, but Rogers is undroppable under Unai Emery right now. He's not a pure defensive contributor, but he's bagging points consistently. If you don't own him, you're missing out.
Mancity's Cherki delivered four points with a clean sheet and bonus against West Ham. He's six point six million pounds, eight point five percent owned, with seven assists this season. He's not an explosive pick, but he's consistent in Guardiola's system. City's fixtures improve after Forest, making him a steady midfielder option if you want City coverage without the premium price tag.
Now, let's talk transfers. Top three transfers IN for Gameweek Eighteen.
Number one: Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool forward, eight point nine million pounds. He's had over seven hundred and seventy-nine thousand transfers in this week. Ekitike scored nine points in Gameweek Seventeen with a goal and maximum bonus against Spurs. He's got eight goals this season and is Liverpool's focal point in attack. Liverpool face Wolves at home on Saturday, a fixture they should control. Expected points: seven point nine. Verdict: Essential. If you don't own Ekitike, get him in now. Liverpool's attack is firing, and he's the best forward under nine million pounds.
Number two: Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa midfielder, seven point two million pounds. Six hundred and ten thousand transfers in. Rogers has seven goals and three assists, averaging five point four points per game. His brace against United shows he's hitting peak form. Villa face Chelsea away, then Arsenal at home in Gameweek Nineteen. Expected points: eight point two. Verdict: Essential. Rogers is a must-own midfielder at that price. Villa's fixtures turn green after Chelsea, making him a hold for weeks.
Number three: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds forward, five point eight million pounds. Two hundred and seventy-seven thousand transfers in. Calvert-Lewin bagged thirteen points in Gameweek Seventeen with two goals and bonus in Leeds' four-one demolition of Crystal Palace. He's got seven goals this season and is in red-hot form. Leeds face Sunderland away on Sunday, then Liverpool at home in Gameweek Nineteen. Expected points: eight point eight. Verdict: Good option. At five point eight million pounds, he's incredible value for a third striker spot, but Leeds' fixtures get harder. Bring him in short-term if you need budget flexibility.
Top three transfers OUT.
Number one: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United midfielder, nine point three million pounds. Over eight hundred and forty-eight thousand transfers out. Fernandes is doubtful with a hamstring injury, just twenty-five percent chance of playing. He lasted forty-five minutes last match and scored one point. Even if fit, United's fixtures include Newcastle away, then Wolves at home. Verdict: Sell immediately. Don't wait. Use the funds to upgrade elsewhere. Fernandes was essential earlier, but injury and form make him a liability now.
Number two: Thiago, Brentford forward, seven point one million pounds. Six hundred and thirty-four thousand transfers out. Thiago scored just two points in Gameweek Seventeen despite playing ninety minutes. He's got eleven goals this season but has gone cold recently. Brentford face Bournemouth at home on Saturday, then Spurs away in Gameweek Nineteen. Expected points: four. Verdict: Hold if you own him. Bournemouth at home is a bounce-back fixture. Don't panic sell, but monitor his performance. If he blanks again, move him on.
Number three: Malo Gusto, Chelsea defender, five million pounds. Twenty thousand transfers out. Gusto scored minus one point in Gameweek Seventeen after fifty-three minutes in the two-two draw at Newcastle. Chelsea's defence has been leaky on the road, conceding nine goals with six clean sheets overall. Chelsea face Aston Villa at home on Saturday, then Bournemouth away in Gameweek Nineteen. Verdict: Hold. Chelsea's fixtures improve, and Gusto offers attacking threat when fit. Don't sell unless you're desperate for funds.
Differential picks under ten percent ownership.
First, Kenny Tete, Fulham defender, four point five million pounds, less than one percent owned. Tete just scored nine points with a clean sheet and maximum bonus. Fulham face West Ham away, then Palace at home in Gameweek Nineteen. He's dirt cheap and offers clean sheet potential in a Marco Silva side finding form defensively. Risky, but high reward for those chasing ranks.
Second, Matheus Nunes, Manchester City defender, five point four million pounds, two point two percent owned. Eight points last match, six clean sheets this season. City face Forest away then Chelsea at home. If you want City defensive coverage cheaply, Nunes is your man.
Third, Maxence De Cuyper, Brighton defender, four point three million pounds, two point three percent owned. Six points in Gameweek Seventeen with a clean sheet against Sunderland. Brighton face Arsenal away, a tough fixture, but De Cuyper has two goals this season and offers attacking threat from set pieces. One for the brave.
Captaincy pick: Hugo Ekitike against Wolves at Anfield. Liverpool dominate at home, Wolves are vulnerable, and Ekitike is in form. He's the safe captain choice this week.
One key tip: Don't panic over the Bruno Fernandes injury. Use those funds to double up on Liverpool or Villa attackers. The festive fixtures are where seasons are won and lost. Be decisive.
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That's all for today. Subscribe at whogotthepoints dot com. Good luck in Gameweek Eighteen, and may your differentials haul.