Transfer recommendations for Gameweek 15: Revert to Liverpool stars, consider in-form Isak

DREAM TEAM managers have until 1:30pm on Saturday to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 15.

Nine teams are set to pull double duty thanks to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with Chelsea being the odd side out on account of their Conference League meeting with Shamrock Rovers (expect heavy rotation).

Dream Team

Transfer tips for Gameweek 15[/caption]

LIVERPOOL STARS

The decision to postpone an eagerly-anticipated Merseyside derby sent Dream Team bosses into meltdown on Saturday morning.

As gaffers scrambled for alternative strategies, both Luis Diaz (£4.1m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.6m) ended up among the five most transferred-out players come the Gameweek 14 deadline.

Those who ditched Liverpool players in a hurry should strongly consider bringing them back in ahead of a double header that will see the Reds play Fulham and Southampton.

A reminder, as if it’s needed, that Anfield’s Egyptian hero is the game’s outright top performer having amassed 229 points in total.

Alisson (£5.1m) returned from injury against Girona in midweek and marked his comeback with a ten-point haul – Caoimhin Kelleher’s (£2.8m) minutes are about to nosedive.

Premium defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) come at a cost but they’re the leading assets in their position.

Joe Gomez (£3.3m) and Andy Robertson (£4.2m) are cheaper variations on a theme.

Getty

ALEXANDER ISAK (£5.2m)

Now that the European competitions have essentially been put on hold for the festive period, Dream Team managers have many more viable options to consider.

Newcastle’s No14 is a prime example having scored six goals in his last eight outings.

If he can stay fit, Isak is an excellent option from now until mid-January but Gameweek 15 is particularly appealing with the Magpies set to host both Leicester and Brentford at St James’ Park.

That has to be regarded as a favourable double header given the Bees’ struggles on the road this season.

Isak averages just shy of seven points-per-game this term and is therefore well placed to provide healthy returns this coming Gameweek – fingers crossed Eddie Howe doesn’t rotate too much in midweek.

WILLIAM SALIBA (£5.2m)

It may sound counterintuitive to target Arsenal clean sheets at a time when several defenders are sidelined with injury but Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Monaco showed they can get the job done without Gabriel (£5.3m), Riccardo Calafiori (£3.7m), Ben White (£4.1m) and others.

Saliba is still standing strong and a 17-point haul in Gameweek 14 has propelled him up to third in the rankings among assets in his position.

The France international has even stepped up to replace Gabriel’s threat at set-pieces – he’s scored in each of his last two league games.

Reuters

Clean sheets, goals… Saliba is a dual threat right now[/caption]

Even accounting for missing personnel, the Gunners have strong hopes of at least one clean sheet this coming Gameweek with Everton and Crystal Palace due to visit the Emirates.

Both the Toffees and the Eagles are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and so it’s perfectly reasonable to expect Saliba to extend his fine form.

There were question marks over Jurrien Timber’s (£4.3m) availability in the week but he came off the bench against Monaco and looked sprightly enough so he should be set for his fair share of minutes in Gameweek 15 too.

---