Should you sell Arsenal and Liverpool attackers in Fantasy?

The Scout delves into the data to help Fantasy Premier League managers decide what to do with their Liverpool and Arsenal players following their Double Gameweek 34 (DGW34).

Sales of Liverpool and Arsenal assets have escalated ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 BST deadline.  

Over 215,000 owners have transferred out Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) on the back of his three-point score across the Reds’ DGW34 matches with Fulham and Everton.

His team-mates Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz (both £7.8m) have been moved on by more than 145,000 and 95,000 respectively, while the Gunners’ Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) is the third most-sold player in the Gameweek following 140,000+ transfers out. 

Crucially, both Liverpool and Arsenal now have just four matches each to play and do not have any Double Gameweeks remaining.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, by contrast, each have six matches remaining, including a Double Gameweek 35 (DGW35) AND a Double Gameweek 37 (DGW37).

Four more clubs – Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United – have a DGW37, which means they each have five matches left still to play. 

Who has had the greatest attacking threat among Liverpool and Arsenal attackers?

When we assess the underlying numbers of Liverpool and Arsenal’s key attackers over their clubs’ last six league matches, Salah clearly makes the strongest case to remain in managers’ squads. 

In terms of goal threat, the Egyptian’s 30 shots, 22 shots in the box, seven big chances and 12 shots on target are all more than any Liverpool or Arsenal player in their last six matches.

Indeed, Salah ranks second among all players in Fantasy for both shots and shots in the box over their last six outings.

However, an abysmal 6.7 per cent goal conversion rate has hindered his output dramatically - he has scored only twice in that spell, compared with the 10 goals of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£6.2m). 

Nunez’s 17 shots in the box sit second in the analysis yet, just like Salah, he has failed to finish his opportunities and boasts a lowly 5.3 per cent conversion rate.

Havertz leads the way for the Gunners with 15 shots in the box and five big chances, while his three big chances created are joint-top with Martin Odegaard (£8.6m). 

The German’s 11 shots on target sit second to Salah here, with Leandro Trossard (£6.5m) his nearest challenger for the Gunners with six accurate efforts. 

Saka’s statistics raise the biggest concerns, with the winger involved in just one big chance in Arsenal’s last six. 

Liverpool and Arsenal attackers, last six matches

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Which DGW37 players have the most attacking threat?

Assessing the form players from the DGW37 sides across their own last six matches gives a fair comparison.

Palmer’s incredible goal threat, added to his run of six fixtures in the final four Gameweeks, shows why he will be a must-have if he recovers from illness.

His 34 shots, 19 shots in the box and 19 shots on target are all more than any rival in the assessment over the last six matches.

The 22-year-old’s all-round style of play has earns him third spot for key passes and second place for big chances created. 

Phil Foden (£8.2m) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.3m) have also shown plenty of potential for goals and assists. 

They rank joint-second on 13 shots on target, also placing among the top three for shots and key passes.

Fernandes faces Burnley this weekend on the back of four goals, an assist and 33 points in his last two appearances.  

The numbers also highlight why Newcastle’s Alexander Isak (£8.1m) is the most-bought player in the Gameweek ahead of his home encounter with Sheffield United.

His eight big chances are joint-second with Palmer over the last six matches, while his nine shots on target are more than any other forward in the assessment.

The Blues’ Nicolas Jackson (£6.8m) has bettered his DGW35 rival Son Heung-min (£9.8m) by five big chances to two and seven shots on target to six, while he matched his eight key passes.  

A team-high total of seven big chances suggests Brennan Johnson (£5.8m) could be a major source of value for Spurs’ six fixtures.

Anthony Gordon (£6.1m), Alejandro Garnacho (£5.0m) and Joao Pedro (£5.2m) have the goal threat to also thrive as major budget assets.

Gordon looks the pick of that trio due to his all-round style of play - along with Palmer, Foden and Fernandes, he's among only four players in the table to record double-figures for both shots in the box and key passes.

Finally, Kevin De Bruyne’s (£10.4m) numbers also show why he could be the perfect differential.

The Belgian’s 10 big chances created in his last six matches are at least six more than any other DGW37 player.

DGW37 attackers, last six matches

*Rotate your mobile device to see the full table

So, what should managers do with Liverpool and Arsenal attackers?

Salah’s potential for goals and assists remains among the very best and selling him at this point seems unnecessary.

The Reds face West Ham United and Spurs in the next two Gameweeks and neither of those opponents have impressed in defence.

Nonetheless, a solitary fixture away to Aston Villa in DGW37 suggests many will part company with Salah, with Son, Fernandes, Foden and Gordon among the best options to join Palmer in midfield.

The numbers indicate Saka owners face an easier decision to sell, with Havertz’s superior goal threat making him the most appealing Arsenal asset and a great differential to own right now. Arsenal face Spurs and AFC Bournemouth in the next two Gameweeks and visit Man Utd in DGW37. 

Up front, Nunez has to make way, with Haaland and Isak the top picks for managers playing a 3-5-2 formation.

Providing Palmer is fit, Chelsea’s schedule suggests Jackson could reward those looking to play with three forwards instead.