FPL Gameweek 31 Analysis – Players to Buy, Hold or Sell

As the long international break comes to an end, welcome back to the Players to Buy, Hold or Sell series ahead of FPL Gameweek 31. This week is pivotal in terms of the chip strategies with only 8 weeks left to play your chips, and plan your transfers, for the doubles and blanks ahead.

Link to all our FPL Gameweek 31 blogs. Our blogs cover a wide range of topics including the Captaincy Metrics, Buy/Hold/Sell Analysis, Free hit drafts, player comparisons, chip strategy, differentials, and more.

Players to Buy ahead of Gameweek 31

Cancelo(6.9m)

Manchester City’s popular pick, Joao Cancelo is the first player to make it to the Players to Buy ahead of Gameweek 31. With a lot of talks of Trent being out for a few weeks, he is the perfect replacement to bring him in. Also, City has a set of good fixtures lined up ahead of him, all the way up until the end of the season.

He has recorded an xG/90 of 0.13 and xA/90 of 0.07 over the past 4 weeks. With Liverpool and Manchester City going head to head to win the league, the chances of him getting dropped are less. They will be trying to field their best XI week in week out. Coupled his attacking threat with the clean sheet potential against these teams, he becomes a really great option to own over the next few weeks.

Further Read: FPL GW31 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of Deadline

Kai Havertz(7.9m)

The next player to make it to this week’s Players to Buy list is Kai Havertz. He had a scintillating Double in GW28, scoring 28 points, and scored 7 points in the next. Chelsea have great fixtures over the course of next few weeks, along with the possibility of having doubles in some weeks, as they have 2 unscheduled game left against Leicester and Leeds.

Havertz has accumulated an xG/90 of 0.65 and xA/90 of 0.16 over the past 5 weeks (GW26-30). Over the same period he has taken a total of 10 shots of which 8 were on target and 9 from inside the box. His underlying stats have improved drastically. Between GW23-GW26 he had an xG/90 and xA/90 of 0.03 and 0.06 respectively.

Further Read: Teams & Players to Target in FPL Between GW31-34 | Fixture Analysis

Players to Hold ahead of Gameweek 31

Trent Alexander Arnold(8.4m)

The first player to make it to the Players to Hold list is the very unexpected player, Liverpool’s full back, Trent Alexander Arnold. He is one of the most consistent players ever to own in your teams. However, he comes under the Players to Hold list this week because of the slight injury concerns ahead of GW31. Also, since most of the managers bought him at a much cheaper price, it will make it difficult for them to buy him back after selling.

He was seen back in training, this week, before the Watford game, indicating that he shouldn’t miss much games ahead. Liverpool have good enough fixtures to have Trent in our teams, and his underlying stats have always been top notch. Over the past 6 weeks, he has had an xG/90 of 0.05 and xA/90 of 0.41 and Big Chances Created/90 of 0.75. Therefore, considering all of this, I would suggest holding him ahead of GW31.

Further Read: FPL GW31 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of Deadline

Raphinha(6.5m)

Next up, in the players to Hold list is Leeds’ winger, Raphinha. He has been under whelming to own over a long time. However, if managers still have in their teams, it’s worth keeping him for the next 2 weeks and sell him in GW33, in which he has a blank Gameweek.

Raphinha is an incredible player, albeit the bad form Leeds are in, he has been putting up great underlying stats. He has racked up an xG/90 of 0.31 and xA/90 of 0.3, over the past 5 Gameweeks (GW26 – GW30). Before his blank, he goes on to face Southampton at Ellen Road and Watford away. These fixtures are good enough for him to get double digit returns.

Further Read: FPL Chip Strategy For The Remainder Of The Season | All Scenarios

Players to Sell ahead of Gameweek 31

Conor Coady(4.9m)

Conor Coady is the first name in the Players to Sell list this week. Although he had a great GW28 and 29, where he scored 6 and 14 points respectively, I would suggest selling him ahead of GW31. He does not play in GW33, and have relatively difficult fixtures up ahead. Wolves’ defensive stats have took a turn for the worse.

They are 8th from bottom in terms of Shots Conceded, and 9th from bottom in terms of Shots from inside the Box. Coady’s individual stats since GW26 have not been impressive as well. He had an xA/90 of 0.01 and 0 Big chances created. With lesser possibility of Wolves not conceding, he becomes much less attractive to own.

Further Read: FPL Chip Strategy For The Remainder Of The Season | All Scenarios

Raul Jimenez(7.7m)

The next player in the Players to Sell list is another Wolves’ player. Raul Jimenez was sent off in his previous fixture against Leeds, and is suspended for the next two games. Also, he has a blank in GW33, and is not going to play until GW34. After that, Wolves have a decent run of fixtures, where they face Burnley, Brighton, Chelsea and Norwich, with games against Liverpool and Manchester City yet to be rescheduled.

Over the past 5 weeks, his underlying numbers have also been insipid. He has an xG/90 of 0.25, from a shots/90 of 2.31, and an xA/90 of 0.07, with 0 Big Chances Created. Therefore, considering him being out for three weeks, and the fall in numbers, he is definitely a sell ahead of Gameweek 31.

Thank you for reading this week’s Players to Buy, Hold or Sell series, good luck for Gameweek 31!

Further Reads from ALLABOUTFPL Ahead of FPL Gameweek 31:

FPL Chip Strategy For The Remainder Of The Season | All Scenarios
FPL GW31 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of Deadline
AllAboutFPL FPL GW31 Scout Picks | FPLDaggaFC
Teams & Players to Target in FPL Between GW31-34 | Fixture Analysis
FPL GW31 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide
FPL GW31 Transfer Trends And Best Transfer Combinations
Impact of FA Cup Results on FPL Gameweek 33 | FPL GW33 Fixtures

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