FPL GW9 Preview: Breaking Down FPL Dilemmas for Gameweek 9

Welcome to Insanely Football’s Dilemmas blog for Gameweek 9 of the FPL 2022/23 season. This FPL GW9 Preview blog will break down all the popular Dilemmas managers have this week and help you maximize your FPL points for Gameweek 9 and beyond.

Let’s dive right into it. We will start with the first one.

Link to all our FPL GW9 blogs including Wildcard Guide, Fixtures to target, Predicted 11, Differentials, Captaincy metrics, transfer trends, and more. Completely free to access as well!

FPL GW9 Preview & Key Dilemmas Answered

1) Should you play the Wildcard in Gameweek 9?

FPL GW8 Preview ~ Should you play the Wildcard in Gameweek 8?

The first International Break has not been too kind to many FPL managers. With a few injuries cropping up along with a Blank Gameweek for Arsenal and Man City in GW12, FPL managers are thinking of using the Wildcard in Gameweek 9. As always, this is a very team-dependent call.

If most of your team includes players from Man City, Arsenal, Man United, and Brighton, it is worth Wildcarding in GW9. All these teams have tricky fixtures, and it won’t be easy to field a strong playing XI from these teams in the coming weeks. The wise move here will be to shift around players and build for the slightly longer term.

Wildcard this week also allows you to jump on players from teams like West Ham, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and even Leicester. These teams have great fixtures, and there are several differential picks to go for from these teams. Chelsea is another team having decent long-term fixtures you can target.

Not many managers have doubled/tripled up on Liverpool players. Using the Wildcard chip this week also allows you to get Trent and Salah for the home game against Brighton and keep them ready for the excellent fixture run from GW12 onwards.

Finally, another crucial thing to consider is your squad for Gameweek 12. See how you are lining up for Gameweek 12 with your proposed set of transfers till then. If you are happy with the players, you buy till GW12 and have a settled team, avoid using the Wildcard.

In this case, a Wildcard is better played in GW13 when premium teams like Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man Utd all have great attacking fixtures. The points potential looks much higher in that window, and you can take advantage by saving the Wildcard for now.

I have a good team for now, and my planned moves till GW12 cover the basis. I am saving my Wildcard for GW13. It’s essential to look at your team, see what you are gaining and letting go and accordingly take the call.

Check this Wildcard draft and see how far off you are from the ideal team for Gameweek 9 and beyond.

Further Read: FPL GW9 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide

2) Should we hold/sell Liverpool players this week?

Liverpool has struggled this season with only two wins in the first six games, and the International Break couldn’t have come at a better time for Klopp’s team. With a home game against a Potter-less Brighton this week and a couple of tricky fixtures after that, is it worth buying/selling Liverpool players this week?

It depends on how much risk you are willing to take. If I had players like Salah and Trent on my team, I wouldn’t sell them this week. In my opinion, it is a high-risk – high-reward strategy. Liverpool hasn’t shown any form to make us believe in their players, but this is also an opportunity to go against most FPL managers and break the template.

If you are on a Wildcard, a decision must be made. If you are retaining the premium midfield spot, you have options like Salah, KDB, and Son. Most managers have either KDB or Son and getting Salah looks like the differential move. KDB and Son have tough games this week, and Salah can outscore the duo in GW9. The case for Salah gets even stronger if you are planning to go against Haaland and captain a differential.

I understand Salah has struggled to get goals this season, and because of playing wide, his goal threat has reduced, and he has become more creative. Nobody knows whether that will change, but he is up against Brighton, who have lost Graham Potter. Salah has an excellent record against Brighton, getting 6G+5A in the ten matches he has played against them. This includes a total of 8 returns, out of which three were double-digit hauls.

Now, coming to other options like Trent Alexander-Arnold. The next three fixtures aren’t that straightforward for Liverpool from a defensive point of view, and a buying Trent can wait till GW12. In case you own him already, I would suggest you hold. There is also a chance to go for Trent early, especially on a Wildcard this week. However, it’s still risky as cheaper alternatives are available right now with slightly better fixtures.

I feel it is okay to wait on Diaz and Nunez too. Both are not priority moves if you are not on a Wildcard. See if you have any fires to put out and prioritise those first. If not, then saving the free transfer is also an option. There might be some rotation with players like Jota and Firmino in the mix, and it’s better to get more information before making a move for any of the attackers.

To sum it up, whether you are on a Wildcard or planning a regular transfer, there is an opportunity to gain some ground over managers having KDB/Son, as both have more challenging games. This move also comes with risks, as Liverpool has genuinely struggled in attack, and Salah can easily blank.

If you are a risk-taking manager, these moves are for you. If not, then holding KDB/Son in place of Salah is fine. If you have Trent, keep him, but he is not necessarily a priority buy this week.

Want more insights on Liverpool? Check out this video!

3) What are the potential replacements for Alexander Isak?

With the injury to Alexander Isak, FPL managers who own him are looking for potential replacements. There are a lot of forwards available for selection.

Out of all the available options, Mitrovic stands out the most. He has been in great form for Fulham this season, scoring six goals in 8 appearances. We know that he is Fulham’s talismanic figure. He is their main threat going forward and is also on penalties. The only worry with Mitrovic can be his fitness. He came out with a bandaged foot after the Norway game, but hopefully, it’s nothing serious. Still, wait for the presser’s comments before making the transfer.

If you own Mitrovic, the next best replacement is Ivan Toney from Brentford. He has a great fixture this week against Bournemouth, a team that has struggled to keep out goals this season. We had already seen Toney’s potential this season when he scored a hattrick against Leeds. Like Mitrovic, he is also his team’s leading man in attack and is on set-pieces and penalties. The fixtures after GW9 read Newcastle(A), Brighton(H), and Chelsea (H) in the short term, so be mindful of that. I still think Toney is a safe pick and will tick along nicely.

In case you are looking at a cheaper playing option because you want to invest more money in defence or midfield, then Solanke is the answer. He doesn’t stand out in any attacking stats but gives you that optionality to play a 3-up top. Bournemouth’s next four fixtures are suitable for attackers, and Solanke can easily get some good FPL points. With his being so cheap, you can even bench him for the slightly tougher games in the coming time.

Then we come into an unknown differential category. Watkins & Bamford are decent differentials, but the downside is that both players are not in form this season. Aston Villa has good fixtures, and Watkins can benefit, but it is still a shot in the dark. Bamford, on the other hand, has struggled to stay fit. Both can give you big hauls in the upcoming games, but it is still a risky bet.

Darwin Nunez is another great differential option this week. The fixture against Brighton can be highly rewarding, but we don’t know if Nunez will start the game. I think it’s better to see this out and get more information on Nunez for the time being.

Further Read: Players to Transfer In for FPL Gameweek 9 Based on Eye Test

4) What are the best mid-price midfielders to target in GW9?

With teams like Arsenal and Man City blanking in GW12 and Liverpool and Tottenham not having the most straightforward run of games, the midfielder category has suddenly come alive. West Ham, Leicester, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa have good fixtures, and these teams have some exciting midfield options.

Whether you are on a Wildcard this week or not, James Maddison should be the priority. Maddison has been one of the few bright spots in Leicester’s season so far. He is their best attacker, nailed to start most games for the Foxes, and scored a great goal against Tottenham. With easier fixtures coming up, he is the best mid-price midfielder to target.

Then comes Wilfried Zaha, who is playing Chelsea this week. We know Zaha has the quality to score against any opposition and can be lethal on the counter against the Blues. After the Chelsea game, you can make maximum gains as the fixtures long-term are really good. He will be heavily involved in whatever Palace creates in attack and can give you steady points in the upcoming weeks.

There is also Bowen, but West Ham hasn’t shown much in attack. Bowen looked lively against Everton and was unlucky not to get anything in that game. He is still somewhat of a punt, considering he has had no returns this season. The fixtures are there for him to do well, and if you are okay taking a bit of risk, he can be an option.

Players like Martinelli, Saka, and Kulusevski are not priority sells this week, but they aren’t the best picks either. Arsenal has a tricky couple of games before blanking in GW12, and it will be essential to have a plan for both wide players. The same is the case with Foden from Man City. He also blanks in GW12 and will need to be replaced soon. Over that, there is Pep Roulette to deal with as well. To me, he is a classic case of don’t buy, don’t sell at the moment.

I would personally even wait on Luiz Diaz from Liverpool. I don’t expect him to lose his place in the XI, but better options are available at lower prices. Information is vital in FPL, and I want to see Liverpool over the next 2-3 weeks before jumping on to their players from GW12.

Further Read: FPL GW9 Transfer Trends | Best Transfer Combinations & Tips

5) What to do with Man City & Arsenal players?

As mentioned earlier, both Man City and Arsenal have a blank in GW12. To top it off, both teams don’t have the easiest run of games from now till GW11.

Man City faces a much improved Man United at home this week. Post that, it is Southampton and then Liverpool in GW11. Arsenal also has a tricky game against Tottenham in GW9 before playing Liverpool in GW10 and Leeds after that.

The fixtures make holding both Man City and Arsenal players a lot harder.

Now, when we look at both teams in isolation, you can still say Man City is a fixture-proof team and will do well even in the trickier games. Whether you are Wildcarding this week or not, I think Haaland and Cancelo are worth holding till GW11. After that, you can either sell them in GW12 and get them back on a Wildcard in GW13 or keep them if you don’t have the chip available.

The Arsenal players are a bit difficult to assess. If you don’t have options like Maddison or even a Zaha, I think you can sell Martinelli/Saka in the short term. This plays out well if you are Wildcarding in GW13, as it’s much easier to get them back for the excellent run of fixtures.

There are replacements available in defence for players like Ramsdale, Saliba, Gabriel, and Tierney. You can go to a Trippier who is still a decent attacking defender. Players like Cancelo and James can be a priority if you don’t have them on your team. There are options to go cheap, with players like Williams and Guehi acting as solid budget enablers. Even Gabriel Jesus is replaceable with options like Mitrovic, Toney, and Solanke.

The correct approach here will be first to see how many players you have from these teams and what is your Wildcard strategy.

You can quickly phase out the Arsenal players over the next few weeks. If that is impossible and you have other fires to put out first, activate the Wildcard and sort out your team for GW9 and beyond. Holding Haaland and Cancelo still makes sense, as the gains can be massive despite the tough fixtures.

That will be all from this week. Do let me know what you think about these dilemmas. Also, tell me in the comments or drop me a DM on Instagram/Twitter if I have missed out on anything specific.

All the best for FPL Gameweek 9, and I will see you all very soon!

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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW9

£8.0m-£8.5m FPL Midfielders Review And Best Options From GW9
Top FPL Gameweek 9 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
Players to Transfer In for FPL Gameweek 9 Based on Eye Test
FPL GW9 Transfer Trends | Best Transfer Combinations & Tips
Man City GW1-8 Review | Best Man City Assets for FPL GW9-16
FPL GW9 Preview: Breaking Down FPL Dilemmas For Gameweek 9
Essential Players In Your FPL Gameweek 9 Wildcard Team
FPL GW9 Fixtures & Players To Target | Best Matchups | FPL Paz
Best FPL Budget Defenders Below £5.0m From GW9
FPL GW9 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of GW9 Deadline
FPL GW9 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More
FPL GW9 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide
FPL Players And Teams To Target From FPL Gameweek 9
Predicted GW9 Lineups Of All 20 Premier League Teams
FPL Stats Of Shithousery | GW8 Team Of The Weak
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