FPL Gameweek 2 Transfer Tips: Players to Buy, Hold & Sell

After months of preparing and planning, GW1 came and before we realised is already behind us. It sprung quite a few surprises (Gabriel benching, Bruno/ Rashford blanking) but restored normal service too (Haaland scoring, Pep roulette resuming and Mbeumo-Wissa returning points in the absence of Toney). Before we realise the Gameweek 2 deadline is fast approaching with another Friday evening kick off. So, let’s start with our first BUY-HOLD-SELL article of the season, sponsored by …. Well, nobody. We are poor, but you can help here if you want 😊

Link to all our FPL GW2 blogs including fixtures to target, predicted 11, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer trends, and more. Completely free to access as well!

SELL/ HOLD is only for players greater than 15% ownership because to sell/ hold you need to own the player first

BUY is only for players less than 10% ownership

Note: All the players mentioned in this article as “Players to Buy/Hold/Sell ahead of FPL Gameweek 2” are the author’s opinion based on stats and analysis. Have a read and decide for yourselves.

FPL Gameweek 2 Transfer Tips: Two Players to BUY

Luis Díaz (£7.5m) – MID, Liverpool – 7.8% TSB

The juiciest fixture for this week is undoubtedly the Liverpool-Bournemouth clash at Anfield. Liverpool won this fixture last season 9-0. So, a Liverpool attacker for this fixture will be very popular. Luis Diaz fits the bill perfectly. He is cheap, back after an injury and led his Liverpool teammates post GW1 in terms of:

• Shots
• Shots on Target
• Shots in the Box
• Big Chances
• xG
• xGI
• Goals
• GI
• xPts
• BPS
• Bonus
• FPL Pts

Even last season, before getting injured, in the first 10 GWs, Diaz was 3^rd amongst his Liv team-mates behind Firmino and Salah for Shots on Target, Goal Involvement, Bonus Points and FPL Points.

A downgrade from Bruno/ Rashford after a lacklustre game when they face Spurs (A) might be a shrewd short-term move.

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Moussa Diaby (£6.5m) – MID, Aston Villa – 7.8% TSB

In GW1, Diaby had 37 touches with 27 touches in the opponent’s half and 17 in the final third.

For context, Watkins who is supposed to be in an advanced role as the ST had 31 touches with 24 touches in the opponent’s half and 16 in the final third. Even in terms of xG, there was hardly any difference with Diaby scoring 0.28 and Watkins managing 0.32. Their heatmaps were very identical too.

All this implies the advanced positions Diaby had been taking up. He almost played like a second ST with Watkins.

This actually should not come as a surprise as his xGI numbers in Germany were also electric:

xGI/90:

21/22: 0.56

20/21: 0.44

19/20: 0.55

Everton defence has been wretched in 22/23. Although the perception is that Dyche improved the situation, the change, if any, is insignificant

Everton Rank	22/23 Season	Post Dyche (GW 22 onwards)
Clean Sheets (CS)	15th	Joint 6th
xCS	16th	12th
Goals Conceded (GC)	13th	14th
xGC	16th	15th
NPxGA	17th	12th
Big Shots Conceded	14th	13th
Shots on Target Conceded	16th	13th
Shots in Box Conceded	19th	14th
Shots Conceded	19th	13th

Buying Diaby early for a 2-week punt against Everton (H) & Burnley (A) might catapult you in your mini-leagues.

Further Read: FPL GW2 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats

FPL Gameweek 2 Transfer Tips: Two Players to HOLD

Gabriel Magalhães (£5.0m) – DEF, Arsenal – 30.5% TSB

200,000 managers have already sold Gabriel, who started every single Premier League game last season. In fact, even beyond last season, he started 73 of Arsenal’s last 77 Premier League games. His next few fixtures look amazing – especially the GW 2 fixture when they face Crystal Palace (A).

Last season, Arsenal had kept 4 clean sheets at home, while they managed 10 in away fixtures. On the other hand, Crystal Palace were ranked 20^th in terms of xG and 18^th in terms of “shots from headers conceded” in home games.

With Timber injured, against Palace, Gabriel has a very high chance of starting (and hopefully scoring from a corner too). Give the Brazilian one more week – and hence for GW2 specifically, he is a HOLD. However, if he is benched against Palace too, then surely, he is a sell in GW3

Further Read: Best Defenders to Target ahead of GW2- Mings/Timber Replacements

Ollie Watkins (£8.0m) – FWD, Aston Villa – 25.4% TSB

Watkins is the second most sold FWD although he faces Everton at home.

Watkins Rank in 22/23	Amongst Currently Active FWDs
Mins	1st
Shots	3rd
Shots on Target	2nd
Shots in the Box	2nd
Big Chances	2nd
Headed Attempts	3rd
NPxG	2nd
xG	2nd
Goals	3rd
Assists	3rd
xGI	2nd
Goal Involvement	3rd
BPS	2nd
Bonus Points	2nd
xPts	2nd
FPL Points	2nd

Last season, when Aston Villa hosted Everton in GW2, Watkins provided 2 assists and scored 11 points.

In GW 25, when Villa visited Everton, Watkins scored a goal and bagged 6 points.

Hence, I would strongly suggest not selling Watkins. In fact, he is a good punt for a differential captain.

Further Read: Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2023/24 PL Season

FPL Gameweek 2 Transfer Tips: Two Players to SELL

Alexander Isak (£7.6m) – FWD, Newcastle – 23.1% TSB

A few might be surprised by finding Isak’s name in the SELL list. However, I was equally surprised to see him being the first one to rise in price. Of course, he scored 13 points against a good AVL defence. But let’s have a look at Newcastle’s nightmarish fixtures from GW2

Even if we look at GW1, Isak’s underlying stats are not that impressive. He is ranked 18^th in terms of xGI suggesting how massively he overperformed.

There are much better short-term replacements available in the form of Ollie Watkins, João Pedro and Yoane Wissa.

Further Read: FPL GW2 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More

Eberechi Eze (£6.5m) – MID, Crystal Palace – 15.8% TSB

Let’s first understand why the sudden craze for Eze started. Last season, between GW 29-38, Eze was the 2nd highest-scoring MF in FPL after Salah. However, in those 10 GWs, his opponents were all in the Bottom 10 for Goals Conceded. For context, Palace were 14th in XG even during that dream run

GW	Opponent	Rank – Goals Conceded
GW 29	LEI	17th
GW 30	LEE	20th
GW 31	SOU	19th
GW 32	EVE	13th
GW 33	WOL	14th
GW 34	WHU	12th
GW 35	TOT	15th
GW 36	BOU	18th
GW 37	FUL	10th
GW 38	NFO	16th

Crystal Palace face last year’s runners up Arsenal in GW2 at Selhurst Park. As already mentioned, Crystal Palace were ranked 20^th in terms of xG in home games last season. Arsenal beat Palace 0-2 in this fixture in GW1 last season whereas in the reverse fixture in GW28, the Gunners won 4-1. Eze could manage 1 point across the 2 matches.

He wasn’t a good asset to start GW1 with. But if you’ve him, you might want to switch to Bryan Mbeumo or Moussa Diaby or upgrade to James Maddison if you have £1.0m in the bank.

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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW2

Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2023/24 PL Season
FPL GW2 Tips & Preview – Breaking Down The Key Dilemmas
Top FPL Gameweek 2 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
Top FPL GW2 Differential Picks((10% TSB) To Consider Ahead Of Deadline
FPL Gameweek 2 Transfer Tips: Two Players To Buy, Hold & Sell
Best Defenders to Target ahead of GW2- Mings/Timber Replacements
FPL GW2 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats
FPL GW2 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More

Link to all our FPL GW2 blogs including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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