Spot The Differential – Gameweek 25

Manchester United’s Anthony Martial was the only one of our differential trio to deliver in Gameweek 25, so we’ll be hoping for a better return from our latest selection.

We’re again focusing on the value on offer in midfield, with three promising home match-ups also a key factor in our thinking.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

For those Fantasy managers working on a shoestring, Stoke City’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting looks a great option once again, not only for this Gameweek but also for the upcoming period.

The Potters midfielder, who has registered four goals and five assists this season, is available at just 5.4 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and faces Watford, Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion over the next three Gameweeks.

He shone in Paul Lambert’s first match in charge, producing an assist in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, and takes that confidence into tomorrow night’s home meeting with the Hornets.

Watford arrive at the bet365 Stadium having managed just a single clean sheet from their last ten away matches in the league.

Only the Potters themselves have conceded more goals (50) than Watford’s 44 this season.

They do have a new man at the helm, though, with Javi Gracia taking charge of his first league match as head coach.

Despite having seen his production drop off over the past few months, Choupo-Moting’s underlying statistics have remained impressive.

The Stoke attacker is ranked fourth among FPL midfielders for shots inside the penalty area, with 37. That’s more than double that of team-mate Xherdan Shaqiri (18).

Sat in just 3.9% of FPL squads, Choupo-Moting looks primed to be among the leading budget midfield options over the next month.

Bernardo Silva

Injuries often provide opportunities for FPL managers, and with Manchester City’s Leroy Sane set for a spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage, team-mate Bernardo Silva suddenly looks a viable option.

The Portuguese international has had to bide his time for first-team opportunities, but has racked up three goals and six assists in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

Indeed, his underlying statistics really catch the eye.

The midfielder has created a chance every 36 minutes, which is superior to team-mates David Silva (39), Sane (43) and Raheem Sterling (49).

He is expected to replace Sane in the front three for tomorrow night’s home encounter with West Bromwich Albion, starting alongside Sterling and Sergio Aguero in attack.

Although the Baggies travel to the Etihad Stadium in confident mood following their 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup, they have managed just one clean sheet from their last 11 away matches.

Having dropped to 7.4 in FPL, Silva could now provide the cheapest secure route into the prolific City attack.

Owned by only 0.7% of FPL managers, he could prove a powerful short-term differential.

Theo Walcott

A former Fantasy favourite is our final selection this week.

Everton’s Theo Walcott got his Toffees career off to a bright start with an assist in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Perhaps most significantly, he also completed the full 90 minutes.

The England international’s proven pedigree makes the prospect of him playing regular first-team football a fascinating one.

Last season, he found the back of the net every 192.5 minutes, which was bettered by only eight FPL midfielders with a minimum of 1,000 minutes.

Indeed, his average of a shot every 31 minutes last term ranks him alongside some of this season’s most expensive Fantasy assets.

As examples, Sterling has had a shot every 30.3 minutes, while Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has done so every 30.6 minutes.

Sam Allardyce’s side take on Leicester City at Goodison Park tomorrow night, while their schedule over the medium to long-term is pretty favourable.

Although the Foxes have recorded shut-outs in each of their last three league encounters, they have only kept one clean sheet from their last eight away trips.

Walcott’s ten goals and three assists from just 23 starts last season underline his potential as an asset.

Currently priced at 7.1, and with an ownership of just 1.5%, he could become a “template breaker” over the second half of the season.