Man Utd hitman Ronaldo? The best FPL transfers for Boxing Day and beyond
Who are the best transfers for FPL on Boxing Day and beyond?
4-time top 1k and 5-time top 5k finisher Abdul Rehman uses stats, fixtures and the eye test to find the best Fantasy Premier League players with the potential to pick up big points and help shoot you up the rankings.
Ben Davies (£4.5m) – Spurs
Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)
Ben Davies has one assist across six starts this season. Since the arrival of Antonio Conte, he has started every game and looks to be nailed in that left centre-back role. He has the highest xG (1.24) among the Spurs defence and has also created three chances with an xA of 0.24.
Spurs are scheduled to play Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The Eagles are having a good season and are a much improved under Patrick Viera. They have scored 24 goals (7th) with an xG of 22.7 (8th). They are a lot better going forward, but Spurs‘ backline are fairly solid and they have improved since Conte’s arrival, keeping three clean sheets in his first five league games in charge.
Over the season they have conceded 19 goals (6th) with an xGC of 20.2 (4th). Despite their poor start to the season they still didn’t concede many goals. Tottenham are at 44% to keep a clean on Boxing Day according to the bookmakers and Davies will also have the chance of adding to his attacking returns too. Under Conte, he has gotten forward a lot and his average position maps show him as one of the furthest forward defenders.
Furthermore, he costs just £4.5m which is an absolute bargain for a nailed on Spurs defender, especially with the kind fixtures coming up and the double gameweeks they’ll have.
Gabriel Martinelli (£5.3m) – Arsenal
Fixture: Norwich (A)
Gabriel Martinelli has burst onto the scene in the last few weeks and has really impressed with his performances and stats. In just 610 minutes of action this season, he has four goals and two assists from 15 shots in the box and an xG of 2.77, while also creating 16 chances with an xA of 1.76.
The Brazilian looks to have earned his place as a first-team starter under Mikel Arteta with three goals and one assist in his last three games and his stats tell us that he is a great option, especially at a snip price of only £5.3m.
Arsenal travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich on Boxing Day. Dean Smith’s men look destined for the drop as they sit bottom of the league having conceded 34 goals (18th) with an xGC of 30.4 (18th).
The Gunners have been on a fine run of form scoring nine goals in the last three games, but also 27 goals (5th) to their name over the season with an xG of 29.0 (4th). Martinelli seems to have played a big role in their current good run and will no doubt score very well over the season looking at his stats, provided he is given the minutes.
He is currently one of the best value players in the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m) – Manchester United
Fixture: Newcastle United (A)
Manchester United’s last two games have been postponed due to a COVID outbreak but it looks certain that their looming fixture will go ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo and United will be well-rested for this fixture, which gives them a bit of an advantage over their opponents. The Portuguese has seven goals and two assists from 39 shots in the box (3rd) with an xG of 7.77 (3rd) while also creating nine chances with an xA of 2.53.
Manchester United come up against Newcastle United on Monday. The Toon have been terrible defensively and the Red Devils will surely have too much for them. They have conceded 41 goals (20th) with an xGC of 36.4 (20th), which makes them the worst defensive side in the league by quite a distance.
United have scored 26 goals this season (6th) with an xG of 26.5 (5th) in only 16 games. With Ronaldo playing up front and the likes of Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford for company, few can see them having any problems going forward.
Ronaldo is their talisman this season with a Goal Involvement of 47% and has been their best attacking asset since he arrived. Furthermore, Man United are the third favourites to score 2.5+ goals (37%) and Ronaldo is the favourite to score at anytime (57%) according to the bookmakers. What's more, United also have a great run of fixtures to come even after Monday's game.
