A very favorable interim run of opponents looks set to boost the prospects of Brighton & Hove Albion’s key players in Fantasy Premier League.
According to Match difficulty ratings (FDR), seven of the Seagulls’ next eight games have seen them score just two, including their home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers in Gameweek 21.
Brighton’s next eight matches
GW | Opp. | FDR |
---|---|---|
21 | WOL (The) | 2 |
22 | LUT (A) | 2 |
23 | CRY (H) | 2 |
24 | TOT (A) | 3 |
25 | SHU (A) | 2 |
26 | Ltd. (H) | 2 |
27 | FUL (A) | 2 |
28 | NFO (H) | 2 |
His recent return to action Pervis Estupinan (£4.9m) could shake the managers’ defences.
Despite playing just eight matches this season due to injury, the left-back has two goals and three assists. Indeed, he is Brighton’s leading Fantasy defender with 37 points.
Estupinan’s 4.6 points per game (ppm) average ranks him tied for second with Pascal Gross (£6.4m) for the Seagulls and ranks third among all defenders in Fantasy this season.
Gross was Brighton’s top scorer, earning 82 points thanks to three goals, six assists and another 15 bonus points.
Meanwhile, seven goals and two assists have helped João Pedro (£5.4m) collected 71 points in his debut for Roberto De Gerbi’s side.
The Brazilian had big performances with 13 and 16 points, but was very inconsistent, coming up empty in 14 of his 20 appearances.
Brighton’s top scoring players in FPL 23/24
Player | Grades | Goals | assist | Bonus points |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gross | 82 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
João Pedro | 71 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
Mitoma | 63 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
Ferguson | 57 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
Antigra | 56 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
Who has the biggest goal threat?
Joao Pedro was the main goal threat for Brighton, with his 40 shots and 38 shots in the box a team-high total.
His goalscoring potential is further boosted by penalties, while his 17.5% goal conversion rate certainly looks sustainable.
Gross ranks second in shooting, but only 15 of his 35 attempts have come from inside the opposing zone.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.4m) ranks between Brighton’s top two players for both shots into the box and big chances, but a poor goal conversion rate of 9.7 per cent has resulted in just three goals.
Lewis Dunk (£5.0m), meanwhile, has provided a significant goal threat from defence. The centre-back’s 21 disposals and 15 disposals in the box both rank fifth for the Seagulls.
However, Dunk has only managed four shots on target, a total that has already surpassed Estupinan’s five in just eight appearances.
Player | Shots | Shots in the box | Big chances | Target conversion |
---|---|---|---|---|
João Pedro | 40 | 38 | 8 | 17.5% |
Gross | 35 | 16 | 6 | 8.6% |
Mitoma | 31 | 28 | 8 | 9.7% |
Ferguson | 26 | 18 | 4 | 23.1% |
I dip in the coffee | 21 | 15 | 2 | 4.8% |
Who was the most creative?
Gross’ dominance in set-pieces helped him complete 52 key passes, more than double that of any other Brighton player.
The departures of Mitoma and Simon Andingra (£5.0m) for international duty at the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations deprived De Gerby of two of his top five creators until a possible matchday 25, with the pair producing 23 and 18 key passes respectively.
It’s somewhat remarkable that Estupinan also features among Brighton’s leading playmakers, given how much time he’s spent on the sidelines.
The left-back’s average of 42 minutes per pass is second only to Gross’ 30 minutes among Brighton players who have made more than three appearances this season.
Furthermore, Estupinan has created four big chances this season, just one less than Gross, despite playing over 900 minutes less than the German.
Brighton’s Top Makers on 23/24
Player | Basic passes |
---|---|
Gross | 52 |
Mitoma | 23 |
Adingra, Gilmour, Joao Pedro | 18 |
Estupinan, Milner | 15 |
So who is Brighton’s best player?
They were visiting looks Brighton’s standout pick for their excellent line-up of opponents, with the Ecuadorian boosting his form with a goal against Stoke City in the FA Cup at the weekend.
In a season where the clean sheets have dried up, his huge potential for offensive returns could make him an “era” in many coaches’ defenses.
It’s also worth noting that when Estupinan returned from injury against West Ham United in Gameweek 20, Brighton immediately kept their first clean sheet of the season, so he may improve the Seagulls’ backline in general.
Otherwise, Gross’s all-round style of play greatly enhances his potential for bonus points and, with Mitoma out for now, the German looks the best option for those looking to double up on Brighton.
Also in this series
Part 1: Best replacements for Salah and Son in Fantasy
Part 2: FPL pundits’ plans to replace Salah and Son
Part 3: Time to switch to 3-4-3 in Fantasy as Haaland returns?
Part 4: FPL experts: Is 3-4-3 now the best formation?
Part 5: When is the best time to use the second wildcard in Fantasy?
Part 6: FPL Experts: When Should You Play Your Second Wildcard?
Part 7: FPL experts: How to handle split fixtures during Gameweek 21
Part 8: The Scout’s FPL Gameweek 21 Ones to watch