GW17 Alert: Ekitiké Essential, White & Burn Injury Crisis, Early Saturday Deadline

Welcome to your Gameweek 17 briefing! Thanks for subscribing to Who Got The Points. With less than four days until Saturday's early 11am deadline, we've got critical team news, major injuries, and transfer decisions that could make or break your gameweek.

Don't get caught out: Gameweek 17 deadline is Saturday at 11:00 AM - that's 90 minutes earlier than usual due to the early kickoff. Set your alarms now and make your transfers today or tomorrow to avoid deadline panic.

Ben White (Arsenal) - Could be out for weeks with a knee issue. Already seeing mass transfers out (85,000+). If you own him, sell immediately and reinvest those funds. No point keeping an injured defender through the festive fixture pile-up.

Dan Burn (Newcastle) - Facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Another defender requiring an immediate transfer out if you own him.

Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) - Doubtful with hamstring issue (75% chance of playing). Managed just 15 minutes off the bench in GW16. Facing Arsenal away on Saturday - a tough fixture even when fully fit. Despite 75 points this season (4 goals, 3 assists), that injury doubt makes him a liability. Consider selling if you need funds or squad flexibility.

Good news: Both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo successfully secured permission to feature in that eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford, so both should be available for GW17 despite AFCON duty looming.

Twenty-five players are currently on four yellow cards and one booking away from a one-match ban. With the festive period about to get hectic, track these carefully:

Price: £8.6m | Ownership: 18.7% | Transfers In: 483,000+ (MASSIVE!)

GW16 Performance: 13 points - Scored twice against Brighton with maximum bonus

Season Stats: 68 total points, 7 goals in 16 appearances

GW17 Fixture: Tottenham (A) - Expected points: 6.3

The Analysis: Ekitiké is the form forward under Arne Slot, consistently getting into scoring positions and benefiting from Liverpool's attacking dominance. Liverpool should dominate this fixture against Tottenham. At £8.6m, he's priced competitively for a premium forward.

VERDICT: Absolutely essential. If you don't own Ekitiké, this needs to be your priority transfer.

Price: £7.1m | Ownership: 12.5% | Transfers In: 239,000+

GW16 Performance: 15 points - Brilliant brace at West Ham with maximum bonus

Season Stats: 76 total points, 5 goals, 3 assists | Averaging 8.2 form points

GW17 Fixture: Manchester United (H)

The Analysis: Unai Emery has deployed Rogers in advanced positions, and he's consistently getting chances. At £7.1m, he offers genuine midfield value. However, monitor Villa's injury concerns carefully.

VERDICT: Strong transfer option for managers seeking a differential who can deliver consistent returns.

Price: £9.3m | Ownership: 28.3% | Transfers In: 246,000+

GW16 Performance: 13 points - One goal, one assist, maximum bonus against Bournemouth

Season Stats: 98 total points, 5 goals, 7 assists

GW17 Fixture: Aston Villa (A) - Expected points: 9.6 (though tricky fixture at Villa Park)

The Analysis: Fernandes is clearly benefiting from Amorim's system, playing further forward and getting into dangerous positions consistently. The concern is price and fixture difficulty over the festive period.

VERDICT: Good option if you can afford the premium price tag, but not quite essential given the upcoming schedule.

Price: £7.0m | Ownership: 14.9% | Transfers Out: ~85,000

GW16 Performance: Just 1 point against Sunderland despite playing the full 90 minutes

Season Stats: 82 total points, 5 goals, 4 assists | Form dipped to 6.4

The Concern: Now on four yellow cards - one booking away from suspension. Faces Chelsea away on Saturday lunchtime, a difficult fixture where he could easily pick up that fifth booking. Expected points: 6.4.

VERDICT: Hold if you own him, but don't buy. The suspension risk and difficult fixtures make him avoidable, though his underlying numbers remain solid enough to keep if you have bigger transfer priorities elsewhere.

Ownership: Significant | Transfers Out: 85,000+

The Issue: Knee injury could sideline him for weeks. Without concrete return dates, keeping an injured defender through the festive period is simply not viable.

VERDICT: Sell immediately and reinvest those funds.

Price: £5.1m | Ownership: 9.1% | Transfers Out: 120,000+

The Issue: Doubtful with hamstring injury (75% chance of playing). Only managed 15 minutes off the bench in GW16. Season stats: 75 points, 4 goals, 3 assists - but clearly not fully fit.

GW17 Challenge: Faces Arsenal away - tough fixture even when fully fit. Expected points down to 5.2.

VERDICT: Sell if you need the funds or squad flexibility. If you can afford to hold one more week, wait for clearer injury news, but don't take risks during the busy festive schedule.

£5.9m | 8.3% owned | 61 total points, 2 goals, 7 clean sheets

Kept a clean sheet against Crystal Palace. City host West Ham on Saturday - a fixture they should control. At under £6m, he offers a route into City's defense with attacking potential from left-back. Quietly excellent value.

£5.5m | Just 1.8% owned | 73 total points, 4 goals, 2 assists

Exploded for 12 points at Old Trafford with one goal, one assist, and two bonus. Bournemouth host Burnley on Saturday - a favorable fixture. Tavernier's attacking output is increasing under Andoni Iraola. Worth a punt.

£5.6m | 6.4% owned | 75 total points, 7 clean sheets

Kept a clean sheet against Crystal Palace. With City hosting West Ham, another clean sheet looks likely. Solid budget defender option offering defensive stability.

Safe Choice: Hugo Ekitiké away at Tottenham. Liverpool are in sensational form, Ekitiké is scoring for fun, and Tottenham's defense has been leaky.

Brave Differential: Morgan Rogers at home to Manchester United. He's flying right now and could exploit United's defensive vulnerabilities.

Manchester United's tactical shift under Ruben Amorim continues to evolve. That four-goal draw with Bournemouth showcased a more attacking setup, with Bruno Fernandes absolutely thriving in his new role. Keep monitoring how this system develops.

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That's your comprehensive GW17 briefing. Make those transfers count, captain wisely, and don't forget that early 11am Saturday deadline. Good luck, managers!