Gameweek 22: Thiago's Red-Hot Form and Palmer's Injury Concern

Welcome to your comprehensive FPL newsletter! Thank you for subscribing to Who Got The Points. We're fresh off Gameweek 21, which saw some impressive defensive displays, and we're now preparing for Gameweek 22 with the deadline at 11am on Saturday, January 17th. Today we're focusing on defensive contribution points and highlighting the players who excelled in the most recent gameweek.

Here's what you need to know before the Gameweek 22 deadline:

Over 450,000 transfers in - and for good reason. The Brentford striker bagged 2 goals and 12 points in Gameweek 21's 3-0 win over Sunderland, collecting maximum bonus points along the way.

Season stats: 16 goals, 1 assist, 120 total points - averaging an impressive 5.7 points per game with excellent underlying numbers.

Upcoming fixtures: Chelsea (H), then Nottingham Forest in GW23

VERDICT: Essential. Get him in if you haven't already. His form is red-hot and Brentford at home are dangerous.

Over 340,000 new managers have jumped on the Newcastle midfielder after his explosive performance in Gameweek 21's thriller against Leeds. Bruno scored, assisted, and picked up a bonus point in the 4-3 victory for 11 points total.

Season stats: 8 goals, 5 assists, 117 total points - averaging 5.8 points per game. His defensive contributions are excellent for a midfielder, and crucially, he's on penalties.

Upcoming fixtures: Wolves (A), then Aston Villa (H) in GW23

VERDICT: Good buy for those without him. Offers both attacking returns and defensive contribution points.

380,000 transfers in for the Arsenal defender who kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool in Gameweek 21, adding 6 points to his tally.

Season stats: 9 clean sheets, 3 goals, 2 assists - averaging an exceptional 7.5 points per game for a defender.

Upcoming fixtures: Nottingham Forest (A), then Manchester United (H) in GW23

VERDICT: Essential if you're building a strong defence. Arsenal's defensive record is superb and Gabriel offers goal threat from set pieces.

Nearly 600,000 managers are selling the premium Chelsea midfielder. Palmer blanked in Gameweek 21's 2-1 loss to Fulham, managing just 2 points from 63 minutes.

The concern: The knock he picked up in the FA Cup is a major worry ahead of the Brentford fixture. With only 2 assists in his last 5 gameweeks and that injury doubt, managers are understandably nervous.

VERDICT: Hold if you can afford to wait for news, but selling is justified given the uncertainty and premium price tag.

Over 200,000 managers have moved on from the expensive Liverpool midfielder. He played 71 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Arsenal, contributing just 2 points.

The issue: While his underlying stats remain strong, Liverpool's fixtures turn tricky with Manchester City and Chelsea coming up soon. At £9.5m, many are moving funds elsewhere.

VERDICT: Sell if you need to free up budget, but he remains a quality asset for the patient manager.

Over 150,000 transfers out as Jackson hemorrhages managers. He didn't feature in Gameweek 21's defeat to Fulham, which is concerning for his place in the starting eleven.

The problem: With Palmer's knock, rotation risk increases further under Enzo Maresca. His form has been patchy with just 4 goals in his last 8 appearances.

VERDICT: Sell. Too much uncertainty for that price tag.

An absolute bargain. Collins delivered 13 points in Gameweek 21 with an assist, clean sheet, and 2 bonus points against Sunderland.

Season stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, 89 total points. With Brentford's defensive solidity, he's an absolute steal who could rotate nicely in your squad.

The Everton midfielder is flying under the radar. He scored 6 points in Gameweek 21 thanks to 2 bonus points in the 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Season highlights: 8 clean sheets as a midfielder, plus 2 goals and 3 assists. His defensive contribution is excellent, and Everton's fixtures include Leeds and Brighton in the next four. Great value at £5.1m.

A true differential. Yarmoliuk scored 1 goal in Gameweek 21 for 8 points total (65 points season total). Playing 90 minutes shows he's trusted by manager Keith Andrews.

Season stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, 65 total points. At £5.0m with Brentford's fixtures, he's worth a punt if you're chasing in your mini-league.

Primary pick: Thiago vs Chelsea

It has to be Thiago against Chelsea. He's in red-hot form with 16 goals this season and just bagged a brace. Brentford at home are dangerous, and Chelsea's defence has been shaky.

Alternatives:

Don't overlook defensive midfielders for your squad. Players like Bruno G. and Garner offer clean sheet points on top of attacking potential, giving you a double chance at returns. With the fixtures getting congested, rotation-proof players who contribute defensively are gold dust.

Here are the standout performers from Gameweek 21 who showcased excellent defensive contributions:

That's all for today! Remember the Gameweek 22 deadline is at 11am on Saturday, January 17th. Good luck with your transfers, and remember - it's not just about who scores, it's about who got the points!