Welcome back, FPL managers! With Tuesday's Gameweek 29 deadline fast approaching, there's a lot to digest - Haaland fitness doubts, Liverpool running riot against West Ham, and some tasty differentials that could rocket you up your mini-leagues. Here's everything you need to know to make the right calls before 6pm on Tuesday.
🚨 Breaking News & Injury Watch
Thiago
Hill
Before we get into transfers, here are the key headlines that could shape your Gameweek 29 decisions.
Haaland was left out of Man City's squad for the Leeds game in Gameweek 28. Pep Guardiola has been talking about his fitness - there are serious question marks heading into GW29. If you were planning to bring him in, HOLD FIRE until there's clarity.
O'Reilly may be carrying a knock - watch that space before making any moves involving Liverpool's midfield.
Szoboszlai dropped into midfield during the 3pm kick-offs in GW28, raising further doubts about his attacking FPL relevance. We said sell last week and we're sticking to that.
Liverpool absolutely battered West Ham 5-2 in GW28, and the returns were massive - more on that below.
✅ Transfers IN - Who to Buy for GW29
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool DEF) - £6.1m
The Liverpool defensive cornerstone is an absolute must-own heading into GW29.
Price: £6.1m
Ownership: 29.2%
GW28 Points: 7 (scored in the 5-2 win over West Ham)
Season Stats: 3 goals, 1 assist, 9 clean sheets
Expected Points GW29: 8.8 - the highest of any player in our data today
GW29 Fixture: Liverpool vs Wolves (H)
Liverpool are in devastating form and Virgil is right at the heart of it. Nine clean sheets this season, goals from set pieces, and the safest defensive asset in the game right now. His xPts of 8.8 for GW29 is the highest we've seen today - that's not a number you ignore.
Essential. If you don't have Virgil, get him in now. Don't overthink it.
2. Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool FWD) - £9.0m
The hottest asset in FPL right now, and for good reason.
Price: £9.0m
Ownership: 28.1% (up nearly 83,000 transfers this gameweek)
GW28 Points: 15 (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 bonus points - from just 75 minutes!)
Season Stats: 11 goals, 4 assists
GW29 Fixture: Liverpool vs Wolves (H)
Ekitiké was the standout performer of Gameweek 28 - 15 points from 75 minutes on the pitch is outrageous efficiency. He now has 11 goals and 4 assists this season for Liverpool, totalling 121 points on the season. With Wolves up next at Anfield and the entire Liverpool attack firing on all cylinders, he is a must-own for GW29.
Essential. The ownership will keep climbing past 30%, 35%... Don't get left behind.
3. Rayan Aït-Nouri (Man City DEF) - £5.7m
A budget differential with serious upside. This is your bargain option of the week.
Price: £5.7m
Ownership: Just 3.9%
GW28 Points: 11 (goal + clean sheet + 3 bonus points)
Season Stats: 1 assist
GW29 Fixture: Man City vs Nott'm Forest (H) - Forest rated difficulty 5 for this away trip
Aït-Nouri offers attacking threat from left back at an absolute bargain price. Man City should dominate at home against Nottingham Forest, and with 3.9% ownership, he's the perfect differential to separate yourself from your mini-league rivals. We recommended Rice and Hill last week - if you need a cheaper defensive option, this is your man.
Good. Low ownership, high potential, and budget-friendly. Tick, tick, tick.
❌ Transfers OUT - Who to Sell Before GW29
1. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham MID) - £7.5m
Price: £7.5m
Ownership: 7.8%
GW28 Points: 7 (1 assist vs Liverpool)
Being sold by approximately 7,300 managers this gameweek
Season Stats: 8 goals, 5 assists (131 total points on season)
GW29 Fixture: Fulham vs West Ham (A) at Craven Cottage
Bowen grabbed an assist in GW28 but West Ham shipped five goals. Their defensive fragility is a real concern - they've conceded 52 goals this season. Craven Cottage away is a tough fixture, and with managers rotating out and the price dropping, now is the time to reinvest that money into the Liverpool attack.
Sell. Reinvest that £7.5m into the Liverpool attack where the returns are guaranteed.
2. Szoboszlai (Liverpool MID)
We've said it before and we'll say it again - Szoboszlai dropped into a midfield role in GW28, raising serious doubts about his attacking FPL relevance. With Liverpool assets like Ekitiké and Gravenberch offering far better value, there's simply no reason to hold. Liverpool have better options at lower prices.
Sell. Liverpool have better attacking options and Szoboszlai's role is increasingly unclear.
3. Petrović (Bournemouth GKP) - £4.5m
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 4.7%
GW28 Result: Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland (conceded)
Season Stats: 7 clean sheets, 86 saves
GW29 Fixture: Bournemouth vs Brentford (H) - Brentford just scored 4 at Burnley
Petrović's shot-stopping stats are top class - 86 saves this season is phenomenal. But the clean sheet odds are tumbling. Brentford just put four past Burnley in GW28, and that attacking threat is very real. If you need funds for moves elsewhere, he's a candidate to move on.
Hold for now - but if you need the funds, Petrović is a candidate to move on before GW29.
🎯 Differentials - Climb Your Mini-Leagues
These low-owned picks could be the difference between rising or falling in your mini-leagues this gameweek.
Aït-Nouri (Man City DEF) - £5.7m | 3.9% ownership
Already covered above in the transfers in section, but worth repeating - at 3.9% ownership he absolutely ticks the differential box. Goal + clean sheet + 3 bonus in GW28. Don't sleep on him.
Van den Berg (Brentford DEF) - £4.5m | 0.9% ownership
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 0.9% - barely anyone owns him
GW28 Points: 6 (1 assist, played the full 90 in Brentford's 4-3 thriller at Burnley)
Season Stats: 2 assists
GW29 Fixture: Brentford vs Bournemouth (H)
At under 1% ownership, Van den Berg is about as differential as it gets. Brentford are in brilliant attacking form under Keith Andrews, and getting assists from their defensive positions. If you need a budget defender who plays every minute and contributes to attacking returns, this is your man.
Truffert (Bournemouth DEF) - £4.5m | 2.1% ownership
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 2.1%
Season Stats: 7 clean sheets, 2 assists
GW29 Fixture: Bournemouth vs Brentford (H)
Not a nailed clean sheet given Brentford's form, but at this price and ownership, even four or five points is profit. Seven clean sheets this season shows Bournemouth are capable of shutting up shop at home. A sneaky differential for managers on tight budgets.
🏴☠️ Captaincy Picks for GW29
It has to be Ekitiké or Virgil this week - Liverpool face Wolves at home and are in absolutely devastating form.
🥇 CAPTAIN PICK: Ekitiké (£9.0m) - 15-point GW28 haul, 11 goals and 4 assists this season, faces Wolves at home. The form player in all of FPL right now.
🥈 VICE CAPTAIN: Virgil van Dijk (£6.1m) - xPts of 8.8 for GW29 (highest of any player today), 9 clean sheets, scoring regularly from set pieces. If you want a safer bet, Virgil is equally valid.
Ekitiké edges it as the captain pick given his 15-point GW28 haul and consistent attacking returns. But honestly, both are exceptional options this week.
⏰ Key Reminder: GW29 Deadline
Tuesday's deadline is 18:00 hours. With prices rising fast on Liverpool assets - particularly Ekitiké and Virgil - don't leave your transfers until the last minute. Get your team sorted early and avoid the deadline day panic.
📋 GW29 Transfer Summary
| Player | Team | Price | GW28 Pts | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | £6.1m | 7 | ✅ BUY |
| Hugo Ekitiké | Liverpool | £9.0m | 15 | ✅ BUY |
| Aït-Nouri | Man City | £5.7m | 11 | ✅ BUY |
| Jarrod Bowen | West Ham | £7.5m | 7 | ❌ SELL |
| Szoboszlai | Liverpool | - | - | ❌ SELL |
| Petrović | Bournemouth | £4.5m | - | ⚠️ HOLD/SELL |
| Van den Berg | Brentford | £4.5m | 6 | 🎯 DIFFERENTIAL |
| Truffert | Bournemouth | £4.5m | - | 🎯 DIFFERENTIAL |
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