Newcastle duo among players you must buy

Gameweek 14 lands right in the middle of the festive chaos, where minutes, form and fixtures all start pulling managers in different directions, writes Fantasy Premier League expert Blake Hurst.

This week’s five players to buy are chosen with that in mind: solid DEFCON [defensive contribution] floors, a sprinkling of goal threat and, crucially, strong medium-term fixtures rather than just one-week punts.

Whether you are chasing rank with a bold differential or tightening up your template core, these picks offer a mix of safety and upside that should carry you through the busy schedule without burning extra transfers.

Malick Thiaw (4.9m)

A personal favourite, and normally this is where the “avoid last week’s haul” rule would kick in, but Thiaw feels like an exception. Newcastle’s backline has been better than people think, and Thiaw averages 9.09 defensive contributions per 90mins, which gives you a nice DEFCON floor alongside his goal threat.

As we saw, that threat finally translated into points and there’s no reason it can’t happen again. A game with Tottenham looks tough on paper, but Spurs have been relatively toothless recently, so there is still a realistic chance of another solid return this week.  

Nick Woltemade (7.4m)

Woltemade is another name slipping under the radar in the FPL community, despite offering exactly what managers want from a mid-priced forward. Six returns in 10 matches, including games against elite defences like Manchester City and Arsenal, underline how fixture proof he can be when in form.

The schedule only adds to the appeal: three home fixtures in the next four and Burnley twice in the next six is the kind of run you want to be a week early on.

The only caveat is Yoane Wissa returning to training, which may lead to shared minutes over the festive period.  

Bruno Fernandes (8.9m)

Bruno remains Mr Consistent in FPL, even if Manchester United are hardly convincing and he’s operating a little deeper than managers would ideally like.

The underlying profile is still elite: he’s averaging 10.55 defensive contributions per 90’, has assist threat, is on penalties and is as close to a guaranteed 90 minutes as you’ll find, which becomes priceless over this period.

West Ham and Wolves in the next two gameweeks look like fixtures where his all-round involvement can translate into returns from multiple routes. If you want a set and forget midfielder, this is an easy window to move for the Portuguese playmaker.  

Daniel Muñoz (6.0m)

Muñoz gets the spotlight for his relentless attacking intent, but this feels like a week to be open to any Crystal Palace defender. Muñoz, Chris Richards, Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix all look strong because Palace are racking up defensive contributions and five of their defenders sit inside the top 12 scoring defenders in FPL.

Whether you want the high-upside attacking pick in Muñoz, DEFCON monsters in Richards and Lacroix or the reliability and set-piece threat of Guehi, the structure is there to back you up. Pick the profile that suits your squad and bank both short-term fixtures against Burnley and Fulham and long-term DEFCON potential. 

Dominik Szoboszlai (6.6m)

Szoboszlai is already a fan favourite at Anfield: a leader without the armband and one of the few consistent bright sparks amid Liverpool’s patchy form.

His versatility and work rate make him almost undroppable for Arne Slot in a period where every match feels must win, and that’s exactly what FPL managers want to hear.

Szoboszlai averages 11.15 defensive contributions per 90’ and combines that with some set-piece involvement and improving attacking numbers. At only 6.6m and 5.8% ownership, he offers a low-risk, low-ownership route into a Liverpool side with appealing fixtures, ideal if you want to invest cheaply and steal a march on template midfields.