Top three picks for Gameweek 8

David Munday is back with his top three picks for Gameweek 8. Every week David shares his top picks for the Gameweek, players who he thinks will return good points this time around.

Two weeks is a long time in football. That’s always been true. But never has that saying held more sway than the past fortnight. With the death of Queen Elizbaeth II, much of the United Kingdom has come to a standstill, including Premier League football.

Before I continue, as this is my first article since last week’s big news, I would like to pay tribute to our late monarch. Whatever your thoughts on the royal family, Elizabeth II was undeniably a woman of great commitment and determination. Fulfilling her duties until the very last days of her life. In lots of ways, her attitude reminds me of FPL managers. Especially those of us for which it is a way of life. I can’t imagine much short of our own deaths would stop us from pouring over our latest tasks and making decisions!

Blank Gameweek 8 is the first short-handed round of the season. These always provides plenty of opportunity to steal a march on those around us. So I’ve picked out my top three picks for Gameweek 8.

ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC

I know he’s a bit of an obvious pick but let’s talk about Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.9m) anyway. Especially as some may consider him a captaincy candidate for Gameweek 8.

First, the opposition. Nottingham Forest have conceded 14 goals in their first six matches back in the Premier League. Only Leicester (16) and Bournemouth (18) have been breached more often. And where are Steve Cooper’s men the most vulnerable? Through the middle. Forest have conceded 32 chances in that area of the pitch thus far, the joint-worst of any side.

Meanwhile, Mitrovic has blanked just once from a possible six outings in 2022/23 and is joint-top of the league for shots on target.

ALEXANDER ISAK

Yes, that’s right, another Alexander, this time Alexander Isak (£7.0m). The Swedish international has made quite an impression in his first two matches for Newcastle, and I expect him to do well in Gameweek 8. That suspicion is, admittedly, influenced more by the opposition but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Of teams who have a Gameweek 8 fixture, Bournemouth’s expected goals conceded (xGC) of 10.45 after six matches is the fourth-worst. Meanwhile, Isak already has one Premier League goal to his name after just two outings and he’s also produced four shots in the box, three big chances and three shots on target in that time.

IVAN TONEY

We’ve got mid-priced forwards coming out of our ears right now, although that’s arguably not that much of a help when you can only include three players from that position. While Ivan Toney (£7.2m) doesn’t have the best Gameweek 8 fixture, I think he can still get something against Arsenal ahead of an even more favourable match in Gameweek 9: a trip to Bournemouth.

We’ve already covered the Cherries defensive woes while Toney’s own statistics have also been impressive. He arguably offers a wider promise of points compared to other options in his bracket. His 12 shots in the box, seven big chances and six shots on target are, of course, not to be sniffed at, but it is worth pointing out his assist potential is among the best in the division right now. Only two players have fashioned more big chances than Toney after the first six matches.