An unpredictable Premier League season makes life as an FPL manager all the more exciting.
Having to manage from week to week with unexpected results becoming a regular occurrence means differential picks are all the more important.
With some of the big boys such as Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, and Heung-Min Son struggling to live up to their usual standards, it is now time to make brave choices.
Here are our best differential picks for GW23.
Jack Grealish
- Price: £6.8m
- Picked By: 2%
- Fixtures: Aston Villa (H) + Arsenal (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Bournemouth (a)
Despite defeat against Tottenham, it is always a safe bet to have several Man City players in your squad.
With a previously postponed fixture with league leaders Arsenal being re-scheduled for February 15th, it becomes a double gameweek.
A home game with Aston Villa is a favourable fixture on paper and should be an opportunity for points.
A trip to the league leaders in the second game of the week will present a much more difficult task but City are more than capable of winning that game, too.
Pep Guardiola will know his side need to win both games to stay in the title race but will this mean he rotates his team less?
Grealish himself has been a regular in the side as he has started and finished each of the last 3 league games.
Despite good performances, Grealish has failed to score or assist in any of these three games.
A home game against his former side will be a big occasion for the 27-year-old with a point to prove.
He has recently had big contributions with an assist against Chelsea and a goal against rivals Man United.
Both contributions came from substitute appearances which prove he is a useful asset from the bench and can make an impact.
Phil Foden was also absent from the Spurs game and a further absence would leave the door open for Grealish to start if he wasn’t already.
Ilkay Gundogan
- Price: £7.3m
- Picked By: 2%
- Fixtures: Aston Villa (H) + Arsenal (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Bournemouth (a)
Ilkay Gundogan has started 14 out of his 18 Premier League appearances this season.
Seemingly one of the more immune from ‘Pep roulette’ this season, the German is likely to start at least one of the fixtures in the double gameweek.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him start both though, given City’s performance against Tottenham.
As with Grealish, a home game against Aston Villa is a must-win and presents an opportunity for goals.
With 2 goals this season, Gundogan has actually under-performed his xG which sits at 3.8.
Man City are the highest scoring club in the league with 53 goals and their home games, in particular, are usually high scoring.
Depending on which players are on the pitch at the time, Gundogan could be an option to take penalties which increases his worth.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
- Price: £5.1m
- Picked By: 9%
- Fixtures: Brentford (H) + Man City (H), Aston Villa (a), Leicester (a)
As is the case with Man City, the upcoming fixtures land on a double gameweek for Arsenal.
Crucially, Mikel Arteta’s men will play both games at home albeit against strong opposition.
Barring injury or suspension, Zinchenko is likely to start both games as he has been brilliant for the Gunners this season.
Our team lineup predictor gives the Ukraine international a 70% chance of starting the next fixture.
Arsenal have kept two clean sheets in the past 4 Premier League fixtures and have the second most in the league as a whole.
Zinchenko will be hoping to provide more of an attacking threat as he has registered only 1 assist thus far.
Of course, the likes of Gabriel, Saliba, and White are safer picks but if you’re looking for a differential then Zinchenko is the way to go.