Summary

Get your questions in for FPL expert Holly Shand

  1. Recap: FPL Q&Apublished at 16:59 BST

    That's all we have time for today but thanks so much for sticking with us on this sunny Friday.

    Loads of you got in touch throughout the day and we received an absolute barrage of questions during this last 90 minutes!

    Here are some of the best ones:

    And here's some of the key info before this week's action:

    We'll be back next week to do it all over again but until then, have a great weekend.

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Keep Timber?published at 16:55 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    TimberImage source, Getty Images

    Terance: I have Timber (arsenal),should I get rid, haven't heard of his injury update.

    Holly: Mikel Arteta confirmed in his news conference today that Jurrien Timber won’t be with the squad, but failed to give an update on when he’s likely to return. He could still be a key man over the run-in, so it might be best to hold him and wait for news ahead of Gameweek 35, concentrating free transfers elsewhere.

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    Get Involved - Mukiele or Porro?published at 16:49 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    PorroImage source, Getty Images

    Jack: Mukiele or Porro as 3rd defender?

    Holly: I’d be more excited by Porro for that third defender spot, but it’s easy to get carried away with attacking threat. We have to remember the value of defensive contribution points this season, with Mukiele’s Sunderland carrying very credible clean sheet hopes in their game too. Don’t forget Mavropanos either!

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    Get Involved - Who is worth taking a 4 point hit?published at 16:44 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Saul: I can only field 7 players this week because I’m out of “whole team” chips. That’s using my accumulated transfers too! Is there anyone who’s worth taking the 4pt hit for as an extra transfer?

    Holly: In this case I think it’s fine to pick players you’ll hold for the rest of the season, if you’re not already tripled up on Arsenal for example you could buy Gabriel or Rice. Thiago and Bruno Fernandes are also solid long term buys and will protect you against the template this week.

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    Get Involved - Mbuemo replacement?published at 16:40 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Cody GakpoImage source, Getty Images

    Phil: Who would you say the best replacement for Bryan Mbeumo this week for under 7 million!?

    Holly: This depends on strategy. For this week alone, I’d look at Cody Gakpo or Dominik Szoboszlai. For longer term replacements, you may be best looking at Ismaila Sarr or Casemiro for the season run-in, if you’ve already used the second wildcard.

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    Get Involved - Unlimited funds free hit teampublished at 16:38 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Phil: With unlimited funds what would your free hit team be?

    Holly: Budget isn’t a massive issue here, but Salah would make it in as the obvious fit and available premium, along with premium defenders Gabriel and Virgil Van Dijk. Raya; Gabriel, Van Dijk, Mavropanos; Fernandes, Salah, Gakpo, Rice; Thiago, Bowen, Watkins

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    Get Involved - Should I follow my heart or my head about Salah?published at 16:35 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Mo SalahImage source, Getty Images

    Lewis: Brought Salah in for my free hit and made him my captain - this is purely for nostalgia purposes though. Should I listen to my heart or my head?

    Holly: This is more than nostalgia, Salah is a very good fantasy pick this week on merit and is absolutely in the captaincy conversation. Liverpool have a home game, which will be one of Salah’s final appearances at Anfield. That could create the perfect storm for a top fantasy return from the Egyptian King. Let your head give your heart permission!

  8. Emery ‘slightly rotating’ Premier League squadpublished at 16:32 BST

    Statman Dave
    BBC Sport FPL expert

    OllieWatkins would be the only player I pick from Aston Villa at the moment, with three goals and an assist in his past three games.

    Villa are playing in the Europa League and playing their best 11 there; they are slightly rotating in the Premier League, so that is something to consider.

    With Morgan Rogers, you have that rotation risk whereas Ollie Watkins is flying at the moment and should be starting every single week playing 60-odd minutes. I'd say if you're chasing, go with Ollie Watkins.

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    Get Involved - Skip Arsenal?published at 16:29 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Rice and GabrielImage source, Getty Images

    James: On a free hit and moving up my mini league. Would you take a punt on Eze after great (albeit blank) performance in Manchester City match, or bring in fit again Saka? Or skip Arsenal and go for Morgan Gibbs White?

    Holly: I think triple Arsenal is key on Free Hit, but with news of Bukayo Saka’s return from injury, I’d instead look to back the steady picks of Raya, Gabriel and Rice. I think Saka himself will be too risky, with this pair likely to share minutes as Arsenal protect their star boy for the run-in.

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    Get Involved - How do you nail down a formation?published at 16:25 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Ricky: On a free hit with good team value available, how do you nail down a formation? I'm currently looking at 343 & punting on Bowen solanke watkins for fun, but torn on 433 or 523. There's so many good picks in every position, & def con to consider!

    Holly: The traditional manager in me keeps picking 3-4-3 on Free Hit, with four or five solid forward options to consider. However, I think 4-4-2 could be the way to go. Try not to get too bogged down in the formation and make sure you’ve got the key teams covered!

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    Get Involved - Big players to look out for on the Free Hit?published at 16:21 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Jarrod BowenImage source, Getty Images

    Macca: On the Free Hit this gameweek - who are the players to look out for to collect those big points to help me climb up my mini league?

    Holly: West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen could be a big pick. He has the routes to points with penalties and the Hammers need a win against Everton in their quest for safety. I’d also back Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, as the big premium to select in the absence of a fixture for Erling Haaland. He’s scored in his last three Premier League starts.

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    Get Involved - Free Hit differentials?published at 16:18 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Donny: Free Hit differentials?

    Holly: Spurs’ Dominic Solanke is an excellent punt on Free Hit as they take on bottom of the league Wolves. I’d also look to go heavy on Liverpool attackers, with Gakpo and Szoboszlai the ideal accompaniments to Salah in midfield.

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    Get Involved - Free hit goalkeeper?published at 16:14 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Freddie WoodmanImage source, Getty Images

    Paul: What goalkeeper would you chose this week for a free hit apart from Raya?

    Holly: Freddie Woodman at £3.9 million could have been an interesting contender, but Liverpool’s Alisson has a chance to return this weekend. Beyond that, consider Sunderland’s Robin Roefs with a home game against Nottingham Forest. He’s kept nine clean sheets in this campaign, including against Spurs most recently at the Stadium of Light in Gameweek 32.

  14. 'Van Dijk is always a threat'published at 16:11 BST

    Steph Houghton
    Former England captain

    Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    I was looking at Virgil van Dijk. I was thinking longer term with the Champions League race, picking from those top teams.

    I know that Liverpool generally concede but from a corners perspective, he is always a threat - and you know he is always going to play.

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    Get Involved - Advice for those who have used Free Hit?published at 16:08 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Carl: What advice do you have for those who have used the FH but have a Wild card to play and a side that needs changing due to blanks? Best 4 week strategy?

    Holly: I would consider using the wildcard this week, especially if you can’t get to a full lineup for the blank without a significant hit. Crystal Palace and Manchester City have an extra fixture to play, so triple up and bench your City players this weekend. Arsenal are also a key side to invest in with their Premier League title race against City looking likely to go down to the wire.

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    Get Involved - Isak worth it?published at 16:05 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Alexander IsakImage source, Getty Images

    Stephen: Would it be worth a punt this week on Isak?

    Holly: While I like a triple up on Liverpool, I think there are better assets to pick than Isak, who are differentials in their own right. Isak has had a quiet season which has been hampered by injury. Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are the template picks. I’d look to back Szoboszlai as the third, with Gakpo and Wirtz making my top five picks ahead of their game at Anfield.

  17. ‘Gabriel, Raya and Saliba brilliant combination’published at 16:03 BST

    Statman Dave
    BBC Sport FPL expert

    William Saliba, Gabriel and David Raya of Arsenal celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    If you're looking at a free hit this week, Gabriel, [David] Raya, [William] Saliba could be a brilliant combination. At the moment, they are in my free hit team.

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    Get Involved - Free hit team?published at 16:00 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Paul: Free hit team? Not a lot of home bankers available this week.

    Holly: I’d say Arsenal and Liverpool are the key sides to back on Free Hit with their home games against Newcastle United and Crystal Palace respectively. Here’s a Free Hit squad!

    Raya; Gabriel, Van Dijk, Mavropanos; Fernandes, Salah, Gakpo, Rice; Thiago, Bowen, Watkins

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    Get Involved - Triple Captain Fernandes?published at 15:57 BST

    FPL Q&A with Holly

    Holly Shand
    FPL expert and two-time top 10k finisher

    Bruno FernandesImage source, Getty Images

    Sultan: With a handful of teams not playing, I don't want to use my Wildcard having used Free Hit last week. Is Triple Captain Bruno and perhaps a points hit worth it for a few changes?

    Holly: Wildcard is better suited to Gameweek 35, but if you need to utilise it this week to cover the core players and avoid a big points hit then don’t be scared to. I would still save Triple Captain for a future double gameweek, with Manchester City’s match against Crystal Palaxe still to be rearranged.

  20. Fantastic Fernandes never falterspublished at 15:54 BST

    Statman Dave
    BBC Sport FPL expert

    Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    BrunoFernandes has 93 points since Michael Carrick took over, 11 more than any player. He would be my obvious captain, especially against Brentford given he has four goals and an assist in his eight matches against the Bees.