Fantasy Premier League: Tips and Picks for Gameweek 9

Chelsea’s home clash against Manchester United is the clash of game week 9

Premier League action returns tomorrow evening as the season is getting interesting at both the ends of the league table. Just two points separate toppers Manchester City and Liverpool whereas one point separates Stoke City, who are in the relegation zone with six points and Burnley who are at 14th place with seven points. Along with the Premier League, Fantasy PL is also heating up with a lot of virtual managers taking a hit last game week because of Sergio Aguero and Christian Benteke's penalty miss.

FPL is currently experiencing its most followed season of all time with millions of virtual managers trying out their luck each game week. Smaller teams with relatively cheap players stole the week last season as Jose Holebas of Watford, Charlie Austin of Southampton and Martin Stekelenberg of Everton being the players with the most points in game week 8.

Let's take a look at the tips and the players to watch out for in the upcoming set of matches:

Goalkeeper:

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Maarten Stekelenburg of Everton in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton at Etihad Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) — Everton’s Stekelenburg was the player of the week as he thwarted City’s incessant attacks on his goal

Martin Stekelenburg (£5.0 million) was the player with the highest points last week as he made seven saves including two penalties which earned him all three bonus points. With the next two games against Burnley and West Ham United, Stekelenburg is garnering the attention of managers with the Toffees currently undergoing a turn of fortune under new boss Ronald Koeman.

Petr Cech (£5.5 million) is another choice as the Gunners have kind next two fixtures as they play at home against Middlesbrough and away to 20th place Sunderland. Jordan Pickford (£4.0 million) is another cheap option with the youngster being a favourite in many manager's teams along with Burnley's Tom Heaton (£4.6 million).

Defenders:

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Jose Holebas of Watford celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Watford at Riverside Stadium on October 16, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) — Jose Holebas scored the winner against Middlesbrough last week

The biggest blow to the virtual managers in the coming weeks will be the long term injury to Spurs' centre-back Toby Alderweireld (£6.5 million) who was a favourite in defence for the majority of the managers. With Chelsea playing Manchester United on Sunday at the Bridge, United defenders too pose much risk to start in the playing eleven.

Arsenal's defenders can be useful in the next couple of game weeks with Shkodran Mustafi (£6.0 million) and Laurent Koscielny (£6.3 million) being strong options for the managers with Middlesbrough struggling at set pieces this season. Nathaniel Clyne (£ 5.5 million) is another smart option to have as the Reds have a favourable fixture against West Brom at home.

Midfielders:

WATFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Junior Stanislas of AFC Bournemouth arrives at the stadium prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Watford and AFC Bournemouth at Vicarage Road on October 1, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) — Junior Stanislas punished Hull City as he scored and assisted two goals

Last week's best performance came from the midfielders as Joe Allen (£4.9 million) scored two goals last week while continuing his rich vein of form along with Theo Walcott (£7.7 million) also scoring a brace. Son Heung-Min (£7.7 million) and Junior Stanislas (£5.5 million) are other popular choices from around the globe with Dimitri Payet (£9.4 million) slowly getting into many manager's teams with each passing week.

Junior Stanislas (£5.5 million) was brilliant last week in the Cherries' 6-1 rout of Hull City and the winger is the most transferred-in player of this game week.

The usual big guns in midfield include the likes of Eden Hazard (£ 9.8 million), Philippe Coutinho (£ 8.5 million) and Alexis Sanchez (£11.3 million) are present in almost every top-rated FPL team.

Forwards:

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Charlie Austin of Southampton scores their third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary's Stadium on October 16, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) — Charlie Austin has been in sensational form for the Saints in recent weeks

Diego Costa (£10.2 million) and Romelu Lukaku (£ 9.5 million) are the most trusted forwards in FPL at the moment with the duo scoring at will for the past few weeks. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£11.4 million) and Sergio Aguero (£13.6 million) have been surprisingly silent in October with the latter not starting City's last game and then going on to miss a penalty in his 25-minute cameo.

Charlie Austin ( £6.5 million) has come into the reckoning since the past couple of weeks with the Saints man being one of the most transferred in forward for the upcoming week. Troy Deeney (£7.1 million) can also be considered with Watford travelling to face struggling Swansea City.

Captain Choice :

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) — The Chilean is expected to be the most-captained player in FPL this week

Alexis Sanchez is going to be the captain's choice for a majority of virtual managers this week with the Gunners being in splendid form. Diego Costa, Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero will be the choices from forwards as all the three strikers are at the top of the scoring charts. Roberto Firmino (£ 8.5 million) and Dimitri Payet can be taken as surprise options as the duo have been an integral part of their teams and face a home game.