Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8: captain picks
Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8 preview: best buys, captain picks and differentials
Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8 runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, and all 20 clubs play once in each of Gameweeks 8, 9 and 10, so nobody blanks in this window. The transfer you make this week is the decision. The reason to make it sits in the next three rounds. Arsenal now have the best run in the game, Chelsea have two home games in a row, and Everton go from the worst fixture of the round to one of the best by Gameweek 10. This preview covers who to buy, who to captain, the differentials, and which popular players to sell now rather than later.
All numbers are projected points from our model. The full pool is on the Sofascore Premier League player picks page, and last week's calls are in the Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 7 preview.
Gameweek 8 to 10: which programs are worth owning
Arsenal have the best three-Gameweek run in the game on both attack and defence. [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL adds up to 6.22 expected goals and 1.44 expected clean sheets, and no other club reaches 1.0 expected clean sheets. Everton at home is the best fixture of the round: a 68% win probability and a 49% clean sheet chance. Liverpool away is the week to plan around. Hull at home in Gameweek 10 makes up for it.
Manchester City are second on attack at 5.95 expected goals with [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO. None of the three is easy, and none of them is bad. Manchester United, [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL, and Chelsea, [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN, come next at 5.45 and 5.38. Chelsea's two home games come first, so Chelsea players are worth buying now rather than next week.
Brentford are the quiet one. [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA gives them 0.83 expected clean sheets, the third-best defensive run, with a 55% win probability in Hull. At the bottom, Hull City (2.80 expected goals, 0.47 expected clean sheets) and Coventry City (3.53) have the weakest runs. Everton's [A]ARS → [A]NEW → [H]COV starts badly: an 11% win probability away at Arsenal. It turns in Gameweek 10.
| Team | Fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program | 3-round xG | 3-round CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARS | [H]EVE | 68% | 2.09 | 49% | [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL | 6.22 | 1.44 |
| MCI | [A]AVL | 56% | 1.99 | 31% | [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO | 5.95 | 0.92 |
| MUN | [H]BOU | 53% | 2.03 | 26% | [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL | 5.45 | 0.72 |
| CHE | [H]TOT | 52% | 1.95 | 27% | [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN | 5.38 | 0.77 |
| BRE | [A]HUL | 55% | 1.86 | 35% | [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA | 4.81 | 0.83 |
| LIV | [H]BHA | 47% | 1.81 | 26% | [H]BHA → [H]ARS → [A]CRY | 4.68 | 0.78 |
| NEW | [A]CRY | 38% | 1.56 | 22% | [A]CRY → [H]EVE → [A]FUL | 4.56 | 0.74 |
| HUL | [H]BRE | 20% | 1.06 | 16% | [H]BRE → [H]IPS → [A]ARS | 2.80 | 0.47 |
Kick-off times are on the Sofascore Premier League schedule, and the win and clean sheet numbers come from the market probabilities page.
Best goalkeepers for Gameweek 8
David Raya (6.8m, ARS) is the premium pick: [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL, with 5.2 → 4.6 → 5.6 projected points and 15.4 over the three rounds, the most of any goalkeeper. Arsenal have a 49% clean sheet chance against Everton, and two of his three games are at home, against Everton and Hull. 29.3% of managers already own him, so he protects your rank rather than gaining it.
Walter Benitez (4.6m, CRY) is the value pick and the best differential in the position. His program is [H]NEW → [A]TOT → [H]LIV, and his projection holds flat at 4.9 → 4.9 → 4.7, 14.5 in total. That is second among goalkeepers over three rounds, at 0.5% ownership and the joint-cheapest price of any starting goalkeeper in the game. Dean Henderson is listed as unavailable, so Benitez is the projected starter. Check the predicted lineups before the deadline.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (6.5m, MCI) and Chelsea's Emiliano Martinez (5.9m, CHE) are the steady middle options. Donnarumma's [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO projects 4.8 → 4.7 → 4.8. Martinez's [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN projects 4.8 → 4.6 → 4.8. Neither has a bad week in the window.
Best defenders for Gameweek 8
Bobby Thomas (5.2m, COV) is the standout differential. [H]FUL → [H]SUN → [A]EVE projects 6.3 → 6.3 → 5.9, so 18.5 points over three rounds. That is the second-best three-round total of any defender, and he is owned by only 1.7% of managers. At 1.21 points per million in Gameweek 8 he is the best value defender in the game. His projection does not depend on clean sheets: Coventry's chance against Fulham is only 22%. It is built on defensive volume, with 10.8 projected defensive actions in the round, and that holds from fixture to fixture.
James Tarkowski (7.4m, EVE) has the best three-round total of any defender, and his trajectory is rising: 5.2 → 6.0 → 7.4 over [A]ARS → [A]NEW → [H]COV. His Gameweek 10 projection is the highest of any player in the game that week. Arsenal away is the weakest of the three, so he is a buy-and-hold rather than a one-round pick. If you only have one transfer this week, he can wait until Gameweek 9.
Gabriel (7.8m, ARS) is the premium choice for this round. His program [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL gives 5.8 → 4.5 → 5.7, and Arsenal have a 42% projected clean sheet for him against Everton. Owning Raya and Gabriel together doubles up on the best defensive program in the game. If one Arsenal defender is enough, Gabriel is the one: Riccardo Calafiori's projections fall faster after this week (see the sell section).
Luka Vuskovic (6.2m, BHA) is the long hold. [A]LIV → [A]MCI → [H]BRE is a tough run on paper, yet he projects 5.5 → 5.1 → 6.1, then 6.8 in Gameweek 11. His projection is built on defensive volume rather than clean sheets. Marc Guehi (7.3m, MCI) is the steadier Manchester City defender at 5.6 → 5.4 → 5.1 over [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO.
Budget options: Joshua King (5.4m, FUL) projects 5.7 for [A]COV, then 4.7 and 5.0 over [A]AVL → [H]NEW. That is 1.06 points per million this round, with 0.23 projected goals from defence. Dara O'Shea (5.0m, IPS) is a 0.5%-owned option at 4.8 → 5.0 → 4.3 over [H]NFO → [A]HUL → [H]BOU.
Best midfielders for Gameweek 8
The Chelsea pair are the buy of the round. Cole Palmer (8.4m, CHE) projects 6.9 → 6.3 → 5.8 over [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN, 19.0 in total, with 0.45 projected goals against Tottenham and the penalties. Morgan Rogers (7.9m, CHE) is close behind at 6.5 → 6.4 → 5.6, 18.5 in total, at half a million less. Both home games come first, so the case for buying them is strongest now. By Gameweek 10 the best part of the run is over.
Bruno Fernandes (10.7m, MUN) has the highest three-round total of any player: 7.0 → 6.0 → 6.6 over [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL, so 19.6. He takes Manchester United's penalties, and Bournemouth have only a 13% clean sheet chance at Old Trafford. At 42.5% ownership he is close to essential. Bryan Mbeumo (8.0m, MUN) gives you the same [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL program at 8.5% ownership: 6.2 → 5.5 → 5.8.
Bukayo Saka (9.6m, ARS) follows Arsenal's run: 6.7 → 5.2 → 6.6 over [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL. The Liverpool week is the dip, and the two home games either side of it are among the best fixtures in the window.
Hidden gems: Elliot Anderson (7.5m, MCI) projects 5.5 → 5.3 → 4.9, then 5.8 in Gameweek 11, at 4.4% ownership. That is the Manchester City program without the Rayan Cherki minutes risk: Cherki is projected for 50 minutes and Anderson for 78. Mohammed Kudus (6.5m, TOT) is 1.7%-owned and projects 5.0 → 5.0 → 4.3 over [A]CHE → [H]CRY → [A]LEE. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (6.8m, EVE) is the one to watch for later. He rises from 4.4 to 5.1 to 5.9 as Everton's run turns, so he is a Gameweek 9 or 10 buy, not a Gameweek 8 one.
Budget options: Marcus Tavernier (5.7m, BOU) is the best midfielder at 6.0m or less over three rounds. He projects 5.1 → 5.3 → 5.1 over [A]MUN → [H]LEE → [A]IPS, 15.5 in total, and he shares Bournemouth's penalties. Enzo Le Fee (6.0m, SUN) is the 3.4%-owned alternative at 5.0 → 5.1 → 4.8 over [H]LEE → [A]COV → [H]CHE.
Best forwards for Gameweek 8
Joao Pedro (8.2m, CHE) is the best forward over the next three rounds. He projects 6.5 → 6.5 → 5.4 over [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN, 18.4 in total, with 0.46 projected goals against Tottenham. He is the top-projected player in the whole game for Gameweek 9.
Erling Haaland (12.0m, MCI) is 77.2%-owned. He projects 6.0 → 6.1 → 5.5 over [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO, with 0.73 projected goals in Gameweek 8, the highest of anyone. Joao Pedro out-projects him over three rounds for 3.8m less. That is a reason not to buy Haaland, not a reason to sell him: a 6.2 in Gameweek 11 keeps him worth holding.
Matheus Cunha (7.5m, MUN) is the third option at 5.2 → 4.8 → 4.6 over [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL. For a cheaper third forward, Charalampos Kostoulas (4.8m, BHA) projects 4.2 → 3.9 → 4.3 over [A]LIV → [A]MCI → [H]BRE, and he is the only forward under 5.0m worth starting. Jørgen Strand Larsen (5.5m, CRY) is a 1.4%-owned option at 4.4 → 3.8 → 3.8 over [H]NEW → [A]TOT → [H]LIV. He is on penalties while Jean-Philippe Mateta is still listed as unavailable.
Gameweek 8 captain picks
Bruno Fernandes (10.7m, MUN) is the captain, and [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL keeps him in the frame for all three rounds. His 7.0 projected points against Bournemouth are the highest of the round, and the captain doubles them, so 14.0. He has 0.36 projected goals and 0.30 projected assists at home, and he takes the penalties.
Cole Palmer (8.4m, CHE) is a very close second at 6.9 against Tottenham, with [H]MUN to follow. He is the better choice if you want to go against the 42.5% who own Bruno. Bukayo Saka (9.6m, ARS) is third at 6.7 against Everton, in the round's best fixture, and [H]HUL in Gameweek 10 brings him back to 6.6. Haaland projects 6.0 away at Aston Villa and is only eighth.
Plan beyond this round too. In Gameweek 9 the Chelsea trio lead: Joao Pedro 6.5, Rogers 6.4, Palmer 6.3, all at home to Manchester United. In Gameweek 10, Bruno and Saka are back on 6.6. Owning one Chelsea attacker and Bruno covers the captaincy for the whole window.
Best Quick Fix team for Gameweek 8
Sofascore's Quick Fix token works like a Free Hit: one round, then your squad goes back. Every club plays once in Gameweek 8, so there is no blank or double to exploit, and most managers should save it. For reference, this is the best legal 15-man squad for Gameweek 8 alone, with no more than three players from one club:
- GK: Walter Benitez (CRY, 4.6m, 4.9) - bench: Carl Rushworth (COV, 4.6m)
- DEF: Bobby Thomas (COV, 5.2m, 6.3), Gabriel (ARS, 7.8m, 5.8), Joshua King (FUL, 5.4m, 5.7), Neco Williams (NFO, 6.6m, 5.6) - bench: John Egan (HUL, 4.2m)
- MID: Bruno Fernandes (MUN, 10.7m, 7.0, captain), Cole Palmer (CHE, 8.4m, 6.9), Bukayo Saka (ARS, 9.6m, 6.7), Morgan Rogers (CHE, 7.9m, 6.5), Bryan Mbeumo (MUN, 8.0m, 6.2)
- FWD: Joao Pedro (CHE, 8.2m, 6.5) - bench: Charalampos Kostoulas (BHA, 4.8m), Lewis Koumas (LIV, 4.0m)
This XI projects 75.1 points including the captain. There is no room for Haaland: his 12.0m buys more points spread across the midfield. The exact live solve is on the Sofascore Premier League optimal teams page.
Who to sell before Gameweek 8
Josko Gvardiol (7.0m, MCI) is the clearest sell. 18.0% of managers own him. Manchester City's [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO is a decent program, and the fixtures are not the problem. The problem is minutes: he is projected for 46 minutes and 3.1 → 3.2 → 3.1 points. Why now: nothing in the next five rounds lifts him above 3.2, so waiting only adds rounds at that level. Marc Guehi has the same fixtures at 5.6 this week.
Jordan Pickford (5.9m, EVE) is 24.5%-owned, and his two worst fixtures are the next two: [A]ARS → [A]NEW, at 3.5 and 3.9. Why now: [H]COV in Gameweek 10 brings him back to 4.6, but by then the two weak rounds are already lost. Walter Benitez projects 4.9 in both of those weeks for 1.3m less.
Alexander Isak (8.2m, LIV) is 10.7%-owned and projected for 15 minutes on his return. [H]BHA is a decent fixture for Liverpool, but Isak projects only 1.1 → 2.0 → 2.5 as his minutes build. Why now: his projection does not reach 3.0 at any point in the window, and Joao Pedro costs the same.
Yoane Wissa (5.5m, NEW) is 11.2%-owned, and his trajectory falls every round: 3.6 → 3.3 → 2.8 → 2.2 over [A]CRY → [H]EVE → [A]FUL → Gameweek 11. Crystal Palace away is not a bad fixture. Why now: this is his best projection of the next four rounds, so selling now gets out at the top. Kostoulas projects more for 0.7m less.
Reece James (6.2m, CHE) is still 9.8%-owned and is listed as unavailable until January. He projects zero in every round, so his spot is empty every week you keep him. Pedro Porro (9.5% owned) projects 0.9 on 19 minutes in Gameweek 8 and is in the same position for now.
Riccardo Calafiori (6.6m, ARS) is a sell, but you can wait a round. [H]EVE is the best defensive fixture in the game, and his 4.8 is a good score. After it he drops to 3.3 at Liverpool and stays between 2.9 and 4.1 for the rest of the window. Keep him for Everton, then make the move before Gameweek 9.
More previews for this game are on the Sofascore Premier League preview hub, and strategy articles are in our fantasy guides.
FAQ
Who should I captain in Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8?
Bruno Fernandes. He projects 7.0 points at home to Bournemouth, the highest of the round, so 14.0 as captain. Cole Palmer (6.9 against Tottenham) and Bukayo Saka (6.7 against Everton) are the alternatives.
Which defenders are best for Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8?
Bobby Thomas (5.2m, COV) projects 6.3 and 18.5 over three rounds at 1.7% ownership. Gabriel (5.8) is the premium pick in Arsenal's best-in-game program, and James Tarkowski has the best three-round total at 18.6.
Should I sell Josko Gvardiol before Gameweek 8?
Yes. He is projected for 46 minutes and 3.1 points, and he stays at or below 3.2 for five rounds. Marc Guehi plays the same Manchester City fixtures and projects 5.6.
Who are the best differentials for Sofascore Premier League Gameweek 8?
Bobby Thomas (1.7% owned, 6.3), Walter Benitez (0.5%, 4.9), Mohammed Kudus (1.7%, 5.0) and Elliot Anderson (4.4%, 5.5) all project well over the next three Gameweeks at low ownership.
Is Joao Pedro better than Haaland for Gameweek 8?
Over the next three Gameweeks, yes: Joao Pedro projects 18.4 points against Haaland's 17.6, and he costs 3.8m less. For Gameweek 8 alone, Joao Pedro projects 6.5 to Haaland's 6.0.
This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.