Back Wirtz to deliver at Burnley - our FPL team of the week

The trickiest game to predict this week is the Manchester derby. City are favourites but haven't beaten United since March 2024 and have scored just three times in the past four meetings.

So that - and City's form - puts me off Erling Haaland in gameweek four's Fantasy Premier League team of the week.

That could easily backfire but instead I've gone with a team packed with players against the promoted teams and early-season whipping boys Wolves.

The team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

Don't miss our FPL special week three Q&A with expert Holly Shand live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST on Friday, 12 August.

How did last week's team do?

Bruno Fernandes (10), Joao Pedro (9) and the Chelsea defence led last week's team to a half-decent score of 51.

Captain Mohamed Salah failed to deliver but he gets another chance this week!

FPL team of the week for gameweek four

Keeper and defence

Bernd Leno, Fulham keeper, £5m - Leeds (h)

Leeds have scored just once this season and that was a penalty. They've only managed five shots on target, which is a league low.

So if you're picking a clean sheet for any team this week, Fulham are major candidates.

Daniel Munoz, Crystal Palace, £5.5m - Sunderland (h)

The Colombian, one of last season's FPL stars, has had tough fixtures to start this campaign but still has a return in each game (two clean sheets and an assist).

He'll pose far more of an attacking threat against Sunderland, with Palace likely to play more on the front foot, and he already has the highest expected assists (xA) of any defender this season with 0.8.

Expect plenty of touches in the box, crosses and a chance for a goal.

Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal, £5.7m - Nottingham Forest (h)

You can't expect double-digit returns every week - Calafiori has two already this season - but the Italian has started this season on fire from left-back and his data suggest it isn't a fluke.

He's had seven shots this season and five in the box - ranking him number one among defenders and his expected goals (xG) is also the highest at 1.13.

Part of the reason for that is a simple finish from barely a yard v Manchester United, but the numbers are still encouraging.

Forest have scored four times this season but they are in the bottom half of the table for xG and could easily struggle at Emirates Stadium.

Jurrien Timber, Arsenal, £5.6m - Nottingham Forest (h)

Arsenal full-backs seem to be the place to go for points so far this season rather than Gabriel's goal threat from centre-back.

A 24-point haul in his last home game means Timber joins Califiori in a double Arsenal defence.

After all, they are yet to concede this season.

Midfielder

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.4m - Burnley (a)

Wirtz hasn't lived up to the FPL hype yet but underlying data says he has been unfortunate not to return.

His xG and xA are higher than any other Liverpool midfielder, at 0.37 and 0.44, and only Cody Gakpo has taken more shots.

Add to that tough fixtures against Newcastle and Arsenal, and you can see why he hasn't come flying out of the blocks.

But if you trust the data, then a return is coming and Burnley is the perfect opportunity. The Clarets have conceded a league high number of shots, shots in the box and their expected goals conceded (xGC) is a whopping 6.63.

Mohamed Salah (captain), Liverpool, £14.5m - Burnley (a)

For reasons stated above, Salah is also in the team this week as captain.

I've got long-term concerns about whether he will be worth the investment, with the arrival of Alexander Isak and a slow-ish start to the season.

We'll discuss Liverpool attacking assets in Friday's Talking Point article but for now Salah v leaky Burnley is an easy pick.

Jack Grealish, Everton, £6.7m - Aston Villa (h)

Grealish has been on fire since arriving at Everton with his 21 points (four assists) in the past two games bettered only by Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (22).

It's a very short sample size but underlying data suggests Grealish is going to be a valuble FPL asset this season.

While two assists per game is not sustainable, he's a bargain price, has created 2.5 big chances per game, had a shot in the box per game and missed out by one point on defensive contribution bonus in each of his starts.

And Everton have the third-worst xGC this season, suggesting David Moyes' side might be involved in more open games - which will suit Grealish.

Anthony Elanga, Newcastle, £7m - Wolves (h)

You've got to target Wolves this week if you can, with Vítor Pereira's team having conceded eight goals so far.

They have allowed 34% of their chances down the right flank, which is why Elanga makes this team.

While Newcastle's wingers could rotate flanks, Elanga played mostly on the right against Liverpool and was dangerous. He could haul against Wolves.

Strikers

Yoane Wissa, Newcastle, £7.5m - Wolves (h)

A bit of a risk this one but Wissa has played twice for DR Congo this week, making up for his lack of pre-season action.

A home game to make his debut against the worst defence in the league so far? It feels right!

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace, £7.5m - Sunderland (h)

The Frenchman got his first goal of the season last week and, with Eberechi Eze gone, he could turn into Palace's talisman.

He scored 16 and 14 goals in the past two seasons - everything is in place for Mateta to beat that tally in 2025-26.

Sunderland have done well at home but lost their only away game without scoring.

Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham, £5.5m - Leeds (h)

The Colombian appears to be Fulham's first-choice striker so far and he has a decent record for Fulham when he gets minutes.

Last season's eight goals came from just eight starts, with 23 substitute appearances. He scored a goal every 117 minutes.

Against a Leeds side that shipped three in their last road trip, Muniz is an enticing pick.

Subs' bench

Martin Dubravka, Burnley, keeper, £4m - Liverpool (h)

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton, midfielder, £5m - Aston Villa (h)

Igor Thiago, Brentford, striker, £6m - Chelsea (h)

Reinildo, Sunderland, defender, £4m - Crystal Palace (a)

Team total: £97.9m