Fantasy Premier League

FPL signings: Coutinho can make instant impact

The Scout 7 Jan 2022

The Scout analyses arrival of Aston Villa's Brazilian loanee and Newcastle defender Trippier

Villa agree Philippe Coutinho loan External Link

In pictures: Trippier in Toon External Link

FPL January 2022 additions

The Scout assesses the arrival of Philippe Coutinho at Aston Villa and Keiran Trippier at Newcastle United and how they could affect the plans of managers in Fantasy Premier League.

Philippe Coutinho (AVL)

The Brazilian’s return to the Premier League with Villa has the potential to shake up midfields in Fantasy.

Coutinho averaged 7.4 points per match in his final season at Liverpool in 2017/18.

The playmaker scored seven goals and supplied seven FPL assists in 14 appearances before joining Barcelona midway through the campaign.

He has yet to be added to the game, but his starting price may not deviate far from the £6.5m that team-mate Emiliano Buendia had at the beginning of the season.

If so, the underlying statistics from Coutinho’s last full season in Fantasy in 2016/17 highlight his all-round style of play and the value he may offer.

His 106 shots ranked fourth among midfielders, while his 65 key passes placed 12th.

Coutinho's top 10 goals for Liverpool

Villa’s upcoming schedule also gives Coutinho the chance to make an instant impact. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of Villa's next seven matches score only two.

Villa's' next eight Gameweeks

GW	Opp	FDR	GW	Opp	FDR
22	MUN (H)	4	26	WAT (H)	2
23	EVE (A)	3	27	BHA (A)	3
24	LEE (H)	2	28	SOU (H)	2
25	NEW (A)	2	29	WHU (A)	4

Kieran Trippier (NEW) £5.0m

The England right-back arrives at Newcastle on the back of 10 assists in his two full seasons in LaLiga for Atletico Madrid.

Trippier was also a major source of creativity in his last campaign in Fantasy while playing for Tottenham Hotspur. His total of 49 key passes ranked third among defenders in 2018/19.