Niko
Former SuperCoach runner-up, EPL expert
Niko’s Supercoach EPL Watchlist | Round 5
Supercoach and EPL expert Niko, reveals who to watch, buy, hold and sell ahead of Supercoach EPL Round 5
EPL
September 19, 2025
A GW4 score of 132 for me this week, mainly thanks to my Captain Haaland, which gives me a green arrow, albeit a small one.
Some other studs include Palmer, Pedro, and Romero.
The team value is rising fast, but I believe we can’t sit too still as European football starts, and it could throw some curveballs.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, and Newcastle all have mid-week Champions League, and there’s also EFL Cup action.
With that, I’m likely making at least one trade and tidying up my bench as rotation season looms.
Finally, NO I DON’T WANT TO UPDATE MY BLOODY SHIELD!
Embed from Getty ImagesBuy
Robin Roefs (£6.19M, Sunderland GKP, B/E -9)
It pains me, but Sunderland are actually alright and could stay up.
This guy was the hero against Palace with 6 saves, preserving the clean sheet and getting the vital point away.
If you are mucking around in this spot like me, he’s another good option.
Especially considering they have struggling teams up next with Aston Villa at home, followed by Forest and Man U away, before back home with Wolves.
Embed from Getty ImagesMicky van de Ven (£7.69M, Tottenham Defender, B/E -5)
Thomas Frank has really got Spurs going defensively, having only conceded the one goal.
They sit in third and Spurs fans will be quietly pleased with how things are going, especially after their 1-0 Villarreal win with another clean mind you.
I have Romero, and he had a goal disallowed for some reason, but both are great options.
Fixtures are great, and the only query on Micky is his body with mid-week matches now starting.
Could start seeing some managed minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesVirgil van Dijk (£9.4M, Liverpool Defender, B/E 1)
Top of the league, having a laugh, and back-to-back good scores for Virgil.
It feels like Liverpool is not firing at all, but they’re still winning.
Another expected win in the Merseyside derby, and despite Everton’s newfound attacking threat, a clean sheet is not out of the question, especially with Frimpong and Bradley back in the frame for a start.
Bring him in and forget about that spot all season.
Scored the last-minute winner in the Champions League and is always an aerial threat.
Embed from Getty ImagesCalvin Bassey (£3.55M, Fulham DEF, B/E 0)
I was talking him up a little in our subscriber thread, and he scored 10 points.
He is now at pretty much bargain basement price and is a 90-minute man outside of AFCON duties.
He could give you great bench cover.
Antoine Semenyo (£10.4M, Bournemouth FWD, B/E 4)
I want 8 attackers, and this guy is one of them.
Now also seems to be on penalties and getting so many chances in open play.
The wingers being made forwards in this game is a pain.
Embed from Getty ImagesHold – Watch
Xavi Simons (£6M, Tottenham MID, B/E -2)
Started life in London with a bang, scoring 14points thanks to an assist, but outside that, the underlying stats aren’t great.
In fact, in his 71 minutes, his expected assists were 0.08 and expected goals 0.03.
He also played 77 minutes in the Champions League with 0.12 expected goals and 0.03 expected assists.
No doubting his quality, but he’ll take time to build relationships with his teammates, so I’m waiting to see what he does against Brighton before pulling the trigger on him, which, at the time of writing, 1,833 people have not done.
He has however, taken set pieces off Porro, which is a huge positive.
Embed from Getty ImagesPhil Foden (£7.8M, Man City MID, B/E 1)
Loves the Manchester Derby with a huge 18 points thanks to a goal.
Despite the performance and breakeven, I personally don’t trust his minutes with Pep roulette in full swing, and they play the best defense in the division this week.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (£7.75M, Man City GKP, B/E 2)
His save from the Mbeumo volley, where he had a limited view, was insane and showed what quality he possesses.
Will make every Man City defensive asset better, but I probably only trust this guy to avoid rotation, maybe Gvardiol too.
Embed from Getty ImagesLucas Paquetá (£9.34M, West Ham MID, B/E 3)
I understand why people are selling, but it won’t be me this week.
Small breakeven and on penalties means he’ll stay with me for at least another week.
This includes holding El Hadji Malick Diouf with a -6 breakeven despite the Hammers poor start to the season.
Mohamed Salah (£12.11M, Liverpool FWD, B/E 24)
I’m watching him very closely and loving the price drop as a non-owner.
If you started him, I think you continue to hold and hope he goes berserk.
It was the Mo of old in the Champions League this morning.
Embed from Getty ImagesSell
Rayan Aït-Nouri (£7.55M, Man City DEF, B/E 20)
Looks like he’s out until late October, so I’d be moving him to someone like Micky van de Ven asap.
Yes, there’s another international break where he can recover, but there’s still AFCON to worry about later with him.
Hugo Ekitike (£7.17M, Liverpool FWD, B/E 17)
We saw this morning that Isak will start ahead of him.
Couldn’t be more of a sell.
Embed from Getty ImagesRiccardo Calafiori (£9.77, Arsenal DEF, B/E 16)
A date with Manchester City doesn’t scream a clean sheet to me, and his price should have peaked barring a crazy result.
With Europe starting, I can also see him getting benched or subbed even earlier.
I’m happy to cash him in to either Gabriel or Virgil as season-long holds.
Jeremie Frimpong (£6.5, Liverpool DEF, B/E 14)
As discussed on the podcast this week, there are serious doubts over his starts and minutes.
They’ll ease him back in, trying to avoid recurring injury, and Bradley came on in the 58th minute this morning in the Champions League.
Embed from Getty ImagesMaxime Estève (£5M, Burnley DEF, B/E 7)
I know you’re probably not playing him, and what does it matter, but I’m perhaps looking to cash in on the price rise.
Burnley just aren’t what they were defensively in the Championship last season, although they did park the bus against Liverpool well.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them ship goals in the next two – Forest home and Man City away.
Current Trade Plans and Captains
OUT: Calafiori + Estève
IN: Virgil van Dijk + Bassey
Bank: £2.3M
VC: Virgil van Dijk
C: João Pedro
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