📊 Gameweek 13 in 5 graphics

What’s happened to Bryan Mbeumo?

What you need to know:

• Bryan Mbeumo’s open play shooting has declined — he’s had six shots in the last five matches.

• It doesn’t look like his shooting is influenced by whether Yoann Wissa is also on the pitch.

In depth:

Bryan Mbeumo’s fast start to the season has ground to a halt.

After six goals in his first seven Gameweeks (including two penalties), Bryan Mbeumo was so popular that his price had risen from £7.0m to £7.8m by Gameweek 10.

But his open play shots in the last few Gameweeks especially have been few and far between. His one open play goal in the last five was against Ipswich — and that was a cross. He’s had six shots in total in the last five Gameweeks.

So what’s happened?

Is it a Wissa effect? Not really.

Mbeumo’s shooting when Wissa wasn’t on the pitch isn’t all that different to when he is. He shoots slightly less, for broadly the same xG per shot.

Has there been some overperformance? Definitely — Mbeumo has six goals from 2.3 npxG this season. Overperformance isn’t especially worrying, but his recent lack of shooting is.

Many will be looking to sell after Leicester in Gameweek 13 as the fixtures turn. But unless you think he can buck the trend of the last few matches he could be a sell now.

Isak or Jackson?

What you need to know:

• Alexander Isak and Nicolas Jackson are popular choices at the moment.

• Jackson beats Isak in full-season xG rankings, but Isak is performing much better more recently.

• Jackson is also one yellow card from suspension.

In depth:

With many selling Erling Haaland (more on him next), mid-price forwards have been all the rage.

Alexander Isak has been a really popular choice but I’ve seen plenty advocating for Nicolas Jackson too.

Isak had a quiet start to the season, and ranks sixth in full-season non-penalty xG per 90 among forwards. He and Newcastle struggled in the early weeks of the season but despite Monday’s defeat to West Ham, they seem to be improving. Between Gameweeks 7 and 12, Isak has shot up the xG per 90 rankings to second.

Meanwhile, Jackson had a storming start and was ranked ahead of Haaland for xG per 90 at one point. The last few matches have been quieter for him though — between Gameweeks 7 and 12, he’s down in 13th for xG per 90 among forwards.

Fixtures are below, and there’s not too much in it between them.

Jackson will likely improve his xG over the next few matches, but its been a really good showing recently from Isak. I’m also not sure about doubling up on Chelsea if you already have Palmer, while Isak is the only viable route into Newcastle’s attack right now.

Erling Haaland — sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit

What you need to know:

• Erling Haaland disappointed owners again in Gameweek 12 but his underlying xG is just as strong as it has been all season.

In depth:

Look, there’s not much more I can say about Erling Haaland’s recent run that hasn’t already been said. In short, the £15.1m man has two goals in his last seven.

There’s also a lot of noise about the wider malaise affecting Manchester City, which culminated in a stunning 0-4 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

Amidst all this though, our man Erling is still generating plenty of chances.

In fact, his rolling non-penalty xG (the mean xG he’s generated over the last five matches) is now higher than it has been all season.

And yes, that includes the five-match period earlier this season when he scored nine goals.

Many will have seen enough, and will be transferring him out ahead of one of the most difficult fixtures of the season in Gameweek 13. Personally, I’m hanging on a little bit longer.