With many looking to free up cash to afford premium options that are cropping up, I’ve decided to write an article on same-team budget alternatives. These alternatives are not necessarily better prospects than their premium counterparts, but they definitely provide excellent value for their difference in price.

Raheem Sterling & Jordan Henderson

Team: Liverpool

Points Difference: 6 ( 40 – RS, and 34 – JH )

Price difference: 3.0 ( 9.0 – RS, and 6.0m – JH )

Ownership Difference: 40.5% (53% – RS, and 12.5% – JH )

Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have performed very well so far this season and they are both viable Fantasy Premier League (FPL) options. However, Sterling has attracted far more owners than Henderson, with the pacey winger sitting on a colossal ownership of 53%, while his national and club team-mate has a significantly lower ownership of 12.5%. With a vast difference in their popularity, Henderson remains very much a differential and a possible under-the-radar alternative to Sterling.

Henderson has scored one goal, provided three assists and notched up five FPL bonus points. Meanwhile, Sterling has scored on three different occasions so far and picked up two assists along the way, as well as six FPL bonus points. As pointed out above, as it stands, the difference in their points totals is a meagre six. Fantasy managers ought to be asking themselves whether that six points is really worth 3.0 more.

I expect Sterling to outscore Henderson but I think the former Sunderland man provides excellent value and has been a lot more attacking this season – Rodgers has also said that he aims to develop Henderson into a Ramsey-esqe player this season, with him getting forward a lot more.

In addition, Henderson has only created three chances fewer than Sterling, and with him showing that he can produce FPL points at a level that almost matches his more expensive team mate, Henderson could very well be an excellent way to free up cash in order to afford other big names that are popular at the moment like Sergio Aguero and Leighton Baines. I think he is one of the top budget alternatives in the game and is definitely being overlooked by many.

David Silva & James Milner

Team: Manchester City

Points Difference: 8 ( 28 – DS, 20 – JM )

Price Difference: 3.8 ( 9.1 – DS, 5.3 – JM )

Ownership Difference: 10.8% ( 11.6% – DS, 0.8% – JM )

Nasri’s long-term injury has given James Milner a spot in City’s starting 11, and the Englishman has returned Pellegrini’s faith with fantastic performances in each of the last four games he’s started. Milner has racked up 19 points in his last four games, whilst Silva has only managed 15 in the same amount of time, a fairer comparison considering Milner didn’t start the first three games. Even without Milner starting the first three, and only playing a part in one, the Englishman is only eight points behind the slick passing David Silva, a fairly insignificant gap even before considering the difference in minutes played.

To reinforce the impressive FPL performances from Milner, his underlying stats are excellent. In City’s last game against Aston Villa, Milner created eight chances, the highest of the Gameweek and five more than the popular David Silva. Since the Englishman’s reinstatement to the starting 11, he has created two more chances than Silva. This shows just how much value Milner provides, being able to surpass the Spaniard for creativity and assist potential whilst maintaining a respectable goal threat. He would also be an excellent differential, at 0.8% ownership. At a price that’s 3.8 cheaper than Silva, I think Milner presents himself as a fantastic budget alternative to the more favoured Spaniard.

Tadic & Mane

Team: Southampton

Points Difference: 19 ( 25 – DT, 6 – SM )

Price Difference: 0.6 ( 7.5 – DT, 6.9 – SM )

Ownership Difference: 2.8% ( 2.9% – DT, 0.1% – SM )

Both Dusan Tadic and Saido Mane are new Saints recruits this season. Mane arrived a lot later due to work permit issues and he has only been involved in the last two Gameweeks. Over this short period the Senegalese international has matched Tadic’s points total for 0.6 less, an amount that could be very valuable to those on a tight budget that just need that 0.1 or 0.2 more for a certain Leighton Baines or Sergio Aguero. This shows that Mane is more than capable of keeping up pace with his premium-priced counterpart.

Saido Mane was very unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet against Spurs, coming very close to finishing a glaring opportunity created by Bertrand. He seems to be quite the goal threat and has so far looked a better option for goals than his Serbian team-mate. His record is also quite astonishing, albeit being in the Bundesliga, with 23 goals and 18 assists in 50 games for Red Bull Salzburg last season. He’s managed to perform quite impressively in the Premier league as well, with his stats looking very good over the past two Gameweeks. Despite playing fewer minutes than Tadic, Mane has managed to create more big chances and has had the same number of touches in the penalty area. Interestingly enough, Mane has also created two more chances than his more expensive team-mate since his arrival.

This could be great for those on a tight budget, with Mane seemingly more than capable of keeping pace with or even surpassing Tadic as an FPL prospect. Mane looks like a fantastic punt and budget alternative at 0.1% ownership and 0.6 less.