Last weekend signalled another gloomy gameweek for most Fantasy Premier League managers as several highly owned assets failed to deliver big points. Including, for the third match in a row, Erling Haaland.
Haaland’s last Premier League goal came in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal in Gameweek 5. Since then, 17 other forwards have found the net at least once. What happened to all of those lovely hat-tricks, Erling?
The Norwegian’s barren streak has offered a timely reminder that no player is ever essential in FPL, even ones as (normally) lethal as City’s No 9. That being said he’s up against Southampton at home this weekend so take a deep breath before impulsively selling him in a pique of rage. Surely, surely, he’ll snap out of his funk in that one.
With Haaland and Cole Palmer both thwarted, Mo Salah has opened up a five point lead at the top of the FPL charts after earning a chunky 12 points from Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea. Those who kept the faith with the Egyptian faith after one or two stodgy displays were handsomely rewarded. He looked back to his electric best.
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City vs Saints is the pick of Saturday’s matches, at least from an FPL standpoint, before a super Sunday on steroids commences the following day with four compelling contests, each held in the capital, taking place.
The average weekly score in Gameweek 32 was a pitiful 32, but that figure will surely be far higher this weekend based on the schedule. Here’s hoping that a feast follows the famine.
The Gameweek 9 deadline is set at a dastardly time of 6.30pm on Friday so make sure to get your house in order before clocking off for the weekend.
This is an extract of i’s Fantasy Premier League tips. Sign up here to receive the newsletter every week.
Gameweek 9 fixtures
Friday 25 October
- Leicester vs Nottingham Forest (8pm)
Saturday 26 October
*3pm unless otherwise stated
- Aston Villa vs Bournemouth
- Brentford vs Ipswich
- Brighton vs Wolves
- Man City vs Southampton
- Everton vs Fulham (5.30pm)
Sunday 27 October
*2pm unless otherwise stated
- Chelsea vs Newcastle
- Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
- West Ham vs Man Utd
- Arsenal vs Liverpool (4.30pm)
Son Heung-min (Spurs)
After spending three weeks on the sidelines due to a muscle injury, Son Heung-min was back in Ange Postecoglou’s starting line-up and back amongst the goals as Spurs thrashed West Ham in Gameweek 8.
Son scored his side’s fourth goal of the afternoon and was belatedly – and somewhat controversially – credited with the assist for their third after his attempt on goal bobbled in via the flailing limbs of Alphonse Areola and Jean-Clair Todibo.
The South Korean only played 70 minutes as Postecoglou eased him back in, but could have easily amassed more than a dozen points after hitting the inside of the post with another strike as Spurs ran riot.
With an ownership under six per cent and a reasonable run of games coming up, Son is an excellent differential. He won’t be one for long if he banks another goal or two at Selhurst Park.
Price: £9.8m Points: 45 Gameweek 9 fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
Raul Jimenez (Fulham)
When Rodrigo Muniz embarked upon an eye-catching run of goalscoring form in the final few months of last season it looked as though Raul Jimenez’s days as a starting Premier League striker were over. Cue an unforeseen regeneration.
Jimenez came on as a substitute in each of Fulham’s first three fixtures but has since dislodged Muniz as Marco Silva’s regular No 9 after hitting a purple patch. The Mexican has struck six goals in his last nine matches for club and country.
The 33-year-old’s FPL appeal is twofold: he is cheap and has good fixtures. Win win. Buying Jimenez will only set you back £5.7m in FPL currency and Fulham’s next six games are against Everton (a), Brentford (h), Crystal Palace (a), Wolves (h), Spurs (a) and Brighton (h).
Even the tougher ones are against obliging backlines.
It’s possible that Jimenez could start taking penalties too after Emiliano Martinez saved Andreas Pereira’s lame attempt in Gameweek 8.
Price: £5.7m Points: 39 Gameweek 9 fixture: Everton (a)
Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester)
Despite enduring a troublesome pre-season, Leicester are faring far better than the other two promoted sides. The cream of last season’s Championship crop have won just two out of 24 top-flight games combined, with the Foxes accounting for both.
Abdul Fatawu (£5.4m) played an integral role in Leicester’s stirring comeback against fellow newbies Southampton, but Facundo Buonanotte also caught the eye as he scored his third league goal of the campaign.
The Argentine has quickly become a pivotal player under Steve Cooper, providing more direct goal involvements (with five; three goals and two assists) than any other Leicester player.
Fatawu’s heroics against the Saints have surely earned him a starting spot for the Midlands derby with Nottingham Forest which is good news for Buonanotte, freeing him up to play in a more central role.
Price: £5m Points: 34 Gameweek 9 fixture: Nottingham Forest (h)
Josko Gvardiol (Man City)
Manchester City haven’t kept a Premier League clean sheet since the opening day, but will expect to record another shutout on Saturday when they host Southampton. The Saints have scored just three times away from home, the joint-lowest tally in the division.
Even if City’s tendency to concede sloppy goals continues, it may not matter if you have Josko Gvardiol in your FPL team as the Croatian has proven to be a sharp shooter in front of goal this calendar year.
Gvardiol’s long-range thunderbolt at Molineux was his sixth Premier League strike in 2024, which is the most by a defender in the competition.
Although he tends to score from open play, Gvardiol is also well capable of scoring from set plays. Southampton have let in seven goals from such situations already.
Price: £6m Points: 33 Gameweek 9 fixture: Southampton (h)
Georginio Rutter (Brighton)
Brighton’s decision to splurge a club-record £40m on Georginio Rutter in August seemed like a peculiar use of funds given Fabian Hurzeler’s squad was already well-stocked with No 10s, including Joao Pedro, Julio Enciso and the aforementioned Buonanotte.
However, the Frenchman, previously of Leeds United, has settled quickly into life on the south coast, by providing two goals and two assists apiece in the Premier League. Those goal involvements have all come in his last three appearances.
Rutter is an unconventional talent; he is neither a prolific scorer nor a lock picker. But he is an absolute handful and is always looking to make runs into the box. Of his 16 shots, 13 have come from inside the penalty area.
The Seagulls will expect to maintain their flying start to the season when they host Wolves given Gary O’Neil’s strugglers have conceded a monstrous 23 goals already, at least five more than any other club.
Price: £5.5m Points: 31 Gameweek 9 fixture: Wolves (h)
