As we approach the midpoint of January, gameweek 21 marks the return of Premier League action with an exciting round of midweek fixtures.
Last weekend's FA Cup matches offered Fantasy Premier League managers a valuable chance to assess their squads following the hectic festive schedule.
With the next round of games kicking off tomorrow night, let's dive into the world of FPL.
We'll explore key talking points, analyse crucial FPL data, conduct player comparisons, and give balanced FPL advice and GW21 tips to provide you with a comprehensive view of the latest Fantasy Premier League news so you can earn the most points.
FPL Gameweek 21 Deadline
Just a reminder, the Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 21 deadline is Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 18:00 GMT.
FPL Gameweek 21 Fixtures
Manchester City will travel to Brentford.
Chelsea are hosting Bournemouth.
Fulham are set to visit West Ham.
Nottingham Forest are at home to Liverpool.
Aston Villa have an away game against Everton.
Leicester are welcoming Crystal Palace.
Newcastle will host Wolves.
Arsenal face London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates.
Brighton are heading to Ipswich.
Manchester United face Southampton at Old Trafford.
FPL Assets Leading On Form For Gameweek 21
Let’s start by looking at the current form amongst FPL assets for Matchweek 21.
Goalkeepers:
- Matz Sels jumps to first with 6.4
- Jordan Pickford drops to second with 5.8
- Martin Dúbravka is third with 5.4
Defenders:
- Lewis Hall remains first with 8.4
- Ola Aina is second with 7.4
- Dean Huijsen is third with 6.6
Midfielders:
- Mohamed Salah still remains top with 11.6
- Jacob Murphy stays in second with 8.0
- Bryan Mbeumo rivals him with 8.0
Forwards:
- Alexander Isak remains first with 10.0
- Gabriel Jesus is second with 6.6
- Cody Gakpo matches him with 6.6
Newcastle Dominate the FPL Spotlight
Newcastle have been in scintillating form over the last five gameweeks in the Premier League, securing all 15 points available.
This impressive run has lifted them to 5th place in the standings, just one point behind Chelsea in 4th.
Since Gameweek 16, they’ve been formidable, scoring 15 goals and conceding only once.
Their attacking cohesion, defensive stability, and creative play have drawn significant attention from FPL managers.
Anthony Gordon has been a key contributor, earning 90 FPL points this season with five goals and five assists.
His recent performances have made him the most transferred-in player ahead of the new gameweek, as FPL managers look to take advantage of his consistent returns.
Alexander Isak has also been a standout, driving Newcastle’s recent success.
With 13 goals and four assists to his name, he has accumulated an impressive 119 FPL points so far.
Isak, who won the Premier League Player of the Month award for December, is the most transferred-in forward heading into Gameweek 21, with his sharp form attracting plenty of attention.
On the defensive side, Lewis Hall has turned heads with his reliable displays.
Hall has amassed 79 FPL points, ranking him 5th among all defenders in the game.
His consistency has made him the most transferred-in defender this week, reflecting Newcastle’s balanced dominance at both ends of the pitch.
With upcoming fixtures against Wolves, Bournemouth, Southampton, and Fulham, Newcastle’s favourable schedule suggests their strong form could continue.
FPL managers are backing Eddie Howe’s team to maintain their momentum, making Newcastle assets increasingly valuable as the season progresses.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Performance Worries FPL Managers
Liverpool’s last Premier League outing ended in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, but it was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance that sparked concern among both Liverpool fans and FPL managers.
The English full-back struggled defensively, allowing United players to bypass him with ease and showing little effort to track back and recover.
Adding to the unease are ongoing rumours linking Alexander-Arnold with a potential move to Real Madrid.
These reports have left FPL managers, who invested in the game’s most expensive defender, hesitant to keep him in their squads.
The fear of a mid-season transfer combined with his recent defensive struggles has made Trent the most transferred-out defender ahead of the new gameweek.
Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, and Ipswich offer opportunities for the Reds to bounce back.
However, whether Alexander-Arnold will improve his performances or see his minutes reduced in favour of Conor Bradley remains to be seen.
For now, FPL managers are looking for advice on whether to stick with Trent or cut their losses.
Bryan Mbeumo Vs Cole Palmer
Last season, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer emerged as one of the best bargains in FPL, delivering remarkable consistency for managers who invested in him.
While Palmer has continued to showcase his attacking prowess this season, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has taken the spotlight as the standout budget midfielder.
Let’s dive into the numbers to compare these two players and see how they stack up.
Both Palmer and Mbeumo have made 20 Premier League appearances this season, matching Alexander Isak’s tally of 13 goals.
Palmer leads with 6 assists compared to Mbeumo’s 3.
Despite this, Mbeumo has proven more efficient in front of goal.
He has taken 35 shots, with 21 on target, boasting a shooting accuracy of 72.4%.
In contrast, Palmer has attempted 70 shots, with 30 on target, and a slightly lower shooting accuracy of 63.8%.
Both players have converted 3 penalties this season.
Interestingly, all 13 goals for both players have come from their left foot, with neither scoring with their right foot or through headers.
When it comes to missed opportunities, Mbeumo has missed 5 big chances, while Palmer has missed 9.
However, Palmer has been more creative, crafting 16 big chances for Chelsea compared to Mbeumo’s 9 for Brentford.
In terms of passing, Palmer edges Mbeumo with an 80.8% accuracy rate versus 76.9%. Mbeumo has been dispossessed 25 times, while Palmer has lost possession 19 times.
Additionally, Palmer has committed 10 fouls, slightly fewer than Mbeumo’s 14.
When it comes to FPL, Palmer has accumulated 153 points this season and is priced at £11.4m.
Meanwhile, Mbeumo has earned 136 points and is available at a much cheaper £7.8m, solidifying his status as a value pick for budget-conscious managers.
While both players bring significant value to FPL teams, Mbeumo’s efficiency and lower price tag make him the ultimate bargain midfielder this season.
However, Palmer’s creativity and higher ceiling could appeal to managers willing to spend a little more.
Sávio Rises Up The xA Rankings
Manchester City winger Sávio has been a bright spark in an otherwise inconsistent City side over the last two gameweeks.
The Brazilian has delivered an impressive 27 FPL points during this period, playing a total of 169 minutes.
Sávio’s contributions have been crucial, providing 4 assists and scoring once during these matches.
Across City’s last two games, he has been directly involved in 5 out of their 6 goals, underlining his importance to their attacking play.
His expected assists (xA) currently stands at 4.46, placing him 5th among all FPL assets in this metric and showcasing his ability to create high-quality chances for his teammates.
As Manchester City look to steady their performances, it will be fascinating to see if Sávio can sustain his remarkable form over the coming fixtures.
For FPL managers, he’s proving to be a player worth considering priced at only £6.5m.
Ollie Watkins Vs Yoane Wissa
Many FPL managers had high hopes for Ollie Watkins to continue his strong form from previous seasons, but with a series of inconsistent performances, he has yet to fully meet expectations.
Meanwhile, while Bryan Mbeumo has garnered most of the attention at Brentford, Yoane Wissa has quietly been a reliable performer for the club.
Let's take a closer look at how Watkins and Wissa compare in terms of their statistics this season.
Watkins has featured in 20 matches for Aston Villa, scoring 8 goals.
In contrast, Wissa has made 17 appearances for Brentford, netting 10 goals.
Watkins has taken 52 shots, while Wissa has had 37 attempts.
Of Wissa's shots, 20 have been on target, compared to 25 for Watkins.
Wissa boasts a shooting accuracy of 69%, slightly ahead of Watkins' 59.5%.
Watkins has converted 2 goals from the penalty spot, whereas Wissa has not had the opportunity to take a penalty this season.
In terms of playmaking, Watkins has recorded 4 assists and created 4 big chances for his teammates.
Wissa, on the other hand, has 2 assists and has created just 1 big chance.
Watkins has a passing accuracy of 77.1%, while Wissa leads with a more precise 81.6%.
Watkins has been dispossessed 28 times, significantly more than Wissa, who has been dispossessed just 11 times.
When it comes to FPL, Watkins has accumulated 94 points, with a price tag of £8.9m.
Wissa, priced at £6.2m, has earned 91 points.
With both players showing flashes of their potential, it will be intriguing to see whether Watkins can find his scoring form again or if Wissa will emerge as the better FPL option as the season progresses.
FPL Assets With Highest PPM For Each Club
Let’s examine the top FPL points-per-match performer from each club.
Arsenal – Bukayo Saka (6.7 PPM)
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins (4.7 PPM)
Bournemouth – Dean Huijsen (4.1 PPM)
Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo (6.8 PPM)
Brighton – João Pedro (5.4 PPM)
Chelsea – Cole Palmer (7.7 PPM)
Crystal Palace – Trevoh Chalobah (4.5 PPM)
Everton – Dwight McNeil (5.0 PPM)
Fulham – Alex Iwobi (4.3 PPM)
Ipswich – Liam Delap (4.2 PPM)
Leicester – Jamie Vardy (4.2 PPM)
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah (11.0 PPM)
Manchester City – Erling Haaland (6.2 PPM)
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes (4.6 PPM)
Newcastle – Alexander Isak (6.6 PPM)
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood (5.7 PPM)
Southampton – Aaron Ramsdale (3.2 PPM)
Tottenham – James Maddison (5.0 PPM)
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen (4.7 PPM)
Wolves – Matheus Cunha (5.8 PPM)
Differential Captain Pick Of The Week
Martin Ødegaard
Arsenal will be eager to bounce back after their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United this past weekend.
With a crucial London derby against a Tottenham side that has struggled defensively, Arsenal’s captain, Martin Ødegaard, will be determined to dominate the midfield.
FPL managers looking for a differential captaincy option could find themselves well-rewarded if they choose Ødegaard, who is poised to deliver a strong points return this weekend.
Playing Your Free Hit?
Most managers will be saving their free hit for double gameweeks later on in the season.
Those who are tempted to use their free hit this weekend might find some value below:
DEF: Trevoh Chalobah (£4.4m)
DEF: Lisandro Martinez (£4.4m)
DEF: Tyrick Mitchell (£4.8m)
MID: Cole Palmer (£11.4m)
MID: Martin Ødegaard (£8.3m)
MID: Mohamed Salah © (£13.7m)
MID: Anthony Gordon (£7.5m)
FWD: Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.2m)
FWD: Ollie Watkins (£8.9m)
FWD: Alexander Isak (£9.3m)
BENCH: Killian Cahill (£3.9m)
BENCH: Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m)
BENCH: Jarell Quansah (£3.9m)
BENCH: Luke Thomas (£3.9m)
Final Thoughts
As we head into Gameweek 21, the second half of the FPL season is well underway.
With the pressure mounting as the race for top positions intensifies, managers must stay focused on key factors such as player form, injuries, and upcoming fixtures.
The congestion of matches means every decision counts, and staying proactive with FPL transfers will be crucial to maintaining momentum.
It’s a pivotal time in the season, and making the right calls could make all the difference.
We hope you benefited from our FPL GW21 tips and here’s to a successful gameweek 21 for all FPL managers!
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