Gameweek 22 wrapped up last weekend with thrilling last-minute winners and unexpected results that shook things up.
For Fantasy Premier League managers, some high-profile players have come under scrutiny.
In this article, we’ll dive into the performance of those players and analyse key FPL statistics while providing some fantasy football gameweek 23 tips to help you make smarter decisions as we approach the next gameweek.
FPL Gameweek 23 Deadline
The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 23 deadline is Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 14:00 GMT.
FPL Gameweek 23 Fixtures
Bournemouth are at home to Nottingham Forest.
Everton will travel to Brighton.
Liverpool host Ipswich.
Newcastle have a trip to Southampton.
Wolves will welcome Arsenal.
Manchester City clash with Chelsea at The Etihad.
Brentford are away to Crystal Palace.
Spurs have a home game against Leicester.
Aston Villa are hosting West Ham.
Manchester United will travel to Fulham.
FPL Assets Leading On Form For Gameweek 23
Let’s start by looking at the current form amongst FPL assets for Matchweek 23.
Goalkeepers:
- Martin Dúbravka is tied for first with 5.4
- Matz Sels rivals him with 5.4
- Dean Henderson is third with 4.8
Defenders:
- Marc Guéhi moves to first with 6.4
- Lewis Hall is tied for second with 6.0
- Trent Alexander-Arnold rivals him with 6.0
Midfielders:
- Phil Foden jumps to first with 11.0
- Mohamed Salah drops to second with 7.4
- Amad Diallo is tied for third with 7.0
Forwards:
- Chris Wood is first with 8.6
- Alexander Isak drops to second with 8.0
- Jean-Philippe Mateta moves to third with 6.6
Bournemouth’s Hot Commodity - Justin Kluivert
Bournemouth are enjoying a remarkable run of form and find themselves just three points off the top four after a stunning 4-1 victory over Newcastle in their latest Premier League outing.
Their attacking prowess has been among the best in the league this season, with the Cherries ranking fourth for total shots.
Only Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea have managed more.
Additionally, they have shown exceptional creativity, with only Fulham delivering more crosses into the box this season.
Bournemouth’s ability to generate high-quality scoring opportunities is further highlighted by the fact that only Chelsea have struck the woodwork more often.
The consistency of Bournemouth’s performances has been impressive, with their last defeat coming all the way back in Gameweek 12.
One standout player in this remarkable run has been Justin Kluivert, who has been pivotal to everything positive about their attack.
Kluivert has notched an impressive 10 goals and 3 assists so far this season, making him one of the most effective budget options in FPL.
Priced at just £5.6m, Kluivert has amassed 108 FPL points and is currently owned by 6.5% of managers.
His recent form has been particularly outstanding.
He scored a hat trick in his latest appearance against Newcastle and has accumulated 33 FPL points in his last three matches.
Looking ahead, Bournemouth face challenging fixtures against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in their next two games.
Although these are very difficult opponents, Kluivert’s performances this season, combined with his recent heroics, have made him the most transferred-in player in FPL ahead of the new gameweek.
His ability to deliver in high-pressure moments could continue to reward those who place their faith in him.
Cole Palmer Is Being Frozen Out
The second most-owned player in Fantasy Premier League, Cole Palmer, has been a consistent performer, tallying 34 points in his last five matches.
However, recent concerns over a potential ankle injury raised eyebrows among FPL managers.
Following Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Wolves in Gameweek 22, where Palmer was substituted after 83 minutes, manager Enzo Maresca assured fans that the issue was minor.
Despite Palmer's individual form, Chelsea as a team has struggled.
The Blues have won just one of their last six Premier League matches, a disappointing stretch that has tested the patience of their supporters and FPL investors alike.
During this run, Palmer has managed to score three goals, keeping his appeal alive for some managers despite Chelsea’s broader issues.
Earlier this season, Palmer’s FPL ownership rivalled that of Mohamed Salah.
However, while the Egyptian winger has soared past 70% ownership globally, Chelsea’s inconsistent performances have led many to sell their assets.
Palmer, who was once viewed as a must-have, now finds himself among the most transferred-out players this week.
Interestingly, Chelsea dominates the list of outgoing transfers.
Arsenal’s William Saliba tops the charts as the most transferred-out player due to a hamstring issue, but he is followed by two Chelsea players.
Striker Nicolas Jackson is second, with Palmer rounding out the top three.
Looking ahead, Chelsea faces a tough schedule with matches against Manchester City, West Ham, and Brighton on the horizon.
These challenging fixtures could validate the decisions of those who have sold Palmer, or potentially leave them regretting it if he continues to deliver points.
As FPL managers weigh their options, Palmer remains a player to watch in the weeks ahead.
Phil Foden Flourishing
Last season’s Premier League Player of the Year, Phil Foden, has rediscovered his form in recent weeks, providing a crucial boost for Manchester City.
The reigning champions find themselves in an uncharacteristic fifth place, but Foden’s recent performances have been a bright spot.
Over the past four Premier League matches, he has scored five goals and provided two assists.
For FPL managers, Foden’s current form is impossible to overlook.
The midfielder, who accumulated an impressive 230 points last season, has racked up 48 points in his last four matches.
Priced at £9.3m, he isn’t the cheapest option, but his recent output has made him the second most transferred-in midfielder ahead of the upcoming gameweek.
If Foden can maintain this level of performance, he could become an essential pick for the remainder of the season.
So far this campaign, Foden has scored six goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances.
While Manchester City have struggled for consistency throughout the season, Foden’s recent individual contributions have been a beacon of hope.
From a statistical perspective, Foden has attempted 42 shots this season, with 13 hitting the target, and he has created six big chances for his teammates.
Additionally, his passing accuracy of 88.8% highlights his ability to distribute effectively for his club.
Looking ahead, Manchester City are set to face one of the toughest fixture runs in the Premier League.
Their next six matches include clashes with Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest.
Despite the daunting schedule, some FPL managers have placed their faith in Foden’s ability to deliver, even against top-tier opposition.
Our FPL GW23 advice is that as City push to climb up the table, Foden’s resurgence could prove pivotal both for his club and for FPL managers seeking to capitalize on his impressive form.
Don’t Overlook Alex Iwobi
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi has emerged as one of the most effective budget options in Fantasy FPL this season.
Currently, only 10 players have accumulated more points than the versatile midfielder, who is priced at an affordable £5.9m.
Iwobi has racked up 103 FPL points, which is only 28 fewer than Erling Haaland, the game’s most expensive player.
In 22 appearances this season, Iwobi has scored seven goals and provided three assists.
While Fulham are mid-table, sitting 10th in the Premier League standings, Iwobi has been their standout FPL asset.
Despite Raúl Jiménez being the club’s top scorer with eight goals and Antonee Robinson leading their assists tally with nine, Iwobi has outperformed both in FPL points, cementing his place as Fulham’s top performer in the game.
What makes Iwobi even more intriguing is his underlying statistics.
Although he has only registered three assists so far, he ranks sixth in the entire Premier League for expected assists (xA).
This suggests that his creative performances have not been fully reflected in his output, and there is potential for him to increase his returns as the season progresses.
Fulham’s upcoming fixtures present a mixed bag of challenges.
They face tough matches against Manchester United, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest in the short term.
However, their schedule becomes more favourable in Gameweek 26, with matches against Crystal Palace and Wolves.
Our free FPL tip is that EPL fantasy football managers might want to monitor Iwobi closely and consider bringing him in before that fixture swing, as he could be a difference-maker in the later stages of the season.
Antoine Semenyo Vs Son Heung-Min
The search for midfielders who can rival the FPL point totals of stars like Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer is an ongoing challenge.
Managers who have moved on from Palmer this week will certainly be looking for a suitable replacement to fill that void.
While Phil Foden’s recent form makes him an appealing option, others may be after a more consistent and budget-friendly choice, such as Antoine Semenyo.
Additionally, some may look to established talent like Son Heung-Min, hoping he can regain his form in the second half of the season.
Let’s compare their performances this season.
Both Antoine Semenyo and Son Heung-Min have scored six Premier League goals this season.
However, Son leads in terms of assists, having registered six, while Semenyo has three.
Semenyo has been more prolific in terms of attempts, taking 81 shots compared to Son’s 39.
Of those, 24 of Semenyo’s shots have been on target, while Son has had 21 on target.
Despite the higher number of attempts, Son boasts a superior shooting accuracy of 67.7% compared to Semenyo’s 47.1%.
Interestingly, both players have scored three goals with their right foot and three with their left, with all of their goals coming from inside the box.
Semenyo has struck the woodwork three times, while Son has hit it twice.
The two are close when it comes to big chances missed, with Semenyo at seven and Son at six.
In terms of creativity, Son again has the edge, having created 12 big chances for his teammates, while Semenyo has created eight.
Semenyo has completed 6 through balls this season, doubling Son’s 3.
From an EPL fantasy standpoint, the two players differ significantly in price.
Semenyo is available at a bargain £5.6m, while Son commands a premium price of £9.8m.
Despite the price difference, their FPL points tally is nearly identical, with Semenyo on 91 points and Son just ahead with 92.
A decision between Semenyo and Son depends largely on your FPL strategy.
Our Fantasy Premier League tips is that Semenyo offers great value for money, providing consistent returns for a much lower cost.
On the other hand, Son’s proven ability to deliver over multiple seasons may convince some managers to invest in the premium option, hoping for a strong finish to the season.
Top 3 FPL Gameweek 23 Captain Picks:
- Mohamed Salah vs Ipswich
- Alexander Isak vs Southampton
- Ollie Watkins vs West Ham
Differential Captain Pick Of The Week
Bryan Mbeumo
The third-highest points scorer of the season will be on the road this weekend, facing Crystal Palace.
While many Premier League fantasy managers have Bryan Mbeumo in their FPL team selection, most are likely to captain players like Salah or Isak.
However, those who choose to hand the armband to Brentford’s standout performer could be in for a highly rewarding gameweek.
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 from the FPL tips below:
GK: Alisson Becker (£5.5m)
DEF: Lewis Hall (£5.1m)
DEF: Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m)
DEF: Pedro Porro (£5.4m)
MID: Anthony Gordon (£7.7m)
MID: Son Heung-min (£9.8m)
MID: Mohamed Salah © (£13.7m)
MID: Morgan Rogers (£5.5m)
FWD: Ollie Watkins (£8.8m)
FWD: João Pedro (£5.6m)
FWD: Alexander Isak (£9.5m)
BENCH: Killian Cahill (£3.9m)
BENCH: Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m)
BENCH: Conor Townsend (£3.9m)
BENCH: Luke Thomas (£3.9m)
Final Thoughts
As we head into Gameweek 23, our best fantasy football tips is that FPL managers should focus on making calculated decisions based on player form and favourable matchups.
This is the time to take advantage of strong fixtures and ensure your squad is well-positioned for the weeks ahead.
Whether you're solidifying your key players or considering transfers to strengthen your lineup, every move counts.
We hope our FPL GW23 tips guide you to success, and here's to a productive gameweek for all managers!
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