For some, round 25 of the Premier League was a fruitful start to a double gameweek. For others, it was a week to forget.
Here’s what you need to be across, as we build up to FPL Gameweek 26.
When does FPL Gameweek 26 start?
Sunday 25 February, 12:30 am AEDT
Aston Villa hosts a rampant Nottingham Forest to kick FPL gameweek 26 off. Unai Emery’s side’s form has slipped in recent weeks, not that their 2-1 victory over Fulham would suggest that.
Their focal point, Ollie Watkins (£8.7 I 48.9%) is arguably the Premier League’s form striker this season, while former fringe stars Leon Bailey (£5.6 I 3.5%) and Youri Tieleman’s (£5.6 I 0.4%) increased attacking contributions should inspire positivity amongst Villa fans.
However, their adversary, Nottingham Forest, should not be underestimated. Their current iteration under Nuno Espirito Santo, has looked rejuvenated. Wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.7 I 0.3%) and Anthony Elanga (£5.1 I 1.4%) have begun finding their feet. At the same time, a host of AFCON and Asian Cup returners will only boost their chances of snatching a Villa Park victory.
FPL Gameweek 26 notes
Misfiring Haaland hinders City, helps Chelsea
Everyone expected Manchester City to run riot when they hosted Chelsea in the first fixture of their FPL double gameweek. As such, shock was the widespread reaction when Mauricio Pochettino’s side not only collected a point but was good value for it too.
Raheem Sterling’s (£6.9 I 5.9%) late first-half strike, set up by maligned but improving forward, Nicolas Jackson (£6.8 4.0), was almost enough, if not for Rodri’s (£5.6 I 5.5%) late-leveller. The Spaniard has made a habit of striking late against Chelsea this season, much to the dismay of Blues fans everywhere.
However, the Spaniard’s boot wouldn’t have been necessary had Erling Haaland (£14.4 I 74.5%) remembered where the back of the net is. The Norwegian missed three big chances that on another night he’d have buried. Thankfully for the three-quarter of FPL players who own City’s talisman, Haaland has City’s clash with Brentford to recover from his blank double gameweek start.
That’s not to discredit Chelsea’s performance, particularly that of their defence. Malo Gusto (£4.2 I 6.66%), Axel Disasi (£4.9 I 3.4%) and Levi Colwill (£4.7 I 3.7%) were outstanding, as was Dorde Petrovic (£4.5 I 1.1%), who made four saves, between the sticks.
Brentford become Haaland’s 21 Premier League victim
Before City’s midweek clash with Brentford, the second of their FPL double gameweek, Erling Haaland (£14.4 I 74.5%) had scored against all but one of the Premier League sides he’s faced. That one? Brentford.
In a rather cagey affair, made so by Brentford’s exquisite tactical exploits and crucial City midfield restings, it was the Norwegian striker who proved the distance, calmly slotting past Mark Flekken (£4.5 I 3.3%) just after 70 minutes.
Following his misfiring showing against Chelsea, which bred whispers of his finishing proficiency – was he regressing to the mean? – Haaland did what all great players do and put the last game behind them to focus on the task at hand.
Adingra and Gross show out against Sheffield United
Brighton thumping bottom-feeding Sheffield United 5-0 is about as regulation as regulation performances come. And yet, we shouldn’t ignore Pascal Gross (£6.4 I 6.2%), who was at his scheming best in midfield, grabbing his ninth assist of the season and being involved in his fourth goal in his last three games.
Fresh from his AFCON final heroics, Simon Adingra (£5.0 I 0.4%) put in a particularly noteworthy 15-minute cameo, scoring twice and throwing the final pair of nails in Sheffield United’s coffin. With very minuscule ownership levels, the Ivorian winger is a great cheap option moving into FPL gameweek 26 and beyond.
Frightening Arsenal continue their scoring mojo
There was a time when Arsenal’s season looked destined for a slide towards mediocrity. Mikel Arteta’s men were in poor form, with their goalscoring problems were the hottest Premier League topic of conversation.
Fast forward to present day, Arsenal have won five on the trot, scoring 21 in that time, five of which came against Burnley at the weekend. Without a dominant striker, Arsenal has grown accustomed to, and excellent at, scoring by committee with Bukayo Saka (£9.0 I 60.2%) and Martin Odegaard (£8.4 I 14.6%) leading the charge.
Where it was once considered wise to offload any Arsenal assets, now the wise course of action appears to be bringing as many as possible in, particularly Saka and one of Gabriel (£5.1 I 23.1%) or William Saliba (£5.7 I 37.5%), such is Arteta’s side’s set-piece proficiency.
Rasmus Hojlund, a sneaky striker POD?
At the start of the season, Rasmus Hojlund’s (£7.1 I 9.4%) Premier League goal return was consistently mocked by fans not affiliated with Manchester United. Signed for a hefty fee in the summer transfer window, Hojlund took 19 games to get off the mark in the Premier League.
Now, the young Dane’s form is red hot. He’s scored in six consecutive Premier League matches, a run only Eric Cantona, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo have embarked on for the Red Devils.
His finishing is impressive and he boasts all the physical hallmarks of an exceptional modern striker; speed, strength and height, making him the ideal striker for Erik Ten Hag’s counter-attacking style.
Outside of Ollie Watkins (£8.7 I 48.9%) there’s no Premier League striker in richer form then Hojlund, not even another nordic Mancunian striker with a name phonetically similar to United’s Danish talisman.
Salah’s return reduces Jota’s injury woes
In 2023-24, no Premier League player has performed greater than Mohamed Salah (£13.0 I 21.2%). An injury risk heading into Liverpool’s double gameweek, the Egyptian was brought into their game against Brentford early through an alarming injury to Diogo Jota (£8.3 I 20.7%), who’s recent excellency made Salah’s absence markedly less glaring.
Job security in Liverpool’s front line is limited for forwards not Salah, meaning Jota’s departure from many FPL sides was a matter of when rather than if. However, with Liverpool only halfway through a double gameweek and Jota the preferred forward option from the Reds given Salah’s injury comeback, his injury stings.
Moving into FPL gameweek 26, in which Liverpool have a blank gameweek, Jota’s departure should open the door for Salah’s mass FPL return. With 15 goals and nine assists this season, how could anyone in their right mind resist the Egyptian’s output?
Elsewhere, Ivan Toney (£8.2 I 9.2%) found the scoresheet once again, making it four goals and one assist in his five games back from his gambling ban. If you haven’t already, serious considerations should be given towards bringing the Englishman into your FPL side.
Wonderful Wolves trounce Spurs
Two goals from defensive midfielder Joao Gomes (£4.9 I 0.1%) might steal the headlines linked to Wolves victory over Spurs. However, from an FPL perspective, the most notably outcomes of this match relate to Pedro Neto (£5.7 I 3.7%) grabbing his fourth goal involvement in his sixth game back from injury and Hwang Hee-Chan’s (£5.5 I 3.4%) return to action.
With star striker, Matheus Cunha (£5.7 I 4.4%) likely missing the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, the South Korean’s return is massive for Gary O’Neil’s side. From an FPL perspective, Hwang leading the line, and potentially on penalty duty, at his price makes him an enticing option who could open doors for improving your team elsewhere come FPL gameweek 26 and even further down the line.
Transfer targets under 15% ownership
DEFENDER: Malo Gusto (£4.2 I 6.66%)
MIDFIELDER: Hwang Hee-Chan’s (£5.5 I 3.4%)
FORWARD: Rasmus Hojlund (£7.1 I 9.4%)
