Over gameweek 35, the Premier League title race grew closer to a conclusion, while we received our first confirmed relegation of the season.
Here’s what you need to be across, as we build up to FPL Gameweek 28.
When does FPL Gameweek 36 start?
Saturday 4 April, 3:30 am AEDT
Luton Town host Everton to kick FPL gameweek 36 off. Everton, confirmed as safe in the Premier League for another season, have improved recently in recent weeks. Over their last three matches, Sean Dyche’s side have collected nine points, including victory over fiercest rivals Liverpool to confirm the death of their title hopes.
For Luton, who remain deeply in the midst of the Premier League’s relegation battle, victory over a potentially complacent Everton side could drag them from the relegation zone and inspire their survival in the English top flight. Luton have won just once in their last eight matches but will be hoping luck joins their side against Everton.
FPL Gameweek 36 notes
West Ham breaks Liverpool’s title dreams
Liverpool’s title dreams had all but extinguished when Everton beat them in the Merseyside Derby. Yet, a faint glimmer of hope remained as they headed to London for their West Ham clash. Despite dominating proceedings, the Reds couldn’t muster enough to gain the two points.
Jarrod Bowen (£7.6 I 12.2%) grabbed his 16th Premier League goal of the season, and 20th in all competition, before grabbing his sixth assist of the season to set Michail Antonio up for West Ham’s 76th-minute equaliser. A sideline spat between Mohamed Salah (£13.5 I 30.1%) and Jurgen Klopp overshadowed Liverpool’s dire performance, one which suggests dressing room tensions have potentially played a role in the side’s terrible recent form.
Sheffield United’s relegation confirmed by Newcastle
No one can say they’re surprised that Sheffield United will be playing in the Championship next season. Such is the Premier League’s financial might that even mid-table sides have budgets rivalling top sides in other European leagues. Sheffield United were behind the eight ball from the word go this season. Their shoestring budget too measly for survival.
Perhaps the biggest shock is that it took 35 matches for their relegation to be confirmed. In reality, many knew this to be the case months ago.
For their part, Newcastle were frighteningly clinical, as they have been in recent weeks. Eddie Howe’s side’s last six games have seen them score 15 goals, with the five goals they scored against Sheffield United the most they’ve put in an opponent’s net since beating the same side 8-0 in September.
Alexander Isak (£8.3 I 35.3%) grabbed his third brace in the last month, taking his season tally to 19. His first was a fabulous finish following a snaking run beyond the Sheffield United defence, the kind of goal Thierry Henry used to regularly score. Having already grabbed his 15th assist of the season, Anthony Gordon (£6.3 I 18.9%) won the penalty for Isak’s second. Hasn’t the former Everton man had a fantastic season?
Everton safe to fight another season
As has been the case in recent seasons, the last leg of the Premier League season has been highly nervy for Everton. This year promised to be no different. Except, it was. A run of three consecutive victories, capped by a gutsy 1-0 win over Brentford, has ensured Everton’s Premier League status is cemented for another season.
A hallmark of their recent form uptick has been the return of their rock-solid defence to good form. Three clean sheets in a row is as good as three 5-0 wins for Sean Dyche, with his side conceding just 14 shots on target in their last 270 minutes of football.
Summer improvements will be needed further forward, but James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.3 I 8.2%), are a central defensive duo to anchor their future campaigns
Bournemouth run rampant over Brighton
It sums up the current state of affairs at Brighton that their April Goal of the Month will, by default, be awarded to Ari Muric’s own goal in their clash with Burnley. They look hapless at the moment, with injuries severely hindering Roberto De Zerbi.
It’s hard to read too much into this result for either side. Their positions on the ladder are all but secure, with Brighton’s injury list long enough to fill an entire team sheet.
Happy St Totteringham’s Day!
For many years, Arsenal’s only Premier League pride came from finishing higher than fierce rivals Spurs in the Premier League table. An occasion dubbed St Totteringham’s Day, once more celebrated by the Gunners, only this time they do so with a Premier League title in mind.
3-0 at halftime was, by many estimations, an unfair scoreline for Spurs. Yet, Arsenal were up by that margin, with Kai Havertz’s (£7.4 I 7.6%) influential season continuing as he provided the assist for Bukayo Saka before nodding home his side’s third just before the break.
Spurs fought back well in the second half, building from the goal gifted to Cristian Romero by a misplaced David Raya (£5.2 I 10.4%) pass just after the hour mark to provide Arsenal the ultimate scare to end the match. In the end, Heung-Min Son’s (£9.9 I 32.6%) late penalty was little more than a consolation.
Arsenal are right in this title fight and talented enough to take City all the way. Victory in the North London derby confirmed that.
City edge a step closer to four in a row
No side in English football history has won four consecutive league titles. Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, courtesy of a Josko Gvardiol (£5.0 I 6.5%) header and Erling Haaland’s (£14.1 I 61.8%) 21st goal of the season means Pep Guardiola’s side are one step closer to an unprecedented slice of history.
Transfer targets under 15% ownership
DEFENDER: Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.3 I 8.2%)
MIDFIELDER: Jarrod Bowen (£7.6 I 12.2%)
FORWARD: Rodrigo Muniz (£4.5 I 6.0%)
