Last updated on February 18th, 2022
By Matthew Petersen @Matt_Petersen13
Gamewek 25 was business as usual as clubs continued to play catch up after all the postponements. Man City routed Norwich 4-0 thanks to some Raheem Sterling (£10.7m) magic. Liverpool picked up a solid win over Burnley to stay within reach of City ahead of their DGW. The battle for the top 4 got interesting as Spurs and West Ham both dropped points meaning Man United could move into the top while Arsenal, who didn’t play this GW, will hope to make their DGW count and push for the top 4. The FPL average was 47 points, a strong showing from managers as they start to prepare chips and transfers ahead of a busy DGW26.
Gameweek 25 top 3 performers
1. Raheem Sterling – 18 points (90 minutes, three goals, clean sheet, missed penalty, yellow card, 3BPS)
2. Adam Webster – 16 points (15 points vs Watford; 1 point vs man United)
=3. Seamus Coleman; Anthony Gordon; Leander Dendoncker – 14 points
Let’s take a look at this week’s picks, reviewing their GW25 performance and previewing their GW26 points potential. With the fixture schedule returning to normal again and postponements not as frequent, I will go back to giving short summaries on why I chose the given players.
1.Mohamed Salah – £13.0m (MID); 50.2% ownership
GW25 review – 3 points (90 minutes, clean sheet)
GW26 preview – Leeds (H); Norwich (H)
A DGW for the top scorer in FPL and the PL, Mo Salah is likely to break records for most picked captain and triple captain in a single gameweek. Norwich and Leeds have floundered defensively and with both games at Anfield, he’s a no brainer option for this week. The Egyptian will be raring to add to his 16 goals and 10 assists already this season and having not scored in his two games since returning from AFCON, he will be as motivated as ever to help Liverpool push for the title and get back on form.
2. Alexandre Lacazette – £8.3m (FOR); 4.4% ownership
GW25 review – 5 points (80 minutes, one assist)
GW26 preview – Leicester (H); Wolves (A)
Lacazette might not be on many managers lists but the Frenchman has managed three goals and four assists so far this season. He has played his role well to support the young players behind him and with Martinelli suspended for the Wolves game, and Aubameyang now left the club, Lacazette’s chances of playing are increased. Leicester are still poor defensively and Arsenal are chasing the top 4 so I expect them to challenge in that game. Wolves will be a trickier test but nonetheless an Arsenal option will be handy this DGW. =
3. Trent Alexander-Arnold – £8.3m (DEF); 47.8% ownership
GW25 review – 6 points (90 minutes, clean sheet)
GW26 preview – Leeds (H); Norwich (H)
The top-scoring and most owned defender is arguably just as invaluable as Salah for this GW. His clean sheet potential alone will be high but the chance for the full-back to add to his 10 assists this season is even more enticing. He is likely to start both games, barring any injury or suspension, so is a safe option for getting two appearances this GW.
4. Heung-Min Son – £10.7m (MID); 15.2% ownership
GW25 review – 2 points (90 minutes)
GW26 preview – Man City (A); Burnley (A)
While Spurs’ form of late hasn’t been great, Heung-Min Son is the kind of player who can turn a game on its head in one moment. He proved it earlier in the season when he scored 10 points and Spurs beat City 1-0 on the opening day. Spurs are still pushing for the top 4 and Son will be key to that. A 2nd game against Burnley is an intriguing option on its own so Son is worth having as a premium option now, and going forward. He has notched nine goals and five assists so far this season.
5. Raúl Jiménez – £7.4m (FOR); 5.7% ownership
GW25 review – 6 points (85 minutes, one goal)
GW26 preview – Leicester (H); Arsenal (A)
The Mexican number 9 is slowly getting back to the form that made him a red FPL prospect in his first two seasons. He has five goals and three assists so far this season and like Lacazette, he faces Leicester in a game that Wolves would feel they can win and make a push at the European spots for next season. He then faces off against Lacazette in the 2nd game of the GW as both teams will look to cement their spots in the top half of the table and get their season going with some good winning momentum. Wolves don’t score many but when they do, Jimenez is usually at the heart of it all.
6. Odsonne Eduoard – £6.5m (FOR); 9.3% ownership
GW25 review – 2 points (71 minutes)
GW26 preview – Chelsea (A); Watford (A)
Eduoard has been a top signing for Crystal Palace and has shown his quality scoring six goals and grabbing four assists this season. They have a mixed DGW as they face Chelsea, who have the most clean sheets this season, and Watford, who have the least, in one gameweek so this could really go either way for the near 10% of managers who own him. I think the Watford fixture is enough of an attractive game to have him in the team. Conor Gallagher (£6.2m) – who is ineligible to face parent club Chelsea – will also be back for the game against Watford.
*Prices and ownership statistics are correct as of 17 February 2022*
To see the picks of last week, click the link below:
