In this article…
Team, the green arrows continue! The fresh, new look team has continued the rank march into 2025, so let’s review GW20, decide on a plan to push onto GW21 and continue the rank rise! This is the best place to find all the essential information you need to know, to continue your march towards top spot in that work league!
You can also follow our Fantasy Premier League Football Tips throughout the season for gameweekly insights and opinions.
The 24/25 season is well underway, and our experts are continuing to roll out their Premier League predictions, so now is the perfect time to get involved. We will remain across all the action on the continent, the EFL, and in Scotland in our various Football Betting Tips & Predictions, with fresh tips available here on Andy’s Bet Club every day.
⚔️ Gameweek 20 Review – 78 Points (60 Average)
A great week and could have been better, but what FPL manager doesn’t say that? I will take the green arrow! My normal optimism of a clean sheet was broken when Chelsea and Aston Villa literally conceded on the same minute to my disapproval, but Milenkovic (6pts) has been a revelation since joining the squad.
There was midfield mayhem with Palmer (10pts) and Salah (14pts) doing what they do best, but it was the man many managers transferred out who smashed it. Bryan Mbeumo with 2 goals, an assist and all 3 bonus points that earned him the highest score of the GW… Glad I kept the faith.
Up top, the two changes paid off with Isak (7pts) scoring and Wissa (11pts) playing a blinder in partnership with Mbeumo to my delight. Luckily, the bench wasn’t required. New year, new team and new (higher) rank!
📋 Gameweek 20 Transfers Recap
Each week so you know @FplVeteran is doing the demanding work for you, we revisit key decisions from last weeks review. This GW we revisit my Transfers’ In. Our full attacking lineup performed. At first, you might have thought the three forwards all starting with a W was a gimmick to aid my style of writing and though that was only slightly the case(way more than I’d like to admit lol) our good recommendations continue. W for Win indeed!
| Captain | Points |
| Wissa | 11 |
| Wood | 8 |
| Watkins | 2 |
| Total | 21 |
✅ The Best 2 Transfers IN for Gameweek 21
🏴 Anthony Gordon – Newcastle (£7.5m, 17.5%)
Mo Salah Mk 2 currently? Wait, wait, wait team; I’m not for one second suggesting he is even in the same league currently as the Egyptian king, but 5 returns in a row is definitely worth a look. Yes, the level of opposition he has faced in these game have been second half of the table standard but the good news about this is those opponents keep coming. Wolves, Fulham and Southampton in the next four, could continue his return streak to 10… Salah levels!
Newcastle have returned to great form lately, winning the last 5 in a row and scoring 15 goals in the process, often with Gordon at the tip of the attacking spear. At only £7.5m, he’s great value and its not too late to jump on the bandwagon. If you need to make any moves in midfield, Gordon should be at the top of your list.
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland – Man City (£14.8m, 30%)
Currently more people own Chris Wood than Erling Haaland… What a wild season! With 3 goals scored in the last 2 matches, Haaland is slowly creeping back into teams, albeit at a slower rate.
Up next are the leaky defences of Brentford, Ipswich, and Chelsea, in which I honestly think Haaland could continue his resurgence and catch the attention of more managers. The sticking point is his costly price tag but with more and more cheap value players emerging throughout the season, it’s easier to get him back.
At the start of the season yes he was firing, but this was compounded due to the fact that hardly any other forwards were performing in this period. Now there are too many forwards like Isak, Cunha and Wood firing weekly for this to repeat, so don’t go ripping your team up just to get him in. However, if you have spare budget lying around, his low (ish) ownership is tempting and remember, he didn’t become a bad player overnight.
❌ The Best 3 Transfers OUT for Gameweek 21
🇳🇱 Mark Flekken – Brentford (£4.4m, 9.3%)
I know it may seem strange after a clean sheet and 6 pointer in his previous game week, but it’s not as rosy as it seems. Firstly, that was the first clean sheet Brentford have kept since GW12 in which Flekken played. Second, they play Man City, Liverpool, and Tottenham in their next four, so clean sheets don’t seem to be on the horizon either.
Now, watching Brentford play is exciting in seeing many goals at both ends (both home and away) and entertaining but it does not help us in regard to FPL points. I thought Brentford would have been much more secure at the back like last season, and though I can see a time managers will move to bring in their defensive assets, currently its not now. Move him out for a more dependable points scorer.
🇪🇸 Pedro Porro – Tottenham (£5.5m, 24%)
Defenders first and foremost are there to defend! Yes, we all look for the assets that are involved in attacking returns and sometimes even score themselves, but as most football fans know, Tottenham don’t keep clean sheets.
Some of it has to do with Tottenham often being ‘Spursy’ but for me the majority is down to Ange’s tactics. He will not alter his playing style, regardless if he has a high number of injuries, the correct type of players for the system or are 4-0 up. At first I loved the ‘it’s who we are mate’ saying but now I think its actually to the detriment of the team, and importantly for this section Porro.
Often he concedes 2 goals or more so the assists he has had, have been capped to 3 or 4 pts max. For a cheap asset in a newly promoted team for instance this is not a bad return, but for a Champions League chasing team with a premium price tag of £5.5m, its just not good enough. If you still own him, either move to a more reliable premium asset or downgrade to a cheaper asset and use the money elsewhere. Don’t think the points will come eventually, because I don’t see it.
🏴 James Maddison – Tottenham (£7.6m, 9%)
160,000 managers have had enough and transferred out. After playing only 80 mins total over the last 3 games I’m not surprised.
This season in a handful of games, Maddison has been a great player to own scoring many double-digit hauls that has seen him become the 9th overall FPL points scorer though somewhat still go under the radar. I know why, inconsistency. Any Spurs fan will tell you Maddison doesn’t do it week in, week out and this really hurts him as a viable asset; you just can’t rely on him.
Now compound this with no start in the last three matches, 2 FPL points overall and playing Arsenal away next. Possibly in previous seasons managers have stuck with him but now there are just too many other better options at almost any price. As the second player in my Transfers Out section from Tottenham, I think you can guess my thoughts on them in the short-medium term. Take out immediately.
Top Tip – The next FPL deadline is 7 days away, so when considering your next transfers, take your time. Test out what moves you think you might make and see if you have enough budget. If you have the exact amount(or close to) and your confident then make the move, but a word of warning, however. The long breaks in FPL are often fraught with surprise injuries, benching’s, and squad rotation, so don’t rush your decision.
🦸 Gameweek 21 Captaincy Selections
🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (£13.6m, 69.4%)
Surprised? No me neither. At this stage team, you already know why Mo Salah is my pick this GW. He hasn’t blanked for a ridiculous 13 games in a row, is the top overall points and form player and is quite literally playing the best football and scoring the most FPL points.
For a little more context, in 20 games, Mo Salah has only blanked in two of them and is currently a mammoth 53 points above the 2nd place overall points player (Cole Palmer). Interestingly enough, one of those blanks was against his upcoming opponents Nottingham Forest, but it would take a brave individual to bet against him getting at least some kind of return.
With his ownership so high, if he continues to play to his current level no one would be surprised if he hauls and then your behind in your work league. Before you know it, the hindsight merchants will be in full force, and you will ponder… What was I thinking? My advice is keeping the armband on him.
Alternative Captain Options
The risk to go against Salah is high..but so is the reward. In a tough weekend of fixtures for the heavy hitters, this may be the only GW for a while in which to go against the grain.
Haaland V Brentford looks perfect for goals, Isak V Wolves is just as good, a risky Bruno V Southampton is possible and a back in form Pedro V Ipswich should also be considered.
This could be the GW of differential captains though, Raul V West Ham, Watkins V Everton, and Mateta V Leicester are leftfield picks..but they could pay off. For me, the best method though is to always select that player who was your first thought, and have your gut agree.
Top three for me this GW: Salah – Haaland – Isak
👁️ FPL Veteran’s Vision and Verdict
Much can change during the FPL break before the next deadline, but the team is looking healthy..very healthy. All sections including my defence (for a change) is set up well, the only decision’s I have is do I need double Brentford attack V Man City, and shall I get more Newcastle coverage?
If I do make a change, I need to be confident it’s a player to improve my squad and score more points over whoever I take out. Currently, I don’t see many upgrades I can make so I’m 90% sure this is my team for GW21, and I will save the 1 FT I have to react to any potential injuries that crop up. Much can change in these 7 days.
Conclusion
For my final GW21 team and football insights/analysis throughout the 2024-2025 season. Look out for my special articles and follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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