In this article…
As a veteran FPL manager only a few things are certain each season. The joy of a successful captaincy call, the delight in your first bench player coming on for a huge haul and the absolute chaos the international break brings season upon season; and this break was no exception.
From nailed-on players not starting, players being substituted at half-time, penalty takers altering and high-profile injuries, Gameweek 4 brought it all, so let’s unpack it.
Each week I summarise all the critical information you need to know, in order to continue your march towards top spot in that work league.
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⚔️ Gameweek 4 Review – 39 Points (51 Average)
I chose to play my Wildcard this week in order to set up for the next four to six gameweeks. David Raya (9pts) set the team to a great start but that’s unfortunately where it pretty much ended. Andy Robertson (2pts) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (1pt) conceded in a shock loss to Nottingham Forest at home and Rico Lewis (1 pt) conceded after 54 seconds, then was substituted at half time.
My midfield continued the pain with 1 and 2 points galore, except Bruno Fernandes (5pts) who I transferred in this Gameweek for his assist against Southampton. Alexander Isak (1pt) looked threatening until an eye injury forced him off at half-time, but at least Ollie Watkins (13pts) was on hand; returning to form and returning me points in the process.
✅ The Best 3 Transfers IN for Gameweek 5
🏴 Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (£8.9m, 24.0%)
It took him a while to get up to speed, but his performance against Everton confirms he’s back. With only one assist in his first three games, managers were starting to lose hope but his brace against Everton repaid the managers that had kept the faith.
In truth, it could and should have been more, which as an owner is exciting and comforting. Yes, Aston Villa currently are leaking goals but this further helps Watkins, simply he has to score more in order for his team to win. Some managers may be put off by the emergence of Jhon Duran and the Champions League starting this week, but let me assure you; if Watkins is fit he starts and most likely starts.
🏴 Bukayo Saka – Arsenal (£10m, 30.0%)
Let me hit you with some knowledge, Arsenal have not scored a goal this season without the involvement of Bukayo Saka. 4 assists and 1 goal in four games demonstrate a blistering start to the season for the winger, with plenty more yet to come.
Many managers opted to transfer him out this Gameweek due to the tough fixtures against Tottenham and Man City, forgetting one vital fact; he can score points against any opposition. In FPL, all the top players do the business against large and small clubs and Saka has quite the run coming up.
After Man City he plays Leicester (H), Southampton (H) and Bournemouth (A), two newly promoted clubs back-to-back is just about the best set of fixtures you can get. If you think Saka has scored well so far, come back to me in three gameweeks time, I expect an increase in points and he is as close to a must-have player as you can get right now.
🇧🇷 Gabriel – Arsenal (£6m, 12.0%)
Quite plainly, he is the number-one scoring defender right now in FPL. Three clean sheets in the last four and a monstrous 15-pointer with the only goal to beat Spurs this weekend, Gabriel is an asset high up on many manager’s wishlists.
Like Saka, great fixtures are inbound but for Gabriel, this comes in the form of both clean sheets and attacking returns. Arsenal’s defence is currently one of the best in Europe but with the shambles of Southampton visiting the Emirates, there is a very high chance of Gabriel repeating his points haul heroics and genuinely it could be even more than 15 points. Yes, his percentage owned will increase slightly before the next gameweek but the fact he is only just over 10% owned is massively surprising.
❌ The Best 3 Transfers OUT for Gameweek 4
🏴 Dean Henderson – Crystal Palace (£4.5m, 14.0%)
I didn’t like the idea of a £4.5m goalkeeper and this is precisely the reason why. Yes, you are saving that important £0.5/£1m but at what cost? Each season we look for that underrated, cheap GK that we can utilise all season or rotate, but ultimately it only brings the need for transfers and low GW scores.
Pre-season there were high hopes for Crystal Palace, who managed to keep hold of Marc Guehi but I was never sold on the idea. Defensively they haven’t been at the races with Guehi also not setting games alight with any performances to note at all.
Even against the weakest opponents, I can’t trust them not to concede and for that reason, it’s an easy transfer out. You should also note the same applies to Marc Guehi (£4.5m).
🇧🇷 Rodrigo Muniz – Fulham (£6.8m, 6.8%)
With Muniz finishing last season like a freight train, it’s the polar opposite so far, the train hasn’t yet left the station.
These numbers are stark, four games played, 2.8 shots per game, 1 shot on target per game, 0 goals and a measly 7 points total. Having been an owner, his in-game positioning and promise looked brilliant, but it just hasn’t materialised and I wonder when precisely it will.
Aston Villa, Man City and Newcastle in the next four provide my gut feeling with validation, originally it was a great potential shout for a cheap asset but that experiment is now over. Give up, replace him and move on.
🇨🇩 Yoane Wissa – Brentford (£6.1m, 7.5%)
This one is unfortunate. The decision to include him in the transfer out column isn’t due to form, it’s quite the opposite. Wissa has 3 goals and 1 assist in the first four opening games including scoring after 53 seconds against Man City last GW.
His partnership with Bryan Mbeumo especially since Ivan Toney left had memories of the Harry Kane/Heung-Min Son’s link-up in seasons gone by but after his goal, he sustained a nasty ankle injury that will keep him out for up to two months. We have established the need to remove Wissa but with not much depth to replace him, will Mbeumo now also be a weaker asset? As a current owner, for now, all we can do is wait and see.
Top Tip – Now we are four Gameweeks in, your team will more than likely have built up extra value by owning players that have increased in price. Similarly, many have decreased in price and this is important because there is always an alternative option. It’s more optimal to wait until closer to the deadline and select a perceived lesser asset than panic buying a player that may pick up a knock and not even play at all.
🦸 Gameweek 5 Captaincy Selections
🏴 Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (£8.9m, 24%)
You were expecting to see the name Erling Haaland right? I get it, and although many weeks he will be the best captaincy call, this week is not one of them. Stepping forward is the highest points scorer of last season playing a weak Wolves side at home. Aston Villa are on the ascendancy and with the Champions League opener bringing European football back to the their fans, I expect the jubilation to carry onto this fixture, resulting in a ruthless Villa dismantling Wolves. Watkins at the tip of that attacking edge, will get many chances to add to his goal tally and is further aided by the current goalkeeping setup at Wolves, Jose Sa has been dropped and in the last two games, Sam Johnstone hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory. Poor at crosses and playing out from the back is not his forte.
🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (£12.7m, 46%)
If it’s not one it’s the other, Haaland isn’t included but Salah remains and is quite possibly the best captaincy option this coming Gameweek. The loss against Nottingham Forest was a huge shock for any football fan, with the attack, and in particular Salah, looking flat throughout. I expect a large response from not only the whole Liverpool side, but also from the main man, Salah.
In the last five meetings between these two, Liverpool have scored an unbelievable 18 goals (3.6 per game) and been awarded two penalties in the last four, and you can guess who took them? Yes, Bournemouth have improved but only mostly in home fixtures and Anfield isn’t your average away day in the league.
I foresee Liverpool bouncing back with a comfortable win and Salah’s largest haul of the season.
👁️ FPL Veteran’s Vision and Verdict
I am pleased with the decision in using my Wildcard last GW to set up for the long spate of fixtures ahead, but time will tell. I gained a good chunk of value so I won’t be required to make early transfers to avoid being priced out of a move, taking the time to make key decisions.
The aim is to not make a transfer until GW6, where many team’s fixtures swing and I will mini-Wildcard making 3 transfers. I will again go no Haaland but the real test is do I include him for GW6 onwards, I don’t think I can ignore that run he has so currently he may begrudgingly edge himself into my team, maybe.
Conclusion
For my final gameweek five team and football insights/analysis throughout the 2024-2025 season, follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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