The first Fantasy Premier League deadline of 2025 is fast approaching with a full schedule of top-flight fixtures taking place this weekend.
It may be the penultimate match of Gameweek 20, but Liverpool vs Manchester United is the standout game as the title favourites take on relegation contenders (at least according to Ruben Amorim).
With Mo Salah in the form of his life and United breaking unwanted records, there will surely be goals galore at Anfield. Plenty of other match-up that look ripe for high-scoring action.
The prospect of Tottenham vs Newcastle ending goalless seems about as likely as Ange Postecoglou suddenly deciding to shut up shop, Manchester City could feast on a vulnerable West Ham defence and Aston Villa will be licking their lips at facing Ruud’s leaky Leicester.
The Gameweek 20 deadline is at 11am on Saturday 4 January.
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Gameweek 20 fixtures
Saturday 4 January
*All fixtures at 3pm unless otherwise stated
- Tottenham vs Newcastle (12.30pm)
- Aston Villa vs Leicester
- Bournemouth vs Everton
- Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
- Man City vs West Ham
- Southampton vs Brentford
- Brighton vs Arsenal (5.30pm)
Sunday 5 January
- Fulham vs Ipswich (2pm)
- Liverpool vs Man Utd (4.30pm)
Monday 6 January
- Wolves vs Nottingham Forest (8pm)
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
A shallow pool of forwards has dried up further with Wolves’ Matheus Cunha banned this weekend following his unsavoury post-match shake down with a member of Ipswich’s backroom team in December. Cody Gakpo is a differential option to consider as the Brazilian’s replacement.
A bit-part player under Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman is becoming increasingly integral under his compatriot Arne Slot, starting in each of Liverpool’s last seven Premier League games.
During that period, he has scored four goals, set up another and averaged 5.57 FPL points per game. Only Salah and Alexander-Arnold can top that among Liverpool players.
Having three Liverpool assets is a must given their relentless form and while Salah and Alexander-Arnold are obvious selections, that third slot is up for grabs.
Virgil van Dijk is the safest pick, but Gakpo is a strong option for those looking to double up in attack rather than defence. That ploy looks appealing considering how Manchester United defended against Newcastle on Monday…
Price: £7.3m Points: 62 Gameweek 20 fixture: Man Utd (h)
Phil Foden (Man City)
Manchester City were far from their formidable best of years gone by against Leicester on Sunday but they did at least manage to end a second four-game winless streak of the season.
Phil Foden was credited with the FPL assist for Savio’s opener meaning he has two attacking returns in his last three appearances.
Those goal contributions and Foden’s promising underlying numbers in recent weeks bode well ahead of a home game against West Ham who have conceded three or more goals in seven league matches.
Despite playing fewer minutes than Erling Haaland since Gameweek 16, Foden has had more shots (13 to 10) and shots on target (six to four) than the Norwegian. He has also created more than twice as many chances than any other teammate in that period.
Price: £9.2m Points: 38 Gameweek 20 fixture: West Ham (h)
Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth are 7th in the Premier League table and just a point behind Manchester City after 19 games. If it were not for Nottingham Forest, the Cherries would be the success story of this season.
Andoni Iraola’s side are unbeaten in their last seven league fixtures (four wins and three draws) and centre-back Dean Huijsen has played his part in that good run by starting in their last six after Marcos Senesi suffered a long-term injury.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who already lists Juventus and Roma among his former clubs, has scored two goals and kept three clean sheets since stepping into the side. Daniel Munoz and James Justin are the only defenders to have had more shots on target than Huijsen in the last six gameweeks.
Huijsen and co will hope to record another shutout against Everton who have failed to score in seven of their last nine games.
Price: £4.4m Points: 49 Gameweek 20 fixture: Everton (h)
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Jhon Duran’s suspension ensured that Ollie Watkins made his first Premier League start in almost a month against Brighton on Monday night and he took his chance by producing a goal, an assist and 12 FPL points.
Watkins will face renewed competition from Duran in Gameweek 21 after the Colombian has served a three-match ban, but before then he faces the joint-worst defensive side in the division.
Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn’t yet managed to tighten Leicester up at the back. Since the Dutchman took charge in Gameweek 14, the Foxes have conceded the most goals (15) and the most shots (115) in the division.
Watkins’ price and Duran’s form mean he may not be a great long-term pick but given this fixture, he is an excellent one-week punt at the very least.
Price: £8.8m Points: 80 Gameweek 20 fixture: Leicester (h)
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Newcastle closed out 2024 with four consecutive victories and while the irrepressible Alexander Isak has been the headliner, Anthony Gordon has been a more than capable support act.
The winger has provided an attacking return in each of his last four matches, combining three assists with one goal.
He could have quite conceivably earned more than 28 points across that run too given he had nine shots and created 12 chances.
Newcastle’s win at Old Trafford showed a team full of confidence and they will sense blood again this weekend when they take on another beleaguered team at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Price: £7.4m Points: 83 Gameweek 20 fixture: Tottenham (a)
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