With the festive schedule around the corner, this is the final Fantasy Premier League gameweek before fixtures begin to pile up rapidly. Gameweeks on December 26, December 30, January 3 and January 6 mean heavy rotation, surprise benchings and potential injury issues. Squad depth and smart short-term planning will be crucial over the next few weeks.
Managers who held on to their free AFCON transfers are now well placed, as those options will prove valuable during this congested period. This week’s team is selected within a £100m budget, assuming a Free Hit scenario, and focuses on form players and favourable match-ups.
Last week’s selections delivered strongly, returning a total of 79 points after a huge 81-point haul in the previous round. Bukayo Saka led the way with 22 points, while Bruno Fernandes, Hugo Ekitike and goalkeeper Robin Roefs also made key contributions.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Budget constraints lead to a calculated gamble in goal with Lucas Perri of Leeds, priced at £4.5m, who faces Crystal Palace at home. Palace arrive depleted creatively, with Daniel Munoz and Ismaila Sarr unavailable. Their top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta has managed just one goal in his last six outings, making a clean sheet a realistic possibility.
Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) remains a reliable option despite his side conceding four goals at Manchester United last time out. He still collected defensive contribution points for the 12th time in 15 matches, offering a strong baseline return against Burnley at home, where a shutout is very much in play.
Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.6m) continues his consistent run, producing returns of at least four points in seven of his last 10 games. With Sunderland scoring only four away goals all season, the matchup at the Amex suits him well.
Nathan Collins (£4.9m) completes the back line. Brentford rank among the top five teams for expected goals conceded over the past 10 matches, matching Liverpool and outperforming several top sides. A trip to Wolves, who continue to struggle going forward, adds to Collins’ appeal, especially given his aerial threat.
Midfield
Phil Foden (£8.8m) has made himself close to essential, averaging 13.75 points per game over his last four appearances. Manchester City hosting West Ham, who are winless in five matches, is a near-ideal fixture. The only concern is rotation, but the upside outweighs the risk.
Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m) looks primed for returns against Burnley, a side that has conceded at least two goals in every away game this season. His strike at Old Trafford ended a long scoring drought, and he remains Bournemouth’s key attacking figure. While he may still be a long-term sell, this week’s matchup is too good to ignore.
Marcus Tavernier (£5.5m) offers excellent value after starring in Bournemouth’s high-scoring clash at Manchester United. His underlying numbers have been strong for some time, leading the club’s midfielders for chances created and ranking second for shots, expected goals and big chances. At this price, he competes well with other popular budget midfielders.
Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m) remains a non-negotiable pick. He leads nearly every creative metric among midfielders and continues to deliver regardless of fixture difficulty. Even away at Aston Villa, his influence and consistency make him essential.
Forwards
Igor Thiago (£7.2m) may have disappointed over the past three weeks, but patience is advised. Wolves’ defence remains vulnerable, having conceded 21 goals in eight home games. Brentford are expected to perform well at Molineux, and Thiago still carries strong goal potential.
Erling Haaland (£15m) returns to captaincy duty. While going against him last week did not punish managers, doing so at home against West Ham would be a major risk. With City needing momentum, Haaland is the standout captain choice once again.
Hugo Ekitike (£8.6m) completes the frontline and continues his red-hot form. Four goals in his last two matches make him impossible to overlook, and Tottenham’s recent defensive issues only enhance the appeal. Liverpool’s gradual improvement and a favourable run ahead, including Wolves and Leeds at home, make now an ideal time to invest.
Substitutes’ Bench
The bench features Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) as the backup goalkeeper, with Antonee Robinson (£4.9m), Anton Stach (£4.8m) and Omar Alderete (£4.0m) providing affordable cover across defence and midfield.
The total squad cost comes in at £98.5m, leaving flexibility while maximising form, fixtures and value ahead of a demanding run of matches.
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