Big Numbers

FPL Gameweek 36 preview: Key player and team stats

It’s a Double Gameweek 36 special of Big Numbers as we look at the key player and team statistics ahead of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

These are a cherry-picked selection of Opta stats from our Premium Members’ Area, with the focus on the dozen clubs who play twice in the upcoming Gameweek.

Only subscribers can read the full article; those wishing to sign up to our site and continue reading, as well as see a list of the benefits that Membership brings, can do so by clicking here.



+9.20 expected goals prevented (xGP) by Jose Sa (£5.3m) in 2021/22, by a country mile the highest figure among Premier League goalkeepers. David de Gea (£5.1m) and Ederson (£6.1m) are next best on +1.70. The figure suggests that Wolverhampton Wanderers’ healthy clean sheet count has arrived more by luck than judgment, or rather the heroics of Sa between the sticks. As we discuss further down this article, those ‘xG’ figures do occasionally catch up with Wolves.

0.63 big chances created per 90 minutes by Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) in 2021/22, the best rate of any player with significant game-time – regardless of position – in the Premier League. Only two assists have arrived for the right-back since Gameweek 23 but the rate of big chance creation has stayed pretty constant at 0.60 in that time, so the statistics would suggest he’s been a tad unfortunate. Andrew Robertson (£7.3m) has outscored his teammate by 94 FPL points to 60 over this period but again, the expected goal involvement (xGI) figures imply that Alexander-Arnold has still been the more threatening:

19 starts made by Joel Matip (£5.2m) since his last Premier League benching. The Cameroonian stopper was absent in Gameweeks 21 and 28 but was ill on both occasions, so he last was among the substitutes all the way back in November. The centre-half’s breathers have instead been coming in the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup, and true to form, Jurgen Klopp again named Matip as a substitute in the midweek win in Villarreal.

14 shots in the box attempted by Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) over his last six appearances – that’s one more than Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) has registered over the same period. Alonso’s total of 15 chances created in his last half-dozen outings is also inferior to just two Premier League players, regardless of position. It’ll be rotation risk around the FA Cup final, rather than the eye-popping underlying stats, which will be the main downside to Alonso and other Chelsea assets in Gameweek 36.

915 Comments Post a Comment
  1. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    They need a striker.

    1. thegame983
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Pep will just play him on the wing

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Should sign that Rodrygo!

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    KDB only short of sprinting around the pitch there...

    Huge call to sub him.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I would say subbing KDB and Mahrez off if they were OK was a terrible mistake.

    2. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      KDB is clearly not 100% fit. Having rested him at the weekend there's no way Pep would have hooked him after 70 minutes if he was.

  3. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    KDB walking and only mildly pink anymore. Captain dgw.

  4. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    It's really incredible. I know Pep is gonna get a lot of stick but this team deserved better, imploded for 2 minutes and that was fatal after being the better side in the 2 matches.

    1. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      They threw it all away in the first leg and bottled it tonight. Ended up with what they deserved imo.

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Indeed. The result is always a great equaliser isn't it

  5. FPL_ UP_Down
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Dodgy Ref!!!
    Let’s go Liverpool

    1. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Agree

  6. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    FH abort. 3x City abort.

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Got a feeling that’s gonna hurt their league chances now….

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      This is a tough pill to swallow. I wouldn't be surprised if they implode in the league as well

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yeah, could go either way!

  8. zon
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    KDB sub was tactical?

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yes, very bad tactical decision

    2. jacob1989
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yes tactical to lose

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    As dodgy as the ref was especially towards the end let's not forget how humongous of a bottle that was... 😮

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Biblical proportions

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Makes Spurs look resistant

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    City lost this tie only being 1 goal up after the 1st leg.

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      This is true. So many chances.

  11. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Right. Back to FPL. Sterling to Pogba for a hit a good move?

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Only if for -12

  12. putana
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Think ill just stick with cancelo for city coverage. Who knows how the players will respond to this

    1. noissimbus
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 months ago

      At the time of subs, I definitely thought KDB and Jesus in looks tasty. But now, the whole team could be drained physically and mentally that Newcastle might really take advantage.

  13. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    5th champions league for bale?

    Has he done enough to get a medal?

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think they changed now so if your registered for the comp, you get a medal.

  14. Wizard of Ozil
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    The showcase Final that EUFA wanted... Liverpool vs Real. Both have about 20 victories between them.. City have ZERO.

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Real v anyone is a showcase final. Liverpool's record doesn't compare.

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Those ones in the 1950s don’t count.

        1. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Di Stefano was better than any player Liverpool have ever had mate. Those wins count. 🙂

          1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            There were only 6 teams in the tournament back then.

            1. Ruth_NZ
              • 9 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              There have only been 2 reasons that English teams have not played the European Cup. One was that the FA wouldn't let them in the early days. The other was because scum Liverpool fans got everyone banned for 5 years.

      2. Haalander
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        3 finals in five years??? more than likely would’ve beaten Madrid if ramos wasn’t a hitman that night! Yea Liverpool not at the races!

      3. jacob1989
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Isnt Liverpool the 2nd most successful team? Winning 7 times? Of course they are a legendary team in cl.

    2. jacob1989
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      This time no ramos to break salah's shoulder

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Casemiro will give it his all I'm sure, on another day his scissor tackle on KDB would have been a serious injury

  15. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Something seriously wrong with city. They threw it all away in the first leg, and completely bottled the last few mins of this game.

    It’s that bad, it’s borderline match fixing. Fully deserve to go out.

    1. jacob1989
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Same thing like last year vs Chelsea?
      Or getting eliminated by spurs before that?
      Or what about being knocked out by o lyon before that?

      1. Ozzy smith
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Same thing?

        1. jacob1989
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Yes city keep screwing up

          1. Ozzy smith
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Well yeah, something inherently wrong with them. This one in particular, almost unbelievable how they didn’t get through over the two legs.

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Eden Hazard, forgot about him.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

  17. NorCal Villan
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Ederson’s neck ink is an abomination. I’ve seen better looking goiters

  18. putana
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    kdb rested on the weekend only to play 72 minutes today. Weird decision by pep

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      He didn’t look right- we may find out more later why subbed so early

      1. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Benzema didn't look right for 85mins. You don't sub him though - ever. He's your best player.

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          That’s why I think we will find out there was a reason and I would not be surprised if carrying an injury

          1. Utopsis
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Yeah fair fair

  19. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Not long ago Florentino Perez was doing his best to destroy the competition and the sport. Now, his team is in the CL Final.

  20. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Shame, was looking forward to Man City v Liverpool in the Champions League final.

  21. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I cannot stand Rio Ferdinand's inane comments

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Looks like I picked the wrong match to walk out at 85 minutes

    2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Whilst Steve McCroskey knows his onions

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      He just starts talking without knowing the end of his sentence.

  22. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Pep seriously considering buying a champions league trophy replica at this point surely

  23. Superflymonk
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Haha, did I jusst see Eden Hazard in a cap? He shouldve stayed in chelsea, he'd have been my dgw captain this week.

  24. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Happy days for GW36 get the noisy neighbours in

  25. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Hazard hanging around

  26. JJO
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Not a fan of either of those teams.
    But I really just hope Mo and friends destroy this Real team in the final

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Personally even though I enjoy watching Liverpool given how good they are, I never really enjoy watching one team dominate everything. But I'd be happy to see them stuff this Madrid side. I never like to be on the "referees always favour X" boat, but it's been clear for decades that RM are UEFA's darlings and always will be

  27. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    City will never win the Champions League. I don't think they'll even get near the final again to be honest

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Press X to Doubt

    2. dshv
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Next season with haaland

      1. jacob1989
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Haaland could be the new lukaku.

  28. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    RIP Riola

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Why you cussing the dead?

  29. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Wouldn't touch any City players now
    This defeat will weigh heavy on their last matches....

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Nah they need to get the PL

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I have the same feeling

  30. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Real wearing 14 shirts and doing a victory lap, do they realise this isn't the final?

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Last CL game in front of their fans at home, after a turnaround like that. You soak in those moments, they don't come often.

    2. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      We won the La Liga and onto the CL Finals…Hence the celebrations in front of the home fans. Don’t be so salty kid

    3. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A POR LA is a Madrid tradition
      It means to go for the 14th