Scout Notes
9 January 2026 127 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Concluding the Gameweek 21 Scout Notes is a look at notable Fantasy Premier League (FPL) events from the Emirates Stadium, where a dour goalless draw took place between leaders Arsenal and champions Liverpool.

It was a rainy night, with very few chances. But a few FPL talking points still emerged.

CLEAN SHEET GIVEAWAY

No player exceeded 0.24 expected goal involvement (xGI), achieved by Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.6m). Yet four of his five shots were from distance, all off target.

Bradley

In fact, even though Liverpool’s pair of false nines and promising Conor Bradley (£5.0m) and Jeremie Frimpong (£5.7m) combo bossed the second half, they still ended up without any shots on target. The first time they’ve ‘achieved’ this in the league since March 2010’s defeat at Wigan Athletic.

Perhaps nobody came closer to breaking the deadlock than Bradley. A mix-up between William Saliba (£5.9m) and David Raya (£5.9m) led to a scrambled clearance, allowing the right-back to chip a shot against Arsenal’s crossbar.

As for the Gunners, they remain six points clear at the top, but by failing to have any second-half shots until the 90th minute, they spurned an opportunity to make a statement victory and extend their lead.

Therefore, it’s a good result for FPL managers starting several of Raya, Saliba, Jurrien Timber (£6.3m) and Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.7m). If only the Brazilian had scored this game’s only big chance, right at the death. It would’ve been a third consecutive goal but, instead, such a miss removed him from bonus point contention.

And let’s not forget Liverpool’s unexpected shutout. 209k sellers had just given up on Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m), and a further 404k benched him here. Now, the Dutchman is worth keeping for at least Gameweek 22, versus Burnley at home.

IS HINCAPIE HURT?

However, unlucky owners of Piero Hincapie (£5.3m) missed out. The defender came off hurt just before the hour mark.

Post-match, Mikel Arteta said nothing about the injury. But his run of 10 consecutive league starts will end, if it keeps him sidelined like Riccardo Calafiori (£5.6m) and Cristhian Mosquera (£5.3m).

SHOULD SAKA BE DITCHED?

Meanwhile, it appears that the days of Bukayo Saka (£10.2m) being guaranteed 90 minutes are over. After being overused in previous campaigns, the summer signing of Noni Madueke (£6.8m) is allowing Arteta to be more cautious about starting Saka three times in quick succession.

It’s why the 24-year-old was benched in Gameweeks 14 and 20. And here, with a big game stuck at 0-0, he was taken off in the 78th minute.

FPL notes: 168

Above: Bukayo Saka’s touch heatmap

Goalless in seven outings, Saka has been ticking along with six assists in this time. Perhaps that’s not good enough when Cole Palmer (£10.4m) and Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m) are about to gain Fantasy appeal.

Colleague Declan Rice (£7.3m) boasts 24 more points at a much lower price, though this was a quiet occasion for him as well.

Two chances created, plus an edge-of-the-box shot that was on target but lacked power. No defensive contribution rewards: only Ibrahima Konate (£5.4m) and Martin Zubimendi (£5.2m) achieved this.

ABSENT EKITIKE

Finally, as of now, Arne Slot hasn’t given an update on Hugo Ekitike‘s (£9.0m) status for Gameweek 22. The match is eight days away, after FA Cup action, but a second successive hamstring absence means more autosubs and some prolonged pain for the many who recently sold Igor Thiago (£7.1m) for him.

Hopefully, the next week will provide opportunities for Slot to confirm his availability.

Arguably, the night’s biggest talking point was Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m) dropping the ball on Bradley and pushing this clearly in-pain player off the pitch, which sparked outrage.

Slot confirmed that the Bradley injury could be severe, having left the stadium on crutches with a knee brace.

“It doesn’t look great, if he has the injury which we fear he might have.” – Arne Slot on Conor Bradley


price change predictions

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

127 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Catastrophe
    • 15 Years
    8 hours, 27 mins ago

    Advice appreciated - 1 FT, 2.9M in the bank.

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel, Timber, VDV
    Foden, Rice, Rogers, Cherki, Stach
    Haaland, Thiago

    (Dubravka, Guehi, Bowen, Esteve)

    3 City seems overkill and Bowen needs to go. With any transfer, will have enough left ITB for Foden -> Palmer if needed.

    A) Cherki -> Wilson
    B) Bowen -> DCL
    C) Bowen -> Watkins

    Cheers

  2. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 hours, 23 mins ago

    Quick Advice needed…play 4 Man City players against Wolves in GW23?

    I have Semenyo, OReilly, Haaland and Cherki. I have until FPL change him to Man City players to change this team, or hold him and 2FT’s to GW 24

    Henderson, Dubravka
    Gabriel, Timber, O’Reilly, Andersen, Dalot
    Saka, Semenyo, Stach, Cherki, Wilson
    Haaland, Thiago, Watkins

    1FT 1.3ITB

    4 v Wolves is very appealing!

    1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 22 mins ago

      You will be lucky if three out of these four start.

    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 20 mins ago

      Also, I think.Wolves have improved a lot recently. Better target WestHam.

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 hours, 16 mins ago

        I dont think theres a lot of evidence for this. They played against a woeful West Ham then a poor, (10 man, than 9 man Everton). Neither of those teams are in the top 10.

        1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          7 hours, 54 mins ago

          Well. Good luck with that.

          They only lost 1:2 at Arsenal which could have been an easy draw.

          If you start four players of which two or three might not even start and City only beats them 1:0 or 2:1, there is a chance that you might regret it.

    1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 57 mins ago

      Boring.

      I was still hoping he might join Liverpool as an early Salah replacement.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        7 hours, 55 mins ago

        Liverpool spending another £65m on another attacker while they have no midfield or defence would have been very funny, I agree

        1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          7 hours, 52 mins ago

          Surely, Salah is gone, Gakpo and Chiesa will probably go as well. I think they will spent 65M again soon.

          But I agree, they should focus on midfield and centre backs.

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            7 hours, 47 mins ago

            Salah won't go until the summer though. Can't see anybody coming in for Gakpo at the price they'd want either.

            Agree they'll spend the money in the summer (because they'll have to) but they'd be daft to spend up front now when they've got 3 senior CBs and Szoboszlai playing RB. They should be focused on trying to get Guehi over the line before City poach him too.

            1. Sgt Frank Drebin
              • 9 Years
              7 hours, 31 mins ago

              Yeah, fair enough, although I'm not sure if working on bringing an attacker would hinder a CB transfer. Think they could accomplish both if they wanted, but yeah CB is higher priority now.

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                7 hours, 27 mins ago

                Even if they did try for Semenyo, he'd be daft to choose them over City. Playing under Pep or some fraud who might not even be there a week after you sign your contract? No brainer.

        2. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 9 Years
          7 hours, 50 mins ago

          Well, it's not like they have a lot of right wingers either if Salah was to leave.

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 9 Years
            7 hours, 49 mins ago

            And Salah will probably leave, so they need to buy someone either this winter or next summer anyway.

          2. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            7 hours, 47 mins ago

            See above

      2. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 hour, 8 mins ago

        Boring how?

  3. Eze Come, Eze Go
    • 1 Year
    7 hours, 3 mins ago

    Have one free transfer but don’t think I need to use it and have 0.5 in the bank. G2G or any changes to field/bench line up?

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel - Chalobah - Van Hecke
    Saka - Gordon G - Foden - Rogers
    Haaland (C) - Bowen - Thiago

    1. Eze Come, Eze Go
      • 1 Year
      7 hours, 2 mins ago

      Bench: Dubravka - Enzo - Tarkowski - Gudmundsson