FPL
10 January 2026 337 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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You’ve probably heard about Joe’s much-liked ‘Goals Imminent’ table. You might listen to his and Marc’s Fantasy Football Scout podcast of the same name. Now, Goals Imminent is here in article form!

Heading towards Gameweek 22 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL), these Members Area statistics identify some underachieving players who look ‘due’ for a goal and/or assist.

Naturally, we’ll attempt to assess whether they’re unlucky, suffering a rare blip, or just aren’t particularly good.


LAST WEEK’S SUCCESSES

FPL new signings: Sesko 2

Not only did Benjamin Sesko (£7.2m) secure his first league goal since Gameweek 7, but he quickly bagged another.

David Brooks (£5.0m) featured on both tables and came off the bench to assist, the same return as backed-to-score Marcus Tavernier (£5.5m) and Yasin Ayari (£4.8m).

GOALS IMMINENT

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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defensive contributions

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

337 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. chilli con kone
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 4 days ago

    As a Saka and Foden owner it’s going to be a long week watching them leaking value

    Want to hold for the weekend they both have a great fixture

    1. Dragon Arcana
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Ignore it. I’m not looking at all. Points matter more

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Agree about the points point but Saka and Foden look like they're going to get any. Saka has an allergic reaction if he gets a double return and Foden looks like the Foden from the start of the season who blanked game after game after game after game after game.

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          *not going to get any

    2. Bruin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      A quick question, why does this site always take so long to update the fixture ticker? Surely this should be done immediately after a gameweek has finished (prob should be updated as soon as the gameweek starts) and not days after.

      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        fixture ticker gets updated? 😮

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Everything has gone really lax with the site recently with Neale not being around as much. The ticker was 2 gameweeks behind last week. There's no reason why it can't be scheduled to be updated automatically rather than manually with a bit of dev work.

  2. Sir Michael Taker
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 4 days ago

    Fixtures that have produced cleans this season (5+ occasions)

    Sunderland H (7)
    Wolves H (6)
    Newcastle H (5)
    Forest H (5)
    Leeds H (5)
    Burnley A (5)
    Palace A (5)
    Forest A (5)

    I was curious about this because I made a comment the other day to somebody else about cleans being random and not to worry about fixtures. I think that is still true of short fixture runs, probably not worth a transfer unless its putting out a fire.

    Some interesting bits though are Palace and Burnleys struggles at home vs away, especially for Palace. Is it a style thing I wonder, teams coming to Selhurst and sitting in so the counter attack doesn't work? Also not in this above but related is Fulham have one of the best failed to score records in the league, they nearly always score home or away, same rate as Man City currently. They are not a good fixture for a defender.

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      I'm confused as to what to infer from this. Does this mean that Sunderland have cleaned 7 times at home or 7 teams have cleaned at the stadium of sh*te?

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        7 teams have cleaned at home to Sunderland. Even United did it.

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          What's the conclusion from the analysis?

          1. ebb2sparky
            • 15 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            These teams dont tend to score heavily away from home so dont back one of their attackers when away!

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Or start your cheap defender away to Sunderland?

              1. ebb2sparky
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Obviously

          2. panda07
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Here comes the airplane, open wide! If a defender you have is at home to Sunderland, they are a good bet for a clean sheet.

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Nom nom nom 😀

        2. ebb2sparky
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Im not surprised to hear that. When I saw Sunderland live (away) this season they offered very little except brute strength.

    2. ebb2sparky
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Re Palace, i guess it's one thing to watch your team having no possession when on the road but another thing entirely when at home. I expect the fans want to see more possession at home hence less counter attacking. Im not a palace fan though so perhaps im wrong.

    3. WVA
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Hmm no home to Burnley in there

  3. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 4 days ago

    Rice and Bruno G are taking on average a shot every 60 minutes this season.

    That's 1 or 2 if you're lucky a game.

    Are the returns sustainable?

    Are they clinical enough to make up for the low shot volumes?

    1. Dr Funk
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Rice only has 4 goals. He has many other routes to points.

      So I'd say yes, definitely sustainable.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        This

    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Havent followed Bruno much but Rice mostly thrives on defcons and creativity? Goals are not my target with Rice.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Rice is pretty much where you expect him to be for his xGI delta but Bruno is way over by 4 to 5. Suggests Rice can keep it up but Bruno will regress.

        1. Fitzy.
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Keep relying on xGI delta and stuff like that mate, presume it's working for you?

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            You can't rely on one stat (except maybe big chances total). You need to rely on a series of closely related stats to reinforce each one another. If a player is doing well in all, you know the data is more reliable. So for example coupling the minutes per save stat with shots faced from outside the box stat makes the minutes per save stat better.

            1. Fitzy.
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Sounds like a fun way to play FPL...

              1. FPL Virgin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                It's the modern way to play FPL. Football has changed.

                1. Fitzy.
                  • 14 Years
                  3 months, 4 days ago

                  Not for me, but go for it!

                  1. FPL Virgin
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    3 months, 4 days ago

                    U2. Enjoy watching The Dammed United and thinking that's how football is played in 2026!

    3. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      The answer is simple - No.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        To both?

    4. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Rice yes because he gets most of his points not from goals. Bruno G no.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        I agree. If only we had some diehard Newcastle fans on the writing staff who could tell us what is going on with Newcastle and Bruno G thou.

        1. Raoul Nogues
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Watch their games and everything will become clear to you

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              How so?

    5. Tomsk
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      A team made up of highest points scorers so far this season.
      I think it would’ve been affordable and doable at the start of the season.

      Roefs, Pickford
      Gabriel, Guehi, Timber, Chalobah, Tarkowski
      Rice, Semenyo, Bruno G, Bruno F, Wilson
      Haaland, Thiago, Bowen

      1. PogChamp
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        No Rice and Semenyo really hurt my rank.

      2. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        It's not a team it's a squad
        Which is more important as it shows what can be achieved with a balanced all round squad
        Please don't call it "benching headache" I prefer "selection options"

        1. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 3 days ago

          No one cares what you prefer

      3. Tomsk
        • 5 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Centre backs seem to be outperforming wing backs.

      4. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Who do we think will continue this trend, and for who do we think the points won’t be continuing to flow in?

    6. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      No rest for the Everton players despite the intense Christmas schedule.

      Old skool Moyes has gone strong
      https://x.com/Everton/status/2009947077258948735

      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        can rest for a week after this week

        1. Holmes
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          *game

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            They've played 4 games in quick succession. Must be a few players in the red zone for Everton today.

    7. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      £4.4m Richards able to start again
      https://x.com/CPFC/status/2009947241755312236

      He averages over 10 DefCons per game this season.

      1. HD7
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        I was planning to sell him but if he is a starter again...

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Should start every gameweek now .

      2. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Nice scout watch. If Guehi leaves Palace this window. I’ll consider Richards over him. I thought Guehi was overpriced & it seemed that way, but he is still the runner up after Gabby for total points amongst defenders. Maybe stick with the latter if he doesn’t leave.

      3. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        My Keane replacement

    8. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Nice to see Richards back and starting in the back 3, also a couple of academy players who have made our bench recently also starting for us - Drakes-Thomas going to be a great one for the future.https://x.com/CPFC/status/2009947241755312236

      1. HD7
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        I was planning to sell him but if he is a starter again...

    9. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Is anyone else spending a lovely sunny Saturday morning thinking about how their team is shaping up to dead end into 31, or does everyone else have a life?

      1. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 3 days ago

        The latter

    10. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Beauty of the FA cup for some & Bundesliga for me today. Let’s not let the boredom kill the day till kick-off. Interested in knowing who your favorite FPL picks in the first half of the season are, based on performance in your team & time you jumped on board aka value(season).

      Captain & Vice Captain:
      Elliot Anderson(c), Roefs(vc)

      Got captain since GW 1 & vice captain in gw 2. Worth every penny so far 🙂 arguably the best value picks. Both in the top 10 value(season) for their respective positions 🙂

    11. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      Pants up!

      Nobody wants to see you with your pants down for the frecking FA cup.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Wise words. You're like the Yoda of FPL.

        1. The Philosopher
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          But a lot more good looking, if I say so myself.

    12. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 4 days ago

      So does this match count as one of Keane's 3? Puts a slightly different perspective on it if it does, although he's probably still a sell with Branthwaite due back

      1. z13
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Yes it counts

      2. WVA
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Need to bench two from this lot! Please help?

        Verbruggen
        Gabriel Timber VVD Chalobah Guehi
        Foden Cunha Rice BrunoG Wilson
        Haaland Thiago DCL
        Dub ???? ???? Guiu

        1. JBG
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Guehi and Cunha

          1. JBG
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Or Chalobah and Guehi.

            Chelsea defenslve luck run out, finally. Been poor all season long imo and yet kept CSs. Also Thiago inform.

            1. RamaJama
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Chalobah 4th best defender in the game, just 3 points less than Guehi and 2 less than Timber. Mostly about 4 points even without cs or attacking returns

              1. JBG
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Fixtures and current form more important.

        2. PartyTime
          • 4 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Chalobah & Guehi.

          Chelsea’s poor form, conceding goals, new manager OR swap the latter for Foden( cagey manchester derby imo, abysmal form, Pep’s unpredictability). If you don’t want to take a risk on benching Foden then I’ll have Gruno on the bench.

      3. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        Isn’t it interesting, fpl works the opposite to the rest of life.

        If something is rare (low owned), like gold, its price goes up.
        In fpl, if a player is low owned, being sold etc, their price goes down.

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Wise words. You're like the Yoda of FPL.

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            😆

        2. Jimmers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Rest of life?

          If something is in demand, it's price goes up. Not in demand, the price drops.

      4. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 4 days ago

        The Deputy Editor/Sheriff said Thiago had a knock in his article yesterday.

        Has anyone found a source to substantiate this?

        1. z13
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Nobody bother replying

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              "Andrews also discussed Igor Thiago, who took a knock on Wednesday night."

              https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/01/09/semenyo-minteh-kudus-the-latest-fpl-team-news-ahead-of-the-fa-cup

              1. FPL Virgin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Nevermind. Found it.

                "So, when he took that knock, it was always in my mind to look after him and take the edge off the full game. But when he’s on two goals, he’s obviously looking at back-to-back hat-tricks. And I know what way he’s wired, so that was always a difficult dilemma. So, I had to just make that decision, which obviously wasn’t entirely popular with him. But I think he’s understood it.” – Keith Andrews on Igor Thiago

                1. FPL Virgin
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 4 days ago

                  Hopefully he's on the bench in the FA cup and not omitted from the squad entirely.

        2. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          If anyone wants to know how goosed Mateta is, he’s being left at home today because the manager is too scared to let him play on astroturf

          1. Hughes Your Daddy
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Makes sense. Mateta been playing with a minor knee injury last 3 weeks so probably for the best on a artificial pitch.

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Been running on empty for a while now, fell off massively

        3. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Anyone else struggling to find the Everton v Sunderland game? It’s supposed to be on TNT5, but I can’t find the station, and Sky tv guide isn’t working.

          1. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            TNT 5

        4. BlzE_94
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Which front 8 is better?

          A) Palmer & Mane/Kroupi (would be sub)
          B) Enzo & Watkins

          Fernandes Rice Bruno.G Wilson X
          Haaland Thiago X

          1. JBG
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Neither imo, but probably A if I had to choose. Palmer because of pens.

            1. BlzE_94
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Why neither?

              1. JBG
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Don't like Enzo, Palmer or Watkins as options tbh. Neither consistent. But tbf, very few/none consistent FPL options atm.

        5. Captain Mal
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 4 days ago

          I wonder how Sarr's minutes will be affected by Johnson.
          The Eze/Sarr partnership was so effective because of the complementary nature of their skillsets. Eze is better on the ball, more technical/creative, while Sarr is more direct, better at off the ball runs behind the defence like a second striker.
          Considering Johnson's profile is similar to Sarr's, and Pino's is closer to Eze's, could it be the case that Pino gets better minutes than the other two, because there is no established direct replacement? It remains to be seen.

          1. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Great question, maybe

            1. TheBiffas
              • 5 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              *maybe Johnson is seen as being able to play in any of the 3 positions

        6. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Last month to enter Last Man Standing

          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/01/09/last-chance-to-enter-last-man-standing-competition-2 for more details.

          Roughly 350 qualified now.

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Not sure how I survived so far lol

        7. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          Anyone encountered a good analysis on Saka vs Rice possible returns in the upcoming weeks?

          I just noticed that Saka with better stats at home, Rice away, still not sure what I can do with it. In theory, they will have more away games now, Rice also plays more minutes.

          1. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            I thought about it, but came to conclusion that no matter the difference, price difference is big enough and may become handy later. I think Gabriel is "essential" or certainly best pick, Rice value pick and then it's between Timber and Saka. I am happy to have Gabi, Timber, Rice and money.

          2. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Got one detail comparison but can’t attach graphs here. As expected Saka is better in all metrics bar throughballs and final third passes. Rice is better value now unless Saka starts catching up fulfilling his potential stats.

            1. Baps Hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              How much difference did you find? Can you give us some sort of % difference?

              1. Magic Zico
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Saka v Rice per start
                XG 0.3 0.15
                XA 0.24 0.19
                Big chances 0.5 0.26
                SIB 2.0 0.58
                Shots 2.63 1.47
                TIB 6.3 1.5
                SOT 1.06 0.58
                Crosses 4.5 5.3
                Chances created 2.06 1.79

                1. Atimis
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 4 days ago

                  Cheers mate!

            2. Baps Hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Against Liverpool Timber was overlapping Saka on the left just like White used to do. Timber and Rice were surprisingly often trying to find each other. I think there is some haul potential with owning both. Saka is great footballer, but opponents often double him, so there are some limits to what he can do. However, tactics may change.

        8. FFS ManU
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          That artificial pitch at Macclesfield plays ok. Palace can't blame it for being 1-0 down at half-time. I'm old enough to remember the shocking ones that QPR and Oldham had in the 1980s when they were in Division 1

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            And Preston

        9. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 4 days ago

          This could be the biggest ever win for a smaller club over a Prem club

          1. FFS ManU
            • 3 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Yes, and Macclesfield are playing well at the start of the second half.

            1. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              2-0 now

          2. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Mighty Mariners did win MU, but the game ended with draw before pens.

            1. Sir Michael Taker
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              That was only prem vs lg 2. This is prem vs conf north? Its a huge gap. Are Macc even full time?

              1. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                They have played so well after I turned the channel, that this was impossible to understand/believe before fact checking.

              2. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Wolves have had similar loss before WW1...

                1. z13
                    3 months, 4 days ago

                    AI gave me the answer. Can be useful for somethings

              3. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Sorry, now I got it 😉

          3. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            2-0

            1. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Palace under the cosh, the holders going out

              1. FFS ManU
                • 3 Years
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Big test for them over the next 30 minutes or so.

                1. Sir Michael Taker
                  • 11 Years
                  3 months, 4 days ago

                  Normally you'd say better fitness levels might tell but Palace are cream crackered and the players who have come in today look like they won their place in a raffle

                  1. g40steve
                    • 8 Years
                    3 months, 4 days ago

                    84 mins & still down 2-0

                  2. FFS ManU
                    • 3 Years
                    3 months, 4 days ago

                    Good point.

          4. Sir Michael Taker
            • 11 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Love the FA Cup. Its a simple game at heart despite data and AI trying to take over it.

            1. The Philosopher
              • 5 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Data and AI will never take over a game being played on the field.

            2. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              AI predicted Macclesfield to win

            3. FFS ManU
              • 3 Years
              3 months, 4 days ago

              This

          5. Snoop Udogie Dogg
            • 5 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            yawn

          6. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            Larsen hatty, Everton & Palace losing

          7. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 4 days ago

            3 Strand Larsen goals so far, needs to get away from his manager to play.

          8. z13
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Oh come on Palace, do something

            • Mighty Duck
              • 1 Year
              3 months, 4 days ago

              Starting Haaland vs Exeter City? For real?

            • z13
                3 months, 4 days ago

                Everton saved wow by a penalty

                1. The 12th Man
                  • 12 Years
                  3 months, 4 days ago

                  Soft penalty too. Good job there’s no VAR