FPL
9 May 2026 940 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
Share:

On Thursday, Aston Villa overturned a first-leg deficit to defeat Nottingham Forest and reach the Europa League final.

At the same time, Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk to make the Conference League equivalent.

Let’s check how these developments will affect the final three weeks of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).


1. Sixth place may reach the Champions League

If Villa win the Europa League and, domestically, finish exactly fifth, then the team below them will also qualify for the Champions League.

That place is currently occupied by Bournemouth. But Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion are close behind. It’s an intriguing thought that one of these clubs might be rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite next season.

It means that there’s an extra incentive for the chasing pack to aim for sixth place, and should ensure strong line-ups from their respective clubs’ managers while it’s mathematically possible to do so.

However, if Villa win the trophy and finish fourth, that extra Champions League place will be allocated abroad.

2. Crystal Palace’s Conference League final takes place after Gameweek 38

FPL Gameweek 4 Free Hit: Pros, cons + best team

Meanwhile, at Palace, Oliver Glasner is already rotating his attackers and hinted at more over the coming days. It greatly reduces the appeal of their players for this Double Gameweek 36.

Expect this to continue until the final day, as Gameweek 38’s hosting of Arsenal happens three days before meeting Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

That might annoy Manchester City fans.

“Again, I don’t know right now how we will plan this because it’s also the first time for me playing the last league game on Sunday and then [the final] on Wednesday. When we had this with Frankfurt, we played the last league game on Saturday and we… played the same team that we played in the [Europa League] final as the last test.

“But I don’t know if this makes sense if you play Sunday and Wednesday. Fortunately, I have a bit of time to think about it and do my research and talk with my staff, and then we will plan the last week, but now it’s really getting the win against Everton to be really safe in the league and then making the second step.

“To be honest, if somebody criticises… for me, sorry, if I can say this, it would be nonsense. It’s just the last game but there were 37 games played before. That means if another team on Matchday 25 rotated against City or Arsenal, they affected the title race as well. I’m not responsible for Arsenal, I’m not responsible for Manchester City; I’m responsible for Crystal Palace and I get paid for doing the best things for Crystal Palace and not for City and not for Arsenal.

“Again, I don’t know what we’re doing [in Gameweek 38]. Maybe we’ll be playing with the same line-up that we’ll play against Vallecano but again, maybe it feels like the league title is decided on the last day but at the end, it’s a result of 38 Matchdays and at the end, everybody gets what he deserves.” – Oliver Glasner, speaking on Thursday, about his Gameweek 38 plans

3. Aston Villa’s Europa League final takes place between Gameweeks 37 and 38

Buy, keep, sell? Transfer trends ahead of Gameweek 13 1

Then again, Pep Guardiola’s lot will be against another distracted side at the same time.

That’s because the Freiburg v Aston Villa showcase is on Wednesday 20 May, between Gameweeks 37 and 38.

Should this weekend’s top-flight action help Villa secure Champions League qualification, Unai Emery may deem it necessary to rest the likes of Morgan Rogers (£7.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.8m) in the build-up to Istanbul.

FPL notes: Villa rotation, no shots for an hour + Richarlison 3

4. The Gameweek 37 deadline has moved

Speaking of European finals in the dual-continent Turkish city, Liverpool is Villa’s Gameweek 37 opponent.

Originally scheduled for Sunday 17 May, that match between the two clubs has been shifted to two days earlier (20:00 BST kick-off).

It means FPL’s Gameweek 37 deadline is now 18:30 on Friday 15 May.

Don’t get caught out!


price change predictions

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

940 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. In Carrick we trust
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    ISAK to welbeck for free?

  2. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Who to bench?

    A. DCL
    B. Igor Jesus
    C. Rogers

    1. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

  3. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Start:
    A Richarlison LEE
    B Van Hecke WOL

    1. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    2. Zero
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A easy for me

      1. Bobby Crush
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        yep

  4. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Semenyo to Cherki sideways???

    1. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
      2 months, 19 days ago

      No

  5. Vurt
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Morning all,

    Last spot in my team.

    A. Scott (ful)
    B. Senesi (ful)
    C. Use FT Senesi to LaCroix

    Thanks

    1. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    2. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      C if you have it spare

  6. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Are there any good bald players left in the EPL?

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      There all been to turkey

      1. Bobby Crush
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        this

      2. Goro Majima
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Exactly, there's not even any bad ones. Game has gone.

  7. George James
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play 2

    A) KDH
    B) Konsa
    C) Gordon
    D) H.Wilson

    1. Bobby Crush
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A and D

    2. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A+D

  8. Bobby Crush
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play
    Bruno G or Gross?

    Fixtures are ofc. a factor, but so is ceiling.

    Forest decimated but at home, Wolves hopeless.

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      That’s tough because they are both so average, I’d probably play GroB as he’s at home

      1. Bobby Crush
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        thanks!

  9. WVA
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    A. DCL to Gyokeres
    B. Justin to Lacroix
    C. Semenyo to Cherki and start Hill

    1. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

    2. Bobby Crush
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Maybe roll.
      None of them convince me, unless you need a diff captain in Cherki, even if he looked a bit off against Everton.

  10. Lecky Legs FC
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play one:

    A) Van Hecke
    B) Hill

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Cheers

    2. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Cheers

    3. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Thanks

  11. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play Richards or DCL?

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Tough one DCL could easily outscore Richards over his DGW I would go DCL on penalties

  12. Dhiggins100
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Start 1:

    A- mbeumo
    B- Thiago

    1. OptsDan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B. Definitely.

    2. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    3. Bobby Crush
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      b

  13. OptsDan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Start:

    A. Ampadu
    B. Tavernier

    1. Under my Cucurella
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    2. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

  14. Under my Cucurella
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    A: Semenyo > Cherki
    B: Roll FT

    Verb
    Gab O'Reilly Senesi
    Saka Bruno Semenyo Tavernier
    Haaland Pedro Welbeck

    Darlow Hill Justin Gomez

    1FT 1.6ITB

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    2. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

    3. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      B

  15. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Is DCL to Welbeck (for free) a good idea?!

    1. Vurt
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Yes

  16. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Need a replacement for okafor on my bench boost and thinking of Buendia as the most spicy differential. Thoughts? Can only be up to 5.9.

    Any villa fans have an opinion on if he starts?

  17. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play one:

    A) Richards
    B) DCL

  18. RealMadrid4Ever
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Van Hecke or Kadioglu?

  19. Alli
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Get another Palace player or save?

    Raya
    Gabriel – O’Reilly – Munoz
    Eze – Cherki – Rogers – Bruno – Groß
    DCL – Haaland

    Darlow – Van Hecke – Justin – Bowen

  20. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Play one

    A. Enzo
    B. Tavernier
    C. Neither and sell one of them for Hinselwood

    1. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      C if you have FT

  21. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Any Semenyo owners left? Not sure I want to move him for a hit :/ Though his form is woeful

    1. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      I moved him to Cherki for a hit in order to fund Saka. 2 matches for him to get 4 more points than Semenyo.

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Still got him and thinking the same - might take a hit to shift out JP but I don't really want to do it for Semenyo.

  22. OffsidePenalty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Got 2ft. Best option?
    A) Palmer and Pedro to Saka and Gyökeres
    B) Palmer and Semenyo to Saka and Cherki (start JP or Senesi this gw)
    C) Just Palmer to Saka
    D) Roll both ft.

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Did A fwiw

    2. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

  23. OptsDan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Chasing a 30 point deficit. Similar team to rival:

    Ver
    Gabriel - Van Hecke - NOR
    Fernandes - Szoboszlai - Tav - Cherki (C)
    Haaland - Welbeck - Gyokeres

    Bench: Dubravka, Ampadu, Justin, Hill

    Rival will almost certainly TC Haaland, so I’m going for Cherki. Differentials between us now are (him/me) Semenyo / Haaland, JPed / Gyokeres, Palmer / Sboz, DCL / Welbeck.

    Should I risk the captaincy diff, or do you think the squads will carry me through?

  24. Jebiga
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Is this GW36 better for BB or to TC Haaland?

    Was thinking TC Haaland and now maybe better to BB

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      When would you then play TC

      Arsenal v Burnley?

    2. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      Depends on your team...?

      1. Jebiga
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Raya, henderson
        Muboz, canvnot, Gabriel, oreily, bogle
        Rogers, Bruno Fernandez, Cherki, Saka, enzo,
        Welbeck, Haaland, dcl

        Was thinking for a hit Enzo and boglr to kadioglu and gros and bb

  25. LS11
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Okafur out, would you:

    A: Play Tav
    B: -4 for Sarr

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

    2. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

  26. Catastrophe
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Start 2:

    A) Gabriel (whu)
    B) KDH (cry)
    C) VVD (CHE)
    D) Enzo (liv)

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      AB

  27. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Currently on A but what do you think? Thank you!

    Start one:

    A. Verbruggen
    B. Raya

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

    2. Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      A

  28. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Tavernier, Watkins to Saka, Osula or just keep Watkins for Burnley, bench Tav, then transfer both Rogers and Watkins out next week?

    1. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      The first Saka option

  29. Bonus magnet
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Bench hill or DCL

    1. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      I’d start DCL

  30. GC123
    • 4 Years
    2 months, 19 days ago

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel O’ Reilly Hill Kadioglu
    Saka Bruno Semenyo
    Pedro Haaland Welbeck

    Darlow Justin Christie Mainoo

    3 FT 0.5 ITB

    1. Roll 3 FT
    2. Semenyo + Pedro > Cherki + Gyokores

    If I do option 1, would you start Mainoo over either Hill or Pedro?

    Thanks in advance

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      2

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      i would sell pedro as a 1 ft.

      1. GC123
        • 4 Years
        2 months, 19 days ago

        Can’t afford Pedro > Gyokores without funding it with Semenyo > Cherki Ajax

    3. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      2

    4. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 19 days ago

      2

    5. Il Capitano
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 19 days ago

      2