FPL
9 May 2026 939 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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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.

939 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. In Carrick we trust
    • 8 Years
    2 days, 7 hours ago

    ISAK to welbeck for free?

  2. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Who to bench?

    A. DCL
    B. Igor Jesus
    C. Rogers

    1. Under my Cucurella
      • 10 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B

  3. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Start:
      A Richarlison LEE
      B Van Hecke WOL

      1. Vurt
        • 5 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        B

      2. Zero
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        A easy for me

        1. Bobby Crush
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          yep

    • OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Semenyo to Cherki sideways???

      1. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          No

      2. Vurt
        • 5 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        Morning all,

        Last spot in my team.

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

        Thanks

        1. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            B

          • Under my Cucurella
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            C if you have it spare

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

          Are there any good bald players left in the EPL?

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            There all been to turkey

            1. Bobby Crush
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              this

            2. Goro Majima
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

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

        3. George James
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          Play 2

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

          1. Bobby Crush
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A and D

          2. Under my Cucurella
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A+D

        4. Bobby Crush
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours ago

              thanks!

        5. WVA
          • 9 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

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

          1. Vurt
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A

          2. Bobby Crush
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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.

        6. Lecky Legs FC
          • 10 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          Play one:

          A) Van Hecke
          B) Hill

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 9 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A

            1. Lecky Legs FC
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              Cheers

          2. Under my Cucurella
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A

            1. Lecky Legs FC
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              Cheers

          3. Vurt
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            A

            1. Lecky Legs FC
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              Thanks

        7. FC Hakkebøf
          • 9 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          Play Richards or DCL?

          1. Lecky Legs FC
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

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

        8. Dhiggins100
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Start 1:

            A- mbeumo
            B- Thiago

            1. OptsDan
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B. Definitely.

            2. Under my Cucurella
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B

            3. Bobby Crush
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              b

          • OptsDan
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Start:

            A. Ampadu
            B. Tavernier

            1. Under my Cucurella
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B

            2. Vurt
              • 5 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B

          • Under my Cucurella
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours ago

              B

            2. Vurt
              • 5 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B

            3. Bluetiger1
              • 3 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              B

          • Pointless
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

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

            1. Vurt
              • 5 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              Yes

          • ShaunGoater123
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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?

          • FC Hakkebøf
            • 9 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Play one:

            A) Richards
            B) DCL

          • RealMadrid4Ever
            • 2 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Van Hecke or Kadioglu?

          • Alli
            • 9 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Get another Palace player or save?

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

            Darlow – Van Hecke – Justin – Bowen

          • TeddiPonza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Play one

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

            1. Catastrophe
              • 15 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              C if you have FT

          • Royal5
            • 14 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours 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
              • 6 Years
              2 days, 6 hours 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.

          • OffsidePenalty
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours ago

              Did A fwiw

            2. Catastrophe
              • 15 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              A

          • OptsDan
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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?

          • Jebiga
            • 14 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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 days, 6 hours ago

              When would you then play TC

              Arsenal v Burnley?

            2. Catastrophe
              • 15 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              Depends on your team...?

              1. Jebiga
                • 14 Years
                2 days, 6 hours 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

          • LS11
            • 1 Year
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Okafur out, would you:

            A: Play Tav
            B: -4 for Sarr

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              A

            2. Catastrophe
              • 15 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              A

          • Catastrophe
            • 15 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Start 2:

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

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              AB

          • Powers106
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

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

            Start one:

            A. Verbruggen
            B. Raya

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              A

            2. Catastrophe
              • 15 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              A

          • Wolfman180
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              The first Saka option

          • Bonus magnet
            • 9 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            Bench hill or DCL

            1. Powers106
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              I’d start DCL

          • GC123
            • 4 Years
            2 days, 6 hours 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
              • 13 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              2

            2. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              i would sell pedro as a 1 ft.

              1. GC123
                • 4 Years
                2 days, 6 hours ago

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

            3. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 6 hours ago

              2

            4. Moon Dog
                2 days, 6 hours ago

                2

              • Il Capitano
                • 5 Years
                2 days, 6 hours ago

                2