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. Mole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    A. Cash (bur) or
    B. Senesi (ful)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B

  2. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Think Semenyo will do better than Cherki over the last 4 matches?

    1. Mole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Not based on recent form.

  3. Bob B
    • 12 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Starting Verbruggen*

    Bench one:

    A.Van Hecke (WOL)
    B. Gross (WOL)
    C. Pedro (liv)
    D. Palmer (liv)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      D

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      C

    3. Mole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B

  4. Steiner
    • 14 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Start 1.

    A. Hill
    B. Tavernier
    C. Gross

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

      GroB

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      C

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      C

    4. Mole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      C

    5. Steiner
      • 14 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Thanks all

    6. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
      • 3 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      help me out mate. who do i start?

      cash v burnley or sarr

  5. nanxun
    • 4 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Bench which one?

    1. DCL
    2. Senesi
    3. J Pedro

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      1

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      3

    3. Josh.E
      • 4 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      2

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

        Well, that was helpful. 😛

        1. Josh.E
          • 4 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          lol tbh I can't see Bournemouth keep out Fulham, but I can see the others probably scoring.

    4. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
      • 3 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      help me out mate. who do i start?

      cash v burnley or sarr

      1. Josh.E
        • 4 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        Sarr imo

  6. Jstap94
    • 2 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    I really cant figure this out, is Pedro a hold? Options dont seem great apart from Gyok but that means no Saka

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Then yes for this week

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Get Gyokeres

  7. Josh.E
    • 4 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Is Gyokores a rank killer this week? Should I take a hit for protection or can Pedro cover?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      No hit

    2. Wayne Enterprises
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      No hit he can still score

    3. Josh.E
      • 4 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Thanks will try to resist the fomo

  8. Wayne Enterprises
    • 13 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Bottomed;

    Gtg?

    Verb

    O Reilly (C) Van Hecke Gabriel Lacroix
    Bruno Hinshelwood Saka Doku
    Haaland Gyok

    Darlow Osula Casemiro Senesi

    1. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
      • 3 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      pick one to start mate.
      A. sarr
      B. cash
      C. thiago

  9. Jstap94
    • 2 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    If you had to punt on best defender, mid and fwd this week (apart feom obvious i.e. Bruno, Haaland), who would you pick?

    1. Wayne Enterprises
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Doku mid

  10. RealMadrid4Ever
    • 2 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    James Justin to

    a. Van Hecke
    b. Kadioglu

    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B for the upside

    2. Wayne Enterprises
      • 13 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      A

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      I went for Keane

  11. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Chasing in ML.
    Captain:

    A) O’Reilly
    B) Cherki

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      A

    2. RealMadrid4Ever
      • 2 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      A

  12. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Which transfer this gw:

    A) Dcl to Welbeck
    B) Palmer to Saka
    C) Both for -4

    Have double Arsenal defence and Hinshelwood (so would be all in on Brighton).

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B

    2. Pablitto
      • 16 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      B

  13. Bobbyg1
    • 14 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Semenyo and DCL to

    Cherki and Gyok -4

    Yay or nay please guys?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      Semenyo to Cherki do DCL to Gyokeres for free 37

      1. Bobbyg1
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        Cheers

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

    Transfer dilemma..have 3FT

    1) Semenyo to Cherki

    or

    2) J Pedro to Gyokeres

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

      2

      1. Pablitto
        • 16 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        2

      2. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
        • 3 Years
        2 days, 6 hours ago

        help me out mate. who do i start?

        cash v burnley or sarr

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 6 hours ago

          Neither are great, so I would go Sarr here although he won't start v Everton

          1. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
            • 3 Years
            2 days, 6 hours ago

            thinking same also. do you reckon starting Igor thiago then? cos he's currently on bench for me

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      2

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

      2

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

      Thanks guys...2 it is!

  15. Pablitto
    • 16 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    lLay Wilson or Tavernie??

    1. Pablitto
      • 16 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      *play

  16. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Pedro negative OOP gkw36

  17. Hypnos
    • 11 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Went Semenyo to Cherki. Feels even better after doing it. Reasoning is;
    Look at who subbed in for Semenyo when he came off early in past two gameweeks. Savinho and Foden are biting at his ankles, he's been next to ineffective the past few weeks. Cherki seems to be the untouchable one even when you think about Doku. I look at the EFL cup game where Cherki, Rejnders and Foden started. Cherki just feels miles clear and if he is the underperforming one this DGW, at least I can say in hindsight that the logic was there

  18. Udogie-style
    • 2 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Team locked:

    Raya (Darlow)
    O'Reilly, Gabriel, Senesi (Hill, Bijol)
    Saka, Hinshelwood, Cherki, Bruno (Wilson)
    J. Pedro, Welbeck, Haaland (TC)

    1. Henry The Gooner! ❤️⚽
      • 3 Years
      2 days, 6 hours ago

      what are the chance that villa keep a cleansheet v burnley as i've got cash.

      do you reckon i start thiago/sarr instead of a defender, cash.

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

    Play Tavernier or Senesi this week? Thanks.

  20. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 days, 6 hours ago

    Is KDH or Ndiaye better?

    And do the next 3 fixtures ...

    Palace Sunderland Spurs outweigh a Brighton pick with Wolves this weekend?