Fixtures

How Chelsea vs Man United could affect FPL schedule

Fantasy Premier League managers are just a few hours away from finding out the complete line-up of fixtures in Blank Gameweek 31.

That round of matches takes place on the same weekend as the FA Cup quarter-finals, which will be drawn this evening.

Just one Blank Gameweek 31 match is yet to learn its fate, hinging on the result of tonight’s FA Cup meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are currently scheduled to travel to Everton then, but if they win tonight that match will be postponed and rearranged.

Those hoping for more Blanks, and therefore more fixtures in upcoming Double Gameweeks, should be backing Maurizio Sarri’s men in the cup.

That’s because opponents Manchester United have already had their Gameweek 31 fixture postponed by Manchester City winning their fifth-round tie at Newport County.

The two city rivals were due to meet at Old Trafford on the weekend of March 16, but will now face each other on a rearranged date, most likely in Gameweek 32.

A win for Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side would mean that the number of Gameweek 31 Blanks, currently at five, and resulting Doubles, would remain the same.

The matches already postponed from Blank Gameweek 31 are:

Watford v Southampton
Brighton v Cardiff
Man United v Man City
Wolves v Arsenal
Tottenham v Crystal Palace

Furthermore, if both Wolves and Manchester United were to make it to the FA Cup semi-finals then the two of them would only cause one Gameweek 33 fixture to become a Blank.

The two sides are currently set to meet each other at Molineux on the weekend of April 6.

However, if Chelsea were to win tonight, and then progress from their quarter-final too, Wolves making it to the last four as well as them would postpone two matches.

That’s because Sarri’s men are set to host West Ham in Blank Gameweek 33, who have already been eliminated from the FA Cup.

A Chelsea FA Cup exit, and a presence in both Blank Gameweeks, would drastically change the landscape for the FPL ‘chip season’.

Having options such as Eden Hazard (£10.9m), Gonzalo Higuain (£9.5m), Marcos Alonso (£6.5m) or David Luiz (£5.9m) available for matches against Everton and West Ham would be a great help to Fantasy managers.

After all, there are very few widely-owned Fantasy options set to play in Gameweek 31 with 10 teams already absent from that weekend of action.

Confirmed Blank Gameweek 31:
West Ham v Huddersfield
Bournemouth v Newcastle
Burnley v Leicester
Fulham v Liverpool

However, Chelsea ending up involved in Blank Gameweek 31 would mean a missed opportunity for more Doubles, and that they would not have more than one Double Gameweek match this season.

The Blues currently have an outstanding game waiting to be rearranged, their Gameweek 27 hosting of Brighton, but need to beat Manchester United to add more to that list.

Hazard or Higuain could make potential Triple Captain options if Chelsea are able to make it through to subsequent rounds of the FA Cup.

For example, if Chelsea were to have their rearranged Gameweek 31 fixture in Gameweek 32, the would have a Double of Cardiff (away) and Everton (away) – appealing stuff.

Likewise, if Chelsea were to make it to the FA Cup semi-finals they could face Burnley (home) and West Ham (home) in a Double Gameweek 35.

The Blues may still have a Double in Gameweek 32 though even if they get eliminated, as their outstanding meeting with Brighton could be moved there if the Seagulls don’t already have a fixture rearranged there.

1,465 Comments Post a Comment
  1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing!

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Same here, this season is not my year

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Got all your chips ?

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yesss

      2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I have a free Hit only. 🙂

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nothing new then 😉

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        😯

  2. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    When will be confirmed fixtures of GW 32, i mean DGW ? few days before, or maybe weeks ?

  3. New Article
  4. Uncle John from Jamaica
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Main issue for me now is can see the logic of getting a 31/33 side together over next few weeks but so few that I fancy given I already have 3 Liverpool.

    Hazard vaguley interesting but other than that its slim pickings.

  5. Vinyl78LP
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Tonight's result has cemented my chip strategy, with 7 of my current squad now confirmed as having GW31/33 matches - so it will be Free Hit in DGW32 for me.

    WC34 and BB35.

  6. BOZ
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Too many words/thinking...... sod it will deal with this week by week. Injuries red cards can mess up all plans right now

  7. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Guys which move?

    Doherty (injured?) > Pereira
    Jonny > Pereira

    Thanks in advance

    1. Sherman Cardenas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jonny - Doherty is a knock and he's too good to ditch

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Much obliged. Thanks for the feedback.

  8. Sherman Cardenas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hennessy was in nets for Palace yesterday. Do we reckon that's a cup thing and Guaita back in or a change by Roy for the Prem too? Guaita did give away a poor penalty in the previous game by coming out and clattering someone...

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cup thing, according to Hodgson. Hennessey also has that FA charge hanging over him regarding the alleged "gesture".

      1. Sherman Cardenas
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Nice, thanks. Still can't decide on Guaita or Scheichel to get in this GW. Guaita's a lot cheaper but Leicester's fixtures are great and Kasper's not gonna get dropped any time soon...

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hennessy is trash. 5 CS in 16 full games. Guaita 4 CS in 8

  9. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Leaning towards FH31 with that Chelsea loss..
    Bigger pool ro pick FH team from.. chelsea pools bmouth and westham with good fixtures..

  10. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Looking at my team, fixtures and how the blanks will play out, I'll likely FH in GW33.

    1. kwyap123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How is your team look like in GW31? plan to WC in GW34?

  11. kwyap123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Rearrage games due to FA cup will be announced before or after GW27 deadline?