Fixtures

What latest FA Cup action means for Blank Gameweek 31

The most recent round of FA Cup matches, and the fifth-round draw, have confirmed more details about the upcoming Blank Gameweek 31.

Burnley’s fourth-round defeat to Norwich on Saturday ensured that they will be in Premier League action on the weekend of March 21.

They will be hosting Watford, who were knocked out of the FA Cup on Thursday in their belated third-round replay.

Meanwhile, Monday night’s clash between Bournemouth and Arsenal confirmed another Blank Gameweek 31 fixture.

The Cherries’ exit means that on the weekend of March 21, they will be clear to travel to Molineux, where they will face a Wolves side already eliminated from the FA Cup.

As things stand, these are the only two fixtures guaranteed for Blank Gameweek 31, potentially firming up the Fantasy credentials of Raùl Jiménez (£7.5m), Adama Traoré (£5.7m), Troy Deeney (£6.3m), Chris Wood (£6.2m) as well as their colleagues.

However, we also have a much better idea of what it will take to either confirm or deny blanks for the other 18 teams in Gameweek 31 – because of the fifth-round draw, conducted on Monday evening, which looks like this:

  • Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
  • Reading/Cardiff v Sheffield United
  • Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
  • West Bromwich Albion v Oxford United/Newcastle United
  • Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
  • Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
  • Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
  • Portsmouth v Arsenal

As a result, this is what the Blank Gameweek 31 permutations look like:



Home vs Away Blank…
20-Mar-20 20:00 Spurs vs West Ham If Spurs beat Southampton and Norwich
21-Mar-20 12:30 Chelsea vs Man City If Chelsea beat Liverpool/Shrewsbury or if Man City beat Sheffield Wednesday
21-Mar-20 15:00 Burnley vs Watford CONFIRMED FOR BLANK GAMEWEEK 31
21-Mar-20 15:00 Man United vs Sheffield United If Man United beat Northampton/Derby or if Sheffield United beat Reading/Cardiff
21-Mar-20 15:00 Newcastle vs Aston Villa If Newcastle beat Oxford United and West Bromwich Albion
21-Mar-20 15:00 Norwich vs Everton If Norwich beat Spurs/Southampton
21-Mar-20 15:00 Wolves vs Bournemouth CONFIRMED FOR BLANK GAMEWEEK 31
21-Mar-20 17:30 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace If Liverpool beat Shrewsbury and Chelsea
22-Mar-20 14:00 Leicester vs Brighton If Leicester beat Coventry/Birmingham City
22-Mar-20 16:30 Southampton vs Arsenal If Southampton beat Spurs and Norwich or if Arsenal beat Portsmouth

Only two Blank Gameweek 31 fixtures remain where both teams are still in the FA Cup; Chelsea’s hosting of Manchester City and Sheffield United’s trip to Manchester United.

The first of those could be ‘blanked’ by either Chelsea or Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool in the next round, or by Manchester City defeating Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

There are four matches which we will not discover the fate of until after the FA Cup fourth round replays have been played.

Liverpool, Southampton, Spurs and Newcastle still have to squeeze through such matches, which take place on February 4 and 5, 2020.

Therefore, we will not know about any of the following Blank Gameweek 31 fixtures until then:

  • Liverpool v Crystal Palace
  • Southampton v Arsenal
  • Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham
  • Newcastle United v Aston Villa

Meanwhile, at least one of the following matches will end up as a ‘blank’ in Gameweek 31.

  • Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
  • Norwich City v Everton
  • Southampton v Arsenal

This is because Spurs v West Ham and Norwich v Everton cannot both be blanked, given that the two home sides could face off in the Cup while the Hammers and Toffees are both already out of the competition.

Which FPL assets topped goal threat, creativity and clean sheets this month?
628 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Winning ML is a priority and have 60 points to make up. What players to you see as a differential?

    Him - Soyu, Grealish, Traore, Cantwell
    Me - Rico, Martial, Maddy, Dendocker (Martial & Maddy for the chop)

    Both have Robbo, TAA, Lundy, Kelly, KDB, Vardy, DCL, Ings (He has Mane which will probably be Salah who I have)

    1. ppv
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Match him and buy Grealish and traore and sell maddy and martial and upgrade somewhere else. Sorry no better options for the money

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. Struggling for options myself

    2. ppv
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can you upgrade a striker to an exciting option with the spare cash?

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Not many about other than Kun, maybe Auba with their fixtures.

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kun captaincy vs WHU next GW

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. A decent option. One of the few that might make a difference for me.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          You don't need to do anything too drastic. I have managed to turnaround greater leads with fewer GWs left. Go smart with the captaincy and only go differential when they don't have an obvious candidate.

          1. JoeSoap
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Thanks. Won't be doing anything drastic. Had same points as ML about 6 GWs ago then his double Pool defence destroyed, me including TAAs 24 points haul. Plenty of time left.

  2. Ibra
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What would you do with this team?

    Gazza
    TAA - Kelly - Rico
    Salah - Mane - KDB - Martial - Grealish
    Vardy - Ings

    Button - Greenwood - Lundstram - Williams

    1ft, 0,1 itb

    I'm thinking of:

    A) Mane + Williams -> Alli + Robbo (-4)
    or
    B) Mane + Williams -> Son + VVD (-4)

    Which one is better? I don't have goalkeeper next gw but I want to do Gazza -> McCarthy and McCarhy has Liverpool next so he won't probably get more than 2 points so I can do that move after Southamptons game against Liverpool.

  3. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any merit in going Aguero (tot) captain over Salah (SOT) given the Mané news should bring Salah's EO well over 100% next GW?

  4. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who'll start instead of Mane? Minamino?

  5. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which 2 players would you start and why?

    A: Rico (AVL)
    B: Kelly (SHU)
    C: Hayden (NOR)
    D: Ings (liv)