News

Four clubs set to play three fixtures across Blank and Double Gameweeks

Fantasy Premier League managers have been thrown a wonderful New Year’s Eve gift by the powers that be with Thursday’s fixture rearrangements.

Manchester United’s Gameweek 1 trip to Burnley has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, putting it into Blank Gameweek 18.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are now due to host Aston Villa on Wednesday, January 20, adding to an already bumper edition of fixtures in Double Gameweek 19.

With these changes to the schedule it now means the following clubs all play in Blank Gameweek 18 and have two fixtures in Double Gameweek 19.

  • Aston Villa
  • Burnley
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester United

So what does this mean for Fantasy managers? Well, regardless of chip strategy, it makes assets from these four clubs more appealing in the coming weeks, especially the two Manchester sides.

The additional of the Red Devils’ favourable trip to Burnley makes life a little easier for anyone considering the Free Hit chip in Blank Gameweek 18 simply because the pool of players has expanded.

As a result, the margin for potential success is arguably wider now as the chances of identical Free Hit squads will go down with an additional fixture. The same is true of Double Gameweek 19 although the list of potentially explosive assets was already rather high.

Either way, two more active teams in Blank Gameweek 18 (raising the total from 10 to 12) arguably decreases the need for using a chip either during or before that round.

Those looking to hold onto their second Wildcard now have an easier route to tackle Blank Gameweek 18 and Double Gameweek 19 side-by-side with their free transfers considering there are now four clubs who play three matches across them.

Manchester City and Manchester United are likely to help form the spine for Fantasy teams across the globe in light of their appealing fixtures and array of decent options.

However, there are a few complications to consider, not least the fact that it has not been disclosed which players at Manchester City have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last week.

Thankfully, their next match (a trip to Chelsea) is challenging enough to put off investment anyway and we might get more information about the COVID cases either in the pre-match or post-match press conferences, if not from the team-sheet itself.

Manchester City’s next six fixtures

  • Gameweek 17: Chelsea (away)
  • Blank Gameweek 18: Brighton (home)
  • Double Gameweek 19: Crystal Palace (home) + Aston Villa (home)
  • Gameweek 20: West Bromwich Albion (away)
  • Gameweek 21: Sheffield United (home)
  • Gameweek 22: Burnley (away)

Manchester United’s next six fixtures

  • Gameweek 17: Aston Villa (home)
  • Blank Gameweek 18: Burnley (away)
  • Double Gameweek 19: Liverpool (away) + Fulham (home)
  • Gameweek 20: Sheffield United (home)
  • Gameweek 21: Arsenal (away)
  • Gameweek 22: Southampton (home)

Aston Villa’s next six fixtures

  • Gameweek 17: Manchester United (away)
  • Blank Gameweek 18: Spurs (home)
  • Double Gameweek 19: Everton (home) + Manchester City (away)
  • Gameweek 20: Burnley (away)
  • Gameweek 21: Southampton (away)
  • Gameweek 22: West Ham (home)

Burnley’s next six fixtures

  • Gameweek 17: Fulham (home)
  • Blank Gameweek 18: Manchester United (home)
  • Double Gameweek 19: West Ham (away) + Liverpool (away)
  • Gameweek 20: Aston Villa (home)
  • Gameweek 21: Chelsea (away)
  • Gameweek 22: Manchester City (home)
1,143 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This is very welcome news. Part of my planning was that there was a chance for City-Villa in 19 so I didn't sell Grealish or KdB. I'm really glad that's coming to roost now.

    Taylor replacement is also set with Stones 🙂

    Great news all around and I'll have 15 doubles for the BB with Son + Davis > Raphinha + Watkins.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Taylor is fit to play? Also two of his h three fixtures are against United and Pool, not much CS potential there anyways

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Taylor replacement! I'm gonna get rid. Shame, he was literally only in for his good GW16,17 and he can't even do that...

        So this week: Forster > Johnstone, Taylor > Stones.
        Next week: Son > Raphinha/Torres/Maddison, Davis > Watkins

        Gives me:

        Martinez Johnstone
        Zouma, James, Stones, Coufal, Dallas
        Salah, KdB, Fernandes, Grealish, Raphinha
        Bamford, Adams, Watkins

        I think even WC teams will struggle to get a BB side that strong.

      2. Davekitson
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        source for Taylor being fit to play?

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Nah he was asking and misread my intent.

          1. Davekitson
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Oh I see! I'm just desperate for my Taylor problem to magically go away

  2. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For GW18/19:

    a) KDB
    b) Rashford

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A no question.

  3. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BREAKING: Edinson Cavani has been suspended for three games, fined £100,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a charge for a breach of FA Rule E3.

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      martial, welcome to my team

      1. Badgevilla
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Two of the games are cup games so Cavani could be a nice differential as he will be rested in between.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pathetic. Imagine having to be 'educated' by some idiot with a bachelor in critical race theory telling you why your culture and language is 'racist'.

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes it's cultural racism against Cavani if anything

  4. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Folks, is Solskjaer having a press conference before tomorrow’s match ?

  5. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I can now get through GW18 with 9 players. Should be enough. Not sure any FH team gets much advantage with the extra 2 players?

    I have KDB Bruno Son.

    I’m only really missing Kane and then a load of filler players.

  6. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I think most people who were building for DGW19 will probably still be better off FH in 18? Only got 4 for 18 with 2 FTs to use

    Only concern that I’ve not seen much of - are United, City, AV players not more of a rotation worry now since they have extra games squeezed in with an already busy schedule?

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They will be well rested during the FA Cup week.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah I think max I can get with FTs is like 5 or 6 BGW players. Sucks going o have to use FH tho

  7. derdourily
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GW17 Mitchell > Dias
    GW18 FH
    GW19 Son, Forster , Kane > KDB,Ederson ,Vardy(-8)

    BB19 would be:

    Ederson Johnstone
    Dias Balbuena Coufal Alioski Lowton
    Salah Bruno KDB Raphinha Soucek
    Vardy Adams Bamford

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Given Mitchell is back in the side, any option to keep for GW18 and avoid having to use FH?

      1. derdourily
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Don't think he is nailed with Pva playing very well , i think pva was only rested last match.

  8. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So apparently Ederson has covid, interesting. Saw it on a City fan page on Instagram, source EdgarMCFC

  9. GS456
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones or Bailly??

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones on City's recent defensive form.

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

    Is there a Pep presser coming tomorrow?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Good question, maybe unlikely for NewYears Day. Though it's online I suppose.

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

        Football doesn't really stop on NYE/NYD though

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sold Grealish last week

    Probably a blessing disguise. Villa fixtures dont look too good

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully many hold on to him. Horrible 4 fixtures coming up.

    2. Badgevilla
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      We beat Liverpool 7-2 Arsneal 3-0 and drew with Chelsea away form home 1-1.

      Also beat Leicester and Wolves. Not sure how these fixtures are bad for us?

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sold him for Pereira. You just watch Pereira, with lots of coffee 😉

    4. Caleb's Kitties
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So did I. Would be funny if he got a yellow card to rule him out of one of the BGW/DGW.

  12. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Was one of the original BGW18 5 games dropped? There's two more now but only 6 rather than 7. Not had any drink yet!

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ther's only one more. City is in dgw19

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers Wild Rover and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Likewise 🙂

  13. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ben Crellin said Spurs-Fulham could be played in GW19, so could be wise to hang on to Spurs assets. But then makes it difficult to have City assets too with Salah, Bruno as everpresents.

    No idea what I'm doing now. WC16 in tatters.

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I will hold on to Son for sure.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane Son KDB Salah Bruno Dias Robbo/Trent

      Too many premiums

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How can that happen when Fulham already have a double game week that week?

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Triple

          1. WE GO FOR IT
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Good joke

      2. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        BB in 19 surely locked if that happens.

      3. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Fulham already have a double. No chance Spurs-Fulham gets arranged in GW19 util they rearrange that fixture.
        The only way it would've been possible if Fulham vs Man United had moved to GW18. But Burnley vs United has been arranged. So, that can't happen anymore as well.

        tldr; Barring something crazy, Spurs will have only one game in GW19

        1. BenDavies
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          True actually, how annoying! No idea how I'm getting City players in now.

    4. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Shaw or Maguire?

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maguire, Telles rotating a bit with Shaw it seems

    5. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      IS KDB and Dias enough City for GW19?

      1. GS456
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        More than enough

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        For sure, nailed as well, should be anyway

      3. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No

    6. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sorted and only took 30 mins or so. Sacrifice a little bit of potential for gw17 whilst building a stronger dgw19 team and setting up nicely for gw20 onwards. FH18 doesn't change. Happy days.

        1. Pinturicchio10
            3 years, 2 months ago

            gw17: TAA/Grealish -> Dias/Barnes (free)
            bgw18: FH
            dgw19: Son -> De Bruyne

            leaves dgw 19 as follows...

            Fabianski
            Ayling/Zouma/Dias
            Salah/Soucek/Fernandes/Barnes/De Bruyne
            Bamford/Vardy

            Yoink.

        2. martyhan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Worth keeping son and kane now for the Leeds game or take one out for prep for DGW?
          Have no city at present.

        3. FDMS All Starz
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Would you do this for the dgw19?

          Justin/Rashford/Firmino—> Dias/Kdb/Watkins

        4. Huddersfield
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Is Shaw nailed enough for the GW18 & GW19?

          1. WE GO FOR IT
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            No. Wil be rotated. Maguire is the safest bet. Maybe AWB as well.

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

            Nope - Telles about

        5. konrad.sygula95
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Which option would you choose?
          A Taylor to TAA
          B DCL to Vardy
          C Taylor to Justin
          D Watkins to Rodrigo
          E something else?

          Martinez
          Dier/Coufal/Cancelo
          Son/Fernandes/Salah(c)/Grealish
          Watkins/DCL/Bamford

          Bench: Forster/KWP/Anguissa/Taylor
          1ft 2.7 itb

        6. OLLY G
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I could do this for -4 leading up to DGW19. Thoughts please?

          Martinez | McCarthy

          Dallas | Cresswell | Coufal | Taylor | Cooper

          Salah | Bruno | KDB | Grealish | Soucek

          Bamford | Watkins | Ings

        7. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Plans up in the air 🙂 will still FH18 and BB19. Just my two main issues now are DCL (no double) and C.Taylor (injured). Would you do these moves with 2FTs?

          DCL+C.Taylor >> Antonio+Cancelo?

          McCarthy
          Robbo, Dias, Coufal
          Salah, KDB, Bruno, Raphinha
          DCL, Bamford, Adams
          (Johnstone, Dallas, Soucek, C.Taylor*)

        8. WE GO FOR IT
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Would you hokey cokey with KdB to Son for GW17. Gonna be FHing in 18 anyway, so will have both. And back to KdB for GW19 and further?

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Son has Leeds, he’s my captain...

            1. WE GO FOR IT
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Planning to get him in this week. NOt sure whether I'd captain him or Son

              1. WE GO FOR IT
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Kane, I meant.

        9. Mweene
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          OK, that's kind of messed up my plans as I have no City players.

          Still going to FH18 and BB19 as I've building towards BB for weeks with Leeds and West Ham players.

          New plan:

          This week do Grealish and Targett to Barnes and Stones for free (or Cresswell over Stones?)

          FH18

          GW 19 - Son and Kane to De Bruyne and Ings (-4)

          Thoughts?

        10. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          have used my 2 ft this gw.

          if i sleect wc will i get both back or just one?

          thank you

          1. OLLY G
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Just 1 next GW.

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              damn. cheers

        11. baines is god
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          don't Spurs have a fixture that might give them a double gameweek soon (gw19)

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            They have but looks like it won't

        12. Sz21
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Just 4 players for BGW 18 so will FH 18, TC 19 still.
          Which 2 moves would u make in prep for 19 here?
          Need to make 1 move this week and 1 in 19.

          McCarthy.
          Robbo, Stones, Dallas, Coufal.
          Salah, Son, Mane, Fernandes.
          Bamford, DCL.
          Forster, Lookman, Brewster, Ferguson.
          1ft, 0.4m ITB.

          Son + DCL are my only single weekers in 19 for now.
          May shift Lookman if their game is off too.

          1. Sz21
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Considering Lookman ->.Soucek this GW and then either
            Son-> Rashford or DCL-> Rodrigo in 19.
            Thoughts on these moves?

        13. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I think am going without Salah. We all know how that will end but the opportunity is huge. I prefer KDB Bruno Rashford Grealish Soucek as my midfield and there is no place for him. I will captain Bruno or KDB too so it has to be done.

          Thoughts?

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Soucek on the bench in GW 18 and all of them have 1 extra fixture compared to Salah

          2. Salan
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Reasonable plan.

          3. derdourily
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            He burnt you last time with 2goals and assist so be careful !

          4. WE GO FOR IT
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Going without Salah is as risky as it gets, especially with the double. Could work but potential of backfire is high as well.

        14. Tshelby
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Again thinking about burning a ft

          2FT/0.0 ITB

          Martinez
          Kilman, Chilwel, Coufal, KWP, Dias
          KdB, Bruno, Salah, Grealish, Soucek
          Adams, DCL, Bamford

          Any suggestions?

          1. ivantys
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            DCL to Wilson?

        15. Caleb's Kitties
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Early thoughts on this FH18 draft?

          Leno
          Dias maguire saiss
          KDB bruno rashford son
          Kane DCL watkins

          1. Zladan
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I’d want more City