Gameweek Guide

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Triple Gameweek 35

Gameweek 35 of the 2020/21 season will be etched in our memories forevermore – the Fantasy Gods have thrust a mythical Triple Gameweek upon us.

The Premier League’s most successful side, Manchester United, will be playing three times. But the burning question is, with the Red Devils cramming their three fixtures into five days:

Do you let this Treble – which probably will be a Double for most of the players – completely destroy your plans and blinker you to the potential of the Double Gameweek players?

– Mark, FPL BlackBox

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool and Southampton all play twice. 

We have a Friday deadline of 18:30 BST to finalise our teams.

The Fixture Ticker

Here’s how the schedule currently looks

Notice that four teams blank in Gameweek 36, including Man United, while five teams play twice in this round of fixtures and also have a match next Gameweek: Liverpool, Southampton, Everton, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – could these be the sides to target for those without a Free Hit chip or Wildcard?

Recovery times between matches is likely to have a big say in team selection, and arguably performance too. In the past, Pro Pundit Zophar has noted the impact on injuries:

Recent research has shown that muscle injury risk increases by almost 20% when recovery time is reduced from six to three days. It concluded that fixture congestion and insufficient recovery time between matches are two of the major risk factors associated with injuries and suggested that players should have at least 96 hours between matches in order to recover fully. Beyond the 96-hour period, there were no significant gains observed.

– Zophar

With a day’s rest between each of their three fixtures, caution is advised with Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s troops.

Although, as Neale observed, is the silver-lining of playing three matches in a week that there’s a greater chance of two or more starts for most of United’s key players, even allowing for a benching along the way?

Andy certainly thinks so:

It’s unlikely any of them play three times, the only thing I would say is you kind of guarantee two games for most of the main players whereas … Jota for example or or even Mané potentially – and I know not everyone’s really got him in their team right now but some people might be thinking about it – I don’t think anyone will guarantee two games for them whereas Bruno, Luke Shaw they’ll definitely play twice.

The other question to consider is how good are the fixtures for the 13-time Premier League champions?

And given their current position in the table, when they arguably only need three more points to secure Champions League football, how can we expect them to approach their fixture triplet? 

They have, on the whole, been cautious when facing the ‘big six’ teams and Leicester City. Since the 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Tottenham Hotspur in early October, they’ve failed to score in six of their nine matches against this elite opposition (Man United’s score first):

  • 0-0 Gameweek 6 v Chelsea (H)
  • 0-1 Gameweek 7 v Arsenal (H)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 12 v Man City (H)
  • 2-2 Gameweek 15 v Leicester (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 19 v Liverpool (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 21 v Arsenal (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 26 v Chelsea (A)
  • 2-0 Gameweek 27 v Man City (A)
  • 3-1 Gameweek 31 v Spurs (A)

Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark declared yesterday on FPL BlackBox:

I’m quite happy having no Bruno.

– Mark, FPL BlackBox

He outlined his reasons across a couple of videos:

Do you United need to risk it? They don’t need to beat Leicester and Liverpool do they? And they probably think they can get something out of Villa with a weakened team … Both Leicester and Liverpool need to get results, so they’re going to be tough games, I think … Even if physically some of the [Man United] players won’t have played three games in five days mentally, as a team, they’ve got to prepare for three games in five days. That’s going to take its toll.

In recent weeks we’d analysed a slump for Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m), and even questioned if he was a viable premium for our FPL squads.

But his underlying stats have improved, as Jan highlighted in his Captain Sensible article:

The Portuguese international has dominated underlying statistics among midfielders in recent weeks. No midfielder has registered a higher figure for expected Goal Involvement (xGI) over the last six matches.

Tom Freeman picked up on the stat, explaining that his expected goal involvement (xGI) delta stands at -1.73 over the last six Gameweeks – no midfielder has underachieved more in front of goal during that time.

For Jan, there’s only one captain option:

Even in the scenario where Fernandes only starts in two of those three games, he is comfortably the most likely player from Manchester United to provide big returns in Triple Gameweek 34 according to his underlying statistics.

– Jan

And, despite having some reservations, Zophar feels that the first Triple Gameweek since 2005/06 is an opportunity that should not be passed up:

In five years’ time, I don’t want to be saying that I had only two players when Manchester United had a Triple Gameweek, irrespective of the outcome.

– Zophar

Harry Maguire (£5.5m) is widely considered to be the most-nailed of all United players, having failed to miss a single minute of Premier League football since moving to United at the start of 2019/20. 

However, that run is likely to come to an end:

But there have been encouraging quotes from Bruno Fernandes, even if he’s unlikely to play all three, his words give hope to his backers:

Advantage Liverpool and Leicester

Given the rotation we expect for Man United, could the real winners be Liverpool and Leicester?

Unlike many of the teams around them in the Premier League table, Liverpool have neither FA Cup, Europa League or Champions League involvement as a sideshow distraction. The sole focus is on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League, which would likely reduce the risk of rotation from now until Gameweek 38.

– Neale

The risk with Liverpool’s attacking quartet is that, following a very open game against Newcastle, Klopp may be unwilling to start all four again. So we could see Diogo Jota (£7.0m), Mohamed Salah (£12.7m), Roberto Firmimo (£9.0m) and Sadio Mané (£11.7m) eat into each other’s game-time during the run-in.

Perhaps Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m) could be a safer option, David even mooted him as an option for the armband on the Captaincy Video:

The assist potential of Alexander-Arnold was very high, so in the last six matches he’s created 16 chances … but also the quality of it as well, so he’s created four big chances.

Finally, Everton were tipped by Lateriser in his latest column piece:

I looked into the numbers and 46% of the big chances that they have created this season have fallen to him. Despite their perceived lack of form, only five teams have created more big chances than Everton in the last six matches (2.33 per game). It is also worth noting that Everton’s next four opponents conceded 2.45 big chances per game on average in their last six matches, which bodes well for Calvert-Lewin. He could have easily had a brace against Aston Villa in Gameweek 34, as well.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

Elsewhere, Neale previewed finals of both the FFS Open Cup and FFS Members Cup, and RedLightning brought us his regular update on the community competitions.

The Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 35 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update every night on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page so you can keep track of the action as the Gameweek unfolds. 

May your arrows be green!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,069 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What to do with Jota next week onwards? Looks to me he became a permanent bench fodder

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I think he still starts games in the run in.

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      uh... West Brom, Burnley and Palace left for Liverpool. He's definitely not going to be bench fodder for me.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bench fodder for Liverpool not for you mate

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      5 games for Pool in 14 days. I think he starts in 36 if benched against United.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Relax .....
      Let the 100 games till next deadline finish !

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I like to set up my bus team

    5. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I've banked the next transfer for Antonio. Don't have enough left to shift Jota so he'll likely stay in my starting XI

    6. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He'll start some, come on for 30 in some, still a good option at that price with those fixtures

    7. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wouldn't mind if he comes off the bench vs. United as I'd rather he start in GW36.

      Well I'd actually rather whichever scenario gives me the most points, starting from the bench or ot!

    8. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He'll rotate with Firmino, Mane and Salah . . but will play a part in every game.

  2. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Okay who wins this week?
    Leno vs Henderson -4.

    Reckon leno starts 2/2?

  3. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    All good. After forgetting to TC Kane back then, I've got it on Bruno. And I've activated my FH for GW36 - 0.0 itb.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GL !

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nice week for FH.

      Last week possibly better as it won't be so easy to pick the City team but you're ahead of most everyone anyway.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Man U might rest a load, and too many teams will be on the beach, I reckon

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

      Ooof - going to sit at least one and really doesn't have any form to speak of.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Well, if I'm wrong I'm wrong with over 90% of everyone!

  4. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Auba is my big punt on fh, 0.42% ownership in top 10k, probably for good reason lol.

    If he can somehow role back to the good times, I might finish the season some what decently.

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Good luck, went with rash and Pulisic

  5. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    My H2H rival boosted his bench, losing this 1.

  6. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    According to Fantasy Football Fix the players who's price was rising fastest before the GW deadline was Cavani

    370.5% per hour Cavani
    315.0% per hour Rashford
    314.7% per hour Ward-Prowse
    287.5% per hour Shaw
    271.2% per hour Greenwood

    Bruno is 15th on the list at 90.8% per hour

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cavani can only manage one game per week. Hoping for supersub cameos, I suppose.

  7. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Guaita was a massive risk over Emi and Schmeichel

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Went same on fh, had martinez all season, so marti will reward me with a monster haul now he's out of my team for the week.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        My team name is literally “Emi Tha god”

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I got him and Ward. They'll have to clog up my bench for the last 3 though.

  8. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I always enjoy this part.

    2 TGW, 10 DGW and Son, Coufal, Lloris on bench boost.

    The hope of 130+ points before the crushing disappointment of everyone being benched and struggling to get past 80...

    1. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Or 50 in my case all season

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Haha more like mine too

  9. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Brought in jwp and digne so apologies to anyone who has them. Your gonna have a sh1te wk

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hopefully, ML has got them both

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      They'll both do well.

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      i hate you

  10. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Leno vs hendo -4 who wins?
    Anyone?

  11. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    ManU players much lower EO than expected other than Maguire

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

      Bruno*

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I ended up with greenwood and maguire.

      Hoping harry has a word with OGS and reassures him that he's fine to start them all!

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Millions of dead teams, is that being taken into account ?

  12. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I only have one starting player with EO < 30%...... Coleman (6.7%)

    Two CSs and a brace a little too much to ask? 😆

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Heh, got Ward on 1.5% for 12 points 😉

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Nice. Could be golden 😉

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I actually benched Ward.

    2. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maguire 16%. Come on slabhead!

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

        Expecting things from Harry Maguire . . .this is desperation!

  13. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else here with Mane (c)?

    Needed a differential and think I've got one lol

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I've seen very few RMT's with Mane even in them.

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That is one hell of a differential. Good luck.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You're onto a winner.

    4. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Great stuff, I got rid of Kane to fund Mane, so all the very best of luck

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looking forward to some Mane G, Robbo A magic.

  14. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    - Fernandes 172.1%
    - Shaw 53.7%
    - Greenwood 35%
    - Maguire 16.1%
    - Rashford 10.3%
    - AWB 8%
    - Cavani 4.1%

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      All set for a Bruno fail.

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

        When he fails to deliver most weeks (in recent times) what actually constitutes a "fail". I mean he's in teams (including mine) due to fear.

  15. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I have 2 triplers and 6 doublers this wk and can field 9 nxt wk with no keeper.

    How ye looking?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3 triplers & 7 doublers. Have 8 for gw36 atm.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3 triplers, 6 doublers
      10 next week before FT.

    3. Abaddon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3 triplers. 8 doublers. Have 13 for gw 36. Played FH this round

    4. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2 trips, 7 dubs, can field 11 next week with a FT

    5. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3 triples, 8 doubles
      2 of 15 blank next week nacho,Shaw will roll FT

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Just one United ?

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          FH

    6. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      8 doublers, 3 triplers and 11 players for next week

    7. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Can get a keeper and Antonio with a hit and mitb nxt wk. That will be it tho. Worst players would be Dawson and llorente but they have good fistures

    8. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2 triplers 9 doublers and full set for next week after FT - even managed to take out Konsa for a hit who plays next time 🙂

      1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        3 triplers, 8 doublers this week and I'll have 13 to choose from next week

    9. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3 TGW, 9 DGW, 3 SGW, and can field 11 next GW thanks to FH.

  16. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Guaita Rashford Vardy Pulisic & Watkins
    VS
    Emi Greenwood Kane Son Jota

    1. Abaddon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hard to telle. Bingo bongo. I choose A

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No point in guessing. 9-11 potential fixtures for each permutation. Anything can happen!

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      My third time owning puli this year... cause the first two went sooo well.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Haha. He's mad he didn't start. At least he'll want to put in another good performance if he does start in the DGW.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          He had to rest Werner...

          Anything over 120 is a big win for me, looks for and firing

          1. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Fit*

  17. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    FH time!

    Lets create a template 🙂

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Martinez
      TAA, Digne
      Salah, Son, Lingard
      DCL, Kane

      Who else ? City ?

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mine's anti-template. I'm going full-on Pep roulette!

      Pickford, Forster
      TAA, Phillips, Regulion, Struijk, Mitchell
      Salah, Bale, Foden, Mahrez, Bilva
      Kane, DCL, Richarlison.

      how 'bout you?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Like it

        Much the way I'd go. Might do Kun Son over Bilva Kane. Feel pretty sure Kun gets Newcastle myself.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          There's a thought.
          I've just changed Struijk/Richarl to Digne/Tekkers.
          Can see how this TGW goes and tweak again.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Emi
      Digne TAA Reggie
      Salah Son Lingard Jota
      Kane Bamford Antonio

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero!

  18. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bamford still 37.9% ownership, but only has an EO of 3.06% in top 10k, 12.4% in the 100-200k tier. He must be on an anonymous number of benches or in struggling/dead teams.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Was still stinking up mine until 18:28.

      Cue haul.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Happily still sat on my bench still, waiting for the final run-in of BUR, SOU, WBA. Hopefully Raphinha comes back from injury though, Leeds have regressed a lot without him.

  19. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1 manager in the top 10k brought in and started Fred this week 😉

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      When you know, you know.

  20. Ch0udini
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Fixture in mini league narrowed to:
    A) Martinez, Shaw, Watkins
    vs
    B) Mendy, Holding, Zaha

    Who do you think is going to score more?

  21. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Going forward.

    A. Raphina (bur, sou, WBA)
    B. Bale (WOL, AVL, lei)
    C. Siggy (avl, SHU, WOL)

    1. Ch0udini
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bale

  22. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Evans injured in the warn up?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He's just limped off yeah. TBC...

  23. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Evans might not start now, hobbled off.

  24. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Back 4 now