FPL

‘Five substitutes’ rule: How will FPL be affected?

From the start of 2022/23, Premier League clubs will be allowed to make five substitutions per match.

We previously saw this rule temporarily brought into play at the back-end of 2019/20, when a Covid-interrupted campaign had to be played to a conclusion over the summer months.

Here we take a general look at what the overall impact could be on Fantasy Premier League (FPL) next season.

We’ll follow this up with a more focused club-by-club piece on the players who look the likeliest to avoid a withdrawal – and those who are most prone to being substituted.

READ MORE: Which FPL assets played the most minutes in 2021/22?

FIVE SUBSTITUTES: WHAT’S ALLOWED

→ Who was substituted off on more occasions (23) than any other player?

“Clubs will be permitted to use five substitutions, to be made on three occasions during a match, with an additional opportunity at half-time. A total of nine substitutes can be named on the teamsheet.” – Premier League statement

In short, managers can’t make substitutions on five different occasions in order to waste time.

The game can be stopped for substitutions on a maximum of six occasions (three per side), as was previously the case in 2021/22, with half-time offering an additional window for changes.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2019/20

The five-substitutes rule ran for nine Gameweeks at the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign.

Four teams – Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sheffield United – each had an extra fixture during the run-in, so contested 10 games in total.

Below, we look at what each Premier League manager did with their permitted allocation.

Managers highlighted in bold are still at the helm of a top-flight club in 2022/23.

TeamManagerSubstitutions madeGames playedAverage subs per gameNumber of times all five subs were used
BrightonGraham Potter4394.88
LiverpoolJurgen Klopp4294.77
NorwichDaniel Farke4294.76
ArsenalMikel Arteta45104.55
BournemouthEddie Howe3894.26
NewcastleSteve Bruce3894.24
Manchester UnitedOle Gunnar Solskjaer3794.15
Man CityPep Guardiola41104.14
EvertonCarlo Ancelotti3694.04
ChelseaFrank Lampard3694.02
Aston VillaDean Smith38103.81
LeicesterBrendan Rodgers3493.83
WatfordNigel Pearson/Hayden Mullins3293.61
SpursJose Mourinho3093.30
Sheffield UnitedChris Wilder32103.20
SouthamptonRalph Hasenhuttl2893.11
WolvesNuno Espirito Santo2893.11
Crystal PalaceRoy Hodgson2893.10
West HamDavid Moyes2793.01
BurnleySean Dyche1691.80

A total of nine Premier League managers from 2019/20 will still be in charge come Gameweek 1 of the upcoming season, with seven of them at the same clubs.

Four of the six most active head coaches are still in the managerial hotseat, with Graham Potter the most prolific tinkerer: the Brighton and Hove Albion boss averaged 4.8 changes per match from Gameweeks 30+ to 38+ of 2019/20.

Jurgen Klopp wasn’t far behind the Albion manager (4.7), with David Moyes relatively hands-off with an average of three alterations per game.


A CLOSER LOOK AT LIVERPOOL AND MAN CITY

There’ll be plenty of FPL investment in the top two in 2022/23, so it’s worth a quick look at these clubs in more focus.

Given that Liverpool had the league sewn up by Gameweek 31+ and City’s focus was on the latter stages of the Champions League, the above tables perhaps aren’t the best sample if we’re looking for clues for next season.

Despite having his focus on Europe, Guardiola was far from the most prolific tinkerer during this period (more of which below).

What he did do, however, was use the half-time window: a total of seven substitutes were made across three matches when City were coasting at 2-0 at the interval. A further 17 of his 41 changes were made in that uncomfortable 55th-to-65th-minute zone where we Fantasy managers are fretting over appearance points.

As for Jurgen Klopp, he was more prolific with his changes (averaging 4.7 per match) but only three of his 42 alterations came before the 60th-minute mark. One of those was enforced because of injury, while the other two were half-time substitutions after poor performances from Joe Gomez and Takumi Minamino.

NUMBER OF SUBSTITUTIONS MADE IN 2021/22

268 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Hearing rumour that the game will launch in time for GW2

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I hope you haven’t heard it from that guy’s nephew! 😉

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Haha I read further along on that tweet and he admitted it was fake - like what’s the point

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Yes, it's the 23rd June - everyone should start panicking.

    3. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I would to see the reaction if they were just like nah, CBA this year.

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        I would pee myself with laughter

    4. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Unlikely FPL launching anytime soon its website isn't even down for its close-season maintenance yet.

      1. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        THIS!!!
        I said this earlier - the site goes down first right?
        Then the teasers
        Then the release

        We haven't even got to step one yet!

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Correct, but of course, there is the possibility that they are deviating from the norm this year. Time will tell but a July FPL launch is getting less and less likely with every day that passes without last season's website being taken down.

          1. Ron_Swanson
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            More and more likely

            1. bitm2007
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              yes more and more

          2. Brimble82
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            True. And steps two and three did technically happen on the same day last season, so…

            I’m still not going to get excited until the site goes down though!

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Maybe building on a different site/server, clutching at straws though really

    5. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I feel like it'll launch on 6th July. 1 month before the fixtures.

  2. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Current "predicted" total PL points for this season (based on the current spread market mid-points, rounded to the nearest whole number):

    Man City 90
    Liverpool 86
    Spurs 72
    Chelsea 70
    Man U 66
    Arsenal 65
    Newcastle 56
    Leicester 51
    Villa 51
    West Ham 51
    Brighton 47
    Palace 45
    Everton 45
    Wolves 43
    Leeds 41
    Brentford 39
    Southampton 39
    Fulham 37
    Forest 33
    Bournemouth 33

    1. Kobayashi
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I doubt Man Utd will manage 5th, nor Spurs 3rd. At least one of the promoted sides will stay up I reckon, likely Fulham/Bournemouth in place of Brentford/Leeds.

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I think it’s mostly the midtable that looks off to me. Expect Brentford to do much better and Everton to do much worse in particular. I’d actually be surprised if Everton stay up.

    3. TanN
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I can see spurs finishing third done some good business this transfer window so far

    4. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Interesting. Been thinking that Chelsea could make a little surprise if they keep their most important players fit and make some good transfers (although still don't believe they can compete with Liverpool and City). Apart from that, it's based on mathematical models so looks about right, it's devoid of any personal bias.

  3. Moxon
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Does anyone know how much Harry Wilson cost last he was in the prem?

      1. Moxon
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate!

  4. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    How much do you hate this from 0-10?

    4.5
    Robertson, Chilwell, James
    Diaz Jota Martinelli ESR
    Haaland Jesus Nketiah

    4.0 | 4.5, 4.5, 4.0

    1. Moxon
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      4 - for the same number of Arsenal players

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Pretty good! I'll lock it in early then

        1. Moxon
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          It's very exciting but screams cameos

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Yes, that's kind of the point. Cameos will be more frequent in general this season, including some players that will be priced high because they were nailed to start last season. On the other hand, some players will be priced low due to lack of game time last season, but the cameos they get could be longer due to the 5-sub rule, plus they have more chance to start games in order to rest the big names (who can come on early if the game state is disasterous).

    2. Kobayashi
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      10 being 'absolutely despise'? I'd say a 5, mainly due to the Arsenal overload.

    3. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      10 being the most hated?
      I'd give it a 2.

    4. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Needs more Arsenal
      Jota>Raphinha?

      Also... (and more seriously) think TAA returns more than Diaz.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Raphina is a good idea. Though I wouldn't really want to pair Raphinha with Saka, since Saka is likely to be a bit overpriced in the event that Raphina goes (and maybe in any case). So Jota > Raphinha only would potentially allow James > TAA (though I do quite like James).

        On the TAA/Diaz point, I don't really see why that would mean you should get TAA instead of Diaz, if that's what you're suggesting. They are in different positions. I can't pick 15 players from any position, as much as I'd like to!

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          I've had a few Arsenal in and out of drafts thus far (mainly around Saka, Raph, Ode & Jesus) - I'm just not sure how they'd line up.
          As an Arsenal fan - how do you see the front four being (assuming those tfrs go through).

          With regards to Jota>Raph, I'd bank the cash tbh!
          Don't see Jota as an option this season - especially not at £9.0m.
          I also like James, so wouldn't look to ditch him.

          My suggestion of TAA>Diaz was based upon a switch to 433:
          4.5
          TAA/Robbo/Chilly/James
          Raph/Martinelli/ESR
          Haaland/Jesus/Nketiah
          4.0//4.5/4.5/4.5

          Which by my maths gives you £2m to spare - which could be used to invest in either a premium keeper or strengthen the bench (for when there's the inevitable Martinelli/ESR benching.

          Musings only.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            I think there will be a lot of rotation, so it's not possible to say, really. With 5 subs, he can change the whole front 4 every game potentially.

            With Raphinha coming to play on the right, predominantly, presumably, there'd be two left-footers on the right and two right-footers on the left (excluding Vieira). Maybe the ultimate aim is to be more fluid across the front, but maybe the first priority is to have 2 sets of players drilled in every position. In the latter case, Saka would see his minutes essentially halved this season. I would avoid for now unless he's inexplicably cheap.

            Vieira is also a left-footer who prefers the right if he has to choose, but I would guess he is competition for Odegaard, first and foremost. Hopefully he's considered competition for Xhaka too, whether a Tielemans comes in or not.

            I would personally target the attackers who will be priced low due to reduced minutes last season. At least you can hope for increased value from extra mins. Could see Arteta making plenty of half-time subs.

            1. Brimble82
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Forgot about those Tielemans links!
              You boys are very active this summer.

              Interesting your comments on Saka - he’s been one of my mainstays.

              Arteta’s name would be mid around these parts if he starts rolling out the HT subs! From an FPL pov - everyone loses 🙁

          2. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Your maths is correct. It's a great suggestion thanks. I wouldn't want money ITB with this strat though, as I may be stuck with the team for a while before I want to move an Arsenal player on, and that money ITB is wasted. I'll revisit the idea when the game's launched! 🙂

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Of we go! I'll just set them off and leave them till the WC.

              Alisson
              Trent Robertson Chilwell James
              Raphinha Martinelli ESR
              Jesus Nketiah Haaland(c)

              4.5 | 4.5, 4.5, 4.5

              1. Jambot
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Needs more Arsenal

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Cucurella?

              2. Brimble82
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                I actually like it a lot.
                My eldest boy started last season with 4 City plus Kane in the hope they’d explode. Then Grealish was a damp squib and it all imploded!

                If you look at Arsenal’s fixtures and the business they’re doing - they could set off like a freight train.
                If you bag a decent first 8-10 GWs, you wouldn’t even need to make any changes.
                Though - and no disrespect - you are still Arsenal, so the ‘fun of it’ is it could all go up in smoke!

                FWIW; I’m currently considering triple Liverpool defence as well.

                874th draft is:
                4.5 (Raya or Sanchez (if 4.5))
                TAA/Robbo/VVD/Cancelo/Chilwell
                Saka/Kulu/Eriksen (based on Utd/Spurs tfr)
                (H)aaland/Jesus (based on Arsenal tfr)
                4.0//4.5/4.5/4.5

                So a fair bit of overlap.

                Now for the actual prices to come out and us be at least £1.5m off what we actually need!
                [facepalm emoji]

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Nice! As you saw on the previous page, I wanted to do the same as your son, but ended up with 3 City plus Kane. The worst part of it was actually Kane. Of course, he didn't start the season, and even when he did, he didn't. 1 goal in 15 GWS (and that wasn't until GW8 (I sold in GW7)). How were we to knowwww!?

                  Nice team. I'm not too worried about Liverpool defence right now, unless there's no value to be found elsewhere. I only have them because there's extraneous dough to dump with the Arse overload.

    5. Herogrows
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Midfield makes me want to hurl!
      If anything it looks over budget as well, nothing wrong with defense and attack though

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Looking over budget is a good thing. It's on-budget with LiveFPL prices. Hoping Nketiah might come in even cheaper than 7.5 as I don't think people will buy him even if he's 6.5 (assuming another CF is incoming).

    6. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Don’t really get the Arsenal obsession, but if you’re going to enjoy the game that way feel free, power to you!

      5/10

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheap. Improving. Good fixtures. Arsenal fan 🙂 Thanks for the power!

        1. Athletic Nasherbo
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          You didn’t need to tell me you were an Arsenal fan haha. I just don’t like the 4 you’ve chosen.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            See my rationale above if you're interested 🙂 Thanks for your input!

  5. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Launch the bloody thing already

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      *launches a bleeding Ben Grimm*

    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      We need our fix, getting cold sweats & the shakes now!

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Don't see the rush to launch it other than for them to get clicks.

      All for waiting until the last possible minute if it means the pricing is better.

      Also hopeful they are working on some rule changes/new chips etc.

      Weren't they supposed to be working on 2FA and 'achievements' to be added too?

  6. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    How’s the roster, what are we saying out of 10?

    Raya (4.5)

    TAA (8.0) Cancelo (7.0) Cash (5.5) Fofana (4.5)

    Salah (13.0) Kulusevski (8.0) Odegaard (6.5) Bruno G (6.0)

    Haaland (12.0) Watkins (7.5)

    4.0 Ait-Nouri/Johnny(4.5) 4.5MID 4.5FWD

    1. TanN
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      8/10 for me

      I like the GK choice and having cheap wolves Def as first sub.

      Defence I like, concerned you've maybe underegged TAA (8.5?) and Cancelo (7.5?)

      In which case you maybe need Robbo or VVD instead of Trent for balance.

      Midfield - nice to see Salah in there, pleased to see Kulu too he's one of my priorities. Odegaard and Bruno G don't excite me I would be tempted to plump for a Saka/Bowen and have another 4.5/5 midfielder.

      Good to see haaland again a shoo-in for me. Watkins could be a good shout tbf but I'd be tempted to have fodder and play 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 by using the money from downgrading Watkins to upgrade Fofana and Bruno G

      Hope that makes sense

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA Tsimikas Shaw
    Salah Bruno.F Raph M.Greenwood
    Antonio Wilson Ings

    Steele Amartey Brownhill Ayling

    This team got me 104 points in GW1 last season, 82 2nd game. Not many big hitters and still did the job early on, just look to get 2-3 big names and a well balanced squad.

  8. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Why such a rush for knowing prices? So much will change anyway even till the end of July, transfers, pre-season, injuries. Better imho not to spend too much time tinkering to avoid setting your mind on certain options (anchoring bias was that?) and spend that time doing research on players, tactics, searching for insider info or whatever. Knowledge is power.

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      It's still June btw, wasn't FPL usually launched much later (apart from the last season)

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I’ve not started even thinking about anything really but if people are having fun with RMTs, etc. Then I think they should go for it.

    3. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Or try the hardcore challenge: wait till the last day and just copy FPL Review's model team. Or just copy some famous manager's team that is going to do a team reveal here. Maybe less fun but also calmer mind :p (probably also better results...)

      1. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Balls to that man, half the reason this game's less fun these days is the fact its more or less been solved. I am really hoping for a radical shake up of the rules that widens the viable pool of players and wrong foots so the so-called experts.

    4. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Yes. It is a waste of time tinkering at this stage anyway, the chances of what you select being your actually starting 15 are slim, to say the least. Better to save your time and effort for the days before the GW1 deadline, I'm planning to auto-select a team as soon as the new season goes live then wait until then.

  9. Hangman Page
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Everton interested in Winks.

    They are the club where its acceptable if you've fallen out of favour at a top six side. I was shocked Welbeck didn't end up there after he left Arsenal.

    1. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      *To go

      Still waiting on that edit button 🙂

    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Everton’s recruitment has got to be the worst out there

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Probably pay £40m for him as well

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      They're getting relegated aren't they?

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Nope

  10. TanN
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    I couldn't hold back any longer...first liveFPL draft:

    Raya
    Cancelo Trent Chilwell Cash Jansonn
    Kulu Saka Salah D. Luiz
    Haaland

    Steele A.Gordon Gelhardt 4.5

    My plan is to bring in Gordon for D.Luiz when villa fixtures get worse.

    The problem is who to captain really - Salah, Haaland, Saka, Trent all good options and as a wildcard option Matty cash at Bournemouth could be a shout, equally good could be Kulu at Southampton or Chilwell at Everton.

    I decided to go for Salah over Son because it will be easier to downgrade Salah to someone than try and upgrade Luis Diaz to Salah

    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      D Luiz won’t start for us this season, other than that it’s decent though not keen on Jansonn

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I feel like everyone will have Salah Haaland Kulu Saka Trent Cancelo Chilwell and then only the other 4 places will include different people