FPL
22 December 2025 170 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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First, came Joe’s much-liked ‘Goals Imminent’ table. Then, the Fantasy Football Scout podcast of the same name. Now, Goals Imminent is here in article form!

Heading towards Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL), these Members Area statistics identify some underachieving players who look ‘due’ for a goal and/or assist.

Naturally, we’ll attempt to assess whether they’re unlucky, suffering a rare blip, or just aren’t particularly good.


LAST WEEK’S SUCCESSES

Goals + assists imminent! Who is 'due' in FPL Gameweek 17? 6

As predicted, Matheus Cunha‘s (£8.0m) huge number of recent shots led to goals in successive games. In three matches, the Brazilian has taken 22 attempts, put eight on target, and had five labelled as big chances.

That makes him a fairly straightforward replacement for injured Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes (£9.4m).

Over at Arsenal, Declan Rice (£7.1m) failed to score, but an assist, bonuses and defensive contribution (DefCon) rewards took him to 11 points – more than Cunha.

Whereas Antoine Semenyo (£7.7m) was down to assist, but ended up scoring past Burnley. We even saw Florian Wirtz (£8.0m) pick up his second FPL return of the season, setting up Liverpool’s opener against Tottenham Hotspur.

GOALS IMMINENT

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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defensive contributions

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

170 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Manani
    • 14 Years
    20 hours, 21 mins ago

    Thiago replacement?
    already got Ekiteke

    FH19, so Wolte not 'necessary' I think

    1. DBry
        20 hours, 18 mins ago

        Bowen

      • Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
        • 1 Year
        19 hours, 59 mins ago

        Bowen

    2. Sid07
      • 11 Years
      20 hours, 21 mins ago

      Who to ditch for Ekiteke
      1) Raul
      2) thiago

      1. tuturututu
        • 4 Years
        20 hours, 19 mins ago

        1

      2. DBry
          20 hours, 18 mins ago

          1

        • mrtapio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          19 hours, 48 mins ago

          Raul. Watched the game against Forest. His never infront of goal when Fulham attacks. His often behind the fulham player with the ball. I took his 5pts and transferred him out.

      3. tuturututu
        • 4 Years
        20 hours, 20 mins ago

        Who will score more points in gw18?

        A) Wilson and Timber
        B) Rice and Senesi

        1. DBry
            20 hours, 18 mins ago

            A

        2. FantasyTony
          • 8 Years
          20 hours, 18 mins ago

          Better moves to get in Rice & Ekitike?

          A) Bruno F & Thiago
          B) Saka & Raul (play Wilson over Bruno)

          1. tuturututu
            • 4 Years
            20 hours, 17 mins ago

            A

          2. Mr Turnip 1
              17 hours, 35 mins ago

              A

          3. Flynny
            • 10 Years
            20 hours, 18 mins ago

            Pick 1 to bench. Thanks

            A....Andersen at west ham

            B...richards v spurs

            C....Anderson v city

            1. FantasyTony
              • 8 Years
              20 hours, 17 mins ago

              B

            2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
              • 1 Year
              19 hours, 59 mins ago

              B

            3. Mr Turnip 1
                17 hours, 34 mins ago

                C

            4. fedolefan
              • 11 Years
              20 hours, 17 mins ago

              Hate useless Dyche and Sels. Ruined the last two weeks. Am paying 4.7M for Dubravka 1 pointers.

              1. tuturututu
                • 4 Years
                20 hours, 16 mins ago

                Is this new goalie now first gk?

                1. Yes Ndidi
                  • 6 Years
                  20 hours, 8 mins ago

                  Would be nice to have a 4.0 Dyche keeper

              2. Sun Jihai
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                19 hours, 49 mins ago

                Prior to kick-off, Dyche explained Sels' lack of training played a part in his decision.
                "John has done really well in the two games, to be fair. Matz has only had four days of training," he told Sky Sports.
                "He had a bad finger he was playing through and a groin (problem) so we have had to be careful with that. But John has earned the right for this one, that's for sure, with two very strong performances."

                1. fedolefan
                  • 11 Years
                  15 hours, 53 mins ago

                  Don’t even know what to make of it. Looks like Dubravka is coming in again next week for me.

            5. DBry
                20 hours, 17 mins ago

                Transferred in cunha, Bowen and Keane with. My 3ft this week.
                Was planning on the free hit next week, vs the team in 2nd in my h2h league.

                Should I free hit this week and reset? Use those 3ft next week, get Ekitike instead of Bowen/

                1. Vasshin
                  • 6 Years
                  19 hours, 33 mins ago

                  In the same boat. Used my 3ft

                  Raged transferred Saka and Guiu to Rice and Bowen after Arsenal game
                  After United game, transferred Bruno to Rogers.

                  So thinking whether to use fh this week instead of 19.

                  But I will probably decide after tomorrow’s arsenal vs Palace game and you should also wait until that game to decide whether to use FH or leave as is.

              • Lallana_
                • 11 Years
                20 hours, 15 mins ago

                Do you guys think Rice rises twice before the deadline?
                I want to do Wilson>Rice for next week.

                1. tuturututu
                  • 4 Years
                  20 hours, 12 mins ago

                  Who do you think will be more effective in gw18 between those two?

                  1. Lallana_
                    • 11 Years
                    19 hours, 50 mins ago

                    probably rice due to more routes to points

                    1. tuturututu
                      • 4 Years
                      19 hours, 48 mins ago

                      What duo would you go for on a FH, Wilson and Timber or Rice and Senesi?

                      1. Lallana_
                        • 11 Years
                        19 hours, 46 mins ago

                        Wilson and Timber for this week

                        1. tuturututu
                          • 4 Years
                          19 hours, 45 mins ago

                          Thanks

              • TanN
                • 4 Years
                20 hours, 15 mins ago

                Can afford:

                Wilson and BrunoF -> Rogers and Cunha

                Leaves me with 0.2itb, should i make these moves now? Is there likely to be price increases/decreases?

                1. Mr Turnip 1
                    17 hours, 33 mins ago

                    Don’t buy rogers before Arsenal and Chelsea

                2. Jordan.
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  20 hours, 12 mins ago

                  feel for isak,ive had a broken fibula,it aches and aches at night for months

                  1. Lallana_
                    • 11 Years
                    19 hours, 50 mins ago

                    so sad for him 🙁

                3. Yes Ndidi
                  • 6 Years
                  20 hours, 9 mins ago

                  Raya
                  O'Reilly VVD SvdB Keane
                  Foden Wilson Bruno
                  Haaland Bowen Ekitike

                  Dub Gordon Van Hecke KDH
                  1.0ITB
                  Not desperate to do it tonight, because I don't lose value on Bruno, but would you
                  a. Bruno > Cunha for a hit
                  b. play Gordon, hope Wilson is OK and if not rely on a bench of Van Hecke at the Emirates and nothing else! Then do the transfer for free in time for WOL.

                  I get the feeling that the only way out of this whilst trying to remain on the curve (ahead of it would be a bit of a stretch this week) is by means of a hit, so I might as well get it out of the way.

                  thank you

                  1. EDEN THE MAN
                    • 9 Years
                    19 hours, 46 mins ago

                    Would wait for Bruno confo then do A.

                4. G Banger
                  • 7 Years
                  20 hours, 6 mins ago

                  Who we getting for Bruno to fund Etikite:
                  a) Cunha (will Man U have any teeth now)
                  b) Rogers (tough fixtures can he keep it up)
                  c) Rice

                  1. tuturututu
                    • 4 Years
                    20 hours, 5 mins ago

                    C

                  2. Count Olaf
                    • 1 Year
                    20 hours, 2 mins ago

                    Did Bruno to Cunha and buying Rice, too.
                    I think Rogers can wait.

                  3. EDEN THE MAN
                    • 9 Years
                    19 hours, 43 mins ago

                    C

                  4. Mr Turnip 1
                      17 hours, 32 mins ago

                      A

                  5. Count Olaf
                    • 1 Year
                    20 hours, 4 mins ago

                    Do you think Arteta will use Rice tomorrow? He had a 15-minute cameo in the previous round against Brighton.
                    Thinking of buying him today before the price rise.

                    1. Lallana_
                      • 11 Years
                      19 hours, 48 mins ago

                      Palace are a good side but Arsenal do have depth...surely he rests him

                      1. Count Olaf
                        • 1 Year
                        19 hours, 33 mins ago

                        Thanks, that's what I'm thinking as well. I will do it today and hope for the best.

                  6. EDEN THE MAN
                    • 9 Years
                    19 hours, 48 mins ago

                    Who to replace Bruno F up to £7.5m? Need to pull trigger before price rises.

                    Rogers makes sense, but fixtures too and can’t stretch to Cunha.

                    Appreciate any ideas!

                    1. Lallana_
                      • 11 Years
                      19 hours, 47 mins ago

                      Rice
                      Minteh (bench this week for 442)
                      Bruno G
                      Gordon

                      1. EDEN THE MAN
                        • 9 Years
                        19 hours, 43 mins ago

                        Have Rice - Foden - Semenyo - Saka.

                        Cheers, you think Bruno G better than getting Rogers then?

                        1. Lallana_
                          • 11 Years
                          19 hours, 24 mins ago

                          At the moment I would probably not get Rogers as he has 3 hard away fixtures in the next 5 and a low xGI

                          Don't like Bruno G too much due to his yellow cards either

                          I would probably take a hit for Cunha or Wirtz if possible!

                          If not, probably Cherki or Gordon for a two week punt

                          If you're low on transfers maybe just get Rogers for the long-term and hope he does something in the harder games

                  7. SpaceCadet
                    • 12 Years
                    19 hours, 41 mins ago

                    Bruno > Wirtz before price changes?

                    1. Lallana_
                      • 11 Years
                      19 hours, 23 mins ago

                      I got Wirtz in early but slightly worried about his hamstring towards the end of the game! We probably won't have a press conference though so if you really want him you can take the slight risk

                      1. Tonyawesome69
                        • 7 Years
                        19 hours, 22 mins ago

                        Slot presser tomorrow 9am

                        1. Lallana_
                          • 11 Years
                          19 hours, 22 mins ago

                          Great, let's hope for the best!

                      2. SpaceCadet
                        • 12 Years
                        19 hours, 15 mins ago

                        Didn’t know that. Guess best to wait for more news and forget about the prices

                  8. Mrdazzo
                    • 16 Years
                    19 hours, 40 mins ago

                    Hey folks, I already have Senesi, OReilly, Timber and Mukiele.

                    For that fifth spot I'm thinking

                    A: Chalobah

                    or

                    B: Konate

                    Thoughts on either? Anyone else I'm not thinking of?

                    1. Tonyawesome69
                      • 7 Years
                      19 hours, 35 mins ago

                      Keane/Tark

                    2. mixology
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      19 hours, 29 mins ago

                      Keane, Lewis Potter, R James

                  9. RICICLE
                    • 3 Years
                    19 hours, 38 mins ago

                    A little help if you could please kind gents

                    Raya
                    VDB - Chalobah - O’Reilly
                    Foden - Rice - Bruno F* - Saka - Bruno G
                    Ekitike - Haaland
                    ____________________________________
                    Dunbravka: Mukiele: Gudmundsson: Guiu

                    0FT, 0.0 ITB

                    Moved early the other night for Ekitike as part of a -4, now Bruno goes and gets injured the week I finally bring him in, quite unbelievable.

                    A) Take another -4 to replace Bruno, likely to Cunha
                    B) Leave it and just play Mukiele

                    Thanks guys!

                    1. mixology
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      19 hours, 25 mins ago

                      B is a strong play this week. I wouldn’t even think twice about taking the hit

                      1. RICICLE
                        • 3 Years
                        19 hours, 21 mins ago

                        Cheers bud, yeah I don’t mind playing Mukiele to fill in, but in isolation it is very tempting to take the hit as we know Bruno won’t play

                  10. Tmel
                    • 14 Years
                    19 hours, 36 mins ago

                    Cunha or Rice?

                    1. RICICLE
                      • 3 Years
                      19 hours, 33 mins ago

                      Between the two, and taking into account how we may be unsure how United will play without the likes of Bruno & Mbuemo, I’d say Rice here.

                    2. mixology
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      19 hours, 32 mins ago

                      Personal preference, honestly. Expect 4-5 points from rice most gameweeks, and 2 pointers and the odd 8-9 point gameweek for Cunha

                    3. Mr Turnip 1
                        17 hours, 31 mins ago

                        Cunha

                    4. mixology
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      19 hours, 34 mins ago

                      Etikite has had so many rises, I could’ve sworn he started season at 8 million. He’s still only 0.3 over original price.

                    5. Count Olaf
                      • 1 Year
                      19 hours, 31 mins ago

                      If buying now, any reason to spend the extra 0.2 for Mukiele over Alderete ?

                    6. SpaceCadet
                      • 12 Years
                      19 hours, 30 mins ago

                      Wirtz or rice? Own Saka and no liv attack.

                      1. The Knights Template
                        • 12 Years
                        19 hours, 28 mins ago

                        Short tern Wirtz punt then Rice

                        1. SpaceCadet
                          • 12 Years
                          19 hours, 16 mins ago

                          Cheers bud

                    7. stumanchuu
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      19 hours, 27 mins ago

                      Slim pickings, but best up to 4.7 midfielder bench foder to allow my bruno/thiago to ekitike/cunha transfers?

                      1. Tonyawesome69
                        • 7 Years
                        19 hours, 25 mins ago

                        Miley short term, Potts long term

                      2. Lallana_
                        • 11 Years
                        19 hours, 22 mins ago

                        Potts

                      3. stumanchuu
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        19 hours, 18 mins ago

                        Thanks

                      4. Sun Jihai
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        19 hours, 17 mins ago

                        Shame you can't get up 0.1m to a Stach. Painful when that happens!

                        1. stumanchuu
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 14 Years
                          19 hours, 6 mins ago

                          Its always that 0.1 ha

                    8. Lallana_
                      • 11 Years
                      19 hours, 22 mins ago

                      Who scores more this week?

                      Wilson or Rice?

                      1. Count Olaf
                        • 1 Year
                        19 hours, 17 mins ago

                        Wilson is flagged, so we can't tell without knowing if he plays.
                        If he does it's 50/50. Wilson higher ceiling, Rice more reliable.

                      2. Mr Turnip 1
                          17 hours, 30 mins ago

                          Wilson, he’s likely fine says the manager

                      3. Sun Jihai
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        19 hours, 18 mins ago

                        Any thoughts on my FH draft?

                        Pickford
                        Frimpong Lewis-Potter Keane
                        Saka Foden Cunha Wirtz Rice
                        Haaland Ekitike
                        Dubravka Bijol Heaven Obi

                        Maybe no Arsenal defence is a bit crazy

                        1. Casual Player
                          • 5 Years
                          19 hours, 13 mins ago

                          Haven’t looked closely because I’m not FHing but seems solid.

                          Frimpong is a great shout, as nobody would have him outside FH and 21ptr like KLP is in range or outcomes

                      4. Casual Player
                        • 5 Years
                        19 hours, 18 mins ago

                        Cunha or Wirtz is a popular decision, I’d like some views on the Temu version please:

                        Mount or Mac Allister?

                        1. Casual Player
                          • 5 Years
                          19 hours, 11 mins ago

                          While I appreciate the +2 upvotes I’d appreciate some actual responses more haha

                        2. Sun Jihai
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 14 Years
                          19 hours, 4 mins ago

                          Mount for me! Actually feels like he could be quite important in this run without Mbeumo and maybe Bruno

                      5. g40steve
                        • 7 Years
                        19 hours, 16 mins ago

                        Best keeper moving?

                        Rice, Rogers, Wirtz or Cunha for Bruno?

                      6. Joyce1998
                        • 9 Years
                        19 hours, 11 mins ago

                        Best option

                        A- Bruno + Thiago >> Cunha/Wirtz, Ekitike
                        B- Bruno + Thiago>> Cunha/Wirtz+ Bowen + 1.3 itb
                        C- Bruno + Thiago + Guiu>> Cunha/Wirtz + Bowen + Ekitike -4

                      7. Allthegearnoidea
                        • 1 Year
                        12 hours, 4 mins ago

                        Is it worth a 4 point hit to swap out Bruno F & Thiago for either A). Wirtz and Bowen or B). Rogers/Wilson and Ekitike?