The Fantasy Premier League festive season is well underway with the start of Gameweek 15 coming a little over 36 hours after the last one finished.
We have arrived at a crucial juncture of the season with Premier League matches coming thick and fast and the FPL deadlines stacking up like the food on your Christmas Day dinner plate.
There are two things that FPL managers need to consider above all else during this congested part of the campaign: keep on top of the schedule and make sure that your 15-man squad is as rotation-proof as possible. Abide by these unwritten rules and your team should survive an unforgiving winter.
Two fixtures immediately draw the eye this weekend, with local bragging rights at stake in each: a final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park (in the league at least) between Everton and Liverpool and a clash in the capital between Tottenham and Chelsea.
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Elsewhere, Manchester City will be looking to build up some momentum at Selhurst Park after finally ending their winless streak and fellow title rivals Arsenal take on a host of familiar faces when they play Fulham at Craven Cottage.
This week’s deadline is at 11am on Saturday 7 December.
Gameweek 15 fixtures
Saturday 7 December
*3pm kick-off unless otherwise stated
- Everton vs Liverpool (12.30pm)
- Aston Villa vs Southampton
- Brentford vs Newcastle
- Crystal Palace vs Man City
- Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest (5.30pm)
Sunday 8 December
*2pm kick-off unless otherwise stated
- Fulham vs Arsenal
- Ipswich vs Bournemouth
- Leicester vs Brighton
- Spurs vs Chelsea (4.30pm)
Monday 9 December
- West Ham vs Wolves (8pm)
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
The arrival of Ruben Amorim appears to have galvanised Marcus Rashford who has scored three goals in his first four matches under Manchester United’s new manager.
There is no space for wingers in Amorim’s favoured 3-4-3 formation which has meant that Rashford has been redeployed centrally as a striker in the draw at Ipswich and as one of two number 10s in the win over Everton.
Rashford dropped down to the bench against Arsenal in midweek, but he will likely return to the starting XI for the visit of Nottingham Forest this weekend. Excellent as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been, they have conceded three goals in three of their last four matches.
A disappointing 2023-24 season and a slow start to this campaign have ensured that Rashford has barely registered on the FPL radar, but his improved performances and bargain price make him a strong differential pick over Christmas.
Price: £6.9m Points: 52 Gameweek 15 fixture: Nottingham Forest (h)
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Ollie Watkins hasn’t been as reliable an FPL asset this season as he was last, but he has still managed a reasonable return of seven goals and three assists in 14 appearances.
Competition for places in the forward slots is fierce but if you have the funds to bring Watkins in this weekend it could pay off handsomely given Aston Villa are in action against Southampton.
Russell Martin’s side are unwavering in their philosophy of playing out from the back but it has landed them in trouble throughout the campaign. The Saints have already made nine errors leading to goals which is just one fewer than any team managed in the entirety of last season.
Watkins and Morgan Rogers are a hard-working duo and could well become the latest forwards to profit from Southampton’s misplaced generosity.
Price: £9m Points: 64 Gameweek 15 fixture: Southampton (h)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ownership in FPL plummeted after he limped off in the first half of last month’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, but his rapid recovery and impressive form since returning means plenty are experiencing seller’s remorse.
The right-back missed the win over Southampton but has since earned 14 points from subsequent games against Manchester City and Newcastle, combining a clean sheet with two assists.
Alexander-Arnold didn’t even start at St James’ Park in midweek but showed why he is such a brilliant FPL asset by setting up two goals in just 23 minutes. Having had his rest you would expect him to start in the derby on Saturday.
Everton trounced Wolves at Goodison on Wednesday, but prior to facing the division’s worst defence they had endured a four-game goalless streak. Liverpool were unusually leaky themselves in midweek but have kept the most clean sheets (with seven) in the division.
Price: £6.4m Points: 63 Gameweek 15 fixture: Everton (a)
Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
A goal and an assist during Chelsea’s 5-1 thrashing of Southampton ensured that Noni Madueke earned a respectable 11-point haul. However, he could have easily doubled or even tripled that tally based on his underlying numbers.
Madueke missed four big chances – deemed as opportunities that an attacker is reasonably expected to score from – at St Mary’s which is the most by any Premier League player since Erling Haaland against West Ham in September 2023.
That profligacy earned a rebuke of sorts from Enzo Maresca who challenged him to be “ambitious” after scoring a goal and to “give more assists”. The Italian also praised the winger for “doing fantastic”, however, and will hope he can be more clinical against his former club at the weekend.
Spurs are depleted at the back and face by far the most ruthless away side in the division this weekend. Chelsea have scored 19 away goals in only seven games with Liverpool next on 16 and a big drop-off to the chasing pack.
Price: £6.3m Points: 66 Gameweek 15 fixture: Spurs (a)
Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s potency from set-pieces is so great that their supporters have even started celebrating corners in the expectation that they will score. The Gunners have netted 22 league goals from corners since the start of last season, which is predictably more than any other club.
Against Manchester United on Wednesday, Arsenal had more attempts on goal from corners (with seven) than from open play (six), with Jurrien Timber scoring from one of them.
The Dutchman is not the tallest member of Mikel Arteta’s team, but he does provide a threat from set-plays, especially since Arsenal implemented their innovative new tactic which sees a gaggle of players rush towards the front post from the back. He almost scored against West Ham in Gameweek 13 before punishing United.
With Ben White injured long-term, Timber is nailed on to start at right-back for the foreseeable future, injury permitting. Owned by less than five per cent of managers, he offers a differential route into the Arsenal backline.
Price: £5.6m Points: 45 Gameweek 15 fixture: Fulham (a)
