RADIO
Welcome to the Double Gameweek 25 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! It's the second consecutive double gameweek, and the chip strategies are in full swing. Liverpool and Aston Villa will enjoy two fixtures in this gameweek, making it back-to-back double gameweeks for Liverpool.
Liverpool could extend their lead to double-digit points at the top of the table. Chelsea will be desperate to get their season back on track and seek revenge over Brighton after the Seagulls knocked them out of the FA Cup. While the headline fixture sees Manchester City host Newcastle United.
The Double Gameweek 25 deadline for the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season is Friday, February 14, at 1:30 p.m. EST, when Brighton hosts Chelsea. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Double Gameweek 25 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 25!
Triple for the Double
We have a confirmed Double Gameweek 25 for Liverpool and Aston Villa. Which three Liverpool players have the most appeal this week?
Euan Leith: The obvious one to get out of the way is Mohamed Salah (£13.7m). The Egyptian added four more returns to his name in Double Gameweek 24. The two after that are up for debate.
I have Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) and Arne Slot (£1.5m) as my two Liverpool assets for the triple-up. But Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.6m) are great alternatives.
Jamie Steed: I've been rocking with Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo for almost the entire season. They are two locks for most weeks. I picked up Alexis Mac Allister (£6.2m) for the previous double gameweek. Being only rostered by 1.9% of FPL teams, he offers a differential with upside.
The FPL Manual (Wale): Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Virgil Van Dijk are my top Liverpool picks for Gameweek 25. These three assets are guaranteed significant playing minutes and can deliver huge fantasy points.
Moreover, for those yet to activate the Assistant Manager chip, Arne Slot is a possible third Liverpool option to consider for this double gameweek.
Valuable Villains
And which three Aston Villa players are you most likely to start?
Any of these @AVFCOfficial assets in your #FPL plans for their Double Gameweek 25?
Home matchups with Ipswich and Liverpool await... pic.twitter.com/Gug8YJpgNG
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 10, 2025
Euan: Morgan Rogers (£5.6m) is so cheap and allows you to easily move to a Bournemouth midfielder after this week. Unai Emery (£0.8m) would be next on my list because a game versus Ipswich and a potential table-bonus match versus Liverpool await.
Finally, if Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) is healthy I would roll with the English striker as an Alexander Isak short-term replacement.
Jamie: I'm not going to take a minus and bring in three Villa players. Especially given their schedule after this week. But the trio I would want to play, in order of preference, is Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Lucas Digne (£4.6m).
I'd want to capitalize on three attacking players for Liverpool given their home game against Wolves. But with Villa hosting Ipswich, I'd seek to start Digne as he has the likelihood of a clean sheet while still carrying an attacking threat.
Wale: I’ll be backing Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Jacob Ramsey (£5.4m) for Aston Villa. Given that Villa has only kept two clean sheets in their previous 10 matches and is missing a few important players in their defense, I think it makes sense to only prioritize their attacking options.
Help! I Need Somebody. Help! Not Just Anybody. Help! You Know I Need an Assistant Manager. Help!
Given the Assistant Manager chip prevents you from using any other chip for three gameweeks, what is the best way to utilize it?
Euan: Unfortunately, activating in Double Gameweek 24 was the best time. But if you’ve missed that boat I don’t mind waiting until the final three games of the season to take punts on potential table bonus matchups.
Jamie: I brought in David Moyes before Gameweek 24. I wanted the guarantee of getting four fixtures from the Assistant Manager while having it not prevent me from using the Free Hit or Wildcard with the upcoming double gameweeks. Given Everton's fixtures, it seemed like the ideal time.
Wale: With the announcement of Aston Villa and Liverpool having a double gameweek, the best way to maximize the Assistant Manager chip is to select between Unai Emery or Arne Slot as your next transfer.
The minor downside to this move is FPL managers would not be able to roll their transfers needed for blank gameweek 29. Nevertheless, if you have your Free Hit chip available, it won’t be difficult to navigate those storms ahead.
Breaking down the key details of the Assistant Manager Chip 🔑
Read more details on the latest Chip ➡️ https://t.co/3SgxqhsGNy#FPL pic.twitter.com/K8vKumWIbu
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 28, 2025
The Early Bird Catches The Most Points
We have back-to-back gameweeks starting on Friday. Do you do anything differently when we have a Friday start to the action?
Euan: It makes my Saturday mornings less stressful! But nothing actionable is different. Maybe you get one or two fewer reports about an injury, but it’s business as usual on my end.
Jamie: I always set my starting lineup a week in advance. Just in case something happens that prevents me from doing it leading up to the deadline. The main thing is if you have any alarms or reminders set, be sure to adjust them for each remaining week so you don't miss out on the deadline.
Wale: No, not exactly. Whichever day or time the FPL deadline falls, I try to stay up-to-date with team news, probable injury concerns, and analyze the best prospects for my fantasy team. The only thing I would do differently is make my transfers early to beat a possible price rise or avoid a price fall.
Bees Without A Sting
Brentford’s now taken one point from their last five home games, failing to score three times. With some tough home fixtures still to come, are you out on the Bees attackers?
Euan: I’ve gone against Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) far too often this season, so I won’t be making that mistake again. However, I wouldn’t be looking to double up on the Bees. I would turn my eye towards a Bournemouth asset instead.
Jamie: I wouldn't be rushing to get rid of Bryan Mbeumo. But given he's on more than a third of FPL teams and has one return in his last four games, I'm not going to be bringing him in either. Brentford's schedule in March and April is tough so I'd be looking at fading all Brentford players soon.
Wale: Indeed, Brentford are in a purple patch of form and need a breakthrough soon. Presently, I’m a bit distracted with hunting down FPL options for Double Gameweek 25 or trying to fit in a Bournemouth attacker.
This means I will have to trust the process and keep faith in Bryan Mbeumo to start hitting double-digit figures soon.
Who is Keeping a Clean Sheet in Gameweek 25?
Euan: Liverpool can shut down Wolves at home and I’m not enamored with Villa in the Premier League at the moment. I’ll back the Reds to keep it clean in one of their two bites at the clean sheet apple.
Jamie: I've already alluded to it, but I foresee Villa shutting out Ipswich. The Tractor Boys have blanked in four of their last eight EPL games. Villa's only kept two clean sheets at home so far. But only two of the last 10 visitors to Villa Park have scored more than once. A home win to nil looks likely.
Wale: I’ll be backing AFC Bournemouth to keep a clean sheet this week. The Cherries have only conceded three goals in their last three EPL outings and can boast of six Premier League clean sheets this season.
Gameweek 25 seems like an ideal moment for the Cherries to extend their clean sheet record against Southampton.
What Defensive Player is Providing Attacking Returns?
Euan: Jurrien Timber (£5.6m) keeps finding a way to contribute a goal every now and then. I’ll back the Gunners defender to get on the scoresheet again.
Jamie: Manchester United's conceded the third-most set-piece goals this season (11). With Pedro Porro (£5.4m) involved in free-kicks and corners, he presents a great option to give a misfiring Tottenham side some much-needed joy with an assist or a goal.
Wale: Doubling down on Bournemouth’s assets and my go-to defender is Milos Kerkez (£5.0m). The 21-year-old has been an excellent FPL asset this season scoring two goals and has provided three assists for Bournemouth.
Kerkez is only 10 points shy from hitting the 100-point FPL mark and I anticipate the Hungarian international will contribute an attacking return for the Cherries this weekend.
Favourable fixtures lie ahead for Bournemouth 🍒
Two of their top assets rise in price 📈#FPL pic.twitter.com/qnYhb6Lj1t
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 11, 2025
Best Midfielder or Forward Who Isn't Rostered
Who is rostered in 10 percent of teams or less who can grab those FPL points?
Euan: Ethan Nwaneri (£4.5m) is about to shoot to FPL stardom with Arsenal's growing list of injuries. The midfielder has a great chance to start with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus on the long-term injury shelf.
Jamie: Southampton's conceded 15 goals in their last five EPL games. They face a Bournemouth side that recently scored four against Newcastle and five against Nottingham Forest. While Justin Kluivert (£5.9m) has taken most of the plaudits, Dango Ouattara (£5.1m) should not be overlooked.
He bagged a hat-trick against Forest and an assist against Newcastle. Ouattara has provided five attacking returns in his last five away games, despite starting just three of them. Being on less than 2% of FPL teams makes the Bournemouth a great differential this week.
Wale: With the current injury crisis at Arsenal, Leonardo Trossard (£6.8m) becomes an excellent option for Arsenal. The Belgian international has amassed 26 points in his last five games, contributing a goal and two assists in that timeframe.
With only 2.5% ownership, Trossard looks like a great differential to bet on for the coming weeks.
❌ Bukayo Saka
❌ Gabriel Jesus
❌ Kai Havertz
❌ Gabriel Martinelli
✅ Leandro Trossard
✅ Ethan Nwaneri
✅ Raheem SterlingArsenal's only fit attackers right now. 😤 pic.twitter.com/aDTxyYj0wM
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) February 12, 2025
Who is a Player You Want But Can’t Get for Gameweek 25 in FPL?
Euan: The previously mentioned Nwaneri is atop my wishlist. But I’m trying to build flexibility and build up my transfers with Blank Gameweek 29 approaching.
Jamie: After having to replace Gabriel Martinelli (£6.7m), I'm unable to bring in Ollie Watkins and capitalise on his double gameweek. Villa's home game against Ipswich is appealing enough. Even with Liverpool as his second opponent, Watkins has a chance to be the leading points-scoring forward.
Wale: That player is Morgan Rogers. I'm really worried about not having any Aston Villa players on my team for the double gameweek and I think Rogers might do a lot of damage to my overall rank.
However, with the 22-year-old having a blank gameweek soon and being only two yellow cards away from a two-match ban, I'll be avoiding Rogers this period and hope he stays quiet.
🥶#FPL Double Gameweek 25 coming up next for Morgan Rogers 👀 https://t.co/vyVjBsWEjH
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 9, 2025
Who’s Getting the Captain’s Armband?
Euan: Mohamed Salah. Double gameweek. Rinse and repeat.
⚽️ Three goals
🅰️ One assist
✨ Six bonus pointsMo Salah has equalled his best-ever Gameweek with 29 points across the two matches! 👑#FPL pic.twitter.com/h5fBPDgw4I
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 12, 2025
Jamie: As boring as it seems, Salah is my play this week. We saw what he did in the most recent double gameweek and not captaining him will likely leave you falling behind in your mini-leagues. If you're desperately trying to make up ground, Gakpo is someone I'd consider. But I'm going with Salah.
Wale: It’s becoming a little repetitive, but no FPL asset has done enough to outscore Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah this season. With back-to-back double gameweeks for Liverpool, the Egyptian king is no doubt my captain of the week.
What’s Your Bold Prediction for Gameweek 25?
Euan: Newcastle beats City to continue the Cityzens’ terrible domestic campaign. That sends them tumbling out of the Champions League places. Elsewhere, Bournemouth trounces Southampton by three goals.
Jamie: Ethan Nwaneri is a top-5 points-scoring midfielder among teams with only one game. The teenager gives a much-needed boost to an injury-ravaged Arsenal frontline. Meanwhile, Newcastle will stun Manchester City and hand them a second 3-2 home defeat in five days.
Repeatability is one of the key traits of scouting; Ethan Nwaneri has been doing this for #Arsenal and England for years. It's not sure the ball striking, but the quick feet, the balance and the short backlift to generate huge power in short spaces. #AFC pic.twitter.com/b4rZsP37ua
— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) February 12, 2025
Wale: Manchester City and Spurs secure victories against their respective opponents and Arsenal secure a 2-1 victory against Leicester. Regarding FPL returns, Mo Salah scores a hat-trick against Wolves this weekend.
Stick around for more 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
