There is excellent value to be found in the surprise title challengers ahead of their fixture against struggling Southampton
The frantic Fantasy Premier League programme continues with Gameweek 22 following hot on the heels of 21.
The midweek round of fixtures have teed things up nicely for the weekend with Liverpool’s grip on the Premier League trophy is loosening after they dropped points to (potential title rivals?) Nottingham Forest and Arsenal capitalising upon their slip by beating Spurs.
Arne Slot’s side have another tricky assignment coming up away at Brentford who have been formidable at the Gtech, while the Gunners also have a tough test with Aston Villa the visitors to the Emirates.
Unsurprisingly, Forest assets are in demand in FPL ahead of Saturday’s deadline. At the time of writing, three of their players – Chris Wood, Matz Sels and Ola Aina – feature in the top five most-bought players this week ahead of a home match with Southampton.
Elsewhere, the irrepressible Alexander Isak will continue his quest to beat Jamie Vardy’s all-time Premier League record for goals scored in consecutive games when he takes on Bournemouth at St James’ Park. Isak is currently on an eight-game run, just three behind Vardy’s total from back in 2015-16.
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The Gameweek 22 deadline is at 11am on Saturday 18 February.
Gameweek 21 fixtures
Saturday 18 January
*All fixtures 3pm unless otherwise stated
- Newcastle vs Bournemouth (12.30pm)
- Brentford vs Liverpool
- Leicester vs Fulham
- West Ham vs Crystal Palace
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa (5.30pm)
Sunday 19 January
*All fixtures 2pm unless otherwise stated
- Everton vs Tottenham
- Man Utd vs Brighton
- Nottingham Forest vs Southampton
- Ipswich vs Man City (4.30pm)
Monday 20 January
Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest)
There are a lot of excellent options in the sub-£6m midfielder bracket including Morgan Rogers, Amad Diallo, Alex Iwobi and Ismaila Sarr.
However, FPL bosses – myself included – have been guilty of overlooking Anthony Elanga. To the four per cent or so who already have him, well played.
The Swedish speedster has been overshadowed by Wood, but has been ultra-consistent of late by registering attacking returns in each of his last six appearances (three goals and three assists).
Elanga’s form has been so good in fact that Mo Salah is the only midfielder to have outscored him since Gameweek 16. The ex-Manchester United winger can continue his hot streak against the division’s worst defence this weekend.
Price: £5.2m Points: 75 Gameweek 22 fixture: Southampton (h)
Raul Jimenez (Fulham)
Leicester are in freefall having lost six on the bounce under Ruud van Nistelrooy and conceded a league-high 16 goals in that period. The Foxes are precisely the type of team to target in FPL hence why Raul Jimenez is included in our tips this week.
A player classified as a forward has scored against Leicester in five of those six fixtures: Isak, Matheus Cunha, Cody Gakpo, Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Jimenez is a slightly risky pick as Rodrigo Muniz is fit again. However, the Mexican has been in good form, scoring three goals in his last three games and should get the nod, fitness permitting.
With Leicester up next, the potential rewards outweigh the possible rotation risks.
Price: £5.7m Points: 88 Gameweek 22 fixture: Leicester (a)
Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
Ola Aina is comfortably the most popular Nottingham Forest defender in FPL with over a quarter of managers finding room for the flying full-back.
That is no surprise considering the Nigerian is the top-scoring defender in the game. However, if you’re keen to invest in Forest’s backline, Nikola Milenkovic is also well worth considering.
The towering Serb is fourth in the defensive leaderboard having taken only a dozen points fewer than Aina and is half a million cheaper than his teammate.
Milenkovic has scored twice already this season and perhaps should have netted more considering he has had five big chances. Only Gabriel, Daniel Munoz and Josko Gvardiol have registered more among defenders.
Price: £4.8m Points: 85 Gameweek 22 fixture: Southampton (h)
Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
West Ham got off to a winning start under Graham Potter, but the statistics from their 3-2 win against Fulham suggest they were slightly fortuitous to get the three points.
The Hammers were undeniably clinical, converting three of their four attempts, but worryingly for Potter, they allowed 21 shots on their own goal. If they are similarly porous against Crystal Palace they could be punished.
Munoz is listed as a defender in FPL, but the Colombian operates so high up the pitch as a wing-back that at times he is effectively a forward. He has had 20 shots inside the box – only Josko Gvardiol has more among defenders – and ranks joint-top for big chances with Gabriel on eight.
The Eagles have also demonstrated greater resilience recently, keeping two clean sheets in their last four matches, which boosts Munoz’s appeal at the other end of the pitch.
Price: £4.8m Points: 67 Gameweek 22 fixture: West Ham (a)
Phil Foden (Man City)
Is Phil Foden back? Last season’s Premier League Player of the Year has taken a while to warm up this campaign but he has been red hot in recent weeks.
Foden earned his first double-digit haul of 2024-25 in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Brentford in midweek by scoring twice to give his side a 2-0 lead which was squandered late on.
Although City are still some way short of their best, Foden has been a spark in recent weeks, scoring four times and providing an assist in his last five games. Only Isak and Salah have accrued more FPL points than him in that time.
Foden’s fine form can continue this weekend with City facing relegation-threatened Ipswich.
Price: £9.2m Points: 61 Gameweek 22 fixture: Ipswich (a)