The average hit 67. Brighton put five past Coventry. Gross had 17, Raya saved a penalty for 14, and every pick I talked about last week came in. I used my wild card and got 78. And yet I captained Isak in a 0-0.
Gameweek 4 is done and we have 34 weeks left to go. The finalised average was 67, up from 51 last week, and the high scores were driven by Brighton's demolition of Coventry, Arsenal's clean sheet, and a Manchester derby that went to plan. I got 78 on my wild card. That should feel good, but it does not. I used my wild card to finish slightly above average, and the one game I needed, Liverpool at home to Fulham, ended 0-0.
To be fair, almost everything I said last week came true. I talked about Giles and he delivered a great assist. I mentioned Leif Davis and he got an assist. I pushed De Cuyper and he was brilliant. I recommended Kostoulas and Gross, and they both returned. I talked about Crystal Palace's wing backs, Khalaili and Tarvenier: both contributed. It was a good week to be right. It just was not a good week to have captained Isak.
GW4 Select Recaps
Manchester United 0–1 Manchester City
The marquee fixture of the week and, for fantasy purposes, the most significant. Man United went down to 10 men early: Foden was baited into kicking out, earned a straight red card, and the game effectively changed from that moment. You just cannot do that. That kind of retaliation is a red card every single time. It was Foden's first red card in 229 appearances for the club.
The goal came from Haaland off a cross from Gvardiol. Man City hit the post once, Man United hit the post twice; outside those post hits, United had real chances. They were unlucky not to equalise on another day. Cherki had to come off, and when Ndiaye came on, the game shifted further. His industry changed the midfield completely; you understood immediately why he was brought in.
At the end, Gvardiol had the assist, earned three bonus points alongside Haaland, and was the best player on the pitch from a fantasy perspective. Matheus Nunes got one bonus point. Defensive contribution points went to Matheus Nunes, Akanji, and Ndiaye.
Gvardiol was man of the match. Assist, three bonus points, and a commanding defensive display. He is quietly becoming one of the best budget defenders in the game.
Brighton 5–0 Coventry
The highest-scoring game of the gameweek, and the most entertaining. Brighton are the best attacking team in the Premier League so far this season, and this was the clearest illustration of that.
Coventry had a striker sent off with the score at 2–0, and by then it was already over. Kostoulas had already missed what amounted to a hat-trick's worth of chances before the red card, and once Coventry went to 10 men, they had no chance. Rudoni was their best outlet and he just could not beat Verbruggen, who was excellent in goal throughout.
Kostoulas opened the scoring, then Yalcouye, at just 4.5, scored again. Gross converted a penalty and Dunk scored the goal of the weekend (go and watch it if you have not). Gross had two assists, De Cuyper had an assist, Kostoulas had an assist, and Kluivert had an assist. Gross took three bonus points, De Cuyper two, and Kostoulas one.
One thing I noticed: you do not even miss Mitoma now. There was a time when you could tell when Brighton did not have him. Now? You barely remember. The system has absorbed the absence completely. I hope he recovers, but I also hope it does not cost De Cuyper his position, because right now, that player is a genuine asset.
“"Dunk scored the goal of the weekend. Bruno's was second, and it was not close."
”
Liverpool 0–0 Fulham
The most disappointing result of the gameweek. Fulham have had a terrible start to the season and this was their first point. Liverpool decided to gift Arbeloa (their former player) with a point.
Gakpo did not start, and without him, nobody could find Isak. It does not make logical sense, but that is what it looked like. Liverpool never seemed like they were going to do anything. Isak had the best chances, but they were not easy. The game was flat from the first whistle. Jacquet made a remarkable goal line clearance that was the moment of the match, and that tells you everything about the quality on offer.
Jacquet earned three bonus points. Alisson and Leno had two bonus points each. Seven clean sheets this gameweek: defence was rewarded across the board, but Liverpool and Fulham combined for nothing.
Other Matches
Arsenal 1–0 Sunderland: Raya was extraordinary. I honestly think he might be the best goalkeeper in the world right now. He saved a penalty and without that save, Arsenal likely lose this game. Only 121 seconds separated his penalty save from Bruno Guimaraes' winning goal for Arsenal. If Raya is not there, the game is totally different. Raya finished with 14 points.
Leeds 4–1 Newcastle: Newcastle were terrible. They could not pass the ball, they made sloppy decisions, and they looked like a team that had all gone out the night before. Leeds were merciless. Calvert-Lewin, Bogle, and Okafor all cashed in. It was also the first time Leeds scored three or more goals in the first half at Elland Road in a Premier League game since 2001.
Chelsea vs Hull: 0-0. Hull have been the best defensive team in the Premier League from a promoted side; that result is not a surprise. Belloumi made life very difficult for Chelsea throughout. Chelsea have now gone 20 consecutive league games without a clean sheet, the first time in 65 years they have done that. Do not invest in a Chelsea defender.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest: Villa lost again, consistent with their terrible start to the season. Delap scored his first goal for Forest in 28 games, and it was a good one. Evanilson registered his third assist in four Premier League games.
Tottenham vs Everton: A draw. Spurs still cannot score. They have had the longest goalscoring drought to the start of a season in the top four tiers of English football. Pickford made saves that kept Everton in the game at times and was rewarded.
Top Performers: Gameweek 4
Seven clean sheets gave defenders another boost. Raya and Gross were the stars of the week.
Goalkeepers
| Player | GW Pts |
|---|---|
| Raya | 14 |
| Leno | 9 |
| Alisson | 9 |
| Verbruggen | 8 |
| Donarumma | 7 |
| Kinsky | 7 |
Defenders (8+ points)
| Player | GW Pts |
|---|---|
| Bogle | 15 |
| Leif Davis | 14 |
| Dunk | 12 |
| De Cuyper | 11 |
| Mykolenko | 11 |
| Gvardiol | 11 |
Midfielders (8+ points)
| Player | GW Pts |
|---|---|
| Gross | 17 |
| Schade | 15 |
| Belloumi | 13 |
| Okafor | 9 |
| Saka | 8 |
| Tarvenier | 8 |
| Kluivert | 8 |
| Ayari | 8 |
| Yalcouye | 8 |
| Rogers | 8 |
| Kamada | 8 |
| Gibbs-White | 8 |
Forwards (10+ points)
| Player | GW Pts |
|---|---|
| Joao Pedro | 12 |
| Emersonn | 12 |
| Kostoulas | 10 |
| Calvert-Lewin | 10 |
| Haaland | 9 |
Player of the gameweek: Gross. 17 points, two assists, three bonus, penalty. Consistent, reliable, and on set pieces. He is earning his place in every squad.
Stats and Records
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin is only the second Leeds player to score in five consecutive Premier League appearances at Elland Road: after Mark Viduka in 2003.
- Leeds scored three or more goals in the first half at Elland Road for the first time since 2001, when they defeated Bradford City 5–1.
- There have been 50 teams to receive a red card as a visiting team at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Only two have won: Everton in November 2025 and Manchester City today; on both occasions, Ndiaye was on the winning side.
- Only Lukas Hornichek at 2.9 has prevented more goals in the Premier League this season than Gianluigi Donarumma, according to the expected goals model.
- Manchester City are the first visiting team to win 10 times at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Liverpool have eight. Arsenal and Chelsea are tied with six.
- Erling Haaland is now the outright top scorer in Manchester City vs Manchester United games with nine goals, ahead of Agüero and Rooney on eight each.
- Phil Foden is only the second Manchester City player to be sent off against Manchester United in the Premier League, and the first since Bernardo Corradi.
- Coventry are the fifth side in top-flight history to lose each of their opening four games without scoring: after Derby 1899–1900, Stoke 1906–07, Preston 1924–25, and Crystal Palace 2017–18.
- There were just 121 seconds between David Raya's penalty save and Bruno Guimaraes' winner for Arsenal. If Raya does not make that save, the entire game changes.
- Only Crystal Palace in 2017–18 had a longer start to the Premier League season without scoring than Tottenham in 2026–27. It is also Spurs' longest goalscoring drought to start a season in the top four tiers.
- Morgan Gibbs-White has scored or assisted in each of his last eight Premier League away games. Only Haaland, Robin van Persie, and Andy Cole have managed a longer run, tied at nine.
- Morgan Rogers is the fifth different player to score or assist in each of Chelsea's first four games of a Premier League season: after Drogba (2010–11), Fabregas (2014–15), Diego Costa (2014–15 and 2016–17), and Eden Hazard (2018–19). If he reaches those heights, he will be a Chelsea legend.
- Jordan Pickford has now won his fifth Premier League Save of the Month award, two more than any other player since the award's inception in 2022–23.
- Pickford is now the fifth English goalkeeper to reach 100 or more Premier League clean sheets: David James (166), David Seaman (135), Nigel Martyn (131), Joe Hart (127).
- Charlie Hughes becomes the first 3.9 defender in FPL this season. A cheap bench option if you need one.
- Liverpool are now winless in four consecutive Premier League home games for the first time in five years.
- Chelsea have played 20 consecutive league games without a clean sheet, the first time in 65 years.
- Arsenal have won four games in a row for the sixth time in the club's history, and still haven't won at Chelsea. The streak continues.
- Hull City have now made the third-best start in Premier League history from a promoted side.
- It took Ipswich 16 games to get two wins the last time they were in the Premier League. This season, it has taken them just four.
- Brighton and Coventry have not played top-flight football against each other since 1982.
- Four of Brighton's eight goals this season have been scored by an under-21 player.
- Dunk's goal against Coventry was only his second goal from outside the box in 303 appearances. It was also the best goal of the week, and it was not close.
- For the first time in FPL history, more than 2 million managers captained Joao Pedro, and he returned 12 points.
- Haaland was the most-captained player with 4 million managers choosing him. Pedro was second with 2 million+. Palmer was third with 1 million.
Transfer Market
Note: figures below were accurate at time of recording and may have changed since.
Most Transferred In
| Player | Transfers In |
|---|---|
| Morgan Rogers | 336,000 |
| Gross | 236,000 |
| Gvardiol | 225,000 |
| Gibbs-White | 195,000 |
| Schade | 192,000 |
Most Transferred Out
| Player | Transfers Out |
|---|---|
| Joao Pedro | 127,000 |
| Elanga | 148,000 |
| Luke Shaw | 132,000 |
| Cherki | 131,000 |
| Szoboszlai | 126,000 |
Cherki going out seems harsh: he was substituted because of the red card situation, not because of form. I would hold him. Gross is the top-performing player of the gameweek, and the transfers-in for him and De Cuyper reflect what those who read the room already knew.
Our League: GW4 Breakdown
Top Performers This Week
| Team | Manager | GW Pts | Total Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Too Xabi | John Mwangemi | 108 | 319 |
| Solo's Team | Solo Kamau | 100 | 307 |
| BringHome#22 | Alexander Mutune | 100 | 313 |
| OLE FCC | Melita Elvis | 99 | 319 |
| Fergie time | Davis Otara | 99 | 306 |
John Mwangemi's 108 was the highest in our group, powered by a Triple Captain on Palmer. Here is how that squad looked: Raya 14, Calafiori 6, Konsa 6, Mouarovic 7, De Cuyper 11, Szoboszlai 3, Palmer (TC) 15, Rogers 8, Gross 17, Joao Pedro 12, Haaland 9. Triple Captain on Palmer in a week where Palmer got 5, but the rest of that team carried him to 108. A very well-constructed squad.
26 managers in our group scored 90 or above this week. That is not quite the 40 who scored 100+ in GW2, but it is a strong collective performance.
Bottom Performers This Week
| Team | Manager | GW Pts |
|---|---|---|
| POTTET | Harry Potter | 41 |
| The White Rice | Boaz Ogallah | 43 |
| CF 18 | Stevie G | 44 |
The lowest individual score came from a team with two Man City players who chose to captain Bruno Fernandes, and Bruno returned four points. Haaland nine, Isak two, Bruno four, Schade one. There is no dead team there; the decision-making just did not fall right this week.
Biggest Movers: Rank Climbers
Biggest Movers: Rank Droppers
Most Points on the Bench
The most painful bench of the week belongs to Bwana G, manager of Joga Bonito, who left 38 points sitting on the bench. Read that again: 38 points. On the bench.
Bwana G's bench (Joga Bonito): Raya 14, Leif Davis 14, Tarkowski 8, Mbeumo 2. Raya and Leif Davis both on the bench in the same week. That is 28 points from just two players sitting unused.
Transfer Penalties
| Manager | Transfers | Points Lost |
|---|---|---|
| Dennis Alubiri | 7 | -24 |
| Victor Nyabola (Optic) | 5 | -16 |
| Mistaken | 4 | -12 |
| Deleted Identity | 4 | -12 |
| Anton N | 4 | -12 |
Squad Values
Most valuable squads at 101.4: Black Adam. John Mwangemi at 101.3. Naim Ali, Amos Langat, and Michuki all tied at 101.2, along with Hafsa Yussuf.
At the bottom: Arnold Arnold, Kojo Danso, and Harry Potter all at 99.1. Aaron Muindi and Hillary Malik at 99.3.
Most money in the bank: Dennis Mau (team: Julie Hills) still sitting on 7.5 million, unchanged. Mark Gioche at 7.4. Michuki 7.2. Amos Langat 6.5. Loki 6.4.
Overall League Table: After GW4
| Pos | Team | Manager | Total Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marto fc | Martin Asewe | 338 |
| 2 | JU-JAMAICA FC | Mutegi Mwangi | 334 |
| 3 | Mimi ni Sifuna FC | Peter Kimani | 321 |
| 4 | Not Too Xabi | John Mwangemi | 319 |
| 5 | OLE FCC | Melita Elvis | 319 |
| 6 | dudade | oti omondi | 317 |
| 7 | 爪丨丂ㄒ卂Ҝ乇几 | uǝʞɐʇsıW _ | 317 |
| 8 | Pending Moderation | Charles Cardovillis | 314 |
| 9 | BringHome#22 | Alexander Mutune | 313 |
| 10 | Moster | Dijan Raman Dangol | 312 |
Martin Asewe remains at the top with 338 points. Mutegi Mwangi makes a remarkable jump from rank 5 to rank 2: a 98-point GW4 does that. The top 10 is still extraordinarily competitive. If you are between rank 1 and rank 121, you are in the picture. With 34 weeks still to play, nothing is decided.
At the bottom: Kelvin Walker (58 points, just joined), Angular nayo Kijana y mama (59 points, just joined), Boaz Ogallah (80), Kelvin Mwachilimu (120), and Ken Mwaura (165).
Most Popular Players in Our Group
| Player | Ownership |
|---|---|
| Joao Pedro | 86% |
| Haaland | 84% |
| Calafiori | 62% |
| Bruno Fernandes | 60% |
| Szoboszlai | 56% |
Captain Choices: GW4
| Captain | Times Chosen |
|---|---|
| Haaland | 106 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 19 |
| Joao Pedro | 10 |
| Cherki | 8 |
| Mbeumo | 3 |
| Thiago | 3 |
| Isak | 2 |
| Semenyo | 2 |
| Raya (1, and what a call) | 14 pts returned |
| Others (1 each) | Szoboszlai, Gvardiol, Wissa, O'Reilly, Palmer, Schade, Gibbs-White, Odegaard, Havertz, Calafiori, Calvert-Lewin |
106 managers chose Haaland, and he returned nine. Joao Pedro returned 12 and was captained by just 10 of us. The standout of the week: one manager captained Raya and earned 14 points. That is the kind of differential thinking that wins leagues.
As for me: I captained Isak. He returned two in a 0-0. There were just two of us. Sometimes two is one too many.
Chips Used: GW4
- 16 Wild Cards
- 6 Triple Captains
- 1 Free Hit
- 115 total transfers across our league
The Global Picture
The best score of the gameweek was 151 points: Torjmen fc, who used their Bench Boost chip. Their squad: Verbruggen 8, De Cuyper 11, Calafiori 6, Gvardiol 11, Konsa 6, Schade 15, Rogers 8, Szoboszlai 3, Gross 17, Haaland 9, Joao Pedro 24 (TC), Calvert-Lewin 10, Leif Davis 14, Bruno 2, Kinsky 7. Both Bruno and Haaland, and still 151.
The global overall leader is Jasper Selvaraj (ranked 1st globally) with 405 points, having used a Wild Card this week and scored 99. Their squad: Raya 14, Gabriel 9, De Cuyper 11, Konsa 6, Palmer (C) 10, Rogers 8, Szoboszlai 3, Schade 15, Joao Pedro 12, Haaland 9, Lisa 2.
Our league leader has 338 points. The global number one has 405. That is a 67-point gap, and given the early-season variance, it is still closeable.
GW5 Preview: FDR Next 5 Fixtures
Gameweek 5 starts on Friday: Brentford vs Chelsea. The week reverts to a Friday opener after the Saturday starts of recent weeks.
Arsenal: Brighton, Leeds, Forest, Everton, Liverpool. Tricky. I can see draws in there. Brighton score, Leeds are competitive, and Liverpool away is never easy. I will give Arsenal the benefit of the doubt, but three defenders might be ambitious for the Brighton game specifically.
Aston Villa: Tottenham, Brentford, Newcastle, Man City, Fulham. Until they win a league game, do not believe in anything they are doing. Champions League momentum has not translated. Wait.
Bournemouth: Liverpool, Chelsea, Sunderland, Man United, Leeds. All difficult. Come back at the Leeds game or after. Tarvenier is worth having eventually, but not yet.
Brentford: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Hull, Forest. Tricky run for Brentford. They have been impressive without giving us a definitive form statement. Have Schade and wait for more.
Brighton: Arsenal, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Man City. Two very difficult games in there, but Brighton score. They are the best attacking team in England right now. Gross and De Cuyper are non-negotiable. Close your eyes and hold on.
Chelsea: Brentford, Bournemouth, Everton, Tottenham, Man United. Going forward, Rogers, Palmer, and Joao Pedro. Minimum: Pedro. Two picks: Rogers and Pedro. Three: add Palmer. Do not touch the back line.
Coventry: Forest, Newcastle, Tottenham, Fulham, Sunderland. Until they score a single goal in the top flight, do not invest. Bet against them where possible.
Crystal Palace: Leeds, Forest, Brighton, Newcastle, Tottenham. All winnable. They have been a bit unlucky with results. Khalaili is a strong differential: he is starting to score and accumulate defensive contribution points. Yeremy Pino and Watton are your attacking picks.
Everton: Ipswich, Hull, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle. Potential for clean sheets in three or four of these. Tarkowski at the back is still the right call. Going forward, I am not yet convinced until they figure out their attack without Di.
Fulham: Man United, Ipswich, Hull, Coventry, Aston Villa. Three promoted or struggling sides in this run. Man United in poor form. Aston Villa winless. This is a genuine loading opportunity. King, Gonzalo, and Bobb, get all three if you can.
Hull City: Newcastle, Everton, Fulham, Brentford, Ipswich. Keep the faith. They are tough to beat, they keep clean sheets, and Giles is the best left back you have never owned. Grimes and Belloumi alongside him.
Ipswich: Everton, Fulham, Man City, Forest, Hull. Leif Davis at 4.0, there is nothing to lose. He plays, he creates, and he scores. Enciso if you want an attacker. Emersonn at 5.5 as your third striker is worth considering.
Leeds: Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Man United, Sunderland, Bournemouth. After Palace, the fixtures get difficult. Keep Calvert-Lewin as your third striker if you have him. Bogle less so from this run.
Liverpool: Bournemouth, Man City, Brentford, Brighton, Arsenal. Difficult fixtures and unpredictable form. If Gakpo is fit, the combination of Isak and Gakpo is still the route in. But wait for confirmation of Gakpo's fitness.
Man City: Sunderland, Liverpool, Ipswich, Aston Villa, Brighton. Triple up: Haaland, Cherki, Gvardiol. Fixture-agnostic. Get them and stop thinking about it.
Man United: Fulham, Tottenham, Leeds, Bournemouth, Chelsea. Unconvincing but capable of results. Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, and Cunha are your picks. I think they will draw or win most of these; I cannot see them losing all five.
Newcastle: Hull, Coventry, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Everton. On paper this is a good run. But after that Leeds performance, I have real concerns. Elanga's injury seemed to affect the entire team. Wissa, Barnes, and Gordon are your picks, if the Elanga situation is resolved. Otherwise, wait.
Nottingham Forest: Coventry, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Ipswich, Brentford. Only two truly difficult fixtures. Gibbs-White is the talisman and a must-have. Delap and Murillo are the supporting picks. A defender from Forest is also worth considering.
Tottenham: Aston Villa, Man United, Coventry, Chelsea, Crystal Palace. Not losing, but not scoring. Kinsky is worth holding for clean sheet potential. Wait on their attackers until they prove they can put the ball in the net.
Sunderland: Man City, Brighton, Bournemouth, Leeds, Coventry. Brutal opening two. After the Brighton game, come in. Le Fee is their most dangerous set-piece threat, and Brobby causes problems for anyone.
GW5 Captain Picks
- 1Brentford vs Chelsea: Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, or Cole Palmer. Pedro first, Rogers second. On the Brentford side: Schade or Lewis Potter.
- 2Tottenham vs Aston Villa: Kinsky if you want a defensive punt. Villa: McGinn, Buendia, or Nicholas Jackson. Spurs: Van Hecke, Solanke, or Fernandez, but only if they show something.
- 3Brighton vs Arsenal: Gross from Brighton. Arsenal: Saka, then a second Arsenal defender. Brighton score and Arsenal may not keep a clean sheet, so think carefully before committing three Arsenal backs.
- 4Everton vs Ipswich: Tarkowski from Everton. From the Ipswich end: Emersonn or Leif Davis.
- 5Newcastle vs Hull: Wissa from Newcastle, if they are themselves again. Hull: Belloumi or Giles. The clean sheet bet is still live with Hull.
- 6Nottingham Forest vs Coventry: Delap or Gibbs-White. Your choice of Forest defender: Murillo or Sels. Coventry: Rudoni, Mason Clark, or Grimes if you must.
- 7Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Isak or Gakpo, if Gakpo is fit. Bournemouth: Tarvenier or Kluivert.
- 8Leeds vs Crystal Palace: Calvert-Lewin from Leeds, or Bogle as a gamble. Palace: Khalaili or Mitchell, then Yeremy Pino or Strand Larsen.
- 9Man City vs Sunderland: Haaland first, Cherki second. Sunderland: Brobby or Le Fee.
- 10Fulham vs Man United: King, Gonzalo, or Bobb from Fulham. Man United: Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, or Cunha.
Gameweek 5 kicks off Friday. Set your lineup, check the late injury news on Gakpo and Elanga, and good luck.