EPL EPL SC 2025/26

[SELFCONFESDAFLNERD]

Looking at future options here.

This will be a long post but hopefully it is at least a little bit helpful & informative.

(DEF) Crystal Palace defenders from round 4 on, particularly Munoz. Gabriel/Saliba from round 7 when Arsenal have a very favourable run for 5 games! Frimpong when fit again, if you like a little risk?

(MID) Simons & Elliott for the midfield. Remains to be seen how they fit into their respective sides but you would think they would get good minutes. Simons i believe will likely play in the number 10 role, not entirely sure about Elliott but presumably they got him for a reason. Might be an attacking mid role if Tielemans sits deeper? Regardless, at less than 4M i think he will be a great cash cow.

(FWD) Saka (if fit)/Gyokeres or Isak forward. As i mentioned with Gabriel, Saka/Gyokeres mainly because of the fixture swing at round 7. From round 7 to round 12 Arsenal's toughest opponent is Palace at home and they play all of West Ham, Burnley & Sunderland. Isak is also likely more of a medium-long term proposition as we need to see him get the minutes and to settle in properly. When he does though, look out!

I guess because of playing FPL ive started to think a bit more about fixture runs for SC. I feel its not as big a factor in SC but it is still good to look ahead and work out when/who to target. Im just going to look at the first half of the season so up to and including round 19. Fixture runs that ill look at need to be 4 or more rounds to qualify. Not every fixture needs to be quality but ill see if i can highlight when to target assets from these teams. Im not going to analyse every team but will do 8.

Ill try to give some sort of order for what i deem the difficulty of each 'fixture run' but really its just my opinion so take it with a big helping of salt! I think ill probably delve deeper into numbers and such in the 2nd half of the season, so i expect ill do another post like this one around about round 20. Anyway, ill do my best to highlight what i deem significant.

CHELSEA (Rounds 8-12) - Forrest, Sunderland, Spurs, Wolves, Burnley

So Chelsea started the season with a very favourable run which continues up to round 7 when they play LIV. However, i have elected not to highlight rounds 4-6 because while they are not tough, they are more middle of the road.

As for rounds 8-12, with Forrest looking a little shaky in defence, this looks like a pretty good 4 out of 5 game run. Spurs would be toughest. Of note is that Forrest have added Zinchenko so we will see if he improves that defence or if they just start playing better regardless.

Wolves, Burnley & Sunderland are obvious favourable fixtures.

Chelsea players to target?
GK = Sanzhez
DEF = Cucurella
MID = Palmer, E.Fernandes
FWD = Joao Pedro, Neto

CRYSTAL PALACE (Rounds 4-8) - Sunderland, West Ham, Liverpool, Everton, Bournemouth

This looks like a great run of games if you ignore Liverpool in round 6. Still, I think it rates a mention particularly for the next 2 rounds.

Unfortunately with Eze leaving and I.Sarr injured, Palace may not be as prolific attacking wise but they still have quality options. Wharton out is far from ideal as well but their defence has been rock solid so far.

Players to target include
GK = Henderson
DEF = Munoz as priority & ALL OTHER STARTING DEFENDERS ARE VIABLE
FWD = Mateta

The defenders come at hefty prices but are still viable. Munoz, as essentially a winger with DEF eligibility is a massively attractive option. Mateta is a decent shout at under 7M.

ASTON VILLA (Rounds 4-8) Everton, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley, Tottenham

You could potentially end this run at round 7 prior to the Spurs game away in round 8. Villa have been absolutely terrible so far but still have a favourable run approaching.

If they get their act together, players like Watkins, Rogers, Elliott & Tielemans could be good assets.

Players to target
DEF = Cash
MID = Tielemans, Elliott
FWD = Watkins, Rogers

NEWCASTLE (Rounds 13-16) Everton, Tottenham, Burnley & Sunderland

This is a massive fixture swing that realistically could continue into the second half of the season with decent fixtures after Chelsea away in 17. Newcastle assets could be valuable up until about round 23 when their fixtures take a turn for the worse.

Players to target
DEF = Trippier, Livramento, Burn
MID = Barnes
FWD = Elanga, Gordon & Wissa

ARSENAL (Rounds 7-11) West Ham, Fulham, Palace, Burnley, Sunderland

This 5 round period is hugely favourable for a team that has already started the season with a misely defence. I know for FPL I will be trying to accumulate free transfers or even wildcard to make sure I make the most of this period.

Lots of players to target
GK = Raya
DEF = Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori, Timber
MID = Odegaard, Eze, Rice
FWD = Saka & Gyokeres

LIVERPOOL (Rounds 13-19) West ham, Sunderland, Leeds, Brighton, Tottenham, Wolves & Leeds

This is definitely one of the biggest fixture swings of the first half of the season and probably for the season as a whole. Two games against Leeds and so far at least the likes of Wolves and West ham have looked very vulnerable in defence. I believe that AFCON starts on round 16 or 17 so Salah wont feature for the whole run but Liverpool have an embarrassment of riches in all positions.

Target
DEF = Van Dijk, Kerkez, Frimpong
MID = Szoboszlai
FWD = Isak, Ekitike, Gakpo

MAN CITY (Rounds 13-19) Leeds, Fulham, Sunderland, Palace, West Ham, Forrest, Sunderland

I think it is pertinent to mention here that all 3 of Newcastle, Liverpool & Man City have incredible runs from round 13 until the end of the first half of the season. Man City have 3 games against promoted teams plus West Ham in a 7 round period. Fantastic.

Of course Pep roulette is a thing and as the season wears on and once other competitions are in full swing, it may be hard to accurately predict minutes for several viable City assets. Still, Haaland looks like as close to a must have as any player over this period.

Target
DEF = Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri
MID = Reijnders, Rodri, Foden (?)
FWD = Haaland, Marmoush

TOTTENHAM (Rounds 4-9) West Ham, Brighton, Wolves, Leeds, Villa, Everton

I have included rounds 8 & 9 here although if Villa get into gear and Everton remain strong in defence, you could argue that the run should stop after the Leeds game in round 7. Regardless, over the next 4 rounds, making room for Tottenham assets should be a priority.

Tottenham have looked improved under Frank so far and their defence in particular has stepped up. Small sample size for sure, but they are looking a very competitive side now. We sort of knew their attack would likely be fine but to have started in this impressive fashion is a credit to the new manager and team.

Would’ve been even sweeter if they could’ve locked down that Eze transfer… but I digress. Lets not look at what could have beens and look at what they’ve got. Its a shame Son left the club because he may well have thrived under the new management…but again I digress!

Target
GK = Vicario
DEF = Pedro Porro, Van de Ven, Udogie
MID = Simons
FWD = Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson (if you want a punt)

So thats 8 sides with favourable runs upcoming. Ill quickly put them in order of what I think is the easiest run to the toughest

1. MAN CITY (Rounds 13-19) Leeds, Fulham, Sunderland, Palace, West Ham, Forrest, Sunderland

2. LIVERPOOL (Rounds 13-19) West ham, Sunderland, Leeds, Brighton, Tottenham, Wolves & Leeds

3. ARSENAL (Rounds 7-11) West Ham, Fulham, Palace, Burnley, Sunderland

4. CHELSEA (Rounds 8-12) - Forrest, Sunderland, Spurs, Wolves, Burnley

5. TOTTENHAM (Rounds 4-9) West Ham, Brighton, Wolves, Leeds, Villa, Everton

6. ASTON VILLA (Rounds 4-8) Everton, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley, Tottenham

7. NEWCASTLE (Rounds 13-16) Everton, Tottenham, Burnley & Sunderland

8. CRYSTAL PALACE (Rounds 4-8) - Sunderland, West Ham, Liverpool, Everton, Bournemouth