With essentially the last kick of Premier League Gameweek 25, Bruno Fernandes dramatically shifted the fate of many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers’ Gameweeks. His 97th minute goal to double Manchester United’s 1-0 lead over Brighton provided managers with an extra eight points (five for the goal plus three bonus points). Managers like myself, who captained Fernandes for his double Gameweek breathed a sigh of relief, as he was on course for a total of just four points across both games before his last second heroics. All in all, the goal created a 16-point swing for my team, potentially even more when you consider that his goal knocked Cristiano Ronaldo off of the top of the bonus points standings. Fernandes’ goal rounded off a very satisfying Gameweek for me. Phil Foden and Tariq Lamptey provided eight and 12 points respectively, welcome sights after both looked dangerous but failed to return over the past few weeks. Jarrod Bowen continued his fine run of form with 13 points, David de Gea did not disappoint with 10 points over his two games and, of course, Fernandes came through in a big way with 24 points. In total, my team produced 80 points, good enough to send me flying up the overall standings. 

Double Gameweek 26 provides an even bigger chance to make progress in the overall standings, so I’ll be attacking the doubles by bringing in double Gameweek players this week. Though Fernandes played his part in a fantastic Gameweek 25, I will certainly make the switch to Mohamed Salah this week. I am planning on putting my triple captain chip on the Egyptian as Liverpool host Norwich and Leeds in Gameweek 26. I’m also looking to temporarily move on from Foden and Lamptey in favor of the Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney for a four-point hit. This would leave me with just two single Gameweek players: Bowen and Joao Cancelo, both of whom are capable of explosive performances. I find it hard to justify another four-point hit that would lead to me benching one of these players, so I think my team needs just the three transfers. However, with Sergio Reguilon’s place in the Tottenham starting 11 fluctuating from week to week, I am considering bringing in Romain Saïss, as the Wolves defender plays Leicester and Arsenal in Gameweek 26 and has a fairly easy run of games afterwards. Diogo Jota’s recent knock against Inter Milan in the Champions League could also be a worry, so he might be shipped out in favor of Saka, which would allow me to bring in Andy Robertson at the back.

No matter what happens, I plan to go into Gameweek 26 with three Liverpool players and three Arsenal players. That means I’ll have six players who will not have a game in Gameweek 27, so I’ll be looking to play my free hit that week. One free hit draft I’m considering right now consists of a starting 11 of Nick Pope, Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte and James Tarkowski at the back, Foden, Son Heung-min, Harvey Barnes and Bowen in midfield, then Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Wout Weghorst up top.

A Manchester City triple-up against Everton is an easy choice, Son and Kane play Leeds and the three Burnley boys have a double gameweek of Crystal Palace and Leicester City. As a result, those players will probably stay fairly consistent as I tinker with the draft. I can field 10 players in Gameweek 27 without free hitting, but I won’t be able to get to the players mentioned above, who I think will produce the most in their games that week.