Frustration for FPL managers who Triple-Captained Haaland

There were mixed emotions for the 308,746 Fantasy Premier League managers who Triple-Captained Erling Haaland (£15.4m) in Gameweek 9.

The Norwegian ended a run of three successive blanks with the only goal in Manchester City's 1-0 win over Southampton - but it could have been so much more.

Having scored after five minutes, he went on to have a further seven shots in the box, including another THREE big chances - situations where the player is expected to score. But despite Haaland's total Expected Goals (xG) of 2.33 at the final whistle, his backers had to make do with six points.

That will feel like a disappointing return, given the 17 points he got for his Gameweek 2 hat-trick against Ipswich Town, earning 477,000+ managers a 51-point haul with the chip.

In total, a season-high 6.72million managers opted to hand the Norwegian the armband, a staggering 63.3 per cent of all teams.

GW9 most-captained players

The second most-popular captain, Mohamed Salah (£12.6m), extended his good record against Arsenal in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at the Emirates with a goal and three bonus points. Impressively, he has now returned in 11 of his 15 appearances against the Gunners, notching 15 attacking returns across those encounters.

After nine Gameweeks Salah leads the Fantasy player standings with 84 points, five clear of Cole Palmer (£10.9m). It represents Salah’s second-highest points total at this stage of the season, behind the 107 he had accumulated in 2021/22.

Palmer, third in the captaincy stakes, equalled Salah's Gameweek 9 score with a 10-point haul in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Newcastle United. It's the second successive season in which Palmer has registered a double-figure haul at home to the Magpies, having recorded 13 points in the previous campaign.

Who are the most-bought players?

The No 1 transfer target for Gameweek 9, Bryan Mbeumo (£7.7m) delighted his 663,791 new owners with two goals in Brentford's dramatic 4-3 triumph over Ipswich Town.

The Cameroonian was rewarded with the maximum three bonus for a 15-point haul.

Now the fourth most-owned player in Fantasy, Mbeumo has produced 55 points in home matches this season, the most of any player.

Haaland's team-mate Josko Gvardiol (£6.1m) didn’t disappoint his 593,289 new owners by claiming a clean sheet, just his second of the campaign. Earning maximum bonus for his performance, the Croatian has collected 29 points in the last four Gameweeks, the most of any defender.

GW9 most-bought players

Frustration for Son and Jimenez's new owners

There was frustration for Son Heung-min's (£9.9m) new owners as he missed Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ange Postecoglou signposted his omission from the Spurs squad in his Friday press conference, stating that the South Korea international was "unlikely" to feature this weekend.

A rejuvenated Raul Jimenez (£5.7m) completed the top five recruits after producing attacking returns in each of his five starts in 2024/25 Fantasy. That form prompted more than 376,000 managers to buy him for Fulham's trip to Everton.

However, despite having a match-high three shots, the Mexican was unable to extend his good run, blanking as the match finished 1-1.

Who are the most-sold players?

A doubt heading into the weekend, Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) was the most-sold player for Gameweek 9 with more than 1.18m transferring out the England international. No player has been sold in greater numbers for any Gameweek this season.

It was perhaps inevitable, then, that he would not only start against Liverpool but score as well. Rewarded with a share of the bonus, he collected nine points to the annoyance of those who ditched him.

But Saka-sellers were not alone in regretting their transfer decision as Luis Diaz (£7.9m) also returned in the north London draw.

Shipped out by nearly 530,000 people, the Colombian supplied an assist for a five-point Gameweek total.

Team-mate Diogo Jota (£7.3m) was also sold en masse with a rib injury ruling him out of the encounter.

And more than 866,000 managers wasted no time in parting company with William Saliba (£6.0m) after his red card in Gameweek 8. The French defender was suspended for Gameweek 9.

Finally, a third Arsenal player, Kai Havertz (£8.2m), also saw heavy sales. Following a kind run, the fixtures are getting harder for Mikel Arteta's side. Just one of their next six matches is rated at two in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR).

GW9 most-sold players