This week’s FPL Challenge allows managers to once again use the Assistant Manager chip, alongside a team of 10 players. However, unlike in Gameweeks 24 and 25, there is no Double Gameweek for FPL Challenge managers to target. This makes the selection of an Assistant Manager all the more intriguing. A tough choice between targeting a low-ceiling favourable fixture or chasing the high-upside table bonus win awaits!
Here, FPL expert Tom Johnson reveals how he’s tackling Gameweek 26.
Goalkeeper and defenders
In goal, I’ve opted for Jordan Pickford (£5.1m). Since David Moyes took charge in Gameweek 21, Everton rank fifth-best for Expected Goals Against (xGA), with a score of 5.74, despite having played a game more than most other teams. Only Fulham, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Liverpool have a better xGA over the same period.
To maximise Arsenal’s favourable fixture against West Ham, I’ve rolled the dice on a defensive double-up in the form of Gabriel (£6.3m) and Jurrien Timber (£5.6m). Timber ranks second for shots, with 12, behind Gabriel, and top for penalty-area touches (48) among Arsenal defenders. The Gunners come into Gameweek 26 on the back of a clean sheet at Leicester, taking their season tally to nine. No team has conceded fewer shots on target this season. Encouragingly, West Ham have scored just twice across their last four matches.
Completing the back three, in a 3-4-2 formation, is Fulham’s Antonee Robinson (£5.1m). The American boasts potential for returns at both ends of the pitch in his Gameweek 26 match at home to Crystal Palace. Only three teams have conceded fewer big chances at home than the 21 of Fulham this season. Furthermore, no defender has registered more assists than Robinson’s 10 in 2024/25 Fantasy.
Midfielders
Moving on to midfield and my first pick, Mohamed Salah (£13.7m), needs no justification. The Egyptian has returned 168 FPL points in away matches this season, with 11 double-digit hauls in just 14 away starts. That’s 88 more points away from home than any other player. Predictably, Salah will be my captain for Liverpool's trip to Manchester City.
Salah is joined in the midfield by the in-form Bournemouth duo, Justin Kluivert (£6.0m) and Dango Ouattara (£5.1m). The Cherries’ attacking unit has flourished over the last six Gameweeks, scoring 15 goals. In that time, Kluivert and Ouattara have picked up 53 and 39 FPL points respectively. No midfielder has registered more big chances than Ouattara’s eight, showcasing his out-of-position potential when he plays as a centre-forward. Meanwhile, only Salah, Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) and Cole Palmer (£11.2m) have bettered Kluivert's Expected Goal Involvement (xGI) over the last six Gameweeks.
The aforementioned Mbeumo completes my midfield four. The Brentford star has picked up five attacking returns over his last five away matches, which bodes well ahead of the Bees’ trip to Leicester. The Cameroon international has enjoyed himself against promoted teams this season, returning 50 points from just four starts, including three double-figure hauls. There’s nothing to suggest that Mbeumo won’t enjoy similar success against a Leicester side who have lost nine of their last 10 league matches.
Forwards
In truth, it was close between Alexander Isak (£9.5m) and Chris Wood (£7.1m), who play each other at St James’ Park. However, I’ve opted for the Newcastle forward. Isak has 22 attacking returns in 2024/25 Fantasy, producing 17 goals and five assists, a total only Erling Haaland (£14.7m) can match. The Swede is more explosive than Wood, picking up six double-digit hauls to the Nottingham Forest star's four.
Yoane Wissa (£6.3m) joins Isak in the front two. Over the last four Gameweeks, only Haaland and Wood have a higher xG from open play than the DR Congo international. A trip to Leicester looks like the ideal match-up for Wissa to deliver on his strong underlying numbers. The Foxes have kept just one clean sheet all season, back in Gameweek 4.
Assistant Manager
With no Double Gameweek manager to choose from in this week’s FPL Challenge, the decision is less straightforward than previous weeks.
The following managers will be eligible for table bonus in the event of a win or draw:
- Ruud van Nistelrooy (£0.5m) – Leicester v Brentford
- Graham Potter (£0.5m) – Arsenal v West Ham
- Vitor Pereira (£0.8m) – Bournemouth v Wolves
- Oliver Glasner (£0.8m) – Fulham v Crystal Palace
- Kieran McKenna (£0.5m) – Ipswich v Spurs
- Ivan Juric (£0.5m) – Southampton v Brighton
As shown above, the options are fairly uninspiring, with all of the league’s bottom-five teams featuring. On paper, Van Nistelrooy has the best chance of causing an upset against a Brentford side that don’t win on the road very often. However, as I’ve selected both Wissa and Mbeumo, it wouldn’t make sense for me to limit my ceiling for the Gameweek. It’s worth mentioning that Ipswich Town did beat Spurs in the reverse fixture; a repeat of their 2-1 victory would see McKenna return 18 points. Although it should be said that Spurs have shown signs of improvement recently, picking up two consecutive wins following the return of key players from injury.
That leaves Oliver Glasner (£0.8m) as my favoured option for those chasing table bonus. Crystal Palace are unbeaten in eight Premier League away games and have won their last three without conceding a goal. Furthermore, Fulham’s home record against teams lower down the table is not without blips. The Cottagers have lost against Wolves and Manchester United, while they also failed to beat Ipswich Town, West Ham and Southampton at Craven Cottage. In order to chase the upside and aim for a table bonus win, I’ve opted for Glasner.
If you wish to take less of a risk and are happy to settle with eight or nine points from your Assistant Manager, consider Mikel Arteta (£1.5m) or Andoni Iraola (£1.1m). They play West Ham and Wolves at home respectively, giving them a strong chance of picking up a clean sheet and an extra point for each goal scored, as well as that all-important six points for a win.
