Full FPL Gameweek 9 Preview - Fixture Runs, Transfer Tips, Captaincy, & More

Greetings all, and welcome to your big old FPL Gameweek 9 preview.

We’re right back in the thick of it, following another (annoying) international break in the action. GW8 saw clean sheets, a hat trick, upsets, and a manager basically getting fired during the game.

Basically, Gameweek 9 has a lot to live up to.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it can deliver… but, more importantly, that it can deliver us a ton of fantasy points.

Without further ado, let’s crack on with your full Gameweek 9 FPL preview.

Best Upcoming FPL Fixtures

Is talent important, in picking an FPL player? Arguably so! But you know what else is important? Their fixtures!

We consider ourselves pretty tuned-in, in this department, thanks to the creation of our very own FDR fixture ticker.

It’s free, we think it’s pretty accurate, and – since we just updated it during the last international break – it’s up-to-date, too.

You can check it out for yourself right here.

And… that’s exactly the tool we used, to determine the best FPL fixtures for both attacks and defences. What a coincidence!

Best Attacking Fixtures

I love Minteh in general, and these Brighton fixtures make him irresistible – for me, at least (no, I’m not saying he’s ‘essential’… I just really love him as a pick!)
Same old story for City. I don’t care how good the fixtures are – I don’t trust any of their attackers not named Erling Haaland to actually start
Bournemouth have been a bit worse than expected, going forward. You’re obviously holding Semenyo, but I wouldn’t rush to get anyone else in, despite the decent run
Similarly, I’d hold off on Liverpool players for now. Wait until after the City game, when their attacking fixtures get great from GW12 onwards
You probably already have three Arsenal players. If not, get at least one attacker (preferably Saka). Palace have outperformed their xGA against the season, and it’s a home game, and the two matchups after that are fantastic
I got Joao Pedro in last week… after everyone else had been selling him, precisely for Chelsea’s nice attacking run. Who the hell knows about Spurs, but the other three of their upcoming four fixtures are excellent

Best Defensive Fixtures

Whether or not you go the Raya route, or just take multiple defenders, you should really be doubled up on Arsenal at the back by now. They’ve been the best defence in the league for years, and have three plum fixtures coming up
Chelsea’s defence has been a bit up and down, but the red cards have distorted this to an extent. The centre-back situation is a bit of a mess, but I’d definitely consider Cucurella right now
Everton have stabilised after a rubbish start to the season (per their underlying stats, at least). I think all five of these upcoming fixtures are fine for them defensively, and Tarkowski – in particular – has been racking up the DC points as predicted
Liverpool have definitely looked shakier than expected at the back, so I wouldn’t be in a rush to actually buy in their defenders. You have to hold the likes of Big Virg though, for example, for these fixtures. City aside, they’re four of the worst attacks in the league

Newcastle’s defence has looked fantastic overall. I got Pope in recently, and would happily double up back there. As with Liverpool, if you take City out of the equation here these are four excellent fixtures

Should I Buy?

It’s fun to buy players in FPL. It might be the most fun part of the game, in fact!

When you get someone in, a whole world of possibilities is open to you – you’ve done your research, made your picks, and all the signs point towards them scoring a load of points for you.

Is it actually going to work out that way? … Usually not! But… sometimes it does, and then you feel like a bloody genius.

To guide your buying decisions this week, let’s take a quick look at the most-bought players in FPL, ahead of Gameweek 9:

Woltemade – Yes. I think he’s excellent, he’s got the underlying stats and the actual returns, he’s good value, and the fixtures are fine. What’s not to like?!
Mateta – No. Wait until after Arsenal away, and get him for the easier fixtures after that
Haaland – Obviously, yes
Gabriel – Yes. Easily the best defender in FPL right now, and still worth the price
Saka – 100% yes. He was excellent again, versus Fulham. Oh, how I wish I’d taken him over Gyokores, for my third Arsenal slot
Caicedo – Maybe. I still prefer Anthony at this price point, or just saving money and getting Xhaka. But he’s a cheap and reliable source of DC’s, even if his attacking contributions won’t continue like this
Rice – Maybe. I still prefer either a cheaper, more reliable source of DC’s (like Caicedo), or someone with higher attacking upside (like Sarr). But… it’s getting harder to argue with the returns – he’s literally gotten fewer than 3pts in only one game, and that’s when he only played 22mins
James – Maybe, with the form he’s in, but only if you only view him as a short-term proposition for this nice fixture run – he always gets injured
Semenyo – Always yes
Gakpo – Yes. He likely keeps his place for now, after scoring in the last two games, and the Isak injury helps massively
Mbeumo – Maybe. He’s a quality player, but also pretty pricey for a midfielder, by this year’s standards. I’d rather wait and see whether he’s actually turned the page with Man U or not

Should I Sell?

How are we going to make room for all our shiny new players? By mercilessly cutting away the deadwood, of course.

These poor fellows are the most-binned players, going into Gameweek 9:

Salah – Yes. I wrote a couple of weeks ago that I’d never tell you to sell Mohamed Salah… but come on, enough is enough
Joao Pedro – Maybe. I actually just bought him, and that doesn’t feel great right now. The fixtures remain excellent though, so I’d still hold him if you’ve got him
Gyokores – Maybe. Ugh, what a disappointment. Praise his off-the-ball work all you like, but compared to the likes of Woltemade, he’s just no goal threat whatsoever right now. I’m holding for the Burnley and Sunderland games, but have no confidence at all right now
Reijnders – Yes, if you can afford the transfer. There are significantly better options around this price point (Caicedo, Anthony, Xhaka, etc.)
Richarlison – 100% yes. It was fun while it lasted
Ekitike – No. Not now that Isak is injured
Isak – Yes. Was already struggling, and now he’s injured
Wood – Yes. Who knows if he starts under Dyche, but we want no part of him based on the season so far
Doku – Yes. He’s never been a reliable FPL option, and he’s a big-time Pep Roulette risk

Captaincy Corner

It’s always Haaland.

I don’t actually mind this, personally, because I don’t really like captaincy anyway… and he’s basically made it redundant this season, as he also did a couple of years ago.

Semenyo vs Forest is probably your best alternative, if you really want to go a different route… but I really wouldn’t bother.

Just take the points, and captain Haaland.

Final Thoughts

Okie dokie – that’ll just about do it for your Gameweek 9 preview.

Hopefully that’s got you good and ready for the week ahead. If not… you can also let me know that too! All feedback is welcome, here at Full 90 FPL! I won’t get even a bit upset, if you tell me this entire preview was a load of rubbish – not this guy, no sir!

If you do have any feedback or further questions, please just deposit them in the comments below, or on our Reddit account.

Either way, thanks for reading, everybody, and best of luck out there in Gameweek 9.