Premier League 2022/23 Season: FPL Fantasy Forecast - Gameweek 20
Ahead of each Gameweek in the Premier League, The Hype Train's team - Robert Austin, Sam Austin, and Phil Jones - provide a rundown of the upcoming round of games in the Premier League; predicting scores for every game, picking a budgeted squad of 15 players that we think are the top selections each week, whilst ee also comb over other relevant statistics, impressions and insight from around the game and the league to best navigate you through the world of fantasy football, all for free. Welcome to the Forecast. All aboard.
Premier League: Current Top Goal Scorers
2022/23 Premier League Season: Fantasy Forecast
The team go through a list of questions and insight to provide their predictions ahead of each Gameweek. None of the team pay for any subscription based FPL services, and the type of opinions here are based in both stats and analytical thinking where possible, as we tackle the latest round of games.
2022/23 Premier League Season: Gameweek Fantasy Forecast (Sam Austin)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 20
Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds
Man United 1-2 Man City
Brighton 3-1 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leicester
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
Brentford 3-0 Bournemouth
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
Spurs 1-2 Arsenal
Crystal Palace 0-2 Man United
Man City 4-1 Spurs
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 20
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
Man United (Watch): I don’t know if they’ll beat City, but they will score. In fact, they very could beat City at the moment. It all comes down to Marcus Rashford and the crazy form he is in. The good news is that they play Palace away in a double-Gameweek, which should be a comfortable fixture for the Red Devils.
Liverpool (Avoid): I am a Liverpool supporter, and right now the descent the Reds have endured since the summer has been agonising to watch. All of the problems that had been slowly building up have finally all caught up…at the same time. Ranging from the owners reluctance to reinforce the team and allowing an ageing team develop, to the team slowing down in all areas, having lost their identity, and after countless months the club has still has no primary Doctor employed which has resulted in 75% of this squad having been injured over the course of the season in different patches. Worst yet, the heavily criticised Darwin Nunez is potentially out of this game, and that matters to Liverpool’s chances because I believe that people just want to troll Darwin, to make him a meme. Yes, some of his finishing has been woeful, but at the same time he is responsible for everything good about this team…he has been getting lots of assists, and still getting goals despite the misses. He will run, he is physical, and shows more passion than anyone in the Reds dressing room. If Darwin doesn’t start, it will be another tough watch against an in-form Brighton.
Top FPL player targets ahead of Gameweek 20:
GK: Nick Pope (NEW, GK, £5.4mil, 22.4% ownership)
DEF: Ben Mee (BRE, DEF, £4.6mil, 6.8% ownership)
MID: Kevin De Bruyne (MCI, MID, £12.5mil, 37.6% ownership)
FWD: Marcus Rashford (MUN, FWD, £7.0mil, 40.9% ownership)
Gameweek 20 - FPL Differential Picks:
AVL/LEE: Ollie Watkins (AVL, FWD, £7.1mil, 3.0% ownership)
MUN/MCI: Riyad Mahrez (MCI, MID, £7.5mil, 3.0% ownership)
BHA/LIV: Kaoru Mitoma (BHA, MID, £4.9mil, 0.9% ownership)
EVE/SOU: Sékou Mara (SOU, FWD, £5.3mil, 0.1% ownership)
NFO/LEI: Serge Aurier (NFO, DEF, £4.5mil, 0.3% ownership)
WOL/WHU: Raúl Jiménez (WOL, FWD, £6.7mil, 0.3% ownership)
BRE/BOU: Ben Mee (BRE, DEF, £4.6mil, 6.8% ownership)
CHE/CRY: Kai Havertz (CHE, FWD, £7.8mil, 6.1% ownership)
NEW/FUL: Sven Botman (NEW, DEF, £4.5mil, 4.9% ownership)
TOT/ARS: Son Heung-min (TOT, MID, £11.6mil, 6.3% ownership)
CRY/MUN: Christian Eriksen (MUN, MID, £6.3mil, 3.4% ownership)
MCI/TOT: Riyad Mahrez (MCI, MID, £7.5mil, 3.0% ownership)
Differential Captain: Riyad Mahrez (MCI, MID, £7.5mil, 3.0% ownership)
The Algerian winger is in a DGW and based on his recent games he has been in fine form, with a return in the last of his three games with two assists, and then the winning goal against Chelsea in GW19. I expect him to start in this game and give Shaw a torrid time against Manchester United, and I can see him getting 60mins in their next game against Spurs as City won’t want to change too much against two of the leagues traditional ‘Top Six’.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Alternative: Marcus Rashford (MUN)
Differential (low ownership %): Riyad Mahrez (MCI)
Rest of the World XI Challenge Team:
What is Sam’s team all about?: For the 22/23 season, Sam’s latest challenge sees his actual squad only being comprised of players from outside of Europe, with players only from Asia, North and South America, Australasia, and Africa considered.
Target Points: 2330pts
Total Points: 861pts
22/23 Captaincy: 8/19
Observation: We are well over half of the season, and I can’t see how this challenge is going to trump last season all English team, which would bizarrely be doing better this season if I kept it going. I actually put this low tally down to captaincy, as Mo Salah has blanked a staggering amount of times, which puts into context Liverpool’s erratic season. Last season, the England team had a wealth of captaincy options, this time, and the main difference I have noticed is in the few true captaincy contenders that are in this team.
Ins: Riyad Mahrez (MCI)
Outs: Antony (MUN)
Transfer Thoughts: Mahrez is in good form, and in a DWG. I just don’t fancy Son (TOT) in games against Arsenal and City. United’s fidget spinner was a frustrating asset as he was scoring in all the cup games, but in the league has been a bit of a damp towel. I am backing the differential captain for my forecast to hopefully change a series of 2pts and 3pts.
22/23 Challenge: Rest of the World XI
GW20 Formation: 3-5-2
GK: Alisson (LIV)
DEF: Kalidou Koulibaly (CHE)
DEF: Thiago Silva (CHE)
DEF: Gabriel (ARS)
MID: Wilfried Zaha (CRY)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV)
MID: Miguel Almirón (NEW) - (VC)
MID: Gabriel Martinelli (ARS)
MID: Riyad Mahrez (MCI) - (C)
FWD: Bryan Mbeumo (BRE)
FWD: Darwin Nunez (LIV)
Substitutes:
GK: Wily Caballero (SOU)
FWD: Raúl Jiménez (WOL)
DEF: Pervis Estupiñán (BHA)
DEF: Daniel Amartey (LEI)
2022/23 Premier League Season: Gameweek Fantasy Forecast (Robert Austin)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 20
Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds
Man United 0-2 Man City
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
Everton 1-2 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leicester
Wolves 2-0 West Ham
Brentford 2-0 Bournemouth
Chelsea 2-2 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
Spurs 1-2 Arsenal
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man United
Man City 3-1 Spurs
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 20
On the Carabao Cup semi-finals:
It’s great to see a trio of clubs in the semi-finals outside of the classic football ‘institution’ – i.e. it is refreshing to see clubs other than Chelsea and Man City clog up these spaces. Newcastle are there by pure merit, whilst Southampton truly thumped City to set up a delicious semi-final encounter. Man United, who are going from strength to strength as the season progresses had no problem against struggling League One outfit, Charlton, whilst Forest prevailed in what was always going to be a bitty encounter against Wolves. The competition has really delivered the last few seasons, with United vs. Newcastle in the final potentially being a big money encounter between two high level teams, and with both teams at home second, I can this being the final come February.
Is it time to so a fire sale on Liverpool players?:
Man City’s Double Gameweek has seen Mo Salah become one of the most transferred out players, whilst an injury to Virgil van Dijk, as well a potential doubt to Darwin Nunez ahead of the trip to Brighton, it may be time to reinvest your FPL slots elsewhere whilst The Red’s continually frustrate Fantasy Football players.
We don’t live in a perfect world, however, so the options although obvious, aren’t in form. My own personal team has this exact dilemma, so I’m a good case study on managing my mental health with Liverpool players this week. Virgil is in my team, but injured. Joao Cancelo is the natural replacement, though the Portuguese international only has 1 return from 8 matches, and has only featured in cameos – GW15 he was sent off after 25 mins against Fulham, whilst he played 85 mins in the 2-1 home loss to Brentford. Cancelo then came of the bench for 22 mins against Leeds during GW17, didn’t play a minute in the 1-1 home draw with Everton during GW18, before being hooked off at half-time against Chelsea during GW19’s 1-0 away win. Deciding on Man City players other than KDB and Haaland might be problematic for a Pep team that looks dead certain to disappoint the majority of FPL players – it’s not even a shock at this point.
Even then with De Bruyne, I’m also potentially going to switch out Salah for the Belgian, which even then goes against the form book. KDB’s only return in 5 matches was an assist 5 games ago against Fulham during GW15 – in the 4 matches since earning the grand total of 8 points – whilst in Salah’s last 5 matches the Egyptian has managed a couple of double-digit hauls against Tottenham (15pts) and Aston Villa (12pts), both away from home (a firm reminder here that Salah is on the road again this Gameweek).
So FPL players are basically battling the allure of a Double Gameweek against recent points scoring form – adding in that City are engaged in Top 6 encounters against United and Spurs, there are no guarantees. As we’ve approached the deadline, I’ve made the choice to dump all three of my Liverpool players – Salah, KDB, and Darwin – and have bought in KDB (obvious), Kane (so my rank doesn’t die in a ditch) and Akanji (Stones’s injury means he is a lock).
Is the proposed (mythical at this point) Double Gameweek 21 happening?:
I wouldn’t make future transfers for games not taking place here and now. Wait for official announcements of fixture arrangements.
Who are the real winners of the Double Gameweek?:
Newcastle United. The majority of the DGW games feature the likes of Man City, Spurs, and United, all having to take points off on another. This has to energise a Newcastle side knowing that a couple of Spurs losses could really strengthen their position as us Magpies dream of a first Champions League campaign since the Bobby Robson days in the early 2000’s.
Reviewing some ‘FPL Scout’ Selections for GW20:
Please don’t fall for some of the FPL’s official traps this week. They’re suggesting Ederson, when you should have Pope, Wilfried Zaha, when you should have anyone else, and it’s an article of clutching a straws hoping that the popular picks all come good consecutively, which just won’t happen.
Ben Mee (BRE) is the only pick I’ll vouch for as The Bees are a top defensive team at home and Brentford have some top fixtures to back the defender in upcoming, so can be a good rotational option or replacement for Timothy Castagne (LEI), if like me, you’re getting tired of being let down by Leicester since the returning of domestic football.
What are the potential stumbling blocks to a good Gameweek?:
- City negate United and Spurs. Spurs negate City. United negates City. Arsenal negates Spurs. All Top 6 encounters will have the Fantasy Football community all on edge – it’s not what you want to see when backing a player in two games against elite competition. Equally, it’s great to watch the top of the table sort itself out in quick succession
- Brighton hammer home another exclamation mark against Liverpool’s name as Klopp’s team looks run off their feet
- Newcastle conceding a goal against their formed talisman, Alexsander Mitrovic. It would be so, so predictable if this happened.
- Arsenal not showing up against Spurs will hurt virtually everyone in the FPL game as we all have a mix of Ramsdale, Saliba and their midfielders.
- Lastly, if Erling Haaland blanks, Gameweek 20 will be low scoring by default.
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
Spurs (Avoid???): A Double Gameweek, sure. Harry Kane has scored 15 Premier League goals and is having a top season in front of goal. But Spurs run hot and cold at the best of times and are up against the top two sides in the league. Arsenal are gunning for the title and only the might of Newcastle’s backline can keep them out – Spurs don’t have the tested mettle to withstand so much pressure from another team. The same applies for City. I’ll always vouch to having Harry Kane in your FPL teams, but in reality they’re the underdogs in both of these games and it’s more than likely they’ll lose both games.
Liverpool (Avoid): Brighton have been playing aggressive, technical football and are up against a Liverpool side who are leggy and aren’t firing on all cylinders in the league. I’ve been watching a lot of Liverpool recently and a few noticeable things are costing them points. Liverpool’s high line is getting easily run past on the counter and teams have identified that it’s effective to counter quickly with pace whilst their full backs and defensive line are stretched, with their midfield spread too thin on the ground to help provide adequate cover. Liverpool aren’t also clinical in front of goal on occasion. These musings will be picked apart by a competent Brighton team and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see a home win at The Amex, whilst Liverpool’s cause isn’t aided with the news of Darwin Nunez being an injury doubt.
Newcastle (Watch): Just the 11 goals conceded from 18 games this season. Defensively, Newcastle just don’t look like conceding a goal and at home have dominated every single game, though a few frustrating games have past where we’ve had to settle for a goalless draw as we’ve been unable to find that killer chance – or in the case against Crystal Palace, VAR denied the team. This will be another close fought game against a decent Fulham side, so will be low scoring, but Newcastle should hopefully find a way to unlock a tricky opponent.
Crystal Palace (Avoid): They too have a Double Gameweek, but since the Premier League has returned since the World Cup, Palace haven’t looked up to par at all. Chelsea are up first, who in their own right are a complete mess from the boardroom down, but even they should find a way past Palace. Chelsea can keep signing mercenary players, which the arrival of Joao Felix is the latest example in a long line of examples spanning back to the previous Russian ownership, to get them across the line in particular games.
Southampton (Watch): One game can turn around the fortunes of a club, and perhaps the effect of knocking Man City out of the Carabao Cup could be that for Southampton. Everton are really lacking in all departments right now, whilst Mara impressed against City and the team clicked across the pitch. The same intensity in one of many bottom of the tale clashes this week though, means this will be a fiery, likely low-scoring game.
Wolves (Watch): A lack of goals for West Ham, combined with an uptick of form for Wolves under new management, should see this one be a tightly contested home win, though in a relegation scrap (who would have dared say this a year ago with these teams!?) nothing is certain as it’s a great opportunity for both of the league’s W named teams to give themselves a better night’s sleep.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Alternative: Harry Kane (TOT)
Third Choice: Marcus Rashford (MUN)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 20
Formation: 3-4-3
Budget: £103.0m
Starting 11
GK: Nick Pope (NEW)
DEF: Kieran Trippier (NEW)
DEF: Manuel Akanji (MCI)
DEF: Luke Shaw (MUN)
MID: Marcus Rashford (MUN)
MID: Kevin De Bruyne (MCI)
MID: Martin Ødegaard (ARS)
MID: Miguel Almiron (NEW)
FOR: Harry Kane (TOT) – (VC)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI) – (C)
FOR: Ivan Toney (BRE)
Substitutes
GK: Danny Ward (LEI)
DEF: Ben Mee (BRE)
MID: Andreas Periera (FUL)
DEF: Hugo Bueno (WOL)
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The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in general football and Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.
We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.
In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award.
In 2021, we formed the Reading Sunday Social League (RSSL), a competitive Sunday League involving 8 teams in its debut season. During the 2021/22 season, we won our first-ever trophy, lifting the East Berkshire Football League's Presidents Cup!
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog' in 2016 by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), and were again shortlisted as a finalist in 2019 in the 'Best Fantasy Football Blog' category.
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