Premier League 2022/23 Season: FPL Fantasy Forecast - Gameweek 25
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.
2022/23 Premier League Season: Team of the Season (So Far)
2022/23 Premier League Season: Gameweek 25 Fixtures
2022/23 Premier League Season: Fixture Predictions
Below, our score predictions pit the train's three members against one another. Let's find out how they think the Gameweek will shape up for teams.
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 25
Fulham 1-1 Wolves
Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Leeds 1-2 Southampton
Leicester 1-3 Arsenal
West Ham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth 0-3 Man City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Spurs 3-1 Chelsea
Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 1-0 Wolves
4 teams do not play due to the Carabao Cup final:
Brentford, Brighton, Man United, Newcastle
4 teams have a Double Gameweek:
Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Wolves
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 25
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
Liverpool (Watch): Despite losing 5-2 at home in the Champions League, the Reds won their last two league games. And Liverpool have a good record away at Crystal Palace, and they can get revenge over Wolves for dominating them earlier in the month. The injuries are tidying up, and with Konaté coming back into the team it should be a week that rejuvenates the Top 4 charge.
Arsenal (Watch): The Gunners have two fixtures this week, both winnable. They recent win over Villa should get them back on track form wise after a rocky period over February.
Everton (Avoid): The other half of Merseyside have a complicated Double Gameweek, as Villa have been performing well under Emery, and Arsenal have found their scoring form once again. I can see the pressure of the Everton job finally show itself to Sean Dyche.
Top FPL player targets ahead of Gameweek 25:
GK: Alisson (LIV, GK, £5.4mil, 15.8% ownership)
DEF: Andrew Robertson (LIV, DEF, £6.8mil, 7.4% ownership)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV, MID, £12.7mil, 27.9% ownership)
FWD: Eddie Nketiah (ARS, FWD, £6.8mil, 12.7% ownership)
Gameweek 23 - FPL Differential Picks:
FUL/WOL: Tim Ream (FUL, DEF, 4.6mil, 3.7% ownership)
EVE/AVL: Phillipe Coutinho (AVL, MID, 6.6mil, 3.2% ownership)
LEE/SOU: James Ward-Prowse (SOU, MID, £6.2mil, 5.8% ownership)
LEI/ARS: Harvey Barnes (LEI, MID, £6.7mil, 1.7% ownership)
WHU/NFO: Emerson (WHU, DEF, £4.0mil, 1.7% ownership)
BOU/MCI: Phil Foden (MCI, MID, £8.0mil, 8.6% ownership)
CRY/LIV: Cody Gakpo (LIV, MID, £7.8mil, 6.0% ownership)
TOT/CHE: Emerson Royal (TOT, DEF, £4.9mil, 2.4% ownership)
ARS/EVE: Leandro Trossard (ARS, MID, £6.6mil, 7.6% ownership)
LIV/WOL: Cody Gakpo (LIV, MID, £7.8mil, 6.0% ownership)
Differential Captain: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
The new Liverpool forward took a while to bed in, but the Dutch winger now has scored in games against Everton and Newcastle. The midweek Champions League game against Real Madrid no favours, but now it is pretty evident that all Liverpool now have is the league to focus on. Palace have been struggling since the new year, they’ve been very anonymous, and Wolves travel to Anfield in what would be a chance for the Reds to overcome the 3-0 defeat that marred their early year form. Gakpo could continue his league form in this Double Gameweek and is definitely someone who could surprise a few people with a couple more goals.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Mohamad Salah (LIV)
Alternative: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Differential (low ownership %): Cody Gakpo (LIV)
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: 1154pts
22/23 Captaincy: 12/24
Ins: Free Hit
Outs: Free Hit
Transfer Thoughts: I played my Free Hit this Gameweek, there were only 5 players who would have played in my team.
22/23 Challenge: Rest of the World XI
GW25 Formation: 3-5-2
GK: Alisson (LIV) - (VC)
DEF: Emerson Royal (TOT)
DEF: Gabriel (ARS)
DEF: Tim Ream (FUL)
MID: Alex Iwobi (EVE)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV) - (C)
MID: Hueng-Min Son (TOT)
MID: Gabriel Martinelli (ARS)
MID: Riyad Mahrez (MCI)
FWD: Darwin Nunez (LIV)
FWD: Chris Wood (NFO)
Substitutes:
GK: Matt Turner (ARS)
FWD: Kelechi Iheanacho (LEI)
DEF: Felipe (NFO)
DEF: Thiago Silva (CHE)
2022/23 Premier League Season: Gameweek Fantasy Forecast (Robert Austin)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 25
Fulham 1-0 Wolves
Everton 1-2 Aston Villa
Leeds 1-1 Southampton
Leicester 0-2 Arsenal
West Ham 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth 0-2 Man City
Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool
Spurs 1-0 Chelsea
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Liverpool 1-1 Wolves
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 25
Is it the right time to use your Free Hit?:
This is the million dollar question that has been rattling around in my brain for the past week as I braced myself to make transfers for my team. Ultimately, I was have talked myself out of this due to the potential blank during Gameweek 28 due to the latter rounds of the FA Cup. This upcoming Gameweek isn’t a complete disaster and the consensus, my own included, is that this week is the one to do patchwork on our inevitably strained and weakened squads and then plan for a rainier day when half the league’s teams might not be featuring, immediately followed up with a 12-13 team Double Gameweek in GW29.
Should you play use the Triple Captain or Bench Boost chip?:
The only viable candidates in my opinion are Mo Salah (LIV) or Martin Odegaard (ARS), or if you’re a brave person, Darwin Nunez (LIV). I’d suggest that you hold out for the bigger Double Gameweek’s on the horizon.
The state of my personal team:
I’ve had a big drop to around the 700,00 overall rank in the game, so in a bit of a slide. Captaincy selections just haven’t panned out and I’ve not done a few things that have decided higher scoring teams – including Chelsea defenders in my team, having double Newcastle defence as they have faltered, entrusting a combination of KDB & Salah, and simply making a few transfers that haven’t panned out – though the gap back up to a very good rank around 100k is less than 50 points, so if you’re in a similar boat to me, then it’s not time to panic.
I started the Gameweek with 9 starters and saved a transfer from last week and have made a trio of transfers to drop 4 points. It’s not the time to completely overhaul your teams if you’re chasing a high rank in the game – just know that many will hold their nerve and be happy to drop points.
I’ve moved out Pope for Alisson, KDB for Salah, and as a complete left-field pick have gone for Cunha to replace Weghorst in attack (the only reason I had the Dutchman was due to United’s recent Double Gameweek)
Who is going to win the Carabao Cup Final?:
It’s the biggest game of my life as a lifelong Newcastle supporter. A cup final, a day I had written off completely given the downward trajectory of the club given the club’s poor ownership, the history of chaotic management both on and off the pitch, and the lack of funding on the field. Now, we have a crowning moment to win some silverware after a year of massive progress that has seen England’s brightest Manager take us from certain relegation to knocking on the door of the Champions League.
As for our chances against Man United at Wembley, we are at a disadvantage. Even with Nick Pope, United are full of players who have experience of huge games, and it might be telling in front of 90,000 spectators in London. Newcastle will be hoping that the alure of the cup final and the passion of the players, the city itself, and our strong defensive grit will be enough. I am very cautious about a victory given Man United’s uptick in form, though I have a feeling it could be the club’s moment to deliver a first trophy in my lifetime. It means so much to Newcastle supporters – we aren’t like other privileged clubs that take winning the League Cup for granted, winning in football is rare and I’ll hopefully be savouring every moment.
On John Motson’s passing:
Football last lost one of its golden voices in what was a golden generation of growth for football. Motson’s commentary defined the BBC and Match of the Day for decades and it is one of the biggest losses we have faced. It’s a true loss for football and I wish his family nothing but the best.
What are the potential stumbling blocks to a good Gameweek?:
- Liverpool’s inconsistency coming back to bite FPL players when they need The Red’s in a big Gameweek
- Everton & Wolves offering nothing more than appearance points
- FPL players taking huge hits without many or any substantial returns
- Not having any depth on the bench this week as most scramble to field an 11
- Man City’s rotation policy throwing out curveballs after their Champions League tie away in Leipzig
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
Wolves (Cautious): A brace of away games against competent teams on their day. Fulham are top draw this season and are really putting the pressure on Champions League chasing teams, which is a big testament. Liverpool are in a similar boat to Fulham, and whilst Wolves are a good team in their own right, FPL players will be hoping £3.9m Bueno features and there is some life in attack on the road. I’m part of the majority not sold, but willing to place a grain of hope that a differential punt will pay off.
Everton (Avoid): I’ve opted against them in FPL and think they’ll struggle for goals and points against two teams that have been good in attack.
Liverpool (Watch): It’s the hope that kills FPL players more often than not, with Liverpool having the best two games ‘on paper’ in the Double Gameweek. Crystal Palace and Wolves will give Liverpool a couple of top games though, so it could be a banana peel week for Jurgen Klopp after their 5-2 loss at Madrid, though being realistic it isn’t every day you play a proven European giant, whilst in the league they’ve been ticking in all the right places. Any combination of Salah – Nunez – Gapko, and if you can afford it, Trent Alexander-Arnold, would be ideal.
Nottingham Forest (Watch): I’ve gone for a high scoring draw against West Ham, but the form under Steve Cooper is impressive and after all the millions spent across two transfer windows, the pieces have finally clicked at Forest. West Ham could really be looking at a season in which they face relegation up until the final day, and a home loss to Forest will be a lot to take in at the London Stadium.
Leeds & Southampton (Unpredictable): After a very good win at Chelsea, Southampton have given the opportunity to Rubén Sellés until the end of season as Manager, and if the winat Stamford Bridge is anything to go by, the Saints will be battlers and fight to preserve their goal – so this new Manager bounce may tighten the ship at the back. Leeds have also announced that Javi Gracia, former Watford Manager, is now in charge of the club, so this fixture could go absolutely anywhere.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
Alternative: Martin Odegaard (ARS)
Third Choice: Darwin Nunez (LIV)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 25
Formation: 3-4-3
Budget: £102.5 million
Starting 11
GK: Alisson (LIV)
DEF: William Saliba (ARS)
DEF: Max Kilman (WOL)
DEF: James Tarkowski (EVE)
MID: Martin Odegaard (ARS) – (VC)
MID: Bukayo Saka (ARS)
MID: Mohamed Salah (LIV) – (C)
MID: James Ward-Prowse (SOU)
FOR: Matheus Cunha (WOL)
FOR: Darwin Nunez (LIV)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Substitutes
GK: Danny Ward (LEI)
MID: Alex Iwobi (EVE)
DEF: Seamus Coleman (EVE)
DEF: Tim Ream (FUL)
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
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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