We are four Gameweeks into the 2025/26 season, and the FPL landscape is starting to take shape. Liverpool continue to look unstoppable, late winners and all, while Arsenal and Chelsea assets are gradually establishing themselves as reliable picks. Gameweek 5 throws up some fascinating fixtures, with Liverpool facing Everton in the Merseyside derby, Arsenal hosting Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest playing Burnley.
With the fixture swing for a few teams and several players showing consistent returns, managers are spoilt for choice. Let’s break down the best players to target for GW5, starting with the clean sheet and projected goals odds before diving into defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
Link to all our FPL GW5 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL GW5 Clean Sheet Odds & Projected Goals
Clean Sheet Odds
Top 10 for Clean Sheet% (taken from Solio Analytics)
LIV 39%
AVL 36%
FUL 33%
WOL 32%
LEE 31%
ARS 31%
NFO 31%
CRY 30%
WHU 26%
BOU 26%
The odds suggest Liverpool are best placed for a shutout this week, with a 39% chance of a clean sheet against Everton. Aston Villa (36%) and Fulham (33%) follow closely, while Wolves, Leeds, and Arsenal all sit around the 31–32% mark.
Top 10 for Projected Goals:
Similarly, the top 10 for projected goals (also from Solio Analytics)
LIV 2.11
ARS 1.65
BHA 1.61
CHE 1.61
MUN 1.53
FUL 1.52
NFO 1.43
BOU 1.42
TOT 1.40
AVL 1.40
Liverpool top both attacking and defensive projections, expected to score over two goals (2.11) while also being the likeliest team to keep things tight at the back. Arsenal is interestingly second in the projected goals table despite hosting Manchester City. It is worth noting that Arsenal did win 5-1 in this fixture in February 2025 with 5 different scorers – Odegaard, Partey, Miles Lewis Skelly, Havertz and Nwaneri.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also feature in the top ten for defensive odds, which makes their budget-friendly assets worth considering.
FPL GW5 Defenders to Target
Virgil van Dijk (£6.1m, Liverpool)
FPL GW3 Defenders to Target - Virgil
Van Dijk looks like the standout defensive pick this week. The Dutchman has been immense, ranking second among defenders for defensive contributions (50), just behind Bournemouth’s Senesi. Importantly, he has consistently delivered in Merseyside derbies, hitting thresholds that would have translated into bonus points last season.
The Liverpool captain also showed his attacking threat midweek, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Atlético Madrid. Arne Slot’s side have made a habit of leaving it late, with decisive goals coming after the 80th minute in all five wins so far. With Everton struggling defensively (5.9 xGA so far), Van Dijk offers points potential at both ends of the pitch.
Marcos Senesi (£4.6m, Bournemouth)
FPL GW3 Defenders to Target - Senesi
Senesi has quietly been one of the most reliable budget defenders in the game. With 28 points already, he sits just six off the top-scoring defender, thanks to two clean sheets, an assist, and consistent defensive contributions. Impressively, he has picked up defcon points for his defensive work in every single Gameweek so far.
While Bournemouth face a tricky test against Newcastle in GW5, the long-term fixtures are very appealing, including three home matches and a trip to Leeds in the next five. At just £4.6m, Senesi is excellent value and could be a set-and-forget option for managers looking for stability on a budget.
Further Read:2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Pedro Porro (£5.6m, Tottenham)
FPL GW5 Defenders to Target - Porro
Among Spurs defenders, Porro stands out as the most attacking. He leads the pack for shots (4), key passes (7), and expected goal involvement (0.8). While Romero and Van de Ven have picked up attacking returns, Porro’s underlying numbers suggest he’s the one to target for consistent attacking threat.
Spurs face Brighton, Wolves, and Leeds next, all teams with shaky starts to the season. An interesting stat: none of Porro’s 87 Premier League appearances for Tottenham have ended in a 0-0 draw, underlining his involvement in open, high-scoring games. He’s a defender who can deliver attacking returns in matches where a clean sheet might not be guaranteed.
Further Read:2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Crystal Palace Defenders (Muñoz, Mitchell, Guehi, Lacroix)
FPL GW5 Defenders to Target - Palace Defenders
Palace defenders continue to offer value, particularly with a favourable fixture against West Ham. Muñoz is the standout for attacking potential, creating two key passes with an expected assist (xA) of 1.02, despite Mitchell attempting more passes overall. At the same time, Guehi and Lacroix provide cheaper entry points into a defence that has been fairly solid.
West Ham have been poor going forward, conceding the most goals in the league (11) after four games, which increases the appeal of Palace assets this week. If you’re looking for a rotation-friendly defender, Palace’s backline deserves attention.
FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target
Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m, Tottenham)
FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target - Kudus
Despite blanking in his last three, Kudus remains one of the most exciting midfield picks. He leads Spurs’ midfielders for shots (6), key passes (9), and expected goal involvement (1.3), while also being the most nailed in terms of minutes. His consistency in positioning on the right flank this season has been a huge boost after years of being shuffled around in different roles.
Brighton have conceded in every game so far, making this an appealing fixture for Kudus to bounce back. With his ability to create and score, backed by strong underlying data, Kudus looks overdue a return and could be a smart pick for GW5.
Further Read:Best FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target Based on Stats & Fixtures
Yankuba Minteh (£5.9m, Brighton)
FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target - Minteh
Brighton attackers are worth considering against Spurs, and Minteh looks the most dangerous. He was voted Brighton’s Player of the Month for August by a landslide, recognised for his direct running and creativity even when the team struggled.
Minteh has been unlucky not to collect more attacking returns, setting up several chances that teammates failed to convert. With Spurs allowing 4.6 expected goals against so far (despite only conceding 1), this match-up could provide him the platform for his first big FPL haul
Further Read:2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m, Manchester United)
Newly signed from Brentford, Mbeumo has made a flying start at Manchester United, scoring twice already and winning their Player of the Month award for August. Operating from the right, he’s been central to United’s attack even in matches where they’ve struggled as a team.
When comparing him to Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo offers more shots and a slightly better expected assist (xA), though with fewer key passes. He looked lively against Manchester City despite not getting on the scoresheet, and his direct style makes him a serious threat against Chelsea this week.
Cole Palmer (£10.4m, Chelsea)
FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target - Palmer
Palmer is beginning to look like the heartbeat of Chelsea’s attack. He has scored in consecutive games against Brentford and Bayern Munich, thriving particularly when linking up with Malo Gusto on the right flank. Their overlapping partnership has allowed Palmer more freedom to cut inside and attack space in dangerous areas.
Palmer’s creativity, coupled with his eye for goal, makes him Chelsea’s standout midfield option. With Manchester United and Brighton up next – both teams yet to register a clean sheet this season – the opportunity is there for Palmer to keep his scoring run alive.
Further Read:2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Yeremy Pino (£6.0m, Crystal Palace)
FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target - Pino
Pino is an intriguing differential option. In his first Premier League start, he missed two big chances but still recorded the highest expected goals (0.73) of the match. That willingness to get into goal-scoring positions is encouraging for a £6.0m midfielder.
Against a leaky West Ham defence, Pino could easily open his account. He’s a high-risk, high-reward option but certainly one that could pay off for managers seeking a punt and thinking of WC6.
Further Read:Best FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target Based on Stats & Fixtures
FPL GW5 Forwards to Target
Chris Wood (£7.6m, Nottingham Forest)
FPL GW5 Forwards to Target - Wood
Forest have struggled recently, but this week’s fixture against Burnley is a golden opportunity. Burnley sit bottom for expected goals conceded (9.2) after four games, and Wood has been the focal point of Forest’s attack so far and should continue doing so at least in the short term under Ange.
Despite heavy defeats to Arsenal and West Ham, Forest should be confident of scoring in this fixture. With another favourable fixture against Sunderland to follow, Wood represents a solid short-term option who could deliver immediate returns.
Further Read:2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Joao Pedro (£7.8m, Chelsea)
FPL GW5 Forwards to Target - Joao Pedro
Chelsea’s Joao Pedro has been one of the form players of the season so far, collecting five attacking returns in his last three matches and amassing 31 FPL points. He was instrumental in setting up Palmer’s first goal this season, underlining his creativity as well as his finishing.
From Gameweek 9 onwards, the Blues embark on a dream fixture run, making him an excellent medium to long-term hold. For managers without him, it may not be too late to jump aboard the bandwagon.
Conclusion
Gameweek 5 offers plenty of opportunities to target both premium and budget players across positions. Liverpool remain the standout for both clean sheets and goals, with Van Dijk a safe bet. In midfield, Kudus, Palmer, and Mbeumo all have strong cases, while Pino and Minteh provide intriguing differentials. Up front, Joao Pedro looks like a season-defining pick, with Chris Wood offering short-term value.
With many managers eyeing a bench boost this week before a potential wildcard in Gameweek 6, picking the right mix of safe bets and high-upside differentials could be the key to climbing the ranks.
Further Reads from ALLABOUTFPL Ahead of FPL GW5
2025/26 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
FPL GW5 – Fixtures & Players to Target for Gameweek 5
Best FPL GW5 Midfielders to Target Based on Stats & Fixtures
FPL Fixture Swing Analysis – Best Fixture Runs to Target
**Link to all our FPL GW5 blogs,**including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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