FPL Gameweek 23 throws up another tricky set of decisions, but there are real opportunities if you know where to look. With tempting fixtures and a few standout transfer targets emerging, we’re digging into the moves that can help you climb your mini‑league.
FPL Gameweek 23 Target Fixtures & Players
Manchester City (vs Wolves, home)
Manchester City at home to the league’s bottom club would often be a triple captain opportunity. While City’s recent slump in form rules that out recommending playing your most valuable chip, they are the number one team to target this week.
Top Picks:
- Erling Haaland (15.1m) – out of form and still the leading striker in the game, ignore at your peril.
- Marc Guehi (5.2m) – should slot straight in at centre back having arrived earlier in the week. Defensive contribution point machine and a threat at set pieces.
- Antoine Semenyo (7.6m) – didn’t travel for the Bodo Glimt debacle so should be a strong candidate to start this one.
- Rayan Ait-Nouri (5.7m) – likely to keep his place at left back and can punish his former club.
Chelsea (vs Crystal Palace, away)
Palace are in all sorts of trouble and come up against a Chelsea side who have shown an upturn in form under Liam Rosenior. With Guehi leaving, Mateta wanting out and Oliver Glasner announcing he’s off at the end of the season, Chelsea arrive at Selhurst Park at just the right time.
Top Picks:
- Enzo Fernandez (6.5m) – one of the first names on the Chelsea team sheet and has been seen in a more advanced position in recent times. In good form with three returns in the last four.
- Cole Palmer (10.4m) – Chelsea penalty taker and still their talisman, scored last week to come back to form.
- Joao Pedro (7.1m) – one of Chelsea’s success stories in attack and looks to take advantage of a Guehi-less Palace defence.
- Alejandro Garnacho (6.4m) – one of the winners from Liam Rosenior’s appointment and a value route into the Chelsea attack.
Brentford (vs Nottingham Forest, home)
Brenford are one of the quiet success stories of this season with Keith Andrews doing a wonderful job. They have an enticing fixture against an out-of-form Forest side this weekend, and the Bees have one of the best records in the division on home turf.
Top Picks:
- Igor Thiago (7.2m) – the league’s second highest scorer and a good value forward option to boot.
- Nathan Collins (5.0m) – the third most in-form defender in the game and only in 3.9% of squads.
- Kevin Schade (7.1m) – another great differential and good alternative to Antoine Semenyo in the long-term, as he becomes a rotation risk at City.
Arsenal (vs Manchester United, home)
This isn’t the straightforward fixture it looked to be for Arsenal just a week or so ago. With United bouncing from defeating their rivals Manchester City last week, and Arsenal having a trip to the San Siro in the week, it’ll be tough for the Gunners. They know though, that with City expected to win, they’ll need to match their result to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
Top Picks:
- Bukayo Saka (10.1m) – still Arsenal’s best player and put in a strong performance against Inter in the week.
- Gabriel (6.9m) – the best defender in the game and was rested at the San Siro, certain to start and will fancy his chances at both ends for this one.
- Declan Rice (7.4m) – great all-round midfield option, he’s on set pieces and another certain starter after being rested for the win over Inter.
Liverpool (vs Bournemouth, away)
Liverpool put in an impressive performance against Marseille in midweek and face an out-of-form Bournemouth side. Their attacking players are purring and the return of Mohamed Salah from AFCON duties gives them another attacking dimension.
- Hugo Ekitike (8.9m) – scored in mid-week after blanking at home to Burnley, one of the shining lights for the Reds, and fancied to do well here.
- Florian Wirtz (8.3m) – finding his feet in the Liverpool system now and has three double-digit hauls in the last five games.
- Cody Gakpo (7.3m) – another scorer from the win over Marseille, Gakpo has a reliable output this season.
FPL Gameweek 23 Captain Picks
Erling Haaland (C) – in the last chance saloon but a prime home fixture can’t be ignored.
Igor Thiago (VC) – a strong alternative to Haaland given his fixture, form and current ownership.
Worth a Punt
- Antonee Robinson (4.9m) – One of the best defenders in the game last year and in less than 1% of squads. A threat at both ends of the pitch.
- Mikkel Damsgaard (5.7m) – Brentford’s creator in chief for an appealing home fixture and good for defensive contributions too.
- Dominic Solanke (7.2m) – Returned and scored for Tottenham in midweek. Spurs face relegation-bound Burnley so Solanke will fancy his chances for scoring.
- Thierno Barry (5.7m) – Plenty will be looking at alternative striker options given Haaland’s form, and Barry has a nice home fixture against Leeds and three goals in four for Everton.
FPL Gameweek 23 looks another tricky one, so tread carefully and remember to follow For Foot Sake’s golden rules when selecting your team this weekend. Good luck!
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