There are just two games to go in FPL Gameweek 21 &#8211; and there has been plenty to interest fantasy managers so far.
If you want details of every goalscorer and assister, plus bonus points and more, see our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-match-centre">Match Centre</a>, which updates live during matches.
Meanwhile, here&#8217;s a round-up of some of the key points from an FPL perspective. The <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> section at the end of the article will be updated following the conclusion of Thursday&#8217;s matches.
Updated: 17/01/25

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<h2>Salah the most popular captain again despite Forest test</h2>
Mohamed Salah was the most popular captain this week, backed by 61% of the top 250,000 managers.
Salah had returned in his last five league away games, giving many the confidence to back him again.
But extending the streak against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground was always going to be a tough test and the home side held the league leaders to a 1-1 draw, with no involvement from the Egyptian.
Chris Wood put Forest ahead with his 13th goal of the season and Liverpool could not break the home side down until the 66th minute, with Konstantinos Tsimikas and Diogo Jota combining from a corner seconds after coming off the bench.
Salah had an effort cleared off the line by Ola Aina late on as Arne Slot&#8217;s side pushed for a winner but Matz Sels was the hero, with five second-half saves.
<div id="attachment_70084" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70084" class="size-full wp-image-70084" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GW21-captaincy.jpg" alt="Gameweek 21 captaincy among the top 250,000 FPL managers" width="800" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GW21-captaincy.jpg 800w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GW21-captaincy-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GW21-captaincy-768x624.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GW21-captaincy-610x496.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />Gameweek 21 captaincy split among the top 250,000 FPL managers</div>
<h2>Bournemouth injury crisis deepens as Ouattara fills in up front</h2>
Bournemouth have lost strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal to long-term injuries since Gameweek 20, resulting in Daniel Jebbison being recalled from his loan at Watford.
Jebbison was handed a seven-minute cameo in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea, with Dango Ouattara starting up front after his two-goal audition in the FA Cup. The midfielder had a quiet night, failing to register a shot on goal.
While the 22-year-old looks to have the spot currently, Andoni Iraola could vary his tactics in future weeks. Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert are alternatives as well as Jebbison.
An addition in the transfer window could alter the picture too, so FPL managers would be wise to monitor the situation during their challenging immediate fixtures.
<div id="attachment_70081" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70081" class="size-full wp-image-70081" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ouattara-fixtures.jpg" alt="Dango Ouattara" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ouattara-fixtures.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ouattara-fixtures-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ouattara-fixtures-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ouattara-fixtures-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Dango Ouattara</div>
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Kluivert was benched against Chelsea but was on within 22 minutes after right-back James Hill was forced off. Lewis Cook filled in at right-back.
Iraola&#8217;s bench options looked thin beyond Kluivert and the loss of Hill was a further blow. The Cherries boss said post-match:
<blockquote>&#8220;He [Hill] has felt a very tight hamstring. We were very close to him &#8211; he was playing very close to the bench &#8211; and we decided to change him straight away. We have to assess him, see if there is a small injury there. If it&#8217;s just tightness, in two, three, four days he can return to the team.
&#8220;The first half we decided to leave Justin on the bench because he&#8217;s someone that can change the game in the second half, can give us another spark and probably if we have 25 players available, Justin starts the game.&#8221;</blockquote>
The game was very much one of two halves, with Chelsea looking the stronger early on.
Palmer combined with Nicolas Jackson to open the scoring after 13 minutes but the Blues were pegged back early in the second half, with Kluivert converting from the spot after Semenyo was brought down.
The visitors took the lead through Semenyo, only for Reece James to score a free-kick to level the game in the 95th minute.
Palmer came away with 10 points, earning maximum bonus ahead of Semenyo. He created two big chances and three of his four shots were on target.
<div id="attachment_70080" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70080" class="size-full wp-image-70080" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Semenyo-v-Kluivert.jpg" alt="Antoine Semenyo v Justin Kluivert" width="800" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Semenyo-v-Kluivert.jpg 800w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Semenyo-v-Kluivert-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Semenyo-v-Kluivert-768x624.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Semenyo-v-Kluivert-610x496.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />Antoine Semenyo v Justin Kluivert</div>
<h2>Paqueta Potter&#8217;s false nine as Iwobi and Robinson earn fortunate returns</h2>
Another manager dealing with a shortage of strikers is West Ham&#8217;s Graham Potter.
The former Chelsea and Brighton boss only has Danny Ings available among his senior number nines, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug among those unavailable.
His solution for the 3-2 win over Fulham was to play Lucas Paqueta as a false nine &#8211; and the Brazilian finished the game with a goal.
This is another case where transfer activity could change the picture, however Paqueta has thrived in Potter&#8217;s two games, scoring in the FA Cup loss to Aston Villa as well.
<div id="attachment_70082" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70082" class="size-full wp-image-70082" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paqueta-stats-gw21.jpg" alt="Lucas Paqueta's Gameweek 21 stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paqueta-stats-gw21.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paqueta-stats-gw21-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paqueta-stats-gw21-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paqueta-stats-gw21-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Lucas Paqueta&#8217;s Gameweek 21 <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
The main fantasy interest in the game was on the other side of the pitch. Antonee Robinson assisted two Alex Iwobi goals, which were almost carbon copies of each other.
His first was a cross that Raul Jimenez failed to make contact with, while his second was a ball for Harry Wilson which nestled in the net after it missed the Welshman&#8217;s head.
Iwobi finished the game with just 0.04 expected goals (xG) but the fortunate finishes will have been welcomed by the 25.6% of the game who own Robinson.
Only Bukayo Saka and Salah have more assists than Robinson&#8217;s nine.
<div id="attachment_70083" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70083" class="size-full wp-image-70083" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Iwobi-v-Robinson.jpg" alt="Alex Iwobi and Antonee Robinson's stats" width="800" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Iwobi-v-Robinson.jpg 800w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Iwobi-v-Robinson-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Iwobi-v-Robinson-768x624.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Iwobi-v-Robinson-610x496.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />Alex Iwobi and Antonee Robinson&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>Foden coming into form</h2>
Phil Foden scored both of Manchester City&#8217;s goals at Brentford before the Bees battled their way back into the game.
City let their two-goal lead slip, with an 82nd minute Yoane Wissa goal and 92nd minute Christian Norgaard header bringing the home side level.
Brentford registered the highest xG of all teams playing on Tuesday &#8211; 2.47 &#8211; with Wissa racking up the best xG (1.54). He had five shots and two big chances.
Foden now has three goals in his last two league games and contributed an assist off the bench in the FA Cup against Salford.
He&#8217;s one to monitor in the coming weeks, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool their opponents after Ipswich in Gameweek 22.
City are expected to strengthen in the transfer market, with Pep Guardiola looking to improve his options across the pitch, but particularly in defence.
<div id="attachment_70085" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70085" class="size-full wp-image-70085" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Foden-gw1-21.jpg" alt="Phil Foden's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Foden-gw1-21.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Foden-gw1-21-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Foden-gw1-21-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Foden-gw1-21-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Phil Foden&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>Isak continues streak as Cunha benched</h2>
Alexander Isak extended his goalscoring run to eight matches as Newcastle beat Wolves 3-0 on Wednesday.
No player has more points than the forward since his scoring streak began in Gameweek 14. His 85 points is seven more than Salah&#8217;s tally.
In that time, he has 11 goals and three assists, with two goals and an assist coming against Wolves.
Teammate Anthony Gordon meanwhile is on a run of his own, having contributed a goal or assist in each of his last six league games. He has 53 points since Gameweek 14, the fifth best total.
Wolves put up more of a fight than the scoreline suggests, registering an xG of 1.62 to Newcastle&#8217;s 2.11. They had five big chances and seven shots on target, plus a Santiago Bueno goal ruled out by VAR.
The away side were missing Matheus Cunha from their starting lineup, despite having served his suspension. Speaking after the game, manager Vitor Pereira said he was not ready to play the full game following a minor injury:
<blockquote>“I&#8217;m not a doctor, so I must respect the directions of the medical department, and they said to me it&#8217;s not possible for him [to play 90] because he stopped with the injury &#8211; 45 minutes today, next game, I think he will be fit to start.”</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_70101" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70101" class="size-full wp-image-70101" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Isak-GW14-21.jpg" alt="Alexander Isak's form" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Isak-GW14-21.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Isak-GW14-21-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Isak-GW14-21-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Isak-GW14-21-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Alexander Isak&#8217;s form</div>
&nbsp;
<h2>Opta stats leaders for FPL Gameweek 21: Players</h2>
Amad scored a late hat-trick on Thursday night to give Manchester United a 3-1 win over Southampton at Old Trafford.
In the other Thursday game, Brighton defeated Ipswich 0-2, with Joao Pedro fit enough to start the game amid doubts over his fitness.
Here are the gameweek&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> leaders. Additions following Thursday&#8217;s matches are highlighted in bold:
<ul>
<li>Shots &#8211; Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho &#8211; 7</li>
<li>Shots on target &#8211;  Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland and Diogo Jota &#8211; 3</li>
<li>Shots in the box &#8211; Mohamed Salah &#8211; 6</li>
<li>Big chances &#8211; Amad, Nicolas Jackson and Diogo Jota &#8211; 3</li>
<li>Goals &#8211; Amad &#8211; 3</li>
<li>xG &#8211; Yoane Wissa &#8211; 1.54</li>
<li>Non-penalty xG (NpxG) &#8211; Yoane Wissa &#8211; 1.54</li>
<li>Key passes &#8211; Kevin De Bruyne &#8211; 8</li>
<li>Big chances created &#8211; Rodrigo Gomes, Ismaila Sarr, Cole Palmer and Kevin De Bruyne &#8211; 2</li>
<li>Assists &#8211; Antonee Robinson &#8211; 2</li>
<li>Expected assists (xA) &#8211; Alex Iwobi &#8211; 0.78</li>
<li>FPL points &#8211; Amad &#8211; 20</li>
<li>Expected points (xPts) &#8211; Amad &#8211; 11.5</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="mceTemp">Opta stats leaders for FPL Gameweek 21: Teams</h3>
<ul>
<li>Most shots &#8211; Chelsea &#8211; 26</li>
<li>Highest xG &#8211; Manchester United &#8211; 3.19</li>
<li>Lowest xG &#8211; Ipswich &#8211; 0.29</li>
</ul>
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FPL Gameweek 21 notes: Isak continues goalscoring streak, why Cunha was benched

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