<p>Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers averaged just 39 points from the weekend&#8217;s games, with captains failing to deliver and rotation hitting hard.</p>
<p>In our concise weekly review, we’ll cover some key highlights, split into four categories.</p>
<p>Haulers documents the biggest stars of the week, howlers and heartbreakers the disappointments and disasters, while things you might have missed are included in the hidden highlights.</p>
<p>The gameweek concludes with Everton v Leeds on Monday night (January 26).</p>
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<h3>🤖 Hub AI quick summary 🤖</h3>
<p>Your at-a-glance summary of this article &#8211; and an audio summary 👇</p>
<ul>
<li data-start="189" data-end="348">🚀 Szoboszlai scores on Salah return, Estevao impresses on the right for Chelsea, Bowen converts penalty</li>
<li data-start="189" data-end="348">🤦 Haaland and Foden drop 1-pointers, Liverpool attack remains an uncertain quantity</li>
<li data-start="189" data-end="348">💔 Chelsea lose clean sheet late in comical fashion, Arsenal assets disappoint against United</li>
<li data-start="189" data-end="348">🛋️ Palmer, Ekitike and more among the big-name absences in a week dominated by rotation</li>
</ul>

<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-77315-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ElevenLabs_2026-01-26T12_46_22_Jamie_pvc_sp102_s50_sb75_se10_b_m2.mp3?_=1" /><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ElevenLabs_2026-01-26T12_46_22_Jamie_pvc_sp102_s50_sb75_se10_b_m2.mp3">https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ElevenLabs_2026-01-26T12_46_22_Jamie_pvc_sp102_s50_sb75_se10_b_m2.mp3</a></audio>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>FPL Gameweek 23 haulers</h2>
<h3>🥇 Dominik Szoboszlai/Estevao &#8211; 13 points</h3>
<p>A pair of mid-priced midfielders topped the scoring charts in Gameweek 23, and despite the risk of rotation with <strong>Cole Palmer </strong>plenty of FPL managers are making moves for Estevao, as well as the more minutes-secure Szoboszlai.</p>
<p>Scorer of Chelsea&#8217;s opening goal against Crystal Palace, Estevao displayed the kind of pace and finishing quality that could make the Brazilian a mainstay in this Blues side under Liam Rosenior, but he faces stiff competition for a regular starting berth.</p>
<p>Szoboszlai meanwhile is likely to be off penalty duties following the return of <strong>Mohamed Salah </strong>from AFCON, so another dead ball goal along with an assist may not be enough to tempt FPL managers back to the Hungarian.</p>
<div id="attachment_74487" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74487" class="size-full wp-image-74487" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2231899838.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2231899838.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2231899838-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2231899838-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74487" class="wp-caption-text">Dominik Szoboszlai. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>🥈 Joao Pedro/Jarrod Bowen &#8211; 11 points</h3>
<p>There was some symmetry to be found up front this week too, as similarly priced forwards Pedro and Bowen both tallied 11 points for the second-highest score in Gameweek 23.</p>
<p>Pedro followed up a tidy first-half goal by winning his side a penalty, while Bowen converted from the spot having already set up the Hammers&#8217; first with a wicked cross.</p>
<p>Both are certainly reasonable selections for the coming gameweeks, with Bowen looking like a more sustainable pick if he is now on penalties, while Pedro is facing an incredible fixture run for Chelsea that begins with West Ham, Wolves, Leeds and Burnley.</p>
<div id="attachment_74061" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74061" class="size-full wp-image-74061" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229150044.jpg" alt="Joao Pedro. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229150044.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229150044-300x202.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229150044-768x518.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74061" class="wp-caption-text">Joao Pedro. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>🥉 Matheus Nunes, Cristian Romero, Emiliano Buendia, Yasin Ayari, Ola Aina &#8211; 10 points</h3>
<p>Five players shared the third-place podium in Gameweek 23, with defensive hauls the name of the game.</p>
<p>Nunes banked 11 points at home to former club Wolves thanks to his clean sheet and assist &#8211; the same combination as Aina away to Brentford.</p>
<p>Romero was on the scoresheet in Spurs&#8217; 3-2 win over Burnley, while Ayari and Buendia earned 11-pointers for their respective goals against Fulham and Newcastle, with both also picking up defensive contribution points.</p>
<div id="attachment_76651" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76651" class="size-full wp-image-76651" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251765233.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251765233.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251765233-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251765233-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-76651" class="wp-caption-text">Matheus Nunes. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>FPL Gameweek 23 howlers</h2>
<h3>Haaland benching punishes captainers</h3>
<p>There were whispers all week surrounding potential rotation at Manchester City, and in the end there were two big names on the chopping block as Haaland and <strong>Phil Foden </strong>both dropped out of the starting XI.</p>
<p>Both players came on as substitutes to deliver a singular point, and with City&#8217;s fixtures taking a turn for the worse there will be some managers considering ejecting assets from Pep Guardiola&#8217;s side.</p>
<p>Those who made the switch to Haaland&#8217;s replacement <strong>Antoine Semenyo </strong>were rewarded with a goal, and the Ghana man could be a popular pick going forward given his current lack of availability in Europe for Guardiola.</p>
<div id="attachment_73343" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73343" class="size-full wp-image-73343" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Haaland-bench.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="747" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Haaland-bench.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Haaland-bench-300x219.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Haaland-bench-768x560.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73343" class="wp-caption-text">Erling Haaland. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Liverpool flounder amid attacking rotation</h3>
<p>The decision from Arne Slot to play <strong>Cody Gakpo </strong>up front instead of <strong>Hugo Ekitike </strong>wasn&#8217;t vindicated by the Reds&#8217; performance against Bournemouth, leading to yet another inquest into the Dutchman&#8217;s decision-making in recent weeks.</p>
<p><strong>Mohamed Salah </strong>returned to action with 90 minutes and an assist following his AFCON absence, and he is one player you would expect to play consistently going forward with little competition on the right wing.</p>
<p>As far as the rest of Liverpool&#8217;s attackers are concerned however, there are few certainties right now, and the team in general has been inconsistent enough to stay away from the majority of their assets for the time being.</p>
<div id="attachment_74700" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74700" class="size-full wp-image-74700" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2228756103.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2228756103.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2228756103-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2228756103-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74700" class="wp-caption-text">Arne Slot. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>FPL Gameweek 23 heartbreakers</h2>
<h3>Chalobah and Chelsea lose clean sheet in chaotic fashion</h3>
<p>What looked like a fairly convincing 3-0 away win for Chelsea ended with a somewhat comical goal, as a Crystal Palace corner cannoned around the Blues penalty area, hitting several players before being headed in by <strong>Chris Richards</strong>.</p>
<p>Chalobah was a popular transfer-in ahead of Chelsea&#8217;s strong upcoming fixture run, and those who went a week early for the trip to Palace will be frustrated by the nature of the late concession.</p>
<p>With those fixtures in mind however, there is little reason to panic in terms of Chelsea&#8217;s assets, although rotation is sure to be a factor given the size and quality of their squad.</p>
<div id="attachment_75021" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75021" class="size-full wp-image-75021" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chalobah.jpg" alt="Trevoh Chalobah. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="755" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chalobah.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chalobah-300x221.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chalobah-768x566.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-75021" class="wp-caption-text">Trevoh Chalobah. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Arsenal vulnerabilities a wake up call for defensive assets</h3>
<p>Gabriel was touted as a captaincy option against Manchester United in the absence of Haaland, such has been the strength of Arsenal&#8217;s defensive performances this season, but the Gunners were brought crashing back down to earth by Michael Carrick&#8217;s side.</p>
<p>The 3-2 loss is unlikely to provoke any mass sales of Arsenal defenders, but their title credentials will be tested heading into the second half of the season, and managers will certainly think twice before captaining a defender like Gabriel in the run-in.</p>
<p>If Haaland is expected to miss out in similar fashion in future gameweeks however, that stance may be worth reconsidering with favourable fixtures to come for the Gunners &#8211; United are on an upward trajectory right now and Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side will face less challenging opponents in the weeks to come.</p>
<div id="attachment_74012" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74012" class="size-full wp-image-74012" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74012" class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>FPL Gameweek 23 hidden highlights</h2>
<p>Here are a few things you may have missed in Gameweek 23:</p>
<h3>Lineups</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Daniel Munoz</strong> made his return for Crystal Palace, with the Colombian playing 75 minutes against Chelsea</li>
<li><strong>Cole Palmer</strong> was not in the matchday squad for Chelsea due to a minor thigh injury &#8211; Estevao took his place on the right wing</li>
<li><strong>Hugo Ekitike</strong> was rotated up front for <strong>Cody Gakpo</strong>, while <strong>Mohamed Salah</strong> played the whole 90 minutes on his return from AFCON</li>
<li><strong>Phil Foden</strong> dropped out alongside <strong>Erling Haaland</strong>, and following victory the midfielder could be used more sparingly in weeks to come given the options City have at their disposal</li>
<li><strong>Granit Xhaka</strong> was an unexpected absence for Sunderland &#8211; the Swiss international has a suspected ankle injury</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_74632" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74632" class="size-full wp-image-74632" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2233810496.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2233810496.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2233810496-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2233810496-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74632" class="wp-caption-text">Daniel Munoz. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Stats</h3>
<ul>
<li>Spurs led the way for both shots (18) and shots on target (11) despite only managing a draw with Burnley</li>
<li>Crystal Palace took the most shots in the box of any side against Chelsea with 12, highlighting some vulnerabilities in Rosenior&#8217;s defence despite his side&#8217;s 3-1 win</li>
<li>No player accumulated more expected goal involvements in Gameweek 23 than the returning <strong>Dango Ouattara</strong>, who came on as a 37th minute substitute for the injured <strong>Mikkel Damsgaard</strong></li>
<li>Aston Villa&#8217;s <strong>Morgan Rogers </strong>picked up defensive contribution points for the first time this season alongside his assist against Newcastle</li>
<li>Wolves defender <strong>Yerson Mosquera </strong>(4) was the only player to accumulate more shots in the box than <strong>Antoine Semenyo </strong>(3) in Gameweek 23</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_77151" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77151" class="size-full wp-image-77151" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2256425082.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2256425082.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2256425082-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2256425082-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77151" class="wp-caption-text">Antoine Semenyo. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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Haulers, howlers, heartbreakers and hidden highlights of FPL Gameweek 23

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