In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Double Gameweek 25 are discussed. Every FPL Gameweek, picks will be in the below format:

1x Defender or Goalkeeper

2x Attackers less than £8.5m

2x Attackers £8.5m or over

Erling Haaland (CHE/BRE)

Haaland’s brace against Everton took him to 16 goals for the campaign, three goals clear of Solanke in second (13). Despite a lengthy absence, the Norwegian international is still top amongst forwards for shots on target (SoT) (34), ‘big chances’ (BC) (29) and ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (16.45). As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is the most transferred-in player this week with nearly 500,000 FPL managers bringing him in already. Man. City (56) have scored more goals than any other side this season despite playing a game fewer. Only Liverpool (162) have landed more SoT than their 160 while they are ranked fourth for xG (47.09). Their first opponents Chelsea have conceded 40 goals (13th) this season and have kept just five clean sheets. The Blues are ranked ninth for ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (37.50). Their second opponents Brentford have conceded 39 goals (eighth) and have kept just four clean sheets this campaign. The Bees are ranked ninth for shots conceded (322) and fourth for xGC (33.32). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 16.3 for Haaland.

Kevin De Bruyne (CHE/BRE)

Since his return to the Man. City squad in Gameweek 21, De Bruyne has racked up a goal and four assists taking him to 28 FPL points, an average of 7.0 FPL points per Gameweek. As the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows, despite limited minutes, he has created nine chances with only Ødegaard beating him for BC created (five vs four) and ‘Expected Assists’ (xA) (2.13). Man. City have scored 11 goals over the last four Gameweeks with only Newcastle, Liverpool (12 each) and Arsenal (16) more prolific. Meanwhile, only Arsenal (56) have taken more shots in the box (SiB) than their 50. Their first opponents Chelsea have conceded 22 goals in away matches this season and have kept just two clean sheets on their travels. The Blues are ranked 11th for xGC (22.60) in away matches. Their second opponents Brentford have conceded eight goals over the last four Gameweeks (10th) and are ranked 12th for xGC (7.14). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 11.7 for De Bruyne.

Diogo Jota (bre/LUT)

Jota has found the back of the net four times over the last four Gameweeks with no midfielder scoring more often. As the below image from our Opta Player Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 9.0 FPL points per game over that period while only Saka (37) has racked up more FPL points than his 36. Meanwhile, only Saka and Richarlison (11 each) have taken more SiB than his 10. Liverpool have scored 12 goals over the last four Gameweeks (second) with only Man. City (33) landing more SoT than their 31. The Merseyside outfit are ranked fourth for xG (7.95). Their first opponents Brentford have conceded 16 goals in away matches (fifth) and have kept three clean sheets. They are ranked third for shots conceded (156). Their second opponents Luton have conceded eight goals over the last four Gameweeks (10th) and are ranked 10th for xGC (6.91). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 7.5 for Jota.

Darwin Núñez (bre/LUT)

Darwin’s goal against Burnley made it three in the last four Gameweeks for the Uruguayan international, only Adebayo and Højlund (four each) have been more prolific amongst forwards. As the Opta Stats Sandbox image below shows, he is top for both shots (20) and SiB (14) while only Toney (six) has been afforded more BC than his five. Liverpool (55) trail only Man. City (56) in the goalscoring charts and no side has registered a higher xG tally (54.22) this season. Their hosts for the first game Brentford have been unusually porous at home this season with only Burnley (27) and Sheff. Utd. (31) conceding more goals than their 23 on home turf. They have kept just one clean sheet in home matches and are 13th for xGC. Their second opponents Luton have conceded 25 goals in 11 away matches this season and are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels. The Hatters are bottom for xGC (29.74) in away matches. Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 8.3 for Darwin.

Virgil Van Dijk (bre/LUT)

With injury doubts around Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk is the most likely Liverpool defender to start both games in the double and the Dutch international will be looking to add to his solitary strike this campaign. No defender has taken more SiB (23) while only Udogie (five) and Cash (six) have been afforded more BC than his four. Liverpool have the second best defensive record this season with only Arsenal (22) conceding fewer goals than their 23. They have kept eight clean sheets (second) and are ranked third for SiB conceded (266). Their hosts for the first game Brentford have scored eight goals over the last six Gameweeks (eighth) with no team taking fewer shots than their 38. Their second opponents Luton have fared better with 10 goals over the same period, the Hatters are ranked second for xG (8.77) only to Arsenal (11.26). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a 70% chance of at least one clean sheet for Liverpool and a point score of 8.0 for Van Dijk.