{"id":147438,"date":"2025-09-19T13:27:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/147438\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:27:12","slug":"our-top-picks-for-fpl-gameweek-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/147438\/","title":{"rendered":"Our top picks for FPL Gameweek 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

A little later than usual, the Scout Squad sees our in-house team discuss who they think the\u00a0best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players are for Gameweek 5 in isolation.<\/p>\n

Sam, Tom F, Neale and, in for the absent Marc, Alex\/FPL Scoop explain their picks in the article below.<\/p>\n

In what looks like a tricky-to-call Gameweek, with Arsenal facing Manchester City and clubs with favourable-on-paper fixtures in poor form, only two players get universal backing from our panel.<\/p>\n

MORE ABOUT THE SCOUT SQUAD\"Scout<\/p>\n

The focus is only on the upcoming Gameweek with the Scout Squad, so there\u2019s no medium-term planning involved.<\/p>\n

The players who get the most votes are much more likely to make the Scout Picks, although the final XI can\u2019t exceed \u00a383.0m \u2013 so occasionally, we have to source cheaper alternatives.<\/p>\n

Each of our writers must meet the following requirements for this feature:<\/p>\n

At least one sub-\u00a35.0m goalkeeperAt least one sub-\u00a35.0m defenderAt least one sub-\u00a36.0m midfielderAt least one sub-\u00a37.0m forwardNo more than three players from the same clubSCOUT SQUAD: BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 5NEALETOMSAMALEXGKMatz SelsAlisson BeckerDean HendersonGuglielmo VicarioEmiliano MartinezBernd LenoAlisson BeckerRobin RoefsRobin RoefsJose SaMatz SelsKarl DarlowDEFVirgil van DijkVirgil van DijkDaniel MunozDaniel MunozNikola MilenkovicJoachim AndersenVirgil van DijkMarcos SenesiMaxence LacroixEmmanuel AgbadouTino LivramentoNathan CollinsMarcos SenesiDaniel MunozMicky van de VenEzri KonsaJoe RodonNikola MilenkovicJoe RodonRodrigo GomesMIDMohamed SalahMohamed SalahMohamed SalahAntoine SemenyoCole PalmerAntoine SemenyoCole PalmerMohamed SalahAntoine SemenyoBryan MbeumoXavi SimonsXavi SimonsKevinMorgan Gibbs-WhiteMorgan Gibbs-WhiteJack GrealishAnton StachLucas BergvallAnton StachJaidon AnthonyFWDJean-Philippe MatetaJean-Philippe MatetaJean-Philippe MatetaJean-Philippe MatetaJoao PedroViktor GyokeresJoao PedroErling HaalandHugo EkitikeErling HaalandErling HaalandViktor GyokeresChris WoodOllie WatkinsNick WoltemadeJoao PedroRicharlisonRodrigo MunizWilson IsidorRodrigo MunizMOST PICKS: Mohamed Salah, Jean-Philippe Mateta (four), Virgil van Dijk, Daniel Munoz, Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Joao Pedro (three)ALEX SAID\u2026\"FPL<\/p>\n

Guglielmo Vicario begins my Scout Squad entries this week, given Tottenham have four clean sheets from five matches in all competitions. The Italian goalkeeper has played a pivotal role in that record; he has made at least four saves in every league match so far. Spurs\u2019 Gameweek 5 opponents, Brighton, have looked relatively threatening at times but xG underperformance has been the trend for the Seagulls so far this season, with two of their four league goals coming from the penalty spot.<\/p>\n

It pains me to do so as an Aston Villa fan, but I\u2019m going to back Sunderland shot-stopper Robin Roefs as a budget-friendly goalkeeping option this week. Villa finally scored in their midweek Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, but their expected goals (xG) figure of 3.07 across their opening four Premier League matches is the second-lowest in the top flight. The Black Cats, on the other hand, have kept two clean sheets so far \u2013 notably just one fewer than any promoted team managed across the entirety of last season! \u2013 and conceded the same number of goals (three) as Chelsea and Newcastle, thanks in large part to Roefs, who has made 13 total saves and accrued four bonus points for his troubles.<\/p>\n

An even cheaper option is available in the form of Karl Darlow. Leeds\u2019 usual No1, Lucas Perri, is again sidelined this weekend<\/a>, giving \u00a34m man Darlow \u2013 who came terribly close to shutting out Fulham last time out<\/a> \u2013 the chance to face Wolves, the Premier League\u2019s statistically bluntest attack<\/a> to date and one which is still waiting on a return to full fitness for their first-choice striker, Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The relentlessly attacking Daniel Munoz \u2013 who fired off two shots last weekend and could continue to dart into forward zones in the absence of Ismaila Sarr \u2013 remains my preferred Crystal Palace defender for this weekend\u2019s trip to struggling West Ham.<\/p>\n

I considered a double-up with Maxence Lacroix before deciding to try some more maverick choices. Defensive contributions (DefCon) leader<\/a> Marcos Senesi isn\u2019t one of those, mind; he and his Bournemouth teammates have among the division\u2019s lowest expected goals conceded (xGC) tallies so far<\/a>, and the Argentine centre-back has earned DefCon points in all four of his league outings so far. He also grabbed an assist in Gameweek 3.<\/p>\n

With a few of the league\u2019s top backlines facing each other this weekend, I\u2019m backing Brentford to get the job done in their west London derby against Fulham. Written off by many before the season started, the Bees have actually looked alright so far. Nathan Collins \u2013 a centre-back with nine attacking returns in the league last season \u2013 has delivered DefCon points in three straight games. Only three Premier League sides have scored fewer league goals than the Cottagers\u2019 three, meanwhile, and one of those was an own goal!<\/p>\n

Two clean sheets in four league matches<\/a> suggests Villa have definitely been better defensively than going forward, even if their 11 Opta-defined \u2018big chances\u2019 conceded is worrying. Relative uncertainty in goal and at left-back plus a shoddy midweek Matty Cash performance drives me to the ever-present Ezri Konsa. He now faces a Sunderland side with the division\u2019s lowest cumulative open play xG (1.57).<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure I see clean sheets coming for Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea this weekend, so rather than advocate shelling out for a Virgil van Dijk, Trevoh Chalobah or Gabriel, I\u2019ve used my last defender slot to punt on Rodrigo Gomes. This is largely a fixture-based pick, given Leeds have struggled attacking-wise just as much as Wolves, but the Portuguese wing-back did at least have three shots in the box last weekend. He also has two goals in all competitions this season.<\/p>\n

Antoine Semenyo has earned top billing from me when it comes to midfield options this week. Seemingly on penalties<\/a> (at least in the absence of Justin Kluivert), the Ghanaian is one of the league\u2019s most in-form players and underlying stats leaders, fresh from his second double-digit haul of the season and a week without cup duties, and hosting a Newcastle side that may well be a little low on energy after facing Barcelona less than three days prior<\/a>; we\u2019ve seen midweek exploits sap the zing out of Eddie Howe\u2019s squad before. The Magpies do boast league-leading figures for xGC (2.09) and shots conceded (26) so far, but three of their outings have been against the toothless trio of Villa, Leeds and Wolves \u2013 hardly the dangerous outlet that a confident, \u2018big-chance\u2019-collecting<\/a> Semenyo has been for Bournemouth this season.<\/p>\n

That all means Mohamed Salah has been edged out of first place in my shortlist despite Liverpool\u2019s (current) main man looking better than he has all season<\/a> during Wednesday\u2019s Champions League thriller against Atletico Madrid. Even if he hadn\u2019t, his and the Reds\u2019 penchant for late returns this season<\/a> show you can never count the penalty-taking Egyptian out. Salah also quite likes a Merseyside derby, having scored eight goals and assisted two more in 13 such Premier League outings, and surely offers the most security minutes-wise in Liverpool\u2019s frontline now that Alexander Isak is looking to be increasingly involved<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An Anfield trip isn\u2019t initially an appealing fixture for Everton, but Jack Grealish has been electric since his arrival on Merseyside, creating a league-high 10 chances \u2013 five of them last weekend against Villa, when he also led the league for penalty box touches (19) \u2013 and registering four assists in the space of three games for the Toffees. Liverpool have been leakier than usual at the back this season as well, conceding twice against each of Bournemouth, Newcastle and Atleti, and are now tasked with contesting Saturday\u2019s early kick-off some two-and-a-bit days after the conclusion of their midweek game<\/a>. Like Semenyo, Grealish is not a player you want to face with a half-empty tank.<\/p>\n

Away from the action at Anfield now, Brighton have conceded a disproportionate number of both key passes (19 vs three) and crosses (31 vs 19) from their right flank compared to their left this season and are one of four teams yet to keep a clean sheet. That\u2019s a weakness the crafty \u2013 and set-piece-taking<\/a> \u2013 Xavi Simons could look to exploit.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I\u2019ve chosen to target another of the clean sheet-less sides \u2013 Nottingham Forest \u2013 with my budget midfield offering of Jaidon Anthony. \u201cA Burnley non-defender?!\u201d you say. \u201cThat can\u2019t be right!\u201d Ordinarily, I\u2019d agree, but Anthony is the Premier League\u2019s third-highest performer for total non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) so far \u2013 and, far from being a stat-padder, the 25-year-old winger has two goals and an assist to his name, meaning he has been directly involved in all but one of the Clarets\u2019 league goals this season. He should opportunities this weekend versus a leaky Nottingham Forest backline that just succumbed to a late Swansea City comeback in the Carabao Cup<\/a> and is also in the process of adapting to the attack-first \u2018Angeball\u2019 set-up of their new manager<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jean-Philippe Mateta has racked up more shots on target than anyone bar Haaland, and his Gameweek 6 opponents West Ham have allowed more shots on target (20) than any other team. That\u2019s one pick sorted, even if the Frenchman does only have one goal to his name so far this season.<\/p>\n

He may face the only team in the Premier League yet to concede a \u2018big chance\u2019<\/a> this season\u2026 but it\u2019s tough to side against Erling Haaland in this kind of form<\/a>. The division\u2019s leading goalscorer and attacking stats<\/a> table-topper netted both home and away against Arsenal last season and if any City player is going to bust the Gunners\u2019 clean sheet, it\u2019s likely to be him. Viktor Gyokeres might also have some joy in the same match; all three of his goals for Arsenal so far have come at home \u2013 and let\u2019s not forget the Champions League hat-trick the Swede scored last November against City, who have looked a little defensively suspect again to begin this campaign.<\/p>\n

With Liam Delap injured, I\u2019d imagine Joao Pedro is about as close to undroppable as one can get for Chelsea at the moment, even if Enzo Maresca\u2019s comments<\/a> about the likes of Robert Sanchez still being vulnerable to rotation admittedly spooked me a little. Earning five attacking returns so far, the highly-owned Brazilian could profit against a Manchester United backline that has conceded 10 big chances so far, particularly with Blues star Cole Palmer back in the picture<\/a> alongside him.<\/p>\n

Ollie Watkins is frozen out both by his poor form and our Scout Squad restrictions, which also prevent me from putting forward any of Hugo Ekitike, Richarlison, Chris Wood or Nick Woltemade \u2013 though I wouldn\u2019t have anyway, for various other reasons. And with Strand Larsen\u2019s participation against Leeds in doubt, my sub-\u00a37.0m forward slot begrudgingly goes to Rodrigo Muniz. A little contradictory given my backing of Brentford\u2019s Collins, but Muniz looks to have usurped Raul Jimenez as Fulham\u2019s first-choice striker and indeed has accrued three big chances so far this season, with all six of his attempts on goal coming from inside the penalty area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

SAM\u00a0SAID\u2026\"FPL<\/p>\n

This is a difficult Gameweek to call. Arsenal v Man City and the Merseyside derby, alongside other fixtures that are close on paper, make picking players difficult \u2013 especially attackers. I have maybe also taken some risks with my picks this week. For example, I have followed the data highlighting Newcastle United\u2019s defensive securities with the best xGC numbers in the league right now (impressively 0.40 better than Arsenal), so I have left out Antoine Semenyo. That\u2019s risky with his form!<\/p>\n

West Ham have had a horrible start to the season and so I have opted for three players in my picks this week. I don\u2019t see the Hammers scoring, with Palace having kept three clean sheets in the league so far and having only conceded one goal. They are top for both these metrics, level with Spurs and Arsenal, so I have opted for the Palace defensive double-up. Dean Henderson keeps goal, whilst I have plumped for Daniel Munoz for the attacking threat \u2013 although it was a tough choice to go against both Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi. Jean-Philippe Mateta might \u2018need a rest\u2019, in the words of Oliver Glasner<\/a>, but without a fit backup, the Frenchman will lead the line and will hopefully, as he is also in my FPL team, torment that West Ham backline.<\/p>\n

I have also tripled up on Liverpool for the Merseyside derby. The Reds have conceded in the last four meetings between the sides at Anfield in the Premier League. Therefore, I have opted for the defensive double-up with Alisson and Virgil van Dijk. Virgil has two clean sheets as well as four DefCon points in the league this season and, as we saw in the Champions League, he is always a threat from set pieces. Alongside the two defensive giants for Liverpool is their Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah. He continued his return to goal-scoring form in the Champions League and has eight attacking returns in the last eight Merseyside derbies.<\/p>\n

There are several teams that I have doubled up on this week: Chelsea, Newcastle, Spurs, Forest and, something I never thought I would say about a newly promoted club, Leeds!<\/p>\n

Chelsea face a United side without a clean sheet in their opening four matches and who are fourth worst for xGC. As a result, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer both make my picks.<\/p>\n

From Spurs is my favourite, Micky van de Ven. I don\u2019t think there is a better defensive option at his price at the moment. With three clean sheets in the opening four Gameweeks, plus one in the Champions League, he could do well this weekend. Van de Ven also has added appeal from set pieces which, under Thomas Frank, have been increasingly successful for Spurs. I have paired him with Xavi Simons, who is on corners and free-kicks, so he is offering a few routes to points.<\/p>\n

Forest, I hope, have a clean sheet in them against a Burnley side without a lot of attacking threat. This is a last opportunity for Matz Sels to prove himself, and with Ange loving attacking football, I have opted for Morgan Gibbs-White.<\/p>\n

Anton Stach features in both Joe\u2019s Goals Imminent<\/a> and Assists Imminent<\/a> tables, and against a struggling Wolves side, this could be the week that he goes big on these returns. I have added Joe Rodon as well as Wolves are second bottom for expected goals from open play this season.<\/p>\n

Newcastle\u2019s new frontman, Nick Woltemade, earns his spot after a goal last week. Team-mate Tino Livramento is there for Newcastle\u2019s impressive xGC numbers (2.09).<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland and Wilson Isidor round up my picks this week.<\/p>\n

TOM SAID\u2026\"FPL<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t too many stand-out options this week, with fixtures that were once deemed \u2018bankers\u2019, such as Burnley v Nottingham Forest and Sunderland v Aston Villa, anything but based on the first four Gameweeks.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, I do expect a home win for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.\u00a0Alisson Becker\u00a0and\u00a0Virgil van Dijk\u00a0are my selections from a Reds defence that, despite showing a few defensive issues this season, are still ranked third for lowest expected goals conceded (xGC). Everton, meanwhile, sit among the four worst teams for the concession of shots, which will naturally interest\u00a0Mohamed Salah.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere at the back, I\u2019ve picked out Fulham\u2019s\u00a0Bernd Leno\u00a0and\u00a0Joachim Andersen. Fulham are top-half material for non-penalty xGC this season, despite a tricky start, which has included away trips to Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion. I particularly like Andersen, who has claimed defensive contribution (DefCon) points in three of his four matches so far.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also nominated Jose Sa\u00a0and\u00a0Emmanuel Agbadou, who could rack up the DefCons against Leeds United. Daniel Munoz\u00a0is in, too: his opponents, West Ham United, have conceded 14 chances from their left flank this season, the most of any team except Burnley and Nottingham Forest. They\u2019ve also allowed the joint-most headed opportunities, so it\u2019s hard to overlook\u00a0Jean-Philippe Mateta, despite Oliver Glasner\u2019s claims that he \u201cneeds a break\u201d. I personally don\u2019t see that happening in a London derby, but it\u2019s probably best to keep your eyes peeled on Glasner\u2019s Friday presser for more news.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also included\u00a0Erling Haaland\u00a0up front. It\u2019s probably more optimal for the Scout Picks to spread the funds, but are there five better forwards than him this week, even with \u2018easier\u2019 fixtures elsewhere? I doubt it, hence his inclusion here. That said, I\u2019d still put\u00a0Viktor Gyokeres\u00a0slightly ahead of the Norwegian this week. We\u2019ll get to gauge Manchester City\u2019s defence some more against Napoli on Thursday night, but so far, I\u2019ve seen nothing to suggest Arsenal won\u2019t trouble them.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve gone for\u00a0Lucas Bergvall\u00a0as my budget punt in the middle of the park. He\u2019s picked up back-to-back man of the match awards against West Ham and Villarreal, and I think his late runs into the box could pose challenges for Brighton.\u00a0Antoine Semenyo\u00a0and\u00a0Bryan Mbeumo\u00a0both make the cut, too, with the expectation that their pace can take advantage of teams that have participated in Europe this week.<\/p>\n

Finally, I\u2019ll return to Forest and Villa. Confidence in both sides has naturally faded in the opening weeks, but I still find it hard to completely back against them versus Burnley and Sunderland respectively.\u00a0Morgan Gibbs-White\u00a0has had seven shots and four key passes in his four run-outs this season, while\u00a0Ollie Watkins\u00a0should benefit from Harvey Elliott\u2019s arrival. I expect the former Liverpool man to start this week, and I\u2019m hoping he can address some of Villa\u2019s creativity issues.<\/p>\n

NEALE SAID\u2026\"FPL<\/p>\n

This is a real head-scratcher of a week. In normal circumstances, you\u2019d have expected Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest players to be Scout Picks shoo-ins, especially with Arsenal and Manchester City meeting each other. But the form of Villa and Wolves, plus the uncertainty over which players Ange Postecoglou is going to pick, has altered the landscape.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve even sided against Vitor Pereira\u2019s side with my token budget defensive and midfield picks. The DefCon-accumulating Joe Rodon was a comical own-goal away from three clean sheets in four Gameweeks, while Anton Stach is the only Premier League midfielder to hit double figures for both shots and chances created. Both decent Bench Boost options this week.<\/p>\n

Three Forest players have made my Scout Squad this week but there\u2019s not a great deal of conviction with my Chris Wood pick, following Igor Jesus\u2019 brace in midweek. I\u2019m hoping that Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo getting minutes in the EFL Cup was a signal that Wood is going to be restored to the starting XI this weekend but the fact that he\u2019s fourth in my forwards\u2019 list, for a clash with Burnley, underscores the shaken faith in the Kiwi striker. I\u2019ve got greater hopes for Matz Sels and Nikola Milenkovic, with Burnley sitting 18th in the Premier League for xG. The Clarets\u2019 total of 2.5 xG conceded from set-pieces is the second-worst in the division, too, so Milenkovic could get some joy from corners and free-kicks.<\/p>\n

Wood aside, there are caveats with a lot of forwards this week. Oliver Glasner talked of Jean-Philippe Mateta suffering with fatigue in midweek, while Richarlison and Hugo Ekitike have competition for their places. I\u2019m still expecting Ekitike to start and get 60-70 minutes against Everton, while I\u2019m hoping Richarlison\u2019s breather last weekend was enough of a rest for him. A Brighton side without a clean sheet to their name might be a better fixture, at least for attackers, than initially seems.<\/p>\n

A high-octane Bournemouth side are the last team you\u2019d want to face if you\u2019ve just entertained Barcelona 66 hours beforehand, so Antoine Semenyo and Marcos Senesi could prosper against Newcastle United this weekend. The Magpies seem to struggle against the Cherries\u2019 intensity, winless in four matches against their Gameweek 5 opponents since Andoni Iraola took over.<\/p>\n

Despite their midweek loss, Chelsea have an excellent chance to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen: Manchester United, you\u2019re no Bayern Munich. The beleaguered, identity-less Red Devils are there for the taking at an Old Trafford stadium that could turn toxic, so a rejuvenated Cole Palmer \u2013 so long as Enzo Maresca confirms there\u2019s no groin issue on Friday \u2013 and Joao Pedro could make hay in Gameweek 5.<\/p>\n

Robin Roefs and Emiliano Martinez are both included for what ought to be a low-scoring affair on paper (17th v 19th for xG!), while Maxence Lacroix not only has clean sheet and DefCon potential against West Ham United but also the outside chance of a goal: no side has allowed more headed chances than the Hammers, who have really struggled at set plays.<\/p>\n

A word on my maverick punt for the week: Kevin. He was absolutely electric when he came on for his debut against Leeds United, registering three crosses, three take-ons and a chance created in his late cameo. He also had a superb long-range effort that\u00a0Karl Darlow brilliantly tipped over. He\u2019s not short of match fitness, having racked up plenty of minutes for Shakhtar, and Marco Silva will surely be tempted to throw him in this weekend. I may have gone a week early with this pick, but he\u2019s a name to monitor.<\/p>\n

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