Welcome back to the Hive FPL blog!

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet. In fact, it doesn't feel like football season at all in the UK at the moment.

That feeling seems contagious at the top of the Premier League, with none of the current top 4 winning last weekend. Liverpool's slip up against Fulham just about keeps things interesting but with 2 home matches and a trip to Leicester in April, the title is still very much theirs to lose.

At the bottom Southampton are already relegated and face the prospect of going down with the lowest points tally in the history of the Premier League. Any slim hopes that Ipswich and Leicester held have quickly evaporated in part due to their continued poor form but also because Wolves have won 3 on the bounce.

Note to the Championship - Please can you provide us with some competitive teams for next season!

Into this weekend then and the fixtures are split across all 3 days courtesy of the European ties plus we then have a bonus match for Newcastle and Palace. Here's what to look out for...

City were involved in one of the worst matches of the season last weekend as they saw out a drab 0-0 in the Manchester Derby. Crystal Palace meanwhile have picked up more points in their last 5 games than any other Premier League side and could cut the gap between these 2 sides to just 6 points if they were to win at the the Ethiad.

With Haaland (FWD) a long term injury, the question remains as to whether teams fancy Marmoush (FWD) to keep scoring. 6 goal involvements in his first 8 starts is a good return for a new player coming into a less than settled team. It's also noticeable that all of those goal involvements have come at the Ethiad with City enjoying 3 home matches in their next 4 fixtures.

For Palace, Eze's (MID) sudden jump in form across all competitions is noticeable. A lot of managers had him pinned on as a player from the start of the season but he's failed to deliver so far.

As his form increases, Sarr's (MID) form has bottomed out. Almost a million managers brought him into their FPL team over the last couple of weeks based on strong numbers in GW27 & GW28. Since then he's offered xG of 0.00 in GW30 & GW31. I expect there is a fair amount of buyers remorse out there at the moment.

A great chance for Brighton to get their push for Europe back on track and for FPL managers to score a few points at the expense of Leicester City.

That being said, Brighton have a long history of slipping up against crap sides in the Premier League. They have taken on average just 1.25 points per game sides in the bottom three positions and have lost more matches (14) than they have won (13) against teams starting the day in the relegation zone.

The Seagulls are another side who have 3 home matches across their next 4 games but it's really difficult to pick out a player who you'd bank on making an impact over that time.

Wellbeck (FWD) returned to the starting XI last time out at Palace and scored. The veteran forward is 1 goal short of equalling his best return in a Premier League season. In fact, when he's been fit enough to start, the former United and Arsenal man has been in red hot form, with 11 goal involvements in those 18 matches. If Brighton can nurse him through to the end of the season then they stand a great chance of getting into that top 8.

The most draws in a Premier League season is 18, a feat achieved 3 times in the past albeit that on each occasion it was when the league had 22 teams in it and as such an additional 4 fixtures. For a 20 team league, it's Sunderland's 17 draws that is the record that Everton (14 draws to date) are chasing and on current form, 6 draws in their last 8 league matches, they might just get there!

For Forest, a win here would help cement their Champions League qualification hopes while also allowing them an opportunity to turn their focus to the FA Cup semi-final they have later in the month.

Elanga's (MID) 14 goal involvements this season have been a key factor in Forest's charge up the league. However, the winger was subbed off at half-time against Villa and now faces a race to be fit for this one.

Villa's record in the league this season post-European fixtures is very poor. However, they'll surely be able to get the job done against what is fast becoming the worst side in the history of the Premier League.

The Saints did manage a point in their last home fixture and indeed were only moments away from winning that game until Palace snatched a late equaliser. That would have been just a 3rd league win of the season for them and their subsequent defeat at Spurs confirmed their relegation with 8 games still to play.

Villa's moves in the January window have given them significantly greater squad depth to deal with the additional fixtures of a European campaign. Malen (MID) was another of there winter acquisitions and he's been on the score sheet twice in as many games to help his side's push for Champions League next season.

Another side that will need to overcome their midweek endeavours is Arsenal. With the return leg to Madrid coming on Wednesday and a 9 point gap to Liverpool, it'll be interesting to see what, if any changes Arteta might make for this one.

On one hand, a win keeps the pressure on Liverpool who don't play until Sunday, on the other, there best chance of a trophy this season is probably in Europe.

Merino (MID) playing out of position is still only featuring in 2.5% of teams. At £6.1 mil there are worse options to consider. Saka (MID) on his Premier League return the last time the Gunners played at home but he's yet to start a match in the league since his return from injury and you wonder if the aforementioned priorities mean he won't be risked for this one either.

Of course, Brentford are no pushovers and of late, they've looked particularly dangerous away from home winning 5 of their last 6 on their travels. Perhaps unsurprisingly it's their star men in Wissa (FWD) and Mbeumo (MID) who have been very effective during that period registering 5 and 8 goal involvements respectively.

Despite some stuttering form of late, Chelsea still find themselves in 4th place in the league, albeit with Newcastle, City and Villa all breathing down their neck.

Scoring goals has suddenly become an issue for the Blues with just 2 in their last 4 league matches. It means that many of their main threats up front haven't scored a Premier League goal in quite some time!
Neto (MID) - 25th Feb
Madueke (MID) - 25th Jan
Palmer (MID) - 4th Jan
Jackson (FWD) - the winter of 1943 15th Dec

In fact, if you're looking for a goal scoring option against Ipswich then Cucurella (DEF) with 3 league goals since the start of the calendar year is a better bet than any of those names above.

It does then make this a bit of a conundrum for FPL managers who will surely be tempted to give their Chelsea assets one last try against an Ipswich side who have shipped 65 goals so far this season.

You can still bet on Liverpool to win the league this season. The best odds I could find this morning were 1.03 meaning 3% interest on your investment should they complete the task. In these troubling economic times perhaps that's not a bad bet!

They will surely complete the job even if it involves them stumbling ver the line like a pissed up Jack Grealish.

Home form and their April fixtures are likely to be what takes them to victory. They entertain the Hammers and their North London cousins Spurs later in the month, a side they'e already scored 10 goals passed this season either side of a match against whipping boys Leicester. If they finish April at least 11 points clear of the Gunners (as they should) then even their tougher run in shouldn't make much of a difference.

Luis Díaz (MID) has rediscovered his early season form to add a goal involvement in his last 4 matches. Salah (MID) has blanked in his last 2 games but hasn't gone 3 matches in a row this season without a goal involvement. He got a goal and 2 assists when Liverpool routed West Ham 5-0 earlier in the year.

Spurs 2nd half performance against Eintract Frankfurt in midweek was probably the best they've played for some time but a combination of bad luck and poor finishing meant their efforts went unrewarded.

Much like their North London rivals, you'd assume that Spurs focus will continue to be on the European fixture they have midweek and so I would expect a much changed XI from the side that did perform well on Thursday.

Wolves of course are enjoying a really good run of form with 3 wins on the bounce all but securing their place in the top flight. What's been most impressive is that they done that without the services of top scorer Cunha (FWD). The Brazilian is available and it will be interesting to see whether he is accommodated alongside Strand Larsen (FWD) who has 4 goals in those 3 games or instead of.

Newcastle were the only top 6 side to win in the league last weekend. It would be tempting to think that hot off their triumph in the League Cup, the squad might struggle to refocus on the league but they've won their 2 fixtures since then and will fancy making it 3 in a row versus this United side.

3 of United's 4 league wins in 2025 have come against the bottom 3 so it would be a surprise if they were to get a victory at St James Park, a tough fixture whatever your form.

Fernandes (MID) continues to be the only viable pick for Fantasy managers looking at United players. He tops the overall rankings on the ICT for the last 8 GWs.

Newcastle too have a couple of players who are looking good on that measurement. Murphy (MID) is arguably the most unrated player in the Premier League this season. He has 16 goal involvements in total, 14 of which have come in his 16 appearances.

Gordon's (MID) injury has given Barnes (MID) his first extented run in the XI since October and the former Leicester man has delivered in each of those appearance. Gordon is still rated a doubt for this game so it's touch and go whether Barnes will keep his place.

Bournemouth's form has gone down the pan recently with no win in their last 6 ending any hopes of a famous Champions League finish. However, they and indeed today's opponents Fulham are still looking for a top 7 spot which would almost certainly put them into Europe next year.

The one shining light for the Cherries has been the return to form and fitness of Evanilson (FWD) who has 4 goals in his last 4 Premier League starts.

Fulham are just incredibly consistent but it's really difficult to pick out a player to put in a fantasy team. Robinson (DEF) has breached the 100 point mark for the 2nd season running but he hasn't added to his excellent haul of 10 assists since the 1st February.

Last but by no means least in the minds of FPL managers is the bonus fixture.

Plenty of managers will already have Isak (FWD) in their side and it means he's very likely to be a popular pick for captain. If you've still got your triple captain chip you might also be tempted to throw it into the mix!

Similarly, Munoz (DEF) is in about a quarter of teams already and with Palace seeming to enjoy the warmer weather he feels like a must for this week and the remainder of the season.

Newcastle of course are still playing for Champions League qualifaction while for Palace their focus is surely on the FA Cup. The Toon Army also have a game against Ipswich at the end of April while the Eagles have a blank GW courtesy of their semi-final appearance. If you are bringing in extra players for this one then the team in black and white look like the better long term bet.

Division 1

GW31 Results

GW32 Fixtures

Division 2

GW31 Results

GW32 Fixtures