FPL Draft Gameweek 9 preview

Chelsea’s injury list leaves Penders set to continue, with Neto and Henderson the in-form outlets against a United side missing Šeško and carrying doubt over Mainoo. B.Fernandes retains penalty and set-piece responsibility, while Mbeumo offers United’s clearest form route. Draft managers should back the attackers and keep Mainoo out of lineups.

• Neto, Henderson, Rogers: Strong form, forecasting and corner duty offer complementary routes to returns.

• B.Fernandes, Mbeumo: Set pieces raise one ceiling, while recent form supports the other.

• Mainoo: A 25% start chance makes involvement too uncertain.

• Lammens, Maguire, Dalot: United have no clean sheets, and Chelsea’s projected attackers are in stronger form.

Bournemouth’s settled projected XI hosts a Leeds United side without Mateo Joseph and Rodon, while Stach, Okafor and Calvert-Lewin remain fitness concerns. Evanilson and Tavernier offer the clearest home attacking routes, with Leeds likely to lean on crosses and set-pieces. Start Bournemouth’s reliable attackers and wait on the visitors.

• Evanilson, Tavernier: Both are certain starters and Bournemouth’s leading attacking forecasts.

• Hill: Projected to start in a defence with five consecutive clean sheets.

• Stach, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin: All remain doubtful despite positive training weeks.

• Elvedi: Recently recovered from illness but has a 75% start chance.

Brentford’s regulars should be fresher after midweek rotation, but Yarmoliuk is suspended and Dasilva and Milambo are doubts. Forest remain without Savona and Igor Jesus, with Dominguez also uncertain; Thiago’s penalties and Gibbs-White’s dead balls offer the clearest routes to returns. Draft managers should lean home, while treating Forest selection doubts carefully.

• Thiago: Penalty duties and the joint-best home forecast make him the standout forward play.

• Gibbs-White: Penalties and free-kicks support his joint-best away forecast of 4.5.

• O.Dango: Recent form of 4.0 and a secure predicted start make him a useful midfield waiver.

• Dasilva, Milambo, Dominguez: All are listed as doubts, so availability must be confirmed before selection.

Two struggling sides meet with Coventry one place above Sunderland, and Bobby Thomas’s calf assessment could preserve Stephen Mfuni’s opportunity in the home defence. Rudoni and Cherif are Coventry’s clearest attacking route, while E.Le Fée’s corners offer Sunderland their best supply line. Draft managers should start the set-piece creators and monitor Thomas.

• Rudoni: Penalties and free-kicks add a reliable route to returns.

• E.Le Fée: Corners and Sunderland’s best forecast make him their strongest start.

• Mfuni: Expected to benefit if Thomas fails his late fitness assessment.

• Thomas: A calf issue means availability will be decided closer to Saturday.

Hull’s home resilience meets an Ipswich side level on 10 points, with both teams set for largely settled line-ups. Hull’s sidelined quartet limits their options while Lukić’s fitness remains uncertain; Belloumi and McBurnie should drive the home threat, with Enciso Ipswich’s key creator. Draft managers can back Hull’s secure starters and monitor the midfield news.

• Belloumi, McBurnie: Both are locked into the predicted XI, with penalties and a 4.0 form score.

• Tzolakis, Egan: Hull have kept 3 clean sheets and both are certain to start.

• Enciso: Locked into the XI, takes free kicks and brings a 4.7 form score.

• Lukić: A groin injury leaves his availability uncertain despite his set-piece role.

Manchester City lead the table, but third-placed Brighton bring a serious attacking test after their cup draw. City are without Semenyo and have Matheus N. doubtful, while F.Kadıoğlu and Andrés carry hip concerns; expect City’s threat through Haaland and Doku, with Groß’s set pieces Brighton’s clearest route—start City attackers.

• Haaland, Doku: Both are nailed in the predicted XI and lead City's attacking forecast.

• Groß, Kostoulas: Set pieces support one, while the other is set to lead Brighton's attack.

• F.Kadıoğlu, Andrés: Hip injuries leave both with a 75% chance of playing.

• Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli: City's perfect home record makes a Brighton clean sheet a poor bet.

Tottenham’s likely XI is short of options with Bentancur suspended and Maddison and Bergvall doubtful, while Palace expect Mateta to lead the line but Henderson remains a fitness concern. Palace have conceded 19 goals in eight league games, so Tottenham’s attack should create the clearer openings; Draft managers can back Spurs starters but monitor the visiting goalkeeper.

• Tonali: Team-high 5.3 form and a secure predicted start make him Tottenham’s safest midfield option.

• Kudus, Solanke: Secure starts and recent returns place both at the centre of Tottenham’s attacking threat.

• Mateta: Pierre Sage says he is ready to start, and he takes penalties.

• Henderson: Listed as doubtful despite appearing in the predicted XI.

Villa’s depleted full-back options meet a Fulham side without Sessegnon, with Robinson set to continue. N.Jackson, McGinn and Manzambi should drive the hosts, while Iwobi and Bobb carry Fulham’s attacking threat; Draft managers should favour Villa’s reliable starters but retain Fulham cover selectively.

• N.Jackson: Form of 8 makes him Villa’s clearest route to returns.

• Manzambi: Villa’s best forecast is 4.9, alongside a secure starting role.

• Iwobi: Set pieces and form of 6 make him Fulham’s strongest attacking start.

• Affengruber: An unspecified injury leaves his availability unresolved.

Liverpool host second-placed Arsenal with both sides carrying absences: Liverpool are without Frimpong and Ekitiké, while Arsenal travel without Saka and Saliba and have three further fitness doubts. Isak is Liverpool’s clearest route to points, but Arsenal’s defence has five clean sheets; start only the secure upside and monitor late team news.

• Isak: His 4.6 forecast is the highest in this match and he is certain to start.

• Gabriel: His forecast of 4 is Arsenal’s best, despite the difficult away fixture.

• Calafiori, Rice, Madueke: All are fitness doubts, so wait for confirmed team news.

• Gakpo, Eze: Low recent form makes this demanding fixture an avoidable starting risk.

Newcastle hold a marginal home edge against an Everton side still without an away win, with Livramento unavailable and illness clouding Grealish’s involvement. Barnes and N.Gonzalez are the home side’s clearest attacking outlets, while Dewsbury-Hall and Barry lead Everton’s threat; Draft managers should back secure starters and monitor the doubts.

• Barnes, Hall: The strongest forecast is 4.3, and set pieces add another route.

• Dewsbury-Hall, Barry: Everton’s standout performer has a 5.7 form score, while penalties support the forward.

• Grealish, Mykolenko: Illness leaves one uncertain, while the other is listed as doubtful.