18 Sep, 2025
Sam FPL answers the GW4 key FPL questions. Should we make the move from Salah to Haaland? Worth using your Wildcard in GW6 or not? And what to do with Watkins and Wirtz?
Every Gameweek, there are new key FPL questions that managers have to answer, especially in the early weeks of a new season. So here is Sam FPL to do just that and help you through all of the key FPL questions heading into GW5!
Gameweek 5 is shaping up to be one of the trickiest of the season. The fixtures are packed with heavyweight clashes: Manchester City travel to Arsenal, Chelsea host Manchester United, and we also get the always-tense Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton. These matches are historically cagey, often low-scoring, and tend to make FPL returns less predictable.
When it comes to Wildcard strategy, many managers are eyeing Arsenal assets and, of course, Erling Haaland. However, bringing them in right before they clash against each other might not be the most effective timing. While they remain essential long-term, there’s a strong case for holding off until fixtures ease.
Looking at Bournemouth, Semenyo and their defensive options are attracting attention, but this week they face Newcastle United, who have been one of the most defensively reliable sides over the first four Gameweeks. Newcastle’s underlying numbers back up their solidity, so investing in Bournemouth players ahead of this fixture could be risky.
By contrast, strikers like Chris Wood and Ollie Watkins both face newly-promoted sides in GW5. Given the quality of their opposition, this round feels like a good opportunity to give them another chance before making any transfers.
The real turning point comes in Gameweek 6, which brings a more favorable fixture swing for key teams like Bournemouth, Manchester City, and Arsenal. That looks like the optimal moment to restructure squads and load up on their assets with a Wildcard.
My first reaction at the weekend was to buy Haaland as soon as possible. Haaland bagged a brace in City’s 3-0 win over Manchester United and hit the post once. He also scored 5 goals in 4 games — he leads the Premier League scoring charts after GW4.
All 5 were non-penalty goals — showing he’s scoring from open play, runs, and inside the box rather than relying on spot kicks.
On the other hand Salah hasn’t looked particularly impressive from an eye-test perspective this season. For long stretches of games, he appears quiet and less involved compared to his usual standards. However, he still manages to nick returns in the final minutes — often when the match is already stretched which makes it harder to fully trust him as a reliable FPL asset, leaving me less confident in holding or captaining him.
He did put in his best performance of the season against Atletico Madrid and looked much more involved and central. He bagged a goal, an assist, hit the post and should have had at least 1 more assist if not multiple with Ekitike missing a couple sitters. Salah’s game vs Everton at Anfield should be much easier than facing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. Waiting till GW6 is my current strategy.
Ollie Watkins has endured a sluggish start to the season, remaining goalless in Aston Villa’s opening fixtures. While he’s usually a reliable FPL option, Villa’s overall performances have been underwhelming, and they haven’t done much to convince managers to hold onto their assets. Watkins is undoubtedly talented and proven, but keeping him right now risks further blanks, price drops, and missed points elsewhere.
On the other hand, Viktor Gyökeres has been making waves early in the campaign, scoring 3 goals in his first 4 matches. His movement, positioning, and ability to find space stand out, and he looks well on his way to becoming a strong forward option in FPL.
That said, timing is key. Watkins faces Sunderland this week — a newly promoted side who could offer him a chance to finally return points. Meanwhile Gyökeres hosts Manchester City, one of the toughest fixtures possible. For that reason, the sensible play is to hold off on the transfer for one more Gameweek, giving Watkins a final chance while setting up a move to Gyökeres in GW6 when fixtures swing more favorably.
He cost me £0.1 price drop so far and never returned during the opening 4 game weeks. I don’t think keeping him is a good idea. Semenyo is the obvious and best replacement for him.
Semenyo faces Newcastle but he can deliver against top teams, he delivered against the champions in GW1 and can easily repeat it vs Newcastle United.
Make it in GW5 or 6 but GW5 transfer saves you money by avoiding another price drop for Wirtz and gaining a price rise for the Ghanaian.
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A legend of the FPL space. SamFPL has been a regular contributor to ingenuity since our conception, helping managers around the world win their mini-leagues.
