05 Feb, 2025

Selecting Players Based on Their Home or Away Performances

In FPL, managers usually consider various factors before choosing a player. One of the factors is whether a player performs better at home or away. But how important is this factor, and should it influence your selection decisions? In this article, we will explore all you need to help you optimise your FPL strategy.

The Impact of Home Advantage

Here are some impacts of home advantage in football:

1. Historical Trends

Generally, teams do better at home due to familiar surroundings and reduced travel fatigue. Home advantage means there are higher chances of winning.

2. Crowd Influence

A cheering home crowd can give players more motivation and intimidate opponents. This can boost individual and team performances, making home games favorable for FPL points.

3. Adjustments

It is more likely for teams to use better attacking tactics at home. On the other hand, they might use defensive approach on away games. This can impact the potential for goals and assists.

Analysing Home and Away Performances in FPL

Do these to evaluate home and away performances:

Goal-Scoring Patterns

Premium players usually score more goals at home because they have attacking dominance of their teams. However, certain players perform better in away games by taking advantages of counter-attacking opportunities.

Defensive Records

Generally, home teams keep more clean sheets. This is why defenders and goalkeepers from strong home sides are valuable assets. To analyse the defensive strength of teams, consider using our OPTA Match Stats.

 Bonus Points System (BPS)

Home performances are likely to result in higher BPS scores. This is because of increased involvement in attacking and defensive actions. Chances are players with a strong home record will secure more bonus points.

Key Factors to Consider

The following are major factors to consider before selecting players:

1. Fixture Difficulty

Always check quality of opposition in both home and away fixtures. Bear in mind that a team with a good home record might also struggle against superior opponents.

2. Player Responsibilities

Some players perform well in specific environments. For example, good midfielders might do better at home, where their team dominates possession, while speedy wingers could excel in away games.

3. Recent Form

Note that the recent form of a player surpasses home or away considerations. Use tools like Game Week Tips to identify in-form players irrespective of venue.

When to Prioritise Home Performers

1. Favorable Home Fixtures

Players that are known for performing well at home and facing weaker opponents are best candidates for your squad. Use the Transfer Wizard to find players with strong home records and upcoming favorable fixtures.

2. Defensive Assets

Your target should be defenders and goalkeepers from teams with a strong home defensive record. Clean sheets are more likely at home and offers steady source of points.

3. Captaincy Choices

Home games are perfect for selecting captains. Players like Salah or Haaland, known for their dominant home displays, are good options.

When to Focus on Away Performers

Here is when you should proritise away performers:

Counter-Attacking Teams

Players from teams that perform better on the break usually do well in away games. These players can take advantage of the open spaces attacking home sides leave.

Opportunities Based on Fixture

Look out for away games against teams with bad defensive records. Even known home-reliant players can flourish in such scenarios.

Differential Picks

Since managers often overlook away performers, they are excellent differential options. Look for hidden gems using FPL Player Rankings.

Risks of Overemphasising Home or Away Performances

1. Small Sample Size

If you depend on a few games to judge home or away performance, this can result in unfavorable conclusions. Always consider long-term trends instead.

2. Fixture Congestion

Bear in mind that even home games might see rotation during busy periods. This can reduce the reliability of home performers.

3. Overlooking Consistency

It isn’t a good idea to ignore players who perform well both home and away offer consistent returns.

Tips for Balancing Home and Away Considerations

1. Monitor Fixtures: Use tools like Game Week Tips to evaluate upcoming matches and venue dynamics.
2. Focus on Form: Your priority should be in-form players, even if their home or away record is inconsistent.
3. Diversify: Balance your squad with players who perform well both at home and away for stability.

Final Takeaway

Yes, home and away performances provide useful insights, so they should be part of a broader decision-making process in FPL. By combining venue-based trends with form, fixtures, and advanced stats, you can make better choices and maximise your points potential.