The 2026/27 Premier League season continues this weekend, with FPL managers facing another set of important decisions ahead of Gameweek 9.
Manchester City host Brighton after beating the Seagulls on penalties in the Carabao Cup, while Chelsea welcome Manchester United following their exit from the competition against Liverpool. Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday after their shock defeat to Fleetwood Town, while Bournemouth host Leeds United after beating Aston Villa 3-0 in midweek.
Aston Villa welcome Fulham, while Tottenham Hotspur face Crystal Palace in another interesting fixture. Manchester City’s home match against Brighton also gives Erling Haaland owners an opportunity to back the Norwegian striker despite the opposition’s midweek performance.
There are several players worth considering this week, but injuries, suspensions and possible rotation following the Carabao Cup fourth round could influence transfer and captaincy decisions.
The FPL Gameweek 9 deadline is Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 GMT. Here are the key fixtures, players and team news to consider before finalising your squad.
FPL Gameweek 9 Fixtures
All times GMT
Saturday, October 31
- Chelsea vs Manchester United (12:30)
- Bournemouth vs Leeds United (15:00)
- Brentford vs Nottingham Forest (15:00)
- Coventry City vs Sunderland (15:00)
- Hull City vs Ipswich Town (15:00)
- Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace (17:30)
- Aston Villa vs Fulham (20:00)
Sunday, November 1
- Liverpool vs Arsenal (16:30)
Monday, November 2
- Newcastle United vs Everton (20:00)
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Injury Updates, Suspensions and Key Team News
The Carabao Cup fourth round has provided some useful information for FPL managers, although players who featured in midweek will need to be assessed again before the weekend fixtures.
Chelsea will be without Joao Pedro, who is expected to miss several weeks with a thigh injury. His absence makes it important for managers to consider their attacking options carefully, particularly with Chelsea facing Manchester United at Stamford Bridge following their Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool.
Manchester City rested Erling Haaland and several other regular starters for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton.
Arsenal have several concerns ahead of their trip to Liverpool. Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a thigh injury, while William Saliba is also unavailable with a back problem.
Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke have been flagged as doubts, meaning managers should be cautious about bringing in Arsenal players before their fitness is confirmed. Max Dowman is suspended following his red card against Fleetwood Town.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has been dealing with a hamstring problem, while Florian Wirtz has also been monitored following an ankle issue. Wirtz returned to action against Chelsea in midweek, which is an encouraging sign, but managers should still check whether he is expected to start against Arsenal.
Check the final press conference updates before the FPL Gameweek 9 deadline for news on doubtful players and any late changes to expected starting line-ups.
Must-Have FPL Picks
Manchester City’s home fixture against Brighton stands out as one of the more attractive attacking opportunities of the round, despite the Seagulls’ ability to make life difficult for the champions.
Erling Haaland (£15.8m) remains one of the strongest FPL options for managers looking for a reliable source of goals. Rayan Cherki (£8.0m) is another Manchester City player worth considering, particularly after scoring the winning penalty against Brighton in midweek. Phil Foden (£6.8m) is also an option for managers seeking a cheaper option from Man City’s attack.
However, for the Man City vs Brighton fixture, rotation is likely, leaving those who started in the Carabao Cup a risky choice for FPL Gameweek 9.
Bournemouth’s home meeting with Leeds United is another fixture worth targeting, having been in top form, recently beating Manchester United 3-0 in Matchweek 8. Marcus Tavernier (£6.4m) offers an attacking option in midfield, while Evanilson (£6.2m) could provide value for managers looking to strengthen their forward line.
Chelsea’s home fixture against Manchester United is more difficult to predict, but Cole Palmer (£9.8m), Morgan Rogers (£8.0m) and Pedro Neto (£6.6m) remain options for managers.
Aston Villa’s meeting with Fulham also deserves attention. Nicolas Jackson (£6.8m) is worth considering for managers looking for a forward outside the premium price bracket.
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FPL Gameweek 9 Captaincy Picks
Erling Haaland is the standout captaincy option for FPL Gameweek 9, with Manchester City hosting Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. Although Brighton are capable of making the fixture difficult, Haaland remains one of the strongest options because of his goal threat and role in Man City’s attack.
- Erling Haaland – (Man City vs Brighton)
- Cole Palmer – (Chelsea vs Man Utd)
- Marcus Tavernier – (Bournemouth vs Leeds)
- Nicolas Jackson – (Villa vs Fulham)
- Gabriel – (Liverpool vs Arsenal)
Extra Time Notes
FPL Gameweek 9 offers several opportunities to target favourable fixtures, with Manchester City, Bournemouth and Chelsea providing attacking options worth considering.
Haaland remains the leading captaincy choice, but managers should not overlook the value available elsewhere in the squad. Bournemouth’s home fixture against Leeds could also provide opportunities for managers looking to move away from the most popular picks.
Check the latest injury updates before the 11:00 GMT deadline, avoid chasing points from Carabao Cup performances and think carefully before making transfers that could weaken your squad over the next few gameweeks.
Apply these FPL Gameweek 9 tips carefully, and you will give yourself a strong foundation for the next round of Premier League fixtures.
Good luck!
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