As we approach Fantasy Football Matchweek 22 of the Premier League, scheduled from Saturday, January 17, to Monday, January 19, it’s essential for FPL managers to strategise effectively to maximise their points.
Here are some FPL tips to assist you in making informed decisions for your second squad of 2026.
Fantasy Football Matchweek 22 Fixtures
The Fantasy Football deadline for Gameweek 22 is Saturday, January 17, 11:00 GMT
Saturday, January 6
- Manchester United vs Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
- Chelsea vs Brentford (15:00 GMT)
- Leeds United vs Fulham (15:00 GMT)
- Liverpool vs Burnley (15:00 GMT)
- Sunderland vs Crystal Palace (15:00 GMT)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United (15:00 GMT)
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal (17:30 GMT)
Sunday, January 18
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United (14:00 GMT)
- Aston Villa vs Everton (16:30 GMT)
Monday, January 19
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bournemouth (20:00 GMT)
Injuries, Suspension, Transfer and AFCON Updates to Note
Antoine Semenyo made his big move to Manchester City from Bournemouth on a £64m deal on January 9, scoring a day later in City’s 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup. A City Premier League debut is likely in the highly anticipated Manchester derby.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz made his return from injury against Chelsea in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. He may make his Premier League return against Nottingham Forest.
With Cameroon knocked out of AFCON in the quarter-finals against Morocco, Manchester United now crucially have Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo back, but they will still be without Moroccan finalist Noussair Mazraoui. Also returning from Cameroon’s AFCON duty is Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.
Algeria’s Rayan Aït-Nouri will return to Man City with Nigeria knocking them out in the quarter-finals.
Must-Have FPL Picks
Saturday holds the Manchester derby, and it goes without saying that Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m) is a mouth-watering risk for FPL managers this gameweek. From the visitors’ side, other players that might be worth the risk are Erling Haaland (£15.1m), Phil Foden (£8.7m), Tijjani Reijnders (£5.2m) and Rayan Cherki (£6.8m). As for the hosts, Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m), Matheus Cunha (£8.1m) and AFCON returnee Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m) could have some luck. Steer clear of defenders from this fixture.
Top of the table Arsenal travel to Nottingham to face 17th-placed Tricky Trees, and are likely to leave with three points. David Raya (£5.9m), Gabriel (£6.8m), Saliba (£6.0m), Jurrien Timber (£6.3m), Declan Rice (£7.3m), and Bukayo Saka (£10.2m) are all in good form, so take your pick from that pool for Gameweek 22.
Aston Villa host Everton this weekend. While the Toffees are never the easiest of opponents, Englishmen Morgan Rogers (£7.7m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.8m) may continue to justify their price tags. Meanwhile, Everton’s James Garner (£5.2m) could prove to be a good pick even against in-form Villa.
Newcastle are playing bottom-of-the-table Wolves. Bruno Guimaraes (£7.2m), Joelinton (£5.9m), Lewis Miley (£4.5m), Malick Thiaw (£5.1m), Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) and Nick Woltemade (£7.3m) stand as good options.
Another big team with a relatively easy fixture are Liverpool, who face Burnley. Florian Wirtz (£8.2m), Jeremie Frimpong (£5.8m) and Alisson Becker (£5.4m) are all in good form.
Other Fantasy Football Matchweek 22 must-have picks include Brentford’s Igor Thiago (£7.1m), Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven (£4.6m) and Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m).
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FPL Captaincy Picks
- Morgan Rogers or Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa vs Everton)
- Erling Haaland or Antoine Semenyo (Man Utd vs Man City)
- Gabriel (Forest vs Arsenal)
Strategic Considerations
Monitor Press Conferences: Last-minute injury updates and team news can significantly impact your decisions. Stay informed to make timely transfers.
By staying updated on the latest news and being strategic with your Fantasy Football transfers and captaincy choices, you can navigate the challenges of Premier League Gameweek 22 and boost your FPL performance.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 14.01.2026
