Who are the best FPL picks for Gameweek 9?
Erling Haaland is our captain choice for FPL Gameweek 9, with Cole Palmer the main alternative. Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson are the Bournemouth players we would consider buying; Nicolas Jackson offers a longer run of inviting opponents at Aston Villa. Saka's injury makes replacing him a priority for owners without strong cover. João Pedro and Calafiori are doubts, so their transfers can wait for clearer news.
The GW9 deadline is Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11:00 GMT / 16:30 IST. The UK is back on GMT: using the earlier October BST conversion would leave an Indian manager an hour early. Prices and availability below are a 27 October snapshot, with league figures through GW8. Picks are FootieGuide's assessment of the official FPL data.
The weekend's loudest fixture is Liverpool against Arsenal. The harder FPL choice may be Bournemouth against Leeds. Bournemouth have just won 3–0 at Old Trafford, and both Tavernier and Evanilson have scored in successive league games. Leeds, though, have conceded only six goals all season. Buying into that attack makes more sense when you also look at who comes next.
Should you captain Haaland or Palmer in GW9?
Haaland gets our armband. At £15.7m, he has nine league goals, 66 points and eight starts. His 6.09 expected goals, a measure of the quality of his chances, give him the strongest goal threat of the principal alternatives discussed here. He has also scored in each of his last three league matches, including City's 2–1 defeat at Villa.
There is a good reason to pause before treating Brighton at home as an easy haul. Brighton have conceded seven goals in eight matches and kept five clean sheets. Their 2–0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend was a setback, but it does not erase that defensive start. Haaland's own nine goals also exceed his xG, so the scoring rate could cool. We still prefer his minutes and goal threat in a City side with 20 league goals. His official match history records 90 minutes in each of GW7 and GW8.
Palmer at £9.8m is the alternative if you want to oppose Haaland. Manchester United have conceded 13 goals and have yet to keep a clean sheet. Chelsea's 17 goals make this a fixture in which we would start their attackers, even after the 2–0 home defeat by Spurs. Palmer has eight starts and 698 minutes, but his two goals, four assists and 1.50 xG provide a weaker scoring case than Haaland's. The fixture does most of the work in his captaincy argument.
Tavernier is the more adventurous choice. He is cheaper, in form and at home, but Leeds' defensive record keeps him behind those two. Choose a vice-captain you expect to start, particularly while the remaining pre-deadline matches can still change availability.
Which are the best GW9 transfers and Saka replacements?
Saka is marked injured in FPL, with a thigh problem and an unknown return date. That is a stronger reason to sell than one difficult away fixture. Owners can choose between a direct premium replacement and releasing money to improve a second position. The right route depends on who would start in Saka's place if you held him.
Tavernier or Evanilson: which Bournemouth player should you buy?
Tavernier (£6.4m) is our first midfield option when selling Saka to free funds. He has five league goals, 52 points and eight starts. His 3.61 xG plus 1.33 expected assists support interest beyond the last result. His match history shows ten points in each of the last two Gameweeks, with 78 and 86 minutes played.
Evanilson (£6.2m) is the forward route. He has started all eight league games, played 678 minutes and collected three goals and four FPL assists. His three goals in the last three Gameweeks are backed by 2.24 xG across those matches. That gives a João Pedro owner a plausible replacement if Chelsea rule their striker out.
The attraction extends beyond Leeds: Bournemouth then visit Ipswich, host Nottingham Forest and travel to Fulham. Ipswich have conceded 16 goals without a clean sheet; Forest and Fulham have each conceded ten. That run gives the purchase time to work even if Leeds make Saturday difficult. A single Bournemouth attacker is enough if your other options are fit; Leeds' six goals conceded keep us from recommending a rushed double-up for a hit.
Is Nicolas Jackson worth buying for Villa's fixture run?
Jackson costs £6.7m, with four goals from seven starts. Villa's GW9–13 fixtures are Fulham at home, Manchester United away, Sunderland at home, Ipswich away and Everton at home. That is a useful stretch for a forward you want to keep for several weeks.
His four goals have come from 1.83 xG, which makes the recent finishing difficult to bank on. Fulham have also conceded only ten goals in eight matches. We like Jackson as a medium-term replacement for an unavailable forward; Evanilson has the stronger current underlying scoring numbers at a lower price. Buying Jackson makes less sense if it means selling a healthy Haaland or Isak to chase last weekend.
Should you buy Palmer, Cherki or Rogers to replace Saka?
Palmer is the direct premium route and our preferred alternative captain. Morgan Rogers (£8.0m) offers cheaper access to Chelsea: eight starts, 700 minutes, four goals and an assist. Chelsea follow United with Sunderland away, Leeds at home, Forest away and Palace at home. Rogers is worth considering when Palmer would leave too little money for another necessary move.
Rayan Cherki (£8.0m) has four goals, two assists and 44 points, but only six starts and 437 minutes. That gap matters when buying a replacement for an injured regular. City's next three opponents are Brighton, Forest and Fulham; Cherki can be rewarding if he starts, but Tavernier's eight starts make the cheaper midfielder easier to trust for minutes. Antoine Semenyo is marked injured with a knee problem, so he is outside our current buying shortlist.
For existing Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) owners, Chelsea away is playable. His 720 minutes and 4.22 xG support keeping him if you have a more urgent injury to fix. United's 3–0 loss to Bournemouth is a reason for caution, not enough on its own to spend a transfer removing their ever-present midfielder.
What are all ten FPL Gameweek 9 fixtures?
Chelsea–United opens the round, Liverpool–Arsenal is Sunday's only match, and Newcastle–Everton closes it on Monday. These are the official GW9 fixtures. All kick-offs use GMT, the UK local time on these dates. Add five hours and 30 minutes for IST; Villa–Fulham and Newcastle–Everton therefore start at 01:30 IST the following day.
Saturday 31 October
- 12:30: Chelsea v Manchester United
- 15:00: Bournemouth v Leeds United
- 15:00: Brentford v Nottingham Forest
- 15:00: Coventry City v Sunderland
- 15:00: Hull City v Ipswich Town
- 15:00: Manchester City v Brighton
- 17:30: Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
- 20:00: Aston Villa v Fulham
Sunday 1 November
- 16:30: Liverpool v Arsenal
Monday 2 November
- 20:00: Newcastle United v Everton
Spurs' home match deserves attention after their win at Chelsea: Palace have conceded 19 goals, the most in this eight-match sample. Spurs themselves have scored only eight, so a favourable opponent is not enough to buy any available Tottenham attacker. Check the starting role before committing.
Hull–Ipswich pairs a home defence with eight goals conceded against a visiting attack that has scored 12. Coventry–Sunderland brings together two teams with six goals each. Those matches offer cheaper options, but a player needs a useful role as well as an appealing opponent. Brentford–Forest has a clearer case for starting a defender or keeper already in your squad.
Which teams have the best clean-sheet fixtures in GW9?
Our fixture shortlist is Brentford, Spurs and Newcastle, based on their results and the attacks they face.
Brentford host a Forest side with six goals in eight games. Caoimhín Kelleher (£5.0m) has played all 720 league minutes, making him a reasonable starter if owned. Brentford have conceded nine and kept only two clean sheets, so this is a favourable matchup rather than evidence of an elite defence.
Spurs have conceded ten goals and kept three clean sheets. Palace have scored nine, so there is still an attacking threat to negotiate. Newcastle have just won 2–0 at Palace and now host Everton, who have scored eight. Lewis Hall (£5.3m) has eight starts and 719 minutes, but Newcastle's 14 goals conceded and two clean sheets argue against stretching your budget for him.
Arsenal have the better season-long defensive record: five goals conceded and five clean sheets. Liverpool away is a reason to lower expectations this week, not an automatic reason to sell Raya or Gabriel. Brighton's 23 goals, the highest total in the completed fixture sample, also make City's defenders less comfortable starters than the home badge might suggest.
What is the latest GW9 injury news?
The official FPL availability feed lists these relevant flags on 27 October:
- Bukayo Saka, Arsenal (£9.5m): thigh injury; injured, unknown return date.
- Antoine Semenyo, Man City (£8.2m): knee injury; injured, unknown return date.
- Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool (£6.7m): hamstring injury; injured, unknown return date.
- João Pedro, Chelsea (£7.9m): unspecified injury; 75% chance of playing.
- Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal (£6.0m): hip injury; 75% chance of playing.
- Florian Wirtz, Liverpool (£7.2m): ankle injury; 75% chance of playing.
- James Maddison, Spurs (£6.2m): unspecified injury; 75% chance of playing.
The 75% labels are FPL's provisional flags; they do not confirm a start. We would prepare a Saka replacement now and wait for Chelsea's update before deciding on João Pedro. If your bench covers Calafiori or Wirtz, keeping the transfer open until the later club news has value. Haaland, Palmer, Tavernier, Evanilson and Jackson are unflagged in this snapshot.
Should you sell Brighton players or use a chip in GW9?
Brighton away at City is an awkward week for De Cuyper (£5.3m) and Pascal Groß (£6.2m), but their next opponents are Brentford at home, Hull away and Newcastle at home. De Cuyper's 60 points and Groß's 58 are already banked; the decision now is whether your replacement improves the coming fixtures. Bench De Cuyper if you have a stronger defensive option, and keep Groß in contention for a starting place. Selling both would use two transfers to avoid one match.
We would not use a Wildcard just to change a captain or move out one injured midfielder. It becomes reasonable when several unavailable players and weak bench options prevent you fielding an XI you want to keep. With Liverpool and Arsenal facing each other and fitness news still developing, this preview does not make a strong case for a Triple Captain or Bench Boost either. The Fantasy hub lets you compare your actual replacements and fixture runs, while the Legends Consensus XI guide explains how to use experienced managers' selections as another reference.
Who are the best captain picks for FPL Gameweek 9 2026/27?
Haaland is FootieGuide's first-choice GW9 captain at home to Brighton. Palmer is the main alternative at home to Manchester United; Tavernier is a riskier option against Leeds. These are editorial picks, subject to team news.
When is the FPL Gameweek 9 deadline in UK and India time?
The FPL Gameweek 9 deadline is Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11:00 GMT in the UK, or 16:30 IST in India. The first match, Chelsea versus Manchester United, kicks off at 12:30 GMT.
What should you settle before the deadline?
Give Saka's position first attention if your substitute would weaken the XI. Decide whether Tavernier's saving or Palmer's captaincy option helps the whole squad more. For a forward vacancy, compare Evanilson's current chance quality with Jackson's longer fixture run, then wait for the last availability updates before submitting the transfer. The armband can stay on Haaland while you solve those more individual problems.