By Emma Robinson,Last Word On Sports

Copyright yardbarker

Fantasy Premier League is at its best when the fixtures test us, and gameweek five has no shortage of headaches. Arsenal face Manchester City, Liverpool take on Everton in the derby, and Burnley will try to drag their opponents into another scrap. This is the kind of weekend where the so-called “safe” template picks suddenly feel anything but.

The margin between climbing the ranks or crashing comes down to spotting where the points are really hiding, not blindly handing the armband to Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah, but weighing the evidence, the managers’ styles, and the players’ form.

The Fantasy Premier League Blueprint: Everything You Need to Know for Game Week Five

Arsenal vs Manchester City: A Clash That Splits the Armband

Normally, Haaland is the easy call. Two goals last weekend, more in Europe midweek, and the underlying numbers remain elite. But this isn’t Fulham at home, it’s Arsenal away.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been tight at the back, conceding just twice in four league matches. David Raya has one of the best shields in the division in William Saliba and Gabriel. On the other side, Arsenal aren’t exactly free-scoring yet, even with Eberechi Eze bedding in behind Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke offering width.

The ingredients are there for a cagey, low-scoring stalemate. If you captain Haaland here, you’re betting on him smashing through Arsenal’s defensive wall. Personally, I’d steer clear of Arsenal defenders this week too; the fixture ceiling is too low when the margins are this fine.

Liverpool vs Everton: Salah Temptation, Watkins Safety

The Merseyside Derby always brings chaos, but for FPL managers, the question is simple: can Salah be trusted with the armband? His history says yes, he has scored in six of his last eight derbies, but Liverpool’s fragility at the back makes every game a rollercoaster.

Arne Slot’s team have blown two-goal leads twice already this season, scraping wins with late drama. That makes Salah reliable for points, but not necessarily the standout captain. Compare that to Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa are at home to Sunderland, a side still finding their feet at this level. Watkins hasn’t hit a big haul yet, but his underlying numbers, shots, expected goals, and involvement all say it is coming.

This feels like the week for him to deliver. If you want a captaincy punt that’s safer than it sounds, Watkins has to be right in the conversation.

Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: The Clean Sheet Jackpot

Scott Parker has Burnley set up to spoil, deep blocks, long spells without the ball, and the occasional counter. It works well enough in the real game, but for Fantasy Premier League, it screams opportunity.

Nottingham Forest defenders look like the jackpot here. Matz Sels in goal is the obvious choice, while Murillo and Neco Williams are strong options around him. Parker’s Burnley side haven’t shown the creativity to unpick a solid defence, and Forest’s back line has been quietly reliable.

If you’re free-hitting, even a triple Forest defensive stack is not out of the question.

Spurs: The Defence to Trust

Thomas Frank has wasted no time turning Spurs into one of the most disciplined defensive outfits in the league. Three clean sheets already tell their own story.

The pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero looks assured, and both offer bonus point potential on top of security. Pedro Porro adds attacking output from right-back, which makes him one of the most attractive defender picks of the week.

Spurs are now a defence you can trust. This isn’t a short-term play; it’s the start of a trend

Bournemouth: Semenyo Rising, Evanilson a Watch

Antoine Semenyo has been the standout so far, contributing goals and assists with direct, powerful runs. He is thriving in Bournemouth’s counterattacking setup, and even against stronger opponents, he has found ways to return points.

Evanilson has had a good start this season, with a goal in his last three starts. At £7.5m, he is a realistic forward option at a lower price than premium forwards. For now, though, Semenyo is the sharper FPL pick and a great differential given his low ownership.

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro: Under-the-Radar Gold

Chelsea remain inconsistent, but João Pedro has been a rare bright spot. He has delivered something in every game, goals, assists, or bonus points. Affordable at £7.8m and nailed, he looks integral to Chelsea’s attack.

Ignore him at your peril. João Pedro is the kind of steady FPL scorer who quietly saves your gameweeks when your premium captain blanks.

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 5 Picks

Goalkeepers

Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest, £5.0m)

Dubravka (Burnley, £4.0m)

Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur, £5.6m)

Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur, £4.7m)

Morato (Nottingham Forest, £4.4m)

Esteve (Burnley, £4.0m)

Guehi (Crystal Palace £4.7m)

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, £14.5m)

Jack Grealish (Everton, £6.8m)

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest, £7.5m)

Elanga (Newcastle United, £7.0m)

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, £7.3m)

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, £8.8m) (Captain)

Joao Pedro (Chelsea, £7.8m)

Evanilson (Bournemouth, £7.5m)

This side gives you balance: Forest defenders for the Burnley fixture, Spurs defenders for longer-term trust, Semenyo as a form pick, Watkins as the captaincy punt that feels safer than Salah or Haaland this week, and Evanilson as a forward differential with upside.

Final Thoughts

This is not the week to hide behind the template. Haaland and Salah will always have their appeal, but the fixtures point in different directions. Watkins looks primed for his breakthrough. Semenyo offers momentum as a budget midfielder. Spurs defenders are suddenly reliable. Forest’s back line could be the cheat code no one saw coming. And Evanilson might just be the risk worth taking.

If you want green arrows in Gameweek 5, this is the week to back the evidence and take those educated risks.