Welcome back to the Hive FPL blog as we consider the best options for your team in GW23 and beyond.

With just a week to go until the close of the January transfer window the business of buying and selling Premier League stars has generally been slow. Will that change over the coming days? There are certainly plenty of teams who need reinforcements to meet their objectives this season so watch this space...

The fixture list for some teams involved in Europe and domestic cups has been pretty brutal over the last month. For the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs this will be their 7th match in January and a real test of player fitness and squad resources.

The fact that those 3 sides all play against teams who have only played 4 times in the same period does mean that the chances for a shock result are somewhat increased.

Onto this weekend's fixtures and the players to watch...

These 2 sides are both having great seasons in the league and will be very keen to maintain their momentum. Bournemouth have already dispatched a number of high profile visitors in 24/25 and so will hold no immediate fears over hosting 3rd placed Forest. It's not impossible that both these sides find themselves in the Champions League spots come 5pm on Saturday which you'd have gotten pretty long odds on at the start of the season.

One Bournemouth player to keep an eye on is Ouattara (MID) who seems to be playing more minutes as the season progresses. He's started 6 out of the last 7 league games for the Cherries and while he still has work to do with his end product, he looks incredibly difficult to play against with pace and power in abundance.

With away matches to Newcastle and Chelsea over the last 2 GWs, ownership of most Bournemouth players has dropped which means very few managers were able to take advantage of Kluivert's (MID) 2nd hattrick of the season. He now has 108 points, eclipsing his total for last season with a decent chunk of this year still remaining. I imagine he'll be a popular pick for GW22!

The disappointment for FPL managers regarding Forest last time out was that their normally solid defence conceded 2 soft goals against a shot shy Southampton side. The good news for those who choose to persist with their defenders is that Forest haven't conceded in any of their last 3 away matches in the EPL.

Big wins for both these sides last time out will help in respect of their short term goals.

Before rushing out to pick Everton forwards it's probably worth bearing in mind that they've only scored 3 of more goals in a league match twice in the last 12months...

As for Brighton, they are far more reliable as a team in regards their scoring but they lack the individuals to really put your faith in. The return of top-scorer Wellbeck (FWD) is a bonus and FPL managers will be keen to see how sharp he looks after his fine start to this season.

Brighton haven't won a home match since they beat City way back on 9 November and you wouldn't bank on this being an easy win even if Everton may struggle to pose a threat themselves.

There wasn't much in the way of squad rotation for Liverpool's match in midweek. Salah (MID) and VVD (DEF) have now both played over 2600 minutes of football in all competitions this season and with a double game week in GW24 coming up, it will be interesting to see if either of them is rested for what should be a routine win.

However, it will be very tempting to bring in one or both of those stalwarts given the likely points return in this match and GW24.

Gakpo (MID) was rested for the game against Lile on Tuesday although you could argue that Nunez (FWD) deserved his chance after his late heroics at Brentford. Given his unpredictable form and finishing and the fact that he's only started 7 league matches this season, you'd be a brave man to bet on the Uruguayan repeating the feat in this match.

Having been battered 6-0 by City last time out, this is hardly the sort of fixture for Ipswich to attempt to get back on the horse. In reality, their season will be defined by a series of far more winnable games at home between now and the end of the season.

Newcastle will be bitterly disappointed with the scoreline in their last match and you'd expect Eddie Howe's men who had been in tremendous form prior to the humbling home defeat against Bournemouth, to react against bottom placed Saints.

Isak (FWD) has scored in each of his last 4 games on the road while Gordon (MID) has goal involvements in 4 of his last 5 away trips, a much better return than he managed last season when it was home form alone that maintained his points haul.

Hall (DEF) and Botman (DEF) were both subbed off in the defeat last week which suggests that the manager was (understandably) not happy with the defensive display. Again, you'd back those who do start this game to get a clean sheet bonus but then I said that last week for Southampton's match against Forest...

Arsenal let a 2 goal lead slip against another Midlands team last week and will be very keen to rectify that result against lowly Wolves.

New manager Vitor Pereira enjoyed a run of 7 points from his first 3 games in charge but has now lost 3 on the bounce at an aggregate score of 9-1. Wolves defensive issues persist and more worryingly they don't seem capable of scoring anymore! With top scorer and star man Cunha (FWD) edging his way towards the exit it doesn't suggest that the Molineux faithful are in for an easy 2nd half of the season.

Martinelli (MID) is probably the player to look at if you're considering an Arsenal addition for this week . Over the past 4 GWs only Salah (MID) and Mbeumo (MID) have carried a greater goal threat than the Brazilian. The wide forward is still struggling to replicate the form he showed in 22/23 but his 6 league goals to date equals his 2nd best season. Arsenal have a nice run of fixtures between now and the middle of February.

A big game in any season but as the table starts to settled down after a busy winter period, this match is increasingly looking like a key battle between 2 sides that will be desperate to secure Champions League football next year.

Chelsea got a much needed win against Wolves last time out following a run of 5 without victory. This game is the first in a tough sequence of fixtures which also sees them travelling to Brighton and Aston Villa.

Leaky defences have generally been the achilles heel of both these teams this year. No other sides in the top 7 have conceded more than Chelsea and City this season which means that you'd back the likes of Palmer (MID), Foden (MID) and Haaland (FWD).

City have been by far the most active side in the transfer window this January. In usual circumstances, you'd have thought that those new acquisitions would be eased into the system and starting XI but these aren't usual circumstances.

Stones (DEF) and Lewis (DEF) have also made substitute appearances in the last week as they step up their recovery from injury suggesting that the pool of players that Pep and indeed FPL managers have to choose from is increasing.

While FPL managers will naturally want to wait and see what a City XI looks like after the close of the window, they'd also be wise to consider the difficult run of fixtures they have between now and the end of March. In previous seasons who City played was of little consequence but as Pep noted after his side threw away a 2 goal lead at PSG in midweek, no one fears City anymore!

Brentford were just moments away from being every Arsenal fans best friend last weekend and Thomas Frank will have to do his best to pick his players up after that last gasp defeat to Liverpool. Palace meanwhile have been sneakily moving their way up the table and find themselves in a position whereby a win here would move them above Brentford.

There are plenty of good reasonably priced options for FPL sides to consider across both these teams. For Brentford, their inevitable 3rd round exit from the FA Cup also means that their sole focus is now on the league. For a relatively small squad that does a lot of running that is a bonus for those fantasy teams that are sticking by the Bees.

Meanwhile Mateta (FWD) is doing pretty much exactly the same as he did in 23/24 by going from a player that you wouldn't even think about having in your squad for the first half of the season, to a player that you can't do without as soon the fireworks and champagne corks go off to signify the start of a new calendar year. The big man has 4 in his last 3 Premier League matches. Last season, from 1 Jan to the close, he managed 14 Premier League goals and a further 2 assists. Mateta's New Year's resolution? Score more goals.

Another match where goals feel inevitable. Having recently played Wolves and Everton just after they'd made managerial changes which always seem to bring a bounce in form, Spurs will be happy to meet a Leicester side whose new man in charge has already lost that shine.

After a couple of promising results when Ruud took over, the Foxes have now lost 7 in a row in the league conceding 18 goals in the process and scoring just twice themselves. They really need a performance in this match against a shaky looking Spurs team to set them up for a massive game away at Everton next weekend.

In fact, the result of this match might yet determine the immediate future of either of these managers. Sacking van Nistelrooy just a few months after he took over would be extreme but can any manager lose 8 on the bounce and survive? Similarly how much longer can Spurs persist with Ange-Ball if they fail to win this one? They are getting progressively closer to the relegation spots and you only need to ask their opponents today about their experience of the 22/23 season when they seemed to sleep walk into the Championship.

With no Solanke (FWD) until at least the end of February, the big question is who will lead the line for Spurs. Richarlison (FWD) has featured in recent matches but looks a long way short of full fitness and match sharpness. Son (MID) and Maddison (MID) both scored in midweek, the later is Spurs top points scorer in the FPL this season which is quite extraordinary given his struggles to break into the first XI. 53 of his 102 points have come in 4 matches meaning he represents a high risk, high reward investment.

This match is a replay of the 3rd round of the FA Cup earlier in the month which Villa won 2-1. West Ham have the advantage of having had a full week to rest and prepare for this game while Villa travelled to Monaco and have the crunch match against Celtic to come in the same competition weighing heavily on their minds.

West Ham have generally performed better on their travels this season but they come against a Villa side that have not lost at Villa Park in the league since their opening home game of the season against Arsenal.

Watkins (FWD) is ranked 5th on the ICT for threat since the start of 2025, a period that has seen him deliver 3 goals and an assist. He has 6 goal involvements in 10 previous meetings against the Hammers and might be a good bet not only for this match but for a favourable run of fixtures to come.

While the January transfer window has seen plenty of comings and goings on the blue half of Manchester, it's been surprisingly quiet over at Old Trafford. The lone departure to date has been Brazilian mega-flop Antony which is of little concern to anyone expect perhaps the women of Seville.

United continue to be a side that defies any reasonable predictions. Good results against Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the month were undone by Brighton last weekend but they did show some grit midweek with a comeback win against Rangers in Europe.

They'll need that kind of fight again against a Fulham side that is capable of competing with anyone in this league. The Cottagers are unbeaten at home in all competitions since a shock 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Wolves back in November.

Jimenez (FWD) is the danger man for Fulham at the moment. The Mexican striker has 3 goals in his last 5 Premier League matches as well as scoring in the cup. Of all available forwards, only Wissa and Isak have carried a greater goal threat than him over the past 5 GWs.

Division 1

GW22 Results

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
@BlockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl	44	45	Skander	@skanderh
Solat FC	@reservedsingle	39	32	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
Likodra FC	@teofilex11	43	47	Whyte FC	@Ipalibo
Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt	55	54	INEOS REVIVAL	@deniskj
Shamzy F.C	@shamzy	35	23	Vickoly FC	@vickoly
NONZ FC	@nonsowrites	48	51	Lazz	@martinlazizi
Legion fc	@b0s	37	38	Simcard FC	@akomoajong
FC McKane	@mckane	47	56	HallAnd Oats FC	@thoth442
Herbae	@herbae	35	70	YAGMAN FC	@yagman01
Espressos	@aaalviarez	41	35	Creekside FC	@pappyelblanco

GW23 Fixtures

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
Skander	@skanderh	v	Espressos	@aaalviarez
Creekside FC	@pappyelblanco	v	Herbae	@herbae
YAGMAN FC	@yagman01	v	FC McKane	@mckane
HallAnd Oats FC	@thoth442	v	Legion fc	@b0s
Simcard FC	@akomoajong	v	NONZ FC	@nonsowrites
Lazz	@martinlazizi	v	Shamzy F.C	@shamzy
Vickoly FC	@vickoly	v	Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt
INEOS REVIVAL	@deniskj	v	Likodra FC	@teofilex11
Whyte FC	@Ipalibo	v	Solat FC	@reservedsingle
Hungry Lions	@gvkanten	v	@BlockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl

Division 2

GW22 Results

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
Hiveheadz	@borran	47	59	ARFANTASY FC	@arfa
TGIF	@gentleshaid	40	33	Dapomola fc	@dapomolaaaa
Mighty Fc	@twicejoy	21	46	Tilia	No Hive Account Linked
Newton Heath FC	@samirich	43	51	GunnersLoverFC	@nwt93
Diistroyers	@diikaan	39	21	Trinex fc	@og-gamershub
Holte Me Close	@stuartcturnbull	42	29	Headies	@Headies
Mollina United	@femisapiens	40	55	Outside of Time	No Hive Account Linked
11 idiots	No Hive Account Linked	36	55	Ballgasms	@preshpresh
Tengo Rangers FC	@tengolotodo	41	59	Happyboys FC	@happyboy1
Tricky Trees 2024	@doombot75	63	42	Holozing.com	@acidyo
Monitox	No Hive Account Linked	56	55	Tangram	@desro
Ref's team	@sperosamuel15	66	59	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
Lame Ducks	No Hive Account Linked	25	38	ALH	No Hive Account Linked
Ifeyemi Fc	@valchiz	46	53	SportsNerd	@saf-ul-wahab
Jungle Boy	@george-dee	30	43	The Urge	@kenzzi
Olawalium FC	@olawalium	47	53	Cygnus FC	@donjaun
Kraken99	@kraken99	46	53	KELLYMAN FC	@justfavour
Micheal Fc	@micheal87	52	48	The Dream Team	@spidersilk
racibo	@racibo	52	66	HIVE KILL STEEM	No Hive Account Linked
Kane and Unable	@jmehta	49	39	OG Squad	@graat
samostically	@samostically	44	38	Stevenson FC	@stevenson7
Wanderteam	@kelvinpeters	46	32	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
rubilu	@rubilu	51	41	Akatsuki	@seki1
RHYDA	@rhyda1	41	54	ACX United	@pvmihalache
The Beast	@iamchuks	50	63	Emeka4	@emeka4
Hornstra XI	@elvis123	61	36	Barca	@muka-vybz
Formidable Milano	@damolexy	47	62	Smiley Team	@carita-feliz
Coldone	@nasfyneboy92	59	49	Yahuzah	@yahuzah
foloxfc	@thelonegreywolf	35	32	Chris Football Club	@hiveworld
Change Name	No Hive Account Linked	49	56	The Cella’s	@blanchy
ArgyeeChitthuFC	@agct1226	56	37	Hadji	@hadji

GW23 Fixtures

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
Tangram	@desro	v	ARFANTASY FC	@arfa
Holozing.com	@acidyo	v	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
Happyboys FC	@happyboy1	v	ALH	No Hive Account Linked
Ballgasms	@preshpresh	v	SportsNerd	@saf-ul-wahab
Outside of Time	No Hive Account Linked	v	The Urge	@kenzzi
Headies	@Headies	v	Cygnus FC	@donjaun
Trinex fc	@og-gamershub	v	KELLYMAN FC	@justfavour
GunnersLoverFC	@nwt93	v	The Dream Team	@spidersilk
Tilia	No Hive Account Linked	v	HIVE KILL STEEM	No Hive Account Linked
Dapomola fc	@dapomolaaaa	v	OG Squad	@graat
Hiveheadz	@borran	v	Stevenson FC	@stevenson7
TGIF	@gentleshaid	v	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
Mighty Fc	@twicejoy	v	Akatsuki	@seki1
Newton Heath FC	@samirich	v	ACX United	@pvmihalache
Diistroyers	@diikaan	v	Emeka4	@emeka4
Holte Me Close	@stuartcturnbull	v	Barca	@muka-vybz
Mollina United	@femisapiens	v	Smiley Team	@carita-feliz
11 idiots	No Hive Account Linked	v	Yahuzah	@yahuzah
Tengo Rangers FC	@tengolotodo	v	Chris Football Club	@hiveworld
Tricky Trees 2024	@doombot75	v	The Cella’s	@blanchy
Monitox	No Hive Account Linked	v	Hadji	@hadji
Ref's team	@sperosamuel15	v	ArgyeeChitthuFC	@agct1226
Lame Ducks	No Hive Account Linked	v	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
Ifeyemi Fc	@valchiz	v	foloxfc	@thelonegreywolf
Jungle Boy	@george-dee	v	Coldone	@nasfyneboy92
Olawalium FC	@olawalium	v	Formidable Milano	@damolexy
Kraken99	@kraken99	v	Hornstra XI	@elvis123
Micheal Fc	@micheal87	v	The Beast	@iamchuks
racibo	@racibo	v	RHYDA	@rhyda1
Kane and Unable	@jmehta	v	rubilu	@rubilu
samostically	@samostically	v	Wanderteam	@kelvinpeters