Now, the highly anticipated showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal has concluded. And Fantasy Football is poised to return to its usual rhythm, so as you strategize for Gameweek 6, consider these best-performing Premier League players, carefully selected for you below.
To assist you in making informed decisions, we’ve identified one standout player in each position for the upcoming fixtures, along with a promising hidden gem.
Our Identified Best Premier League Players for Gameweek 6
Defender: Gabriel vs Leicester City (H) – 5.9 points
Arsenal’s defence has been a formidable force this season, maintaining three clean sheets in five game weeks and conceding only three goals, with two of those goals occurring while they were playing with a numerical disadvantage.
Managers who remained patient with centre-back Gabriel during a challenging stretch of away fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been rewarded with his impressive performances. He has accumulated 22 points across those two matches, highlighted by a clean sheet and consecutive goals.
Gabriel stands out as one of the most attacking defenders in the Premier League, renowned for his aerial prowess from set pieces. His three big chances on goal this season, supported by Bukayo Saka‘s exceptional dead-ball deliveries, underscore the Gunners’ proficiency in scoring from set pieces.
The only potential concern for those considering investing in the Arsenal defence is the fitness of goalkeeper David Raya, who is uncertain for this game due to a muscular injury.
His presence has been instrumental, as evidenced by his 16 clean sheets last season and his current ranking as the third-best goalkeeper in terms of saves this campaign with 23. If Raya is unavailable, his absence will undoubtedly be a significant loss.
Midfielder: Mohamed Salah vs Wolves (A) – 7.8 points
Mohamed Salah continues to be the standout midfielder in the game, having contributed seven goal involvements in the first five gameweeks. Despite the trend of selling Salah on wildcards in favour of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka to capitalize on the Gunners’ favourable fixture swing, our predictions suggest that this decision may be premature.
Salah travels to Wolves this week, a team that has struggled significantly from a defensive standpoint at the beginning of the season. With only one point on the board and 14 goals conceded from 15 big chances, Wolves have defensive vulnerabilities that Salah can exploit. The absence of defender Yerson Mosquera due to a season-ending injury further compounds their defensive challenges.
This fixture presents an ideal opportunity for Salah to excel. His impressive performances in away games, including double-digit hauls with a goal and an assist at Ipswich in Gameweek 1 and a goal and two assists against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Gameweek 3, highlight his ability to thrive on the road.
Salah’s track record against Wolves is also noteworthy, with four goals and five assists from 11 Premier League appearances. His versatility and goal-scoring threat make him a valuable asset, as evidenced by his league-leading 12 shots on target, 12 key passes, and status as the team’s primary penalty-taker among midfielders.
Forward: Erling Haaland vs Newcastle United (A) – 8.1 points
With just five game weeks completed, we are rapidly exhausting our vocabulary of superlatives to describe the extraordinary performances of Erling Haaland, who has captivated us in the Premier League with his remarkable 10-goal tally. Haaland has surpassed even his own lofty standards, and it’s evident that the summer break and a full preseason have significantly contributed to his exceptional form.
He is one of only two players to have recorded an attacking return in every single game this season, with four of his 10 goals coming away from home. Notably, Haaland is projected to outscore his rival Mohamed Salah in each of the next four game weeks, providing compelling justification for many to consider selling the Egyptian.
Haaland’s underlying statistics remain impressive. He leads the league in shots on target with 19, has had 10 big chances on goal, and boasts an unmatched expected goals metric. Additionally, his penalty-taking ability serves as an extra boost to his points potential.
The injury to Rodri is a significant setback for Manchester City and their aspirations for a fifth consecutive Premier League title. However, his absence at the beginning of the season has had minimal impact on Haaland’s output. This week, Haaland faces Newcastle United, a team that has struggled defensively, conceding six goals and recording only one clean sheet this season.
Hidden Gem: Chris Wood vs Fulham (H) – 5.8 points
Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood has quietly amassed an impressive start to the season, scoring three goals in five games. His recent conversion of a penalty against Brighton has further solidified his potential as a reliable penalty taker.
This form builds upon his strong goal-scoring record from the latter part of the previous season, as the team has experienced a resurgence under the guidance of manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Given the club’s decision not to sign another forward during the summer transfer window, Wood is expected to secure consistent starts, although he may be prone to early substitutions.
Nottingham Forest’s upcoming fixtures remain favorable for the next six gameweeks, with Fulham being the next team to visit the City Ground. Wood has a history of success against Fulham, having scored in their previous encounter last season, which resulted in a 3-1 victory for Forest.
Fulham has struggled defensively, conceding five goals in five games this season, making them a potential target for Wood’s goal-scoring prowess.
As Gameweek 6 approaches, the Fantasy Premier League landscape continues to evolve. The best performers highlighted in this analysis offer valuable insights for making informed transfer decisions and optimizing your team’s potential.
Remember to carefully consider each player’s individual attributes, team dynamics, and upcoming fixtures before making your final selections. By analyzing player performance trends, you can position your Fantasy Premier League players for success in the weeks to come.
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Recent doping controversies involving top players have not damaged tennis’s reputation, but John McEnroe believes that appointing a single commissioner for the sport would significantly enhance the clarity and transparency surrounding doping cases.
Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner failed two drug tests in March for trace amounts of the anabolic androgenic steroid clostebol, but an independent tribunal cleared him of any wrongdoing by accepting his explanation of unintentional contamination.
Women’s world number two Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban in November after testing positive for the hormone and metabolic modulator trimetazidine, which she attributed to contamination of her sleep medication.
The ITIA, responsible for managing tennis’s anti-doping program, stated that both cases involved “inadvertent breaches of the rules.”
“I don’t think it has done any damage because if you look, it’s way worse in the other sports,”McEnroe, a former world number one turned ESPN broadcaster, told reporters ahead of the Australian Open.
“In my opinion, tennis is cleaner than any other sport. Now that doesn’t mean there are not issues.”
John McEnroe emphasised that the confusion surrounding the timing of information release significantly exacerbates the situation.
The confusion is such as the delayed public disclosure of Sinner’s positive test at the Indian Wells tournament in March until just before the US Open in August.
“That part I really don’t like,”he said.
Rennae Stubbs, a former player, current coach, and ESPN commentator, stated that players undergo frequent testing.
She further emphasised that a commissioner could play a vital role in enhancing transparency when a positive test occurs, particularly when a player’s reputation is at stake.
“We need a commissioner of tennis that actually gets out there and speaks on behalf of players to defend or not defend them,” she said.
“The bottom line is we have no one talking for them.”
McEnroe revealed that he has long advocated for the appointment of a commissioner and expressed his readiness and willingness to assume this role.
“If I wasn’t the commissioner, there still should be a commissioner,” he said.
“It doesn’t look like it’s ever going to happen because people are too busy, these tournaments protect their own interests. They care about themselves, they don’t care enough about the sport.
“So it’s too bad. But nonetheless, if it’s not me, it should be someone else. We’ll see if it happens in the next 10 years.”
Taiwo Awoniyi made a triumphant return to Premier League action. He scored in stoppage time to help Nottingham Forest crush Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on Monday evening.
The Super Eagles striker completed his dramatic comeback from injury, finding the net for the first time in the 2024/25 season, precisely 324 days after a devastating setback had forced him to watch from the sidelines.
Forest manager Steve Cooper introduced Awoniyi in the 88th minute, and the Nigerian international seized his opportunity with both hands.
Morgan Gibbs-White orchestrated the decisive moment, threading a precise pass through Wolves’ defensive line.
Awoniyi, demonstrating his predatory instincts, latched onto the ball and dispatched it into the net with clinical precision, sending the City Ground into rapturous celebration.
The emotional weight of the moment overwhelmed Taiwo Awoniyi as he sank to his knees after scoring.
He reached for his shin pads, which carried a deeply personal message – the Bible verse James 1:17.
The passage reads, “Every good and perfect gift is from above,” and pressed them against his face in a poignant display of gratitude and relief.
This victory carried significant implications for Nottingham Forest’s remarkable 2024/25 campaign. The team has now strung together an impressive sequence of six consecutive Premier League victories.
This cemented their position in third place on the table. Forest’s 40-point tally matches Arsenal’s in second position. Meanwhile, Liverpool maintains a six-point advantage at the summit with a game still in hand.
Awoniyi’s goal served as the perfect exclamation point on Forest’s commanding performance, underlining their transformation into genuine title contenders.
The striker’s emotional celebration resonated throughout the stadium. Furthermore, it marks not just a personal milestone in his recovery journey but also symbolises Forest’s remarkable ascent into English football’s top flight.
Don’t miss the inspiring photos of his celebration! Watch the goal video below.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (30) recorded his fourth triple-double of the season, contributing 11 points, 12 rebounds, and a season-high 13 assists.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard (34) scored 25 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a decisive 128-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Antetokounmpo’s exceptional passing, including 10 assists in the first half alone, ignited the Bucks’ offence and propelled them to victory, snapping a two-game losing streak.
The Bucks had recently faced a challenging period, losing four of their last five games, all against teams with losing records.
However, they convincingly overcame the struggling 8-28 Raptors, despite the absence of Khris Middleton due to an ankle injury.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers praised Antetokounmpo’s playmaking abilities, stating, “Giannis’ passing set the whole tone for our team.”
“When your best player does that, it becomes contagious and the ball just moved,” Rivers said.
The only downside for the Bucks was a cut Antetokounmpo suffered on his right little finger when he hit the rim on a block attempt late in the first half.
Rivers said it required stitches to stop the bleeding, but Antetokounmpo wanted to stay in a game in which he and Lillard were both able to rest the entire fourth quarter anyway.
Zach LaVine led the Chicago Bulls to a thrilling 114-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Chicago, scoring 35 points while also contributing 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Bulls staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 19-point deficit in the third quarter.
Coby White played a crucial role in the victory, scoring 23 points. He drove for a go-ahead layup and followed it up with a powerful dunk, giving the Bulls a 113-110 lead with 15.9 seconds remaining. LaVine then sealed the win with a free throw.
The Bulls successfully countered another impressive performance from San Antonio’s star rookie, Victor Wembanyama. He recorded 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and an astonishing eight blocked shots.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham orchestrated a remarkable comeback for the Pistons.
They scored 32 points and dished out nine assists as they overcame an early 22-point deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-115.
Tim Hardaway Jr. ignited the Pistons’ fourth-quarter surge, scoring 11 of his 26 points during the final period. He drained back-to-back three-pointers, giving the Pistons a 109-106 lead with less than three minutes remaining.
The Trail Blazers mounted a late challenge, twice narrowing the deficit to just one point. Anfernee Simons’ three-pointer with 12 seconds left brought the score to 117-115.
However, Malik Beasley sealed the Pistons’ fourth consecutive win by making one of two free throws and securing a crucial steal.
The Phoenix Suns snapped a four-game losing streak with a 109-99 victory over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia.
Coach Mike Budenholzer’s decision to shake up the starting lineup by moving Bradley Beal to the bench proved successful. Beal ignited the Suns’ offence, scoring 25 points, with 20 of those coming in the second half.
The Suns trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and entered halftime with a four-point deficit. However, their bench outscored the 76ers’ reserves by a significant margin, 54-7.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points and 10 assists. And Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds. The 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Kyle Lowry due to injuries.
In New York, the injury-ravaged Orlando Magic upset the struggling Knicks 103-94.
Cole Anthony led the Magic with 24 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring 19 points. The Magic remain without their top four scorers: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Moritz Wagner.
Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 24 points for the Knicks. The Knicks suffered their third consecutive loss after a nine-game winning streak.
In Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. dominated. He scored 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 119-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks, missing key players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, dropped their fifth straight game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped their three-game losing streak with a thrilling 108-106 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Anthony Edwards fuelled the comeback, scoring 37 points for the Timberwolves.