<p>The Premier League returned with another eventful weekend that brought several key developments for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.</p>
<p><span>From standout individual performances to emerging budget options, Gameweek 8 served up a breakout performance from a mid-priced forward as well as a new budget gem, as well as questions over the effectiveness of popular players at Manchester City and Liverpool.</span></p>
<p><span>As ever, here we will assess the main talking points from weekend&#8217;s action from an FPL point of view before Gameweek 8 concludes on Monday night with West Ham United vs Brentford (kick-off 8pm BST/3pm ET).</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><strong>Mateta finally delivers — and in style</strong></h3>
<p>After weeks of frustration, <strong>Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.6m)</strong> finally exploded into life, scoring a stunning hat-trick in Crystal Palace’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth. The French striker had been underperforming his expected goals (xG) by a considerable margin but this performance reminded everyone of his potential as a reliable mid-priced forward. He now sits at an xG of 7.7, with five goals.</p>
<p>Mateta’s treble was the first of his Premier League career and for FPL managers, this is the kind of spark that can reignite interest in an overlooked asset.</p>
<p>At £7.6m, Mateta represents genuine value, particularly given Palace’s form this season. However, timing remains essential. Palace face Arsenal in Gameweek 9, which isn&#8217;t the ideal fixture for attacking investment.</p>
<p>For those considering Mateta, a more sensible entry point is Gameweek 10, where Palace go on to play Brentford (H), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Manchester United (H) and Burnley (A).</p>
<p>Mateta is nailed to start, on penalties and has clear potential — but waiting one more week is the play here if you plan to get him in.</p>
<div id="attachment_6732751" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div class="wp-caption-image-container"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6732751 size-full" src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-scaled.jpg" alt="Jean-Philippe Mateta kneels on the floor with an anguished expression on his face" width="2560" height="1690" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-300x198.jpg 300w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-2048x1352.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><div class="inline-credits"><div class="inline-credits-container">
      <span class="credits-text">Jean-Philippe Mateta scored three in Gameweek 8 – but has a tough game next up (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)</span></div></div>
<h3>Kroupi: The kind of budget forward that FPL managers dream of</h3>
<p>Every season produces a few budget enablers who free up funds for premium upgrades elsewhere and<strong> Eli Junior Kroupi (£4.5m)</strong> may be this season&#8217;s first big one. The 19-year-old Bournemouth forward seized his opportunity in spectacular fashion, scoring twice against Palace in his first Premier League start.</p>
<p>With <strong>Evanilson (£7.0m)</strong> sidelined with a calf injury, Kroupi led the line for Bournemouth and did not disappoint. Manager Andoni Iraola praised the youngster’s composure in front of goal but told the <a href="https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/25554501.andoni-iraola-gives-details-evanilson-injury/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bournemouth Echo</a> that he<span> was unsure how long Evanilson would be out for.</span></p>
<p>Priced at just £4.5 million, Kroupi’s emergence could prove transformative for FPL squad structure. He offers managers a low-risk, high-reward route into Bournemouth’s attack, allowing them to redistribute funds towards premium midfielders or defenders.</p>
<p>That said, his minutes could become uncertain once Evanilson returns, meaning managers should view Kroupi as a third forward enabler rather than a season-long starter.</p>
<h3><strong>Reijnders’ declining minutes are a cause for concern</strong></h3>
<p>After playing the full 90 minutes in each of his first five league appearances, Manchester City&#8217;s <strong>Tijjani Reijnders (£5.7m)</strong> has seen his involvement steadily decline. This weekend, he was substituted just before the hour mark — a worrying trend for owners of the Dutchman.</p>
<p>With <strong>Omar Marmoush (£8.3m)</strong> and <strong>Rayan Cherki (£6.3m)</strong> now back to fitness, manager Pep Guardiola has a wealth of creative options, which could further impact Reijnders’ minutes.</p>
<p>At £5.7m, he isn’t an urgent sell, but he’s also not a priority hold. Reijnders’ attacking output is limited, therefore is only really worth it if he is getting a good amount of minutes, so unless his game time stabilises, it’s difficult to justify keeping him in your squad when there are similarly priced assets who offer a bit more security.</p>
<p>Hold if your squad allows but monitor closely. Reijnders’ reduced minutes make him a “wait and see” and owners can give him the next one or two games to get a better idea of his expected minutes and status in the team.</p>
<div id="attachment_6732752" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div class="wp-caption-image-container"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6732752 size-full" src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-scaled.jpg" alt="Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders stretches to control an airborne ball" width="2560" height="1773" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-300x208.jpg 300w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-1024x709.jpg 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-1536x1064.jpg 1536w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-2048x1419.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><div class="inline-credits"><div class="inline-credits-container">
      <span class="credits-text">Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders was subbed off early during his team’s win over Everton (Carl Recine/Getty Images)</span></div></div>
<h3><strong>Liverpool slump emphasises Salah dilemma</strong></h3>
<p>Liverpool’s season has taken a concerning turn. A third consecutive league defeat has raised serious questions about their form and FPL reliability. <strong>Mohamed Salah’s (£14.4m)</strong> struggles epitomise the broader malaise: another blank, another subdued performance, and a rare 84th-minute substitution.</p>
<p>At his price, Salah’s value in FPL depends entirely on his consistency. When Liverpool are flying, he’s an essential captaincy option. But when they falter, as they have in recent weeks, that price tag becomes increasingly difficult to justify.</p>
<p>Liverpool are creating fewer clear-cut chances, and Salah’s average shots and touches in the box are both down compared to last season.</p>
<p>For now, patience may still be the best play, however. Their next two fixtures are Brentford (A) and Aston Villa (H), which provide an opportunity for recovery.</p>
<p>If Salah fails to deliver in those, FPL managers will have a strong case to sell the Egyptian and redistribute his funds. I would personally hold him for two more fixtures, and reassess immediately after that.</p>
<p>However, I also wouldn&#8217;t hold anyone back from cutting the cord now ,especially if you have a few free transfers and can upgrade other areas of your team.</p>
<hr />
<p>Gameweek 8 reminded us why patience and timing are crucial in FPL. Mateta’s hat-trick proved that underperforming players can explode at any moment, while Kroupi’s breakout offered a glimpse of the next potential budget bandwagon.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Liverpool’s ongoing slump and Salah’s muted returns present one of the season’s biggest strategic dilemmas.</p>
<p>We have plenty of football to play in midweek with Champions League, Europa League and Conference League games, so holding off on your transfer plans advised.</p>
<p>We should also gain some valuable information from the teamsheets to aid our decision-making.</p>


<p>The Premier League returned with another eventful weekend that brought several key developments for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.</p><p><span>From standout individual performances to emerging budget options, Gameweek 8 served up a breakout performance from a mid-priced forward as well as a new budget gem, as well as questions over the effectiveness of popular players at Manchester City and Liverpool.</span></p><div class="ad-container"><div class="ad-wrapper"><div class=ad-slug-container><p class="ad-slug">Advertisement</p></div><div id="mid1" data-position="mid1" class="ad place-ad"></div></div><p><span>As ever, here we will assess the main talking points from weekend’s action from an FPL point of view before Gameweek 8 concludes on Monday night with West Ham United vs Brentford (kick-off 8pm BST/3pm ET).</span></p><hr><h3><strong>Mateta finally delivers — and in style</strong></h3><p>After weeks of frustration, <strong>Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.6m)</strong> finally exploded into life, scoring a stunning hat-trick in Crystal Palace’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth. The French striker had been underperforming his expected goals (xG) by a considerable margin but this performance reminded everyone of his potential as a reliable mid-priced forward. He now sits at an xG of 7.7, with five goals.</p><p>Mateta’s treble was the first of his Premier League career and for FPL managers, this is the kind of spark that can reignite interest in an overlooked asset.</p><p>At £7.6m, Mateta represents genuine value, particularly given Palace’s form this season. However, timing remains essential. Palace face Arsenal in Gameweek 9, which isn’t the ideal fixture for attacking investment.</p><p>For those considering Mateta, a more sensible entry point is Gameweek 10, where Palace go on to play Brentford (H), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Manchester United (H) and Burnley (A).</p><p>Mateta is nailed to start, on penalties and has clear potential — but waiting one more week is the play here if you plan to get him in.</p><div id="attachment_6732751" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div class="wp-caption-image-container"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6732751 size-full" src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-scaled.jpg" alt="Jean-Philippe Mateta kneels on the floor with an anguished expression on his face" width="2560" height="1690" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-300x198.jpg 300w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061926/GettyImages-2241820233-2048x1352.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="inline-credits"><div class="inline-credits-container">
      <span class="credits-text">Jean-Philippe Mateta scored three in Gameweek 8 – but has a tough game next up (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)</span></div></div><h3>Kroupi: The kind of budget forward that FPL managers dream of</h3><p>Every season produces a few budget enablers who free up funds for premium upgrades elsewhere and<strong> Eli Junior Kroupi (£4.5m)</strong> may be this season’s first big one. The 19-year-old Bournemouth forward seized his opportunity in spectacular fashion, scoring twice against Palace in his first Premier League start.</p>
    <div id="top-league-content-root"></div>
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  <p>With <strong>Evanilson (£7.0m)</strong> sidelined with a calf injury, Kroupi led the line for Bournemouth and did not disappoint. Manager Andoni Iraola praised the youngster’s composure in front of goal but told the <a href="https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/25554501.andoni-iraola-gives-details-evanilson-injury/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bournemouth Echo</a> that he<span> was unsure how long Evanilson would be out for.</span></p><div class="ad-container"><div class="ad-wrapper"><div class=ad-slug-container><p class="ad-slug">Advertisement</p></div><div id="mid2" data-position="mid2" class="ad place-ad"></div></div><p>Priced at just £4.5 million, Kroupi’s emergence could prove transformative for FPL squad structure. He offers managers a low-risk, high-reward route into Bournemouth’s attack, allowing them to redistribute funds towards premium midfielders or defenders.</p><p>That said, his minutes could become uncertain once Evanilson returns, meaning managers should view Kroupi as a third forward enabler rather than a season-long starter.</p><h3><strong>Reijnders’ declining minutes are a cause for concern</strong></h3><p>After playing the full 90 minutes in each of his first five league appearances, Manchester City’s <strong>Tijjani Reijnders (£5.7m)</strong> has seen his involvement steadily decline. This weekend, he was substituted just before the hour mark — a worrying trend for owners of the Dutchman.</p><p>With <strong>Omar Marmoush (£8.3m)</strong> and <strong>Rayan Cherki (£6.3m)</strong> now back to fitness, manager Pep Guardiola has a wealth of creative options, which could further impact Reijnders’ minutes.</p><p>At £5.7m, he isn’t an urgent sell, but he’s also not a priority hold. Reijnders’ attacking output is limited, therefore is only really worth it if he is getting a good amount of minutes, so unless his game time stabilises, it’s difficult to justify keeping him in your squad when there are similarly priced assets who offer a bit more security.</p><p>Hold if your squad allows but monitor closely. Reijnders’ reduced minutes make him a “wait and see” and owners can give him the next one or two games to get a better idea of his expected minutes and status in the team.</p><div id="attachment_6732752" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div class="wp-caption-image-container"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6732752 size-full" src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-scaled.jpg" alt="Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders stretches to control an airborne ball" width="2560" height="1773" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-300x208.jpg 300w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-1024x709.jpg 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-1536x1064.jpg 1536w, https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/10/20061936/GettyImages-2235558359-2048x1419.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="inline-credits"><div class="inline-credits-container">
      <span class="credits-text">Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders was subbed off early during his team’s win over Everton (Carl Recine/Getty Images)</span></div></div><h3><strong>Liverpool slump emphasises Salah dilemma</strong></h3><p>Liverpool’s season has taken a concerning turn. A third consecutive league defeat has raised serious questions about their form and FPL reliability. <strong>Mohamed Salah’s (£14.4m)</strong> struggles epitomise the broader malaise: another blank, another subdued performance, and a rare 84th-minute substitution.</p><div class="ad-container"><div class="ad-wrapper"><div class=ad-slug-container><p class="ad-slug">Advertisement</p></div><div id="mid3" data-position="mid3" class="ad place-ad"></div></div><p>At his price, Salah’s value in FPL depends entirely on his consistency. When Liverpool are flying, he’s an essential captaincy option. But when they falter, as they have in recent weeks, that price tag becomes increasingly difficult to justify.</p><p>Liverpool are creating fewer clear-cut chances, and Salah’s average shots and touches in the box are both down compared to last season.</p><p>For now, patience may still be the best play, however. Their next two fixtures are Brentford (A) and Aston Villa (H), which provide an opportunity for recovery.</p><p>If Salah fails to deliver in those, FPL managers will have a strong case to sell the Egyptian and redistribute his funds. I would personally hold him for two more fixtures, and reassess immediately after that.</p><p>However, I also wouldn’t hold anyone back from cutting the cord now ,especially if you have a few free transfers and can upgrade other areas of your team.</p><hr><p>Gameweek 8 reminded us why patience and timing are crucial in FPL. Mateta’s hat-trick proved that underperforming players can explode at any moment, while Kroupi’s breakout offered a glimpse of the next potential budget bandwagon.</p><p>Meanwhile, Liverpool’s ongoing slump and Salah’s muted returns present one of the season’s biggest strategic dilemmas.</p><p>We have plenty of football to play in midweek with Champions League, Europa League and Conference League games, so holding off on your transfer plans advised.</p><p>We should also gain some valuable information from the teamsheets to aid our decision-making.</p>


Fantasy Premier League

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta fires home his third goal against Bournemouth with his fi

FPL Gameweek 8 Review: Mateta caution, a new £4.5m gem and time's ticking for Salah

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 8 Review: Mateta caution, a new £4.5m gem and time’s ticking for Salah

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Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 8 Review: Mateta caution, a new £4.5m gem and time’s ticking for Salah

Kroupi: The kind of budget forward that FPL managers dream of

Liverpool slump emphasises Salah dilemma

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