Welcome back to the Hive FPL for GW5 of the season!

This week saw the start of Champions League football and with an incredible 9 English teams involved across all European competitions it means that the fixture list for many of our favourite FPL picks is about to get very congested indeed!

How will that impact squad rotation going forward? We'll wait and see but with the rigors of a modern season now impacting a greater number of players then you'd have to imagine that the playing time of many stars will have to be managed accordingly. Less time on the pitch ultimately means less chance of FPL points.

I guess then the question for managers is who might be your safe heavens in what might otherwise be a bit of lottery when it comes to playing XIs?

The obvious would be to consider more players from the 11 clubs not competing in Europe! Here then is a team of 11 players who are very unlikely to see their Premier League playing time reduced over the coming weeks and months.

The no-rotation squad

This squad does actually come in under budget and doesn't contain too many players of more than 1 club. You might want to make a couple of tweaks here or there but it wouldn't represent a terrible use of your wildcard...

Goalkeepers

Perhaps less of a concern when it comes to rotation but we have seen several big clubs rest their keepers in recent seasons. Add to that the fact that some of the number 2s at the top sides are perfectly capable of playing week in week out in the Premier League.

Kelleher himself fell into that category last season but is now assured of his spot at Brentford. Pickford is one of a number of Everton players who could, perhaps should be on your shortlist for transfers this autumn.

Defenders

The beady eyed among you will immediately notice that I've put VVD in the squad even though Liverpool are very much involved in the Champions League. However, of all of the big name, big money players involved in European competitions, I think he is the least likely to be rested. After all, he is not only the club captain but Liverpool really don't have many other options back there after missing out on Guehi. Giovanni Leoni is a talent for sure but has yet to play a minute of Premier League football since arriving from Parma while Joe Gomez hardly gives you that certainty in either his quality or fitness.

There are 20 defenders who have already breached the 20 point mark this season but only 2 of them, Bournemouth's Senesi and Everton's Tarkowski play for a club not involved in Europe!

Fulham's Anderson is always a safe pick. Not only are Fulham well organised at the back but Anderson does offer a goal threat too, only 4 defenders have got a better xGI than him so far this season.

Gomes represents a bit of a wildcard in this one especially as he's playing for bottom club Wolves and he's not started every game. However, he came off the bench against Everton and got a goal and then started against Newcastle. He is playing as a genuine wing-back with license to get forward and looks very capable of adding to his goal involvements this season.

A safer pick in that regard might be United's Dorgu who has looked like one of the brighter sparks in an otherwise difficult to start to the season for the Red Devils.

Midfielders

Straight in we've actually got the 2 midfielders with the best underlying stats in the league at the moment in Mbeumo and Semenyo who both have an xGI of 3.0. At present, it's the later who is actually delivering on those chances with 5 goal involvements to date but it surely can't be long before a few more go in for the former Brentford man, even if it's just off his oversized ass.

United teammate Bruno Fernandes is another fairly safe pick even if there are some supporters who would suggest that he should be dropped or at least moved from his current role. He is still United' captain, penalty taker, chief creator and is benefitting from the additional points for DCs this season.

Jack Grealish is everyone's favourite pick at the moment as evidenced by his price which has sky-rocketed over the last couple of weeks. I do wonder if this honeymoon period will wear off but let's wait and see.

Final spot goes to Jaidon Anthony who is having a second bite at the the cherry (pun intended) after a previous stint in the Premier League with Bournemouth. At 25 now, he appears to be at his peak and is Burnley's primary attacking option.

Forwards

Again, I've picked a big name player who will be very involved in Europe. However, it's difficult to see who'll play up front for City if not Haaland. Omar Marmoush would be the obvious rotation option but he's out injured for the next month and City don't have another senior striker in the side. Pep was very un-Pep like on Thursday night by picking exactly the same XI to face Napoli that he did to play United on Sunday. I wouldn't trust him to keep that going for too long though...

Elsewhere, Evanilson is an important part of a good Bournemouth side and has started all 4 games this season. Only Haaland has had more shots than the Brazilian and while his finishing isn't quite at the same level, you've gotta be in it to win it, as they say!

Igor Thiago is now assured of being Brentford's main man up top following their summer exodus and so far he looks like a decent replacement for the goals they've lost. He's been on the pitch for all but 18mins of Brentford's Premier League campaign so far.

Division 1

GW4 Results

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
Hungry Lions	@gvkanten	74	82	Vickoly FC	@vickoly
Shamzy FC	@Shamzy	77	44	samostically	@samostically
FC McKane	@mckane	69	35	nonzy fc	@nonsowrites
Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee	@deniskj	73	68	Hiveheadz	@borran
Red Cards of Rohan	@thoth442	73	64	Steve Herbae	@herbae
Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt	46	65	Jungle squad	@george-dee
Formidable Milano�	@damolexy	61	51	Hijos del VAR	@aaalviarez
Skander	@skanderh	66	50	@blockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl
Spero FC	@sperosamuel15	70	73	Likodra FC	@teofilex11
Legion fc	@b0s	60	64	YAGMAN FC	@yagman01

GW5 Fixtures

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
Likodra FC	@teofilex11	v	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
@blockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl	v	YAGMAN FC	@yagman01
Hijos del VAR	@aaalviarez	v	Legion fc	@b0s
Jungle squad	@george-dee	v	Spero FC	@sperosamuel15
Steve Herbae	@herbae	v	Skander	@skanderh
Hiveheadz	@borran	v	Formidable Milano�	@damolexy
nonzy fc	@nonsowrites	v	Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt
samostically	@samostically	v	Red Cards of Rohan	@thoth442
Vickoly FC	@vickoly	v	Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee	@deniskj
Shamzy FC	@Shamzy	v	FC McKane	@mckane

Division 2

GW4 Results

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
Mighty Fc	@twicejoy	48	54	Rys FC	@omrys5
Bennett's Boys	@olibennett	83	74	PHOENIX FC	@kelvinpeters
WIKE BOYS	@gone-hive	67	81	Micheal Fc	@micheal87
The Cellas	@blanchy	64	75	Rubilu	@rubilu
gentleshaid	@gentleshaid	63	96	SportsNerd	@saif-ul-wahab
Garuda XI	@aditya-p	75	73	Tangram	@desro
HappyBoys FC	@happyboy1	73	61	Hasaaland	@earplugs
Matz Sels Seashells	@doombot75	71	58	Holohive	@acidyo
ARFANTASY FC	@arfa	64	60	Stevenson Fc	@Stevenson7
adewalehafis	@adewaleopeyemi63	77	59	Wongi	@wongi
Funwarriors	@Jmis101	70	76	Corkscrew	@deraaa
K Empire Balls	@kenechukwu97	65	55	Show Not Tel	@jmehta
Teamkoko	@myanmarkoko	60	48	Chrisamuda FC	@hive-world
Eh, No, Ah, Meh.	@stuartcturnbull	77	72	Magical McFizzy	@mcfizzy
Pepzerbi	@pepzerbi	82	44	Working 9 to 5	@aunt-granny
Uwabbs FC	@uwabbs001	69	45	Los Magos del Balón	@el-maestro
Deals on Wheels	@derek-trotter	50	67	Murima	@youngvic
Kingsleyy	@kingsleyy	80	45	Sportin	@depar
Jeremie Ping Pong	@pingpongfrimpong	70	56	Noobmaster69	@workingdad
Könttyrät FC	@pvmihalache	68	34	ThtHive	@tht
valchiz Fc	@valchiz	68	77	racibo	@racibo
Hadji	@hadji	57	68	Newton Heath RFC	@samirich
Emeka4	@emeka4	68	57	Large in the Rear	@chineduokafor
Kelsco FC	@kilvnrex	67	64	TheVulcAns⚓️	@the9thcreator
Queen dynasty	@princess-dara	32	83	Blue Mooners	@leebennett
Itachi FC	@justfavour	55	68	Corner	@artniche
Dapomola Fc	@dapomolaaaa	52	81	Tengo Rangers	@tengolotodo
Blugrana	@ronnie10	56	42	Six and the City	@princekwame
Top 10k?	@elvisking	60	66	Bankai	@belemo
Sutter Kane	@suttercane	73	58	Akatsuki	@seki1
hamzamusic	@Hamza-art	67	55	Cygnus FC	@donjaun
The People's XV	@publioscelta	75	63	Krake99	@kraken99
Amirirans	@amirtheawesome1	68	72	Fire Power	@emekaj

GW5

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
Sutter Kane	@suttercane	v	Mighty Fc	@twicejoy
hamzamusic	@Hamza-art	v	Top 10k?	@elvisking
The People's XV	@publioscelta	v	Blugrana	@ronnie10
Amirirans	@amirtheawesome1	v	Dapomola Fc	@dapomolaaaa
Fire Power	@emekaj	v	Itachi FC	@justfavour
Krake99	@kraken99	v	Queen dynasty	@princess-dara
Cygnus FC	@donjaun	v	Kelsco FC	@kilvnrex
Akatsuki	@seki1	v	Emeka4	@emeka4
Bankai	@belemo	v	Hadji	@hadji
Six and the City	@princekwame	v	valchiz Fc	@valchiz
Tengo Rangers	@tengolotodo	v	Könttyrät FC	@pvmihalache
Corner	@artniche	v	Jeremie Ping Pong	@pingpongfrimpong
Blue Mooners	@leebennett	v	Kingsleyy	@kingsleyy
TheVulcAns⚓️	@the9thcreator	v	Deals on Wheels	@derek-trotter
Large in the Rear	@chineduokafor	v	Uwabbs FC	@uwabbs001
Newton Heath RFC	@samirich	v	Pepzerbi	@pepzerbi
racibo	@racibo	v	Eh, No, Ah, Meh.	@stuartcturnbull
ThtHive	@tht	v	Teamkoko	@myanmarkoko
Noobmaster69	@workingdad	v	K Empire Balls	@kenechukwu97
Sportin	@depar	v	Funwarriors	@Jmis101
Murima	@youngvic	v	adewalehafis	@adewaleopeyemi63
Los Magos del Balón	@el-maestro	v	ARFANTASY FC	@arfa
Working 9 to 5	@aunt-granny	v	Matz Sels Seashells	@doombot75
Magical McFizzy	@mcfizzy	v	HappyBoys FC	@happyboy1
Chrisamuda FC	@hive-world	v	Garuda XI	@aditya-p
Show Not Tel	@jmehta	v	gentleshaid	@gentleshaid
Corkscrew	@deraaa	v	The Cellas	@blanchy
Wongi	@wongi	v	WIKE BOYS	@gone-hive
Stevenson Fc	@Stevenson7	v	Bennett's Boys	@olibennett
Holohive	@acidyo	v	Rys FC	@omrys5
Hasaaland	@earplugs	v	PHOENIX FC	@kelvinpeters
Tangram	@desro	v	Micheal Fc	@micheal87
SportsNerd	@saif-ul-wahab	v	Rubilu	@rubilu

GW5 Player Picks and Tips

Got a free transfer or 2 to use or maybe you're thinking of cashing in a free hit or wildcard. Here are our tips for GW5

Popular players go head to head

This feels like it'll be a tough week in the FPL mainly because so many of the teams that contain popular FPL picks will be going up against each other.

All FPL managers will have experienced that moment of celebration where your players scores only to realise that in doing so, he's just knocked out a clean sheet bonus for another one of your picks!

On one side you have Arsenal whose defenders appears in most FPL squads and on the other Man City's main goal threats in Reijinders and Haaland who are both in over a third of teams.

This is the kind of philosophical conundrum you might experience when an irresistible force meets an immovable object but in FPL terms we know that what it often ending up in is a zero-sum game.

This one might not seem quite as obvious, Liverpool have by far the more popular picks although Grealish's early season form is making him a target for many FPL managers.

That being said Everton have a large of number of popular differentials if that's not a contradiction in terms! Players like Tarkowski, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall and Beto are all in over 5% of FPL squads meaning that the majority of managers have an Everton player even if there's not a clear consensus on which one is best!

Do you stick those Everton players in with the hope that they'll continue their fine start to the season and upset Liverpool while also banking on Salah as your captain?

You'd ordinarily think that an open match with plenty of goals between these 2 would benefit the GW5 points haul but in Sanchez and Cucurella, Chelsea have the 3rd most popular keeper and the 3rd most popular defender.

Meanwhile despite United's struggles in front of goal, Fernandes and/or Mbeumo are in over a third of teams with both being popular replacements for Cole Palmer when he was injured earlier in the season.

Games and players that no one is watching

On the flip side, we've got a couple of fixtures this weekend where there is very little interest from FPL managers based on their current squad make-up.

Fulham vs Brentford where the most popular player is Kelleher (9%) and lets be honest, he's probably the bench keeper in most of those sides. Across both squads, there's not a another player that appears in even 5% of FPL teams.

Wolves vs Leeds is another game that FPL managers have little invested in. Wolves most popular pick is Nathan Fraser, you know, the incredibly talented and guaranteed goal scorer Nathan Fraser who is in 2.1% of teams despite having started just 1 Premier League match in 3 seasons. He, like Leeds' most popular picks in Gudmundsson (5.1%) and Rodon (3.6%), are there simply to fill the bench.

Could these be the places to look for differentials and players whose success is not going to impact the points haul of other assets in your squad?

Schade is the forgotten man of Brentford's forward line last season. While Mbeumo and Wissa deserved their big money moves and the FPL hype, Schade went under the radar with 15 goal involvements from 26 Premier League starts.

He scored against Chelsea last time out and really should have scored against Sunderland prior to that. His non-penalty expected goals for the season then are 1.6 which ranks him 5th amongst all midfielders for the season to date and yet, he's still in only 0.4% of squads.

The uncertainty of how Brentford would go under their new manager and with big changes across the team too plus the £7.0mil price tag have probably put managers off. Then again, people have selected Brenan Johnson (8.1%), Gibbs-White (5.3%), Elanga (6.9%) and Neto (5%) who are all more expensive options that have delivered very little to date suggesting that the bias towards 'big clubs' also plays it's part.

If price is the problem then Brentford also have cheaper options in Dango (£6mil) and Thiago (£6mil) who could both be worth a punt for this weekend in a fixture that historically provides goals!

It might actually be unfair to say that no one is watching this guy because I think a lot of managers do have their eye on him. There was tranfer speculation across the summer and then an early season injury that has quelled that enthusiasm but he's now back in training and has a shiny new contract.

Wolves are bottom and playing like shit but they do have a very nice run of fixtures coming up and with Strand Larsen back in the team then they have the chance to rise and rise quickly. After all, this is a player who scored 14 Premier League goals in his debut season and laid on a further 4 assists. No wonder Newcastle were keen...

Across their next 5 games, Wolves play all 3 promoted sides as well as Spurs and Brighton. His price has dropped too but I wouldn't be surprised if it started to rise again should he play against Leeds (he's rated 75%).

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Who are you picking for GW5?