Fantasy Football Gameweek 18: Buy, Sell, Injury Report

As we approach the Premier League’s 18th Fantasy Football Matchweek, scheduled from Friday, December 26, to Sunday, December 28, it will be important for FPL managers to strategize effectively to maximize their points.

Here are some FPL tips to help you make the right decisions for your squad.

Fantasy Football 18 Game Schedule

Fantasy Football deadlines for Gameweek 18 are Friday, December 26, 18:30 GMT.

Friday, December 26

• Manchester United vs Newcastle (20:00 GMT)

Saturday, December 27

• Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
• Armory vs Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00 GMT)
• Brentford vs Bournemouth (15:00 GMT)
• Burnley vs Everton (15:00 GMT)
• Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (15:00 GMT)
• West Ham United vs Fulham (15:00 GMT)
• Chelsea vs Aston Villa (18:30 GMT)

Monday, December 22

• Sunderland vs Leeds United (14:00 GMT)
• Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur (16:30 GMT)

Injury and Suspension Updates to Watch For

Bruno Fernandes suffered a rare injury. The Manchester United midfielder suffered a hamstring injury during their recent defeat to Aston Villa, and will be out for several weeks.

Another famous player who suffered an injury in the previous gameweek was Liverpool’s Alexander Isak. After scoring against Tottenham last time out, he will be sidelined with an ankle injury for some time to come. Teammate Cody Gakpo is out with a muscle injury, and is unlikely to feature against Wolves. Liverpool will be missing another player, with Dominik Szoboszlai suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Also from the same match, Tottenham’s Xavi Simons saw a red card, making him unavailable for selection until the Bournemouth match.

Chelsea on the other hand has positive news, with the return of Liam Delap (shoulder injury) and Estevao (muscle injury) ahead of the crucial match against Aston Villa.

Must-Have FPL Picks

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are having an up-and-down season, and facing bottom-of-the-table Wolves in Gameweek 18 may be a much-needed boost heading into the new year. Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) stands as a solid pick for FPL this gameweek.

Man City faced a struggling Nottingham Forest, leaving out players like Phil Foden (£9.0m), Erling Haaland (£15.1m) and Josko Gvardiol (£6.0m) as a profitable option.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa will be a tough game to decide, and for Fantasy Football Matchweek 18, FPL managers will have to be careful in who they pick from this fixture. England’s best number 10 player, Morgan Rogers (£7.3m) from Aston Villa, is a favourite. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£10.4m) is another great option.

Regardless of his club’s performance, Antoine Semenyo (£7.7m) is a valuable option from Bournemouth. Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace (£5.3m), Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.3m), Igor Thiago of Brentford (£7.1m), Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds (£5.8m) and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) is another player to consider for Gameweek 18.

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FPL Captain’s Choice

• Erling Haaland or Phil Foden (Nottingham Forest vs City of Man)
• Morgan Rogers (Chelsea vs Aston Villa)
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool vs Wolf)

Strategic Considerations

Monitor Press Conference: Last-minute injury updates and team news can significantly influence your decision. Stay informed to make transfers on time.

By keeping up to date with the latest news and being strategic in your Fantasy Football transfers and captain selection, you can face the challenges of Premier League Matchweek 18 and improve your FPL performance.

Main Photo

Credit: IMAGO / Media Every Second

Recording Date: 20.12.2025