The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 22 of the 2025/26 season.
Gameweek 22 is here, and FPL managers everywhere are sweating over those crucial transfers as the season hits its crunch phase. With the Premier League table tightening up and some enticing fixtures on the horizon, the time feels right to load up on players who can smash it against favorable matchups. It is that magic moment where form, fixtures, and a bit of FPL luck collide to boost your mini-league ranking before the next international break messes with everything.
Nottingham Forest have been dodgy at both ends all season, Burnley cannot find the net reliably away, Everton look lost without a real plan, Brentford swing hot and cold, and Chelsea’s defence is a highlight reel of blunders. Arsenal and Liverpool especially love bullying mid-table sides at home, setting the stage for defenders and midfielders to feast on clean sheets, bonuses, and attacking returns.
The beauty of Gameweek 22 lies in its balance too; not too many blanks or doubles yet, just straight-up chances for smart transfers to pay off big. Whether you are wildcarding, free-hitting, or just dipping into that bank, targeting guys with recent hauls and nailed roles makes sense.
Midfielders pushing forward, strikers on streaks, and rock-solid centre-backs with set-piece threats dominate our radar this week. These picks are not gambles; they are backed by form streaks, opponent weaknesses, and that FPL points history showing they are built for blowouts.
We have zeroed in on five absolute must-considers: Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, and Brentford’s Igor Thiago. Each brings something special against their GW22 foes, blending safety with sky-high upside. Let’s dive deep into why they’re primed to deliver hauls that’ll have your rivals checking their phones in panic.
Gabriel Magalhaes: Arsenal’s rock returns strong
Gabriel Magalhaes has been unbelievable since shaking off that nagging groin injury that kept him out for chunks of late 2025. Back in the lineup, he has locked down Arsenal’s backline like a wall few can climb, racking up crucial blocks, clearances, even chipping in with goals from set pieces.
In 15 Premier League games this season, he hs already notched 3 goals and contributed to a total of 5 goal involvements, averaging solid points per match that highlight his all-around threat. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have leaked goals all season, sitting with shaky defensive metrics where their centre-backs struggle to handle aerial duels and concede high xG from crosses.
His history in FPL tells a story of reliability too. Last season, he hauled in consistent double-digit scores during Arsenal’s title push, blending clean sheets with bonus points from his no-nonsense defending. This match-up screams opportunity: Nottingham Forest’s attack has underperformed their chances, but their defence gifts points to set-piece kings like Gabriel. Expect him to boss the box and deliver a captaincy contender performance.
Jeremie Frimpong: Liverpool’s right-back lock
Jeremie Frimpong needs to step up big time for Liverpool as they host a blunt Burnley side in Gameweek 22. With Conor Bradley sidelined for the season after that brutal knee injury needing surgery, Frimpong is nailed on at right-back, free to bomb forward and rack up attacking returns.
Burnley’s attack has been all over the place this season, mixing flashes of goals from wingers with long dry spells, averaging low xG and failing to convert chances consistently. Frimpong’s recent FPL form backs this up. In only 390 minutes for Liverpool, he has grabbed four assists, showing he is adapting fast to the big stage.
Liverpool’s home dominance against weaker attacks like Burnley’s sets him up for easy clean sheet points plus upside from crosses into the box. Managers ignoring his price tag rise are missing out on a differential who could haul 10+ points effortlessly.
Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa’s advanced midfield menace
Morgan Rogers is turning heads as Aston Villa’s go-to midfielder, playing higher up the park where he can grab goals, assists, and bonus like candy. Facing Everton, a team that is defensively wobbly and leaks chances in transition, his role amplifies the appeal for Gameweek 22.
Rogers has exploded this season, with hauls like 15 points thrice from double-digit goal involvement games, totaling 101 points already and rising in value. The Englishman’s advanced positioning means shots, key passes, and penalties come his way often, especially against Everton’s mid-table mess where they have struggled to contain creative midfielders.
Last season’s breakout with 8 goals and 11 assists proves he is no fluke, and this fixture lines up perfectly for another big score. Pick Rogers if you want a midfielder who attacks with freedom and punishes shaky defenses.
Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea’s midfield maestro
Enzo Fernandez brings control and creativity to Chelsea’s midfield, making him a sneaky pick against an inconsistent Brentford. The Bees have chopped and changed under Keith Andrews, with results swinging wildly, even though Igor Thiago’s goals have propped them up to fifth.
Fernandez has shone a mainstay for Chelsea this season, chipping in with 6 goals and 2 assists alongside strong passing stats. Brentford’s setup away from home plays right into his hands, so expect Fernandez to dictate play, nab bonus from tackles, and maybe snag a goal or assist in the chaos.
The Argentine midfielder’s career record at Chelsea, with steady returns building to 15 goals and 13 assists overall in the Premier League, screams reliability for this spot. He is the engine FPL teams need for midfield stability with explosive potential.
Igor Thiago: Brentford’s hot streak striker
Igor Thiago is on fire up top for Brentford, and Chelsea’s defensive woes make him a must-have for Gameweek 22. The Blues have coughed up unnecessary goals from silly errors and poor organisation, handing strikers like Thiago golden chances. He has bagged 16 Premier League goals already, including a penalty and winner lately, proving his clinical edge this term.
Th Brazilian striker’s form sets up long-term joy too, as he is fit and firing after a rough start while shouldering Brentford’s attack against a Chelsea side prone to lapses. Recent hauls show double-digit figures when defences slip, and this fixture smells like a hat-trick watch. Thiago is your ticket to forward firepower without the premium price.
FPL Transfer Recommendations at a Glance
| Player | Club | Opponent | Main Appeal | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Magalhaes | Arsenal | Nottingham Forest (A) | Set-piece threat + weak attack facing | Low |
| Jeremie Frimpong | Liverpool | Burnley (H) | Nailed starter vs blunt offence | Low |
| Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa | Everton (H) | Advanced role vs leaky defence | Medium |
| Enzo Fernandez | Chelsea | Brentford (H) | Midfield control vs inconsistent side | Medium |
| Igor Thiago | Brentford | Chelsea (A) | In-form goals vs error-prone backline | Medium |
Honourable Mentions
Keep an eye on these for under-the-radar options: Trevoh Chalobah for Chelsea defensive cover, Matty Cash for potential offensive haul from a defender, Declan Rice being the Arsenal engine, Florian Wirtz amid his improving form, Rayan Cherki for his flair and creativity, Dominic Calvert-Lewin amid his exceptional run, and Jarrod Bowen for a potential haul against the dreadful Tottenham defence.