FPL Gameweek 9 early look: fixtures, swings and transfer targets

FPL Gameweek 9 has a deadline of Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11:00 UK time, the first deadline after the clocks go back. Every club plays once, and the four gameweeks from Gameweek 9 to 12 bring the first clear fixture swings of the season.

This is an early look, published before Gameweek 8 has been played. It is based on the official Gameweek 9 fixture list and FPL's own fixture difficulty ratings, checked on Wednesday 21 October. It does not include Gameweek 9 team news, which is not known yet. We will update it after Gameweek 8; until then, use the Gameweek 8 guide for this weekend's decisions.

The deadline and the clock change

UK clocks go back one hour at 02:00 on Sunday 25 October, in the middle of Gameweek 8. From then on, UK time and UTC are the same, so the Gameweek 9 deadline of 11:00 UK time is 11:00 UTC. If you rely on a phone reminder set during British Summer Time, check that it still fires at the right hour.

Gameweek 9 fixtures

The full list with difficulty ratings will be on the Gameweek 9 fixtures page. Liverpool against Arsenal on Sunday is the game to watch for anyone with a defender from either side: both clubs face a difficulty rating of 4.

Fixture swings from Gameweek 9 to 12

Adding up FPL's difficulty ratings (1 easiest, 5 hardest) for each club's next four fixtures gives a rough guide to who to plan towards. Lower totals mean an easier run.

Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Sunderland also total 11. At the other end, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Fulham total 14. Arsenal (13) go to Anfield in Gameweek 9 and host Manchester City in Gameweek 12, with Hull at home in between.

Difficulty ratings are a blunt tool: they do not account for injuries, form or midweek football. Treat the table as a shortlist, then check each player's expected minutes.

Early transfer targets

These are players to research during the week, not confirmed picks. Their Gameweek 8 minutes and any new injury flags will change the picture.

• Spurs attackers. Spurs have the best run by the ratings and no European fixtures. Marmoush was a 75% doubt with a calf problem on Wednesday, so his fitness after the Chelsea game decides whether he is a target. Maddison is a cheaper way in if he keeps his place.
• Bournemouth. Evanilson has played most of their league minutes up front, and defenders such as Hill and Silva offer a route into a defence facing Leeds, Ipswich, Forest and Fulham. The catch is the Europa League: Bournemouth also play on Thursday 5 November, before Gameweek 10, so expect some rotation.
• Leeds. Calvert-Lewin is already owned by about 23% of managers. Home games against Spurs and Coventry make him a reasonable hold or buy, with a trip to Chelsea in between.
• Crystal Palace and Coventry defenders. Palace's Khalaili and Coventry's Thomas are budget defenders with useful runs. Palace, like Bournemouth and Sunderland, are in the Europa League.
• Aston Villa. Buendía is a low-owned midfielder from a side with home games against Fulham and Sunderland and a trip to Ipswich. Villa play Barcelona in the Champions League on 3 November, so check how they rotate.

Haaland remains the premium anchor: City host Brighton in Gameweek 9 and Fulham in Gameweek 11, though they visit Arsenal in Gameweek 12.

How to use the Gameweek 8 to 9 transfer

You have one free transfer between the two deadlines, and the right use depends on your squad after Gameweek 8:

1. If a starter is ruled out, use the transfer on him, ideally for a player from one of the clubs above.
2. If your squad is healthy, consider rolling the transfer. Two free transfers for Gameweek 9 let you move two players towards the good runs without a points hit.
3. If you plan to wildcard, Gameweek 9 is a sensible time: you can build around the Gameweek 9 to 12 runs and still have time to react before the November international break. The FPL schedule has a two-week gap between the Gameweek 10 deadline on Friday 6 November and the Gameweek 11 deadline on Saturday 21 November.

The planner lets you test transfers across several gameweeks and compare squads before you commit.

What we will add after Gameweek 8

This page will be updated after Gameweek 8 with the team news from the weekend, the Gameweek 9 injury flags and links to the live tips, captain picks and differentials for Gameweek 9. Until then, follow the injury list and predicted lineups, which update as the news changes.