Bet9ja FPL Picks & Prizes: Who to Choose for GW9 + Early Deadline!

The Premier League returns on Friday night with Leeds vs West Ham kicking off Gameweek 9 – meaning an early FPL deadline at 18:30.

With title races heating up and FPL mini-leagues tighter than ever, every point – and every deadline – matters.

Gameweek 9 Fixtures

Leeds v West Ham
Chelsea v Sunderland
Newcastle v Fulham
Man Utd v Brighton
Brentford v Liverpool
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
Wolves v Burnley
Everton v Spurs

FPL Gameweek 9: XI To Watch | Formation: 3-5-2

Goalkeeper: Nick Pope (£5.2m)

Newcastle have quietly become one of the league’s strongest defensive sides, conceding only seven goals across eight games and ranking second for expected goals against (xGA) behind Arsenal.

Pope has 43 points so far this season (over 5 per game) and has made 3+ saves in five of eight matches, meaning he’s consistently picking up extra points. Fulham, meanwhile, have scored just eight goals this season, and created only 0.44xG in their last outing against Arsenal. A home clean sheet looks well within reach.

Defenders

Reece James (Chelsea) £5.4m
Reece James looks to be finding form again, and with Malo Gusto suspended, he’s nailed for 90 minutes against Sunderland. His advanced positioning is paying off — three assists already, seven shots, and a goal in Gameweek 8. James also has five of his next eight fixtures rated 2 on the FDR scale, making him a longer-term investment. His new hybrid midfield role increases attacking potential and bonus point chances.

Gabriel (Arsenal) £6.4m
Even with Palace’s ability to frustrate big teams, Arsenal’s defensive record is too strong to ignore. The Gunners have conceded the fewest xGA in the league and Gabriel remains the most dangerous of their defenders at set pieces. With an assist last week and a goal in Europe midweek, he’s offering genuine attacking returns again. High ownership makes him essential to avoid rank damage.

• 222 Arsenal appearances
• 22 Arsenal goals
• 2 Arsenal goals this season

Gabriel Magalhães is 2 good ???pic.twitter.com/uYE20GZ1vj

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Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) £5.0m
If you want a consistent, under-the-radar defender, Senesi is your man. Bournemouth have conceded only seven goals in their last six, and Senesi ranks fifth among defenders for points over that period. He’s top among all defenders for defensive contributions (79) and offers bonus point potential whenever the Cherries keep a clean sheet. With Forest scoring just once in their last six, this looks a great fixture to back him.

Midfielders

Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) £7.5m
Gakpo has become Liverpool’s most consistent attacking outlet, with five goal involvements in seven starts. He leads all Liverpool midfielders for shots (21) and ranks joint-second for chances created (17) in the league. He hit the woodwork three times last weekend and looks due a big haul. With Brentford struggling defensively, Gakpo is a strong differential for those priced out of Salah.

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) £8.9m
Bruno’s form hasn’t yet matched his underlying numbers – and that’s what makes him worth holding. Averaging 0.71 expected goal involvements per 90, Fernandes is still central to everything United do creatively. He’s created 16 chances in his last six and should have more assists to his name. United’s attack ranks second for xG this season, and with Brighton yet to keep a clean sheet, Bruno could easily return double figures this week.

Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd) £8.0m
Playing alongside Bruno has brought the best out of Mbeumo, who’s been one of United’s steadiest performers since joining. Two goals and an assist don’t tell the full story, he’s heavily involved in transition play and continues to post strong underlying numbers. Brighton’s mid-table defensive record presents a good chance for attacking returns.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) £8.8m
The top-scoring midfielder in FPL, Semenyo’s form speaks for itself. His pace and directness have made him unplayable at times, and he’s been key to Bournemouth’s resurgence. Forest’s leaky defence and poor away record make this another prime opportunity for him to deliver.

Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) £6.7m
After a goal and assist haul in midweek against Ajax, Enzo is thriving in Palmer’s absence. His more advanced role has unlocked his creativity – he’s averaging an expected goal involvement every 61 minutes. Sunderland at home offers another great chance for attacking returns, especially with Chelsea’s recent attacking confidence.

Forwards

Nick Woltemade (Newcastle) £7.4m
The German striker has settled perfectly into Eddie Howe’s system. Four goals in five league starts show his finishing quality, and his penalty responsibility (when Gordon is off) adds extra value. Newcastle’s upcoming fixture run is among the league’s best, and Fulham’s defensive lapses make him a prime pick this weekend.

Erling Haaland (Man City) £14.7m
The Norwegian remains unplayable. Twelve straight games with a goal across competitions, and he leads all players for shots in the box (26) and big chances (13). Villa away is no easy game, but when Haaland’s in this kind of rhythm, form trumps fixtures. He’s the easiest captaincy call of Gameweek 9.

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FPL Prizes: Who Will Take the Cash This Month?

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N200,000 – 1st place
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September’s winners were:

• 1st: Babskay FC (Oluwakayode Babawale) – 262 pts
• 2nd: FPL Elisha (ELISHA AMOS) – 236 pts
• 3rd: Gnext (Felix Olatunji) – 232 pts

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FPL is heating up as managers prepare for GW9 – but the weekend action doesn’t stop there. Bet on the Premier League now with Bet9ja and make your football weekend even bigger