FPL Gameweek 10 Review: Brighton Lead as Returns Improve
Joe Gomez’s 16-point haul headlines gameweek as Brighton lead with 7.27 average while returns improve marginally to 34.3%.
Gameweek 10 brought marginal improvement in returns distribution after GW9’s compression, with 34.3% of players achieving more than 2 points. Our live FPL tracker analyzed all 303 players and identified solid performances from Brighton, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace leading the way. Multiple clean sheets rewarded defensive investors while Haaland’s return to form provided captain security. Here are the essential insights for capitalizing on improving trends and optimizing your FPL captain picks.
Top Performers by Position
Elite returns remained somewhat compressed, but quality performers delivered solid hauls across positions.
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno & Giorgi Mamardashvili (7pts each)
Two goalkeepers shared modest honors with 7 points each from clean sheets. Leno delivered for Fulham in their 2-0 home victory over Wolves, while Mamardashvili kept his sheet clean. The reduced goalkeeper returns reflect the overall compressed scoring, though consistent clean sheets from reliable keepers continue providing foundational points.
Defender: Gabriel (12pts)
Arsenal’s Gabriel delivered an excellent 12-point return in their commanding 2-0 away victory at Burnley. Combining a clean sheet with attacking contributions, this performance showcases why premium defenders from top teams remain essential for fantasy premier league managers. Arsenal’s defensive consistency (6.92 average) makes their backline safe premium holdings for FPL tools users seeking reliable returns.
Midfielder: Joe Gomez (16pts) ⭐
The performance of the gameweek. Gomez delivered an exceptional 16-point haul, demonstrating the explosive potential of premium midfielders from in-form teams. While not matching Mbeumo’s season-high 23 points from GW9, this return showcases why elite midfielders continue offering the best upside for explosive gameweeks. Essential analysis for any manager using comprehensive analysis tools.
Forward: Erling Haaland (13pts)
The Norwegian delivered another solid return with 13 points in Manchester City’s 3-1 home victory over Bournemouth. After returns of 13pts (GW4), 16pts (GW6), and now 13pts (GW10), Haaland is demonstrating the consistency that makes him essential for serious FPL captain picks consideration. His reliability at the Etihad against mid-table opposition makes him a safe premium option.
Team Performance Analysis
Best Performing Teams
Brighton & Hove Albion (7.27 average) ⭐
The Seagulls delivered the gameweek’s dominant performance with an excellent 7.27 average following their commanding 3-0 home victory over Leeds. Brighton’s home form at the Amex Stadium continues to impress, making their assets attractive options for favorable home fixtures. Their attacking threat combined with defensive solidity offers multiple routes to points for FPL tracker users seeking reliable differential options.
Arsenal (6.92 average)
The Gunners maintained their consistent form with a 6.92 average in their comfortable 2-0 away victory at Burnley. Led by Gabriel’s 12-point defensive masterclass, Arsenal have now delivered 6.92+ averages in multiple gameweeks, demonstrating the reliability that makes their assets premium holdings. Their defensive solidity combined with attacking efficiency makes them essential coverage for fantasy premier league tools users.
Crystal Palace (6.83 average)
Palace delivered an impressive 6.83 average in their narrow 1-0 home victory over Brentford. Their home form at Selhurst Park remains strong (6.83 vs Brentford, 5.01 vs Liverpool in GW8), making Palace home assets worth considering in favorable fixtures. Their defensive organization provides clean sheet potential while offering attacking threat.
Fulham (6.67 average)
The Cottagers’ comfortable 2-0 home victory over Wolves delivered a solid 6.67 average. Fulham’s home form at Craven Cottage makes them interesting differential sources, particularly when facing weaker opposition at home. Leno’s clean sheet combined with attacking returns showcases their balanced potential.
Teams to Avoid
Wolverhampton Wanderers (1.25 average) ⚠️
Wolves suffered the gameweek’s worst performance with a disastrous 1.25 average in their 2-0 away defeat at Fulham. This marks another in a long line of poor performances throughout the season, establishing them as one of the most reliable teams to avoid for asset selection. They’ve become prime targets for opposing FPL captain picks, with their lack of attacking threat and defensive vulnerabilities making them easy prey for quality opposition.
Aston Villa (1.55 average)
Villa’s heavy 2-0 away defeat at Liverpool resulted in a disappointing 1.55 average. After their impressive 6.12 home victory over City in GW9, this regression demonstrates the dangers of chasing form without considering fixtures. Villa’s away record remains concerning for managers considering their assets on the road.
Brentford (1.92 average) & Leeds United (1.92 average)
Both teams averaged 1.92 points after defeats. Brentford’s 1-0 away loss at Crystal Palace continues their extreme volatility (ranging from 1.92 to 6.56 this season), while Leeds’ heavy 3-0 away defeat at Brighton extends their poor away form. Neither team offers reliable assets without careful fixture analysis.
Burnley (2.10 average)
The Clarets’ 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal saw them average just 2.10 points. After their impressive 7.21 average in GW8, Burnley have regressed with consecutive poor performances (2.10 in GW10), demonstrating ongoing inconsistency that makes timing their assets extremely challenging.
Key FPL Statistics - Marginal Improvement
Of the 303 players who featured in Gameweek 10:
- 34.3% (104 players) returned more than 2 points - slight improvement from GW9’s 32.8%
- 22.8% (69 players) achieved 5+ point returns - significant improvement from GW9’s 19.4%
These statistics show returns improving marginally, with the percentage of players achieving 5+ points showing the most notable uptick. While still below the GW4 peak (44.6% greater than 2pts, 25.2% greater than or equal to 5pts), the trend suggests returns are stabilizing after the compressed GW5-9 period. Using comprehensive fantasy premier league tools to identify the improving performers (Brighton, Arsenal, Haaland) becomes crucial for capitalizing on this positive shift.
Notable Results & Talking Points
Manchester City Find Form at Home
City’s comfortable 3-1 home victory over Bournemouth (5.11 vs 3.11) showcased their Etihad dominance. Haaland’s 13-point haul combined with clean sheet contributions demonstrates why City’s home fixtures offer safe captain opportunities. Their venue split (strong at home, inconsistent away) requires careful fixture planning for best FPL tools users.
Liverpool Maintain Home Fortress
The Reds’ 2-0 home victory over Aston Villa (6.28 vs 1.55) continued their strong home form. After struggling away from Anfield, Liverpool’s home performances suggest their premium assets should be rotated based on venue. The clean sheet combined with attacking returns makes Anfield fixtures attractive for Liverpool coverage.
Chelsea’s Away Clean Sheet
Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 away victory at Tottenham (6.39 vs 2.74) was impressive defensively. The Blues’ clean sheet on the road suggests their defensive assets could offer value, though their season-long inconsistency means careful fixture analysis remains essential before investing heavily.
Multiple Draws Compress Returns
Two 1-1 draws (Sunderland vs Everton, Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United) and a 2-2 draw (Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United actually) limited attacking returns for several teams. These stalemates contributed to the compressed returns, emphasizing the value of defensive coverage from clean sheet teams.
Tactical Takeaways for FPL Managers
1. Clean Sheets Offer Reliability
Multiple teams kept clean sheets (Brighton 3-0, Arsenal 2-0, Liverpool 2-0, Palace 1-0, Chelsea 1-0, Fulham 2-0), rewarding defensive investors. Premium defenders from top teams (Gabriel’s 12pts) continue offering excellent value when their teams dominate. In compressed gameweeks, clean sheet points provide more reliability than chasing explosive attacking hauls.
2. Haaland Remains Essential
With returns of 13pts (GW4), 16pts (GW6), and 13pts (GW10), Haaland is demonstrating consistency that separates him from other premium forwards. His home form at the Etihad makes him the safest FPL captain picks option when City have favorable home fixtures. Don’t overthink captaincy when Haaland faces weaker opposition at home.
3. Home Form Patterns Clear
Brighton (7.27 at home), Palace (6.83 at home), Liverpool (6.28 at home), and Fulham (6.67 at home) all delivered strong home returns. Use FPL tools to analyze venue-specific performance and rotate assets based on home/away fixtures rather than holding them permanently regardless of location.
4. Some Teams Consistently Fail
Wolves (1.25 average), Aston Villa away (1.55), Leeds away (1.92), and Brentford away (1.92) have established clear patterns of underperformance in certain contexts. Systematically avoid these teams’ assets in unfavorable situations and target them with captain picks when your attackers face them.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Priorities
Based on Gameweek 10 data and sustained patterns, consider these strategic moves for your FPL squad:
Priority Targets
Manchester City’s Haaland remains essential (13pts, consistent home form), Arsenal defensive coverage for reliability (Gabriel’s 12pts, 6.92 average), Brighton home assets after their 7.27 average performance, Liverpool coverage for Anfield fixtures (6.28 average), and consider Crystal Palace home specialists (6.83 average vs Brentford) for favorable Selhurst Park fixtures.
Consider Offloading
Wolverhampton assets immediately - season-long disaster (1.25 average), Aston Villa players for away fixtures given their struggles on the road (1.55 away at Liverpool), Leeds assets for away games (1.92 at Brighton), Brentford players given extreme volatility (1.92 away at Palace), and Burnley after regression from 7.21 to 2.10 average.
Differential Options
Chelsea defensive assets after clean sheet away at Spurs (6.39 average), Fulham home specialists (6.67 average with clean sheet), West Ham showing improvement (4.56 average), Gomez after his 16-point haul if reasonably owned, and Manchester United away form improving (3.64 at Forest with draw).
Monitor Closely
Tottenham struggling at home (2.74 vs Chelsea), Nottingham Forest’s inconsistency continues (3.82 home draw vs United), Bournemouth away struggles (3.11 at City), and Everton’s mixed form (3.10 away draw at Sunderland). Wait for clearer patterns before heavy investment in these sides.
Navigate Improving Returns with FPL Pulse
Gameweek 10’s improvement to 34.3% achieving greater than 2pts and 22.8% hitting 5+ points signals positive trends ahead. FPL Pulse provides the comprehensive live FPL tracking and analysis you need to identify elite performers like Gomez (16pts) and Haaland (13pts) before returns stabilize further.
From tracking home form patterns (Brighton 7.27, Arsenal 6.92, Palace 6.83) to identifying consistent failures (Wolves 1.25, Villa away 1.55) and monitoring premium assets’ venue splits (Haaland at Etihad, Liverpool at Anfield), our suite of fantasy premier league tools helps you make smarter decisions as the season progresses. Stay ahead with better data.
FAQs
- Who were the top performers in FPL Gameweek 10?
- Joe Gomez delivered the gameweek’s best performance with 16 midfield points. Gabriel returned 12 points for Arsenal’s defense, while Erling Haaland led forwards with 13 points in Man City’s 3-1 home win. Leno and Mamardashvili both kept clean sheets for 7 goalkeeper points.
- Which teams had the best average points in GW10?
- Brighton led with a 7.27 average following their impressive 3-0 home victory over Leeds. Arsenal (6.92) and Crystal Palace (6.83) also delivered excellent returns with clean sheet wins.
- Should I transfer in Brighton assets after GW10?
- Brighton’s 7.27 average and commanding 3-0 home win make their assets attractive, particularly at the Amex Stadium where they excel. Their attacking threat combined with defensive solidity at home offers multiple routes to points for FPL managers.
- Why are Wolverhampton the worst team this season?
- Wolves recorded the gameweek’s worst performance with a 1.25 average in their 2-0 away defeat at Fulham. They’ve now consistently underperformed throughout the season, making them one of the most reliable teams to avoid for FPL assets and target with captain picks.