FPL Gameweek 27 Review: O'Reilly Headlines, Arsenal Thrash Spurs
Nico O'Reilly's 17-point defensive brace leads the way as Arsenal demolish Spurs 4-1 and six teams keep clean sheets across the gameweek.
Gameweek 27 delivered another entertaining round of fixtures with 21 goals across 10 matches. Our live FPL tracker captured all the action as away teams dominated with 14 goals compared to just 7 for home sides. The standout was Man City's O'Reilly scoring twice from defence, while Arsenal's attacking firepower crushed Spurs in the North London Derby. Here are the essential insights for optimizing your FPL captain picks going forward.
Top Performers by Position
Defensive contributions stole the headlines this week, with O'Reilly's brace and Henderson's heroics leading the way across six clean sheets.
Goalkeeper: Henderson (16pts) & Hermansen (10pts) ⭐
Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson delivered a sensational 16-point return with a clean sheet, 7 saves, and maximum 3 bonus in their disciplined 1-0 home victory over Wolves. Mads Hermansen (10pts) impressed for West Ham with a clean sheet and 5 saves in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. Petrović (9pts) kept Bournemouth solid with his own clean sheet in the same fixture.
Defender: O'Reilly (17pts) ⭐⭐⭐
The performance of the gameweek. Man City's Nico O'Reilly delivered a stunning 17-point haul with two goals from defence and maximum bonus in their 2-1 home victory over Newcastle. Tyrick Mitchell (11pts) provided Crystal Palace value with an assist, clean sheet, and 2 bonus. Virgil van Dijk (11pts) assisted Mac Allister's winner for Liverpool with another clean sheet.
Midfielder: Eze (14pts) & Mac Allister (13pts) ⭐
Eberechi Eze delivered a 14-point return with a brace and 2 bonus in Arsenal's demolition of Spurs. Mac Allister (13pts) scored the winner at Forest with a clean sheet and maximum bonus for Liverpool. Alex Iwobi (13pts) was Fulham's standout with a goal and assist in their 3-1 victory at Sunderland. Anton Stach (11pts) scored Leeds' equalizer at Villa with clean sheet bonus.
Forward: Gyokeres (13pts) & Raúl (11pts) ⭐
Viktor Gyokeres delivered a 13-point brace with maximum bonus in Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 away win at Spurs. Raúl Jiménez (11pts) scored twice for Fulham in their 3-1 away victory at Sunderland. Danny Welbeck (9pts) found the net for Brighton in their 2-0 win at Brentford with clean sheet bonus. Benjamin Šeško (8pts) scored Man United's winner at Everton off the bench.
Team Performance Analysis
Best Performing Teams
Crystal Palace (5.31 avg) ⭐
Crystal Palace delivered the gameweek's best team average with their professional 1-0 home victory over Wolves. Henderson's 16-point masterclass anchored the display while Mitchell and Muñoz both contributed clean sheet returns. Guessand's goal sealed the points in a disciplined performance.
Brighton (4.93 avg)
Brighton secured an impressive 2-0 away victory at Brentford with Diego Gómez (10pts) and Welbeck (9pts) both finding the net. Verbruggen kept a clean sheet while Van Hecke and Kadiòglu provided solid defensive value. Brighton's away form continues to impress.
Man United (4.92 avg)
Man United ground out a vital 1-0 away win at Everton with Šeško scoring the winner off the bench (8pts). Lammens (9pts) impressed in goal with a clean sheet and 4 saves. Mbeumo's assist and the defensive solidity made this a valuable clean sheet gameweek for United owners.
Liverpool (4.47 avg)
Liverpool continued their title charge with a disciplined 1-0 away victory at Nottingham Forest. Mac Allister's winner (13pts), assisted by Virgil (11pts), secured three points. Konaté (9pts) anchored the defence as Liverpool kept another crucial clean sheet.
Teams to Avoid
Brentford (1.50 avg) ⚠️
Brentford suffered the gameweek's most disappointing result with a 0-2 home defeat to Brighton. The Bees failed to score and kept no clean sheet, delivering minimal returns across the board. Their home form raises serious concerns for FPL managers.
Everton (1.85 avg)
Everton's 0-1 home defeat to Man United continues their struggles at Goodison Park. Zero goals scored and no clean sheet meant minimal FPL returns. Their defensive vulnerabilities and lack of attacking threat makes their assets difficult to justify.
Spurs (2.55 avg)
Spurs were humiliated at home by Arsenal, losing 1-4 in the North London Derby. Kolo Muani's consolation (5pts) provided the only meaningful return. Conceding four goals at home against rivals raises serious questions about their defensive structure.
Sunderland (1.94 avg)
Sunderland's 1-3 home defeat to Fulham exposed their defensive frailties. Le Fée's goal (10pts) was a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing display. Conceding three at home against mid-table opposition is concerning for their FPL assets.
North London Derby: Arsenal 4-1 Spurs
Arsenal delivered a statement performance in the North London Derby, thrashing Spurs 4-1 away from home:
- Eberechi Eze (14pts): Two goals and 2 bonus in a dominant attacking display from the midfielder.
- Viktor Gyokeres (13pts): Brace with maximum 3 bonus, continuing his excellent form since joining Arsenal.
- Creative contributions: Timber, Saka, and Ødegaard all provided assists in the attacking masterclass.
- Spurs collapse: Kolo Muani's consolation (5pts) was the only return for home owners as the defence crumbled.
Key FPL Statistics - Six Clean Sheets
Gameweek 27 featured 10 matches with away teams dominant:
- 21 goals scored across all fixtures (7 home, 14 away)
- 6 clean sheets - Crystal Palace, Brighton, Liverpool, West Ham, Bournemouth, Man United
- Away dominance - 14 away goals vs 7 home goals
- Top scorer: Nico O'Reilly with 17 points from defence
The six clean sheets rewarded defensive investments heavily, while away teams found the net more frequently. Using comprehensive fantasy premier league tools to identify fixture-proof performers remains crucial for the run-in.
Notable Results & Talking Points
O'Reilly Scores Brace From Defence
The headline performance of the gameweek saw Nico O'Reilly score both Man City goals in their 2-1 home victory over Newcastle. A 17-point haul from a defender is exceptional value, with Marmoush and Haaland providing the assists. Hall scored Newcastle's consolation.
Henderson Makes 7 Saves in Crystal Palace Win
Dean Henderson's 16-point display demonstrated the value of save-heavy goalkeepers. Seven saves alongside a clean sheet and maximum bonus in Palace's 1-0 win over Wolves made him the top goalkeeper of the week. Guessand scored the winner with Mitchell assisting.
Fulham Thrash Sunderland 3-1 Away
Fulham delivered an impressive away performance at Sunderland with Raúl Jiménez's brace (11pts) and Iwobi's goal and assist (13pts) leading the way. Harry Wilson's assist (8pts) and Bassey's contribution from defence added value. Le Fée scored Sunderland's consolation.
Liverpool Grind Out Win at Forest
Liverpool's 1-0 away victory at Nottingham Forest was a title-charge defining result. Mac Allister's winner (13pts) assisted by Virgil (11pts) secured the points while Konaté (9pts) anchored another clean sheet. Forest's home form continues to struggle.
Tactical Takeaways for FPL Managers
1. Attacking Defenders Delivering
O'Reilly's 17-point brace from defence demonstrates the explosive potential of attacking full-backs. Mitchell, Virgil, and Kadiòglu all provided attacking returns alongside clean sheets. Prioritize defenders with set-piece and crossing threat.
2. Save-Heavy Goalkeepers Valuable
Henderson's 7 saves contributed significantly to his 16-point haul. Goalkeepers facing shot-heavy opponents can outscore clean sheet specialists. Consider fixture difficulty and expected shots when selecting keepers.
3. Arsenal Attack Clicking
Four goals against Spurs with Eze and Gyokeres both scoring braces showcases Arsenal's firepower. Timber, Saka, and Ødegaard all contributed assists. Arsenal attackers look essential for the run-in despite fixture rotation risks.
4. Away Teams Dominating
14 away goals vs 7 home goals suggests away form is particularly strong this week. Brighton, Fulham, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man United all won away. Consider targeting players with favorable away fixtures.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Priorities
Based on Gameweek 27 data, consider these strategic moves for your FPL squad:
Priority Targets
Liverpool defenders for clean sheet potential (Virgil 11pts, Konaté 9pts), Arsenal attackers (Eze 14pts, Gyokeres 13pts), Mac Allister for consistent midfield returns (13pts), and Henderson for save-heavy goalkeeper value (16pts). Prioritize players with attacking upside.
Consider Offloading
Spurs assets after the 1-4 home humiliation, Brentford players after 0-2 home defeat, Everton options after another goalless home loss, and Sunderland defenders who conceded three at home. Reallocate to teams demonstrating consistency.
Differential Options
O'Reilly for Man City defensive attacking threat (17pts), Iwobi as Fulham's in-form midfielder (13pts), Diego Gómez for Brighton midfield value (10pts), and Šeško as Man United super-sub option (8pts). Monitor ownership levels before price rises.
Monitor Closely
Crystal Palace form with Henderson heroics and Mitchell returns, Brighton away form after another convincing win, Man City attacking structure with O'Reilly emergence, and Liverpool's title push momentum. Wait for patterns to emerge over coming weeks.
Maximize Returns with FPL Pulse
Gameweek 27's defensive dominance and O'Reilly's explosive 17-point haul confirm meaningful gains remain available for prepared FPL managers. FPL Pulse provides the comprehensive live FPL tracking you need to identify performers before ownership rises.
From tracking elite performances (O'Reilly 17pts, Henderson 16pts, Eze 14pts) to identifying form patterns (Arsenal attack, Liverpool clean sheets, Crystal Palace defence) and monitoring consistent performers, our suite of fantasy premier league tools helps you make smarter decisions in competitive conditions.
FAQs
- Who were the top performers in FPL Gameweek 27?
- Nico O'Reilly delivered the gameweek's highest score with 17 points, scoring twice from defence for Man City against Newcastle. Dean Henderson (16pts) made 7 saves for Crystal Palace's clean sheet. Eberechi Eze (14pts) scored a brace in Arsenal's 4-1 thrashing of Spurs, while Viktor Gyokeres (13pts) also scored twice in the same match.
- How did Arsenal perform against Spurs in Gameweek 27?
- Arsenal dominated the North London Derby with a comprehensive 4-1 away victory at Spurs. Eberechi Eze scored twice (14pts), Viktor Gyokeres added a brace (13pts), with assists from Timber, Saka, and Odegaard. Kolo Muani scored Spurs' consolation in a disappointing home display.
- Which teams kept clean sheets in GW27?
- Six teams kept clean sheets: Brighton (2-0 vs Brentford), Crystal Palace (1-0 vs Wolves), Liverpool (1-0 at Forest), West Ham (0-0 vs Bournemouth), Bournemouth (0-0 at West Ham), and Man United (1-0 at Everton). This made defensive assets particularly valuable.
- What was the average score in Gameweek 27?
- The gameweek saw 21 goals across 10 matches, with away teams dominant scoring 14 goals compared to just 7 for home sides. Crystal Palace led the team averages with 5.31 points per player, followed by Brighton (4.93) and Man United (4.92).