FPL Gameweek 35 Review: Awoniyi 16pts (0.3%), Man Utd Stun Liverpool, Haaland Trap II
A goal-fest gameweek delivered the differential of the season as Forest's £5.2m forward outscored every premium — and Haaland captains were burned for the second week running.
Gameweek 35 was a full 10-fixture round packed with goals, with the average rebounding to 50 points after the BGW34 collapse. Taiwo Awoniyi (NFO, £5.2m, 0.3% sel) and Viktor Gyökeres (ARS, £8.8m, 13.3% sel) shared the top score on 16 points, while a Manchester United 3-2 win over Liverpool reshaped the top-four race. Crucially, the most-captained player — Haaland at 62.6% — managed only 7 points in Manchester City's 3-3 draw at Everton, repeating last week's captaincy disaster. With around 310,000 Wildcards played ahead of the final deadline, here's the full breakdown for your FPL captain picks, transfers and run-in chip plans.
GW35 Snapshot — All 10 Fixtures
Goals everywhere, clean sheets where it mattered. The full set of GW35 results:
- Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Awoniyi 16pts (2G, 1A, 3 bonus), Forest's back-to-back 14+ point haulers continue. Murillo and Sels solid behind.
- Arsenal 3-0 Fulham: Gyökeres 16pts (2G, 1A, CS, 3 bonus), Saka 11pts (1G, 1A), Trossard 7pts. Premium Arsenal defence cleaned up.
- Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Third-placed United beat fourth-placed Liverpool to all but lock in their Champions League spot. Mainoo 9pts (1G, 3 bonus), Šeško goaled, B. Fernandes 5pts (1A, 1 bonus). Szoboszlai 13pts in defeat (1G, 1A, 3 bonus).
- Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace: Senesi 14pts (1A, CS, 3 bonus) — top defender of the gameweek. Hill 10pts (CS, 2 bonus), Rayan 8pts.
- Everton 3-3 Manchester City: Doku 15pts (2G, 3 bonus), Haaland 7pts (1G, 1 bonus), Barry 11pts (2G) — six goals at Goodison.
- Brentford 3-0 West Ham: Damsgaard 11pts (1G, CS, 3 bonus), Lewis-Potter 11pts (1A, CS, 2 bonus), Kelleher 8pts.
- Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham: Richarlison 9pts (1G, CS, 3 bonus), Gallagher 9pts (1G, 3 bonus). Quiet from Villa premiums.
- Newcastle 3-1 Brighton: Osula 9pts, Murphy 8pts (1A, 3 bonus). Newcastle's home form rolling on.
- Leeds 3-1 Burnley: Stach 10pts (1G, 3 bonus), Okafor 10pts (1G, CS), Mukiele 11pts (1G).
- Wolves 1-1 Sunderland: S. Bueno 10pts (1G, 2 bonus) the only big return — a forgettable mid-table draw.
Five home wins, four away wins, one draw — a goal-rich round across the board with five clean sheets concentrated in the bigger wins.
The Haaland Captain Trap (Round Two)
For the second consecutive gameweek, the most-captained pick punished his backers. Haaland was again the default captain at 62.6% ownership, but Manchester City could only draw 3-3 at Everton in a wide-open game. Haaland scored once for 7 points (1 goal, 1 bonus, no clean sheet) — a fine return for an FPL forward, but a disastrous captain choice when Awoniyi (16), Gyökeres (16) and Doku (15) all delivered.
Vice-captains didn't save anyone either: Bruno Fernandes, the most-popular VC at 47.3%, also returned just 5 points in Man Utd's 3-2 win over Liverpool. Two weeks running, the captain question has been the biggest single decision in FPL — and the template answer has been wrong both times.
Top Performers by Position
Two 16-point hauls headlined the round, with strong returns from defenders, mid-priced midfielders and a sub-1% differential forward.
Goalkeeper: Kelleher (8pts), Sels (8pts) ⭐
Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford, 8pts) and Matz Sels (Forest, 8pts) led the keepers. Kelleher took the clean sheet plus a save bonus in the 3-0 over West Ham; Sels conceded once but earned 3 bonus through saves and BPS in Forest's win at Chelsea. Raya (ARS, 7pts) was the safe template choice and delivered as expected.
Defender: Senesi (14pts), Lewis-Potter & Mukiele (11pts) ⭐⭐
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth, 14pts) was the top defender of the gameweek — an assist, clean sheet and 3 bonus at £5.2m and a meaningful 21% ownership. Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford, 11pts) and Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland, 11pts, with a goal) followed, while Adam Hill (BOU, 10pts) and Santiago Bueno (WOL, 10pts, 1G) also produced. Arsenal's back four (Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie) all returned 6-8 in the 3-0 over Fulham.
Midfielder: Doku (15pts), Szoboszlai (13pts), Saka (11pts) ⭐⭐⭐
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City, 15pts) was the standout mid — two goals at Everton at just 3.3% ownership. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool, 13pts) hauled in defeat with a goal and assist. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, 11pts) added a goal and assist as Arsenal's template returned in style. Mikkel Damsgaard (BRE, 11pts), Cole Stach (LEE, 10pts), Conor Gallagher (TOT, 9pts) and Richarlison (TOT, 9pts) also delivered.
Forward: Awoniyi & Gyökeres (16pts), Barry (11pts) ⭐⭐⭐
The performance of the season for differential hunters. Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, 16pts) bagged 2 goals, 1 assist and 3 bonus in the 3-1 win at Chelsea — at £5.2m and just 0.3% ownership, he was the lowest-owned 16-point forward of the season. Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 16pts) matched him with 2 goals, an assist and a clean sheet against Fulham. Tim Barry (Everton, 11pts) bagged a brace in the 3-3 with City; Haaland (7pts) and João Pedro (8pts) provided lukewarm template returns.
Team Performance Analysis
Best Performing Teams
Arsenal (5.19 avg) ⭐ — 3-0 vs FUL
Arsenal's 3-0 home win over Fulham was the cleanest premium-friendly result of the round. Gyökeres (16pts), Saka (11pts), Trossard (7pts) and the back four all returned. A textbook week for triple-up Arsenal builds and a strong signal for the run-in.
Bournemouth (4.94 avg) — 3-0 vs CRY
Bournemouth produced the second-highest team average of the gameweek behind a defender masterclass: Senesi (14pts), Hill (10pts), Rayan (8pts) and a Kepa clean sheet. At sub-£5.5m across the board, the Cherries are the cheapest defensive triple-up in FPL right now.
Brentford (4.80 avg) — 3-0 vs WHU
Brentford rolled West Ham for a third comfortable home win in recent weeks. Damsgaard (11pts), Lewis-Potter (11pts) and Kelleher (8pts) all returned. Thiago Silva-types and budget enablers from Brentford remain quietly excellent value.
Nottingham Forest (3.47 avg) — 3-1 at CHE
The team total understates the explosion: Awoniyi's 16-point haul, Murillo and Anderson defensive contributions, Sels 8pts. Forest are now back-to-back must-stack sides — Igor Jesus 14pts in GW34, Awoniyi 16pts in GW35.
Teams to Avoid
West Ham (1.25 avg) & Crystal Palace (1.25 avg) ⚠️
Two of the gameweek's most disappointing performances. West Ham collapsed 3-0 at Brentford with Bowen (2pts) producing nothing of note, while Palace were rolled 3-0 at Bournemouth and provided no defensive returns. Both sides are run-in fades.
Chelsea (1.60 avg) — lost 1-3 at home to NFO
A brutal home loss to Forest. Palmer (0pts) recorded his worst FPL gameweek of the season, João Pedro (8pts) was the lone bright spot, and the defence was carved open repeatedly. With another tough fixture incoming, Chelsea owners should reassess.
Fulham (1.56 avg) & Aston Villa (1.86 avg)
Fulham were beaten convincingly at the Emirates with no attacking returns; Andersen (3pts) the only mild contribution. Villa lost 1-2 at home to Spurs with Watkins (1pt) and Rogers blanking. Both sides have been quietly poor for points-per-million across April.
The Final Wildcard Rush
~310,000 managers played their Wildcard in GW35 — the biggest single-week WC count of the run-in, driven by the looming GW36 final-fixture deadline and the need to set up an end-of-season squad. Bench Boost (~270k) and Triple Captain (~87k) usage was also healthy as managers chased small-volume green arrows.
The shape of those Wildcards was clear from the transfer data: Cherki (197k in), Haaland (164k in), Gyökeres (155k in), O'Reilly (113k in) and Saka (83k in) were the most-bought, while Thiago, João Pedro, Bowen, Semenyo and Palmer were among the most sold. If you held your Wildcard for the run-in, the final 3 gameweeks are the window to use it.
Mini-League Run-In: Check Your Win Probability
With only three gameweeks left, every transfer and chip play is now a mini-league decision as much as an FPL one. Use our Monte Carlo mini-league simulator to model thousands of remaining-season scenarios and see your actual win probability against the rivals around you. The sim factors in current points, fixtures left, captain choices and squad differences — so you know whether you need to attack with differentials or defend with template, and exactly how much risk to take with your remaining chips.
Key FPL Statistics — GW35 Summary
Gameweek 35 featured 10 fixtures, a goal-rich round and a healthy bounce in scoring after BGW34:
- Average score: 50 pts (rebound from BGW34's 36)
- Highest score: 129 pts
- Top players: Awoniyi (NFO) 16pts (£5.2m, 0.3% sel) & Gyökeres (ARS) 16pts
- Most captained: Haaland — 7 pts (1G, no CS in 3-3 EVE-MCI)
- Most vice-captained: B. Fernandes — 5 pts (1A in MUN 3-2 LIV)
- Wildcards played: ~310,400 (final WC rush)
- Bench Boosts: ~270,300
- Triple Captains: ~87,100
- Free Hits: ~33,800
- Total transfers: ~8.32M
- Best team avg: Arsenal 5.19, Bournemouth 4.94, Brentford 4.80, Newcastle 3.93
- Worst team avg: West Ham & Palace 1.25, Fulham 1.56, Chelsea 1.60
Notable Results & Talking Points
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool — Top-Four Race Tightens
The headline result of the gameweek. Third-placed Man Utd (64 pts) beat fourth-placed Liverpool (now 58 pts) to all but lock in a Champions League return, while Liverpool slip level on points with Aston Villa in the chase for fourth. Mainoo (9pts, 1G, 3 bonus) and Šeško goaled, B. Fernandes assisted (5pts) and Liverpool's response wasn't enough despite Szoboszlai's 13-point haul. Liverpool managers building around Salah-Wirtz-Isak premiums took heavy template damage; small-ownership Man Utd holders gained meaningfully on rivals.
Chelsea 1-3 Forest — The Awoniyi Show
Forest's third huge attacking display in four gameweeks. Awoniyi's 16-point haul (2G, 1A, 3 bonus) at 0.3% ownership is one of the lowest-owned 16-point forward returns in recent FPL memory. Combined with Igor Jesus's 14pts in GW34, Forest are now the must-stack non-template attack.
Everton 3-3 Manchester City — Haaland Trap II
A wide-open six-goal draw at Goodison left Haaland captains with a flat 14-point haul (7×2). Doku (15pts, 2G) and Cherki (5pts, 1A) were the only City attackers to deliver meaningfully. For Everton, Tim Barry's brace (11pts) was a sub-1% differential gem.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham — Premium Captain Alternative
For managers who pivoted off Haaland, Gyökeres was the obvious play and delivered a 16-point haul (2G, 1A, CS, 3 bonus). Saka (11pts) added another double-figure return. Arsenal's run-in fixtures continue to look the best in the league for premium attack and defence.
Bournemouth 3-0 Palace — Cheap Defensive Goldmine
Senesi's 14pts at £5.2m was the highest defensive return of the gameweek and a reminder that Bournemouth's back-end remains the best points-per-million defensive unit in FPL. Hill (10pts) and Kepa added value below the price ceiling.
Tactical Takeaways for FPL Managers
1. Reconsider the Default Captain
Two weeks of Haaland traps in a row should change the default. Use our captain picks tool to compare expected points across the run-in fixtures. With Arsenal's schedule and Gyökeres's form, the premium pivot has rarely looked clearer.
2. Forest Stacks Are Now a Strategy, Not a Punt
Two consecutive 14+ point gameweeks from a Forest forward (Igor Jesus 14, Awoniyi 16) is no longer a coincidence. Stacking Murillo, a Forest defender and one of the forwards is a higher-EV play than chasing top-six premiums into average fixtures.
3. Bournemouth and Brentford Are the Cheap Defensive Stacks
Senesi (14pts), Hill (10pts), Lewis-Potter (11pts), Damsgaard (11pts) and Kelleher (8pts) all returned at sub-£5.5m. For run-in builds, freeing premium budget through these mid-priced defensive triples is the most efficient route to a balanced XI.
4. Plan Your Final Chip Sequence Now
With three gameweeks left, only Bench Boost and Triple Captain are realistically still in play for most managers. If a confirmed DGW lands in GW36-38, that's your TC window — and Bench Boost should sit out unless your bench has eligible playing assets in that week. Use our fixture planner to map the run-in.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Priorities
Based on Gameweek 35 data and the run-in schedule, consider these strategic moves for your FPL squad:
Priority Targets
Gyökeres (ARS, 13.3% sel, 16pts and Arsenal's fixture profile), Saka (ARS, 8.1%, 11pts), Senesi (BOU, 21%, 14pts at £5.2m), Awoniyi (NFO, 0.3%, 16pts — watch for price rises), Doku (MCI, 3.3%, 15pts), and Damsgaard (BRE, 0.7%, 11pts at £5.6m). All combine current form with strong run-in fixtures.
Consider Offloading
Haaland holders should at minimum strip the captain's armband; if a non-Haaland premium fits the run-in, the swap pays for itself when MCI's last fixtures get tougher. Bowen (WHU, 2pts), Palmer (CHE, 0pts), Watkins (AVL, 1pt) and Semenyo all underperformed and the most-sold list confirms the market view. Liverpool's template (Salah, Wirtz, Isak) is now a price-rather-than-points hold.
Differential Options
Awoniyi (NFO, 0.3% sel, 16pts), Doku (MCI, 3.3%, 15pts), Damsgaard (BRE, 0.7%, 11pts), Lewis-Potter (BRE, 1.5%, 11pts), Mukiele (SUN, 8.7%, 11pts) and Stach (LEE, 1.8%, 10pts). All sub-10% owned and delivered in GW35 — track price rises before ownership catches up over the final weeks.
Monitor Closely
Forest's attacking momentum (Awoniyi vs Igor Jesus rotation), Arsenal's clean-sheet odds in their final three fixtures, Liverpool's response after the Man Utd loss, and any GW36-38 DGW announcements. If a confirmed double drops, that's the time to play Triple Captain on a premium with a juicy double profile and Bench Boost only if your bench is eligible.
Maximize Returns with FPL Pulse
Gameweek 35 reinforced two run-in lessons: the default captain isn't always the right captain, and a sub-1% differential can outscore every premium in a single round. FPL Pulse gives you the live FPL tracking, fixture grading, captain comparisons, differential tools and Monte Carlo mini-league simulator needed to make the right calls in the closing weeks.
From a 16-point 0.3% differential to ~310k Wildcards played and a Haaland captain trap repeated, our suite of fantasy premier league tools turns the run-in's volatility into a consistent edge. Three gameweeks to go — make them count.
FAQs
- Who was the top FPL scorer in Gameweek 35?
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest) and Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) shared top spot on 16 points. Awoniyi bagged 2 goals, 1 assist and 3 bonus in Forest's 3-1 win at Chelsea — at just £5.2m and 0.3% ownership, he was the differential of the gameweek. Gyökeres also produced 2 goals, an assist, a clean sheet and 3 bonus in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham.
- Was Haaland a good captain pick in GW35?
- No — for the second gameweek running, Haaland punished his captains. He was the most-captained pick at 62.6% of squads but Manchester City could only manage a 3-3 draw at Everton, leaving Haaland on 7 points (1 goal, 1 bonus, no clean sheet). With Awoniyi, Gyökeres and Doku all hauling 15-16 points, Haaland captains lost ground for the second week in a row.
- What was the average score in FPL Gameweek 35?
- The GW35 average was 50 points with a top score of 129 — a healthy bounce-back from GW34's BGW average of 36. Around 310,000 managers played their Wildcard ahead of the GW36 deadline, 270,000 played a Bench Boost and 87,000 risked a Triple Captain, with 33,800 Free Hits also used.
- What was the biggest result of FPL Gameweek 35?
- Manchester United's 3-2 home win over Liverpool was the headline result — third-placed United effectively confirming a Champions League return while dropping Liverpool to fourth in the top-four race. Forest's 3-1 win at Chelsea was the FPL goldmine of the round, with Awoniyi (16pts) and the Forest backline returning. Arsenal's 3-0 over Fulham, Bournemouth's 3-0 over Palace and Brentford's 3-0 over West Ham completed a five-match clean-sheet stack for premium defenders.