This week’s FPL Challenge is called Red vs Blue. It marks the second Gameweek of Coca-Cola and FPL Challenge teaming up for the “Beat The Icon” event. Every week there is a different challenge set by football legends, pundits and top creators - and Fantasy managers being invited to try to beat them, continuing with YouTuber Manny in Gameweek 5.
This week, players from Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton will score DOUBLE POINTS in Saturday's derby at Anfield. There is a limit of three players per club, with managers selecting a 6-a-side team using an unlimited budget.
Here, FPL expert Sam Bonfield reveals her team and explains her thinking, to help managers pick their own line-up and beat Manny!
The toughest decision of the week is whether to go all in on the Merseyside derby to maximise the double points, or strike a balance and target other fixtures such as Crystal Palace v West Ham United.
Last week I opted for a mix of doubling players as well as those who just had a nice fixture. It worked well, so I am planning to deploy that same strategy this time around.
Goalkeepers
In goal, both Alisson and Jordan Pickford have the opportunity to register double points. However, I am not confident of a clean sheet for either side.
In the two Premier League Merseyside derbies last season, there was only one clean sheet for Liverpool and it was Caoimhin Kelleher - who now plays for Brentford - between the sticks for the Reds that day.
If I was going to pick one of the goalkeepers who will score double points, it would be Alisson, as Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in each of the last four derbies at Anfield in the Premier League. However, I value the three outfield Liverpool slots more.
This means that I am looking at a goalkeeper from one of the sides who won't get double points. Four teams are tied on three clean sheets across the opening four matches of the season, making them the obvious defences to look at.
Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have all been defensively solid, with Arsenal, Palace and Spurs having only conceded one goal each to date.
In addition to his three clean sheets, David Raya has also collected three bonus points and two save points. In most weeks he would be the standout goalkeeper, but Raya and Arsenal face a difficult test against Manchester City this weekend.
Spurs' Guglielmo Vicario has made the most saves in the league so far, with 17. This means that alongside the three clean sheets, he has also registered four save points and five bonus points. As a result, Vicario is the top-scoring goalkeeper in the game.
This weekend, Spurs visit Brighton & Hove Albion, who have been in good goalscoring form, with at least one goal scored in all four matches so far this season.
Newcastle also have a difficult fixture against in-form AFC Bournemouth, which puts me off Nick Pope.
Therefore, I have opted for Dean Henderson against West Ham. The Hammers have had a difficult start to the season. Aside from a good result at Nottingham Forest, West Ham have struggled at both ends of the pitch.
This, coupled with the fact that the Palace defence has only allowed seven shots on target to far, the best in the league alongside Liverpool, means I think Henderson has the most potential for a clean sheet and therefore is the best option in Challenge this week.
Defenders
Despite not opting for Alisson, I have gone with the potential upside of Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool's captain has been in the side for all of the last four home matches in the league against Everton and has kept a clean sheet in all of them.
He has also picked up defensive contribution points in two of the opening four matches of the 2025/26 season and was just two defensive contributions away from securing another two points against Arsenal in Gameweek 3.
See: What are defensive contribution points
With the opportunity for double points, Van Dijk could easily pick up four defensive contribution points against an Everton side that will pose an attacking threat, thanks largely to the form of Jack Grealish.
Alongside Van Dijk, I have picked another Palace defensive option. Maxence Lacroix has registered four defensive contribution points, three clean sheets, an assist and two bonus points over the opening four Gameweeks. Like Van Dijk, Lacroix has the potential for defensive contribution points, as well as a strong likelihood of a clean sheet against a struggling West Ham side.
Other options that I have considered include Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa, who faces Sunderland. However, Sunderland have scored five goals this season and I wouldn't put it past them to beat Villa, who are yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season.
Marcos Senesi has also been a defensive contribution magnet this season. Senesi has reached the threshold for defensive contribution points in every match, as has Everton's James Tarkowski, however I don't fancy either side for a clean sheet and therefore have looked elsewhere.
Midfielders
Despite a lack of attacking returns so far this season, Mohamed Salah feels like a must-have in Challenge this week.
Salah converted Liverpool's late penalty against Burnley in Gameweek 4 to secure the Reds' fourth victory of the season, and they are the only team in the league to have won all four opening matches.
The Egyptian has four attacking returns in the last four Merseyside derbies at Anfield, and with the double point on offer, he will also be my captain.
I found the second midfielder slot more difficult to pick. Grealish has more assists than any other player in the Premier League this season, and if Everton score, it feels very likely that he will be involved.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other options outside of the double-scoring teams who look attractive this week.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer returned to action for Chelsea team as a substitute against Brentford and immediately had an impact, scoring his first open-play goal since January.
Palmer and Chelsea face a Manchester United side who have conceded in every game so far this season. I did also consider playing just one midfielder in order to have Palmer's Chelsea team-mate Joao Pedro as a second forward.
However, I have currently opted for the double Liverpool midfield by having Cody Gakpo alongside Salah. With Liverpool v Everton being the early kick-off, if Gakpo doesn't get the start then he can easily be moved to another Liverpool attacker or to one of the Chelsea players.
Gakpo has started the season well, with a goal, two assists, two clean sheet points and two bonus points.
The Dutchman's 11 attempts on goal can also only be bettered by two other midfielders in the game, plus he ranks among the top eight midfielders for crosses and chances created, which gives him a good route to points.
Forwards
After his brace against Man Utd last weekend, it seems foolish not to pick Erling Haaland. However, Arsenal, as mentioned, have been incredibly resilient and resolute defensively this season. Therefore, I think Haaland's ceiling is lower in this fixture than in most others.
Elsewhere, Joao Pedro could also be a great pick, but I have once again looked to Palace for this one.
West Ham have conceded 11 goals so far this season, the most in the league. They are the only team to have conceded double-figures so far.
The Hammers have also allowed more shots on target than anyone else, with 20, level with Nottingham Forest, the most headed chances, with 16 (again level with Forest) and the most big chances, with 12. Jean-Philippe Mateta looks perfect for exploiting West Ham's defensive fragility.