The Scout explains how cup matches can cause postponements in the Premier League which have implications for Fantasy Premier League, and why FPL managers should keep an eye on the results.
What are Blank and Double Gameweeks?
A Blank Gameweek contains fewer than the normal 10 matches, with at least two clubs having no Premier League fixture, and players from such a club having no chance of scoring Fantasy points.
A Double Gameweek contains more than the normal 10 fixtures, with at least two clubs playing two Premier League fixtures in one Gameweek, and players from those clubs getting two chances to score Fantasy points.
Typically in Fantasy, Blank and Double Gameweeks occur when Premier League fixtures have to be rearranged because they clash with domestic cup ties.
The four FPL chips - Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost - can be very useful for solving the problems caused by Blank Gameweeks and capitalising on the opportunities presented by Double Gameweeks.
Why four teams are set to have a Blank Gameweek 31
Gameweek 31 is scheduled to take place on the same weekend as the EFL Cup final on 22 March.
The two EFL Cup finalists - Arsenal and Manchester City - will be unable to play their scheduled Premier League matches that weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace respectively, so all four clubs are set to have a “Blank Gameweek 31” (BGW31).
Arsenal and Wolves played twice in Double Gameweek 26, the first Double Gameweek of the season. Man City and Crystal Palace could also be given a Double Gameweek when their match is rescheduled.
Who could have a Blank Gameweek 34?
The latter stages of the FA Cup will also cause a Blank Gameweek towards the end of the season.
As you can see from the dates below, the FA Cup semi-finals are on the weekend beginning Saturday 25 April, which coincides with Gameweek 34.
This means that any Premier League clubs who reach the semi-finals – along with their respective Gameweek 34 opponents – would have a Blank Gameweek 34.
FA Cup round dates
Quarter-finals: Saturday 4 April
Semi-finals: Saturday 25 April
Final: Saturday 16 May
At this stage of the FA Cup, only four of the 10 Premier League fixtures that are scheduled for Gameweek 34 are currently confirmed to be going ahead. Those are:
Fulham v Aston Villa
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest
Wolves v Spurs
Man Utd v Brentford
These four matches can all go ahead because, in each fixture, both clubs have already been knocked out of the FA Cup.
The other six fixtures remain under threat of postponement.
But at least two more Gameweek 34 fixtures will be confirmed to be taking place after the FA Cup quarter-finals are played. Either Man City or Liverpool will be knocked out after facing each other, and the same applies to West Ham United and Leeds United.
FA Cup quarter-final draw
Southampton v Arsenal
Chelsea v Port Vale
Man City v Liverpool
West Ham v Leeds
GW34 fixtures that could be postponed
| GW34 fixture* | Fixture postponed if... |
|---|---|
| Arsenal v Newcastle | Arsenal beat Southampton in QFs |
| Bournemouth v Leeds | Leeds beat West Ham in QFs |
| Brighton v Chelsea | Chelsea beat Port Vale in QFs |
| Burnley v Man City | Man City beat Liverpool in QFs |
| Liverpool v Crystal Palace | Liverpool beat Man City in QFs |
| West Ham v Everton | West Ham beat Leeds in QFs |
*Teams still in FA Cup are in bold