10 lessons that we learnt from 2024/25 FPL
Are you already thinking ahead rather than taking a well-earned summer break? If so, use this time to reflect on the 2024/25 FPL campaign and learn some lessons from it.
- READ MORE: FPL 2024/25 champion Lovro Budišin speaks to FFScout
- READ MORE: Player and team statistics of FPL 2024/25
Here are a bunch of useful conclusions that can be taken into 2025/26.
LESSONS TO LEARN FROM FPL 2024/25
1) Defenders weren’t very good
As pointed out in Fantasy Football Scout’s study, this was a low-scoring FPL season at the back. Josko Gvardiol became his position’s number one by the end, but these 153 points were the fewest of any leading defender since FPL’s debut 2002/03 campaign.
Clean sheets are generally less common, while there was the second-lowest amount of attacking returns (321) throughout the last seven Fantasy seasons.
So, to see Trent Alexander-Arnold now leave the Premier League is fitting. Having twice ventured beyond 200 points, it’s unlikely that there’ll be a £7.0m defender in 2025/26. In fact, half of the season’s top 12 began at £4.5m. Managers could react by dedicating more funds elsewhere.
2) Forwards are back on the scene
Not only are attackers faring better, but it’s specifically the FPL forwards that had a good year. Six grabbed over 175 points, compared to only two in 2023/24. It’s the same numbers for ending inside the overall top-scoring 12.
Furthermore, a couple of these forwards started at just £6.0m – Chris Wood and Yoane Wissa.
While there were plenty of appealing cheap midfielders that could facilitate a 3-5-2 formation, if desired, three-man forward lines became trendy again.
3) Stick with trusted players for Gameweek 1
A full pre-season can cause damage to an FPL manager’s mind by the first deadline. For some reason, we fell for the Christopher Nkunku, Valentin Barco and Jarell Quansah hype, all of which quickly backfired.
Being proactive is generally a good thing but perhaps it’s best to put initial faith in trusted talismans like Jarrod Bowen and Bryan Mbeumo (should he remain at Brentford).
It should cause less initial pain and, as a bonus, allow free transfers to quickly collect. That means the first Wildcard can wait a bit longer.
4) Be boring and obvious
To follow up on this, chasing differentials is exciting, but there’s a reason why template players are so widely picked by the masses.
It’s because they’re the best, at that time, for collecting points.
5) Just go with Salah
And points are good, especially if you owned Mohamed Salah all along. Usually an explosive starter to campaigns, the Egyptian went further this time by collecting 12 double-digit hauls in his first 18 matches, reaching 17 of them by the end of Gameweek 28. That was the moment when he broke the all-time record for FPL points in a season.
Suddenly, going without Erling Haaland didn’t feel so scary anymore. Salah was the season’s best for goals (29), attempts (130), shots on target (59), big chances (46) and so much more.
6) Palmer isn’t a one-season wonder
Competing with Salah early on was 2023/24 superstar Cole Palmer. Initial months saw the Chelsea attacker continue that season’s incredible form, including four first-half goals versus Brighton in Gameweek 6.
However, the decline in output during later Gameweeks was stark. From Gameweek 22 onwards, there was just one goal and three assists from 16 outings.
But it’s worth remembering that he ended in second place for attempts (126), setting up shots (89) and creating big chances (24). Maybe a slight price drop from £10.5m is coming.
7) There weren’t many penalties
Of course, Palmer’s fall would have been less noticeable had he taken more penalties. Chelsea were awarded seven fewer than in 2023/24, and it was worse at Arsenal (eight).
83 was the lowest number of overall spot kicks since 2017/18, with Wolves becoming the 12th side from 33 Premier League seasons to go a whole term without one.
It’s possibly to do with the handball rules being relaxed. Several complaints were raised that too many ‘soft’ penalties were being harshly given, so PGMOL fixed this.
8) Home advantage is decreasing
Elsewhere, there were fewer home points (558) and more away points (489) than in 2023/24, 2022/23 and 2021/22.
Brentford began with strong home form and an awful away record, to please traditionalists, but these swung the opposite way after Christmas. Fifth-placed Newcastle found time to lose at home to West Ham, Everton, Fulham, Bournemouth and Brighton, too.
Away teams just seem to be smarter tactically and emotionally, becoming more adventurous on the road. Grass is grass, wherever the location.
9) Combine data with gut instinct
For all the stats seen here, on Fantasy Football Scout and across social media, decision-making still needs to include the ‘eye test’.
Almost reaching a cross from close range isn’t recorded, nor are narrowly offside goals or almost-perfect through balls. Be interested in data, but also watch plenty of football and listen to your gut feeling.
10) Stay away from the promoted trio
Finally, a simple one. For the second successive season, all three promoted sides were immediately relegated and the gap seems bigger than ever.
After all, 17th-placed Tottenham were 13 points clear and nowhere near any actual danger. Then there was Southampton, who very nearly broke Derby’s unwanted record for lowest ever points tally.
So just stay away – at least initially – from Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley, even though the Clarets’ had a watertight Championship defence.
