We're back with another installment of the Hive FPL blog as we enter the final 3rd of the 24/25 Premier League season.

In recent seasons, this has been the time of the year when Man City accelerate away from their challengers but we can be pretty certain in saying that they won't be winning the league this season. However, they will still have a big say in who does, starting with their match against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds missed a chance to go 10 points clear as they once again let a lead slip away from home. Arsenal are hardly playing great football and while they continue to suffer with injuries it seems unlikely that they'll be turning on the style and yet, they've won 3 on the bounce to keep the pressure on the leaders. They will fancy their chances of closing the gap even further if Liverpool slip up at City.

While it feels like a 2 horse race for the title there are 7 teams who still have a realistic chance of gaining a Champions League spot and the financial windfall that comes with.

Meanwhile at the bottom it very much looks like a case of 2 out of Ipswich, Wolves and Leicester joining Southampton in the Championship.

Onto the matches for the this week...

A Friday kick-off and a massive game for the Foxes who have now gone 4 home matches without finding the net. They showed some fight against Arsenal last time out but these kind of matches at the King Power are the ones they really need to target for points.

Brentford's away form of late has been very good with 3 wins out of 3 on their Premier League travels in 2025. Perhaps unusually for them they've also managed to keep 2 clean sheets during those fixtures and with Leicester's issues in front of goal one of their defenders is worth consideration.

Flekken (GK) is already a popular shout for a back-up keeper and so may find himself promoted to the first XI in a few teams. Meanwhile, Collins (DEF) has played every minute of every game so far this season which has gone a long way to him gaining 80 FPL points. His threat from set-pieces also means he's gained 7 goal involvements this season including an assist in the reverse fixture.

When David Moyes became the first United manager of the post-Ferguson era I doubt that he or anyone were under any illusions about what a tough job it would be to follow-up to one of the greatest managers of all time. However, few would have predicted that United's fall would be sustained for such a long period and it now seems more likely that things are going to get worse before they get better.

The Premier League is now essentially a write-off for United who fielded a substitute bench in their last game that Lindelof aside, had just 1 Premier League appearance between them. Of course, as far as FPL managers are concerned that might be a decent opportunity to bring in some young, hungry and cheap talent!

Obi-Martin (FWD) came off the bench for the very briefest of cameos at Spurs last weekend and looks the most likely for additional game time ahead of a mis-firing forward line.

As for Everton, only Arsenal can match their haul of 13 points from their last 5 games. If you used your assistant manager chip for Moyes (AM) during that period then you'd be very happy.

This is a fixture in which the Hammers have been thrased in recent times, conceding 11 goals in their last 2 matches agains the Gunners. Without their first choice attackers, it'd be a stretch for Arsenal to win by that kind of a margin again but you'd still fancy their chances against a porous defence.

With Saka and Martinelli out until at least after the next international break then Trossard (MID) and Nwaneri (MID) continue to look like decent bets. The later played 90mins for the first time ever in a league match during GW25.

Meanwhile West Ham have scored just twice in their last 4 matches meaning that ever popular Arsenal defensive picks are a good bet to acquire a clean sheet bonus. In that regard, White (DEF) is available after injury. While his value has decreased from the £6.5mil he cost at the start of the season, he's still, in my opinion, a little over-priced at £6.1mil.

Bournemouth continue to fly up the league and as previously noted they have a very inviting run of fixtures including this one against a struggling Wolves team.

Kluivert (MID) has the highest ranking om the ICT over the last 5 GWs while in the same period Semenyo (MID) and Dango (MID) have 3 and 5 goal involvements between.

In addition to that, it's worth noting that the Cherries have the best defensive record this season outside the top 2 with Kerkez (DEF) within touching distance of 100 points for the season.

To be fair, the midlands club put in a pretty decent 2nd half display at Anfield last time out after a couple of tactical tweaks at half-time so it'll be interesting to see how they line-up for this one. Cunha (FWD) has scored in both matches since the close of the transfer window and the speculation about his Wolves future has ended until at least the summer.

3 wins out of their last 4 Premier League matches has kept Fulham sniffing around the European spots for now. While they aren't getting the headlines that the likes of Forest and Bournemouth are receiving, their current league position is testament to a well run club and one of the most under-rated managers in the league.

As far as fantasy picks are concerned it's difficult to really justify bringing in a Fulham player despite their achievements. Iwobi (MID), their top point scorer this season has registered goal involvements in just 1 of his last 12 league matches. The West London side are team whose sum is greater than the individual parts.

By comparison, Mateta (FWD) continues to look like a must have scoring again in GW25. Palace have a decent run of fixtures this side of the international break with home games against Villa and Ipswich and a trip to bottom placed Southampton. They do, however, face a blank in GW29 so while getting the big Frenchman in seems like a good idea, you may also need an exit strategy.

The Tractor Boys got 1 of their 3 league wins the last time these 2 sides met and they really need a similar result in this one to kick-start their push for survival. A point at Villa was well earned but it's the home games against sides in the bottom half that Ipswich must start taking 3 points from if they want to play Premier League football next season.

Spurs have bucked the trend and ground out a couple of ugly wins in their last couple of league matches, keeping clean sheets in the process. A few of their first team are making recoveries from injury but it continues to be some of the younger fringe players who impress.

In that regard, Spence (DEF) who failed to get a league start in either of his first 2 seasons at Spurs but who has started in 8 of their last 10 EPL games has been their standout performer of late, delivering clean sheet and maximum bonus points in GW24 and GW25.

Neil Warnock once commented that Spence will either end up as 'Premier League or non-league' and on recent showings it looks like the 24-year-old might be making good on his undoubted potential.

Brighton got a massive and highly impressive win against Chelsea last time out with Minteh (MID) scoring twice. The young wide man is a definite talent and very difficult to play against. Could he be about to add an element of consistency to his game that would deliver a good points haul?

While it's tempting to bring forwards in against this Southampton team, it's difficult to know which of Brighton's many options will start, exactly where they'll play and whether they'll see out the 90mins.

Southampton's main contribution of late is scoring consolation goals that cancel out the opposition's clean sheet bonus. In fact, they've managed to score in each of their last 5 league games.

There is always the old saying that the Championship play-off to see who'll be prompted to promised land of the Premier League is the 'richest game in football' but these kind of matches will go a long way to determining which clubs will make it into the Champions Leagues and unlock the added revenue that competition brings. In fact, given both clubs current financial situation, getting into Europe's elite competition is looking like a must if they wish to continue building their squads.

The problem that both sides have at present is that they can't stop leaking goals. Chelsea's only clean sheet in their last 10 in all competitions came against League Two Morecambe in the cup while Villa similarly have just a solitary clean sheet in 2025 from their 11 games.

That might indicate that this is a good opportunity for the popular attacking picks on both sides to get on the scoresheet but the likes of Palmer (MID) continue his barren run of late with no goal in his last 4 league games. He did get a goal and an assist the last time these 2 sides met, his first goal involvements in 5 career appearances versus Villa.

Into Sunday and the first of what feel like 2 really significant games.

Both sides come into the match licking their wounds after disappointing displays in GW25. Newcastle would have felt that they had the tools to be the latest team to cause City trouble but were ultimately swept aside. There is a danger that the Magpies focus on the upcoming League Cup Final means they will take their eye of the ball in the league. Meanwhile, Forest couldn't come away with points from a tricky fixture at Fulham.

The match sees 2 of the in-form strikers of the league in Isak (FWD) and Wood (FWD) going head to head. For the later, it's a return to one of his many previous clubs - he's played for 12 English clubs in his career, serious props if you can name them all without cheating! Wood managed just 5 goals in 39 appearances for the Magpies so they'll be as surprised as anyone regarding his return of 32 goals in 55 matches since sealing a permanent move to the City ground.

Gibbs-White (MID) also continues to impress with another goal involvement versus Fulham. However, despite his and several Forest player's good form, their run of fixtures until the international break looks tough with home games versus Arsenal and City to follow this one.

Undoubtedly the stand out fixture of the weekend sees defending champions City hosting top of the league Liverpool. Both teams come into the match following disappointing results in midweek with City's defensive issues once again exposed during their trip to Madrid. As for Liverpool, Andrew Robinson freely admitted that the squad is feeling a bit of pressure as we enter the business end of the season and that much is showing in his side's recent performances.

These 2 have been the best 2 sides in the league over the last 6 or 7 seasons and so it's perhaps not surprising that matches between them have been close and cagey. Since 2020, there have been 5 draws in 10 league meetings.

It's tempting to see this as a battle between the 2 most expensive players in FPL 24/25 in Salah (MID) and Haaland (FWD) but it's also very much a case of 2 Egyptian superstars going head to head with Marmoush (FWD) announcing himself to the Premier League with a first half hattrick versus Newcastle.

That being said, I wouldn't write Haaland off too soon. He does have 18 goals this season and has only blanked once in his last 8 Premier League matches. He is also out-performing Salah in regards threat on the ICT ranking during the same period. Arsenal fans may have considered the Norwegian as public enemy no. 1 a couple of weeks ago but they'll be hopeful he can do them a big favour in this one.

Division 1

Results GW25

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
Skander	@skanderh	119	91	Creekside FC	@pappyelblanco
YAGMAN FC	@yagman01	106	100	Espressos	@aaalviarez
HallAnd Oats FC	@thoth442	104	100	Herbae	@herbae
Simcard FC	@akomoajong	79	77	FC McKane	@mckane
Lazz	@martinlazizi	76	62	Legion fc	@b0s
Vickoly FC	@vickoly	70	91	NONZ FC	@nonsowrites
INEOS REVIVAL	@deniskj	103	89	Shamzy F.C	@shamzy
Whyte FC	@Ipalibo	97	69	Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt
Hungry Lions	@gvkanten	110	109	Likodra FC	@teofilex11
@BlockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl	94	92	Solat FC	@reservedsingle

Fixtures GW26

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
Likodra FC	@teofilex11	v	Skander	@skanderh
Suffragette City	@talesfrmthecrypt	v	Solat FC	@reservedsingle
Shamzy F.C	@shamzy	v	@BlockchainFPL H2H	@blockchainfpl
NONZ FC	@nonsowrites	v	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
Legion fc	@b0s	v	Whyte FC	@Ipalibo
FC McKane	@mckane	v	INEOS REVIVAL	@deniskj
Herbae	@herbae	v	Vickoly FC	@vickoly
Espressos	@aaalviarez	v	Lazz	@martinlazizi
Creekside FC	@pappyelblanco	v	Simcard FC	@akomoajong
YAGMAN FC	@yagman01	v	HallAnd Oats FC	@thoth442

Division 2

Results GW25

Team	Hive Account	Score	Score	Team	Hive Account
Headies	@Headies	49	94	ARFANTASY FC	@arfa
Trinex fc	@og-gamershub	44	52	Outside of Time	No Hive Account Linked
GunnersLoverFC	@nwt93	69	55	Ballgasms	@preshpresh
Tilia	No Hive Account Linked	85	78	Happyboys FC	@happyboy1
Dapomola fc	@dapomolaaaa	77	76	Holozing.com	@acidyo
Hiveheadz	@borran	80	90	Tangram	@desro
TGIF	@gentleshaid	80	45	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
Mighty Fc	@twicejoy	78	91	ALH	No Hive Account Linked
Newton Heath FC	@samirich	81	95	SportsNerd	@saf-ul-wahab
Diistroyers	@diikaan	75	71	The Urge	@kenzzi
Holte Me Close	@stuartcturnbull	10	69	Cygnus FC	@donjaun
Mollina United	@femisapiens	89	100	KELLYMAN FC	@justfavour
11 idiots	No Hive Account Linked	81	50	The Dream Team	@spidersilk
Tengo Rangers FC	@tengolotodo	77	56	HIVE KILL STEEM	No Hive Account Linked
Tricky Trees 2024	@doombot75	56	106	OG Squad	@graat
Monitox	No Hive Account Linked	40	78	Stevenson FC	@stevenson7
Ref's team	@sperosamuel15	110	110	Hungry Lions	@gvkanten
Lame Ducks	No Hive Account Linked	97	75	Akatsuki	@seki1
Ifeyemi Fc	@valchiz	44	88	ACX United	@pvmihalache
Jungle Boy	@george-dee	76	76	Emeka4	@emeka4
Olawalium FC	@olawalium	50	93	Barca	@muka-vybz
Kraken99	@kraken99	78	54	Smiley Team	@carita-feliz
Micheal Fc	@micheal87	60	77	Yahuzah	@yahuzah
racibo	@racibo	92	71	Chris Football Club	@hiveworld
Kane and Unable	@jmehta	84	79	The Cella’s	@blanchy
samostically	@samostically	87	72	Hadji	@hadji
Wanderteam	@kelvinpeters	107	85	ArgyeeChitthuFC	@agct1226
rubilu	@rubilu	68	85	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
RHYDA	@rhyda1	80	53	foloxfc	@thelonegreywolf
The Beast	@iamchuks	40	107	Coldone	@nasfyneboy92
Hornstra XI	@elvis123	84	107	Formidable Milano	@damolexy

Fixtures GW26

Team	Hive Account		Team	Hive Account
ARFANTASY FC	@arfa	v	Akatsuki	@seki1
Hungry Lions	@gvkanten	v	ACX United	@pvmihalache
Stevenson FC	@stevenson7	v	Emeka4	@emeka4
OG Squad	@graat	v	Barca	@muka-vybz
HIVE KILL STEEM	No Hive Account Linked	v	Smiley Team	@carita-feliz
The Dream Team	@spidersilk	v	Yahuzah	@yahuzah
KELLYMAN FC	@justfavour	v	Chris Football Club	@hiveworld
Cygnus FC	@donjaun	v	The Cella’s	@blanchy
The Urge	@kenzzi	v	Hadji	@hadji
SportsNerd	@saf-ul-wahab	v	ArgyeeChitthuFC	@agct1226
ALH	No Hive Account Linked	v	Change Name	No Hive Account Linked
Change Name	No Hive Account Linked	v	foloxfc	@thelonegreywolf
Tangram	@desro	v	Coldone	@nasfyneboy92
Holozing.com	@acidyo	v	Formidable Milano	@damolexy
Happyboys FC	@happyboy1	v	Hornstra XI	@elvis123
Ballgasms	@preshpresh	v	The Beast	@iamchuks
Outside of Time	No Hive Account Linked	v	RHYDA	@rhyda1
Headies	@Headies	v	rubilu	@rubilu
Trinex fc	@og-gamershub	v	Wanderteam	@kelvinpeters
GunnersLoverFC	@nwt93	v	samostically	@samostically
Tilia	No Hive Account Linked	v	Kane and Unable	@jmehta
Dapomola fc	@dapomolaaaa	v	racibo	@racibo
Hiveheadz	@borran	v	Micheal Fc	@micheal87
TGIF	@gentleshaid	v	Kraken99	@kraken99
Mighty Fc	@twicejoy	v	Olawalium FC	@olawalium
Newton Heath FC	@samirich	v	Jungle Boy	@george-dee
Diistroyers	@diikaan	v	Ifeyemi Fc	@valchiz
Holte Me Close	@stuartcturnbull	v	Lame Ducks	No Hive Account Linked
Mollina United	@femisapiens	v	Ref's team	@sperosamuel15
11 idiots	No Hive Account Linked	v	Monitox	No Hive Account Linked
Tengo Rangers FC	@tengolotodo	v	Tricky Trees 2024	@doombot75