Gameweek 12 arrives straight after a chaotic international break, and Fantasy Premier League managers have plenty to deal with: injuries, form swings, and fixture turns. Here’s a clean, sharp breakdown of everything you need going into Saturday’s 14:00 EAT deadline.
Key Injury Updates You Must Know
Several popular assets flagged during the break:
Gabriel (Arsenal) – Major Doubt
Reports indicate a minimum of 4 weeks layoff, making him a sell for most managers. Alternatives? Chalobah, Senesi, Munoz.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) – 75% Chance of Playing
Dropped out of Ghana camp with a ligament sprain, though rumours suggest it may not be serious. Still a risk for GW12.
Alisson (Liverpool)
Expected to return to training and could be available this weekend.
Benjamin Sesko (Man United)
Out for around a month – avoid.
Paqueta (West Ham)
Suspended for GW12 due to yellow card accumulation, not injury related.
These injuries shape the week’s biggest transfers and strategy calls.
Best Gabriel Replacements
With millions of managers needing a defender, these three stand out:
- Trevoh Chalobah (CHE £5.1m) – Goals, clean sheets, and defensive contribution points.
- Marcos Senesi (BOU £5.0m) – The king of defensive points; strong home clean-sheet potential.
- Daniel Muñoz (CRY £5.8m) – Attacking threat + solid fixtures.
Form Watch: Is Semenyo Still a Must Have?
Semenyo has dipped slightly, and with his injury doubt, many managers are exploring alternatives.
Better mid-price options right now:
- Mbeumo (MUN £8.5m) – Central to United’s attack, dominates big chances.
- Ouattara (BRE £6.0m) – Huge differential with strong underlying numbers.
- Enzo Fernández (CHE £6.7m) – Involved in both creativity and shots.
AFCON Planning Starts Now
AFCON begins on 21 December, and it will shake FPL heavily.
Key things to note:
- Managers will receive extra transfers during the AFCON period.
- Salah, Semenyo, Kudus, Mbeumo, Sarr and other major assets will miss several GWs.
- Start slowly reducing the number of AFCON-bound players in your squad.
GW12 Scout Picks Summary
A snapshot of top assets for this round:
Top Captain: Erling Haaland (MCI £14.9m)
Elite away form, high ownership, great fixture.
Best Differentials
- Dango Ouattara (BRE)
- Joao Pedro (CHE)
- Mateta (CRY)
Top Defenders
- Muñoz
- Chalobah
- Senesi
- Raya (best Arsenal defensive pick this week)
Fixtures to Target (Next 8 GWs)
Best Upcoming Runs
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Arsenal
Worst
- Brighton
- Wolves
- Nottingham Forest
Focus your transfers on teams entering strong runs, not exiting them.
Chip Strategy Reminder
The deadline for using your remaining chips before the mid-season reset (GW19) is approaching.
General advice:
- Wildcard – Use before GW14 if your squad has multiple AFCON players.
- Triple Captain – Haaland in a good December fixture.
- Free Hit – Ideal for double-blanks coming soon.
- Bench Boost – Best in December’s heavy rotation period.
Final Word
Gameweek 12 is all about smart, calm management. Replace the injured assets, target the in-form players, and start preparing for the AFCON disruption. Whether you’re chasing rank or defending it, this is a big week that could define your December.
Good luck, managers; green arrows await!
