{"id":129835,"date":"2025-10-18T08:41:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T08:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/129835\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T08:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T08:41:14","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-gameweek-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/129835\/","title":{"rendered":"All you need to know about Gameweek 8"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re in a rush and need some last-minute Fantasy Premier League (FPL) advice, here\u2019s a quick round-up of what you need to know about Gameweek 8.<\/p>\n<p>WHEN\u2019S THE FPL GAMEWEEK 8 DEADLINE?<\/p>\n<p>All transfers and team selections need to be done by <strong>11:00 BST on Saturday 18 October<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>INTERNATIONAL FALLOUT<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"136\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fifa-club-world-cup-fantasy-2025-penalty-set-piece-takers-so-far-300x136.jpg\" alt=\"FIFA Club World Cup Fantasy 2025: Penalty + set-piece takers so far\" class=\"wp-image-140832\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Scout\u2019s beloved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/16\/minutes-played-late-returns-every-fpl-player-on-international-duty-5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tracker of international game time is ready to digest<\/a>, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/15\/haaland-rests-isak-flops-bench-boost-worries-international-break-notes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a few events worth noting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Enzo Fernandez <\/strong>(\u00a36.7m) was released by Argentina due to\u00a0inflammation in his right knee. Reports say the plan was always for him to sit out their Puerto Rico friendly but his absence from training later in the week is causing Fantasy headaches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ollie Watkins<\/strong> (\u00a38.7m) should be ok, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/07\/fpl-gameweek-8-bench-boost-pros-cons-players-to-consider\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gameweek 8 Bench Boost users<\/a> may be concerned about <strong>Omar Alderete<\/strong> (\u00a34.1m) and <strong>Lyle Foster<\/strong>\u2018s (\u00a35.0m) knocks. <strong>Chris Wood<\/strong> (\u00a37.3m) as well.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in-form <strong>Erling Haaland<\/strong> (\u00a314.6m) was granted an early exit and is fine. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/06\/new-stats-in-the-ffscout-members-area-2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A new Members Area statistic<\/a> shows that he\u2019s (shock, horror) taking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/14\/top-fpl-players-for-chance-involvement-in-2025-26\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a huge share<\/a> of Manchester City\u2019s shots. Scarily, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/10\/is-this-the-best-ever-start-for-haaland-in-fpl-and-will-it-tail-off\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">this hasn\u2019t even been his best FPL start<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>CHIP AWAY<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fpl-gameweek-8-wildcard-pros-cons-best-drafts-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"FPL Gameweek 8 Wildcard: Pros, cons + best drafts 5\" class=\"wp-image-148434\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/07\/fpl-gameweek-8-bench-boost-pros-cons-players-to-consider\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bench Boosting<\/a> makes sense because cheap Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland enablers all have an appealing match. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/08\/how-good-are-the-three-promoted-clubs-compared-to-previous-years\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The promoted trio are coping well<\/a> in the top-flight.<\/p>\n<p>Yet many FPL managers like to Wildcard during international fortnights. Our drafts jump onto <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/12\/who-has-the-best-short-term-attacking-defensive-fpl-fixtures\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nice-looking fixture runs<\/a>, where West Ham United get a thumbs-up, making <strong>Jarrod Bowen<\/strong> (\u00a37.8m) a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/15\/the-scout-squad-our-top-picks-for-fpl-gameweek-8-2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">unanimous Scout Squad choice<\/a> and part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/10\/zophars-fpl-gameweek-8-wildcard-draft\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zophar\u2019s hypothetical long-term team<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s actually saving his Wildcard for later, but fellow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/11\/what-moves-did-the-great-and-the-good-make-in-gameweek-7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018The Great and The Good\u2019<\/a> boss <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/12\/laterisers-fpl-gameweek-8-wildcard-draft\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lateriser isn\u2019t waiting any longer<\/a>, taking on board his friend\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/16\/fpl-gameweek-8-qa-arsenal-triple-up-mid-priced-midfielders-cheap-defence\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Q&amp;A recommendation of Enzo<\/a>. A quick glance at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/14\/big-numbers-22-stand-out-stats-for-fpl-gameweek-8-2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018Big Numbers\u2019<\/a> confirms that he\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/13\/which-fpl-players-and-teams-top-the-xg-tables-26\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best midfielder for expected goals (xG)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/09\/who-are-the-best-chelsea-players-to-buy-in-fpl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Other Chelsea picks<\/a> include <strong>Trevoh Chalobah<\/strong> (\u00a35.1m), now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/07\/who-is-close-to-a-ban-or-suspended-in-fpl-gameweek-8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">back from suspension<\/a>, and <strong>Joao Pedro<\/strong> (\u00a37.6m), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/11\/buy-keep-or-sell-fpl-transfer-trends-ahead-of-gameweek-8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">someone worth keeping faith in<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lateriser intends to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/15\/how-i-plan-to-future-proof-my-fpl-gameweek-8-wildcard\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">have Gameweek 13\u2019s fixture swing in mind<\/a> too. Covering Newcastle United\u2019s attack from that point seems wise, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/09\/woltemade-v-gordon-which-newcastle-attacker-to-buy-in-fpl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">should it be <strong>Nick Woltemade<\/strong> (\u00a37.3m) or <strong>Anthony Gordon<\/strong> (\u00a37.4m)<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/14\/every-fpl-set-piece-and-penalty-taker-updated\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">revised set-piece table<\/a> takes the German\u2019s recent penalty into account, but Gordon wasn\u2019t around. Yet, at Arsenal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/04\/fpl-notes-saka-on-pens-odegaard-injury-gabriels-defcons\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Bukayo Saka<\/strong> (\u00a39.9m) scored his spot kick<\/a> as <strong>Viktor Gyokeres<\/strong> (\u00a39.1m) watched.<\/p>\n<p>A TIME TO REFLECT<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/liverpools-defence-why-they-are-struggling-in-fpl-this-season-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"Liverpool's defence: Why they are struggling in FPL this season\" class=\"wp-image-148579\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, these two weeks allow managers to assess what\u2019s happened so far and plan ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Reasons have been suggested for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/07\/why-has-salah-been-so-poor-in-fpl-this-season\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Mohamed Salah<\/strong>\u2018s (\u00a314.4m) underwhelming start<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/09\/liverpool-defence-why-they-are-struggling-in-fpl-this-season\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">why Liverpool\u2019s backline is struggling<\/a>. Plus, new arrival <strong>Florian Wirtz<\/strong> (\u00a38.1m) is one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/11\/the-biggest-fpl-let-downs-of-2025-26-so-far\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">several high-profile letdowns<\/a>, alongside Nottingham Forest assets and Watkins.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/09\/which-forwards-haaland-aside-are-worth-buying-in-fpl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Those needing a forward<\/a> could buy <strong>Jean-Philippe Mateta<\/strong> (\u00a37.5m). He\u2019s due for a bit of success, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/08\/goals-assists-imminent-who-is-due-an-fpl-return\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">according to \u2018Goals Imminent\u2019<\/a>. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/16\/top-defcon-performers-in-fpl-best-fixtures-for-defensive-returns\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Crystal Palace are the best team<\/a> for accumulating defensive contribution (DefCon) actions.<\/p>\n<p>This should continue at home to Bournemouth, as the Cherries\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/07\/who-are-the-best-opposition-teams-to-face-for-fpl-defcon-points\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">opponents tend to collect lots of them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>BEST FPL GAMEWEEK 8 CAPTAIN<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2018-11-30T202613Z_755038409_RC1315811FB0_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-CDF-WLV-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Who is the best captain for FPL Double Gameweek 19? 1\" class=\"wp-image-47353 webpexpress-processed\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Despite being below his usual standards, <strong>Mohamed Salah<\/strong> is the favoured captain of our <a href=\"https:\/\/rate-my-team.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/players\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rate My Team (RMT) algorithm<\/a> because he loves facing Manchester United. 12 goals and six assists from the last nine encounters. We\u2019ve even squeezed the Egyptian into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/08\/fpl-gameweek-8-free-hit-pros-cons-best-team\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">our Free Hit line-up<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/17\/who-is-the-best-captain-for-fpl-gameweek-8-4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Captain Sensible<\/a> prefers <strong>Erling Haaland<\/strong> for the armband. Both pick the other one in second place, as the likes of <strong>Enzo Fernandez<\/strong>, <strong>Jarrod Bowen<\/strong> and <strong>Jaidon Anthony<\/strong> (\u00a35.7m) get some consideration.<\/p>\n<p>TEAM REVEALSSCOUT PICKS + DIFFERENTIALS<\/p>\n<p>Our weekly selection \u2013 essentially a Free Hit in all but name \u2013 is laid out in a 3-4-3 formation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"356\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-179.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-149170 webpexpress-processed\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>The leading defender for assists, <strong>El Hadji Malick Diouf<\/strong> (\u00a34.4m), is identified as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/2025\/10\/16\/fpl-gameweek-8-differentials-diouf-gordon-arias\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">one of three high-potential differentials<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>PREDICTED LINE-UPS<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk\/team-news\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">predicted the starting XIs<\/a> of all 20 Premier League teams.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever you decide to do, good luck with FPL Gameweek 8!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/FFScoutEditorial\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250804-WA0005-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-143262 webpexpress-processed\" style=\"width:700px\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re in a rush and need some last-minute Fantasy Premier League (FPL) advice, here\u2019s a quick round-up&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":129836,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[78151,9,10,18,78152,78153,13,14,78154,78155,78156,78157,78158,78159,6,19,17,11,12,15,16,5,7,8,78160],"class_list":{"0":"post-129835","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-best-fpl-players-to-pick","9":"tag-breaking-news","10":"tag-breakingnews","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-fantasy-news","13":"tag-fantasy-premier-league","14":"tag-featured-news","15":"tag-featurednews","16":"tag-fpl-gameweek","17":"tag-fpl-in-5-mins","18":"tag-fpl-in-5-minutes","19":"tag-fpl-news","20":"tag-fpl-round-up","21":"tag-gameweek-8","22":"tag-headlines","23":"tag-ie","24":"tag-ireland","25":"tag-latest-news","26":"tag-latestnews","27":"tag-main-news","28":"tag-mainnews","29":"tag-news","30":"tag-top-stories","31":"tag-topstories","32":"tag-who-to-buy-in-fpl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=129835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=129835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=129835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}