The FPL season is a marathon, not a sprint, but every Gameweek feels like its own high-stakes hurdle. We’re deep enough into the 2025/26 campaign now that the initial hype has settled, form patterns are emerging, and the pressure is mounting. Gameweek 9, especially coming off what might have been an international break or a congested fixture list, always seems to throw up some particularly gnarly decisions. You’ve put in the hours, poured over the stats, and maybe even had a dream or two about your perfect XI. But what if that dream includes a player who, for this specific weekend, is more of a nightmare waiting to happen?
We’ve all been there – staring at our squad, a nagging feeling in the pit of our stomach about a usually reliable asset. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a potent force in Fantasy Premier League, often leading us to stick with names purely out of reputation or high ownership. But true FPL mastery isn’t just about picking the obvious studs; it’s about knowing when to step back, take a deep breath, and make the pragmatic, sometimes even unthinkable, call. This weekend, I’m urging you to do just that. Don’t saddle yourself with this quintet. It’s time to be brave, and yes, that might even mean telling a certain Egyptian king, “Thanks, but no thanks, for Gameweek 9.”
The Emotional Gauntlet: Navigating High-Ownership Dilemmas
FPL is as much a psychological game as it is a statistical one. Our decisions are often swayed by sentiment, by a player’s historical performance, or by the sheer weight of their ownership percentage. Dropping a highly-owned player, especially a premium one, feels like walking a tightrope without a safety net. What if they haul? What if the 70% of managers who kept them soar past you in the rankings? These are the anxieties that plague every FPL manager worth their salt.
But here’s the cold, hard truth: sometimes, the smart money isn’t on the tried and tested. Sometimes, form, fixtures, and underlying statistics whisper a different story. The FPL landscape is dynamic, and what was a brilliant pick last week might be a liability this. Ignoring these signs, simply because a player is a “legend” or “always delivers,” is a surefire way to stagnate or even slide down your mini-leagues. It requires courage, yes, but also a ruthless dedication to the numbers and the immediate context. This Gameweek, that ruthless streak needs to be front and centre, particularly when assessing the game’s biggest names.
The Unthinkable: Why Mo Salah Might Be Benched for GW9
Let’s address the elephant in the room first: Mohamed Salah. “Mo” has been the bedrock of countless FPL teams for years, a fixture in our squads, and a perennial captaincy candidate. To even suggest benching or selling him feels like heresy to many. But FPL isn’t about loyalty; it’s about points. And for Gameweek 9, the stars might just be aligning against the Egyptian King.
Consider the fixture. Liverpool are heading to the Emirates to face an Arsenal side that, historically, has found ways to frustrate them, especially at home. Arteta’s Gunners have matured into a defensively resolute unit, adept at limiting big chances against top opposition. This isn’t the free-flowing, open-game Arsenal of old. They’re structured, disciplined, and excellent at closing down the channels Salah loves to exploit. Add to this the fact that Salah will likely be returning from arduous international duty, potentially carrying some fatigue or a minor niggle that could impact his explosiveness.
While Salah’s underlying numbers (xG, xA) generally remain strong, even he isn’t immune to a blank against a top-tier defence. Looking back at similar away fixtures against Arsenal or other ‘big six’ teams, his output can be more subdued. Furthermore, if Klopp decides to rotate even slightly given the upcoming schedule, or if the game state dictates a more cautious approach, Salah’s explosive potential for *this specific Gameweek* could be curtailed. We’re not saying he won’t score ever again; we’re saying for GW9, your substantial investment in him might yield a less-than-optimal return, and there could be smarter ways to deploy that premium cash.
Beyond Anfield: Four More FPL Red Flags for Gameweek 9
It’s not just Salah who needs a critical eye this weekend. Four other players, popular in their own right, present significant risks for Gameweek 9. Ignoring these potential pitfalls could prove costly, not just in terms of points, but also in precious budget management.
A Fading Star in the Midfield
Our first player to consider avoiding is a midfielder who has had a purple patch earlier in the season but whose output has noticeably dipped in recent weeks. Let’s call him ‘Julian’ from a mid-table team. Julian racked up some impressive early assists and a goal or two, but his underlying statistics — expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) — never truly supported that early explosion. This is classic regression to the mean in action. Now, his team faces a daunting away fixture against one of the league’s most defensively sound sides. The spark seems to have gone, and relying on him to rekindle it against such opposition feels like a hopeful punt rather than a calculated decision. Your money is better spent elsewhere on a midfielder showing more consistent form or with a more favourable matchup.
The Overpriced Defender in a Shaky System
Next up, we have a premium defender, say ‘Alex’ from a top-four contender, who usually offers both clean sheet potential and attacking returns. The problem? His team’s defensive solidity has vanished. They’ve conceded multiple goals in their last few outings, and the clean sheet bonus, once a regular feature, is now a distant memory. To make matters worse, Alex’s attacking contributions have also dried up, with his team looking less effective from set-pieces and full-back overlaps. For Gameweek 9, they face a prolific attacking side known for their clinical finishing. Investing £6.0m+ in a defender when the clean sheet odds are so low and attacking returns are scarce is a poor allocation of resources. Look for defenders in teams with tighter defences and more achievable clean sheet prospects this weekend.
A Frustrating Forward Facing the Iron Wall
Then there’s the popular striker, ‘Ben,’ from a newly promoted team who grabbed headlines with a couple of early season goals. He’s relatively highly owned as a budget enabler. However, Ben has now blanked for several consecutive Gameweeks, often cutting a frustrated figure upfront. His team’s creative output has waned, and for GW9, they are up against a robust defensive unit that prides itself on shutting down opposition forwards. This isn’t a differential to chase; it’s a trap. His low xG per 90 in recent games suggests he’s not even getting into promising positions, and against an ‘iron wall’ defence, those chances will be even rarer. Save yourself the headache and bench Ben, or better yet, transfer him out for a forward with a clearer path to points.
The Enigmatic Winger with Questionable Minutes
Finally, consider the enigmatic winger, ‘Carlos,’ from a team balancing domestic and European commitments. Carlos has shown flashes of brilliance but is notoriously susceptible to rotation, often finding himself on the bench for critical league games. With a big European fixture looming immediately after Gameweek 9, his manager might opt for fresh legs, leaving Carlos with limited minutes or, worse, an unexpected benching. His FPL price tag demands consistent starts and returns, neither of which feel guaranteed this weekend, especially as his team faces a tricky mid-table opponent known for their disciplined wing play. The risk of a 1-point cameo is simply too high for a player of his cost and potential inconsistency. Don’t fall into the trap of hoping for a starting berth; look for players with more assured minutes.
The Prudent Path: Trusting Your Gut, Backed by Data
Making tough FPL calls is what separates the casual player from the seasoned manager. It’s about looking beyond the badge and the big name, and instead focusing on the immediate circumstances: form, fixtures, fitness, and minutes. This Gameweek 9, the data, combined with a healthy dose of FPL intuition, is screaming at us to be cautious with these five players. It’s never easy to step away from the likes of Mohamed Salah, but FPL isn’t a popularity contest; it’s a points game.
Take control of your FPL destiny. Be brave enough to make the uncomfortable decision, and trust that a temporary dip or a strategic benching can pave the way for a stronger squad in the long run. Analysing the red flags and acting decisively can be the difference between a frustrating Gameweek and one that propels you up the rankings. Good luck, managers – may your differentials thrive and your avoided players blank!
