In this article, we will look at the best goalkeepers to pick for your Fantasy Premier League team in the Gameweek 22 of the 2024/25 season.
Let’s dive in and look at our watchlist. Here are the goalkeepers to pick from, with our comments and ratings of each.
Read more about GW22 in our guide: FPL Gameweek 22: Tips, Captain, Transfer Targets & Team Selection
Best goalkeepers to consider in Gameweek 22 and beyond: Our watchlist
Note: We calculate fixture difficulty from the attacking strength of the opponents from Vaastav’s teams data that’s why it differs from official FDR.
1. Sels – 7.7/10
Sels has been a rock between the sticks, delivering 4.6 points per game and an outstanding value of 19.4. His 3.00 saves per 90 rank among the best, making him a solid source of save points as well. With a home fixture against Southampton (2.09 next fixture difficulty) and an easy average difficulty of 2.40 over the next three gameweeks, we think Sels is the ultimate pick for FPL managers looking for reliable set & forget pick. According to Understat, Nottingham is 4th best for xG conceded this season.
2. Pickford – 7.2/10
Pickford combines 4.4 points per game with an excellent value of 17.6. His saves per 90 (3.15) highlight his ability to deliver even in tougher fixtures. While a home game against Spurs may limit clean sheet potential, his average difficulty of 3.01 across the next four gameweeks is appealing. Main benefit is that Everton have 4 matches in the next 3 gameweeks which increases his points potential.
3. Raya – 7/10
Raya is a consistent performer, averaging 3.8 points per game with a solid value of 14.3. His average difficulty of 2.44 over the next three gameweeks enhances his appeal as Arsenal have solid longer term fixtures on the horizon.
4. Henderson – 6.9/10
Henderson provides 3.5 points per game and the away fixture against West Ham in GW22 (2.19 next fixture difficulty) offers good potential for clean sheet points. With an average difficulty of 2.40 over the next three gameweeks, Henderson remains a viable budget-friendly option. Crystal Palace have good fixture run up to GW31.
5. Dúbravka – 6.8/10
Dúbravka’s 6.2 points per game is the highest among goalkeepers, but his total points remain low due to limited appearances. His saves per 90 (2.33) are lower, but a home fixture against Bournemouth (2.28 next fixture difficulty) gives him an excellent short-term outlook. His average difficulty of 2.40 over the next three gameweeks adds to his appeal if Nick Pope is still out.
However, Dubravka is linked with a move to Saudi Pro League, so he is just a short-term option in FPL, for example on managers on GW22 Free Hit or those who will Wildcard soon. Still, make sure you have a backup goalkeeper.
6. Sánchez – 6.6/10
Sánchez averages 3.7 points per game with saves per 90 (3.42), one of the best on this list – 3rd for saves among goalkeepers. A home fixture against Wolves (2.19 next fixture difficulty) provides a strong opportunity for returns, while fixtures remain good for Chelsea up to GW28.
7. Leno – 6.4/10 – our differential pick
Leno averages just 3.0 points per game and moderate saves per 90 (2.81), but Fulham’s defense is overlooked as they have 3rd lowest xG conceded according to Understat. An away fixture against Leicester (2.28 next fixture difficulty) offers decent clean-sheet potential, and fixtures are pretty good up to GW28.
8. Alisson – 6.3/10
Alisson delivers 4.0 points per game, supported but low saves per 90 (1.94), which is among the lowest on this list, reflecting Liverpool’s strong defensive unit. Liverpool has lowest xG conceded this season, and have 4 fixtures in the next 3 gameweeks. But it’s hard to fit Alisson into our teams due to his price.
Tips for picking the best goalkeepers for your FPL team
- With goalkeepers, you always want a keeper that has a very high chance of a clean sheet. You can use our Premier League Clean Sheets Odds to find goalkeepers, who are most likely to keep a clean sheet in the next gameweek of FPL.
- Also, when considering a goalkeeper for your fantasy team, you always have to take a look at fixtures and asses whether a certain goalkeeper has the potential for a clean sheet. Does he have a tough or easy fixture? And as we mentioned, our clean sheet odds will help you with that.
- Check FDR to find goalkeepers with a great fixture run that could be good for clean sheets
- Also, asses the save potential of a goalkeeper you would like to pick. Make sure you check which goalkeepers have the most saves and bonus points.
- Goalkeepers who are bonus points magnets can get double-digit haul when they keep a clean sheet. So when they keep a clean sheet in every 5th or 6th match, it is ok, as they deliver a big amount of points on those occasions.
- Do not forget to pick a playing goalkeeper to your bench, in case your first-choice GK gets injured. But your bench goalkeeper does not have to be an expensive one, as you will likely not need him many times. Choose a goalkeeper from the 4-4.5m price bracket as your backup
Strategies for picking a goalkeeper in FPL
King and the heir
You pick a starting 4.5 million goalkeeper and a 4.0 million backup goalkeeper from the same team. So, when the 4.5m number one gets injured, you will automatically have his replacement on your bench.
That way you will have coverage for 38 gameweeks for just 8.5 million in total. The disadvantage is, that 4.5m goalkeepers might not deliver so many points as you would need.
- Total costs = 4.5 + 4 = 8.5m
- Expected points output during the season = 115 – 130 points
Rotating goalkeepers
In this strategy, you pick two 4.5m, or 5.0m goalkeepers that rotates very well. So, when the first one has a home fixture, the other one has an away fixture. And the other way around.
Or when the first one has an easy fixture, the other one has a tough fixture. The idea is, that you will exploit this rotation (of H/A, or fixtures), to maximize the point output from your goalkeepers, as you will always play the one with the better fixture.
This strategy looks great on paper. But when put in practice, you will leave many points on the bench too many times. It is hard to predict where the points come from – sometimes, you bench goalkeepers with a tough fixture, but that could be the fixture with a surprising clean sheet, 6 saves and 3 bonus points.
The expected output of this strategy varies. You could score even 180+ points through the season with this strategy if your goalkeepers score points in fixtures when you want them to score. But if not, you might be actually losing points, as you might bench the big hauls.
- Total costs = 4.5 + 4.5 = 9m
- Expected points output during the season = 100 – 190 points
Premium set and forget
You pick one premium goalkeeper (like Raya or Alisson) and do not worry about them the whole season. Premium goalkeepers have high clean sheet potential, although they rarely collect points for save points.
You would pick a 4.0 million goalkeeper to the bench – either a starting goalkeeper or a non-starting.
- Total costs = 4.0 + 5.5 = 9.5m
- Expected points output during the season = 130 – 160 points
Switching goalkeepers based on fixtures
The most common strategy in FPL. You pick one goalkeeper with a very good fixture run and when his fixtures turn red, you transfer him out for another goalkeeper whose fixtures improve.
- Total costs = 4.0 + 4.5/5.5m = 9.5m – 10.5m + transfers made
- Expected points output during the season = 110 – 190 points
FPL Goalkeepers with stable points output in the previous 3 seasons
How many points should you expect from your goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League?
Do not have unrealistic expectations from your FPL goalkeepers.
- At best, the top teams can keep around 14-20 clean sheets per season. So, when you select a premium goalkeeper, expect he gets a clean sheet in every second or third match at the best.
- Mid-table teams tend to keep around 8-13 clean sheets per season. So, with mid-priced goalkeepers, expect a clean sheet in every fourth match
- Bottom table teams usually keep around 0-7 clean sheets per season. So when picking budget enablers from bottom-table teams, do not really expect more than a clean sheet in every 6th match.
- So, usually, a top-scoring goalkeeper can get around 140-160 points per season. On some occasions, the top-scoring goalkeeper can get even 170 points or more in a season – but it is hard to predict who it is going to be.
- So, 140-160 points is the number of points you should aim to get from your goalkeeper during the whole FPL season
Of course, you will never get a distribution of a clean sheet that is so symmetric – CS in every 2nd match, CS in every 4th match, etc…
Because of the Law of Large Numbers (when we are stretched too far from the mean, the values tend to return to the mean over time, and regression happens) and the Theory of Clusters (extreme values tend to be concentrated in the clusters), you will likely see a concentration of clean sheets in few matches, then a large strike of blanks, etc.
That’s why you should look at average clean sheet count when selecting a goalkeeper, and not just at his “form” – how many clean sheets he kept in the last few matches – as this can be just a cluster of extreme values (either a cluster of returns or a cluster of blanks).
How are goalkeepers awarded points in FPL?
The majority of FPL points for goalkeepers go through clean sheets – that’s their main source of points.
Then, saves can earn them a few extra points as well. And usually, when a goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet and gets 3 or more saves there is a potential that he will get awarded a few bonus points.
Penalty saves, assists and goals are rare points sources as well.
| Action | Points for goalkeepers |
|---|---|
| Playing up to 60 minutes | 1 |
| Playing 60+ minutes | 2 |
| Clean Sheet | 4 |
| Every 2 goals conceded | -1 |
| Every 3 saves | 1 |
| Penalty save | 5 |
| Goal scored | 10 (rare, but sometimes happen) |
| Assist | 3 (rare, but sometimes happen) |
| Bonus points | 1-3 |
| Yellow card | -1 |
| Red card | -3 |
| Own goal | -2 |
Further resources
