Gameweek 4 Preview: Manchester Derby Headlines a Loaded Weekend - FPL Picks & Fixtures
Gameweek 4 runs from Saturday 12 to Tuesday 15 September, and it is built around one fixture: Manchester United vs Manchester City at Old Trafford on Monday. City arrive as the only team in the division with a perfect record, United sit 11th and desperate for a statement. Add three players tied at the top of the scoring charts and a Liverpool side unbeaten but drawing too often, and this is the most interesting round of the season so far. Here is the full fixture list, the players who matter, and who to back for FPL.
The Headline: Manchester Derby at Old Trafford
Manchester City go to Old Trafford as the Premier League's only 100% team, with three wins from three, nine points and a +5 goal difference. Manchester United sit 11th on four points after a loss, a win and a draw, giving this derby a genuine gap in form between the two sides.
Manchester derby, Monday 14 September 00:30 KST - FotMob data
| Team | Pos | Record | GF-GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 1st | 3W-0D-0L | 7-2 (+5) | 9 |
| Manchester United | 11th | 1W-1D-1L | 7-6 (+1) | 4 |
The individual duel to watch is between the two men tied on three goals each: Bruno Fernandes, who carries United's attack with a league-leading four goal involvements and the division's second-best average rating (8.63), and Erling Haaland, who has scored in a City side that has conceded only twice all season. For the full story of how Fernandes reached this form, see our Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich review.
Full Gameweek 4 Fixture List
Gameweek 4 is spread across four days, opening with a five-match Saturday block and closing with Leeds vs Newcastle on Tuesday. The FPL deadline is Saturday 12 September at 21:30 KST.
All ten Gameweek 4 fixtures - FotMob data
| Day | Fixture | Time (KST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 12 Sep | Bournemouth vs Brentford | 23:00 |
| Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest | 23:00 | |
| Chelsea vs Hull City | 23:00 | |
| Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town | 23:00 | |
| Liverpool vs Fulham | 23:00 | |
| Sun 13 Sep | Tottenham vs Everton | 01:30 |
| Sunderland vs Arsenal | 04:00 | |
| Coventry City vs Brighton | 22:00 | |
| Mon 14 Sep | Manchester United vs Manchester City | 00:30 |
| Tue 15 Sep | Leeds United vs Newcastle United | 04:00 |
The Golden Boot Race: Three Players Tied on Three
The top of the scoring chart is a three-way tie, and all three have very different fixtures this week. Alexander Isak hosts Fulham with Liverpool, Erling Haaland travels to Old Trafford, and Bruno Fernandes hosts the league leaders.
Three players level at the top of the scoring charts - FotMob data
| Player | Team | Goals | GW4 Fixture | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Isak | Liverpool | 3 | vs Fulham (H) | Best fixture of the three |
| Erling Haaland | Man City | 3 | vs Man Utd (A) | Tough venue, best team form |
| Bruno Fernandes | Man Utd | 3 | vs Man City (H) | Hardest opponent, highest ceiling |
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo deserves a mention alongside them: he leads the league outright with three assists and an 8.29 average rating, and Liverpool host a Fulham side that has lost all three of its opening fixtures.
Elsewhere: Struggling Sides Get a Lifeline
Two of the teams we flagged as being in trouble get genuinely winnable fixtures this week. Aston Villa, still searching for their first goal of the season, host Nottingham Forest, while Crystal Palace welcome Ipswich Town. Both are the kind of fixtures that decide whether an early-season slump becomes a real relegation fight.
Fulham, by contrast, travel to Anfield having lost all three so far - comfortably the toughest assignment of the bottom group. Our earlier Bottom 5 Reality Check looked at whether these slumps were as bad as they appeared, and our Gameweek 3 review tracked Villa's goalless run in detail.
FPL Picks for Gameweek 4
The safest captain this week is Alexander Isak, who combines top-scorer form with the friendliest fixture of the three leaders at home to a winless Fulham. Haaland remains the highest-floor premium option even away from home, given City's perfect record and league-best defence.
| Pick | Player | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Captain (safe) | Alexander Isak | 3 goals, home to a side that has lost all three |
| Captain (differential) | Bruno Fernandes | Highest ceiling in the derby, 4 goal involvements already |
| Midfield value | Cody Gakpo | League-leading 3 assists, 8.29 rating, home fixture |
| Defensive pick | Man City defence | Only 2 goals conceded in 3 games |
| Avoid | Fulham assets | 0 points from 3, away at Anfield |
If you are weighing a safe captain against a differential, our Gameweek 2 captaincy analysis showed how a 20-point swing can come down to a single armband decision, and our Gameweek 3 case study showed the safe pick paying off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When is the Manchester derby in Gameweek 4?
Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Monday 14 September at 00:30 KST, the standalone fixture of the gameweek.
Q2. What is the FPL deadline for Gameweek 4?
The Gameweek 4 deadline is Saturday 12 September at 21:30 KST, before the five-match Saturday block kicks off at 23:00.
Q3. Who should I captain in FPL Gameweek 4?
Alexander Isak is the safest option, with three goals and a home fixture against a Fulham side that has lost all three games. Bruno Fernandes is the higher-ceiling differential in the Manchester derby.
Q4. Who are the current Premier League top scorers?
Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes are tied on three goals each after Gameweek 3. Cody Gakpo leads the assist charts outright with three.
Q5. Which teams are in form going into Gameweek 4?
Manchester City and Arsenal are the only teams with perfect records, both on nine points from three games. Manchester City hold top spot on goal difference.
Data sources: FotMob Premier League fixtures | Official Fantasy Premier League (as of 10 September 2026)
Related reading: GW3 Review: Villa's Goalless Crisis | €50M+ Transfer Window Analysis | Bottom 5 Reality Check
댓글
댓글 쓰기