Liverpool
Arne Slot's Liverpool have been the dominant force in the Premier League so far this term. They have amassed a whopping 21 wins in their opening 28 games, losing just once in the process, prompting FPL managers to stock up on their players, with superstar Mohamed Salah leading the charge . Their exploits have seen them build a mighty 15-point league at the division's summit, and they are already practically champions, even with well over a month remaining of the 2024/25 season.
However, the big news surrounding their run-in is that it is as difficult as anybody’s in the entire league. The popular Bodog News site recently ranked the Merseyside Derby as an honorable mention in their list of the planet's biggest rivalries. The Reds will contest one more of those against Everton before the season is out, and that is the tip of the iceberg.
On the final day of the campaign, Slot's men will host Crystal Palace at Anfield, a team they lost to last season in a result that derailed their title ambitions. For the four FPL game weeks preceding that, they will face Spurs (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), and Brighton (A). That is as tough as it gets, and if Liverpool already have the title wrapped up before that point, expect them to take their foot off the gas - something that could spell bad news for FPL squads stacked with Reds players.
Chelsea
Chelsea was looking like a title contender earlier this season, but now they are locked in a battle for a spot in the top four. And while they have been picking up results in recent weeks, they have hardly been setting the world alight.
Midfielder Cole Palmer was a mainstay in pretty much every FPL team when the Blues were on song. However, the Englishman can't hit a barn door at the moment and hasn't provided a single goal or assist since January 14th. Any managers with him still in their squad might want to think about cutting their recent losses, as well as reconsidering the futures of players such as Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
Their first big test comes in early April when they contest a London derby against Spurs at Stamford Bridge. While Ange Postocoglu's men have had a tough season this year, the return to fitness of a number of their top stars will mean that they are hard to beat and highly motivated. After that clash, they will get a little respite with games against the likes of Ipswich Town, Fulham, and Everton. But it's their final four games that are the toughest.
The run begins on May 3rd with The Blues hosting Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Following that, they will head up to St. James' Park to face League Cup finalists Newcastle before heading back home for a mouthwatering clash against Manchester United. On the final day of the season, they face in-form Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in a game that could have huge Champions League implications.
Aston Villa
Unai Emery's Villains are still competing on three fronts this season. In the Premier League, they remain on the hunt for a second straight season in the top five. They are also through to the quarterfinals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup, with clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and Preston North End both looming large on the horizon.
Their commitments in other competitions could take precedence over the league, and that's not the best news for FPL managers with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, and Marco Asensio in their squads. As well as that, Villa's run-in is also a toughie, and fantasy bosses should consider that before they make any final decisions on their end-of-season lineups.
Four days on from their UCL quarterfinal second leg against PSG, Villa must face Newcastle at home, and they may well be ripe for the picking if fatigue is rampant. A week after that, they have the small matter of heading to the Etihad to face outgoing champions Manchester City. Closing out the season, they will have to travel to high-flying Bournemouth and Manchester United on the final day, with a home contest against Spurs sandwiched in between.