The twelfth gameweek of the 2023-24 season will be remembered for a long time following that incredible final match of the round. A total of 37 goals were scored overall, seven more than each of the last two gameweeks, while only three sides managed to keep clean sheets. We run through all the action and the notable points from an FPL perspective.
Gameweek 12 started in dramatic fashion as a Spurs side depleted through injuries and suspensions succumbed to a second successive defeat of the campaign away at Wolves. Despite leading for a long period of the match through Brennan Johnson (£5.8m), Gary O’Neil’s side fought back and were rewarded handsomely in second half stoppage time. Pablo Sarabia (£4.7m) setting up Mario Lemina (£4.9m) for Wolves’ equaliser before Sarabia himself won the game with a goal of his own.
Arsenal made light work of Burnley on Saturday afternoon beating the rock-bottom Clarets 3-1. Bukayo Saka (£8.6m) recorded his sixth league assist of the season, while there was also a goal for popular FPL defender William Saliba (£5.4m). Man Utd were victorious over Luton courtesy of a goal from Victor Lindelof (£4.5m) and Everton recorded a priceless 2-3 victory against Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze (£6.1m) reminded people of his fantasy appeal with one of the Eagles’ two goals.
Bournemouth surprised Newcastle in the Saturday evening kick-off, the Cherries winning by two goals to nil courtesy of a brace from striker Dominic Solanke (£6.4m). But the majority of goalscoring action took place on Sunday, with a whopping 24 goals scored across five fixtures with only one team managing to keep a clean sheet.
That club was Liverpool, who brushed aside Brentford 3-0 at Anfield, Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) maintaining his record of scoring in every home Premier League fixture so far in 2023-24 with two more goals, his overall tally now at ten for the season in the Premier League. Another regular goalscorer in the English top flight has been Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) and the attacking midfielder was on the scoresheet once again for West Ham in their enthralling 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.
There was a welcome return to form for Ollie Watkins (£8.4m) following consecutive blanks as he netted Aston Villa’s third goal in a comfortable 3-1 win against Fulham. A late goal for Sheffield Utd salvaged the newly promoted side an unlikely point away to Brighton, but the best action was being saved for the last fixture of Gameweek 12.
Chelsea against Man City delivered in an incredible way. An end-to-end pendulum swinger which saw both teams trade blows. Erling Haaland (£14.0m) opened the scoring from the penalty spot before the champions found themselves behind. An injury-time equaliser saw Pep Guardiola’s side go into the break level at 2-2, before another Haaland goal put them ahead. Chelsea levelled through Nicolas Jackson (£6.8m) but Rodri (£5.6m) looked to have won it late on for Man City.
The hosts never gave up though and their perseverance was rewarded deep into second half stoppage time. They were awarded a penalty of their own and up stepped the nerveless Cole Palmer (£5.2m) against his old club to net his fourth goal from the spot this season and earn his new side a well-deserved point. A fitting way to send us all into the international break.
