FPL GW9 Free Hit: should you play it or save the chip?
Updated 27 October 2026. GW9's draw is unusual: Liverpool play Arsenal and Chelsea play Manchester United, while Bournemouth host Leeds, Manchester City host Brighton, Tottenham host Palace, and Aston Villa host Fulham. Official FPL guidance identifies GW9 as a possible Free Hit week, not one that all managers should target.
The important new injury: João Pedro will miss several weeks with a thigh problem. That weakens teams relying on him, but a Free Hit only removes him for one round: he returns to your squad after the chip expires. Managers with a multiweek Pedro problem must consider a permanent transfer or Wildcard as well.
The central question: how much stronger is your Free Hit XI?
A chip becomes attractive when your current XI has several bad fixtures, non-starters or injuries and the best one-week replacement team is clearly superior. Difficult fixtures for your current players do not guarantee a strong alternative lineup. A valid assessment compares two actual squads, not the headline fixture colours.
| Situation | Lean |
|---|---|
| Eleven fit players, two banked transfers | Usually save; address worst problems with transfers |
| Two injured starters, two poor bench options, many tough fixtures | Free Hit worth modelling |
| João Pedro injury is your only issue | Permanent forward transfer generally solves more weeks |
| Four or more forced changes needed to field a good XI | Serious Free Hit candidate; compare Wildcard too |
| You cannot make a stronger affordable one-week XI | Save chip despite fixture congestion |
Latest FPL news
Illustrative 15-player GW9 Free Hit squad
This £99.5m planning draft comes from the previous checked OneFPL Free Hit model, with its historic 26 October quoted prices retained for comparison. It is not a freshly verified 27 October pricing sheet or a final recommended lineup. Some players may be injured or rotated after the cup games. Recalculate in the official FPL transfer screen before confirming any chip.
| Position | Player | Club | Quoted 26 Oct price |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | James Trafford | Leeds | £5.0m |
| GK | Robin Roefs | Sunderland | £4.9m |
| DEF | Gabriel | Arsenal | £7.9m |
| DEF | Jan Paul van Hecke | Spurs | £4.9m |
| DEF | António Silva | Bournemouth | £5.0m |
| DEF | Mendy | Hull | £4.1m |
| DEF | Bobby Thomas | Coventry | £4.0m |
| MID | Rayan Cherki | Man City | £8.0m |
| MID | Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | £7.9m |
| MID | Morgan Rogers | Chelsea | £8.0m |
| MID | Marcus Tavernier | Bournemouth | £6.3m |
| MID | Jack Rudoni | Coventry | £4.9m |
| FWD | Erling Haaland | Man City | £15.7m |
| FWD | Nicolas Jackson | Aston Villa | £6.7m |
| FWD | Evanilson | Bournemouth | £6.2m |
| Total | 15 players | Maximum three Bournemouth | £99.5m |
Illustrative 3-4-3: Trafford; Gabriel, Van Hecke, Silva; Cherki, Mbeumo, Rogers, Tavernier; Haaland (C), Jackson, Evanilson. Vice-captain Cherki; bench Roefs, Rudoni, Mendy, Thomas. The mathematical structure is legal on the quoted figures; fitness, game status and actual buying values must be rechecked. It is normal to replace several names as more information arrives.
What to look for in a better one-week team
Prioritise likely starters, captaincy and two or three high-upside fixture targets rather than excessive bench spending. A premium facing a difficult fixture may still deserve a spot if their expected points are strong; a cheap punt may not be a smart pick merely because their opponent is promoted.
Free Hit vs Wildcard vs transfers
- Free Hit: one Gameweek of unlimited moves; original squad returns for GW10. Cannot be cancelled once confirmed.
- Wildcard: permanent rebuild; best for structural problems extending beyond one week.
- Free transfers: preserve chip optionality and address one or two specific injuries.
2026/27 provides two sets of each chip, one per half-season. The first set must be used before the GW19 deadline of 2 January 2027 and cannot be carried over. Only one chip can be used per Gameweek. Banked free transfers can reach five; check the official current rules rather than outdated articles claiming chips wipe them out.
Why GW12 also matters
Arsenal play Manchester City in GW12, another challenging week for widely owned premiums. The official chip guide names GW12 as a possible Free Hit alternative. Saving now retains the opportunity to adapt to an unexpected injury cluster or later fixture problem. It is an option value, not a guarantee GW12 will deliver more points.
Deadline checklist
After the 27–29 October cup ties, reconfirm injuries, club limits, actual selling value and starting prospects. GW9 deadline: Saturday 31 October, 11:00 GMT. Make two versions in OneFPL Transfer Planner: your best XI using free transfers and the best affordable Free Hit XI. If the improvement is modest, saving the chip is a sensible outcome.
Sources and update policy
- Premier League: 2026/27 FPL chip rules
- Premier League: how to use FPL chips
- Premier League 2026/27 fixture calendar
- João Pedro thigh injury and Alonso comments (27 Oct)
- EFL Carabao Cup round-four schedule
Information checked against the linked sources on 27 October 2026. Team news, prices and predicted lineups can change before the GW9 deadline. Predictions are analysis, not confirmed team sheets.