Leeds’ start to the season gives their Gameweek 5 meeting with Crystal Palace an early FPL edge. After four matches, Leeds sit third with eight points; Palace are 16th on three. Those positions make Leeds the more attractive side on the available form, though four games are too few to treat either team’s early record as a settled measure of what comes next.
The teams meet at Elland Road at 14:00 BST on Sunday 20 September. The predicted line-ups below are provisional: information from the pre-match press conferences could change the picture before kick-off. For managers considering a transfer or captaincy decision, that uncertainty matters as much as the table suggests it should.
Predicted FPL Gameweek 5 line-ups
The predicted XIs offer a planning guide, not confirmation of who’ll start. At this stage, managers should read them alongside injury and availability updates, especially if a player’s place in the side could affect a transfer or bench decision. A name in a predicted line-up is a possibility, not a guarantee.
For detailed updates, see team news and the latest press conference information.
Leeds
Crystal Palace
Recent form and FPL indicators
Leeds have eight points, a +4 goal difference and a WDDW record across their first four fixtures. Palace have three points, a -5 goal difference and a LLWL sequence. The contrast is clear: Leeds have collected results more consistently, while Palace’s record points to a difficult opening stretch.
The accompanying data compares each team’s leading players for expected goal involvement (xGI) over the last four Gameweeks. xGI combines expected goals and expected assists, offering a way to assess whether a player is getting into positions that can produce attacking returns. It’s a useful guide, but it won’t tell you whether a chance was converted or whether the same opportunities will appear in the next match.
Leeds’ results give them the stronger platform going into the fixture, though the predicted XIs remain subject to updates. Their positive goal difference supports the case that the points have come with a meaningful scoring margin, while Palace’s negative figure reflects the more difficult balance of their opening matches. Still, league position and goal difference describe what’s happened; neither guarantees how this particular game will unfold.
What the early numbers mean for FPL managers
Four fixtures provide a snapshot, not a verdict. A strong start can make a team’s players look more dependable, but early standings can shift quickly, and a favourable team record doesn’t automatically make every player a sound FPL pick. Managers still need to weigh likely minutes, role and individual attacking involvement against the appeal of a good-looking fixture.
This is more significant than it looks: the temptation is to read Leeds’ third-place position as a blanket endorsement of their squad. That would stretch the evidence. The xGI comparison can help distinguish players who are involved in goal-scoring chances from those benefiting mainly from the team’s results, but the figures cover the same short four-Gameweek window.
If you’re working through your Gameweek 5 decisions, use the table as a starting point, then check the team news before locking in your picks. Here’s the thing: a predicted XI can shape expectations, but confirmation arrives later, and even a confirmed starter needs an FPL case beyond simply being named.
Palace’s poor opening record creates a similar risk in reverse. Their three points and -5 goal difference make them less appealing on current results, yet those figures alone don’t show whether any individual player remains involved enough to merit consideration. The useful question is narrower: which players’ expected goal involvement supports a case for returns in this fixture?
And the part many managers overlook: a team’s position in the table and a player’s personal FPL prospects answer different questions. Leeds look better placed as a team, but the xGI comparison is the more direct evidence for judging attacking involvement. That said, neither measure removes the uncertainty of a single match.
Fixture outlook
Leeds have the clearer case on the information available: better early results, a stronger goal difference and a higher league position. Palace arrive with a weaker record, so their players need a more convincing individual argument for selection. The gap is real, but it’s based on four matches.
For FPL managers, the practical approach is to treat Leeds as the more promising side while waiting for the press-conference updates and checking the expected involvement of specific players. A cautious read of the evidence. No early-season statistic can settle the outcome, and the predicted line-ups may still change.
