How Penalties Are Taken in FPL: Goals, Misses, Saves

Penalties are the most compressed scoring event in FPL. A single kick can hand a defender the same six points as a match-winning header, or cost a captain four points in one swing. The scoring rules are simple: a penalty goal is a normal goal, a miss costs -2, and a save earns the goalkeeper 5.

The FPL penalty economy

Fantasy Premier League does not give extra points for how difficult a goal is. There is no separate penalty goal bonus in the scoring data. There is only the Goals category and the position of the scorer. A penalty goal from a goalkeeper or defender is worth 6 points, a midfielder gets 5, and a forward gets 4. The same kick therefore produces different totals depending on the position group of the player who takes it.

The twist is that the best FPL penalty asset is not necessarily the best real-life penalty taker. A forward on penalties is useful, but a defender or midfielder on penalties is worth more in FPL for the same outcome. That positional gap is the reason penalty takers should be analyzed by position before reputation.

Player type	Penalty goal	Penalty miss	Penalty save
Goalkeeper or defender	6	-2	+5 for a goalkeeper
Midfielder	5	-2	-
Forward	4	-2	-

The save and the miss

A penalty save and a penalty miss can happen on the same kick. When the goalkeeper saves the spot kick, the goalkeeper collects 5 points and the taker is charged -2 for the miss. One saved penalty therefore creates a 7-point swing between an FPL manager who owns the taker and one who owns the goalkeeper.

Captaincy makes the swing even larger. A captain who misses a penalty loses 4 points instead of 2. If the opposing goalkeeper saves that kick, the same event gives the goalkeeper 5 points and costs the captain 4, a 9-point swing in one play.

Goalkeepers are rarely the most captained players, but the penalty save makes them viable in the right match. A goalkeeper who saves a penalty in a 0-0 draw and plays at least 60 minutes collects 2 appearance points, 5 for the save, and 4 for the clean sheet, a base of 11 before bonus points. With the captain's armband, that total doubles to 22. A single save can turn a low-owned goalkeeper into one of the best scores of the week, which is why penalty takers and penalty savers both matter.

Positional value of penalty takers

Because a penalty goal is just a goal, the value of a taker is set by position before skill. A defender on penalties is a serious FPL asset. If that defender scores the only goal of a 1-0 win and plays 60+ minutes, the starting total is 12: 2 for the appearance, 6 for the goal, and 4 for the clean sheet. A forward in the same 1-0 win starts from 6: 2 for the appearance and 4 for the goal. The same penalty kick is worth two more FPL points for a defender before clean sheets, and six more once the clean sheet is added.

This is not a club-specific rule. At Arsenal or Liverpool, a penalty goal is scored by the same position values. A penalty at the bottom of the table is worth the same as a penalty at the top if the position group matches. A forward such as Erling Haaland gets 4 points for a penalty goal, while a defender who scores from the spot gets 6 points before clean sheet points are even considered.

Midfielders sit in the middle. A midfielder who scores a penalty earns 5 points, one more than a forward. They can also add a clean sheet point when their team concedes no goals, although that is a smaller part of the penalty calculation. Managers looking for an edge should scan for defenders and midfielders who have penalty duties, not simply assume the famous forward is the best fantasy pick.

Transfers, captaincy, and the league table

The FPL transfer cost makes penalty takers valuable targets. A transfer beyond the free allowance costs -4. A forward's penalty goal is worth 4 points, so one kick can cancel that transfer hit. If that forward is captain, the goal is worth 8 points, turning the same hit into a clear gain. A defender captain who scores a penalty returns 12 points, a strong return from a single event.

Captaincy cuts the other way too. A penalty miss by a captain costs -4, the same as an extra transfer. That is why a captain who takes penalties carries both upside and downside; the armband makes every outcome count twice.

Penalty goals are also part of the real league table. The Premier League tiebreakers after points are goal difference and then goals scored. Every penalty goal goes onto the scoreboard, so it counts toward both goal difference and goals scored. Over a 38-match season, a penalty scored in a tight match can be as valuable as a 30-yard strike because the table does not care how the goal was scored.

FAQ

How many points is a penalty goal in FPL?

A penalty goal uses the same goal values as any other goal. Goalkeepers and defenders get 6 points, midfielders get 5, and forwards get 4. There is no extra penalty goal bonus on top.

How many points does a goalkeeper get for saving a penalty in FPL?

A penalty save is worth 5 points. A goalkeeper also earns 2 appearance points for playing 60 or more minutes and 4 clean sheet points if the team concedes no goals. A goalkeeper who saves a penalty in a 0-0 draw is on a base of 11 points before bonus.

Do penalty misses lose points in FPL?

Yes. A penalty miss costs the taker -2 points. The captain's double applies to negative points too, so a captain who misses a penalty loses 4 points instead of 2.

Does a penalty goal count towards goal difference?

Yes. A penalty goal is a goal in the match scoreline, so it counts toward the team's goal difference and goals scored. Those are the second and third Premier League tiebreakers after points.

Key takeaways

• A penalty goal is worth 6 points for a goalkeeper or defender, 5 for a midfielder, and 4 for a forward.
• A saved penalty gives the goalkeeper 5 points and costs the taker -2, creating a 7-point swing on one kick.
• Captaincy doubles every penalty outcome: a captain's miss costs -4, a captain's forward goal scores 8, and a captain's defender goal scores 12.
• Position value matters more than reputation: a defender or midfielder on penalties is a stronger FPL asset than a forward on penalties.
• Penalty goals also count in the real league table, feeding goal difference and goals scored, the tiebreakers behind points.