By the time Burnley and Manchester City get the 2023-24 Premier League season under way at Turf Moor, it will have been a full 75 days since the last Fantasy Premier League deadline. Oh, how we’ve missed it.
That’s right, FPL is finally back this weekend with a blockbuster schedule to kickstart the campaign. All 20 clubs are in action in Gameweek 1 which is spread gratuitously across a four-day period starting on Friday 11 August and ending on Monday 14 August.
As ever, it will be an opening weekend of firsts: Luton Town’s first Premier League fixture; Andoni Iraola, Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou’s first official matches in charge of their new clubs; new kits, some good, others not so good; and potential league debuts for a whole host of summer signings including Declan Rice, Dominik Szoboszlai, James Maddison and Mason Mount, amongst others.
It is at this point when football fans can allow themselves to dream about what the upcoming campaign may entail for their team, be that a surprise trophy win, an enthralling European run, an emphatic win over a local rival or an unforeseen great escape from relegation.
The same applies to FPL managers too. The days, hours, and minutes before the first deadline of a new campaign provide some of the most enjoyable moments in the game when the possibilities are endless and the ambitions limitless.
Why shouldn’t this be your year to finish top of the worldwide standings? Or secure bragging rights in your family mini-league? Or outsmart your mates in an head-to-head league? Dream big, FPL bosses.
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If you’re unconvinced, our dedicated FPL writer has finished inside the top 10,000 players worldwide in two of their previous four seasons, including in 2022-23.
And while you’re there, have a look at what else we have on offer, including The Score, Daniel Storey’s review of all 20 Premier League clubs’ performance each weekend, and Kat Lucas’s Boxing Tonight for exclusive boxing interviews and news.
As for the game itself, not an awful lot has changed. A rundown of the four chips for those new to the game: Wildcard allows you to make unlimited transfers to your team without incurring a points hit; Free Hit enables you to do the same but for one gameweek only; Bench Boost brings your four bench players into play; and Triple Captain trebles the number of points that your assigned captain scores.
Ordinarily, we select the best 11-player team each week based on a combination of factors including their form, the fixture and sometimes a favourable individual match-up.
However, as it’s the start of a new season and everyone is giddy with FPL excitement, we’ve gone all out and picked a full 15-player squad instead:
Gameweek 1 fixtures
Friday 11 August
- Burnley vs Man City
Saturday 12 August
- Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
- Bournemouth vs West Ham
- Brighton vs Luton
- Everton vs Fulham
- Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace
- Newcastle vs Aston Villa
Sunday 13 August
- Brentford vs Spurs
- Chelsea vs Liverpool
Monday 14 August
- Man Utd vs Wolves
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Everton will hope for a more tranquil season after back-to-back relegation scraps, but will have to improve their defensive record to do so. They conceded 27 homes goals in 2022-23, as many as relegated Leicester.
Sean Dyche is a 1-0 specialist, though, and if he can have that effect on the Toffees, Jordan Pickford could be a great, low-budget option between the posts.
Price: £4.5m Points in 2022-23: 124 Gameweek 1 fixture: Fulham (h)
Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
A total of 124 points ensured that Luke Shaw matched his best-ever points haul in a season in 2022-23 after scoring one goal, providing four assists and keeping 12 clean sheets.
Shaw established himself as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice left-back, starting 30 times in the league, and faces last season’s second-lowest away scorers Wolves in Gameweek 1.
Price: £5.5m Points in 2022-23: 124 Gameweek 1 fixture: Wolves (h)
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
Arsenal had the third-best defensive record in the league last season (albeit they were far leakier at home than away) and face the lowest-scoring away side in their opener with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
Gabriel is the most assured starter in Mikel Arteta’s backline and has scored eight Premier League goals in the past two seasons, more than any other defender in the division.
Price: £5m Points in 2022-23: 146 Gameweek 1 fixture: Nottingham Forest (h)
Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)
Currently, Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka are the only players in more FPL teams than Brighton‘s Pervis Estupinan ahead of the opening weekend.
The Ecuadorian impressed during his debut campaign on the south coast, creating the fourth-highest number of chances among defenders. A home game against newly-promoted Luton boosts his appeal.
Price: £5m Points in 2022-23: 128 Gameweek 1 fixture: Luton (h)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Liverpool will almost certainly sign a defensive midfielder before the summer transfer window closes, but until they prise Romeo Lavia away from Southampton or turn their attentions elsewhere, there is a chance Jurgen Klopp could just use Trent Alexander-Arnold in the quarterback role.
That was essentially where the 24-year-old ended up last season, tucked in from the right after struggling defensively as a full-back. It worked a treat, with Alexander-Arnold supplying seven assists and one goal in the final 10 games of the season.
Price: £8m Points in 2022-23: 156 Gameweek 1 fixture: Chelsea (a)
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace begin their post-Wilfried Zaha era away at Sheffield United, a club that has endured a tumultuous pre-season with Iliman N’Diaye leaving and Sander Berge set to follow.
The Blades could be there for the taking, giving Eberechi Eze a chance to pick up where he left off in May. Eze scored six times and set up two more in his last 10 appearances last season.
Price: £6.5m Points in 2022-23: 159 Gameweek 1 fixture: Sheffield United (a)
Top FPL scorers last season
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – 272
- Harry Kane (Spurs) – 263
- Mo Salah (Liverpool) – 239
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) – 212
- Marcus Rashford (Man Utd) – 205
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 202
- Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 198
- Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) – 198
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – 183
- Ivan Toney (Brentford) – 182
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
FPL bosses are spoiled for choice when it comes to Arsenal’s attack with the signing of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury both complicating matters. Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are all contenders for the No 9 role in Jesus’s absence.
That shouldn’t impact Bukayo Saka‘s minutes, though, as like Gabriel he has been fixture of the side under Arteta, featuring in all 76 of Arsenal’s league games since the start of 2021-22. In that time, he has returned 25 goals and 21 assists.
Price: £8.5m Points in 2022-23: 202 Gameweek 1 fixture: Nottingham Forest (h)
Mo Salah (Liverpool)
Mo Salah was comfortably the top-scoring midfielder in the game last season and yet his price tag, despite dropping half a million in price from this stage last season, appears to be putting people off. At the time of writing, Salah is only the fifth-most popular midfielder in the game with an overall ownership of almost a quarter of Erling Haaland’s.
Although there are plenty of excellent options in midfield this season, particularly in the £7m-£9m price bracket, going without Salah feels risky considering his track record as a fast starter. Liverpool’s main man has never blanked on the opening day, averaging 13 points per match in Gameweek 1 since 2017-18.
Price: £12.5m Points in 2022-23: 239 Gameweek 1 fixture: Chelsea (a)
James Maddison (Spurs)
If Ange Postecoglou’s reputation and Tottenham’s performances in pre-season are anything to go by, you’re going to want some attacking coverage from the north London club. And unlike in previous years, FPL managers aren’t solely restricted to picking one or both of Harry Kane or Son Heung-min, given James Maddison’s arrival.
The England international excelled in a poor Leicester side, scoring 10 goals and chipping in with nine assists. He has quickly established himself on set-pieces at his new club and could provide a steady stream of points at a far cheaper price than either of Spurs’ big two.
Price: £7.5m Points in 2022-23: 135 Gameweek 1 fixture: Brentford (a)
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Forget about the price tag, Erling Haaland should still be the first name on your teamsheet, so long as he is fit and healthy and his ownership is north of 80 per cent. Going without him is a recipe for FPL-induced pain.
Haaland is currently enduring the most barren spell of his City career, having failed to score in any of his past six matches in all competitions. We all know what comes next: a brace at Turf Moor and a 13-point haul in FPL.
Price: £14m Points in 2022-23: 272 Gameweek 1 fixture: Burnley (a)
Joao Pedro (Brighton)
Roberto De Zerbi has numerous attacking options at his disposal and has shown a penchant for rotation during his brief spell in England, but he will surely want to get his club-record signing Joao Pedro integrated quickly.
The Brazilian joined the Seagulls for £30m from Watford in May and has performed well in pre-season, even taking and scoring a penalty in the draw with Rayo Vallecano last weekend.
Price: £5.5m Points in 2022-23: N/A Gameweek 1 fixture: Luton (h)
Subs:
Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
We all love a £4m starting goalkeeper, don’t we? Matt Turner is currently listed as an Arsenal goalkeeper, hence the low price tag, but will soon be leaving north London for Nottingham to sign for Forest.
Price: £4m Points in 2022-23: 0 Gameweek 1 fixture: Arsenal (a)
Issa Kabore (Luton)
Manchester City loanee Isaa Kabore has joined the Hatters on a season-long loan and is expected to become first-choice right wing-back in Rob Edwards’ favoured 3-5-2 formation.
Price: £4m Points in 2022-23: 0 Gameweek 1 fixture: Brighton (a)
Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea)
With big-money summer signing Christopher Nkunku ruled out for up to four months with a knee injury, Chelsea are short of No 10 options going into the campaign. That could play into Carney Chukwuemeka’s hands with the youngster the most natural replacement in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. At least until Todd Boehly buys somebody else.
Price: £4.5m Points in 2022-23: 18 Gameweek 1 fixture: Liverpool (a)
Carlos Vinicius (Fulham)
With Aleksandr Mitrovic unhappy and desperate to move to Saudi Arabia, the No 9 position is there for the taking for Carlos Vinicius, who enjoyed a solid end to last season while the Serbian was suspended. The former Spurs loanee netted three times in his last five matches.
Price: £5m Points in 2022-23: 72 Gameweek 1 fixture: Everton (a)
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