The wait is nearly over. After a busy summer watching England let us down yet again, it’s now time to focus on our own football dreams as the new Premier League campaign is just days away.
Fans of Premier League teams are licking their lips at what could be on the cards this season, while the start of the new campaign also means that there are Fantasy Premier League Teams to decide on.
The transfer market will have an effect on teams this season, with Romelu Lukaku, Raphael Varane and Harry Kane all potentially set for big moves.
With Gameweek One now just hours away, we focus on what players to pick this week, while we also give our thoughts on who should get the captain’s armband.
Goalkeeper – Robert Sanchez
The Brighton stopper is priced at £4.5million this season, and he could provide excellent value going forward. The Spaniard claimed ten clean sheets last season, and Brighton’s opening fixtures are mouth-watering. They play only two of last season’s top nine teams in the first eight Gameweeks, and Brighton are 29/20 to beat Burnley to nil this weekend.
Defence – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, Konstantinos Tsimikas
TAA’s FPL impact needs no introduction, and he should benefit from having Virgil van Dijk back alongside him. He ended last season on a high, while Andrew Robertson’s recent injury means he should take the majority of set-pieces.
Robertson’s fitness woes also boost Tsimikas’ hopes, with the left-back priced at an incredible £4.0million. He started their last pre-season friendly and could offer FPL players a great cheap option at the back.
Shaw’s performances for Manchester United and England were outstanding, and only TAA created more chances than the former Southampton man last season.
Midfielders – Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Raphinha, Harvey Barnes, Bruno Fernandes
As you can see, we have gone all out for a star-studded midfield this season. Both Salah and Fernandes were in the team of the year in 2020/21 in terms of FPL rating, and they will likely be selected again this time around.
Salah at £12.5million is worth every penny, and he should be a “set and forget” option throughout the campaign. The same can be said of Fernandes, with Manchester United’s favourable early fixtures a highlight.
The Red Devils play Leeds United, Southampton, Wolves, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa in the opening weeks, and he could rack up the points during that time.
Injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden mean that Mahrez has to be considered this week at £9.0million. He is also set to take penalties until KDB returns, so it could be risky to avoid him.
In Raphinha and Barnes, players are getting bags of excitement at a much cheaper price, with both players capable of winning a match on their own.
For this week’s captaincy, it is also a simple choice, by the looks of things. Norwich were hammered 4-1 the last time they played Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season, with Salah scoring at Anfield in August 2019.
The Egypt international skipped this summer’s Tokyo Olympics and should be considered in the first goalscorer market at odds of 5/2.
Strikers – Michail Antonio, Ivan Toney
Antonio nearly led West Ham to a Champions League place last season, and he scored 118 points across the campaign. At £7.5million, he is a very attractive proposition, especially with a lack of competition in his position at the London Stadium.
Antonio is a threat throughout the 90 minutes, and with Newcastle up first, he could get off the mark.
Premier League newcomers Brentford play in the opening fixture, and Ivan Toney is one to consider at £6.5million. If Brentford are to score this season, he is likely to play his part, and the Bees could be playing Arsenal at the perfect time.
Here’s your FPL Gameweek 1 team in full:
*All odds correct at time of writing