FPL Gameweek 1 Preview: Community XI

With just days remaining until the start of the new Premier League season, our community XI share their FPL Gameweek 1 Preview.

To make the very best decisions, this FPL Gameweek 1 Preview has tweets, infographics, polls, articles and podcasts!

I. Salah

First up, it’s FPL Salah back with his bookies odds for the FPL Gameweek 1 Preview. With just 16 sides in action, Liverpool look the most likely to keep a clean sheet, which could pave the way for a double up on their defenders at the very least!

#GW1 early clean sheet odds %

LIV: 48%
WOL: 39%
TOT: 37%
CHE: 37%
ARS: 36%
LEI: 35%
SOU: 33%
WHU: 33%
SHU: 30%
CPL: 29%
NEW: 25%
EVE: 21%
WBA: 21%
BRI: 19%
FUL: 16%
LEE: 10%

PS: will post updated odds as usual a week before deadline.
— Abdul Rehman (@FPL_Salah) August 21, 2020

II. Fix

Some managers will be adopting a high risk strategy of going big in Blank Gameweek 1 and then playing the wildcard to bring in assets from the Manchester clubs in Gameweek 2. If that’s your calling, the algorithm XI from Fantasy Football Fix could prove useful.

An early GW1 algorithm team for those who will be immediately wildcarding for GW2 pic.twitter.com/wJRuQDZgeL
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) August 21, 2020

III. Pundits

One of the big talking points going into the first deadline will be the captaincy conundrum. It largely looks to be a two horse race between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mo Salah, but there are some other names in the frame for your consideration too.

? THE GW1 CAPTAINS POLL ?

It’s that time again #FPL bosses – you know what to do…

Who will be YOUR Gameweek 1️⃣ captain?

[if your captain isn’t listed, please comment below]
— Fantasy Football Pundits (@FFPundits) September 6, 2020

IV. Cheaters

Josh and Brandon reveal their latest drafts and preview all the fixtures in the FPL Gameweek 1 Preview episode of the Always Cheating podcast. There’s some great discussion from the duo which will come in very useful ahead of Saturday’s deadline.

? Pod #239: It's our big #GW1 preview episode! We reveal our current #FPL squads and which players are locked or on the bubble. Plus we discuss all 8 of this weekend's fixtures and try to plan a few gameweeks beyond. #hailcheaters ? Listen & subscribe: https://t.co/9Gb5EILOHC
— Always Cheating is here to Make Fantasy Fun Again (@hailcheaters) September 7, 2020

V. Dinnery

Just as our drafts began to solidify, we had a clear warning that the path this season won’t always run smoothly. Two Manchester City players have tested positive for COVID-19, which could jeopardise their opening game in Gameweek 2. It’s a reminder that we need strength on our benches.

Manchester City confirm that Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have tested positive for COVID-19. Both players are currently observing a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

? https://t.co/4KiAUTZjCa #MCFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) September 7, 2020

VI. Bakar

Add into the mix the new signings still trickling through, there’s still a lot more planning to go before the next deadline. Newcastle United attackers are firmly back on the radar, with new signing Callum Wilson now confirmed. Bakar provides the numbers to back this up.

Newcastle attack pre restart vs post restart:

Big chances per game: 1.38 v 1.78
Shots in the box per game: 5.89 v 9

Definite signs of resurgence there. With Wilson and Fraser signing, we might have a few bargains on our hands. Might improve Saint Maximin as a prospect too #FPL
— AbuBakar Siddiq (@BigManBakar) September 7, 2020

VII. Tipz

Another new signing for Chelsea has made the conundrum of which asset to jump on board from the start even more confusing. Luckily for us, FPL Tipz has provided the statistical analysis, as well as giving his fan perspective on whether to go Havertz or Werner.

Havertz ? vs Werner ⚪️ in FPL

Chelsea’s new German signings will be catching the eye of FPL managers
Havertz (MID) 8.5m
Werner (FWD) 9.5m

Here is a comparison of them in the Bundesliga.
As well as a Chelsea fans opinion on where they will fit it!

Thanks as always, Enjoy! #FPL pic.twitter.com/raVDTbMuZA
— FPLTIPZ (Harry) (@FPLTIPZ) September 6, 2020

VIII. Sugeee

When it comes to frisking the fixtures, the new 360 degree view from Sugeee will be invaluable this season for fantasy managers. They display cup competitions and international games, alongside the 38 fixtures for our Premier League sides. Check out the thread.

★★ NEW 360° FIXTURES MATRIX ★★

♛ LIVERPOOL [1/20] ♛

ORIGINAL / COMPACT / CLEAR pic of the season ahead. (Includes Europe / Cups / Int Breaks)

Allows #FPL Managers to navigate the fixtures congestion with ease

❀ Please ??/?????? ❀

⟱ CHECK THE OTHER TEAMS ⟱ pic.twitter.com/mtdjtgjiqZ
— Sugeee FPL (@Sugeee_FPL) September 3, 2020

IX. Rebant

One Premier League side gathering plenty of momentum ahead of the deadline is Southampton. Rebant has provided some excellent insight into the merits of jumping on board up to three of their assets, as well as deciphering some of the optimal selections.

Thread on why I feel Southampton is the team to look out for this season, at least for the opening few games.

1. Next tweets are broken down into
2. Collective stats of the team (defensive & attacking)
3. Individual players
4. Fixtures
5. Pricing (Favourite) pic.twitter.com/Q3E9YuSS9L
— Rebant Malhotra (@RebantMalhotra) September 2, 2020

X. Swede

Finally, FPL Swede has crunched the numbers on rotating defenders. This is an important element to consider, especially with the desire for depth on our benches this season. Unfortunately, Reuben Vinagre (£4.5) looks like less of an option at Wolves after more transfer window news emerged today.

BUDGET DEFENDERS ROTATION ? (Thread)

I made this spreadsheet with all the clubs with defenders for 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0 to be able to look at which ones rotates the best.

The colours show how good/bad the fixture is from a defensive perspective

? = Easy
⬜️ = Medium
? = Hard pic.twitter.com/TQV7vtqEFM
— FPL Swede (@FPL_Swe) August 26, 2020

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