FPL Top Picks for Gameweek 1
Here we provide you with the FPL top picks for Gameweek 1. With the help of the Fantasy Football Scout members area we pick out the best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards to help you prepare for the new round ahead.
Checking out the FPL top picks for Gameweek 1 can be extremely beneficial for fantasy managers. Knowing which teams and assets to target can help you gain rank and an edge over your rivals in the game.
Fixtures
Below we can see the teams at the top with the easiest fixtures all of the way down to the bottom to teams with the toughest fixtures. This will help us pick out some of the best options for Gameweek 1.
Goalkeepers – Andre Onana
Manchester United start their campaign with a match against Wolves. The Reds managed to pick up more clean sheets than any other side in the division last season (17). When compared to every other team in the league last season Wolves ranked the worst for goals scored (31) which highlights their bluntness in front of goal.
Based on the stats above Manchester United have a very good chance of clean sheet. The cheapest and most reliable way into the backline is Andre Onana (£5m). The new signing joins the English side after maintaining a good save rate and excellent passing ability. This also boosts his potential for bonus. With this in mind Onana eases his way into the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Ederson
Manchester City rank fifth on the fixture this week – they face newly promoted side Burnley in Gameweek 1. Burnley may have impressed in the Championship but there is no telling that will translate into the top pier of English football.
The 22/23 league winners sustained some of the best defensive data in the league last season which could be enough to invest. The safest way into the backline is via Ederson (£5.5m). The Brazilian may have been a frustrating own for many last season but he could be one of the best bets in terms of a clean sheet this week.
Sam Johnstone
Crystal Palace rank fourth on the fixture ticker this week with a game against newly promoted side Sheffield United. ‘The Blades’ may have earned automatic promotion but their standout attacker Iliman Ndiaye has left the club which is a huge loss in front of goal.
Not only is their opponent worth consideration but Crystal Palace as a team have improved since the arrival and re-appointment of former manager Roy Hodgson. In fact, to reinforce that they ranked fourth best in the league last season for expected goals conceded (48.83). Because of this and the above it could give Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) huge potential in the first round and so he gets his inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Defenders – Pervis Estupinan
Brighton sit at the top of the fixture ticker this week. They face newly promoted side Luton who were probably the least convincing in their journey to top flight – they had to progress via the play-offs after falling short of second place.
To further boost the appeal of a Brighton defender, last season they ranked third best for shots on target conceded (131). One player who offers much more than clean sheet potential is Pervis Estupinan (£5m). The full-back ranked above all of his defensive teammates for non-penalty expected goal involvement last season. With all of the above in mind, Estupinan is an easy addition into the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Gabriel
Arsenal sit second the ticker for the round ahead – they facer a match against Nottingham Forest. Last season Nottingham Forest ranked the worst in the division for shots on target (117) and shots in the box (283). This suggests that they struggled in front of goal and boosts the appeal of the Arsenal defence.
Although maintaining some great defensive data last season of their own, Arsenal provide an asset that offers more than clean sheet potential. Centre-back Gabriel (£5m) ranked first amongst all defenders last campaign for expected goals (5.08) and joint third for shots on goal (32).
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool face an interesting game against Chelsea in the first round. The Blues are in a transitioning period as they try to stabilise their best starting line-up and new manager tactics. Liverpool were unconvincing defensively last season but their offensive line was ever impressive.
Contributing in defence and attack is Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8m). The full-back was one of the most creative defenders in the league last season – he ranked second for non-penalty expected goal involvement (10.76), first for OPTA assists (nine) and first for big chances created (25). Even if Liverpool concede the clean sheet, Trent has excellent assist potential which can be topped off with a good chance of bonus points. Taking this into account, Trent joins the top picks for Gameweek 1.
John Stones
We have already seen that Manchester City face Burnley this week. Its always tough to predict how promoted sides will play in the Premier League but either way, against Manchester City they could find it extremely difficult to find the net.
Manchester City do tend to rotate players but one asset who looks set to start is John Stones (£5.5m). The centre-back has been used in a central midfield role meaning he is closer to the opponents goal and more likely to bag an attacking return. Stones found the net in pre-season already which is further evidence of his potential. With that in mind, he breezes into the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Ben Chilwell
Chelsea have a tough match-up against Liverpool in Gameweek 1. That may be the case but the last four matches between the clubs have ended in a 0-0 draw which indicates that the Blues can nullify the threat of the Liverpool attack.
Even if Chelsea concede Ben Chiwell (£5.5m) still has huge potential. The left-back has been one of the Blues standout players during pre-season – scoring, assisting and coming close in every game he has featured in. Not only does he take corners from both the left and right side but he also plays on the strongest side of the Chelsea attack, he’ll also be coming up against Liverpool’ weakest side defensively. Whether Chilwell keeps the clean sheet or not he still has multiple routes to points.
Midfielders – Kaoru Mitoma
The fact that Brighton rank first on the ticker is an early indicator that investing in their frontline could be very beneficial. Last season amongst all teams in the league they ranked first for total attempts on goal (613) and first for shots on target (225) which further the appeal of their attackers.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) stands out as Brighton’ best midfielder. The Japanese international impressed towards the latter half of the campaign and also managed eight returns in a 10-game period which highlights his potential consistency. He also ranked fifth amongst all midfielders for big chances total last season (16) showing how often he can find himself in front of goal. With that in mind, Mitoma gets his inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal were fantastic last season and one of their many strengths is in attack. Last season when compared to all teams they ranked second for goals (88) and second for goals scored inside the box (75). Because of this it could be wise to invest in the frontline.
The standout attacking option at Arsenal is Bukayo Saka (£8.5m). The winger managed to bag 202 points in FPL last campaign making him the sixth highest scorer in the game. In terms of his attacking data, he also ranked third best for shots in the box last season amongst all midfielders (67). Not only does he have a great fixture and stats but Saka also takes his sides penalties which means he has an additional route to points. Saka was one of the first names in the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Gabriel Martinelli
We have already seen that Arsenal maintained some very good attacking stats this season but their fixture is also worth highlighting. They face Nottingham Forest in the first round, a team whom last season sat amongst the four worst defences in the league for shots in the box conceded (386) and big chances conceded (92). Another interesting stat is that they also ranked the second worst side in the division for chances conceded down the right flank (158).
The defensive stats conceded by Nottingham Forest above play into the hands of Gabriel Martinelli (£8m). The Brazilian was electric last campaign – scoring 15 goals and registering five assists. Amongst all midfielders last season he also ranked fifth for big chances (16) and above his teammate Bukayo Saka for non-penalty expected goal involvement (16.29).
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United impressed last campaign and their efforts saw them claim third place and Champions League football for the season ahead. Their new venture starts with a game against Wolves in the first round, a team who were hugely vulnerable down their flanks in terms of crosses and chances conceded.
The Reds will be hoping to claim all three points and it could be Marcus Rashford (£9m) who helps them achieve it. The winger racked up an impressive 17 goals and five assists last season, whilst also ranking second for goals, second for attempts (108), second for shots in the box (78) and first for big chances total (35) amongst midfielders. Taking all of that into account Rashford has to be considered amongst the top picks for Gameweek 1.
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United maintained some good goal threat stats last campaign – sitting amongst the best six teams for attempts on goal, shots in the box, big chances and shots on target. However, their distribution data was even more impressive as they ranked the second best team in the league for chances created.
The biggest contributor towards the Manchester United distribution stats shown above was Bruno Fernandes (£8.5m). When comparing all midfielders in the league last campaign Fernandes sat third best for non-penalty expected goal involvement (18.48), the best for chances created (119) and joint first for big chances created (32).
Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace sit fourth on the fixture ticker with a game against promoted side Sheffield United. Although ‘The Blades’ were promoted automatically there are serious question marks over their quality in the Premier League.
Since former manager Roy Hodgson was appointed the Crystal Palace frontline has been progressively more efficient. One player who pushed that is Eberechi Eze (£6.5m). Eze has picked up 10 goals and four assists last season and has also been heavily involved in a large chunk of their pre-season goals. Another big appeal of Eze is that he is also the designated penalty taker giving him an additional route to points.
Forwards – Erling Haaland
There may be little to justify here but Manchester City were the best attacking side in the league last season first for goals (94), first for big chances on goal (132) and second best for shots on target (214). This could suggest investment is absolutely key, especially with a game against newly promoted Burnley next up.
Starting the season without Erling Haaland (£14m) is not something any manager should be doing. The Norwegian ranked first for points last season – racking up a huge 36 goals and eight assists. Not just that but he is also the focal point to the lethal Manchester City attack, the designated penalty taker and the standout captaincy option.
Nicolas Jackson
The injuries to the likes of Arsenal’ Gabriel Jesus (£8m) and Chelsea’ Christopher Nkunku (£7.5m) have made the forward bracket a tough one to start the campaign. That may be the case, but managers could do well to keep a forward slot ready for their return or other options with better fixtures in the rounds ahead.
One player who has impressed during pre-season is Nicolas Jackson (£7m) of Chelsea – he banked two goals and three assists in five pre-season matches. His opponents, Liverpool, have been suspect defensively during pre-season and their high line is still a major concern. Jackson has the potential to well against Liverpool and with his teammate Nkunku’ injury, he could also be guaranteed to play the majority if not the whole of the game.
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