The new Premier League season is just moments away so it’s time for football fans around the world to make their picks of who they think will be the top performers in England’s top flight this season. It’s the return of Fantasy Premier League (FPL), here are the top 11 picks ahead of GW1.
GK – EMILIANO MARTINEZ – ASTON VILLA – £5.5m
Emiliano Martinez is the most selected goalkeeper in FPL ahead of gameweek one. 38.1% of players have the Aston Villa shot stopper, a key reason for this is last season’s form. Martinez and Villa were solid at the back, they accumulated 15 clean sheets during the campaign. The opening three fixtures also look in favour of Dean Smith’s side with three category two games (the lower the number the easier the match). However, the drawback of Martinez is there are cheaper keepers to pick from and save your budget.
% of teams selected: 38.1%
Next 6 fixtures: Watford Away (2), Newcastle Home (2), Brentford Home (2), Chelsea Away (4), Everton Home (4), Manchester United Away (4)
(Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez: Getty Images)
DEF – Luke Shaw – Manchester United – £5.5m
Luke Shaw is the highest picked player in the entirety of FPL. Shaw had his best spell in a Manchester United shirt in the 20/21 season. Shaw added to this with a great European Championships performance in which he scored to put England ahead at Wembley in the final. United have a new recruit in defence in Varane, this will help them build on the 13 clean sheets of last season, Shaw is also good for assists with his attacking play.
% of teams selected: 54.1%
Next 6 fixtures: Leeds Home (3), Southampton Away (2), Wolves Away (3), Newcastle Home (2), West Ham Away (4), Aston Villa Home (2)
(Luke Shaw against Fulham at Old Trafford: Getty Images)
DEF – Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool – £7.5m
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the most expensive defender in the game. However, there is a good reason for this. Trent has recorded 32 assists across the last three Premier League seasons, a staggering amount to add to Liverpool’s impressive defensive record while Virgil Van Dijk accompanies him in the backline. The fixtures are clearly kind to Liverpool to start the campaign so Alexander-Arnold may not be the only red you choose to select.
% of teams selected: 31.9%
Next 6 fixtures: Norwich Away (2), Burnley Home (2), Chelsea Home (4), Leeds Away (3), Crystal Palace Home (2), Brentford Away (2)
(Alexander-Arnold in pre-season action at Anfield: Getty Images)
DEF – Ruben Dias – Manchester City – £6m
Ruben Dias had a great impact on the Manchester City defence last season when he was signed from Benfica. City had struggled for consistency in the position but now FPL players expect Dias to be a mainstay in the centre of defence. Dias played 32 times in the Premier League in the 20/21 campaign keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding just 21 goals so he is great defensively but with just the one goal and no assists in the same period he offers little attacking points.
% of teams selected: 27.5%
Next 6 fixtures: Tottenham Away (4), Norwich Home (2), Arsenal Home (3), Leicester City Away (3), Southampton Home (2), Chelsea Away (4)
(Ruben Dias lifts the Premier League trophy: Getty Images)
DEF – Ben White – Arsenal – £4.5m
Arsenal recently signed Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion for a staggering fee of £50m to boost their defensive options. However, the Gunners were already strong at the back, they had the third strongest defence in the league last season despite their poor 8th place finish. So, Arsenal are good for defensive points in FPL and Ben White should only add to that great tally, at the minimal price of £4.5m he is a steal.
% of teams selected: 25.0%
Next 6 fixtures: Brentford Away (2), Chelsea Home (4), Manchester City Away (5), Norwich City Home (2), Burnley Away (2), Tottenham Hotspur Home (3)
(Ben White builds possession on his Emirates debut: Getty Images)
Mid – Mohamed Salah – Liverpool – £12.5m
Mohamed Salah is FPL royalty. The midfielder has scored a total of 1,026 points over the past four campaigns and is simply a must in every team there is little more to say. The hefty price tag of £12.5m is justified and barring injury seems strange to leave him out of your team. The nice run of fixtures should see Salah kick off the season in style.
% of teams selected: 50.4%
Next 6 fixtures: Norwich Away (2), Burnley Home (2), Chelsea Home (4), Leeds Away (3), Crystal Palace Home (2), Brentford Away (2)
(Mohamed Salah at Anfield: Getty Images)
MID – Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United – £12m
Just cheaper than Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes is still one of the most expensive players in FPL. Fernandes plays a key role in a Manchester United team that has been boosted by the signings of Varane and Sancho, the latter will take some of the pressure off Fernandes while also giving the team more goals which results in a better chance for greater individual points tally’s. The Portuguese midfielder was the top point scorer last season totalling 244 points thanks to his 18 goals , 14 assists and 13 clean sheets. He will also have the luxury of being the penalty taker and a clinical one too.
% of teams selected: 48.8%
Next 6 fixtures: Leeds Home (3), Southampton Away (2), Wolves Away (3), Newcastle Home (2), West Ham Away (4), Aston Villa Home (2)
(Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring a free-kick against Everton in pre-season: Getty Images)
MID – Jack Grealish – Manchester City – £8m
Jack Grealish is now the most expensive player in British transfer history, but not in FPL. Grealish spent last season at Aston Villa playing in a more advanced role on the left wing in which he scored 135 points despite missing a large spell of the season. The England midfielder is clearly a great player and his ability to win fouls will give City great opportunities from set-pieces and penalties to score. However, he is expected to play in a deep number eight role at the Etihad which could see his points contribution drop.
% of teams selected: 27.2%
Next 6 fixtures: Tottenham Away (4), Norwich Home (2), Arsenal Home (3), Leicester City Away (3), Southampton Home (2), Chelsea Away (4)
(Grealish makes his Manchester City debut in the Community Shield: Getty Images)
Mid – Mason Mount – Chelsea – £7.5m
Mason Mount only just made this 11 ahead of Harry Kane who was the top scorer and assister in the Premier League last season but has an uncertain future ahead. Mount himself scored 147 points last season and was vital to Chelsea’s resurgence in the league and winning in Europe. at £7.5m Mount could be a steal if he operates within Tuchel’s front three however we are unsure whether he will play that advanced role or deeper. The opening six are tough but a great set of easier games follows.
% of teams selected: 21.9%
Next 6 fixtures: Crystal Palace Home (2), Arsenal Away (4), Liverpool Away (4), Aston Villa Home (2), Tottenham Hotspur Away (4), Manchester City Home (4)
(Mason Mount celebrates winning the Champions League: Getty Images)
FWD – Ivan Toney – Brentford – £6.5m
Newly promoted Brentford’s Ivan Toney is the highest selected forward in FPL for GW1 at 30.3%. The striker scored 33 goals and registered 10 assists in the Championship last time out, if he could replicate numbers like that he would surely top the points total. At £6.5m Toney is a bargain with many expecting him to repay the small amount of budget they have invested in him. If the Brentford striker can adapt to the Premier League, he will be a great pick for any team.
% of teams selected: 30.3%
Next 6 fixtures: Arsenal Home (3), Crystal Palace Away (2), Aston Villa Away (3), Brighton & Hove Albion Home (2), Wolverhampton Wanderers Away (3), Liverpool Home (4)
(Ivan Toney celebrates scoring for Brentford in the Championship: Getty Images)
FWD – Danny Ings – Aston Villa – £8m
Danny Ings selection rate has risen since he joined Aston Villa from Southampton for a fee of £30m. The striker scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season and a further 22 the year before that for a struggling Saints side. At Villa, Ings will be supported by creative players Buendia, Bailey and Watkins in an attacking Dean Smith team, expect him to score plenty of goals.
% of teams selected: 29.3%
Next 6 fixtures: Next 6 fixtures: Watford Away (2), Newcastle Home (2), Brentford Home (2), Chelsea Away (4), Everton Home (4), Manchester United Away (4)
(Danny Ings playing for Southampton: Getty Images)
