With tens of millions of players globally, Fantasy Premier League makes its highly anticipated comeback ahead of the new Premier League season, which kicks off on Friday with defending champions Arsenal facing Championship winners Coventry City.

Participants are once again challenged to assemble a championship-winning team within a £100m budget. This requires balancing expensive premium players, who are expected to score the most points throughout the 38-game season, with lesser-known talents that could also yield significant returns.

To get started, players should refer to the 10 things every FPL manager should consider before diving into the new season.

Premium Tier

Forwards

The only premium forward available in the game is Erling Haaland (£15.5m), who begins the season as the highest-priced FPL player ever. The Manchester City striker consistently scores goals and typically excels at the start of the season, even though he returns from a major tournament after playing only an hour in the Community Shield. Currently, he is owned by nearly 75 percent of FPL managers, making him a favored captain choice most weeks, which poses a significant risk to those who opt not to include him. However, utilizing the extra budget can lead to innovative strategies.

Midfielders

One compelling argument for selecting Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) is his impressive tally of second-most FPL points last season, along with his contributions in goals, assists, and set-pieces at Manchester United. There is some skepticism about whether his price is justified this season, especially with the added challenge of Champions League football and the 31-year-old’s shift to a more demanding schedule. Nonetheless, his opening matches against newly promoted sides Hull and Ipswich appear favorable.

On the other hand, competition from cheaper, high-performing midfield options starting below his price may prompt managers to wait for signs of fitness from players like Bukayo Saka (£9.5m) or Cole Palmer (£9.5m). Current form may make Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m) more reliable choices, even though both showed extraordinary performance last season that could be difficult to repeat. Alternatively, Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) or Mathues Cunha (£8.0m) can also be considered alongside or as substitutes for Fernandes.

Defenders

It has been years since a defender started the FPL season priced as high as Gabriel Magalhaes (£8.0m); however, his high cost is merited due to Arsenal’s strong defensive record and his scoring potential during set-pieces. Last season, Gabriel only blanked six times, achieving one of the top three points totals ever for a defender. Still, questions linger about Arsenal’s performance this season following a grueling schedule, as well as the absence of the injured William Saliba (£6.0m) alongside Gabriel.

Despite this, Gabriel remains the most dependable defender for Arsenal, especially considering Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) is also injured, and uncertainties exist regarding the rest of the back four. Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) may become popular again after Liverpool improved defensively last season, while Nico O’Reilly (£6.5m) is garnering attention for his attacking role and advanced play under Enzo Maresca. Josko Gvardiol (£5.5m) has returned from injury and could affect O’Reilly’s playing time on the left.

Last season’s top three defenders for Defensive Contributions, Marcos Senesi, James Tarkowski, and Maxence Lacroix, are all now priced at £6.0m, leaving questions on their impact with Senesi and Lacroix’s transfers to Tottenham and Chelsea compared to Tarkowski’s continued play with Everton.

Goalkeepers

Arsenal’s David Raya (£6.0m) stands out as the only true “set and forget” goalkeeper, having maintained the highest number of Premier League clean sheets for three consecutive seasons while missing just one game in two years. This sets him apart from other defenders at Arsenal or Manchester City. He often relies on clean sheets, and while only three other goalkeepers top the £5.5m range, only Jordan Pickford offers an alternative approach to Raya, unlike Alisson Becker and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who tend to have a higher volume of saves.

Mid Tier

Forwards

There are many uncertainties among the strikers priced just below Haaland, with Alexander Isak (£9.0m) seeking to recover from a challenging last season, though his cost might be prohibitive for pairing with Haaland. Following last season’s strong run, Igor Thiago (£8.0m) has seen a rise in price, but his impressive tally includes a number of penalties, which may not be replicable. On the other hand, Benjamin Sesko (£7.0m) is injured but could be a promising option later, while Viktor Gyokeres (£7.5m) is attracting attention but could face rotation risks with Kai Havertz (£7.5m) in certain fixtures.

Ollie Watkins (£8.0m) remains a hit-or-miss option but has consistently scored goals for over four seasons, finishing strongly last year without Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa and having sat out the pre-season. Jean-Philippe Mateta (£6.5m) also tends to reach double figures while starting at a lower price than the previous season, despite not participating in pre-season matches. In contrast, Joao Pedro (£7.5m) appears to be a safe pick as Chelsea’s first-choice striker without the distraction of European fixtures, reflected in his impressive ownership rate of over 50 percent after a pre-season surge scoring eight goals in seven matches.

Midfielders

This category features many midfielders from £6.0m to £7.5m, allowing some risks to pay off. Notably, £7.0m for talented Phil Foden stands out. If Enzo Maresca can restore the 26-year-old to form, he could be a great long-term investment. Similarly, Liverpool’s budget-friendly Florian Wirtz (£7.5m) may also prove valuable if he builds on last year’s performance.

Morgan Rogers is gaining attention at £7.5m due to his recent move to Chelsea, but there are concerns over how Xabi Alonso will integrate him with Cole Palmer on the roster. On the cheaper side, Martin Odegaard (£6.5m) becomes an appealing bet with aspirations of recovering from an injury-riddled previous season, showing promise in pre-season. New signee Christos Tzolis (£6.5m) looks set to start for the champions following his assist contributions in pre-season.

From this segment, managers might look for reliable contributors, especially those who can handle set pieces and Defensive Contributions, like last season’s standout, Declan Rice (£7.5m). Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m), with 40 percent ownership, might reflect concerns about Rice’s fitness. As Bruno Guimaraes (£7.0m) joins Arsenal, he could emulate Rice’s past success. If he stays with Chelsea, then Enzo Fernandez (£7.0m) could form a promising midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo, reflecting last season’s performance metrics.

Additional considerations arise with potential high-end contributors, like Elliot Anderson (£6.5m), last season’s top performer, though his role could shift with his new possession-based team at Manchester City. Alex Scott (£6.0m) from Bournemouth might be an outsider but offers potential due to pre-season injury developments affecting Everton’s James Garner (£6.0m). Managers might also consider mid-table wingers with favorable fixtures, including Emi Buendia (£6.0m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m), Ilmain Ndiaye (£6.0m), Rayan (£6.5m), Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m), or Dango Ouattara (£6.5m), even though this list has become extensive.

Budget Tier

Forwards

For many, the challenge lies in how to afford players to accompany Haaland and Joao Pedro. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) is compelling due to his penalty-taking ability, solid goal return from last season, strong early fixtures, and his status as Leeds United’s primary striker. On the other hand, taking a risk on Bournemouth’s Evanlison (£6.0m) or Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus (£6.0m), both of whom can also provide assists, might yield a higher long-term return.

When budgets tighten or a more affordable forward is desired, selecting below £6.0m limits choices considerably. The 17-year-old Aston Villa striker Brian Madjo (£5.5m) rose to prominence after a notable goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, but he faces injury concerns at the start of the season. Everton’s Beto (£5.5m) netted five goals in seven matches late last season, although he has to share playing time with Thierno Barry (£5.5m). Among newly promoted players, Hull’s Ollie McBurnie (£5.5m) offers some experience in the Premier League and takes penalties, while Coventry’s Ellis Simms (£5.0m) is slightly cheaper heading into the season.

Midfielders

Brighton’s Pascal Gross (£5.5m) stands out as a strong candidate. Despite potential rotation risks linked to European commitments, he’s expected to take set-pieces and penalties, remaining instrumental for his team. With limited goal-scoring options in this category, targeting defensive contributions might be another angle; Leeds United’s Ethan Ampadu (£5.5m) racked up points last season, while Brentford’s record signing Mamadou Sangare (£5.5m) possesses expected potential for defensive contributions. Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka (£5.5m) also presents a solid choice, though his European play must be factored into long-term planning.

Defenders

The major consideration for Luke Shaw (£4.5m) hinges on managing European football alongside a Premier League campaign. Nevertheless, he started all 38 games last season, and the early fixtures make him appealing unless another left-back joins Manchester United. Among mid-table teams, reliable defender Tyrick Mitchell (£4.5m) returns at a slightly reduced price, though Crystal Palace’s defensive capabilities may face challenges. Ola Aina (£4.5m) is set for wing-back play under Oliver Glasner and is competitively priced against Neco Williams due to his injury-affected prior season. At Brentford, Michael Kayode (£4.5m) brings energy to his play, but potential maximum output may be limited by Aaron Hickey’s return. Leeds United’s Joe Rodon (£4.5m) casts his hat into the ring, especially if the defensive metrics improve.

Choosing defenders from newly promoted sides could be a gamble, but, as seen with Sunderland last season, significant upside can be achieved with affordable starters. Coventry delivered a decent defensive record en route to winning the Championship, and with some offensive capabilities, Bobby Thomas (£4.0m) poses a set-piece threat while Milan van Ewijk (£4.0m) offers strong assist potential as an attacking right-back.

With tens of millions of players across the world, Fantasy Premier League is back ahead of the new Premier League season, which starts on Friday as defending champions Arsenal kick off against Championship winners Coventry City.

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As always, FPL players are tasked with building a title-winning side with a fixed budget of £100m. Within that, players must get the balance right between the expensive premium picks who are likely to top the points tallies at the end of the 38-game season, along with the hidden gems that could make the difference over the campaign.

To start with, read the 10 things every FPL manager should consider before the new season, then dive into our expanded watchlist…

Premium tier

Forwards

There is only one premium forward option in the game. Unsurprisingly, that is Erling Haaland (£15.5m), who starts the season as the most expensive FPL player of all time. The Manchester City striker guarantees goals and is usually on fire at the start of the season (although this will be the first time he’s returned from a major tournament, and he only played an hour in the Community Shield on Sunday). He is owned by almost 75 per cent of FPL managers and will be the most popular captain most weeks, too, so going without him is a huge risk. That said, the additional budget could open up some interesting possibilities….

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Midfielders

The case for signing Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) is that Manchester United’s talisman earned the second-most FPL points last season and he does a bit of everything at Old Trafford: goals, assists, set-pieces, penalties. Does it justify his price, though, in a season where United will also have Champions League football to contend with and the 31-year-old does not have the luxury of playing only once a week? For now, though, United’s opening fixtures – starting with two newly promoted sides in Hull and Ipswich – are favourable.

The case against Fernandes is also in the quality of high-end midfield options who start the season below his price point. Managers may want to see some early evidence that they are fit to play a full season before backing either Bukayo Saka (£9.5m) or Cole Palmer (£9.5m). For now, Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m) may appear as more solid options if they continue last season’s form, but both considerably outperformed their xG last year. Utilising either Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m), or Mathues Cunha (£8.0m), either alongside or instead of Fernandes is also a viable strategy.

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• Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m)

• Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m)

Defenders

Not since Trent Alexander-Arnold has a defender started the FPL season as expensive as Gabriel Magalhaes (£8.0m), but that comes with some justification. Due to Arsenal’s defensive record and his threat from set-pieces, Gabriel blanked just six times last season and his overall points total was the third-most for a defender in the game’s history. There are some things to consider before selecting him this season, though: do we expect Arsenal to have some sort of drop-off after an emotionally and physically exhausting season, and will the Gunners be as defensively sound without the injured William Saliba (£6.0m) starting alongside Gabriel in defence?

Gabriel, though, remains the most reliable Arsenal defender, given that Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) is also injured and there are some rotation questions around the rest of the back four. The ever-present Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) returned as a popular option last season once Liverpool fixed their set-piece issues, while Nico O’Reilly (£6.5m) has seen a big price increase. The Manchester City full-back takes up advanced positions and Enzo Maresca is also likely to use a system that allows him to invert and become an extra midfielder, but Josko Gvardiol (£5.5m) has returned from injury and may eat into his minutes at left-back.

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Last season’s three leading defenders for Defensive Contributions, Marcos Senesi, James Tarkowski and Maxence Lacroix, are all now priced at £6.0m. But will Senesi and Lacroix have the same impact now they have joined Tottenham and Chelsea, respectively, compared to Tarkowski, who remains at Everton?

• Gabriel Magalhaes (£8.0m)

Goalkeepers

Arsenal’s David Raya (£6.0m) is the only true ‘set and forget’ goalkeeping option. He’s kept the most Premier League clean sheets three seasons in a row and he’s only missed one game in two years, so, maybe unlike some other Arsenal or even Manchester City defenders, he’s completely rotation-proof. Raya, though, often relies on clean sheets over his activity. Only three other goalkeepers are above the £5.5m range and of them, only Jordan Pickford offers a different approach to Raya, Alisson Becker and Gianluigi Donnarumma as a high-volume option.

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Mid tier

Forwards

With one exception, there are many question marks hanging over the tier of strikers that falls immediately below Haaland. Alexander Isak (£9.0m) could bounce back from last season’s horror campaign but he is surely too expensive to consider pairing with Haaland right now. Igor Thiago’s (£8.0m) price has risen and while the Brentford striker scored 22 goals last season, eight were penalties and that may not be sustainable. Benjamin Sesko (£7.0m) could emerge as an option soon, but is injured ahead of the season, while Viktor Gyokeres (£7.5m), although much cheaper this season, wasn’t always convincing in his debut campaign and could be rotated for Kai Havertz (£7.5m) in some of Arsenal’s games.

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Ollie Watkins (£8.0m) is boom-or-bust but he’s consistently scored goals for four seasons in a row now and he finished last season in great form, although will be without Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa this term and he did not play a minute in pre-season. Jean-Philippe Mateta (£6.5m) also has a habit of consistently reaching double-figures and starts the season cheaper than last year, but also didn’t play in pre-season. In comparison, there is no doubt that Joao Pedro (£7.5m) looks like a solid pick. He is going to get a lot of minutes as Chelsea’s first-choice striker and does not have Europe, but the Brazilian is already extremely popular with over 50 per cent ownership after scoring eight goals in seven appearances in pre-season.

Midfielders

The options for midfielders priced between £6.0m and £7.5m is deep. Deep enough to take some gambles, though? Immediately, £7.0m for a player as good as Phil Foden stands out. It’s a risk, but if Enzo Maresca can find a way to get the 26-year-old back to his best then he will be an absolute bargain in the long run. The same would apply to someone like Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz (£7.5m), another who has seen a fall in price, if he is able to even take a couple of steps up from his debut season.

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Morgan Rogers is popular at just £7.5m but you may also put him into the ‘gamble’ category following his move to Chelsea and the questions around how Xabi Alonso plans to get him and Cole Palmer into the same side. Or you may be tempted by the attractiveness of some of Arsenal’s cheaper options. Captain Martin Odegaard (£6.5m) would also be a bargain if he returns to his form from a couple of years ago following an injury disrupted campaign and has looked sharp in pre-season. New signing Christos Tzolis (£6.5m) appears set to start on the left wing for the champions and chipped in with assists in pre-season.

What you may instead want from this category are reliable scorers, a set-piece taker who chips in with goals and assists as well as Defensive Contributions, so basically Declan Rice (£7.5m) from last season. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) the second-most popular midfielder with 40 per cent ownership – which may be explained by uncertainty over Rice’s fitness. Does Bruno Guimaraes (£7.0m), one of the game’s top players last season before injury, fill the Rice mould now that he has signed for Arsenal? Should he remain at Chelsea, put Enzo Fernandez (£7.0m) into a midfield alongside Moises Caicedo and he is also an option following last season’s stats.

Then, there are the higher-end DefCon merchants. Elliot Anderson (£6.5m) was last season’s king but his role may change now he’s at possession-heavy side in Manchester City. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott (£6.0m) may be an outside, but still pricey, contender for this role, given the pre-season injury status of Everton’s James Garner (£6.0m). In addition, consider wingers from mid-table sides if they also have good fixtures, such as Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia (£6.0m), Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m), Everton’s Ilmain Ndiaye (£6.0m), Bournemouth’s Rayan (£6.5m), Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m) or Brentford’s Dango Ouattara (£6.5m). I’ve already named far too many.

• Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m)

Defenders

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If Arsenal don’t sign another centre-back to help replace the injured William Saliba, then Cristian Mosquera (£5.5m) could be a cut-price alternative for managers who can’t afford Gabriel Magalhaes. Riccardo Calafiori (£5.5m) is tempting too due to his attacking positioning from left-back, but he does also rotate with Piero Hincapie (£5.5m). Harry Maguire (£5.0m) is set for consistent minutes and offers set-piece threat, so would be cheap if Manchester United continue last season’s form. Josko Gvardiol (£5.5m) was a must-have a couple of years ago, and may be starting ahead of Nico O’Reilly to begin the season. Lower down the league, two towering new centre-backs gaining traction due to their potential for Defensive Contributions are Leeds United’s Tarik Muharemovic (£5.0m) and Brighton’s Luka Vuskovic (£5.0m), who scored six goals when on loan in the Bundesliga last season.

If adding to a premium Arsenal or Manchester City defender, also consider a full-back who can combine some clean sheet potential with a high attacking output. Oliver Glasner’s work with Daniel Munoz (£5.5m) while at Crystal Palace is now creating buzz around Neco Williams (£5.0m) at Nottingham Forest. Munoz may be on the move with Palace signing another right-sided player in Anan Khalaili – and is being linked with Everton. Pedro Porro (£5.5m) carries attacking threat but did not play in pre-season following the World Cup, which may make Jan Paul van Hecke (£5.0m) a better option if going for a Tottenham defender in this budget range right now.

• Cristian Mosquera (£5.5m)

• Jan Paul van Hecke (£5.0m)

• Tarik Muharemovic (£5.0m)

Goalkeepers

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Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher (£5.0m) is a cheaper high-volume goalkeeper option to Jordan Pickford and has an excellent record at saving penalties, but the real value may be in Manchester United’s Senne Lammens (£5.0m), should Michael Carrick’s side remain a top-three side this season. Lammens has clean sheet potential and may have more games where he may be required to make more saves than someone like David Raya or Gianluigi Donnarumma.

• Caoimhín Kelleher (£5.0m)

Budget tier

Forwards

For most people, this is a question of who you can afford alongside Erling Haaland and Joao Pedro. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) is an attractive option because he takes penalties, had a good goal return last season, has strong early fixtures, and is undisputedly Leeds United’s No 9. That’s not to say you won’t be able to get a higher return in the long-run if you’re willing to take a punt on someone like Bournemouth’s Evanlison (£6.0m) or Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus (£6.0m), both of whom are more all-round creators and can chip in with assists as well.

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If your budget is stretched or you may want to save money on a forward, going under the £6.0m mark limits your options significantly. Aston Villa’s 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo (£5.5m) is now one to watch after scoring against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, but he is set to be injured for the start of the season. Everton’s Beto (£5.5m) scored five goals in seven appearances towards the end of last season, although he shares his minutes with Thierno Barry (£5.5m). Of the promoted clubs, Hull’s Ollie McBurnie (£5.5m) at least has some Premier League experience and takes penalties, while Coventry are set to start the season with slightly cheaper Ellis Simms (£5.0m) leading the line.

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m)

Midfielders

Brighton’s Pascal Gross (£5.5m) has emerged as a strong favourite in this category. Even though the 35-year-old midfielder is at risk of rotation due to Brighton’s involvement in Europe, the German is expected to take Brighton’s set-pieces as well as their penalties and is a key player for Fabian Hurzeler’s side. With goal threat in this category fairly limited, the other approach here is to target Defensive Contributions: Leeds United’s Ethan Ampadu (£5.5m) soaked up points last season but the new arrival to be aware of this season is Brentford’s record signing Mamadou Sangare (£5.5m) due to his expected Defensive Contribution potential. Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka (£5.5m)would also be solid but, as with Gross, their involvement in Europe would have to be a consideration over the long run.

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Defenders

The question over Luke Shaw (£4.5m) is whether he can balance European football with a Premier League campaign, but he started all 38 games last season and Manchester United’s early fixtures make the left back appealing, as long as they don’t sign another left back.

Of the mid-table sides, the reliable Tyrick Mitchell (£4.5m) returns slightly cheaper than last year but with Crystal Palace’s defence likely to be weaker. Ola Aina (£4.5m) is set to play as a wing-back at Nottingham Forest under Oliver Glasner and is only cheaper than Neco Williams because of an injury disrupted season last term. Brentford’s Michael Kayode (£4.5m) is all-action at Brentford but his potential could be somewhat limited by the return of Aaron Hickey. Leeds United underperformed defensively compared to their underlying metrics. An improvement would see someone like Joe Rodon (£4.5m), due to potential DefCon returns, come into contention.

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Selecting a defender from a newly promoted side could be a risk but, as Sunderland displayed last season, it can come with huge upside potential as reliable starting options can be found on the cheap. Coventry’s defensive record in winning the Championship was decent, although record-breaking Burnley proved last season that there’s no guarantee that it would translate, Bobby Thomas (£4.0m) provides set-piece threat while Milan van Ewijk (£4.0m) is a very attacking right back who led Coventry for assists last season.

Goalkeepers

Combining two budget goalkeepers and rotating them based on their fixtures is a viable strategy and over the course of a season the difference between a premium option and a cheaper one often isn’t that big. With Guglielmo Vicario set to leave Tottenham, Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m) is set to be their No 1 after coming back from his Champions League humiliation to play a part in saving them from relegation. Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m)) starts every week for Brighton, but his fixtures don’t match up perfectly with Kinsky. Better fits for a £9m total rotation over the early weeks may be Kinsky and Fulham’s Bernd Leno (£4.5m), or Verbruggen and Coventry’s Carl Rushworth (£4.5m)).

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