Headline: Teams Prepare Ahead of Fantasy Premier League Season as Deadline Approaches
As the Fantasy Premier League season approaches, with only three days left until kick-off, many questions remain about team formations and player selections. BBC Sport’s Fantasy Premier League experts, including Pras, Holly Shand, Gianni Buttice, and FPL Heisenberg, discuss key considerations to kick off the season successfully.
Players can join the BBC Sport League on the official Fantasy Premier League game by using the code bbcfpl or by clicking this link before the deadline on Friday at 18:30 BST.
Is Haaland worth the £15.5m price tag?
Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland topped last season’s Fantasy Premier League scoring with 239 points, four more than Bruno Fernandes. Despite this accomplishment, his price climbed from £14m to £15.5m, marking him as the most expensive player in FPL history.
Will he continue to justify this investment for FPL managers?
Holly: Haaland has the potential to validate his hefty price tag, typically starting the season strong. However, his performance might be affected by a demanding World Cup, resulting in an incomplete pre-season.
Pras: Despite the price, he remains a crucial choice, mainly due to the importance of captaincy early in the season. Omitting him from your team could lead to falling behind the competition right away. The only concern is potential fatigue from the World Cup, as he appeared sluggish during the Community Shield.
Gianni: In a season filled with few premium players, it’s possible to maintain a balanced squad while including Haaland. The absence of other top-priced players means that captaining him could be essential, as alternatives like Bruno Fernandes may not consistently deliver.
Heisenberg: At £15.5m, it’s a considerable commitment, but I believe he’s worth the investment. Missing out on his points can significantly impact one’s ranking if most managers captain him. Starting with Haaland is advisable; you can always reassess if his form declines later.
Which Man Utd assets should I pick alongside Fernandes?
Bruno Fernandes, who ranked second last season in FPL scoring, features in nearly 50% of teams this season. But should other Manchester United players be included?
Gianni: Since drafting my team, I’ve included Bryan Mbeumo (£8m) alongside Fernandes to target early games against Hull and Ipswich. Mbeumo’s full pre-season gives him an edge in the early weeks.
Pras: The upcoming fixtures make defensive options appealing. Matches against Hull and Ipswich promise potential clean sheets, making Harry Maguire (£5m) and Shaw solid picks, along with goalkeeper Senne Lammens (£5m).
Holly: I support the idea of tripling up on promoted teams. Mbeumo has a slight advantage over Matheus Cunha (£8m) for an attacking duo, given his secure playing time. Lammens, after eight clean sheets last season, will also join my team.
Heisenberg: While both Mbeumo and Cunha contributed with 14 attacking returns last season, I prefer Cunha for his positional versatility. However, it’s a close decision, with both priced at £8m.
How will Alonso’s Chelsea look? And will Palmer and Rogers still be strong picks?
Chelsea has a new manager, Xabi Alonso, and has signed Morgan Rogers for £117m. How will he and Cole Palmer, both number 10s, fit into the lineup? Can they remain productive in FPL?
Holly: I expect Chelsea to adopt a 3-4-3 formation, utilizing Palmer and Rogers centrally, with Joao Pedro (£7.5m) in front. Palmer (£9.5m) holds significant potential if he maintains his fitness, but we need to see his form first.
Heisenberg: Alonso’s style may enhance Chelsea’s wing-backs’ attacking contributions. Although Palmer is costly at £9.5m after a lackluster season, he takes penalties, which is valuable. For now, I’d lean towards Rogers for a £2m saving.
Pras: This is a situation to monitor rather than commit fully to. With Palmer’s recent injury and Rogers just returning from national duty, Joao Pedro is the wiser choice to start with for now.
Gianni: Pre-season has shown a blend of back four and five formations, with Alonso’s tactics leaning toward an attacking style. Chelsea could post strong attacking stats this season, helped by a lack of European commitments.
How will the World Cup affect the early part of the season?
Heisenberg: I’m not overly concerned about World Cup fatigue. The Premier League intentionally delayed the start of the season to allow players ample recovery time post-tournament. Haaland might not appear fit, but I anticipate he’ll start in Manchester City’s first match.
Holly: The World Cup could greatly influence the season’s early stages, with many players from top clubs returning late. I’m cautious about selecting those involved in the later stages of the tournament, prioritizing players with full pre-seasons to avoid fatigue.
Pras: It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation; it depends on individual players’ World Cup experiences. The last pre-season friendlies are vital indicators of fitness, especially for those who played significant minutes during the tournament.
Gianni: A limited pre-season could negatively impact the performance of some top FPL players. I’m exercising caution in selecting those players who reached the World Cup finals, opting instead for those who had more preparation time, like Phil Foden (£7m).
Will Arsenal’s defence be as good as last season?
Arsenal recorded 19 clean sheets last season, but can they replicate this success? They will begin the season without injured defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
Gianni: Arsenal’s defense has shown remarkable consistency, and I expect this to continue under Mikel Arteta. The individual quality within the team should keep them at the top of defensive metrics again.
Heisenberg: Saliba’s absence could lead to increased goals conceded, which raises concerns. Gabriel offers offensive potential, but at £8m, he’s expensive. David Raya (£6m) and Mosquera (£5.5m) provide more cost-effective defensive options.
Holly: Achieving 19 clean sheets is exceptional. Raya is a consistent performer, but Saliba’s injury could pose challenges. The Gunners may play with more freedom this season, which might affect clean sheets.
Pras: Even with Saliba out, Arsenal’s defensive unit is strong enough to merit including one or two defenders. Players like Mosquera, Ben White (£5.5m), and Calafiori offer appealing choices, with Raya as an alternative if you prefer a goalkeeper.
With three days to go until the start of the Fantasy Premier League season, there are plenty of questions still to be answered about how teams will line up and which players are worth selecting.
Here, BBC Sport’s team of FPL experts – Pras, Holly Shand, Gianni Buttice and FPL Heisenberg – debate some of the big talking points to help you start the season with a bang.
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You can join the BBC Sport League on the official Fantasy Premier League game using the code bbcfpl – or by clicking this link – before Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline.
Is Haaland worth the £15.5m price tag?
Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland beat Bruno Fernandes by four points to be last season’s top FPL scorer. His total of 239 points was still 33 shy of his best season, in 2022-23, yet his price has risen from £14m to £15.5m, making him the most expensive FPL player of all time.
Will he still be worth the money for FPL managers?
Holly: Haaland carries the potential to justify his high price tag. He generally makes a fast start to the campaign.
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However, a busy World Cup could make a big difference in terms of how he starts the campaign, having not had his usual full pre-season.
Pras: At a record £15.5m he still looks essential because captaincy matters so much early on. He is the standout option for gameweek one and gameweek three and starting the season without him means you risk falling behind the template immediately.
The only real caveat is the World Cup hangover. He did look leggy in his 53-minute Community Shield performance on Sunday.
Gianni: In a season of very few premium options, you can have a balanced squad even after picking Haaland. Gone are the days of Mohamed Salah and several other players with double-digit price points.
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Without Haaland, you give yourself a headache with the armband most weeks too. Of course, Bruno Fernandes (£12m) is an option but outside of the Manchester United playmaker you’re struggling for reliable assets on a consistent basis.
Captaincy is such a major part of this game and more often than not, Haaland will be the best candidate.
Heisenberg: At £15.5m, it is a huge commitment, but I still think he’s worth it. Going without him when he hauls points hits your rank way too hard if the majority of managers have him as captain.
I recommend having him to begin with. If his form dips and the fixtures get tough later in the season, then there could be an opportunity to jump off at this point.
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Which Man Utd assets should I pick alongside Fernandes?
Bruno Fernandes was the second highest-scoring FPL player last season and is in nearly 50% of teams this time round. But is it worth having another Manchester United player in your line-up?
Gianni: Since the moment I drafted my team, I’ve had Bryan Mbeumo (£8m) alongside Fernandes to target the first couple of games, against Hull and Ipswich.
Mbeumo has had a full pre-season and I think that matters in the first couple of weeks where I hope he is half a yard sharper than the rest. He’s also likely to start as the central striker.
Luke Shaw (£4.5m) is a cheap route to a good backline and, while fitness may become a concern when the Champions League kicks in, I’m happy to start the season with him.
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Pras: The early fixtures make the defence interesting. Hull away and Ipswich at home offer genuine clean sheet potential, so Harry Maguire (£5m) and Shaw both look viable, along with Senne Lammens (£5m) in goal.
If you prefer to double up in attack rather than defence, Mbeumo remains the clear pick.
Holly: I’m all for tripling up at the start of the season, with promoted sides Hull City and Ipswich Town in the first two gameweeks. Mbeumo has the advantage over Matheus Cunha (£8m) for me for an attacking double-up, with his minutes more secure.
In defence, goalkeeper Lammens makes my team, after eight clean sheets last season.
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Heisenberg: Both Mbeumo and Cunha got 14 attacking returns last season, but the Brazilian edges it for me, given his versatility to play in numerous positions across the front line. However, it’s a close call between them and I like both at £8m.
In defence, Maguire is probably worth the extra £0.5m over Shaw because of his greater goal threat – he’s more likely to get defensive contribution points too.
How will Alonso’s Chelsea look? And will Palmer and Rogers still be strong picks?
Chelsea have a new manager in Xabi Alonso and have spent £117m on Morgan Rogers. But how will he and Cole Palmer, both number 10s, fit into the same line-up? And will they both be able to be productive in FPL?
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Holly: I’m expecting Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea side to line up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Palmer and Rogers in the middle and Joao Pedro (£7.5m) ahead of them.
We know Palmer (£9.5m) carries bags of potential, if he can stay fit, but we need to see form before investing.
Rogers (£7.5m) will look to hit the ground running following his transfer from Aston Villa, but I still think Joao Pedro could be the one to go with from gameweek one. He’s had the summer off and finished last season as their highest-scoring fantasy asset.
Heisenberg: Alonso makes Chelsea one of the most intriguing teams to watch. His Leverkusen side was built around attacking wing-backs, so Chelsea’s wing-backs could offer significant attacking upside.
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Palmer seems a little expensive at £9.5m after a disappointing season, but he has those all important penalties. If I had to pick one right now, I’d go for Rogers purely for the £2m saving.
Alonso has specifically spoken about getting the best from both players, and I think both will have good seasons.
Morgan Rogers, left, and Cole Palmer, centre, will be Chelsea team-mates this season [Getty Images]
Pras: This situation feels like one to monitor rather than go all in. Palmer missed one of the last friendlies with an injury and Rogers is still easing back after England duty, so Joao Pedro looks the sensible starting point for now.
There are three gameweeks to assess them properly before the more attractive Hull home fixture. The plan is simple: if Palmer or Rogers start showing clear upside, add one or both then. I won’t be starting with either.
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Gianni: In pre-season we have seen a mixture of a back four and back five from Alonso and in both systems, they have looked attacking and front foot. I expect Chelsea to be up there with the best attacking numbers of all teams this season.
Having no European football and full midweeks on the training ground will help them no end.
Joao Pedro still feels like the best value Chelsea attacker. Rogers has missed most of pre-season so don’t be surprised if he doesn’t start gameweek one.
How will the World Cup affect the early part of the season?
Tottenham’s Spain right-back Pedro Porro is one of a host of Premier League players who returned late to pre-season training after the World Cup [Getty Images]
Heisenberg: I’m not particularly worried about it. We should gain information leading up to deadline regarding those players who went deep at the World Cup.
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The Premier League deliberately pushed the season back to 21 August, giving players more than a month between the World Cup final and the start of the campaign, which should provide enough of a break.
The big one is Haaland, who didn’t look great in Manchester City’s 3-0 thrashing by Arsenal in the Community Shield and only played 53 minutes. But even so, he surely starts City’s first game against Bournemouth.
Holly: I think the World Cup will have a huge impact on the early parts of the season, with a significant number of players from Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Liverpool going deep into the competition. Those who made the semi-finals were only scheduled to join pre-season a week ago.
I’m actively trying to avoid picking players who were involved in the latter stages of the competition. The football calendar is becoming increasingly more congested, with a full pre-season crucial to avoiding fatigue.
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Pras: It is hard to look it as a blanket rule – everything depends on how far each player went in the tournament. The key checkpoint is the final pre-season friendlies, which took place over the last weekend. Anyone who logged 50 minutes of more there should be fine for gameweek one.
Players from the semi-finalists (Spain, France, England, Argentina) who are only just returning to training carry more risk. Popular assets still look largely OK, but it remains a case-by-case decision rather than a blanket avoid.
Gianni: A lack of pre-season could really impact some of FPL’s big names and I’m curious to see how many players that got to the final rounds of the World Cup start gameweek one. With this in mind, I am being cautious picking players such Rayan Cherki (£7.5m) and considering those who have had an extra month to prepare, such as Phil Foden (£7m).
Will Arsenal’s defence be as good as last season?
The Gunners kept an incredible 19 clean sheets in 38 games last season but can they repeat the feat? They will start the season without injured defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
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Gianni: They’re super consistent and I can’t see them slowing down. Mikel Arteta is a master at setting his teams up to keep clean sheets and with the individual quality they have I expect them to top all the defensive metrics again this season – their expected goals conceded (xGC) total last season was just 27.45, with the next best tally being Liverpool at 47.45.
I’m probably doubling up on their defence – both Riccardo Calafiori and Christhian Mosquera cost £5.5m and will be first choices early on.
Heisenberg: The concern for me is Saliba’s long-term injury – Arsenal could concede more goals per game while he’s out.
Gabriel is the standout for attacking potential – he had three goals and five assists last season alongside 18 clean sheets – but he’s pricey at £8m.
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David Raya (£6m) and Mosquera (£5.5m) offer more affordable routes into what should still be one of the league’s best defences.
Holly: Earning 19 clean sheets in a Premier League season is no mean feat. Goalkeeper Raya has secured the Golden Glove for three consecutive seasons – it’s the kind of consistency we can believe in.
However, the absence of Saliba at the start of this campaign may have an impact. I also think the Gunners may play with a bit more freedom under Arteta, having secured a historic title win, which may mean a reduction in clean sheets.
Pras: Even with Saliba sidelined for the short term, the unit still looks strong enough that holding one or two Arsenal defenders feels like good practice.
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Mosquera, Ben White (£5.5m) and Calafiori are all viable, though need monitoring – Timber’s fitness for White, Piero Hincapie’s (£5.5m) minutes for Calafiori, and any potential new signing for Mosquera. Raya remains a solid alternative if you prefer a keeper.
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