RADIO
Welcome to the Gameweek 1 Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! We've published our team and position previews in the preseason, but now it's time for Gameweek 1. Each week, you can expect our Staff Roundtable to preview the upcoming gameweek. Then, player rankings on Tuesday and updated on Friday. Meanwhile, FPL Manual will publish his top tips for the weekend on Thursday. This gives you four helpings of FPL per week on our site, and it's all free. So stick around for the season as you shoot to win your mini-league.
It's the most wonderful time of the year. You can't win your FPL mini-league in Gameweek 1, but you sure can hurt your chances. It's easy to tilt as the deadline draws closer, so we would recommend you have a strong feeling about your team by Thursday night and try to ignore some of the noise on Friday. Only change your squad if you hear solid news from the manager's press conferences. Good luck this season, and thanks for joining RotoBaller for the ride!
The Gameweek 1 deadline of the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season is Friday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, when Manchester United welcomes Fulham to open the campaign. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League slate and UEFA Champions League game with our EPL DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 1 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off the season and Gameweek 1!
What has been the biggest takeaway from the preseason?
- Euan Leith: It's ramped up recently, but the lack of big transfers has been slightly off. Liverpool hasn't brought in a single player for their new manager, Arne Slot. Chelsea has been the busiest side in the league, as they seem to buy a new player every other day, but there hasn't been a tremendous amount of turnover among the top clubs. However, there are still two weeks until the deadline, and it could all look different.
- Jamie Steed: Still having no idea what Chelsea’s starting XI will be come the opening weekend. Outside of Cole Palmer (£10.5M), it’s tough to trust any Blues player will begin the season as a starting player. They have some intriguing options, but it’ll be a few games before we can really assess their team.
- The FPL Manual (Wale): Witnessing the rise of solid fantasy assets priced under £6m performing well for their clubs this preseason has been my biggest takeaway. Players like Brighton's Yankuba Minteh (£5.5M), Fulham's Emile Smith-Rowe (£5.5M), and Manchester City's Oscar Bobb (£5.0M) have created a bit of a dilemma for me when it comes to selecting my fantasy team. Still, it's a challenge I gladly welcome.
What signing will have the biggest impact early in the FPL season?
- Euan: Dominic Solanke (£7.5M) joining Spurs gives the North London club a well-rounded striker who can bring the team to a different level. Richarlison is consistently inconsistent, but Tottenham can rely on Solanke week in and week out. The English striker scored a career-high 19 goals last season, but I expect him to top that while surrounded by Son Heung-min (£10.0M), Brennan Johnson (£6.5M), and others.
- Jamie: Emile Smith-Rowe becoming a regular starting player for a Fulham team looking to strengthen this month. There shouldn’t be doubting Smith-Rowe’s talent, and it remains to be seen if he can stay fit for the entire season. But he’s set to start the fit and looked sharp in Fulham’s friendlies (scoring twice). The former Arsenal man could get off to a flyer this season.
- Wale: I side with Gambia International Yankuba Minteh, who signed for Brighton this summer. The 20-year-old has shown great promise in preseason, and having watched a lot of Feyenoord during last season's Champions League, I have a good sense of what Minteh brings to the table. I expect him to be a significant impact signing for the Seagulls, especially in the first 10 gameweeks.
From Bournemouth to Spurs 🍒⚪️
Where does Dominic Solanke rank among FPL forward options? 💥#FPL pic.twitter.com/niVmZqhHfA
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 12, 2024
Are you Team Haaland, Team Salah, or Team Both?
- Euan: As of this writing, I'm Team Haaland, but I was Team Salah for most of the preseason. I don't like how the squad looks when both of them are in my team, so I'm pretty confident I won't be Team Both. The reason I'm Team Haaland right now is that I think I can cover Mohamed Salah (£12.5M) with Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0M) and Diogo Jota (£7.5M) and still have enough money to grab Erling Haaland (£15.0M) and another premium midfielder like Bukayo Saka (£10.0M)
- Jamie: I’m still Team Haaland. If he avoids injuries, 250 points are in play, and there’s a genuine chance Erling Haaland (£15.0M) will be the only forward to top 200 points. If that is the case, Haaland outscoring the competition by at least ~25% is a greater differential than Salah could do, given the depth of midfielders this season.
- Wale: Right now, I’m team both. It’s tough to pass on Erling Haaland, but I can’t shake the fear of missing out if Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) goes off with a brace in Gameweek 1 against Ipswich. That could ruin the weekend. So, I’m playing it safe and starting the season with both in my lineup.
Mo Salah = FPL points 📈
The man himself makes the case why he should be in your squad 💪#FPL pic.twitter.com/l1FZMnE7Ej
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 12, 2024
Are you worried about the late returns for players from the continental competitions this summer?
- Euan: Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer have made appearances for their clubs in the preseason, so I'm less worried about those two. However, we haven't seen Ollie Watkins (£9.0M), Phil Foden (£9.5M), or Rodri (£6.5M) for their respective clubs. Those three are my biggest concerns for FPL purposes. Darwin Nunez (£7.5M) hasn't seen a lot of action either for Liverpool in the preseason, but he's more of a wait-and-see pick under his new manager at Liverpool.
- Jamie: A little bit, but it shouldn’t impact them for more than the first couple of games. It’s not so much fitness, more sharpness as they wouldn’t have had many minutes in preseason. But many early games are about players building up their sharpness, so the concern isn’t as big for me.
- Wale: Not at all. Only Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has clearly stated that players returning late from Euro 2024 will miss Gameweek 1 or 2. Players like Eberechi Eze (£7.0M), Marc Guehi (£4.5M), Bukayo Saka (£10.0M), Anthony Gordon (£7.5M), and Marc Cucurella (£5.0M), who were heavily involved in the Euro 2024 finals, have already started to participate in recent club friendlies, getting more minutes in preparation for the new season. I believe FPL managers don’t have much to worry about, except for the City lads like Rodri (£6.5M), Phil Foden (£9.5M), and John Stones (£5.5M).
Which manager will get his team off to a better start: Arne Slot (Liverpool), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), or Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton)?
- Euan: Brighton doesn't have the most leisurely fixtures to begin the year, but Fabian Hurzeler has them flying in the preseason. So much so that I'm considering a triple-up on the Seagulls to open the campaign. Yakubu Minteh, Joao Pedro (£5.5M), and Valentin Barco (£4.0M) can be rostered for a combined £15.0M. I am much more confident in their minutes moving forward than anyone at Liverpool outside of Salah, Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk (£6.0M).
- Jamie: Liverpool has the easiest start of the season of those three. And while much has been made of Liverpool’s lack of activity in the transfer market, the consistency of having a settled squad shouldn’t be underestimated. Slot will undoubtedly be looking to add some new faces to the team. Whether they do or not shouldn’t prevent Liverpool from starting the season well.
- Wale: Due to the early fixtures and results from preseason, I’m going to give the nod to Liverpool’s new boss, Arne Slot. The Dutch manager comes to the Premier League with a wealth of experience from his time at Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. Slot can give Liverpool a solid start that positions the Reds as title contenders.
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 1?
- Euan: A healthy Newcastle United defense at home can handle a newly promoted Southampton side. Nick Pope (£5.0M) returns between the sticks for the Toon Army and will be covered by a healthy backline. Without Europe, the Magpies will return to their 2022/23 defensive form, where they finished second for xGC (expected goals conceded).
- Jamie: It’s a bit of a risky play, but I fancy Nottingham Forest could shut out Bournemouth. Nuno Espirito Santo has a reputation for making his sides hard to beat. With an entire preseason behind him, I expect Forest to be better defensively. Opponents Bournemouth just lost 19 of their 54 EPL goals from last season with the departure of Dominic Solanke (£7.5M), so they may take time to adapt to life without their star forward.
- Wale: Newcastle and Arsenal look set to keep a clean sheet for their first fixtures. Arsenal finished last season with the most clean sheets in the league, while Newcastle have historically shown strong form at home. This could favor the Geordies, with a high likelihood of securing a clean sheet against newly promoted side Southampton and also Arsenal, who play at home to Wolves. I expect either or both teams to keep a clean sheet this weekend.
💹 PL GW1 matchups
First look at projected goals and clean sheet odds for the opening round of Premier League games, via spread betting markets pic.twitter.com/GAOyiTRVD6
— Rob T (@robtFPL) August 13, 2024
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
- Euan: It didn't take long for Trent Alexander-Arnold to look settled in Arne Slot's system. The fullback saw his first preseason minutes on Sunday against Sevilla and instantly made an impact. With Liverpool imposing a more controlled version of Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal football, Alexander-Arnold should have more time to pick out those pinpoint crosses he loves to deliver. That'll start on Saturday at lunchtime against a leaky Ipswich Town defense.
- Jamie: When Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at home last season, the two full-backs got an assist. Ben White (£6.5M) didn’t start that game, but he’s set to be a mainstay at right-back for the Gunners again this season. His link-up play with Bukayo Saka (£10.0M) will be vital to any success Arsenal has this season, and White getting an assist to start the campaign wouldn’t come as a surprise.
- Wale: I have a list of solid options in mind. Liverpool’s ever-reliable Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7m) has been hovering in and out of my team. However, if I were to select one player who has been making the rounds all preseason, I would side with Spurs defender Pedro Porro. The Spaniard scored two goals in recent friendlies and made a good case for being relied on for attacking returns.
Jota on the volley 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/rrUfBDxhVj
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2024
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi (£6.0M) has missed most of the preseason. This has allowed Chris Wood (£6.0M) to become the No. 1 option among Forest's attack. A home game against a Dominic Solanke-less Bournemouth could be precisely what the City Ground side needs to kick start its third year in the Premier League. Over the previous two seasons, the Trees have scored 54 goals at home compared to 33 goals on the road. Wood is in 4.8 percent of FPL teams to begin the year.
- Jamie: It’s difficult to know who starts for Liverpool on Saturday, but Diogo Jota’s preseason form should get him a run in the team to start the season. Currently on 8.7 percent of FPL squads, Jota should go over the 10.0% threshold after this weekend if he performs well. Despite an injury-ravaged season last year, Jota had 17 goal involvements in just 14 starts. Liverpool won’t find it easy at Ipswich but should still run out winners.
- Wale: With Liverpool ranked top for favorable fixtures within the first five games, I’m a little surprised Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.5M) is not selected by many managers to double up on that Liverpool attack. As of writing, the Hungarian has been selected by 2.2 percent of FPL managers and is massively under the radar. Szoboszlai will be a standout asset when he clicks under Arne Slot’s tactics and will grab a lot of FPL points.
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Gameweek 1 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: I have a strong gut feeling about Brennan Johnson this season, but I can't shake a fear of insecure minutes. With Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison (£7.5M), Richarlison (£7.0M), and Dejan Kulusevski (£6.5M) to compete for playing time, I expect Spurs to rotate a lot. Ange Postecoglou loves to attack, then attack, and attack some more, so Johnson could start on the bench this weekend if any of the other five attackers look better in training this week.
- Jamie: For the same reasons I like Jota, not having Salah (£12.5M) could come back to bite me. Liverpool’s opening fixtures are tantalizing, but as mentioned, I’m team Haaland. I just haven’t been able to build a squad I like with Salah and Haaland, so I’m fully expecting to have Salah FOMO to get the season underway.
- Wale: Arsenal’s “Starboy” Bukayo Saka is that player for me. The Englishman was excellent for the Gunners last season, bagging double digits for goals and assists. It’s been a little difficult to fit Saka in while trying to also fit in Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and other key assets for Gameweek 1.
The Egyptian King loves a goal on the @premierleague's opening weekend 😮💨👑#OnThisDay in 2021 ⏪ pic.twitter.com/TeqTx8APBC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 14, 2024
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
- Euan: Erling Haaland bagged a hat-trick in the preseason versus Chelsea, but he doesn't get the armband this weekend. It's going to Alexander Isak instead against Southampton. The 24-year-old scored 21 goals in 27 starts last season, and 10 of those strikes came against bottom-five squads. Most fans expect Southampton to hang around that area of the table this year, so managers shouldn't be surprised when the Swede bangs in a couple of goals to open the campaign.
- Jamie: As tempting as it is to go with Gabriel Jesus (£7.0M), I don’t want to take that big of a risk to start the season. Instead, I’ll likely be going with his teammate Saka. I doubt Saka gets 90 minutes this Saturday, given his late arrival for preseason. But he’ll play the majority of the game and should still be able to get his and Arsenal’s campaign off to a good start.
- Wale: I'm backing Alexander Isak this weekend. With Newcastle up against Southampton, it looks like an easy win for the Geordies, and I’m confident Isak will find the back of the net.
What’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 1?
- Euan: After a summer of spending, Chelsea surprises everyone and puts a small, early dent in Man City's title defense by getting a draw at Stamford Bridge. This same fixture finished 4-4 last year. Elsewhere, Man United ends Friday night at the top of the Premier League for the first (and last) time this year. Plus, every promoted side scores a goal, but they also end Gameweek 1 with a loss.
- Jamie: Southampton scares Newcastle before losing a five-goal thriller. Despite the three goals Newcastle score, Alexander Isak (£8.5M) frustrates more than half of FPL managers by failing to find the net. Meanwhile, Fulham get the season underway by taking a point at Old Trafford on Friday night.
- Wale: Arsenal kick off the season with a 3-0 win over Wolves, a center-back scores a goal among the newly promoted sides; maybe Wout Faes (£4m) of Leicester City and might emerge as a popular pick for Gameweek 2. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak get on the scoresheet for their teams.
Finally, what’s your prediction for Champions, top-4, and relegation?
- Euan: After pushing Man City closer and closer for the previous two years, Arsenal finally gets the job done and wins its first Premier League title since 2003. City, Liverpool, and Chelsea join the Gunners in the top four, with Newcastle United and Manchester United barely missing out. As for relegation, Bournemouth will struggle in their post-Dominic Solanke era and joins Nottingham Forest and Leicester in the drop to the Championship.
- Jamie: It remains to be seen what (if any) punishment is meted out to Man City, but if it is a points deduction, they will find it incredibly difficult to win the league. So, I’m going to back Arsenal for the title. I still believe the punishment handed out won’t be sufficient, so City will finish top-4 along with Liverpool and Tottenham. I hope one of the newly promoted teams stays up, so I’m backing Leicester to do so. That leaves Southampton and Ipswich relegated along with Nottingham Forest, with Bournemouth surviving on the final day.
- Wale: Manchester City clinched the title once again, marking their fifth consecutive Premier League title. Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester United secured a top-4 spot, while Chelsea, aided by Champions League coefficient rankings, narrowly claimed the fifth spot and a place in the Champions League. On the other end of the table, Ipswich and Southampton face relegation, with Nottingham Forest potentially missing out on Premier League football in the final stages.
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— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2024
Stick around for more 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
