The new Premier League season will get underway on Friday 15th August with Liverpool taking on Bournemouth at Anfield and we have an array of exciting and potentially influential players to suggest for your Fantasy XI in the Round 1 fixtures of this new campaign.
Here’s our suggested XI for Round 1 starting in order of formation…
Formation: 4-3-3
Jordan Pickford (Leeds Utd vs Everton) – €6.5M
In what is anticipated to be a tightly-fought opening game of this Premier League season, newly promoted Leeds United will take on Everton at Elland Road on Monday night which wraps up the action in Round 1.
The return of manager David Moyes prompted a season-saving revival for The Toffees and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was instrumental in helping the merseyside club not only avoid unwanted relegation dramas, but also a respectable 13th place finish in the table with Pickford racking up a total of 12 clean sheets on his way to claiming the best-in-class in his position last term.
Pedro Porro (Tottenham vs Burnley) – €7.0M
Tottenham are expected to produce a winning start to this new Premier League season against newly promoted Burnley with the north London side enjoying home advantage at their Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Although a defender, Spanish international, Pedro Porro, contributed significant stats going forward last season with 3 goals and 7 assists which ranked him high among defenders in key attacking metrics and expected involvement, and this bodes well for this upcoming clash against newcomers, Burnley.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool vs Bournemouth) – €8.5M
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk was one of two best-in-class defenders in his position in last season’s FPL as the Dutch international amassed a total of 143 points which was one of the catalysts behind The Reds claiming last season’s Premier League title.
van Dijk’s consistency at the back for Liverpool included collecting 14 clean sheets and we can expect more of the same against Friday night’s visitors, Bournemouth, in this curtain-raiser at Anfield.
William Saliba (Manchester Utd vs Arsenal) – €8.5M
Arsenal once again finished runners-up in last season’s Premier League title race but Gunners defender, William Saliba, was part of a solid defensive line-up for the north London club as the French international contributed to a staggering 13 clean sheets.
In a tough opening fixture away from home at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, we shouldn’t expect too many goals, in which case Saliba has a decent chance of collecting another clean sheet.
Reece James (Chelsea vs Crystal Palace) – €6.5M
Chelsea will be keen to continue their momentum from the recent FIFA Club World Cup where they recorded a 3-0 victory over the reigning Champions League holders PSG in the final of that competition, when they entertain London rivals, Crystal Palace, on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea defender, Reece James, has been a part of a Chelsea side who have won all five of the previous games against The Eagles when Reece has featured for The Blues.
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton vs Fulham) – €6.5M
Brighton winger, Kaoru Mitoma, was The Seagulls’ stand-out player last season with 145 points to his name and together with goals and assists in his repertoire, the Japanese winger is also more than capable of producing devastating dribbles as he looks to guide his side to an opening win against Fulham.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea vs Crystal Palace) – €11.0M
Cole Palmer was influential in guiding Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup title as the England international produced 3 goals and 2 assists on the way to The Blues winning the recent elite club competition.
Having amassed a total of 214 points in last season’s FPL along with contributing 1 goal and 3 assists in his previous 4 games against The Eagles, Cole Palmer looks set to have a hand in securing an opening win of the season for Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Jeremy Doku (Wolves vs Manchester City) – €7.0M
The Belgian left-winger was a constant menace for defenders in last season’s Premier League campaign and indeed, Jeremy Doku finished joint-top with Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus for the highest number of successful dribbles last term (90 apiece).
Jeremy Doku has also contributed 2 assists within his previous 4 games against Wolves who will not be relishing the prospect of facing him in Saturday evening’s encounter at Molineux.
Mo Salah (Liverpool vs Bournemouth) – €12.0M
After breaking his own previous points tally in the FPL last season with a record total of 344 points, there can only be one player that is first on your team list for this upcoming fixture between The Reds and The Cherries – Mo Salah.
Indeed, Salah has scored in each of his 11 appearances against the south coast club and naming the Egyptian as your team captain looks a winning combination for this clash!
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa vs Newcastle Utd) – €8.5M
Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins, bagged a total of 16 goals for the west midlands club last season as he helped fire The Villans into Europe and he was also the leading goalscorer in England, pipping Chelsea’s Cole Palmer by a single goal.
In addition, Watkins has scored 5 goals and produced 3 assists in his 9 previous games against Newcastle United and with the anticipated absence of Alexander Isak for The Magpies, Ollie Watkins looks set to put the north-east club to the sword.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest vs Brentford) – €7.5M
Evergreen striker, Chris Wood, rolled back the years with Nottingham Forest last season as the New Zealand international bagged a total of 20 goals which helped fire the Tricky Trees into Europe for this coming season.
Wood produced a total of 200 points in last season’s FPL and was one of the two highest points-scorers in the Forward position along with Alexander Isak.
