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And just like that, in the blink of an eye, the Premier League season is back. The fast-approaching new campaign, beginning with Manchester United versus Leicester on Friday, has no doubt prompted plenty of Fantasy Premier League managers to spring into action and scramble to put together their squads.
Hitting the ground running in any FPL season is no mean feat and this summer’s World Cup excursions, coupled with the early conclusion of the transfer window, has served to complicate the whole process exponentially.
Fortunately, we’ve done our homework and here’s a few tips to help you navigate the season opener.
CAPTAIN – MOHAMED SALAH | LIVERPOOL | 13M
Mohamed Salah made FPL history last season, scoring a massive 303 points from midfield – the highest-ever score from a single player in the game. The Egyptian was available for 9m, a reasonable price that proved to be an absolute bargain as he scored 32 times and provided 12 assists in a remarkable debut campaign with Liverpool. It’s no wonder his price has skyrocketed by 4m, taking him to 13m this season.
Despite being the most expensive FPL asset this year, it will take a brave manager to ignore Salah’s capacity to deliver returns on a consistent basis. Indeed, he already boasts a 51.3 per cent (and rising) ownership, and that only increases the risk of omitting him.
The Egyptian’s World Cup campaign with Egypt was short-lived and he has benefited from a full pre-season in which he’s looked incredibly sharp. Liverpool play West Ham in their season opener at Anfield. The chances of Salah flying out of the blocks against the Hammers is quite high, making it difficult to see past him as a candidate for the captaincy.
Mohamed Salah
ALTERNATIVES
ALEXIS SANCHEZ (10.5m) until last season, held the record for highest-ever FPL scorer in a single term. After enjoying a first summer off since 2013, the Chilean should be back to his best at the start of this campaign and with Manchester United missing several of their first XI for their first game at home to Leicester City, the onus will be on him to produce the goods.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (9.5m) proved to be a consistent performer last season and ended as the fourth-highest scorer among midfielders on 199 points. With Dele Alli and Harry Kane set to miss the start of the season, the in-form Dane, who has continued to impress in pre-season, will have to step up. With Newcastle United almost predictably in disarray, he should relish the away fixture.
BOLD CHOICE
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (11.0m) has a tough start against Premier League champions Manchester City. However, the Blues will be without some of their key players and others will be somewhat drained by their excursions against Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday. The Arsenal striker on the other hand is another who should benefit from a full pre-season, one in which he scored and assisted several goals.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
TWO TO WATCH
LUCAS MOURA | TOTTENHAM | 7.0M
When Tottenham signed Lucas Moura in January, it was very much a move looking ahead to this season. The tricky Brazilian made a few decent cameo appearances last term but his performances in pre-season have promised much more. A stunning free-kick against Girona capped the latest of his eye-catching performances and at the reasonable price of 7m, could prove to be great value.
Lucas Moura.
RYAN SESSEGNON | FULHAM | 6.5M
Despite the hype around him ahead of this season that has seen him linked with some of the top Premier League sides, a price tag of 6.5m should not put anyone off Ryan Sessegnon. With 16 goals and eight assists from the Championship Player of the Season last term, the 18-year-old is certainly worth a look.
Ryan Sessegnon.
TWO TO AVOID
ALVARO MORATA | CHELSEA | 9.0M
Despite Maurizio Sarri failing in his efforts to convince Chelsea’s top brass to sign Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata doesn’t seem certain of establishing himself as their No9 – and has recently surrendered the actual shirt number as well, albeit in tribute to his newborn twins. Sarri may opt for Olivier Giroud instead when the Frenchman returns while Morata’s pre-season displays has provided no evidence of a resurgence following a disappointing debut campaign.
Alvaro Morata
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE | CRYSTAL PALACE | 6.5M
A drop in price from 7.5m to 6.5m does little to make Christian Benteke an appealing option. The Belgian scored just three times over the course of last season and Roy Hodgson has preferred to play Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend up front ahead of the out-and-out striker. The duo has impressed in pre-season again, making it even more difficult for Benteke to wrestle back a starting berth.
Christian Benteke.
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