With the Fantasy Premier League season kicking off on Friday, 21 August, managers across the country are making final tweaks to their squads before the deadline. A panel of experts has broken down every Premier League club, identifying a standout talisman, an under-the-radar differential, and a player best avoided when building a squad for the new campaign.
At the top end of the price scale, reigning champions Arsenal lean on defender Gabriel, last season's top-scoring defender with 209 points, while Manchester City's Erling Haaland retains his status as the game's most expensive and most-owned asset despite question marks over his fitness heading into the opener against Bournemouth. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, who racked up 235 points and 24 assists last term, earned a price bump to £12m and remains a premium captaincy option, aided by a favourable opening schedule against Hull and Ipswich.
Several newly promoted and rebuilding sides present tempting but risky options. Hull City's Oli McBurnie, scorer of the play-off final winner that secured promotion, headlines a squad experts largely suggest avoiding altogether due to limited clean-sheet prospects. Sunderland's Enzo le Fee, who contributed five goals and six assists last season, is viewed more favourably given his multiple routes to points and a kind fixture run.
Among the differentials tipped to outperform their ownership, Brighton's new arrival Luka Vuskovic, a club-record £46m signing from Tottenham, could offer value at the back, while Aston Villa's Matty Cash and Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz are highlighted for their attacking output from full-back positions. Manchester City's Phil Foden, at just 7% ownership, was also flagged as a differential with a high ceiling, though rotation risk remains a concern.
Not every popular or highly-priced player is expected to deliver. Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez faces uncertainty over a potential exit and a delayed pre-season, while Newcastle's Lewis Hall is also considered vulnerable to a transfer away from St James' Park. At Manchester United, Benjamin Sesko was described as difficult to assess given uncertain minutes despite finishing his debut Premier League season with 11 goals.
At Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai was named the club's most reliable asset, owned by nearly half of FPL managers, while Florian Wirtz was tipped as a differential capable of exceeding last season's return of five goals and four assists under new manager Andoni Iraola. Tottenham's Pedro Porro, fresh off a strong World Cup with Spain, was identified as the clearest talisman at his club, with Mathys Tel flagged as a low-owned differential following a bright pre-season, including a 30-yard free-kick against Sydney FC.
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, who finished as the third-highest-scoring midfielder last season with 15 goals and four assists, is expected to continue thriving under new boss Oliver Glasner. Brentford's Igor Thiago, who scored 22 league goals last term, carries a hefty price tag but remains the club's undisputed focal point up front.
As the new season approaches, the message from the panel is clear: balancing premium picks with well-chosen differentials, while steering clear of players facing uncertain playing time or unclear pecking orders, will be crucial to early-season FPL success.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.