Football is back! And while it feels like just minutes since Liverpool were lifting the title, PSG were Champions League winners and Chelsea won some weird monstrosity in the US, we’re back with a fresh Premier League season. After some huge business this summer, the FPL selection has been quite tough this year, with prices changing, expectations higher and some big decisions to be made, I’ve finally cemented my squad for the opening game week.

In this post, I’ll be going through each selection to explain some of the thinking, how the player could be rotated if needed, or potentially replaced after the opening fixtures and how the team will likely develop and change as the season goes on. With this being the team going into week 1, we will continue providing updates weekly on our Instagram page, and occasionally with updates on the blog at key points of the season.

As always, if you have any thoughts on our selection, or the upcoming season, get in touch with us by leaving a comment, following us on Bluesky (@NextGoalWinner) or Instagram (@NextGoalWin) and check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner).

Goalkeepers

In goal, I’ve opted for 2 reasonably choice options, however both are almost guaranteed to start in the opening weeks, and while one is looking at pushing for a European spot, the other is maybe looking at a more difficult season ahead.

Caoimhin Kelleher is the starter for GW 1 as I believe his move to Brentford will be a success, and at 4.5 his price looks good for the more generous start against Forest, Villa and Sunderland. While I do have some hesitations over Brentford’s season to come, I still think they will survive in a likely 13th-14th placed finish, but Kelleher should be my starter when he has the easier game than the alternative.

Bart Verbruggen is my second choice, again priced at 4.5, but another guaranteed starter for most weeks. With another steady start against Fulham and Everton before the clash with Manchester City, I think Brighton will be on for a good top half finish this season, and while clean sheets might be harder to come by than some other choices, I think his ability to feature every week makes him the perfect balance for Kelleher in the cheaper priced options.

Defenders

In defence, there’s a mix of high-priced and reasonable valued players, some of which will be securing defensive points, but some may also offer an attacking threat. Starting with Virgil Van Dijk priced at 6.0, I have questioned if he will be at his best in what could be one of his last seasons as a guaranteed starter at Liverpool, but I believe they will still have a decent season, and maybe with a new partner at centre back, he could provide clean sheets, defensive contributions and occasional attacking threat from set-pieces.

The rest of the defenders are more reasonable value; Micky Van De Ven is only 4.5 and could be looking at a good season under Thomas Frank, while he also has the occasional goal contribution, Joe Rodon at 4.0 is the cheap option to supplement but will get plenty of defensive contributions and maybe an occasional clean sheet if Leeds can give themselves a strong chance of survival.

Finally, the 2 more attacking options; Patrick Dorgu and El Hadji Malick Diouf, both priced at 4.5, but both had strong pre-seasons where they showed how they will be used heavily in an attacking sense at wing-back, offering crossing opportunities, getting involved in the build-up, but also part of a defence that will need to remain solid if both Manchester United and West Ham are able to have improved seasons from last year, which remains to be seen.

Midfielders

In midfield, I have spent most of the budget on some big names, likely to start most weeks and could be part of the highest returns in the squad. Mo Salah at 14.5 is the highest priced talent in the squad, but will surely have another great season, Florian Wirtz at 8.5 will also be of interest for Liverpool as he will also likely start most weeks, will be heavily involved with goals and assists, and could be the standout signing of the summer.

Meanwhile, I’ve put Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer as my other options in the 4 midfield starters, priced quite heavily at 10.0 and 10.5 respectively, but I am expecting both Arsenal and Chelsea to have good seasons this year, and both will be looked at heavily in contributing towards this, making their selections more high-profile but almost guaranteed returns across the season.

The final choice in midfield is a player that’s been much talked about, Carlos Baleba at 5.0 was a choice I hesitated over, but with defensive contributions being rewarded this season in the game, I think he could provide, and holding the extra bit of value in his price, there’s probably an option to swap him out if another player steps up early with a run of form.

Forwards

For the forwards, I have had to go for the reasonably priced options for the 3 players, but all capable of having decent returns this season. Danny Welbeck at 6.5 might not be a guaranteed starter depending on Brighton’s summer business, but he will still feature and likely bag up to 10 goals in Brighton’s season.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is another who is priced at 6.5, but after a great season last year, he will be given even more responsibility and be looked at heavily as Wolves have lost most of their big hitters. There has also been talk of a move to Newcastle depending on the Isak saga, so there could even be a decision to be made depending on what happens in the next few weeks, but I think he will have a steady season.

Finally, the rogue choice I’ve gone for is Niclas Fullkrug, priced at 6.0, I don’t actually think West Ham will have a good season this year, but with seeing his pre-season form and link-up with Diouf, I think his presence in the box will result in about 10 goals this season, and if he can stay fit and starting under Graham Potter, I think he will be the main striker option for the club, making him an okay option in rotation while allowing for money to be spent in the midfield.

Don’t forget, if you have any thoughts on our selections, or any thoughts on the upcoming season, you can get in touch with us by leaving a comment, following us on Bluesky (@NextGoalWinner) or Instagram (@NextGoalWin) and check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner).