How are Premier League sides going to line-up for Gameweek 1?
It's been a long summer, left in football purgatory starved of league action, but today the Premier League returns. With a summer of ridiculous summer spending in the transfer market, new and exotic foreign managers coming to the league, with awful shirt sleeve sponsors, and the never-ending pre-season campaign, patterns begin to emerge about how teams will line-up for the opening weekend. We take a look at the formations, the players, and considerations to take in mind, with the Premier League's return. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League players are just hours away from setting their squads for the first Gameweek of the season, so we've explored the web trying to look for the proper formations and players who will feature for the first round of games. We will be doing a club-by-club analysis in alphabetical order.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Favoured Formation: 4-4-1-1
GK: Begovic
LB: Daniels
CB: Ake CB: Cook
RB: Francis
LM: Pugh CM: Surman
CM: Arter
RM: Fraser
CF: King ST: Afobe
Considerations: The Cherries look to retain their usual 4-4-1-1 formation with Josh King operating as the second striker, and with injury to Jermain Defoe being the big doubt for the game we expect Afobe to start up top as he has impressed in pre-season. We expect a similar team that faced Napoli in pre-season to be fielded, but with Ake, Arter, and Surman in starting roles, and lastly we see Simon Francis return to right-back.
Standout FPL Option: Josh King
ARSENAL
Favoured Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Cech
LWB: Oxlade-Chamberlain
CB: Monreal CB: Kolasinac
CB: Holding
RWB: Bellerin CM: Xhaka
CM: Elneny
LF: Welbeck
RF: Iwobi ST: Lacazette
Considerations: The team will be similar to the team that beat Chelsea in the Community Shield at the weekend, the only major considerations is who takes up the left forward role as Sanchez is injured, as it Ozil. Welbeck or Walcott are in contention for that role. Also at the back Mustafi might come in to CB, allowing Kolasinac at LWB, potentially pushing The Ox further up the pitch.
Standout FPL Option: Alexandre Lacazette
BRIGHTON
Favoured Formation: 4-4-1-1
GK: Ryan
LB: Suttner
CB: Duffy CB: Dunk
RB: Bruno
LM: March CM: Propper
CM: Stephens
RM: Brown
CF: Gross ST: Murray
Considerations: The Championship's player of the season Anthony Knockaert is due to come off the bench after barely making fitness for the opening weekend, meaning Izzy Brown will most likely start. Solly March had an impressive pre-season so he will is likely to start on the left of midfield and new signing Propper joining the midfield as the linchpin. Brighton's spine rarely changes and it more likely that the wingers are the players who are subject to rotation.
Standout FPL Option: Matt Ryan
BURNLEY
Favoured Formation: 4-5-1
GK: Heaton
LB: Ward
CB: Mee CB: Tarkowski
RB: Lowton
DM: Cork
CM: Westwood
CM: Hendrick LM: Brady
RM: Arfield
ST: Vokes
Considerations: Burnley's sale of Andre Gray complicates the lineup, the biggest consideration is whether they retain their 4-4-2 with Jonathon Walters replacing the departed Gray. Defour could come in for Westwood, and Arfied might be replaced by Boyd. Their lineup against Hannover was close to this team, and based on their pre-season Jack Cork is going to start so it looks like a more defensive approach will be utilised against Chelsea.
Standout FPL Options: Tom Heaton
CHELSEA
Favoured Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Courtois
LWB: Alonso
CB: Cahill CB: Luiz
CB: Rudiger
RWB: Azpilicueta CM: Kante
CM: Fabregas
LF: Morata / Musonda
RF: Willian ST: Batshuayi
Considerations: Chelsea is straight forward, they will retain their three defensive players in the middle, but with Moses being injured Azpilicueta will take up the role and new signing Rudiger will move in the middle. The two behind the main striker will be Pedro and Willian due to the Chelsea's lack of availability of other options, the same applies to Kante and Fabregas in the middle. The only major variable is who starts up front, and we favour Batshuayi to start the season up front as he has done all pre-season for the Blues. Club record signing Morata is struggling getting to full fitness and we expect him to make a cameo off the bench until he is full primed to start his new club, and that was the view until Pedro was declared injured. Now it looks likely he'll start on the left, or Musonda will.
Standout FPL Options: Cesar Azpilicueta / Marcos Alonso
Crystal Palace
Favoured Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Speroni
LB: van Aanholt
CB: Riedewald CB: Dann
CB: Milivojevic
RB: Townsend CM: Puncheon
CM: Loftus-Cheek
LF: Zaha
RF: Lokilo ST: Benteke
Considerations: New manager Frank De Boer has changed things up at Palace by implementing a robust 3-4-3 system, and in his last two friendlies against Metz and Schalke he named unchanged starting line-ups in pre-season which is rare, meaning that this is the team he is looking to start the season. The big changes is that Milivojevic is now playing as part of a back three with Townsend and van Aanholt on the wings, with Zaha and Lokili flanking Benteke with raw pace. The starting eleven against Huddersfield should be unchanged since the pre-season fixtures. The only major change could be Wayne Hennessey coming in for the veteran Julian Speroni.
Standout FPL Options: Christian Benteke / Wilfried Zaha
EVERTON
Favoured Formation: 4-3-3 (home), 3-4-3 (away)
GK: Pickford
LB: Baines
CB: Williams CB: Keane
RB: Martina
DM: Schneiderlin CM: Gueye
CM: Klaassen
LW: Calvert-Lewin
RW: Mirallas
ST: Rooney
Considerations: Everton are an odd one to predict on the opening day as they have been changing up their formation frequently between three at the back to a conventional 4-3-3. The only considerations to make are who starts either side of Rooney, as the youngster Calvert-Lewin has impressed in pre-season, but Koeman might want to give Sandro Ramirez a starting debut for the Toffees. With Leighton Baines potentially no longer taking penalties in favour of the returning Wayne Rooney we are skeptical on his potential output for your fantasy teams this year.
Standout FPL Option: Wayne Rooney
HUDDERSFIELD
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Lossl
LB: Howe
CB: Schindler CB: Jorgensen
RB: Smith
DM: Williams DM: Mooy
AM: Palmer
LM: Ince
RM: Kachunga ST: Mounie
Considerations: Decoding who will start for Huddersfield after David Wagner is a mystery of its own, but it will be a full-strength squad that is fielded against Palace. Zanka, aka Mathias Jorgensen, will be one of the new debutantes for the Terries with Mounie, Ince, Lossl, and Willams all likely going to be getting the nod. Mounie is the unrivalled starter up front, and his pre-season form will keep everyone else out.
Standout FPL Options: Aaron Mooy / Steve Mounie
LEICESTER
Favoured Formation: 4-4-1-1
GK: Schmeichel
LB: Fuchs
CB: Maguire CB: Morgan
RB: Simpson
CM: Ndidi
CM: James
LM: Albrighton
RM: Mahrez
ST: Iheanacho ST: Vardy
Considerations: Leicester have had an odd pre-season, mostly because they haven't settled on a formation, so out of all the teams we expect this one to have the most noticeable change as Craig Shakespeare tries to reinvent the Foxes. The only indication of the 4-3-3 formation is that due to current injuries to the squad, and the comments made by Shakespeare that Iborra was brought in to be nothing but a defensive midfielder, but with injury to Iborra we can see the tried and tested system being used. The surprise consideration to make the team is Matty James who has recovered from his ACL injury and has impressed in pre-season, and Mahrez might also be dropped for Gray on the wing if the Algerian is digging in his heels over leaving the club.
Standout FPL Option: Jamie Vardy
LIVERPOOL
Favoured Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Mignolet
LB: Moreno
CB: Lovren CB: Matip
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
DM: Henderson CM: Milner
CM: Can
LW: Mane
RW: Salah CF: Firmino
Considerations: The front free of Mane, Firmino, and Salah solves itself. There are conundrums at left-back but after comments by Klopp it wouldn't be a surprise to see Moreno start the season, moving Milner back into midfield. Liverpool's biggest dilemma is their three central midfield options, with Wijnaldum, Grujic, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, and Can fighting it out for the opener against Watford, the defensive role depends on whether or not Henderson if fit to start the season. Injury to Coutinho will keep him out, pushing Milner into midfield for his set-piece and high work rate.
Standout FPL Options: Roberto Firmino / Sadio Mane
MAN CITY
Favoured Formation: 3-5-2
GK: Ederson
LB: Danilo
CB: Otamendi CB: Stones
CB: Kompany RB: Walker
DM: Yaya Toure CM: Silva
CM: De Bruyne
ST: Aguero ST: Jesus
Considerations: Leroy Sane might be the only player who starts instead of Yaya Toure if they opt for a different system on the opening day. Kevin De Bruyne should operate in a free midfield role, which hopefully means he will support the forwards at any given chance.
Standout FPL Option: Kevin De Bruyne
MAN UNITED
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: De Gea
LB: Darmian
CB: Jones CB: Bailly
RB: Valencia
DM: Herrera DM: Matic
AM: Pogba
LM: Martial
RM: Mkhitaryan ST: Lukaku
Considerations: In typical Mourinho fashion they will line up with a predictable 4-2-3-1 formation, which can also be set up as a 4-3-3, we don't expect many changes from the team that lined up in the Super Cup loss to Real Madrid. Martial should come in for Lingard, and the central defenders will be shaken up with Mourinho's trusted pair of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones coming into the squad.
Standout FPL Option: Romelu Lukaku
NEWCASTLE
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Elliot
LB: Dummett
CB: Lejuene CB: Clark
RB: Manquillo
DM: Hayden DM: Shelvey
AM: Perez
LM: Atsu
RM: Ritchie ST: Mitrovic
Considerations: Rafa Benitez has had a frustrating transfer window, and with Dwight Gayle picking up an injury it will most likely be the Serbian Mitrovic leading the line against Spurs. The only defensive conundrum is whether he chooses to stick faith with Kieran Clark at central defence or if he goes with Florian Lejeune partnering captain Jamaal Lascelles, but due to the captains injury on the opening day he will be sitting out. In the middle it is a toss up between new signing Merino or established midfielder Isaac Hayden, we believe Rafa will go with Hayden as Merino settle into life at Newcastle.
Standout FPL Option: Matt Ritchie
SOUTHAMPTON
Favoured Formation: 4-3-3 (or a 4-2-3-1)
GK: Forster
LB: Bertrand
CB: Stephens CB: Yoshida
RB: Cedric
DM: Romeu CM: Ward-Prowse
CM: Davis
LW: Tadic
RW: Redmond ST: Gabbiadini
Considerations: Either set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Davis joining Romeu, or linking up in a 4-3-3 the Saint's team for the opening gameweek will see little change than the team that beat Sevilla in pre-season. New record signing Lemina has only trained once with the team so it might be a while before he gets the nod to start in the main team.
Standout FPL Options: Nathan Redmond / Ryan Bertrand
STOKE CITY
Favoured Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Butland
LB: Pieters
CB: Zouma CB: Shawcross
CB: Cameron
RB: Diouf
CM: Fletcher
CM: Allen
LF: Sobhi
RF: Shaqiri
ST: Berahino
Considerations: Scared of potentially dropping down a division, and without their best player Marko Arnautovic, Mark Hughes has implemented a three man defence with Pieters and Diouf acting as wing backs. Anchored by Fletcher and Allen it appears that Stoke are going to be scrapping results, but they did impressively beat German high flyers and Naby Kieta detaining RB Leipzig in pre-season. The only consideration is whether Bojan starts as he picked up an injury in pre-season, if not then expect Ramadan Sobhi to start.
Standout FPL Option: Jack Butland
SWANSEA
Favoured Formation: 4-4-2 (Diamond)
GK: Fabianski
LB: Olsson
CB: Mawson CB: Fernandez
CB: Naughton
DM: Mesa
CM: Carroll CM: Fer CAM: Routledge
ST: Abraham ST: Ayew
Considerations: During the attack the team splits to a 4-3-3 with Ayew and Routledge on the wings, but defensively the Swans operate in a tight diamond. Abraham is due to make his debut for the Swans after overcoming injury, and the only major consideration is whether experienced old-head Leon Britton sits in front of the defence ahead of new signing Roque Mesa. Gylfi Sigurdsson won't be playing for Swansea, and by the looks of it he will be leaving the club for Everton.
Standout FPL Options: Tom Carroll / Tammy Abraham
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-3
4-2-3-1 Variant
GK: Lloris
LB: Davies
CB: Alderweireld
CB: Vertonghen
RB: Dier
DM: Dembele
DM: Winks
RM: Sissoko
LM: Alli
AM: Eriksen
ST: Kane
3-4-3 Variant
GK: Lloris
LWB: Davies
CB: Dier
CB: Alderweireld
CB: Vertonghen
RWB: Sissoko
CM: Dembele
CM: Winks
LAM: Alli
RAM: Eriksen
ST: Kane
Considerations: Spurs suffered an injury to Kieran Trippier that might have altered their GW1 line-up. The hardest ot predict of any of the 20 teams in our eyes, despite picking a consistent squad, Spurs might line up with Dier at RB or play Sissoko at RWB, a job he done at Hull on the final day of last season. Winks looks set to start alongside Dembele in the middle, and the front three should be unchanged.
Standout FPL Options: Harry Kane / Dele Alli
WATFORD
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Gomes
LB: Holebas
CB: Prodl CB: Caboul
RB: Janmaat
DM: Doucoure DM: Chabolah
AM: Perayra
LM: Success
RM: Amrabat ST: Okaka
Considerations: Tom Cleverley has been highly rated by Marco Silva, so he could take up the attacking role by Perayra, and Kaboul could be replaced by Britos. Lack of match fitness to Craig Cathcart means he won't feature right away. The signing of Andre Gray might effect the team, but it might be too late for his debut.
Standout FPL Option: Roberto Perayra
WEST BROM
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Foster
LB: Nyom
CB: Evans CB: Hegazi
RB: Dawson
DM: Livermore DM: Yacob
AM: Chadli
LM: Rodriguez
RM: Phillips
ST: Rondon
Considerations: At the heart of the Albion's usually stern defence will see Hegazi walk into the starting eleven after an injury has put down on Gareth McAuley's fitness for the start of the season. The major blow to the FPL community will be Jay Rodriguez who is listed as a forward be deployed the left of midfield. The West Brom team is very threadbare so hardly any real changes for the opening tie against Bournemouth.
Standout FPL Options: Matt Phillips and Ben Foster
WEST HAM
Favoured Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Hart
LB: Masuaku
CB: Ogbonna CB: Fonte
RB: Zabaleta
DM: Obiang DM: Noble
AM: Fernandes
LM: Snodgrass
RM: Ayew ST: Chicharito
Considerations: West Ham's team against Man United sorts itself out, due to a pileup of injuries to key men like new signing Arnautovic, and Lanzini, the spots in Bilic's 4-2-3-1 fill themselves. We expect a very similar team, with perhaps a surprise start for Toni Martinez if they are lacking the firepower in the front four.
Standout FPL Option: Chicharito i.e. Javier Hernandez
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All aboard.
