FPL Gameweek 1 Picks: Selections & Tips For the Opening Round
The 2023/24 campaign gets underway on Friday, and avid FPL players can begin building and shaping their teams with prices now being released on the app. With that in mind, we are looking ahead to the opening round by offering up some of our best Fantasy Premier League gameweek 1 picks.
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1 Picks
Bruno Fernandes (£8.5m)
Manchester United get their Premier League campaign underway against a Wolves side who are being stripped to core in the transfer window.
Manager Julen Lopetegui is the warm favourite to be the first to leave his job, largely due to an unrelenting string of games to open the season.
A trip away to Old Trafford, where an enthused United faithful will be fully expectant of all three points, is about as tough as it gets for Wolves.
They have failed to win in Manchester in four of the last five meetings, and we think Bruno Fernandes could be a shrewd selection on gameweek 1.
The Portuguese maestro was recently handed the captaincy, and the firm FPL favourite ended the season just outside the top 10 for most points, finishing on 176.
We couldn’t quite believe he is priced at just £8.5m for the start of the campaign – for context, he cost as much as £10m at the start of last season.
Bukayo Saka (£8.5m)
Despite a dazzling season for Arsenal last term, Bukayo Saka’s price represents just a £0.5m jump from his 2022/23 pre-season valuation.
He finished sixth in terms of overall points last season, and proved to be the second most popular selection amongst FPL players.
Arsenal get a hugely important season underway at home to Nottingham Forest – a fixture they ran rampant in last year, eventually winning by a convincing 5-0 scoreline.
Although Saka was forced off injured early in the first half that day, he is without doubt one of the most effective midfielders in the league, finishing the season with 14 goals and 11 assists last year.
Gabriel (£5m)
Continuing with the Arsenal theme, we have selected one of their standout performers, Gabriel, for gameweek 1.
Not only do the Gunners have one of the more favourable opening games, but we have also looked ahead at their first 10 fixtures. Crystal Palace (a), Fulham (H), Everton (a), Bournemouth (a) and Sheffield United (H) all feature, which is enough for us to side with the Brazilian.
Not only did the runners-up keep 14 clean sheets, the second-most last year, but Gabriel also represents a genuine goal threat that offers up the possibility of added points.
He finished with an xG of 5.04, which is among the highest for defenders in the Premier League, while he he has chipped in with 10 goals across the last three seasons.
At £5m, his price is too good to ignore.
Pascal Gross (£6.5m)
Brighton were undoubtedly the surprise package of last year, and neutrals everywhere were treated to Roberto De Zerbi’s refreshing approach to football.
Their qualification to the Europa League is testament to that, and although they face a tussle to try and keep their standout performers, their most effective player will remain put in the south coast.
Pascal Gross garnered the most points for the Seagulls last season, finishing 15th overall in the league, and his quiet consistency saw many shrewd FPL players opt for his services.
Brighton host Premier League newcomers Luton on match day one, before travelling to the Midlands to face Wolves in their second fixture; a match-up where Gross scored a late winner last season.
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