Master your Fantasy Premier League 2023/24: Unmissable Tips and Proven Advice for Gameweek 1

We are back with our weekly Fantasy Premier League column for the upcoming season, providing you with crucial advice from the top players worldwide. While you may not be able to secure victory in Gameweek One, making incorrect selections can certainly set you back.

Ahead of the approaching Friday's 6.30pm unlimited transfer deadline, managers across the country are hastily modifying their teams due to unexpected injuries, improvements in pre-season performance, and new player acquisitions. To assist in this endeavor, FPL experts Holly Shand and Sam from FPL Family are ready to share their invaluable advice.

Who are the non-negotiable, must-own assets players have to have in their team?

Erling Haaland is a must-have player, considering his high ownership and the significant number of managers who will choose him as their captain in the initial gameweeks. Bukayo Saka is also a strong contender, thanks to favorable fixtures at the beginning and his crucial role in set-pieces, including penalties.

Marcus Rashford's inclusion in the list is justified due to his involvement in two highly favorable home games within his first three. It is worth noting that, in terms of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points obtained at home, only Haaland outperformed Rashford last season.

Sam, a member of FPL Family, expresses their astonishment at the fact that Erling Haaland is only present in 86 percent of teams, emphasizing that he should be a staple in everyone's lineup.

He was the top scorer in the FPL last season, surpassing anyone else in terms of goals scored in a Premier League season. It is crucial to have him in your team as he plays for a competitive Man City side who are expected to contend for the first place.

In addition, it is evident that Saka and either Rashford or Bruno Fernandes are also indispensable. They not only have favorable upcoming matches, but they have also had impressive pre-season performances. Moreover, I believe it is crucial to plan for Gameweek 2 onwards, which is why I suggest starting the season with Ben Chilwell.

What has been your hardest decision?

Sam from FPL Family: Whether to invest in Harry Kane or not has been a tough decision.

The uncertainty surrounding his future makes it challenging to determine whether he will remain a player for Spurs on Deadline Day. Nevertheless, I witnessed his exceptional performance at the Spurs stadium on Sunday when he scored four goals against Shakhtar Donetsk. He displayed remarkable form, and Spurs showcased their attacking prowess with consistent support from Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Heung-Min Son, and Emerson Royal.

Owning Kane necessitates excluding Mohamed Salah, which proved to be an exceedingly challenging choice.

Holly Shand: Choosing between the £6.5m midfielders has been exceptionally difficult, as Bryan Mbeumo, Kaoru Mitoma, Eberechi Eze, and Moussa Diaby all exhibit immense potential.

In the end I've gone with Mbeumo narrowly over Eze due to fixtures.

What is your biggest risk vs reward pick, if any?

I've successfully fit Salah into my team as a second high-value player, but it required making sacrifices with my bench and second forward position. Nonetheless, he has been in outstanding form during the pre-season.

I'm counting on this decision to bring me significant benefits! Salah has an impressive history of delivering excellent fantasy performance in Gameweek 1, and furthermore, he will be playing against Bournemouth at home in Gameweek 2 - an opportunity that is impossible to resist!

Sam from FPL Family reports that 26% of FPL managers have chosen Gabriel, while I am going against the majority and opting for William Saliba instead. Saliba's injury towards the end of the 22/23 season caused him to miss 11 games, leading many managers to overlook his impressive performance in FPL.

What would you say to those who are worried their team is too 'template'?

Sam from FPL Family: While it may seem risky to choose Saliba over Gabriel when the majority are in favor of the latter, I believe that if Saliba's involvement is as significant as I anticipate, the potential rewards will be substantial. In the early stages of the season, it is prudent to prioritize the commonly preferred assets, often referred to as the "template."

Starting poorly in GW1 can set you up for a difficult journey in FPL. By owning the most popular players, you minimize the risk of missing out on significant points while others reap the rewards.

To enhance my chances, I opt for two or three unique picks that can be easily rotated, while adopting a more cautious approach initially. However, there will be ample opportunities to take bolder, unconventional decisions as the season progresses.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

Holly Shand: The reason the template exists is because it has been proven successful. These players have shown their skills during pre-season and are part of strong teams with favorable fixtures. It's not wise to try and be clever by going against the obvious choices just for the sake of being different. While it's nice to take a risk or two, sticking with the majority in the early stages of the season is equally important.

Sam from FPL Family is excited about the upcoming season's title race. He believes that this year's race could be the closest in years, with four or five teams having a chance to win. If this scenario unfolds, it will make FPL more exciting as people will diversify their picks across these teams, instead of everyone focusing on Man City and Arsenal like they did last year.

What is your team for week 1?

Holly Shand: Johnstone; Estupinan, Gabriel, Chilwell: Saka, Rashford (VC), Salah, Mbeumo, Maddison; Haaland (C), Joao Pedro

Bench: Turner, Baldock, Kabore, Mubama

Sam from FPL Family: Onana; Chilwell, Estupinan, Saliba; Saka, Fernandes, Maddison, Diaby; Haaland, Kane, Joao Pedro

Bench: Areola, Beyer, Baptiste, Kabore