Unveiling the Ultimate Fantasy Premier League 2023/24 Guide: Insider Tips for Gameweek 1

We are back with our weekly Fantasy Premier League column for the new season, providing you with crucial tips from world-class players.

While you may not be able to secure victory in the FPL race during Gameweek One, making incorrect picks can certainly hinder your chances of success.

As the unlimited transfer deadline on Friday at 6.30pm draws near, managers from all around are scrambling to make last-minute adjustments to their teams due to unexpected injuries, improvements in pre-season performance, and new player acquisitions.

To provide some assistance, FPL experts Holly Shand and Sam from FPL Family have offered their top tips for you...

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

Erling Haaland is a must-have in fantasy football teams, thanks to his high ownership and the large number of managers who will choose him as their captain in the initial gameweeks. Similarly, Bukayo Saka is a strong contender due to his favorable opening fixtures and his significant contribution in set-pieces, including being entrusted with penalty kicks.

Marcus Rashford, having two highly appealing home fixtures within his initial three, would conclude the lineup. It is worth noting that, among home games last season, only Haaland managed to amass a greater number of FPL points.

Expressing her astonishment, Sam from FPL Family asserts that Erling Haaland deserves a spot in every team. Personally, I find it surprising that he is included in just 86 percent of teams.

Playing for Manchester City, he was the top scorer in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) last season. Additionally, he scored more goals in a single Premier League season than any other player. Given that Manchester City is likely to be challenging for first place, he is an indispensable asset.

It is crucial to have Saka in your team, along with either Rashford or Bruno Fernandes. Not only do they have favorable upcoming matches, but they have also performed well during the pre-season. Furthermore, I believe it is important to plan ahead for Gameweek 2 and beyond, making it wise to include Ben Chilwell in the starting lineup for the season.

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 hard to determine if he will remain a player for Spurs on Deadline Day. Nevertheless, witnessing his exceptional performance of scoring four goals against Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday at the Spurs stadium, it was evident that he was in top form. Spurs displayed superiority in their offensive play, with continuous support coming from Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Heung-Min Son, and Emerson Royal.

Owning Kane entails excluding Mohamed Salah, which was a challenging choice. Holly Shand faced a particularly tough decision when selecting between the £6.5m midfielders, as Bryan Mbeumo, Kaoru Mitoma, Eberechi Eze, and Moussa Diaby all possess 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 premium player, but this has resulted in some sacrifices on the bench and in my second forward position. Nonetheless, Salah has been in exceptional form during the pre-season matches.

I really hope this decision turns out to be fruitful! He has an impressive history of delivering outstanding fantasy performances in Gameweek 1, plus he faces Bournemouth at home in Gameweek 2 - an opportunity that's hard to resist!

Sam from FPL Family notes that while over 26 percent of FPL managers have chosen Gabriel, he is opting for the minority by selecting William Saliba. Saliba's injury towards the end of the 22/23 season led to him missing 11 matches, causing a potential oversight from many managers regarding his impressive performance in FPL.

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

While the majority leans towards Gabriel, it is indeed a risky move to opt for Saliba. However, if Saliba proves to be as involved as I anticipate, the potential rewards will be substantial.

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

Sam from FPL Family: At the beginning of the season, there is no such thing as having a team that is too similar to others. In many ways, it is a wise decision to include the widely popular players in your squad.

Starting a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season with a poor performance may not immediately lead to victory, but it can certainly set a difficult challenge for oneself. By owning highly-owned players, the risk of missing out on significant points gains while others benefit is minimized.

To tackle this issue, my approach is to have a couple of additional picks that are less popular but can easily be swapped around. However, at the beginning of the season, I prefer to be more cautious and stick to safer choices. As the season progresses, there will be plenty of opportunities to make unique and daring picks.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

Holly Shand: The reason why the template is used is because it consists of top-notch players who have shown exceptional performance during pre-season, playing for strong teams with favorable fixtures. It is not advisable to try to be clever and go against the obvious choices just for the sake of being different. While it's good to take a risk or two, it is equally important to stick with the majority in the early stages of the season.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

Holly Shand: I am eagerly anticipating a normal season this time, unlike the past four seasons that were disrupted by constantly changing circumstances and global events. This year, we return to a more straightforward game that will undoubtedly be much more enjoyable, or at least less exasperating!

Sam from FPL Family: Apart from its return to Sky, I'm genuinely excited about the title race this season. I believe it has the potential to be the most closely contested one in recent years, with four or five teams in the running.

Should that scenario unfold, FPL will be sensational as individuals will diversify their team selections across those competing teams, rather than heavily favoring Man City and Arsenal as witnessed in the previous season.

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