FPL GOAT’s Ones To Watch Ahead Of GW1 – Episode 2

By FPL GOAT

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So FPL 2025–26 season doesn’t have an official launch date yet, but based on historical trends and some forecasting on X, here’s what I predict:

1. FPL typically goes live 30-35 days before the start of GW1.

2. GW1 for the new season kicks off on August 15th.

3. That indicates FPL could likely launch mid July somewhere between July 12-16 or closer to July 20 as it’s already a bit delayed as per the typical trends.

NOTE: The prices I have used for the 3 players are just my predictions for the upcoming season and are not confirmed.

 

🛡️ DEFENDER 🛡️

🔵 Marc Cucurella (£6m):

Chelsea had the 3rd best defence in the league last season in terms of goals conceded and clean sheets. Only Arsenal and Liverpool had better defences. Despite missing 5 games in the league he was the 7th best in FPL points among Defenders.

• 5 goals (1st among Defenders).
• 12 shots on target (3rd best among Def).
• Top 10 among Defenders for both Big Chances Created and xG accumulated.

 

• The crazy part about his shots on target is he took 24 shots in the league last season and 12 shots were on target which shows how accurate he is with his shooting from range.
• Chelsea have a decent run of fixtures nowhere near standout but we know how resilient they have been against any opposition while defending
• This Club World Cup they have only conceded 5 goals in 7 games and kept a clean sheet against the mighty PSG in the Final, putting in an amazing performance to defeat the reigning European Champions.
• Looking at his heatmap from last season he operates so much into midfield and final third and takes a lot of shots just outside the opposition penalty box.

Note: If he had slightly kinder fixtures he would be one of the first names in most FPL teams.

 

👟 FORWARD 👟

Haaland (£13.5m):

I am sure not many will look at him for the start of the season, at least given how his form dipped at the end of last season. But he and Man City have an incredible run of fixtures in the first 5-6 GWs. City have also added Reijnders, Cherki and Ait-Nouri to bolster their creative and attacking options even further.

• One big boost for Haaland his Rayan Ait-Nouri and the amount of crosses he puts inside the box, haaland will have a lot more aerial chances with Ait nouri at LB rather than Gvardiol.
• Pep system usually don’t rely on spraying crosses inside the box but I am sure Pep will play into Ait-Nouri’s strengths which amplify Haaland’s also.
• Ait nouri is top 10 for total crosses attempted amongst defenders with 98 crosses compared to Gvardiol’s 22.

Haaland is not going to be as popular at the start but it also depends on his pricing:

• £14m and he will be a big differential.
• £13.5m and he will be popular.
• £13m and he will be in teams of most managers.

No matter how bad his form has been because of injuries, but we cannot forget he had 16 goals in the first 19 games in the league last season (only 6 goals in the next 19).

Note: I am confident I will have him in my initial drafts when the game launches.

 

⚽️ MIDFIELDER ⚽️

🔵 Cole Palmer (£10m):

No the mention of him isn’t only because of his performance in the CWC Final. He is clearly a standout pick in midfield after Salah just by looking at the fixtures and how solid Chelsea have looked during the final phase of the league last season and CWC.

Some of his stats and his rank among his peers

• Goals : 15 (3rd among Midfielders).
• Assists : 8 (8th among Midfielders).
• Goal Involvements: 23 (3rd among Mids behind only Salah & Saka).
• Shots on Target: 50 (2nd among Mids behind Salah).
• Total Shots : 86 (3rd among Mids).
• Big Chances Created: 20 (3rd among Mids).

He has been among the top 3, the crazy part is between GW25-38 he only got 1 goal and an assist and went through abysmal form and still managed such incredible numbers. Majority of the managers were put off by him mainly because of his form and performance since the start of 2025 through the end of the season.

I’m sure he has gained 10-15% ownership after his heroics in the CWC. Palmer’s best position is at right wing and if he continues to operate in that position it could be another record breaking season for him