Premier League Predicted Lineups: Gameweek 1

This article will be updated in live time as and when injury and lineup news is announced

Green Light: Confident the player will start.

Amber Light: A toss up on whether the player will start.

Red Light: Confident the player will not start.

 

Liverpool vs Bournemouth (Friday 8pm):

Liverpool Predicted Lineup GW1

Alisson

Frimpong

Konate

Van Dijk

Kerkez

Szoboszlai

Mac Allister

Wirtz

Salah

Ekitike

Gakpo

• After winning the Premier League in 24/25, Liverpool are showing they are serious about retaining their title with a busy summer of some very high profile transfers in to the club. Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong, Kerkez and Mamardashvili have been brought in for a total of nearly £300 million and the 4 outfield players are all upgrades on the players that played in their spots last season bar maybe Frimpong.
• Alisson keeps his place as Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper. Mamardashvili is the back-up and will play cup games.
• Bradley suffered an injury during pre-season and has not returned to full training. He likely won’t be in the squad GW1.
• Konate and Van Dijk remain the starting centre-back duo despite the signing of Giovani Leoni and Guehi looking like he may join the Reds also.
• Kerkez starts over Robertson. He is Liverpool’s starting left-back now.
• Gravenberch is suspended due to the red card he picked up in the final game of last season against Crystal Palace. He will return to the match-day squad in GW2.
• Szoboszlai and Jones started the Community Shield game against Palace, where Slot spoke about Mac Allister not being ready to start yet. Mac Allister then featured off the bench for 30 minutes and looked like his usual self. Slot then spoke on Wednesday saying Mac Allister “had a different pre-season than we wanted, however he is back fit now”.
• I think Slot will want to go with his strongest XI and that includes Mac Allister over Jones in the LCM role alongside Szoboszlai (with Gravenberch suspended). Then you likely see Jones come on for Mac Allister around the 60 minute mark.
• New £100 million signing Florian Wirtz starts in the number 10 role with freedom to roam across the pitch.
• Ekitike is currently Liverpool’s only striker and so he starts alongside Salah and Gakpo.

Players to watch:

Gravenberch:

Ekitike:

Mac Allister:

Jones:

Bournemouth Predicted Lineup GW1

Petrovic

Smith

Hill

Senesi

Truffert

Adams

Scott

Tavernier

Scott

Semenyo

Evanilson

• Bournemouth have lost 4 of last season’s starting back 5 in Arrizabalaga, Huijsen, Zabarnyi and Kerkez. The brutal reality of being a mid to bottom half Premier League club that scouts well. Funnily enough now Liverpool Sporting Director Richard Hughes brought all those players in to Bournemouth and then eventually brought Kerkez with him to Liverpool.
• Kluivert is still out injured with an injury he picked up in pre-season. Iraola spoke on Kluivert stating his recovery from the injury “is going slower than we thought” and is not in team training yet. Iraola did add that it won’t be an extended period out for Kluivert so hopefully we see him back in training ahead of GW2 or GW3.
• Araujo could start at right-back but Iraola leaned Smith over Araujo toward the end of last season.
• Senesi and Hill likely start at centre-back as new signing Diakite has just joined the club this week and GW1 will be too early for him to start having barely trained with his new team.
• Lewis Cook is suspended and also currently injured.
• Brooks starts at right-wing, offering more defensive solidity than any of Bournemouth’s other fit options.
• Tavernier starts in the 10 role while Kluivert is still out injured.

Players to watch:

Kluivert:

Diakite:

Cook:

Smith:

Brooks:

Aston Villa vs Newcastle (Saturday 12:30pm):

Aston Villa Predicted Lineup GW1

Bizot

Cash

Konsa

Torres

Maatsen

Onana

Tielemans

Rogers

Malen

McGinn

Watkins

• Villa have not had too much overhaul over the summer. Asensio and Rashford left the club after their loan spells although the former may return on loan or on a permanent deal.
• Martinez is suspended after a red card in the final game of last season.
• Maatsen vs Digne will be one to watch. This may be the season Maatsen makes the left-back spot his own if he continues to improve. He played well in his minutes last season especially going forward. Digne however is a trusted and respected veteran and is one of Emery’s guys so this is definitely one for managers to watch.
• Onana vs Kamara is another battle for a starting spot. One of them will feature alongside Tielemans in the majority of games, as he was one of the best midfielders in the league last season.
• Malen was excellent in limited minutes for Villa last season. He was clinical with his chances in those limited minutes and that form continued in pre-season where he scored multiple goals. He looks to be Villa’s starting right-winger until maybe Asensio returns or new signing Guessand maybe makes a claim for a starting place but right now it’s Malen’s job.
• Rogers left Villa’s pre-season game against Roma with a limp but reports are that this injury was not serious and the hope is he is okay for Villa’s opener.
• Watkins of course starts, despite rumours around his future at Villa.

Players to watch:

Maatsen:

Onana:

Digne:

Kamara:

Newcastle Predicted Lineup GW1

Pope

Livramento

Schar

Burn

Hall

Guimaraes

Tonali

Joelinton

Elanga

Barnes

Gordon

• It has been a turbulent summer for the Magpies coming off maybe their best season in over 20 years and winning their first trophy in 70 years. Star man Alexander Isak has demanded a move to Liverpool and has not trained with the team all pre-season, which has cast a dark cloud over Newcastle’s pre-season which did not go well in terms of performances and results.
• Some positives over the last week with centre-back Malick Thiaw and Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey joining Newcastle for £40 million.
• Isak will not be in Newcastle’s squad for the new few weeks at minimum.
• Speaking on injuries Friday, Howe said “Everyone is available apart from Joe (Willock), and he’s not too far away himself. We have a relatively good looking squad in terms of injury news.
• If Lewis-Hall is fit, which it seems like he is based on Howe’s quotes, he starts. Livramento starts at right-back.
• On new signing Thiaw, Howe stated “Malick  will be part of the squad, he has trained two days, never easy coming in at the end of pre-season, but he’s doing well.” Seems like GW1 is too soon but possibly GW2 he could get his first start.
• Gordon will start as the central striker with Elanga and Barnes on the wings.

Players to watch:

Isak:

Hall:

Botman:

Ramsey:

Thiaw:

Brighton vs Fulham (Saturday 3pm):

Brighton Predicted Lineup GW1

Verbruggen

Weiffer

Van Hecke

Dunk

De Cuyper

Ayari

Baleba

O'Riley

Minteh

Mitoma

Rutter

• Weiffer and De Cuyper seem to be Hurzeler’s preferred full-backs as of right now. They certainly were during pre-season with De Cuyper impressing. A potential starting defender with attacking output for £4.5m is very appealing.
• Carlos Baleba is involved in a mini-transfer saga with Man United lurking but Brighton are reliably reported as not willing sellers this summer and they will not budge on a £100 million plus valuation. No bid has yet been made.
• Hurzeler speaking on Baleba on Friday was defiantly confident that he would remain a Brighton player this season, stating he is “very very very confident (in Baleba staying), that’s just my belief.”
• Minteh and Mitoma will play on the wings.
• Welbeck has not featured in Brighton’s pre-season and Rutter started the most recent game as the striker and scored a goal.

Players to watch:

Baleba:

Gomez:

Rutter:

Welbeck:

Fulham Predicted Lineup GW1

Leno

Tete

Andersen

Cuenca

Bassey

Berge

Lukic

Smith-Rowe

Wilson

Iwobi

Jimenez

• Fulham have made almost no changes to their squad from last season. Maybe the consistency and chemistry pays off.
• Marco Silva, speaking on his top 2 left-backs Robinson and Sessegnon, revealed “We had a situation last season with Antonee Robinson and he is still recovering. Soon you are going to see him in contention for the games but this weekend is too early. Ryan Sessegnon came out in the last game against Eintracht Frankfurt and we will see how he is. We’ve got another session and that is when we will take a decision.” Does not seem like either player will start in GW1.
• Bassey will likely move out to left-back with Cuena filling in for him at centre-back alongside Andersen.
• Harry Wilson has impressed mightily in pre-season and has started at right-wing.
• The number 10 spot is up for grabs between Smith-Rowe and Pereira. Smith-Rowe contributed to a couple of pre-season goals and I think will get the first shot at making the role his own.
• Josh King has a lot of pre-season hype but don’t think he starts GW1 but a potential starting £4.5m Midfielder so pay attention to this.

Players to watch:

Robinson:

Sessegnon:

Smith-Rowe:

Wilson:

Jimenez:

Spurs vs Burnley (Saturday 3pm):

Spurs Predicted Lineup GW1

Vicario

Porro

Romero

Van de Ven

Spence

Bentancur

Palhinha

Sarr

Johnson

Kudus

Richarlison

• Spurs put in a great performance in their first competitive game under Thomas Frank, in the Super Cup Final against PSG. Despite surrendering the 2-0 lead and eventually losing there were a lot of positives to take from the game.
• Spence starts over Udogie at left-back who is out with an injury. Spence may retain that starting spot even when Udogie returns. He has been in great form for about a year now.
• Palhinha had to come off on 60 minutes against PSG and Frank spoke about him lacking true match fitness, however if Frank showed the trust and need for him to start against PSG with a trophy on the line, you have to think he starts this weekend alongside Bentancur.
• Kudus and Johnson on the wings although Tel could start over Johnson.
• Sarr in the 10. He played well against Arsenal in pre-season and against PSG.
• Solanke has barely featured in Spurs pre-season dealing with an injury. He won’t be fit enough to start GW1. Richarlison will start.

Players to watch:

Palhinha:

Johnson:

Richarlison:

Solanke:

Udogie:

Hladky
Walker
Sonne
Ekdal
Esteve
Hartman
Cullen
Laurent
Mejbri
Anthony
Foster

• Burnley will likely go with a 5 at the back against Spurs.
• New signings Broja, Ugochukwu and Dubravka likely have not had enough time in training to start GW1.
• Roberts and Flemming are out injured.

Players to watch:

Hladky:

Laurent:

Foster:

Dubravka:

Ugochukwu:

Sunderland vs West Ham (Saturday 3pm):

Sunderland Predicted Lineup GW1

Roefs

Hume

Ballard

Seelt

Reinildo

Diarra

Xhaka

Sadiki

Talibi

Mayenda

Adingra

• Sunderland have had a big summer in the transfer market and are even closing in a deal to sign the centre-back Nordi Mukeiele from PSG today. A lot of fresh faces and talent in the Sunderland squad so picking their starting lineup is a tricky task but we can go off some of their pre-season lineups.
• New signings  As for new signings Guiu, Masuaku and Alderete won’t start in GW1. Manager Regis Le Bris revealed “it might be a little bit tough to start because of their fitness levels and because they have not had much time with their teammates”.
• Enzo Le Fee has not been starting in pre-season.
• New signings Xhaka and Adingra start.

Players to watch:

Seelt:

Le Fee:

West Ham Predicted Lineup GW1

Areola

Wan-Bissaka

Todibo

Aguerd

Kilman

Diouf

Ward-Prowse

Potts

Paqueta

Bowen

Fullkrug

• New signing Diouf has started and impressed mightily in pre-season and has become an FPL favourite in GW1 drafts after an impressive assist in pre-season.
• Paqueta was cleared of all charges related to his gambling accusations and should start.
• Youngster Potts has been starting in pre-season in a midfield 3, and so one of Ward-Prowse or Soucek would have to make way. My gut leans Soucek is benched.
• Fullkrug and Bowen will be the linchpins of West Ham’s attack this season and have shown good link up in pre-season.
• Summerville is injured but Potter revealed Friday that he is close to returning to training.

Players to watch:

Areola:

Potts:

Paqueta:

Wolves vs Man City (Saturday 5:30pm):

Wolves Predicted Lineups GW1

Sa

Hoever

Doherty

Agbadou

Gomes

Moller Wolfe

Andre

Gomes

Arias

Munetsi

Strand-Larsen

• Wolves might rival Fulham for uneventful summers although they did sell their 2 best players for over £100 total.
• They did also bring in exciting winger from Fluminense Jhon Arias who was one of the stars of the Club World Cup, causing havock and clearly impressing. He will be vital to Wolves attack this season and is a potential set-piece and penalty taker.

Players to watch:

Arias:

Man City Predicted Lineup GW1

Ederson

Nunes

Akanji

Dias

Ait-Nouri

Reijnders

Silva

Gundogan

Marmoush

Doku

Haaland

• Ederson will not be a part of Man City’s GW1 squad. Trafford starts.
• Gvardiol did not take part in City’s last pre-season game and has now been ruled out for GW1.
• Rodri and Foden are in the squad, but Rodri will almost certainly not start as Guardiola wants to be cautious with him.
• Akanji would likely start alongside Dias in his place.
• New signing Ait-Nouri will start as will Reijnders who has impressed at the Club World Cup and in pre-season.
• Kovacic is out with an achilles injury.
• Doku, Marmoush and Haaland will form the front 3 with Foden injured and Savinho nearing a move to Spurs.

Players to watch:

Trafford:

Marmoush:

Gvardiol:

Foden:

Rodri:

Savinho:

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (Sunday 2pm):

Chelsea Predicted Lineup GW1

Sanchez

James

Chalobah

Tosin

Cucurella

Caicedo

Fernandes

Palmer

Neto

Gittens

Joao Pedro

• With Levi Colwill out for the season after tearing his ACL, Chalobah and Tosin are in line to start at centre-back.
• Maresca, speaking on who will replace Colwill in the starting XI, suggested “Now Levi is out, the only one who can do that job well is Tosin.” Seems pretty clear who is the man for the job in Maresca’s mind.
• Lavia has been out injured since the Club World Cup.
• Maresca revealed “(Wesley) Fofana could be available – we will see.” The bench is the likeliest spot for Fofana if he is fit.
• Neto and Gittens will likely start on the wings with Estevao still such a young prospect.
• New signing and apparent FPL superstar Joao Pedro of course starts up-front with Delap on the bench.

Players to watch:

Gittens:

Colwill:

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup GW1

Henderson

Munoz

Richards

Lacroix

Guehi

Mitchell

Wharton

Hughes

Sarr

Eze

Mateta

• Guehi and Eze are the two big question marks in this starting XI. With Guehi strongly linked to a move to Liverpool, a move which is desired by Chairman Steve Parish as he does not want Guehi to leave for free in a year when his contract ends, and Eze potentially nearing an exit to Spurs, these are ones to watch. If we get any news that these transfers are edging closer, they likely do not start this weekend.
• Kamada limped off against Liverpool in the Community Shield last Sunday and is set to miss 1 or 2 weeks. Hughes will start in his place alongside Wharton in midfield.

Players to watch:

Guehi:

Eze:

Kamada:

Hughes:

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (Sunday 2pm):

Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineup GW2

GK - Sels

RB - Aina

CB - Milenkovic

CB - Murillo

LB - Williams

CM - Sangare

CM - Anderson

AM - Gibbs-White

RW - Ndoye

LW - Hudson-Odoi

ST - Wood

• Not much is unexpected in this Forest starting XI. The back 5 is very settled and one of the best in the league.
• Anderson and Sangare as the 2 deeper midfielders is also as expected with Dominguez out injured for an extended period. Gibbs-White, who Forest somehow managed to keep under dubious circumstances this summer, starts in the 10 ahead of them.
• New signing Ndoye starts at right-wing replacing Elanga who moved to Newcastle.

Players to watch:

Ndoye:

Brentford Predicted Lineups GW1

Kelleher

Kayode

Collins

Van den Berg

Henry

Henderson

Yarmoliuk

Damsgaard

Lewis-Potter

Schade

Thiago

• Brentford have lost the core of the team that had kept them so competitive for years. Mbeumo left for Man United, Wissa is currently sitting out of training on the verge of a move to Newcastle, Norgaard left for Arsenal and of course manager Thomas Frank went to Spurs. It is going to be a tough season for Brentford.
• New signing from Liverpool Kelleher starts in goal. A good £4.5m option in FPL.
• Rico Henry vs Lewis -Potter for the left-back spot will be one to watch.
• With Lewis-Potters ability to play further forward, both could be in the starting XI GW1.
• Jordan Henderson joined the club this summer and likely will start alongside Yarmoliuk in midfield with Janelt injured.
• Schade missed some time in pre-season with a minor injury but should be good to go against Forest.
• Last summers big money signing Igor Thiago starts up-front.

Players to watch:

Kelleher:

Schade:

Henderson:

Man United vs Arsenal (Sunday 4:30pm):

Man United Predicted Lineup GW1

Bayindir

Amad

De Ligt

Maguire

Yoro

Dorgo

Ugarte

Fernandes

Mbeumo

Mount

Cunha

• With Onana returning from an injury and his future at the club not completely certain, Bayindir will likely start.
• Lisandro Martinez is still sidelined with an injury.
• This is United’s preferred starting back 5 with Amad and Dorgu the wing-backs.
• Mount had a good pre-season and I expect Amorim would rather feature someone of Mount’s profile than Casemiro’s at his age against Arsenal, with Bruno able to play deeper and start counter attacks spearheaded by summer signings Mbeumo and Cunha.
• Speaking on new striker Benjamin Sesko Friday, Amorim said “We didn’t have a lot of time but he is ready, physically he is ready, that is a big component in our league. He is ready to play, we will see if he is going to start.” Sounds like he is nearing match fitness but maybe not quite ready to start against Arsenal. Certainly sounds like he is ready to come off the bench and make an impact though.

Players to watch:

Onana:

Sesko:

Bayindir:

Mount:

Arsenal Predicted Lineup GW1

Raya

Timber

Saliba

Gabriel

Lewis-Skelly

Zubimendi

Rice

Odegaard

Saka

Martinelli

Gyokeres

• Arsenal essentially have their entire squad fit at this minute and this is likely Arteta’s best XI, with the potential flip flopping of left-backs and maybe Madueke takes that left-wing spot and makes it his own if Martinelli does not improve.
• Havertz will of course start games as the striker as Gyokeres adjusts to the Premier League but Gyokeres will start against United.
• New signing Zubimendi was excellent in pre-season and will be key for Arsenal this season.
• Calafiori vs Lewis-Skelly at left-back will be one to watch this season. I think this will be dependent on opponent, as they offer different skill-sets.

Players to watch:

Timber:

Martinelli:

White:

Madueke:

Leeds vs Everton (Monday 8pm):

Leeds Predicted Lineup GW1

Perri

Bogle

Rodon

Struijk

Gudmundsson

Tanaka

Ampadu

Stach

James

Gnonto

Piroe

• Bogle is a slight concern for GW1 but should be okay to start.
• New signing Calvert-Lewin will I’m sure at some point contend Piroe for the starting striker spot, but not in GW1 having just joined the team. Daniel Farke spoke on DCL on Friday stating “We will build his fitness step-by-step so that he is able to find confidence in his body again, but he has shown what he can do and he can be outstanding for us.”

Players to watch:

Bogle:

Everton Predicted Lineup GW1

Pickford

O'Brien

Tarkowski

Keane

Aznou

Garner

Gueye

Dewsberry-Hall

Alcaraz

Ndiaye

Beto

• Nathan Patterson is dealing with a hernia issue which may keep him sidelined. This is of concern because Mykolenko was subbed off in Everton’s pre-season game against Roma last weekend after 10 minutes with what looked like a fairly serious muscle injury. He almost certainly won’t feature in GW1 and an injury to keep an eye on.
• Aznou is the likeliest player to start at left-back given the injuries to Mykolenko and Patterson.
• Alcaraz was made a permanent signing this summer and it seems as if he is ahead of McNeil in the pecking order at the minute.
• New signing Dewsbury-Hall has everyone excited in pre-season with him claiming the starting number 10 spot and being on set-pieces. A potential £5.0m enabler with upside right there.
• Beto vs Barry will certainly be one to watch for FPL managers. Beto played far more minutes and started in pre-season while Barry acclimatises to England and so it seems likelier he starts in this early portion of the season, but Barry is certainly in line to become Everton’s starting striker.

Players to watch:

Aznou:

Alcaraz:

Mykolenko:

McNeil:

 

 

Check out some of our other GW1 content like FPL GOAT’s GW1 Fixture Ticker and exclusive team reveal, Big Man Bakar’s top GW1 differentials, Sam FPL’s GW1 guide and the FPL Bois GW1 best FPL captains.