The Scout assesses the best players for managers to consider for opening Fantasy Premier League squads, according to price, position and early schedule.
Mohamed Salah (LIV) £13.0m
Liverpool’s Egyptian is the most popular midfielder in Fantasy and third overall, found in 57.8 per cent of squads.
Salah was the top-scoring player in 2021/22 on 265 points, the fifth successive season he has produced 230+ points.
He also boasted the greatest goal threat of any player last term. His 139 shots, 113 efforts in the box, 37 big chances and 55 shots on target were all league-leading totals.
Liverpool’s favourable early schedule means Salah is bound to be among the most-captained players in the opening Gameweeks.
They face just one of last season’s top six teams in their first seven matches.
Liverpool's first seven Gameweeks
| GW | Opp | FDR | GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FUL (A) | 2 | 5 | NEW (H) | 3 |
| 2 | CRY (H) | 2 | 6 | EVE (A) | 2 |
| 3 | MUN (A) | 4 | 7 | WOL (H) | 2 |
| 4 | BOU (H) | 2 | - |
Luis Diaz (LIV) £8.0m
The Colombian has also emerged as a popular pick as a result of the Reds’ kind run of opponents.
Diaz is the second most-owned midfielder in Fantasy, found in over 30 per cent of squads.
The departure of Sadio Mane, combined with doubts over the fitness of Diogo Jota (£9.0m), lifts Diaz’s prospects of securing the role on Liverpool’s left flank and hands him the chance to deliver big hauls from the very start of the season.
Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) £12.0m
Manchester City’s playmaker has wasted no time in reminding managers of his potential.
De Bruyne scored both his side’s goals in their first friendly of the summer, a 2-1 win over Club America.
Crucially, the champions are the only side to avoid all of last season’s top six sides in their first six matches.
De Bruyne goal v Club America
Our Move of the Match 🚀💫#ManCity | @Sure pic.twitter.com/KWbXJJ0tEA
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 21, 2022
Owned by a mere 14.9 per cent compared with the 61 per cent of Man City’s new forward Erling Haaland (£11.5m), De Bruyne can be a huge differential for the armband early on.
Man City's first six Gameweeks
| GW | Opp | FDR | GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHU (A) | 3 | 4 | CRY (H) | 2 |
| 2 | BOU (H) | 2 | 5 | NFO (H) | 2 |
| 3 | NEW (A) | 3 | 6 | AVL (A) | 2 |
Son Heung-min (TOT) £12.0m
The Tottenham Hotspur attacker was the most reliable player for bumper hauls in Fantasy last season.
Son produced 11 double-figure hauls on his way to recording his career-high score of 258 points.
The South Korean offers a very appealing captaincy option for Spurs’ kind short-term schedule.
They entertain Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first four Gameweeks, as well as visiting promoted Nottingham Forest.
Dejan Kulusevski (TOT) £8.0m
The Swede is among the standout options in the sub-£10.0m bracket thanks to his all-round style of play.
Having made his debut in Gameweek 24 last season, Kulusevski produced five goals and nine assists in 18 appearances for Spurs.
Indeed, his total of 99 points during that time placed fifth among all players in Fantasy.
Bukayo Saka (ARS) £8.0m
Arsenal’s top performer in Fantasy last term, Saka recorded his career-high score of 179 points.
The winger’s 11 goals and nine assists were also team-leading totals, highlighting his growing influence on the Gunners’ attack.
Despite his impressive campaign, he is found in only 16.7 per cent of squads ahead of 2022/23, compared with the 60 per cent of Arsenal’s new forward Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m).
That suggests Saka can thrive as a differential over his side’s kind early schedule.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), six of Arsenal’s first eight matches score just two.
Also in this series
Part 1: The best goalkeepers
Part 2: The best budget defenders
Part 3: The best premium defenders
Part 4: The best budget midfielders
Part 6: The best forwards