FPL preset squads: Haaland, Alexander-Arnold and strong all-round

The Scout is helping Fantasy Premier League managers to build their 15-man squads ahead of Gameweek 1 with some ready-made solutions. 

Haaland, Alexander-Arnold and strong all-round

Erling Haaland’s huge cost of £14.0m and ownership of 86 per cent are both major factors in how managers are building their squads for the start of 2023/24 Fantasy.

By simply captaining the Manchester City forward each Gameweek, many are foregoing the need for fellow premium pick Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and spreading the funds more evenly across the positions instead.

This has lifted the appeal of a 3-5-2 formation for opening squads, with Arsenal and Manchester United players proving popular early alternatives to Salah, who visits Chelsea and Newcastle United in the first three Gameweeks. 

Goalkeeper

At a cost of £5.0m, Man Utd’s new goalkeeper Andre Onana (£5.0m) offers a cheaper route into their defence than Luke Shaw (£5.5m).

The Red Devils welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace to Old Trafford in the first seven Gameweeks.

At home last season, their total of 11 clean sheets was more than any other side. 

Defenders

A change in tactics at their respective clubs means Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.0m) and John Stones (£5.5m) are essentially playing as midfielders when their side is in possession.

Alexander-Arnold scored once and supplied seven assists across Liverpool’s final 10 matches in his new role last season.

Stones, meanwhile, has already profited from his advanced position by scoring Man City’s opening goal in pre-season.

Added to their potential for clean sheets, both players can bring in big hauls.

Brighton's Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m) is by far the most-popular defender in Fantasy, found in over 50 per cent of squads.

Four home matches in the opening six Gameweeks lifts the Ecuadorian’s prospects at both ends of the pitch.

Midfield

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) and Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes (£8.5m) both have the form and fixtures to reward early investors.

Saka is the top-owned midfielder in Fantasy, found in over 53 per cent of squads on the back of two goals and two assists over his four pre-season outings.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of the Gunners’ first five matches score only two.

Arsenal’s first five matches

Fernandes’ spot-kick duties add to his appeal for home encounters with Wolves and Forest in the first three Gameweeks. Alternatively, as this squad costs a total of £99.5m, managers have the funds to pick his team-mate Marcus Rashford (£9.0m). 

Phil Foden (£7.5m) offers a strong double-up route into the Man City attack alongside Haaland.

In the first six Gameweeks, the champions face four of the six sides who have been promoted to the Premier League across the last two seasons. 

The mid-price midfield bracket looks full of options this season, with Kaoru Mitoma and Bryan Mbeumo (both £6.5m) each set to take advantage of kind early schedules.

Mitoma is the third most-popular player in his position, selected by 37.2 per cent ahead of Brighton’s four home matches in the first six.

The Japanese winger averaged 6.0 points per start at Amex Stadium in his debut Fantasy campaign. 

Mbeumo is expected to be on penalty duties for Brentford in the opening months due to Ivan Toney’s (£8.0m) suspension.

Five of the Bees’ opening seven matches score just two in the FDR.

Forwards

Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) is selected alongside Haaland in the front two.

The Brazilian provides a strong double-up pick with Saka for Arsenal’s favourable opening fixtures. 

He is the second most-owned forward in Fantasy, found in over 31 per cent of squads.

Bench

West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola (£4.0m) could be the cheapest starting ‘keeper in Fantasy this season if he can take over the No 1 jersey from Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m)

In defence, manages should take advantage of the £4.0m-priced starters such as Burnley’s Jordan Beyer and Sheffield United wing-back George Baldock. 

Up front, West Ham’s Divin Mubama (£4.5m) has three goals over pre-season and could be a handy budget pick for the bench.

Also in this series

Part 2: The no Haaland draft
Part 3: Haaland, Salah AND Alexander-Arnold
Part 4: Planning ahead with strong bench