You can enter a squad for Fantasy Challenge ANY TIME this weekend, up until 20:00 BST on Monday, picking any players whose club have not yet started their fixture.
In Gameweek 1, managers have an UNLIMITED budget to pick a 5-a-side team. Here, FPL expert Harry Daniels reveals his approach and his line-up.
There are four different formations to chose from with this 5-a-side challenge, with a goalkeeper and then one of the following:
- 1-1-2
- 1-2-1
- 2-1-1
- 2-2-0
I have decided on the 1-1-2 formation, with one defender, one midfielder and two forwards.
Goalkeeper
In goal, I have gone with Arsenal's David Raya (£5.5m). Arsenal were the best defence in the league last season, with 18 clean sheets, five more than any other team in the league. They have had a strong pre-season, including winning 2-0 in their final friendly where they dominated the game, restricting Lyon to very few chances.
Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!
Arsenal host Wolves, which feels one of the highest chances of a clean sheet out of any of this weekend's 10 matches.
There are a number of other goalkeepers who have the potential for a clean sheet in Gameweek 1, and Nick Pope (£5.0m) is another good option, but there is a Newcastle defender who I think has a higher points ceiling than the goalkeeper.
Defence
I was torn between adding another Arsenal option in either Gabriel (£6.0m) or William Saliba (£6.0m) due to the strong defence mentioned, and their goal threat from Arsenal's deadly set-pieces.
However, I have gone for Newcastle's Lewis Hall (£4.5m). This is because, as mentioned, the other fixture I like for a clean sheet in Gameweek 1 is Newcastle at home to promoted Southampton.
Hall has now staked a claim to that left-back spot, having finished last season strongly. He has played there in pre-season and even scored a goal during the Magpies' friendlies. There's a good chance of a clean sheet and attacking returns in this game for him.
Midfielder
In midfield I have opted for Mohamed Salah (£12.5m). If we had limited budget, someone like Diogo Jota (£7.5m) or Luis Diaz (£7.5m) of Liverpool would be very popular. However, given the unlimited budget I have gone for Salah as the Reds' main man and penalty-taker.
Liverpool’s first XI scored 10 goals across four pre-season matches and they start the Premier League season against promoted Ipswich Town, which is a nice fixture.
I did also consider adding Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) into this position, with his great fixture at home to Wolves. But I believe Liverpool will look to score more openly, whilst Arsenal may look to control matches and win 1-0 or 2-0.
Salah is also going to get the captain's armband in my Fantasy Challenge team. A midfielder, of course, gets the extra point for a goal and a clean sheet, and Salah provides a great goal threat. Last season Salah provided an attacking return ever 84 minutes in the Premier League and surely he can deliver against Ipswich.
Forwards
Although I wanted Saka and haven't picked him, it doesn't mean I'm going without any Arsenal attackers.
My first forward is Kai Havertz (£8.0m). Last season Havertz got 13 goals and 10 assists. Most of these came in the latter part of the season when he moved up front. This is where I expect him to at least start matches for Arsenal this season.
From Gameweek 25 onwards, Havertz was actually fourth in the whole league for FPL points per 90 minutes, sitting above all the other Arsenal players.
The final forward is my second Newcastle player in Alexander Isak (£8.5m). Isak has had a very strong pre-season, with two goals and an assist, and has a great fixture for goalscoring potential at home to Southampton.
Looking at all forwards last season, only Erling Haaland (£15.0m) had a better return of goals per 90 minutes when he was on the pitch. Isak returned 0.83 goals per 90 minutes last season and is set to have another strong campaign.
That means there is no space in my line-up for a few other players, noticeably anyone from Chelsea or Manchester City, given they play each other. I do expect Man City to win and Haaland may well score, but I'm uncertain as to how explosive this fixture will be.
The other notable omission is anyone from Tottenham Hotspur, such as Dominic Solanke (£7.5m) or Son Heung-min (£10.0m), who are away to Leicester. I'm just not 100 per cent certain about how long Solanke will take to fully gel with his team-mates at the start of the season, so I've opted for more stable and tested attacking players.
