FPL lessons: Trent among stars to impress under new managers

The Scout highlights key lessons from Gameweek 1 which can help managers in Fantasy Premier League, especially those who are starting in Gameweek 2 and are currently picking their squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's (£7.0m) display in his first match for Arne Slot looks hugely promising for his prospects in the campaign ahead.

The right-back's creativity was particularly influential in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Ipswich Town after he supplied three key passes, two of which were big chances.

Combined with his clean sheet, Alexander-Arnold gave his 30 per cent ownership eight points in Gameweek 1.

Best of Alexander-Arnold v Ipswich

Despite that healthy start to the new season, the Expected Goal Involvements (xGI) data - which measures a player’s potential for goals and assists - shows those managers can consider themselves unfortunate not to have picked up more points from Alexander-Arnold at Portman Road.

Indeed, Alexander-Arnold’s xGI of 1.06 was his fourth-highest score ever in a match in Fantasy.

It was his best score since Gameweek 2 of 2022/23 at home to Crystal Palace, when he had an xGI of 1.09. On the two other occasions he has surpassed that number, both were in the 2021/22 campaign, when Alexander-Arnold went on to deliver 208 points.

Alexander-Arnold's highest xGI matches

Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) and West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) similarly caught the eye under their new managers in Gameweek 1.

Mitoma scored and earned eight points against Everton in the Seagulls’ first outing under Fabian Hurzeler. 

In his first appearance since February following a spell on the sidelines through injury, Mitoma had four shots – all inside the box – of which two were deemed big chances in the 3-0 win at Goodison Park.

Mitoma's goal v Everton

The Japanese’s xGI of 1.01 was his fourth-highest score since his first season with Brighton in 2022/23.

He bettered that figure just once in 2023/24 with an xGI of 1.06 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Gameweek 2.

Mitoma's highest xGI matches

Soucek’s performance in West Ham’s first match under Julen Lopetegui is another example of why a change of manager at a club can potentially transform a player's attacking output in Fantasy.

The Czech Republic midfielder earned the assist for Lucas Paqueta’s (£6.0m) converted penalty to collect five points in his side’s 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa.

Soucek had five shots – all inside the box – of which two were big chances, as well as making two key passes.

That helped earn him an xGI of 1.22, his second-highest score ever in Fantasy.

Soucek's highest xGI matches