With the fixtures for the new season revealed The Scout explains how Fantasy Premier League managers can devise early plans for 2018/19.
Rotating players
An effective pairing can be made with AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
By selecting and rotating two of their players over the 38 Gameweeks, an FPL manager is guaranteed a home fixture from one.
The two teams also combine to offer a favourable opening run of opponents.
In the opening Gameweeks, they face only two of last season’s top six teams. Palace play at home to Liverpool and Arsenal in Gameweek 2 and 10 respectively.
On both occasions, AFC Bournemouth’s away fixture could be preferred.
They travel to West Ham United in Gameweek 2 and visit Fulham in Gameweek 10.
When to rotate in opening GWs
| GW | Home team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth | Cardiff |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | Liverpool |
| 3 | AFC Bournemouth | Everton |
| 4 | Crystal Palace | Southampton |
| 5 | AFC Bournemouth | Leicester |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | Newcastle |
| 7 | AFC Bournemouth | Crystal Palace |
| 8 | Crystal Palace | Wolves |
| 9 | AFC Bournemouth | Southampton |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | Arsenal |
Resolute Palace
Palace’s defence improved markedly following the appointment of Roy Hodgson last season.
They returned nine clean sheets from Gameweek 5; only the top seven teams produced more.
Their new goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, also has a penalty-saving record that can make him a favourite in FPL.
As mentioned in the first piece in this series, he can be partnered with AFC Bournemouth’s Asmir Begovic.
Goalscoring defenders
But the goal threat of defensive duo Charlie Daniels (pictured top left) and James Tomkins (top right) could prove more attractive.
Cherries left-back Daniels has five goals and six assists in the last two seasons.
Tomkins, a centre-back for the Eagles, has six goals over the same period.
Both are likely to be priced at £5.0m or lower.
Combined with their early potential for clean sheets, this goalscoring duo could prove a powerful pairing for initial squads in Fantasy.
Also in this series
Part 1: FPL planning: Fixtures point to early player pairings
Part 2: FPL planning: Pair Everton and Fulham for clean sheets
Part 3: FPL planning: How to make most of home advantage
Part 5: FPL planning: Morrison and Cedric can inspire fast start
Part 6: FPL planning: Home in on Pereira and Douglas