FPL Predicted Line-ups Gameweek 1 2026/27: All 20 Teams

Seven days. Twenty teams. 220 starting places. And plenty has changed.

The FPL Gameweek 1 deadline is Friday 21 August at 18:30 BST — and one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your opening squad is spending millions on a player who starts the season on the bench.

This guide contains my latest FPL predicted line-ups for all 20 Premier League teams, updated with the latest transfers, pre-season evidence, injuries, returning World Cup players and tactical clues.

These are predictions, not confirmed teams.

That distinction matters more than ever this season.

Nine Premier League clubs begin 2026/27 with new permanent managers, several huge transfers have happened since this guide was first published, and some of the most popular FPL players have only just returned to club training following the World Cup.

So instead of pretending every starting position is equally secure, I use three confidence levels:

HIGH — most of the XI looks settled.

MEDIUM — a few genuine selection calls remain.

LOW — major tactical, transfer or fitness uncertainty remains.

And remember: “predicted to start GW1” does not mean “nailed for the season.”

That difference could save you an early transfer.

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Test your final XI in Rate My FPL Team before submitting it.

Once you know who is expected to start, compare the latest Best FPL Captain GW1 picks before locking the armband.

Return to the FPL Gameweek 1 2026/27 guide to combine these line-ups with fixtures, ownership and the final checklist.

Once you have identified secure starters, compare the best low-owned GW1 differentials.

Quick answer: which FPL GW1 line-ups look most settled?

The official opening fixtures run from Arsenal v Coventry on Friday 21 August through to Fulham v Chelsea on Monday 24 August.

A huge number of clubs play their final meaningful pre-season fixtures on 15–16 August, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham, while Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the Community Shield.

This page will therefore need one more major update after that weekend.

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Compare the line-up confidence ratings with the FPL Template Team before finalising your squad.

Arsenal predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Coventry City (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Arsenal are probably the most important team to revisit after Sunday's Community Shield.

Bruno Guimarães has now arrived and made his first appearance against Como, but Saka, Rice and Zubimendi have all had interrupted preparations following the World Cup.

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are also expected to miss the start of the season through injury. A current projection for the Coventry opener therefore has White, Mosquera, Gabriel and Hincapié forming the back four, with Bruno Guimarães in midfield and Madueke/Tzolis supporting Gyökeres.

That could change quickly if Saka gets substantial minutes against City.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Raya, Gabriel, Ødegaard, Gyökeres

WATCH: Saka, Rice, Bruno Guimarães

TRAP RISK: Any cheaper attacker starting only because a World Cup returnee isn't ready.

For FPL managers, Saka's Community Shield minutes may be more important than the result itself.

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Return to the Gameweek 1 Final Checklist after the final friendlies and press conferences.

Aston Villa predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Brighton (A) Confidence: LOW

This prediction looks fairly normal.

The route to getting there isn't.

Villa started the UEFA Super Cup against PSG with Bizot, Lindelöf, Cash, Pau Torres, Maatsen, McGinn, Buendía, Kamara, João Gomes, George Hemmings and Brian Madjo.

Madjo then scored.

Meanwhile, Martínez, Konsa and Watkins have been among the players returning later following extended breaks.

That makes Saturday's final friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach hugely important.

Watkins remains the obvious long-term first-choice striker.

But right now?

I would not describe his GW1 start as automatic.

Madjo has earned the right to make this a conversation.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Cash, Kamara, João Gomes

WATCH: Watkins, Konsa, Martínez

BOLTER: Brian Madjo

Watkins could go from a genuine GW1 concern to a strong pick with one convincing final-friendly appearance.

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Use the Best FPL Fixtures for the First Six Gameweeks to balance minutes confidence against the schedule.

Bournemouth predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Manchester City (A) Confidence: MEDIUM

The core of Bournemouth's XI still looks reasonably recognisable.

Ryan Christie is suspended, which removes one immediate midfield variable, while Marco Rose is preparing for his first Premier League season in charge.

Their final friendly against Mainz gives us one last chance to inspect the attacking structure.

The bigger FPL issue is obvious:

Manchester City away.

You don't need to solve every Bournemouth selection battle for GW1 because you probably don't need to gamble heavily on them anyway.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Petrović, Adams, Evanilson

WATCH: Kluivert, Rayan

GW1 ISSUE: Fixture rather than minutes.

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The FPL Penalty and Set-Piece Takers guide adds another route to points when two starters are close.

Brentford predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Tottenham (H) Confidence: HIGH

Brentford remain one of the easier teams to project.

Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Schade, Dango Ouattara and Igor Thiago sit within a fairly stable structure, with most uncertainty concentrated in midfield rather than the most interesting FPL positions.

Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday is the final major test.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Kelleher, Collins, Igor Thiago

WATCH: Midfield starters

For managers who simply want dependable opening-week minutes, Brentford are much easier to assess than City, Chelsea or Newcastle.

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Compare the Best FPL Defenders when a predicted back-line role looks secure enough to target.

Brighton predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Aston Villa (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Brighton's defensive structure looks easier to project than the attack.

The departure of Jan Paul van Hecke and arrival of Luka Vušković have changed the centre-back picture, while Brighton's usual depth in attacking areas makes 60–70-minute appearances a concern even when we correctly predict the starter.

Bologna on Saturday should provide the strongest remaining clue.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Verbruggen, Dunk

UPSIDE: Minteh

WATCH: Almost every attacking-midfield position.

A Brighton attacker can be a good FPL pick without being a great expected-minutes pick. Don't confuse the two.

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Chelsea predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Fulham (A) Confidence: LOW

Chelsea might have the deepest collection of plausible line-ups in the league.

Xabi Alonso has arrived as manager. Morgan Rogers has arrived for a club-record fee. Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and other additions have expanded an already huge squad.

That creates an obvious FPL problem:

Buying a good Chelsea player is not the same as buying a secure Chelsea player.

I have put Rogers into this version of the XI because a £117m signing is clearly going to have a major role, but Saturday's Real Sociedad friendly is far more important than my guess today.

The shape also remains crucial.

A back three could completely change the value of Chelsea's defenders and wing-backs.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Palmer, Caicedo, João Pedro

WATCH: Rogers

AVOID GUESSING: Chelsea defenders until the system is clearer.

Chelsea are one of the teams I would revisit last, not first, when finalising an FPL squad.

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Coventry City predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Arsenal (A) Confidence: HIGH

The promoted Championship winners retain a recognisable core under Frank Lampard.

They also have the honour — or misfortune — of opening the entire Premier League season away to champions Arsenal.

Coventry's final Monaco friendly on 14 August is the last big evidence point before the opener.

FPL takeaway

Minutes are easier to predict than points.

Cheap Coventry players can still become useful bench enablers, but Arsenal away is not the fixture to force one into your starting XI.

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Crystal Palace predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Everton (A) Confidence: LOW

This is one of the sections that has changed most since the original article.

Maxence Lacroix has left.

Brennan Johnson has left.

Dwight McNeil has arrived from the very team Palace face in GW1.

McNeil therefore replaces Johnson in this latest projection, but I wouldn't treat that as locked.

The centre-back hierarchy is also not settled enough to justify buying a cheap Palace defender purely because he appears in one predicted XI.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Henderson, Muñoz, Mitchell

WATCH: McNeil, Sarr

HIGH RISK: Cheap Palace centre-backs.

Muñoz remains far easier to understand as an FPL asset than the players immediately behind him.

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Everton predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Crystal Palace (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Now we're getting interesting.

Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 in their latest friendly.

Thierno Barry scored.

Iliman Ndiaye scored a penalty.

And crucially for FPL managers, Barry was also on the pitch when Ndiaye took it.

That puts Ndiaye straight back into the £6.0m midfielder conversation.

Brennan Johnson has also arrived from Palace and gives David Moyes another attacking option immediately.

Saturday's Lille match should tell us whether Johnson is ready to go directly into the GW1 XI.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Pickford, Tarkowski, Ndiaye

RISING: Barry

BIG CLUE: Ndiaye appears to have moved back towards the front of the penalty queue.

I wouldn't write “Ndiaye is definitely on penalties.”

But this is now strong enough evidence to matter.

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Fulham predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Chelsea (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Joachim Andersen is suspended, which simplifies the immediate centre-back selection.

The attacking positions are less straightforward, especially under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa.

Fulham's Stuttgart friendly on Saturday should be treated as the strongest available guide to the GW1 attack.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Leno, Robinson, Bassey

WATCH: Bobb, Smith Rowe, Kevin, Muniz

If you want Fulham exposure, the defence currently offers significantly greater minutes clarity.

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Hull City predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Manchester United (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Hull are back in the Premier League under Sergej Jakirović and face Manchester United immediately.

Their final home friendly against Nice on Saturday gives us one more meaningful look at the likely structure.

FPL takeaway

Cheap Hull players could become useful bench options.

But there is no need to convince yourself that a £4.0m or £4.5m player is a bargain simply because he is cheap.

Starting every week is the bargain.

The final Nice XI matters.

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Ipswich Town predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Sunderland (H) Confidence: MEDIUM

Ipswich's attack has been heavily reshaped, which gives Gary O'Neil plenty of options but gives FPL managers fewer certainties.

Their final friendly against Union Berlin is therefore important for Maeda, Fatawu, Mehmeti and the centre-forward position.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Leif Davis, O'Shea

WATCH: Maeda, Fatawu

The attacking upside may ultimately be better than the current minutes confidence.

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Leeds United predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Nottingham Forest (A) Confidence: MEDIUM

Leeds drew 1-1 with Manchester United in Dublin before losing the friendly shootout.

Brenden Aaronson scored Leeds' goal, while United created problems down Leeds' right side in the first half. Daniel Farke then made wholesale changes, so the game provided clues without giving us a clean GW1 XI.

Augsburg at Elland Road is the final test.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Rodon, Ampadu, Calvert-Lewin

RISING: Aaronson

WATCH: Full-back configuration and wide roles.

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Liverpool predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Newcastle United (A) Confidence: MEDIUM

Liverpool are another team where the original prediction has aged quickly.

New manager Andoni Iraola has inherited a squad without Salah, Robertson and Konaté, while Ronald Araújo has now joined from Barcelona on loan amid Liverpool's defensive availability problems.

Jeremy Jacquet could still take this centre-back position if he proves his fitness.

The other major question is the final attacking slot.

Ngumoha is still my provisional pick today, but I would not buy him because of that sentence.

Liverpool face Como on Sunday.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wirtz, Isak

WATCH: Araújo/Jacquet

TRAP RISK: A cheap winger who starts GW1 but loses his place shortly afterwards.

This is exactly why predicted starter and nailed starter are different concepts.

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Manchester City predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Bournemouth (H) Confidence: LOW

If you only watch one match for FPL information this weekend, consider making it:

Arsenal v Manchester City.

City's Community Shield XI could move millions of virtual pounds around FPL squads.

Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola and City have added Elliot Anderson for £116m, but Anderson is among the players arriving later after the World Cup.

Haaland is also expected back for the Community Shield after his extended break.

Meanwhile, Semenyo has actually spent the summer playing — and producing. He finished City's Asian tour with four assists in three matches, including two assists against Atlético Madrid.

Rodri is back in training following surgery but Maresca says his return is being managed.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST ROLE: Haaland

BEST PRE-SEASON CASE: Semenyo

WATCH CLOSELY: Anderson, Foden, Doku, Haaland's minutes

ROTATION WARNING: Almost everyone else.

Haaland's role is secure.

His GW1 preparation is the question.

There is a difference.

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Manchester United predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Hull City (A) Confidence: MEDIUM

Michael Carrick's United now have serious competition in attacking areas.

Against Leeds, Bryan Mbeumo created Joshua Zirkzee's opening goal before Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans and Matheus Cunha were among the second-half introductions. Cunha was used through the middle after the break.

Mbeumo was one of United's brightest players and has repeatedly shown he can contribute whether used centrally or from a wider starting position.

Tielemans and Andrey Santos have added midfield options, while Rashford's return creates even more attacking competition.

AC Milan on Saturday is the final big clue.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Bruno Fernandes

STRONG: Mbeumo

WATCH: Cunha, Amad, Zirkzee, Rashford

DEFENSIVE VALUE: Maguire if Saturday confirms his place.

I would rather pay for Bruno's minutes certainty than guess which United attacker gets the perfect tactical role.

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Newcastle United predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Liverpool (H) Confidence: LOW

This is currently my least confident predicted XI in the entire article.

Newcastle have lost enormous amounts of leadership and quality.

Bruno Guimarães is at Arsenal.

Tonali is at Tottenham.

Anthony Gordon has gone.

Kieran Trippier has gone.

And Eddie Howe has been replaced by Matthias Jaissle.

There are also immediate defensive problems.

Tino Livramento is expected to miss Liverpool through a calf injury. Lewis Hall has returned to training and featured against Everton, while Newcastle are still looking at right-back reinforcements.

Then there is the form.

Everton beat them 3-1 on Wednesday.

Newcastle still have two friendlies left: Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and Strasbourg on Sunday.

Good.

They need them.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Pope, Botman, Barnes

WATCH: Hall

AVOID: Speculative Newcastle GW1 punts.

They could become very interesting later.

Against Liverpool, with this much uncertainty?

I don't see the need.

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Nottingham Forest predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Leeds United (H) Confidence: MEDIUM-HIGH

Forest were previously one of the easiest defensive units to project.

They still might be.

But there are two important changes.

Oliver Glasner is now the manager, and Ousmane Diomande has arrived from Sporting.

Diomande looks capable of slotting into a back three alongside Milenković and Murillo, which could actually make the wing-back roles even more interesting for FPL.

Forest play Brest on Sunday.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Sels, Murillo, Milenković, Gibbs-White

WATCH: Diomande

TACTICAL UPSIDE: Aina/Neco Williams if Glasner commits to wing-backs.

Forest remain one of the more attractive GW1 teams to monitor because they also have Leeds at home.

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Sunderland predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Ipswich Town (A) Confidence: HIGH

Sunderland are an unusual case.

They aren't promoted — they finished seventh last season — yet their summer has been far quieter than many of the teams around them.

Thomas Meunier has been their main significant addition so far, meaning the core structure is easier to recognise than at clubs undergoing complete rebuilds.

Rennes on Saturday offers the final confirmation.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Roefs, Ballard, Xhaka, Brobbey

WATCH: Wide positions

If you're looking for dependable minutes rather than glamour, Sunderland's spine remains useful.

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Tottenham predicted Gameweek 1 line-up

Fixture: Brentford (A) Confidence: MEDIUM-HIGH

Spurs are beginning to look more settled under Roberto De Zerbi.

Sandro Tonali and Mathys Tel both appear increasingly integral, while Jan Paul van Hecke has been stepping aggressively into midfield from defence.

De Zerbi used a strong side for the 1-1 draw with Getafe and made very few changes during the shortened match.

Hoffenheim is the final test.

FPL takeaway

SAFEST: Porro, Van de Ven, Tonali, Solanke

RISING: Tel

WATCH: Gallagher/Kudus attacking roles.

Spurs are considerably easier to project today than they were when this guide was first published.

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The biggest FPL GW1 selection battles

Now that we are only a week away, these are the battles I care about most.

Arsenal: Saka vs the clock

This isn't really Saka versus another player.

It's Saka versus preparation time.

If he plays substantial Community Shield minutes, he could walk straight back into the GW1 prediction.

FPL impact: enormous at £9.5m.

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Aston Villa: Watkins vs Madjo

Nobody expected this to be a serious section two weeks ago.

Madjo has forced it onto the page.

Watkins remains the established striker, but Madjo has scored goals and just performed against PSG while Watkins has been returning late.

FPL impact: Watkins' expected minutes and a potentially explosive £5.5m alternative.

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Chelsea: everyone vs everyone

Formation first.

Personnel second.

Alonso's final friendly should tell us whether Chelsea are leaning towards a back four or three and where Morgan Rogers fits.

FPL impact: huge.

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Everton: Johnson's immediate role

Brennan Johnson has joined only days before the final friendly.

Does Moyes put him straight in?

If yes, Everton suddenly have Ndiaye, Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall and Barry in a surprisingly interesting attack.

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Liverpool: centre-back

Araújo has arrived because Liverpool needed defensive help.

Does he immediately start alongside Van Dijk, or is Jacquet ready?

FPL impact: relevant for Liverpool clean-sheet exposure but less important than their premium attackers.

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Manchester City: almost everything behind Haaland

Semenyo has earned his place in the discussion.

Foden has had preparation.

Doku has upside.

Anderson cost £116m.

Haaland is returning late.

The Community Shield should answer more questions in 90 minutes than the previous fortnight has managed.

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Manchester United: who plays around Bruno?

Bruno is easy.

Mbeumo looks increasingly difficult to leave out.

After that, Carrick has Cunha, Amad, Zirkzee, Rashford and other combinations available.

FPL impact: don't mistake upside for guaranteed minutes.

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Newcastle: the whole structure

New manager.

Midfield gutted.

Right-back problem.

Two friendlies left.

Liverpool first.

FPL impact: wait.

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Safest FPL starters for Gameweek 1

This is not my ranking of the best FPL players.

It is a ranking of players whose starting roles I currently trust most.

Very high minutes confidence

• David Raya
• Gabriel
• Jordan Pickford
• James Tarkowski
• Caoimhín Kelleher
• Nathan Collins
• Bernd Leno
• Alisson
• Virgil van Dijk
• Bruno Fernandes
• Morgan Gibbs-White
• Granit Xhaka
• Pedro Porro

Use the Most Nailed FPL Players guide alongside these predicted XIs when judging whether a role should survive beyond Gameweek 1.

Strong, but one final check required

• Erling Haaland
• Viktor Gyökeres
• Antoine Semenyo
• Bryan Mbeumo
• Iliman Ndiaye
• João Pedro
• Ollie Watkins
• Bukayo Saka
• Matty Cash
• Ezri Konsa
• Chris Wood
• Dominic Solanke

The distinction is important.

Haaland is nailed when available.

That does not mean we ignore the fact he has had a late club return.

Watkins is Villa's established striker.

That does not mean we ignore Madjo's form.

Saka is obviously one of Arsenal's best players.

That does not mean we pretend his preparation has been normal.

FPL is not about identifying the best footballers.

It is about predicting points, role and minutes.

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FPL Assistant GW1 Line-up Watch

FPL Assistant editorial assessment — checked 14 August 2026.

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What does “predicted to start” actually mean in FPL?

This is the most important principle on this page.

If I predict somebody to start GW1, I am saying:

I am not saying:

A youngster might start because a senior player has only just returned.

A new signing could be eased in.

An injury could create a one-week opportunity.

A manager could change formation in GW2.

That's why the best opening FPL squad isn't simply a collection of 15 names that appear on a predicted-line-up page.

Ideally your core picks combine:

• high starting confidence
• a role that should survive beyond GW1
• good fixtures
• strong FPL potential
• limited substitution risk

One-week starters are transfers waiting to happen.

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The final pre-season matches FPL managers should watch

The next 48 hours are massive.

Saturday includes final friendlies for Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester United, Newcastle, Sunderland and Tottenham.

Sunday brings another Newcastle match, Liverpool v Como, Forest v Brest and — most importantly — Arsenal v Manchester City in the Community Shield.

I will be looking for five things:

1. Who starts?

Obvious — but still the strongest clue.

2. Who gets 60+ minutes?

A 20-minute cameo and a 70-minute start tell very different stories one week before the season.

3. Who takes penalties and set pieces?

Ndiaye has already demonstrated why this matters.

4. Where are players actually positioned?

Mbeumo, Semenyo, wing-backs and attacking midfielders can gain or lose huge FPL appeal through role alone.

5. Who doesn't play?

Sometimes the most useful player is the one missing from the teamsheet.

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Building your FPL Gameweek 1 team?

Don't stop at the predicted line-ups.

Next: check the latest GW1 changes

Read FPL GW1 2026/27: Pre-Season Minutes, Transfer News & Template Risks

Then: check minutes security

Read Most Nailed FPL Players 2026/27

Then: remove the traps

Read FPL Players to Avoid for Gameweek 1

Then: compare against the crowd

Read FPL Template Team for Gameweek 1

Finally: test your own squad

Rate your GW1 team with FPL Assistant

Get your squad rating, captain analysis, fixtures and expected-minutes checks before the deadline.

Try FPL Assistant Premium FREE for 48 hours — no subscription required to start.

[RATE MY GW1 TEAM]

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Next major line-up update: After the final pre-season matches and Arsenal v Manchester City Community Shield, 15–16 August 2026.

Final pre-deadline update: After the GW1 manager press conferences.