Which players will score the most points in Gameweek 1?

Open up your spreadsheet, select your witty team name and lock in your first draft, it’s time for 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League.

The addictively torturous experience of FPL is well underway for another season as Gameweek 1 creeps closer and time is running out to select your squad for the opening round of fixtures. It’s a stressful and often punishing escapade but how else are you going to prove your staggering ball knowledge to your friends and family?

Fortunately, we’ve done a little research to help you on your journey, compiling a list of the players most likely to offer up sizeable hauls in Gameweek 1.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Let’s start with the boring bit, eh? Goalkeepers can prove frustrating in FPL given they’re extremely unlikely to earn many points if they don’t keep a clean sheet – although the odd penalty save and some bonus points are possible, of course.

Therefore, you want to prioritise a goalkeeper that plays behind a solid defence, with David Raya (£5.5m) the obvious option. A significant contributor to the sternest rearguard in the Premier League last season – earning 135 points in the process – the Arsenal stopper kicks off his campaign with a home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers. A clean sheet looks likely.

Alisson (£5.5m) could also net a healthy haul given Liverpool’s opening fixture comes away at newly-promoted Ipswich Town and the Reds have kept three clean sheets during their six pre-season matches, conceding no more than one in any fixture.

A cheaper option would be Mark Flekken (£4.5m), with Brentford hosting Crystal Palace. The Eagles have lost Michael Olise this summer and will be without sharpshooter Jean-Philippe Mateta for the beginning of the campaign. The Bees could keep a clean sheet, with Flekken grabbing a few save points, too.

There’s a theme emerging here already. It seems essential to invest in Arsenal’s defence somehow and William Saliba (£6m) and Gabriel (£6m) are the standout choices. Guaranteed to start, they were consistent FPL assets last term with goals and clean sheets and both scored in the Gunners’ most recent 2-0 friendly victory over Lyon.

If you’re more of a full-back enthusiast in FPL then there are some enticing options. Tottenham’s Pedro Porro (£5.5m) could bag a nice return away at newly-promoted Leicester City in GW1, as could Newcastle United’s Kieran…