FPL GW1 Fixtures & Players to Target | Best Matchups

Welcome to FPL PAZ’s(Twitter) Best Matchups series, where I highlight the three best fixtures in each gameweek and the players to target in each fixture. The goal is to help managers look at the best matchups to exploit and the best players to target each gameweek. Let’s get into our first one for FPL GW1!

Link to all our 2022/23 Pre Season articles including a transfer tracker of all new signings, all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Link to all Our FPL Team Analysis Series for all 20 PL Teams from our team correspondents

All chances created and conceded heatmap from FFScout

FPL GW1 Fixtures to Target

LIVERPOOL vs. FULHAM

Bookie Odds Total Goals: 3 ½

Liverpool Team Analysis

Liverpool opens up the 2022-23 campaign against newly promoted Fulham in what projects to be the highest scoring fixture of the GW. This projection is primarily due to Liverpool’s potent attack and Fulham’s defensive uncertainty as a promoted side. Liverpool loves to use the flanks to create their chances, as 70.8% of their Chances Created are down either flank. Defensively, Liverpool concedes most of their chances down the right flank, given Alexander-Arnold’s occasionally being out of position. If new signing Perreira can pick out balls behind TAA for a cross to record scorer Mitrovic, then Fulham could create worries for Liverpool’s defense. Overall, this should be a dominant performance by Liverpool’s attack and the best fixture to target in FPL GW1.

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Liverpool vs Fulham based on Liverpool chances created heatmap

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Liverpool vs Fulham based on Liverpool chances conceded heatmap

Fulham Team Analysis

Fulham entered the campaign as the top-scoring promoted side, but their defense left a bit to be desired. Despite good underlying defensive stats. Fulham only kept 17 clean sheets, the 6^th most in the championship. Marco Silva’s attacking style will be tested in GW1 as they struggled with teams who pressed them high up the pitch. Given that Liverpool loves to press, Fulham will have to sort out their defensive mishaps to avoid Liverpool’s attack running wild.

Fulham in their 21/22 Championship season had the most goals(106), shots per game(16.1), shots on target per game(6.1), big chances created(99), and xG(96.3) amongst all teams.

Defensively they were the 3rd best team in terms of goals conceded(43) but had the lowest xGC(44) and shots conceded per game(8.8)

GW1 Players to Target from this Fixture (Ranked)

Mohamed Salah (£13.0): Salah is eyeing to break the opening day record for goals. Fresh off his 13-point hail against Manchester City, Salah keeps on proving how essential he is.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5): The most essential defender in the game, Trent needs to be in every GW1 team. He showed what he could do with a massive goal against City and picked up two other assists in the pre-season.
Andrew Robertson (£7.0): An attacking return or clean sheet in 18 of his last 21 starts last season. Robertson can be a massive differential at only 10% owned.
Luis Diaz (£8.0): With Jota’s injury and Mane’s departure, Diaz’s minutes on the left are seemingly secured. He has looked lively in pre-season, but the end product has not been there.
Andres Pereira (£4.5): Seemingly essential as a £4.5 budget enabler. 2 assists and on-set pieces in the pre-season makes him a must-own for most GW1 teams.

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SPURS vs. SOUTHAMPTON

Bookie Odds Total Goals: 2 ½

Tottenham Team Analysis

Tottenham opens up the 2022-23 season with a good fixture against a Southampton side that allowed the 5^th most xGC in the second half of last season. Most of Spurs’ chances are created around the middle when Kane drops deep and picks out those passes to Son, Kulusevski, or the Wingbacks. Spurs’ strength fits in perfectly against Southampton’s weakness, which is chances created down the middle right side of the field. Since Conte took over, Spurs rank 3^rd in xG, and with added firepower in the summer transfer window, Spurs will undoubtedly showcase their potent attack against a weak Southampton defense in FPL GW1.

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Spurs vs Southampton based on Spurs chances created heatmap

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Spurs vs Southampton based on Spurs chances conceded heatmap

Southampton Team Analysis

To have any chance in this match, Southampton needs to limit Harry Kane’s touches when he drops deep. Another area that the Southampton defense might struggle in is containing those overlapping runs by Perisic down the left-hand side. Last season, Southampton allowed the 5^th most crosses down the left flank. Offensively, the Saints will have to rely on James Ward-Prowse picking out passes behind the Spurs back line as that was how most of the chances conceded by Spurs occurred last season. Overall, it will be tough for the Saints to contain Spurs for long, which makes this the second best fixture to target in GW1.

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Spurs vs Southampton based on Southampton chances created heatmap

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Spurs vs Southampton based on Southampton chances conceded heatmap

GW1 Players to Target from this Fixture (Ranked)

Heung-Min Son (£12.0): Last season’s golden boot winner hopes to kick off this season with a bang against a familiar opponent. Son has 10 goals and 4 assists in 13 premier league matches against the Saints.
Harry Kane (£11.5): Impressive in the pre-season with 5 goals and 1 assist. 11 goals and 6 assists in 14 matches against the Saints.
Ivan Perisic (£5.5): He Played 70 minutes in the last pre-season friendly against Roma, making it likely that he will be a starter in GW1. Perisic will probably not play the full 90 minutes, but he showed against Roma what he could do in limited minutes.
Dejan Kulusevski (£8.0): Richarlison’s suspension opens the door for Kulusevski to start the season with a bang against Southampton. Post GW1 minutes might be a concern depending on how Conte uses Richarlison.
Matt Doherty (£5.0): Doherty seems to be headed for a GW1 start after starting in the last friendly and looking dangerous. If he can regain last season’s form, Doherty can become a template breaker.

Before going further, Do vote in this week’s FPL GW1 allaboutfpl captaincy poll. The same will be available in the captaincy analysis and metrics blog written by @AK_FPL1. The metrics had a 30/38 record last season. Stay tuned for the GW1 Captaincy metric to see who tops it.

[Total_Soft_Poll id=”57″]

The results and the captaincy metric blog will be published soon based on the votes.

MANCHESTER CITY vs. WEST HAM UNITED

FPL GW 1 Fixtures to Target ~ Man City vs West Ham United

Bookie Odds Total Goals: 3 ½

Manchester City Team Analysis

Manchester City open up their 2022-23 season against a formidable West Ham United team that held them to a 2-2 late last season. Manchester City will look for an improved performance after their Community Shield showing left much to be desired. Manchester City’s plan of attack will be familiar, with KDB pulling the strings and the wings dominating the flanks. The addition of Erling Haaland should spell trouble for West Ham as a big part of their Chances Conceded were in the middle of the box. Defensively, Manchester City needs to keep West Ham from hitting them on the counter with the likes of Bowen and Benrahma.

West Ham United Team Analysis

For West Ham to have any chance in this fixture, they need to hit Manchester City on the counter or from set pieces. Most of West Ham’s chances created came from Corners last season. West Ham also counter-attacked Manchester City exceptionally well last season as Bowen got behind the City defense twice for his two goals. Defensively, West Ham will need to contain KDB filtrating balls to new addition Haaland. Overall, this fixture should have plenty of goals, making it a top 3 fixture to target in FPL GW1.

GW1 Players to Target from this Fixture (Ranked)

Erling Haaland (£11.5): Posted an impressive 1.59 xG against Liverpool and missed an easy sitter. He had chances against one of the best defenses in the Premier League, so he should have it easier against West Ham.
Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0): 2 goals in the pre-season and is fully fit to start the season. He still is the engine that makes City move, so he should be heavily involved against West Ham.
Joao Cancelo (£7.0): Fresh off a 200-point season in which he underperformed his xGI. Playing for the best defense in the Premier League and offers an excellent attacking threat.
Jarrod Bowen (£8.5): 2 goals at home against Manchester City last season. His counter-attacking forte plays perfectly into the weakness of City’s defense. After the City match, Bowen’s fixtures from GW2-8 are extremely favorable.
Phil Foden (£8.0): Mahrez and Grealish were unconvincing against Liverpool in the Community Shield, and the game changed once Foden came on. Pep Guardiola trusts Foden, which could bode well for him starting in GW1.

Do follow me on Twitter at FPL PAZ’s(Twitter) and stay tuned for the next one early next week!

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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of the 2022/23 FPL Season

Link to all our 2022/23 Pre Season articles including transfer tracker of all new signings, all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Link to all our FPL Forwards, FPL Midfielders, FPL Defenders, and FPL Goalkeepers series of blogs including the best 4.0 million defenders, and 4.5 Million midfielders.

Link to all Our FPL Team Analysis Series for all 20 PL Teams from our team correspondents

If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.

All our Best Pre Season Reads:

Team Previews:

FPL GW1 Content:

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Fixture Analysis

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Pre-Season Reads:

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FPL Ultimate Pre-season guide for 2022/23 season: Tips, Previews & more
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