The battle for Fantasy Premier League glory is up and running again for the 2021/22 league season, as the Premier League returns this weekend to its usual fanfare and the added incentive of stadiums being able to admit a large number of crowds.
Thus, the upcoming campaign bears the biggest indication towards normality after the pandemic disrupted one and half seasons of football as we knew it. Yet for Fantasy Premier League managers, that means the usual flow of a single matchday per week and hopefully much less disruptive team news due to quarantine.
Once again, the most expensive players in the game are Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah, who are both available for £12.5 million each. While the highest-valued defender is Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), three goalkeepers share a price of £6m as Edouard Mendy, Alisson and Ederson are billed as the costliest netminders.
Meanwhile, managers have unlimited transfers until 18:30 (BST) on Friday, August 13 before the opening Premier League game between Brentford and Arsenal. FootballCastle has evaluated the best picks and bargain assets who should make up your squads to navigate the first handful of games.
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martinez(£5.5m)
Last season, the 28-year-old was the highest-scoring goalkeeper in the game, having recorded 186 points, just one point short of Brad Friedel’s record FPL haul.
Martinez had another wonderful summer by winning the Copa America as well as the Golden Glove award and seems ready to kick on as Aston Villa look to consolidate being an established Premier League club.
Ederson(£6m)
The Brazilian is a mainstay behind Pep Guardiola’s backline and has won the Premier League Golden Glove award two years in a row.
Having starred as his country’s first-choice ‘keeper during the summer, the Premier League champion should rack up a more than healthy total as the season rumbles on.
Needless to say, his assists average now promises a couple every season, adding to his already high FPL credentials.
Alisson(£6m)
Although the 28-year-old conceded more goals than ever with Liverpool last term, it should be back to the norm in 2021/22.
The return of Virgil van Dijk would significantly boost their confidence to get more clean sheets this campaign, and Alisson would be looking to benefit from a more settled rearguard and improve on his 140-point haul from last season
Edouard Mendy(£6m)
The Senegalese had a very impressive first season in England and has established himself as Chelsea’s main man under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel.
He kept 16 clean sheets and looks like a reliable option heading into the new campaign, with Chelsea supremely assured in defence these days. Having registered the least goals conceded ever on the way to winning the Champions League, Mendy will be looking to recreate his heroics over the domestic season.
Robert Sanchez(£4.5m)
Here is a bargain goalkeeper who will start the majority of matches and ensure a steady flow of points, having proved so in a surprise emergence last season.
Brighton’s custodian is set for another inspired campaign given he accumulated 101 points last season, and is now proving a popular pick ahead of the grand opening when they start with a good run of fixtures.
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold(£7.5m)
The earlier mentioned most expensive defender in this season’s game remains a key member of the Liverpool team and is a famous FPL sensation.
After dominating many of the Reds’ attacks with assists and several gorgeous free-kicks in the last few seasons. Alexander-Arnold had set and broken his own assists records for a defender until unusual circumstances in 2020/21 hampered him and his team’s play but he still managed 160 points.
Already part of a famously mean defence, things should be back to normal for the full-back this term.
Luke Shaw(£5.5m)
The left-back appears to be entering his golden years at Manchester United and proved so at a wonderful Euro 2020 outing.
Shaw got 124 FPL points last season having registered 10 clean sheets, five assists and a goal; and is expected to reach the next level in 2021/22, with attacking reinforcements and defensive additions set to improve his FPL credentials.
Ruben Dias(£6m)
The Football Writers’ Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year and Manchester City’s player of the year is one of a handful of centre-backs who are sound choices in FPL after he recorded 141 points last season.
A considerable threat from set-pieces, Dias is ever-present in the City backline and his regular bonus points counted for FPL fame as he helped Guardiola’s side to 17 clean sheets on the way to the title last season.
Aaron Cresswell(£5.5m)
The West Ham left-back had the most assists (11) by any defender last season, and should he stay fit, Cresswell is a more than reliable choice.
His efforts would be key in keeping the ethos that saw David Moyes’ men finish a respectable sixth, and his threat as a set-piece specialist would secure several assists.
Cesar Azpilicueta(£6m)
The Chelsea captain has been mightily consistent across nine FPL seasons, averaging a score of 134 points per season.
He is ridiculously unsung in this Chelsea squad and a role in Thomas Tuchel’s right centre back spot should see the Spaniard soar to his usual heights, including his respectable supply of assists and clean sheets. Pertinently, Azpilicueta’s most successful FPL seasons came in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when he posted scores of over 170. He could easily reach that figure this term given he would be playing in the same position as those two seasons under Antonio Conte.
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes(£12m)
Since moving to England, the 26-year-old has been nothing short of a revelation and is a must-have in FPL squads. The Portugal international takes penalties and other setpieces for Man United and would excel in an improved team this season.
Fernandes claimed the highest points in the game last season (224) with 18 goals and 14 assists, and a similar haul is expected again in 2021/22.
Bukayo Saka(£6.5m)
One of the most exciting young players in the Premier League, Saka is expected to raise his game further and light up the League.
The 19-year-old’s wonderful efforts earned him the Arsenal Player of the Year award. And he looks set to increase the five goals and four assists he managed in 2020/21 after a slow start to the season.
Emiliano Buendia(£6.5m)
Aston Villa’s big summer signing accumulated 94 points for relegated Norwich two seasons ago, and the Premier League is looking forward to what he can do in an established club.
Much is expected of the big Argentine talent whose creativity and vision would go a long way in replacing Jack Grealish. Thus, Buendia looks a very enticing pick given his relatively low price.
Heung-Min Son(£10m)
The 29-year-old still had his most productive campaign despite Spurs’ struggles that saw them finish seventh in the table, while his 28 goal involvements matched Mo Salah’s total.
Son seems to be hitting his peak having now produced double figures in goals and assists in each of the last two seasons. Although he will likely be without partner in crime Harry Kane this season, the increased expectation could work wonders for the South Korea captain.
Mohamed Salah(£12.5m)
One of the most dangerous players in the league is a streaky performer who began last season with a hattrick, and Liverpool start this season with some tasty fixtures.
Salah’s incredible goal record for the Reds means he has never dipped below 230 points for four seasons. Even with the struggles of Jurgen Klopp’s side last season, Salah remained their goal-getter and the expectation is that it will be another prolific season for the Egyptian notwithstanding the team’s form.
Raphinha(£6.5m)
The Brazilian was arguably the biggest FPL bargain asset in 2020/21 when he registered 16 goal involvements to become a popular choice among the FPL community.
Raphinha’s goal and assist potential is strengthened by his set-piece duties and the fact he is regarded as a starter in Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side.
Forwards
Harry Kane(£12.5m)
The 2020/21 Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year Award winner was involved in 23 goals and 14 assists and was once again one of the highest scorers last term with 242 points.
Kane’s characteristic effectiveness and value as a fantastic FPL asset means that he comes at a princely price. However, he is well worth the cost and a potential big-money move to Man City would raise his profile and considerably increase his attacking numbers.
Timo Werner (£9m)
He may not have pulled up trees for Chelsea in his first season, but Werner was their most potent FPL asset with 18 goal involvements in the Premier League.
Though he netted just six times in the league, the German registered the most assists for Chelsea and the arrival of Romelu Lukaku would ease the pressure on Werner and perhaps sharpen his hunger for goals.
The 25-year-old hit 28 Bundesliga goals for RB Leipzig two seasons ago, and a return to his goalscoring best would be no surprise.
Patrick Bamford(£8m)
The pick of the bunch at Leeds, Bamford enjoyed his most prolific season last term as he scored 17 goals and set up 11 more in the Premier League.
Bamford was second of forwards with the highest points total to only Harry Kane having finished the season just shy of 200 points. The 27-year-old looks ready to further improve on those heroics.
Ollie Watkins(£7.5m)
Only Kane, Bamford and Vardy totalled more FPL points than Ollie Watkins last season, yet the Aston Villa forward is priced considerably cheaper than the others.
While there remains the risk that Watkins may not reach the heights of last term (14 goals and nine assists), the mere fact he has hit double figures for goals in each of the last five seasons tells of a relentless goalscorer.
His responsibilities will increase given the exit of Grealish to City, but he will share the goalscoring burden with Danny Ings and can flourish with a clear confidence about him.
Ivan Toney(£6.5m)
In many respects, Brentford’s promotion to their first-ever Premier League campaign was powered by the most goals scored in a Championship season (33 goals) from Ivan Toney.
It is often tough to make the transition to the cut-throat Premier League, but Toney has proved his worth across the lower leagues and shown plenty of promise and consistent improvement over the past few seasons. The ex-Newcastle man is ready to take the next step and has a deadly penalty execution in him.
