Timo Werner at a Germany Training Session ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers, 2019
Timo Werner at a Germany Training Session ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers, 2019 | (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Football | Premier League 2020/21 | Fantasy Premier League Game-week 1 picks

  • Premier League champions Liverpool begin defence of title versus newly-promoted Leeds United
  • Chelsea travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, as Fulham mark return to top-flight in London derby versus Arsenal
  • Neither Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa nor Burnley play in Gameweek 1
PREMIER LEAGUE, UK – As the Premier League season begins this weekend, who do you need in your squad to get ahead in Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1?

 

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Timo Werner

For our opening pick of the season, we are plumping for a man who could very likely be the star of Fantasy Premier League this season.

Timo Werner, arrives at Chelsea this term having scored 28 goals and registering eight assists for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga last year.

The 24-year-old Germany international has been a revelation for the Lower Saxony side under Julian Nagelsmann for the past two campaigns, and is set to form the pinnacle of Frank Lampard‘s attack in West London.

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Together with new recruits Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and latterly Ben Chilwell on the left, Werner can easily notch 20-plus goals this season.

With a trip to Brighton on Monday night, the forward has the perfect chance to hit the ground running.

Regardless, as the second most-owned player in the game already, Werner’s inclusion is a must for the early weeks of the season.

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

As is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who despite having not signed a new contract to remain with Arsenal, appears set for another stellar campaign.

Not least with the added value of now being classed a midfielder, in FPL’s infinite and rather baffling wisdom.

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Having scored braces against both Manchester City and Chelsea en-route to the Gunners’ 13th FA Cup last month, the Gabonese striker also netted in their defeat of Liverpool in the Community Shield a fortnight ago.

On the score-sheet against Aston Villa in last weekend’s pre-season warm-up, Aubameyang looks in arguably his best form to date and in poised to deliver for his growing army of fantasy managers.

A trip to Craven Cottage on Fulham’s return might be quite a close encounter on the Thames, but Aubameyang has already proved the difference since lockdown and could grab an early points haul.

Potential captaincy material.

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Our third pick of Gameweek 1 sees Trent Alexander-Arnold return to the Britwatch fantasy ranks once more.

As Liverpool enter new territory this weekend in their first outing as defending Premier League champions, the Reds first assignment is a intriguing one against newly-promoted Leeds United.

Whilst the Whites will be no pushover as Marcelo Bielsa makes his top-flight managerial debut at Anfield, the Yorkshire side might however, struggle to keep the champions at bay.

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Alexander-Arnold became the go-to defender in FPL last season, and though his price-tag remains a lofty one, the full-back’s corner-kick duties and free-kick ability makes the England international essential.

Indeed, 54.8% of owners agree – almost a record for fantasy ownership within managerial circles.

Notching a remarkable 15 assists, four goals and 14 clean sheets, the Liverpudlian could again make waves this season, beginning in GW1.

 

Tomas Soucek

With an outlay of close to a third of fantasy budgets taken up by Werner, Aubameyang and Alexander-Arnold, the task now is to find the extra boost in points and in Gameweek 1, Tomas Soucek could be just that man.

Providing a strong case for keeping West Ham United up last season, the Czech midfield has now become a permanent part of the fittings in East London after signing from Slavia Prague this summer.

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Carrying a price-tag of just 5.0, Soucek has already shown his threat from set-pieces and at home to Newcastle on Saturday, can expect more chances to add to his account on the campaign’s opening day.

The Irons remain uncertain defensively, but as do the Magpies away from home since lockdown last term.

Soucek netted three times in just over 1000 minutes of game time in the latter stages of last term, and now on West Ham’s books, will be looking to hit the ground running.

 

Semi Ajayi

For our opening week flight of fancy, West Brom’s defensive colossus Semi Ajayi takes our fancy.

A former Arsenal defender, the Baggies’ centre-back was a regular scorer from set-pieces in the Championship, bagging five goals in 43 games.

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Under Slaven Bilic, the West Midlanders’ opening salvo at home to Leicester City could be a cagey affair, and with West Brom knowing the importance of points at the Hawthorns, the Nigerian could be a very useful addition to fantasy squads in Gameweek 1.

Holding a similar fee to that of Soucek, a 5.0 price-tag may seem steep, but for those not aware of Ajayi’s presence at both ends of the pitch, the 26-year-old may surprise a few on opening weekend.

 

Fantasy Premier League 2020/21 Gameweek 1 deadline is Saturday 12 September at 11:00 UK time.

 

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