Team News

The FPL line-up lessons we learned from Gameweek 1

With new signings, new managers and indeed three new teams clouding the water, anticipating the Gameweek 1 line-ups was always going to be tricky.

Our pre-season coverage helped point us in the right direction and there weren’t as many shocks as there might have been in the various starting XIs.

There were still lessons to be learned, though, so we will discuss each team selection on a match-by-match basis in the article below.

Liverpool v Norwich City

Liverpool were in their tried-and-tested 4-3-3, with Divock Origi patrolling the left flank.

Sadio Mane, late back from the Africa Cup of Nations, emerged as a 74th-minute substitute to replace the Belgian on the wing.

Alisson began the match in goal but budget FPL goalkeeper Adrian – listed above – came on for the injured Brazil international in the first half.

As happened in the Community Shield, Joe Gomez was given the nod over Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-half.

Norwich were short on fit centre-halves, so Ben Godfrey and Grant Hanley were the pair selected at the heart of the defence.

Kenny McLean was chosen over Mario Vrancic and Moritz Leitner in the double-pivot, although the latter came on before the hour-mark.

£4.5m midfielder Todd Cantwell, who has also featured in place of Marco Stiepermann in pre-season, edged out Onel Hernandez on the left flank.

Hernandez came on late in the game, with Cantwell moving inside and indeed completing 90 minutes.

Analyse Liverpool v Norwich in detail here

West Ham United v Manchester City

Leroy Sane injured, Raheem Sterling – as happened in the Community Shield – shifted over to the left flank and Gabriel Jesus led the line in a 4-3-3.

Sergio Aguero replaced the Brazilian midway through the second half.

With Bernardo Silva nursing a minor muscle problem, Riyad Mahrez was promoted to the right flank despite not kicking a ball in pre-season – the Algerian having been involved with his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

There were no great surprises elsewhere, with Oleksandr Zinchencko and Kyle Walker at full-back – Joao Cancelo only match-fit enough for the bench – and John Stones preferred to Nicolas Otamendi at centre-half.

With West Ham without the injured Mark Noble, Jack Wilshere dropped back alongside Declan Rice in the double-pivot.

Despite Pablo Fornals having started the last three pre-season friendlies, it was Michail Antonio who joined Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini in the attacking trident behind Sebastien Haller.

Antonio, who had started the game on the left flank, was hooked at half-time and replaced by ‘number ten’ Fornals, with Lanzini moving across to the left wing.

Anderson was again deployed on the right flank in Manuel Pellegrini’s 4-2-3-1.

Analyse West Ham v Manchester City in detail here

Bournemouth v Sheffield United

Perhaps the biggest formation surprise of the weekend was Eddie Howe opting to go with a 3-4-3 against Sheffield United, although the unavailability of wingers Arnaut Danjuma and David Brooks perhaps forced his hand.

Josh King and Ryan Fraser played either side of Callum Wilson, with Adam Smith and £4.0m-rated Diego Rico used as wing-backs.

Goalscorer Chris Mepham joined Nathan Ake and Steve Cook in a back three, with Aaron Ramsdale getting the nod over Bournemouth’s other three senior goalkeepers between the posts.

There were no real shocks in the visitors’ starting XI, with a wing-back system one Chris Wilder used in the Championship last season.

FPL defender John Lundstram was brought in alongside John Fleck and Oliver Norwood to bolster midfield in a 3-5-2, with attacking midfielder Luke Freeman thrown on for Lundstram on 78 minutes as Wilder chased the game and reverted to a 3-4-1-2.

Analyse Bournemouth v Sheffield United in detail here

Burnley v Southampton

It was as you were for Burnley, with Sean Dyche sticking with the 4-4-2 that he has favoured for much of his tenure at Turf Moor.

Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood kept up their ever-present league record in 2019 up top, with Johann Berg Gudmundsson back on the right wing having played second fiddle to Jeff Hendrick for much of this calendar year.

Charlie Taylor still wasn’t quite match-fit enough so Erik Pieters made his Burnley debut at left-back and collected two assists.

Having started pre-season in a 4-2-2-2, Southampton finished the summer in a similar wing-back system that Ralph Hasenhuttl rolled out in 2018/19 and indeed a 3-4-3 was used again in Lancashire.

Che Adams had featured on the right flank over the summer but it was Danny Ings who was moved wide to allow the ex-Birmingham striker to feature centrally, with Nathan Redmond stationed on the left.

Illness apparently kept Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on the bench for most of the game, with James Ward-Prowse and Oriel Romeu playing in tandem in central midfield.

Jack Stephens got the nod over Maya Yoshida at centre-half but was sacrificed for Hojbjerg late on as Hasenhuttl reverted to a back four.

Analyse Burnley v Southampton in detail here

Crystal Palace v Everton

Roy Hodgson started this season as he finished last, with Palace in a 4-4-2.

Jordan Ayew was paired alongside Christian Benteke in attack, with Wilfried Zaha brought on alongside the Belgian midway through the second half.

Scott Dann and £4.0m defender Martin Kelly saw off the challenge of Gary Cahill at centre-half.

Everton were also in a familar shape to last season, with Richarlison and Bernard on the right and left respectively of a 4-2-3-1.

All of the players in the starting XI were on the books last season, although Moise Kean replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front midway through the second half and Jean-Philippe Gbamin was brought on for the injured Andre Gomes just before half-time.

Morgan Schneiderlin was sent off and will miss Gameweek 2.

Analyse Palace v Everton in detail here

Watford v Brighton and Hove Albion

Gameweek 1 featured something we hadn’t seen last season: Gerard Deulofeu starting a Premier League match on the wing.

Now an FPL forward, of course, Deulofeu was sacrificed for Roberto Pereyra at the break, with the Argentina international still working his way back up to full match-fitness after the Copa America.

Craig Dawson was included at centre-half and was the only starter on either side who wasn’t at his club in 2018/19.

Graham Potter had trialled a 3-4-3 in the final two games of pre-season and that was indeed the formation that he deployed on Saturday.

Leandro Trossard remained an unused substitute as Pascal Gross and Jurgen Locadia flanked Glenn Murray in attack.

Florin Andone and Neal Maupay replace the latter two players in the second half and both scored.

Solly March and FPL defender Martin Montoya were used as wing-backs.

Analyse Watford v Brighton in detail here

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa

Spurs started Saturday’s game in a 4-4-2 diamond, with Erik Lamela playing just off Harry Kane and Lucas Moura in attack.

The introduction of Christian Eriksen for Harry Winks saw Lucas and Lamela pull wide and Kane lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.

Villa were in their familiar 4-1-4-1 shape, with Conor Hourihane starting at the base of the midfield but later replaced by new recruit Douglas Luiz.

Trezeguet was preferred to – and eventually replaced by – Jota on the right.

There was a surprise in the full-back department, with last season’s first-choice pairing of Neil Taylor and Mohamed Elmohamady preferred to 2019 signings Matt Targett and Frederic Guilbert.

Only Targett made the bench, with Guilbert not among the substitutes.

Analyse Spurs v Aston Villa in detail here

Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Brendan Rodgers opted for a 4-3-3 as he attempted to put pressure on Wolves’ back three.

Ayoze Perez played on the right of a front three with Jamie Vardy and James Maddison.

Hamza Choudhury was sacrificed in the second half as substitute Harvey Barnes took over on the left flank, with Maddison moving infield alongside Youri Tielemans in a 4-1-4-1.

Wolves were as they were for much of last season, with Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez stationed up top in a 3-5-2.

Patrick Cutrone replaced Jota for the final 15 minutes.

Analyse Leicester v Wolves in detail here

Newcastle United v Arsenal

Matt Ritchie recovered from injury to take up the same left wing-back role he occupied last season, with Newcastle United in a 3-5-2.

Ritchie moved infield when Jonjo Shelvey limped off, with Jetro Willems taking over on the left.

An ‘out of position’ Miguel Almiron partnered Joelinton up front, with substitute Allan Saint-Maximin joining them in a front three late on.

Unai Emery mostly used a 4-2-3-1 in pre-season and indeed that was the formation favoured on Tyneside, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line after a stint on the right flank this summer.

Alexandre Lacazette, only just back from an ankle injury, was an unused substitute.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson started in the attacking midfield positions behind the Gabon international, with summer signings Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe replacing them in the second half.

Pepe took up a left-wing role.

With new signing David Luiz also not called upon on the bench, Calum Chambers started at centre-half.

Analyse Newcastle United v Arsenal in detail here

Manchester United v Chelsea

United and Chelsea both lined up in a 4-2-3-1, as they had ended pre-season.

FPL midfielder Anthony Martial led the line for the hosts, with Marcus Rashford stationed on the left.

Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard started the game in the hole and on the right respectively, although interchanged on occasion.

Paul Pogba was positioned on the right of a central midfield two, having played almost exclusively on the left last season.

Frank Lampard sacrificed Christian Pulisic to fit both Mason Mount and Ross Barkley into the same starting XI, with Barkley occupying the left-wing role and Mount playing just off striker Tammy Abraham.

Pulisic replaced Barkley on the hour-mark, with Mount finishing the game.

Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic lined up in the double-pivot, with N’Golo Kante replacing the former in the last 20 minutes.

Analyse Manchester United v Chelsea in detail here


Lessons learned from Gameweek 1

1,749 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Tommy miss

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Terrible

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Damn it Tammy. Score that!!!!!

  3. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barkley looking electric.

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's awful

  4. LosBlancos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Chelsea and the poor strikers story goes on 😀

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      We had Costa

      1. LosBlancos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He is a poor human, soo.. 😀

    2. Yome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Drogba says hi

      1. LosBlancos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ok ok, but post Costa it's been bad

  5. Budgies
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Worth offloading Liverpool Defenders whilst Adrian is in goal? Surely going to leak way more goals now!

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      They'll settle but drop them please 🙂

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Going to flog Robbo after this GW

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Abraham showing why he is not a PL level striker. He is like Dwight Gayle - too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the PL

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kind of agree

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      So where should he play. Scotland

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He would be ideal for Celtic or Rangers tbh. Playing CL or EL football.

      2. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Championship is miles above Scotland haha

        1. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Haha?

        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Geographically.

    4. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Causing plenty of problems.

    5. Yome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Strange that Michy is not getting minutes tonight

      1. Das Boot
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This, don't understand it at all unless he sees Abraham as the future. Michy has the PL experience and his returns at Palace for mins played were decent

    6. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Better example is surely Bamford.

      1. RyanKent14
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I would take him at rangers easy, agree Scottish league is terrible, only Celtic and rangers in it, and the rest are fading badly, probably the standard of league 2

    7. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He is like 20 years old guya, come on...

  7. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This has been a really great game. Much better than I expected.

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yup, 2nd half was a bit dry but surprisingly extra time has sped up. Hope it goes to pens

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah. Very decent, no sitting back. I think ref letting it flow too.

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Tammy should finish that ...

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wouldn't finish his dinner.

  9. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A pity Caoimhín is injured. Would be getting invaluable experience in big games.

  10. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Fancy Chelsea to win if it goes to pens.

    1. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Manager Kepa time 😀

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks likely. Then there will be the 'Will suchandsuch get a game mg e this weekend's. Sure it's their job, what they dreamt of when they were young.

  11. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This male fourth official has done a good job tonight. No nonsense during substitutions

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He’d get it tho

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not too bad for a man

      • Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Well spotted

      • DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Have to have one or the men will start giving out about gender balance.

      • Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It shouldn't matter that he's a fourth official.

      • GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        But can he mind the kids?

      • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        In fairness so has the LGBT VAR team

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          😆

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Auba Captain now with Salah playing 120mins, can see City vs Spurs being rather tight so don’t fancy Raheem

      1. LosBlancos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Tight as in 4 : 3? 😀

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          thats too narrow 16:9 is the way to go

          1. LosBlancos
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            😆

    4. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Matip has really stood up tonight.

      1. Lacabacca
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mane owner?

    5. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      There are a couple of Chelsea players who played very well today (e.g Kante, Emerson, Pedro). But can't say the same about Liverpool apart from Firmino maybe

      1. Yome
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mane looks good for his return

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          He did score twice which is great but I meant that his performance wasn't really a standout one

      2. LosBlancos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mane?
        Emerson looking good 2 gws in a row, he could be the value defender this year

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          nailed as well. Chelsea wont be playing utd/liv away every week

      3. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mane

    6. Party time
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Jorginho looked like a man on coke before he took that pen

        1. Dr. Agabuse
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          na, he look like a cat bruv

          1. Party time
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Hahaha

          2. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Coke zero with ice.

            1. Party time
                4 years, 7 months ago

                That is a very nice combination tbh. Coke and Ice( street mixture)

          3. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Mother Teresa saying Adrian tried to take his hands away but not questioning why he was out there or why defence weren't doing their job.

          4. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            lampard should try to take kepa off before it goes to pens

            1. Party time
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Hahaha

              • Dr. Agabuse
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                this

              • Amey
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Kepa won't allow that 😀

            2. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Trent 0 pointer

            3. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Matip bursting into the box.

            4. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Alonso wagon inc.

              Get off the road!

              1. fr3d
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Daughter locked in

            5. Dr. Agabuse
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              lol Barkley thinks he's Salah

            6. Dr. Agabuse
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Think Chelsea was good but Pool been disastrous this game

              1. soup natsi
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                stats disagree with you

              2. Licky
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Woeful.

            7. Blue Gaffer
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Those who have him what are you doing with Trossard: ditching or keeping?

              1. how now brown cow
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Keeping for now

              2. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Keeping

              3. EDUARDO DA SILVA
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Haul incoming

              4. GreennRed
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Keeping. Should play next or subsequent GW.

              5. dunas_dog
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Keeping

              6. Maddi Son
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Keeping for his 13 points on Saturday.

                1. Flynny
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Keeping. Will dispose if he doesn't feature prominently at weekend

            8. Mr. Mystic
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Here’s a stat...

              Most 2+ goals for a PL club in all competition in 2019:

              6) Mane & Sterling
              3) 9 players

              1. soup natsi
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                this stat is so 2019

            9. Hutchiniho
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Long run

              A. De Bruyne and Aubameyang

              B. Martial and Aguero
              or
              C. Martial and Aubameyang

              ???

              1. BobbyDoesNotLook
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                I cant see Martial long term yet. Need to see at least couple of returns from next three.

            10. KujaliaFC
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Will playing hard for 2 hours today impact Salah's effectiveness on the weekend? I'd imagine this must make Sterling or Aubameyang a better captaincy option?

              1. Brosstan
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                nah, hes fit as a fiddle

                1. KujaliaFC
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Or maybe Klopp will play Origi, Firmino, and Chamberlain on the weekend,. 🙂

              2. MTPockets
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Was planning to captain Sterling anyway

                • Onana Whatsmyname
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Yup.

                  Playing for 2hrs until 1am in turkey in the heat in mid week is just about the worst prep possible

                  1. Das Boot
                    • 9 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    He's Egyptian.

                • GreennRed
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  No. This is his job. He might put in for a few quid for overtime.

              3. Freshy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Didnt realize Pedro was still on

              4. Onana Whatsmyname
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Hmmmm Mount looking lively and Frank loves him

                1. soup natsi
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  I'd consider him if I didn't have mcginn

                2. Wilshere Knowledge
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Didn’t love him enough to start him.

              5. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                If you were starting them in a rotation would you rather have Dendoncker or Jorginho?

                1. GreennRed
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Dendoncker. Depends on opposition though.

                  1. SADIO SANÉ
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    ta

              6. sandman58
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Any good mids at 5.0 mill to start??

                1. how now brown cow
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Chelsea pen taker

                  1. soup natsi
                    • 9 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    how nailed is he do you think

                  2. EMBOLOFAN
                    • 5 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    barkleys 6.0

                2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Norwood and Neves offer set pieces

                3. BobbyDoesNotLook
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  4.5 or 5.5. Jorginho not providing anything in game, not even nailed on pens.

                  1. sandman58
                    • 5 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    Seems all are defensive
                    No attacking 5 mill mids at all