Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 1 Scout Picks: Four double-ups

14 August 2025 469 comments
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With Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26 getting underway tomorrow, it’s time to finalise our Gameweek 1 Scout Picks.

As usual, our Scout Picks selection is influenced by the Scout Squad submissions made by Neale (Editor), Tom (Deputy Editor), Sam (General Manager) and Marc (Staff Writer).

There are certain restrictions for our picks, however:

  • An £83.0m budget for our starting XI
  • An overall squad limit of £100.0m
  • No more than three players per team

GAMEWEEK 1 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

Robert Sanchez (£5.0m) gets the nod in goal after being chosen by two of our Scout Squad pundits. The FIFA Club World Cup champions, Chelsea, are set to face Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. Oliver Glasner’s troops have plenty of firepower, but the Blues enjoyed the third-best home record in the Premier League last season, conceding just 18 goals. The Club World Cup was a clear mark of progression, too, with Paris-Saint Germain among four clubs shut out.

With Marc Guehi (£4.5m) and Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) both linked with moves away from Selhurst Park this week, we’re hoping Palace are sufficiently disrupted to allow Sanchez to bag us a clean sheet as well as save points.

DEFENDERS

FPL notes: Why Porro was benched, in-form Chelsea, Martin sacked

 

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469 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. TAnderson
    • 1 Year
    9 months, 15 days ago

    One day to go until the season opener! ⚽ Stay ahead with Knocks & Bans – track injuries, suspensions
    https://www.knocksandbans.com/

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  2. tristanabc
    • 15 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    G2G?

    Perri
    Murillo Williams VDV
    Palmer Bruno Wirtz Xhaka
    Haaland Watkins Pedro

    Dubravka KDH Rodon Esteve

    Only temptation is to downgrade Watkins to JSL or Evanilson and upgrade defence for a bit more balance.

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    1. Big Mike
      • 3 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      A) If you want a 4.5 goalie, then I'd either go for Kelleher or Verbruggen.
      B) Bring in Tarkowski for Murillo OR keep Murillo and downgrade Xhaka to a 4.5, then use the extra 0.5 to upgrade Williams to Tarkowski
      C) Play KDH over Xhaka

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  3. ididnt
    • 14 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    How is this looking.

    Sels (Dubravka)
    VDV, Murillo, Diouf (Konsa, Rodon)
    Salah, Gakpo, Wirtz, Rutter, Reijnders
    Watkins, Pedro (Guiu)

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    1. ididnt
      • 14 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      Wirtz can become Bruno.

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      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 10 Years
        9 months, 15 days ago

        Looks good. Perhaps go Bruno with all his points variety

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  4. RedJive79
    • 6 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Trying a Salah+Haaland draft. Any good? Thanks.

    Sels
    Konsa / Aina / Diouf
    Salah / Reijnders / Anderson / Kudus / Palmer
    Joao Pedro / Haaland

    Dub / Guiu / Richards / Gudmundsson

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  5. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Any reason people are going Pedro over Delap?

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  6. gomez123
    • 12 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Thoughts on Reece James?? Deffo a dont go there??

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  7. BusbySwede
    • 8 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Anyone with a thought on this?
    Sels
    Porro, Cucurella, Milenkovic
    Palmer, Bruno, Wirtz, Kudos
    Watkins, Pedro, Fullkrog

    Dubravka, Rogers, Tarkowski, Konsa

    Have i spread the money too much and stuck with constant benching headache?
    Too much spent on defense, or forwards?

    A) Cucurella, Bruno, Kudos, Pedro
    B) Salah, De Cuyper/Diouf,

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    1. BusbySwede
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      B Should be Salah, De Cuyper/Diouf, Anderson, Guiu

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  8. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    No Wissa, touch and go Schade
    Triple def Forest, here we gooo

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  9. WVA
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Quite tempted to bb my budget bench of Dubravka King Rodon Reinildo, got to be 10points there?

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  10. Espanyolie
    • 5 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Is Solanke fully out of grace? Or did I miss something? His ankle seems to be ok based on his cameo yesterday.
    Saw him quite a bit in early drafts but seems to have completely disappeared from them? If fully focussing on GW1 (BB + early WC), is he still a viable option in the 7.5 fwd mix?

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    1. dabber7
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 14 days ago

      Hasn't played any pre-season at all save for coming on for the last 20 mins on Wednesday, so question marks over his match fitness. Based on how well Richarlison played against PSG, you'd think it's highly likely that he will start ahead of Solanke, at least in GW1.

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  11. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    RP

    Please your help is needed

    In your opinion what is the best 4/4.5 GK and 2 x 5.0 MFers for this team

    Verbruggen xxxxxxxx
    Tarkowski Williams Rodon Andersen Konsa
    Salah Palmer Saka xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx
    Bowen Mateta Evanlison

    No BB GW1
    FH GW4 following IB

    Any ideas would be appreciated

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    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      No use having 2x 5m mfers. 4.5 fodder and Reijnders/Anderson/Arias imo.
      Just go Dubravka 2nd keeper and have KDH/Pape Sarr 8th attacker

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  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Found picking a team very easy this year. Are most people seeing that? Are there just too limited options? My last choice anyways is this. Same 3 teams. Best one?

    A. Porro+Pedro+Fullkrug
    B. VdV+Delap+Bowen

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    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      A. Pedro seems more in favor than Delap, atm.

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  13. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Does this look ok?

    Kelleher/ Dubravka
    De Cuyper/ VDV/ Andersen/ Konsa/ Esteve
    Palmer/ Saka/ Bruno/ Wirtz/ Reijnders
    Haaland/ Pedro/ Gulu

    Thanks!

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  14. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Having trouble deciding between Sels and Sanchez (dubravka 4.0)

    Is there a rotating 4.5 duo?

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  15. Pedersen
    • 7 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Sanchez
    Van de Ven / Porro / Murillo / Diouf
    Salah / Palmer / Bruno / Reijnders
    Watkins / Strand Larsen

    Dubravka / Konsa / Guiu / Ramsey

    I really want to find 1m to get Bowen over Guiu (that is what I am short on). Is that possible in this team? Murillo?

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  16. C_G
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    is this gtg?

    Sels

    Diouf Neco James

    Salah Saka Bruno Harry Wilson

    Pedro Bowen Watkins

    Dubravka Gudmunsson Esteve Ramsey

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  17. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Which team would you go for?
    Which is the better team?

    Team A
    Sels
    Chalobah Murillo Porro
    Salah Palmer Bruno Rutter Reijnders
    Watkins Pedro
    Dubravka Dorgu Guiu Esteve

    Team B
    Sanchez
    VVD Murillo Porro
    Salah Palmer Rutter Gakpo
    Watkins Pedro Fullkrug
    Dubravka Dorgu King Esteve

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    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      b

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  18. davewg59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Nobody considering Sesko or Ekitike just in case they hit the ground running?

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    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      Ekitike is good option more so than sesko.. but I’m waiting and seeing how he gets on
      Prefer Salah and Writz

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    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 months, 15 days ago

      My wife.

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  19. Slitherene
    • 8 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Is Marmoush nailed?

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  20. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    9 months, 15 days ago

    Is a Forest double up in defence too much?
    Going with Sels & Milenkovic.

    Also which option:
    A) Cucurella
    B) A Nouri

    If i don’t go with cucurella I can have Sanchez in goal.

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  21. martynteresa
      9 months, 15 days ago

      i absolutely love pedro is in 56 percent of teams, tee hee

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      1. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        9 months, 15 days ago

        Still toying with whether to put him in for Solanke, reckon pedro will flop?

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        1. martynteresa
            9 months, 15 days ago

            yes

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        2. Dosh
          • 12 Years
          9 months, 15 days ago

          Doesn't that scare you if you don't go for him?

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          1. martynteresa
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Nope he has 5 and 6 goals in last 2 seasons on 2000 mins each and with delap for competition he probably wont get more than 2500 mins max if that.
              Brighton high attacking team create lots of chances so how much gain is there in the chances created at Chelsea,not a lot of upside here.
              Maybe he gets 10, maybe 12 but theres better choices that will score more than that
              Wissa for example 19 goals last season,no penalties

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        3. Raybel22
          • 12 Years
          9 months, 15 days ago

          What's the deal with Marmoush? No one seems to have him at all.

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          1. Pedersen
            • 7 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Only played when Haaland was injured

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          2. martynteresa
              9 months, 15 days ago

              I do. Played when Haaland wasnt injured too

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          3. Manani
            • 14 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            is this 5 man mid too weak?

            PMSarr Wirtz Salah Palmer Reij

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            1. Drip Doctor
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Nah, its fine

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          4. Bumbaclot
            • 15 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Final RMT if possible guys.

            Sanchez
            Frimpong/murillo/vdv
            Salah/palmer/rogers/wirtz/anderson
            Watkins/evanilson

            Petrovic/konsa/esteve/guiu

            Thanks in advance for any feedback and I’ll make sure to comment on others! X

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          5. In Carrick we trust
            • 8 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Liverpool fans, is gakpo nailed?

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            1. Bleh
              • 9 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Yes, as long as we don’t sign another forward/LW.

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              1. In Carrick we trust
                • 8 Years
                9 months, 15 days ago

                Brillant, I think he could be a great differential

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                1. Kiwivillan
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  9 months, 15 days ago

                  Great home form, awful away

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                  1. For Beto or Wirtz!
                    • 1 Year
                    9 months, 15 days ago

                    Yeah ur right. I remember this from last season but forgot.

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          6. Drip Doctor
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Any Liverpool fans here?

            Mad to go Gakpo captain instead of Wirtz?

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            1. Bleh
              • 9 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Not mad, I’ve gone with Gakpo to bolster my backline.

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            2. Dreaming of glory
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Yes, not a ff captain

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          7. My heart goes Salalalalah
            • 9 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Every RMT has Wirtz. I don't know football well enough to make my own decision on this, but will he easily outscore Gakpo? That 1m goes a long way in my team...

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            1. Drip Doctor
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              I don't think he'll easily outscore him when they both play. He's more nailed though. In harder games, you could see Wirtz LW and Szobozlai coming into midfield

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            2. Dreaming of glory
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Dont rate gakpo but wirtz is unknown to an extent in the league so be interesting to see him. Could be alot of jota emotion at anfield as well

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          8. Dreaming of glory
            • 10 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Kelleher/dubravka

            James-aina-VDV
            Salah-palmer-oreilly-kudus-rejinders
            Haaland-pedro

            Barnes-esteve-rodon

            Bit too narrow??
            Dropping haaland for watkins gives me wirtz, Rogers and Watkins

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            1. My heart goes Salalalalah
              • 9 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              No Haaland then

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          9. RICICLE
            • 3 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            Hi chaps! Hope everyone is well and buzzing for tomorrow!

            Didn’t think I’d make this many changes to my team but right now I’m at:

            Sanchez
            Munoz - Milenkovic - Porro
            Tielemans - Wirtz - Palmer - Salah - Anderson
            Solanke - Watkins
            ______________________________________
            Dubravka: Diouf: Esteve: Marc Guiu

            But gutted about losing Bruno but Wirtz could become him?

            Thoughts overall gents?

            Many thanks!

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            1. Bluetiger1
              • 3 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Solanke ?

              Alternative

              Mateta 7.5m
              Wood 7.5m
              Strand Larsen 6.5m (1m ITB)
              João Pedro 7.5m

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          10. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
            • 14 Years
            9 months, 15 days ago

            A Konsa
            B VDV

            Needed in the 11 most weeks

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            1. Dreaming of glory
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 15 days ago

              Vdv for me

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