Pre-season is gathering pace, with another busy weekend of friendlies offering Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers plenty to monitor.

From potential debuts and tactical tweaks to injury returns and selection battles, every match provides another opportunity to learn more before the new season begins.

Here, we’ve picked out the biggest talking points to keep an eye on across this weekend’s fixtures.

• READ MORE: Friday’s pre-season friendlies: Gomes good, Garcia debut + Sarr lively

There are 19 pre-season friendlies this weekend:

So what sort of things should we be looking out for this weekend?

POPULAR FPL ASSETS ON SHOW

One of the biggest reasons FPL managers follow pre-season so closely is to assess the game’s most popular players. Results matter, but so do performances. The eye test, attacking returns, defensive contributions (DefCons) and, perhaps most importantly, minutes all help shape our thinking ahead of Gameweek 1.

There will be no shortage of popular assets on show this weekend. Chelsea pair João Pedro (£7.5m) and Cole Palmer (£9.5m) both fall into that category. João Pedro grabbed a hat-trick in his previous outing before struggling to make the same impact against Juventus. Palmer, meanwhile, missed that match as a precaution, so all eyes will be on whether he returns to the starting XI.

Arsenal’s defence also deserves close attention. The Gunners are still searching for their first clean sheet of pre-season, so managers will want to see signs that their backline is beginning to click. Gabriel Magalhães (£8.0m) remains one of the standout defensive picks in FPL, while Cristhian Mosquera (£5.5m) and Riccardo Calafiori will both hope to strengthen their claims for a regular starting place.

Liverpool’s attackers will also attract plenty of interest. Pre-season has brought mixed results under Andoni Iraola, but individual roles could prove far more important than the scoreline. Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) has operated in a deeper position in recent matches, while Florian Wirtz (£7.5m) looks set to feature as the number 10. Their positioning and attacking involvement will be just as important as any goals or assists.

Another player under the spotlight is Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m). Fitness concerns surfaced before Leeds’ recent 4-2 victory over Liverpool, but his second-half brace quickly eased those fears. Even so, another strong display this weekend would do even more to cement his place in FPL managers’ early drafts.

TACTICAL INSIGHTS

Formations can tell us just as much as individual performances during pre-season. A tactical tweak can transform a player’s FPL appeal, so this weekend offers another opportunity to see how several managers intend to set up ahead of the new campaign.

Newcastle United will be one of the biggest teams to watch following Eddie Howe’s departure. New head coach Matthias Jaissle has experimented with a variety of systems throughout his career, so his approach in Spain could provide some valuable clues. Whether he opts for a back four or three centre-backs may have a significant impact on the Magpies’ key FPL assets.

Chelsea’s shape also remains a major talking point. Although many expected Xabi Alonso to implement a 3-5-2, he has largely favoured a 4-2-3-1 so far. Another look at his tactical setup should give FPL managers a better indication of how Chelsea are likely to line up when the Premier League season begins.

There is also plenty of interest in Nottingham Forest. Oliver Glasner has generally preferred a back-three system since arriving at the City Ground, but pre-season still provides an opportunity to fine-tune his ideas. Forest owners will hope that continues, as wing-backs Neco Williams (£5.0m) and Ola Aina (£4.5m) become far more attractive in that setup. It could also strengthen the appeal of several of their centre-backs.

WORLD CUP PLAYERS RETURN

Many of the players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup will return to their clubs this weekend after their scheduled three-week break.

We’re unlikely to see the likes of Declan Rice (£7.5m), Bukayo Saka (£9.5m), Morgan Rogers (£7.5m) or Erling Haaland (£15.5m) start just yet. However, their return could provide an indication of where they are in their preparations.

Even if they don’t feature, managers should keep an eye on pre- and post-match interviews. Updates from head coaches often reveal whether players are ready to step up their minutes, remain on individual fitness programmes or are still some way off full sharpness. At this stage of pre-season, those comments can be just as valuable as the action on the pitch.

FIRST OFFICIAL FRIENDLIES

Most Premier League clubs have now played at least one official pre-season friendly. Those matches tend to reveal far more than behind-closed-doors fixtures, offering valuable clues on formations, minutes, fitness levels and individual performances.

Brentford and Brighton are the two exceptions. Brentford’s win over AFC Wimbledon provided very little for FPL managers to analyse. The club didn’t publish the starting XI, there were no post-match interviews and the available footage was limited to the goals. Their meeting with Rennes should therefore give us our first proper look at Keith Andrews’ side.

Brighton have already played two behind-closed-doors friendlies, although supporters have at least had access to some team news and match highlights. Even so, Saturday’s clash with Roma will offer a much clearer indication of Fabian Hürzeler’s plans. It also represents Brighton’s toughest test of pre-season so far, making it an important fixture for FPL managers to follow.

NEW SIGNINGS

New signings will also remain firmly under the spotlight this weekend. While we’ve already had our first glimpse of many arrivals, it’s still too early to draw any firm conclusions.

Players such as Danny Welbeck (£6.0m) at Chelsea, Daizen Maeda (£5.5m) at Ipswich Town, Alejandro Garnacho (£6.0m) at Aston Villa and Tarik Muharemović (£5.0m) at Leeds United have all shown flashes of promise. However, every additional minute on the pitch helps us build a clearer picture of their role, fitness and how quickly they’re adapting to their new surroundings.

Pre-season is rarely about one standout performance. Instead, it’s about spotting patterns. As these players become more familiar with their teammates and tactical systems, FPL managers will gain a much better understanding of who has the potential to become genuine options when the new campaign gets underway.