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11 August 2026 101 comments
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Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) has seen his Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership climb to 44.6%, making him the fourth most-owned player in the game.

As well as his 160-point FPL season in the campaign just gone, Liverpool’s ticker-topping fixture run in the first five Gameweeks of 2026/27 is a big plus:

But is Szoboszlai really a must-have, or could teammate Florian Wirtz (£7.5m) perhaps be the better option?

That’s the focus of this Members article.


VERSATILITY – A GOOD THING FOR MINUTES?

Firstly, the issue we face when looking at Szoboszlai’s underlying numbers is that he played in so many different positions under Arne Slot last season, which is captured below.

Image from Transfermarkt

Even mid-match, Szoboszlai would frequently switch positions.

His versatility is sometimes a plus, as he rarely gets taken off early. In fact, Szoboszlai started in 36 of the Reds’ 38 league matches in 2025/26, being substituted only once.

But playing under Andoni Iraola this season, he could still move around the pitch (more on that later), so this analysis should hopefully still be relevant.

GOAL THREAT

Szoboszlai’s goal threat was limited last season, with only 19 of his 71 shots taken from inside the box.

His expected goals (xG) per shot was subsequently low (0.07).  

Of course, Szoboszlai is on direct free-kicks (four of his six goals came from such situations) and could even be on penalties now that Mohamed Salah has left, but in terms of open-play goal threat, it was limited.

ASSIST POTENTIAL



101 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Everyone will have Wirtz soon enough

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Hope Liverpool continue from last season, don't want any off their filth in my team.

  2. Roly
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Thoughts on this for BB2

    Petrovic, Kinsky
    Gabriel, Ballard, Rondon, Van Ewijk, DaSilva (or other Cov)
    Mbuemo, Tzolis, Semenyo, Wirtz, Le Fee
    Haaland, DCL, Pedro

    Not sure who to go for Out of Le Fee

    1. Roly
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Accidentally pressed post! Le Fee or Taverner was the question!

      1. Sparkys Barmy Army
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I’m going Le Fee just for early fixtures

      2. Morrissey1986
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Marcus Tav is the sort of player that can explode at any time but then leave you the follow week with a 1 pointer he is not worth the hassle. Park him on the watchlist while he gets used to his new manager.

        1. Mr Turnip 1
          • 1 Year
          1 month, 18 days ago

          All attackers usually haul and blank in quick succession, thats kinda how they work. Only exceptions are usually the premiums

          1. Morrissey1986
            • 17 Years
            1 month, 18 days ago

            some put a little run together he very rarely does it he is all or peanuts.

    2. Roly
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Thanks all!

  3. Sparkys Barmy Army
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Kinsky
    Gab - Hume - Shaw - Mitchell
    Bruno F - Semenyo - MGW - Szobo - Le Fee
    Haaland

    Considering downgrading Gab to whichever Ars defender looks likely to start and spreading the funds over the rest of defence

  4. Inspector Norse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    In a team full of Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, for the first 5 GWs incl. BB1:

    1. Ødegaard (or other Arsenal 6.5 mid) + G. Rutter
    2. 4.5 mid (Nørgaard) + João Pedro

    1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      2 I think Norgaard’s a decent enabler at that price

      1. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I agree with this

    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Nørgaard is 5.0 I’m afraid.

      That said I don’t like the minutes of any Arsenal 6.5 mids. Can you find 0.5m to get Pedro and Nørgaard?

  5. Letsgo!
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Leif davis or van ewijk?

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Leif Davis I believe

    2. JerseyD
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Flip a coin

  6. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    which is best:
    A) Sarr
    B) Kluivert

    1. JerseyD
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I don’t like either for the start of the season

    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      A. Sarr is great for the start of the season. His goal threat is a little ridiculous for his price tbh. Good fixtures outside of City, but even then he’s good on the counter. I’d have no qualms about picking him. Kluivert has bad fixtures however, even though he likely has pens I prefer Sarr

    3. PEP G
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      A!!!!

  7. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    One final one:
    A) Gyokeres
    B) Thiago
    C) DCL

    1. JerseyD
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      C

    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I mean if it’s a straight choice then B, but C is £2m cheaper. You need to consider how to reinvest the extra money to decide how good a player is. I think that C + £2m for another player is probably better than B, but B I last better in isolation. Does that make sense?

      1. Mr Turnip 1
        • 1 Year
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I think A is too big a minutes risk for what it’s worth

  8. JerseyD
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    I need the season to start for my own sanity!

    A) Bruno & Le Fee
    B) Semenyo & Palmer/Saka

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Long term B. But with Saka who may not start GW1

      1. JerseyD
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I’m WC GW4 so only looking for the first three games

        1. Mr Turnip 1
          • 1 Year
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Deffo A then

  9. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Another excellent article. Thank you.

  10. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    https://x.com/Erling/status/2087250026422559078

    Haaland back in Manchester, probably gets minutes from bench at the weekend.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Probably isn’t good enough, he’s out! I’ll buy him back at 15.2! Tis a fine stratagem!

  11. Zoostation
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Any changes needed for BB GW1?

    Verbruggen Kinsky

    N Matheus Mosquera Maguire N Williams Shaw

    Semenyo Mbeumo Wirtz Le Fee Gross

    Haaland Pedro DCL

  12. tangtastic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Grob is the new szob

  13. Powerplay
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Groß or Xhaka?

  14. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Gnonto or Mepham?

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Gnonto! Everyone needs a Gnonto!

  15. TallestJohn
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    A thought on an early Bench Boost, which I haven't really been planning for but looks increasingly likely:

    I try to have a full playing XV every week, which was especially easy last season with Dubravka and Mukiele at 4m. Here are my bench scores from the first half of last season:

    7, 14, 8, 8, 19, 18, 10 (BB), 29, 13, 8, 7, 7, 10, 4, 10, 12, 16, 17, 13

    Got a pretty average return from it in a single GW, but it was actually my best GW rank of the season due to eight of my starting XI getting returns. Annoyingly I played it a week before leaving a massive Mukiele haul on my bench. Other than that there were only 15 points between my second best and worst bench. I think if you're flexible there'll be multiple opportunities.

    1. Marmalade Forest
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      So if I understand correctly, your bench scored you
      0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0 points.

      Or do those numbers include auto-subs?

    2. Jaws
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Honestly, this would make me feel ill

  16. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Do Brighton start out with 4 games in 2 weeks?

    1. The Tonberry
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Yeah if you include their European qualifier sandwiched either side of GW1.

      I may just avoid Brighton altogether for the first few gameweeks

    2. Kloppen Schloppen
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Same as Palace last season. I think it’s overblown how big an impact this will have early in the season. Playing multiple games has a cumulative effect after many months, doesn’t present in a 4 game stretch.

  17. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Do you like one more than the other? GW4 Wildcard

    A - Kinsky and Mbeumo
    B - Lammens and Wirtz

    1. The Tonberry
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      They're both okay but I like A more as I think Utd will outscore Liverpool in the first few games and I want in on their attack

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Thanks

    2. PEP G
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      A

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Appreciate

    3. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      A

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Tanks

  18. The Tonberry
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Are the fixtures for BB1 really that much better than BB2? I'm constantly switching between BB1 and BB2.

    Template BB1 players from Liverpool, Chelsea, Leeds, Sunderland, Man Utd, Spurs all start the season away from home. Whereas pretty much all of those teams have an equally good or better GW2 fixture where they'll be playing in front of their home fans and more likely to control and dominate their games. BB1 will only really have Arsenal and City players playing a home fixture - along with Brighton and Ipswich at a push to make up squad numbers.

    I'd trust Arsenal and City to dominate their away games in BB2 more than the away teams playing in BB1.

    There is that risk hoping that the squad makes it to BB2 without injury/rotation/suspension. But I see the gains for BB2 as being greater than BB1.

    1. PEP G
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I would save that chip for later part than having a dilemma right at the start of the season

    2. GoonerByron
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I have BB'd GW1 for the last 3 seasons in a row. I am BBing GW2 this season.

      A good early season BB is pretty much decided by nailing the defence. You're not going to get a better chance to have 2 4.0 defenders on your bench for a BB than Cov v Hull in GW2

      I am going with Kinsky as the GKs, 2 x 4.0 Coventry Defenders + Le Fee v Ipswich.

  19. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    BB2 for me
    Best for COV Lots of good fixtures
    Sets up good for GW4 Wildcard when I hope to be much smarter

  20. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Thoughts on this all out attack team?

    Verbruggen
    Van hecke shaw Hume
    Bruno mbeumo semenyo Wirtz
    Haaland Pedro dcl

    Palmer Davis O’Shea crooks

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Very nice. Good start for first 3 weeks and WC4 I would think. You might just about get through GW3 then it would be surgery time. But for a 3 week punt why not- looks good to me.
      You throwing a BB in early or not?

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Nah saving it for later. Can’t Bb with this bench mate.

        1. Ausman
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Good to hear you have come off the BB idea. Better to wait for more info before jumping in:)

          1. SpaceCadet
            • 12 Years
            1 month, 18 days ago

            True. Thoughts on the draft mate?

            1. Ausman
              • 3 Years
              1 month, 18 days ago

              Well I have 6 of your starting 11, so it gets a tick from me.

  21. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Is Gelhardt of Riviera an option? A cut-price witcher sounds to good to be true!

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Would love to find a 5 mil that looks good and Leeds fixtures decent but Championship numbers are always going to be so much higher than the real deal.
      Has he even played much time in friendlies so far? Maybe another loan season somewhere other than Hull?

    2. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      It is too good to be true!

  22. BR510
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Which draft?

    Kinsky Petrovic
    Cala Palestra Shaw Thomas Van Ewijk
    Bruno Palmer Semenyo Mbeumo Le Fee
    Isak Pedro DCL

    (1.0 ITB, BB2, FH3)

    OR

    Kinsky Petrovic
    Hume Mosquera Shaw Van Ewijk Thomas
    Palmer Sememyo Mbeumo Le Fee Szobo
    Haaland Pedro DCL

    (BB2, 0.0 ITB)

    Can both be BB1 if better

    1. The Tonberry
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      The one with the meatshield

  23. The Tonberry
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Best option for BB2?

    A - Lammens and Shaw
    B - Petrovic and Maguire
    C - Lammens and any other 4.5 defender

    Would've liked Lammens and Maguire but can't find anywhere else in my squad to get that 0.5 extra.

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Just go A then. If attacking the promoted teams on BB might as well go all in.

  24. pmletch
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    A) Kerkez, Gross, JP
    B) Muharemović/Vuskovic, Wirtz, DCL

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Don’t trust Kerkez especially from GW1 would like JP but could wait til GW4 so B
      I have JP DCL and Wirtz but I don’t have Bruno and assume you do.

      1. pmletch
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        That’s right, I’m playing 352

  25. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Thoughts on this no Bruno team?

    Verbruggen (Kinsky)
    Maguire Mosquera Rodon (Ajer Mykolenko)
    Mbuemo Semenyo MGW Sarr Szobozlai
    Haaland Pedro (DCL)

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Nice. The kinda non template picks could be good Rodin Ajer Mykolenko and Sarr
      I am already wondering how many Everton CP and even Newcastle we might squeeze in to a WC in GW4 having these already helps.
      But MGW as good as he is might be over priced this season and pretty mixed fixtures to start.

  26. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Gomez nailed for Brighton?

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Or just let know the 5 mil mid that breaks the game. Cheers.

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        He’s a great option.

    2. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      It’s a difficult price point, and the only two I would consider are Yarmoliuk and Gomez. Yarm is way better for DCs, but not much goal threat or BPS. Gomez decent goal threat and BPS but not as good for DCs. Not sure how “nailed” they are.
      If it was my decision I would go for Yarm with his far superior DC abilities, at least you have a decent chance at more than 2 points.

    3. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Thanks they were the 2 I was looking at too.
      Follow up question
      A. Foden and Tzolis
      Or
      B. Semenyo and Gomez/ Yarmo
      With a BB in Gw1

      1. Ausman
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I’m not a fan of early BB because of the limited info we have about players minutes, nailedness etc. but a lot of folks seem to be doing it, so:
        I don’t like A because I think both players are minutes risks. B with Yarmo because he has a home game, but see how many minutes those two play in the final friendly.

        1. swervinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Me either - nice idea but too many variables.

        2. Albrightondknight
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Cheers. In previous years I was all for building a bit of value and doing a later BB. First BB last season paid off with 25 points.
          Now I want to use it early. Bb1 WC4 and FH 6 are pretty much unavoidable with the plan I am on.
          B sounding better to me too Cherki is too much of a risk to Foden Minutes and Tzolis an unknown even if not many other options on the left wing for Arsenal. But it does look like 2 maybe 70 mins player against 2 90 mins. And by GW3

    4. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Also look at Norguard son of Aerogard.

      1. Ausman
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Thief! Thief! You stole that line from TKT!

        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          I am merely being a trumpet for tkt

    5. Ball Ake
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Gomez pretty nailed yep, particularly with the Alan Minteh injury.

  27. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Semenyo or Mbeumo (Have Bruno F)

    1. fantasyfog
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      For the first time I'm considering Semenyo and Mbeumo and no Bruno, plan, until now, was Bruno 1st 2 then Bruno to Semenyo, thinking I may save myself that transfer now

  28. JohnnyCroat
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Balogun to Spurs is all the talk on the continent. This is Champ Man lvls of recruiting from them.

  29. Dutchy
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    This no Haaland BB draft looks extraordinary no?

    Kinsky
    White Gvardiol Neco
    Bruno Wirtz Mbuemo Semenyo
    Isak Pedro Thiago

    Verbruggen Groß Maguire O’Shea

    1. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      best i've seen.

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Looks great. If I'm being picky I think I'd prefer Gabriel over Isak

  30. Royal5
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Players who were awful last season I keep seing i drafts: Wirtz, Foden, Isak, Semenyo, Sarr. Fool me once etc?

    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Semenyo was one of only four players to exceed 200 points in FPL last season, I need more of this awfulness.