Pre-Season

Liverpool assets popular in early FPL squads

Five days after Fantasy Premier League was launched for the 2019/20 campaign, we are taking our first look at the ownership figures to see which assets are popular among the Fantasy community.

We’ll be doing this on a semi-frequent basis throughout the summer to see which trends are developing as injuries, new signings, pre-season form and international tournament minutes shape our thinking.

As is always the case at this time of year, the ‘auto-pick’ selections are skewing the figures towards mid-price assets (£5.5m goalkeepers, £6.0m defenders, £7.0m midfielders and £7.5m-£8.5m forwards).

Nevertheless, some early patterns are forming.

Goalkeepers

FPL ownership figures for goalkeepers as of midday on July 2. The ownership percentages are given in the right column.

Alisson (£6.0m), the top-scoring FPL goalkeeper of 2018/19 and the Golden Glove winner to boot, is the most popular asset between the sticks, perhaps as Fantasy managers seek out a cheaper route to a Liverpool defensive double-up following price rises elsewhere.

David Button (£4.0m) is the go-to bench fodder option currently but teammate Mathew Ryan (£4.5m) is the most popular budget shot-stopper, with the Seagulls faring well on our Season Ticker in the first six Gameweeks.

A price rise for Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) hasn’t deterred 11.9% of FPL managers from drafting in the West Ham custodian, while Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) – who kept ten clean sheets in 18 league starts this calendar year – narrowly trails behind the Poland international.

Of the goalkeepers we know are first choices at their respective clubs, Vicente Guaita and Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) are proving the least popular, sitting in just over 1.0% of FPL squads.

Defenders

FPL ownership figures for defenders as of midday on July 2. The ownership percentages are given in the right column.

Price rises for Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) haven’t translated into a fall in demand, with these three Liverpool defenders among the four most-popular assets in their position and each boasting an ownership of at least 30%.

Perhaps surprisingly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) is still proving en vogue despite a £1.5m price hike.

There are many factors that will be shaping this – a nostalgia for his displays last season, a move to Manchester United and a higher rate of ‘casuals’ playing the game at this stage of the year – but a 34.1% ownership is still eyebrow-raising, given his dearth of attacking returns last season.

As we have discussed, £6.0m-rated options such as Matt Doherty, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy will be benefiting from auto-pick selections with still over five weeks to go until Gameweek 1.

Lucas Digne‘s (£6.0m) popularity can’t just be attributed to his price tag, however, given that his ownership is head and shoulders above any other defender available at £6.0m.

Martin Kelly (£4.0m) is the bargain-basement defender that over one in five FPL managers has opted for, either just as bench fodder or perhaps with a hope that he will fill the void left by Wan-Bissaka at Selhurst Park – although Kelly was deputising more at centre-half in the season run-in.

Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m) is the most popular “nailed” defender available for less than £5.0m, sitting in 10.3% of squads, with Issa Diop (£4.5m) – linked with a move to Manchester United this summer – not far behind on 9.0%.

Seamus Coleman and Oleksandr Zinchenko (both £5.5m), two cheaper routes into the Everton and City defences, sit in just 3.3% and 2.5% of FPL squads respectively.

Midfielders

FPL ownership figures for midfielders as of midday on July 2. The ownership percentages are given in the right column.

A small price drop for Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has perhaps aided the Egyptian’s appeal in the Fantasy community, with the Liverpool winger the most-selected midfield asset at the time of writing.

Price rises for Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) and Sadio Mane (£11.5m) haven’t aided their cause but they are still among the top five most popular players in their position.

Kevin De Bruyne (£9.5m) sits in only 11.8% of FPL squads despite a price cut and, interestingly, Fantasy managers are moving increasingly for Bernardo Silva (£8.0m).

Wilfried Zaha‘s (£7.0m) ownership figure will, as we have emphasised, be inflated due to auto-pick selections.

As with Digne, though, his popularity can’t just be attributed to his cost – a positional reclassification, coupled with speculation over a possible move to a ‘big six’ club, will no doubt be boosting interest.

Decent early fixtures for Bournemouth and Everton have seen many keep faith with Ryan Fraser (£7.5m) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.0m) despite price hikes, while Jack Grealish (£6.0m) is proving relatively popular at this early stage – the Villa midfielder currently sits in 10.4% of FPL squads.

Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester United midfield assets are largely being overlooked, with not one owned by more than 7% of Fantasy bosses.

Forwards

FPL ownership figures for forwards as of midday on July 2. The ownership percentages are given in the right column.

Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) is currently the most-owned FPL asset in any position.

While auto-pick selections have to be taken into account, the fact that he is way ahead of Callum Wilson (£8.0m), Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) and Romelu Lukaku (£8.5m) – all players who feature in heavily in auto-pick squads – speaks volumes as to his popularity.

Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) and Harry Kane (£11.5m) are owned by more than one in five Fantasy managers but the big hitters in attack are generally not as popular as their midfield counterparts, as we expected.

A decent number of Fantasy managers are turning to Josh King and Diogo Jota (both £6.5m) as a cheaper way of covering Wilson and Jimenez, while Gerard Deulofeu (£6.5m) is still fairly sought-after despite his positional change.

Alexandre Lacazette and Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) both feature in 7.6% of FPL squads, as does Teemu Pukki (£6.5m).

Shane Long (£5.0m) is the most-owned budget forward option but the recent signings of Danny Ings (£6.0m) and Che Adams will no doubt dent his appeal regarding game-time.

311 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    With James Justin signed by Leicester, Pereira OOP should be on the cards.
    At 6.0, I'd definitely interested if that were the case. So much better than most of the mids/fwds at that price.

    1. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Can't see it, Rodgers seemed pretty settled on the 4-3-3 / 4-1-4-1 with Albrighton or Gray at RW, be nice if he tried Pereira there in pre season though.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Ah, I see.
        The fact that Justin is playable on both flanks worries me about Chilwell's/Pereira's spot on the XI. Will have to observe preseason.

  2. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    After Ndombele's acquisition,we can assume that Spurs defence will be better this season?

    1. thunder_mike
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think so, I think it makes there attacking options more tempting too. Dele and Eriksen shouldn't be playing as deep.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Eriksen won’t be there

        1. thunder_mike
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          It is not looking likely, but it looks like there will be a in replacement, LoCelso maybe.
          Who ever it is, the issues of Spurs midfield are looking like they are getting sorted, which makes them a much better attacking prospect.

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

      If Alders toys stay in the pram then yes.

      1. thunder_mike
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Spurs had a great defensive record a few seasons ago and the main pairing was Sanchez and Vertonghen

    3. Rodney Charlton Trotter
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Ndombele not the best defensively IMO

    4. Rodney Charlton Trotter
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Also Spurs' weakness at the back last season was mainly down to Tripper id say pal!

  3. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Wish richarlison was a good pick. Would love to double up with siggy

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      He is for the first two months and the last month of any season.

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Why can’t you?

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        His form and minutes were awful tbh
        Early subtitutions! And no longer playing forward

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Tends to start well though and maybe this is his year. I thought he’d come in at £7.5m though so it’s easily Siggy over him for me at the moment.

  4. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT chaps:

    Ryan, (Button)
    Mendy, TAA, Digne (Schär, Diop)
    Sterling, Mané, Sigurdsson, Maddison (Dendoncker)
    Giroud, King, Deulofeu

    1. poulteren
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      mendy may not start....

      I'd still have salah versus mane

      calvert lewin lloked good towards end of season and will start . Amazing fixtures

    2. Ëð
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think I'd have Giroud or Deulo. Apart from that looking good.

    3. scubasmithy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      It's a bold one - Giroud a big risk but could be a brilliant call (Jota could be a safer option, but I like the idea of Giroud)

      Mendy.... is Walker a better option?
      Much prefer Salah to Mane
      Maddison i'm not keen on at all - prefer Tielemans or similar.
      DCL instead of Deulofeu?
      Maybe go for a 4.0 fodder fifth defender?

      King, Sterling, TAA, Digne, Siggy and keepers all very solid picks.

  5. Ëð
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    A) Ederson and Bilva
    B) Ryan and KDB

    1. scubasmithy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A.

  6. New Post
  7. amit1964
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    hii help please

    a) vvd+sigurdssonn+aguero

    b) coleman+sterling+vardy

    thank you

  8. Little fekirs
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    A. VVD, Salah, Aguero, Jorginho
    or
    B. Robbo, Sterling, Wilson, Alli

    1. amit1964
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      b.... ali is better then jorginio

  9. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    For all Gomez owners, dont forget Klopp likes a substitution of him replacing TAA in the 89th minute.

  10. jayzico
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Much of a likeness. But anyway.

    Who do you believe will get more points this season
    Robbo
    TAA

    ???

    Thanks in advance

  11. wayne50
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Hi Fantasy Football Experts, All welcome to join my Leagues.

    H2H League code fjjpw5
    Classic League code antt26

    Leagues are for fun only. No money involved.

  12. Darragh82
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    It’s a gamble but thinking of starting with Origi as I would think Salah and mane could start slow due to playing in the Afcon. Still 2 weeks in it and not much of a turnaround. Probably wildcard one of them a few weeks in. Is anyone else thinking this way?? Thanks