The Complete Guide to FPL Pre-Season 2021/22

The Complete Guide to FPL Pre-Season 2021/22

Fantasy Premier League has relaunched for 2021/22 and, as usual, we have everything you need to set you up for the new campaign.

All of our pre-season content will be collated on this page, which will be regularly refreshed between now and Gameweek 1, so make sure you bookmark it now and revisit it regularly.

There is full analysis of the Premier League fixtures, including best schedules, ones to avoid, rotation pairings and fixture swings.

This is also where you can find our price-by-price, position-by-position rundown of every asset in FPL. There will also be analysis of all 20 teams, Scout Reports on new signings and Moving Target articles on those switching allegiance.

Any information we learn about the various pre-season fixtures, from line-ups, goals and assists to the wider Fantasy talking points, will also be documented here in our friendlies spreadsheet.

A lot of our content is free but, to gain access to every single article we publish and benefit from all the tools and stats on offer in our Premium Members Area, subscribe or upgrade now.

POSITION-BY-POSITION PRICE LIST GUIDE

FIXTURE ANALYSIS

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Pre-season Minutes

How many minutes each FPL option has played during the pre-season:

CLUB BY CLUB

ARSENAL

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 13 | Hibernian 2-1 Arsenal (Easter Road) | Smith Rowe (Bellerin assist)
Jul 17 | Rangers 2-2 Arsenal (Ibrox) | Tavares (Holding assist), Nketiah
Jul 24 | Arsenal 4-1 Millwall (Arsenal Training Centre) | Chambers (Aubameyang assist), Lacazette (Chambers assist), Pepe (Aubameyang assist), Balogun (Willian assist)
Jul 28 | Arsenal 4-1 Watford (Arsenal Training Centre) | Nketiah (Willian assist), Lacazette pen (Maitland-Niles assist), Tierney, Azeez (Pepe assist)
Aug 1 | Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (Emirates Stadium) | Xhaka (Pepe assist)
Aug 8 | Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Arsenal (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Nicolas Pepe won and missed a penalty in the loss to Hibs with Alexandre Lacazette on the pitch but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off it. The opposite then happened against Watford.
  • Mikel Arteta has favoured a 4-2-3-1 for much of the summer, with Aubameyang splitting his time between left-winger and central striker.
  • Bukayo Saka has had less than half an hour of game-time in pre-season.
  • Rob Holding was “not fit enough” to feature against Spurs, while Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel and Thomas Partey will miss the start of 2021/22.

Form Players: Pepe (1 goal, 2 assists), Nketiah (2 goals), Lacazette (2 goals), Chambers (1 goal, 1 assist), Aubameyang (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

DEF | Nuno Tavares | Benfica (£8m)
MID | Albert Sambi Lokonga | Anderlecht (Undisclosed)
DEF | Ben White | Brighton and Hove Albion (£50m)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | David Luiz | Released
DEF | William Saliba | Marseille (Loan)
MID | Matteo Guendouzi | Marseille (Loan)
DEF | Konstantinos Mavropanos | Stuttgart (Loan)

ASTON VILLA

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 21 | Walsall 0-4 Aston Villa (Banks’s Stadium) | Watkins (Buendia assist), Watkins (Buendia assist), Philogene-Bidace (Wesley assist), A. Ramsey (Philogene-Bidace assist)
Jul 24 | Stoke City 2-0 Aston Villa (bet365 Stadium)
Jul 31 | Bristol City 0-3 Aston Villa (Ashton Gate) | Philogene-Bidace (Watkins assist), Konsa (McGinn assist), Watkins (El Ghazi assist)
Aug 8 | Aston Villa 3-1 Salernitana (Villa Park) | Ings (Philogene-Bidace assist), El Ghazi pen (Watkins assist), A. Young (Cash assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Dean Smith used his usual 4-2-3-1 for much of pre-season but after Danny Ings arrived, switched to a 4-4-2 to incorporate the new signing and Ollie Watkins up top.
  • Emiliano Buendia has been trialled at both right wing and no. 10 since his arrival but fellow new recruit Leon Bailey has yet to feature.
  • Anwar El Ghazi took a penalty with Ings and Watkins on the pitch in the final pre-season friendly.
  • Buendia and Watkins are injury doubts for Gameweek 1.

Form Players: Watkins (3 goals, 2 assists), Philogene-Bidace (2 goals, 2 assists), Buendia (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Emiliano Buendía | Norwich City (£33m)
DEF | Ashley Young | Inter Milan (Free transfer)
MID | Leon Bailey | Bayer Leverkusen (£30m)
FWD| Danny Ings | Southampton (£25m)
DEF | Axel Tuanzebe | Manchester United (Loan)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Ahmed El Mohamady | Released
DEF | Neil Taylor | Released
GK | Tom Heaton | Manchester United (Free transfer)
MID | Jack Grealish | Manchester City (£100m)
DEF | Bjorn Engels | Royal Antwerp (Undisclosed)

BRENTFORD

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 17 | Wimbledon 0-1 Brentford (Plough Lane) | Valencia (Stevens assist)
Jul 20 | Boreham Wood 0-2 Brentford (Meadow Park) | Toney (Canos assist), Fosu (Thompson assist)
Jul 24 | Watford 1-3 Brentford (London Colney) | Toney (Canos assist), Toney, Dervisoglu
Jul 28 | Manchester United 2-2 Brentford (Old Trafford) | Baptiste (Toney assist), Mbeumo (Stevens assist)
Jul 31 | Brentford 0-1 West Ham United (Brentford Community Stadium)
Aug 7 | Brentford 2-1 Valencia (Brentford Community Stadium) | Pinnock (Canos assist), Onyeka

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Thomas Frank started pre-season in a 4-3-3 but switched to a wing-back system in the matches against West Ham and Valencia, with Mbeumo enjoying an ‘out of position (OOP)’ run-out in the latter match.
  • Sergi Canos, by contrast, had a ‘reverse OOP’ spell at wing-back against Valencia.
  • Ivan Toney is expected to be fit for the start of 2021/22.

Form Players: Toney (3 goals, 1 assist), Canos (3 assists), Stevens (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Yoane Wissa | Lorient (Undisclosed)
MID | Frank Onyeka | FC Midtjylland (Undisclosed)
DEF | Kristoffer Ajer | Celtic (Undisclosed)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Henrik Dalsgaard | Released
GK | Luke Daniels | Released
MID | Emiliano Marcondes | Released

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 24 | Rangers 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion (Ibrox)
Jul 31 | Luton Town 1-3 Brighton and Hove Albion (Kenilworth Road) | Connolly (Lallana assist), Mwepu (March assist), Tau (Andone assist)
Aug 7 | Brighton and Hove Albion 0-2 Getafe (Amex Stadium)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Graham Potter opted for a diamond system at Luton, with Adam Lallana in the hole and Joel Veltman and Solly March at full-back.
  • Potter then rolled out a wing-back formation against Getafe, with Pascal Gross and Enock Mwepu each having stints at right wing-back.
  • Danny Welbeck, Dan Burn and Tariq Lamptey will miss the start of the season with injuries.
  • Albion had fewer friendlies than any other side.

Key Transfers In:

MID | Enock Mwepu | RB Salzburg (Undisclosed)
GK | Kjell Scherpen | Ajax (Undisclosed)

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Jose Izquierdo | Released
MID | Davy Propper | PSV Eindhoven (Undisclosed)
DEF | Bernardo | RB Salzburg (Undisclosed)
GK | Mathew Ryan | Real Sociedad (Undisclosed)
MID | Alireza Jahanbakhsh | Feyenoord (Undisclosed)
DEF | Ben White | Arsenal (£50m)

BURNLEY

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 20 | Burnley 2-1 Morecambe (Barnfield Training Centre) | Barnes, Gudmundsson
Jul 20 | Burnley 4-0 Colchester United (Barnfield Training Centre) | Brownhill, Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Brownhill
Jul 24 | Oldham Athletic 0-2 Burnley (Boundary Park) | Rodriguez (Thomas assist), Richardson (Rodriguez assist)
Jul 27 | Blackpool 0-1 Burnley (Bloomfield Road) | Thomas (Westwood assist)
Jul 31 | Tranmere 1-2 Burnley (Prenton Park) | Barnes (McNeil assist), McNeil
Aug 3 | Burnley 1-0 Newcastle United (Turf Moor) | Rodriguez (Pieters assist)
Aug 7 | Burnley 0-2 Cadiz (Turf Moor)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Sean Dyche split his squad across two training-ground friendlies on July 20. No assist information was available from either game.
  • Dyche has opted for his usual 4-4-2 over the summer.
  • Chris Wood had been away with New Zealand on Olympic Games duty but both he and the previously injured Nick Pope returned to contention against Cadiz.
  • £4.0m defender Phil Bardsley started the last two friendlies but Matthew Lowton was merely self-isolating and has since featured in an under-23s match to regain fitness.

Form Players: Rodriguez (4 goals, 1 assist), Brownhill (2 goals), Thomas (1 goal, 1 assist), McNeil (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

DEF | Nathan Collins | Stoke City (Undisclosed)
GK | Wayne Hennessey | Free transfer

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Robbie Brady | Released
DEF | Ben Gibson | Norwich City (Undisclosed)
FWD | Joel Mumbongo | Accrington Stanley (Loan)
GK | Bailey Peacock-Farrell | Sheffield Wednesday (Loan)
MID | Josh Benson | Barnsley (Undisclosed)

CHELSEA

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 17 | Chelsea 6-1 Peterborough (Cobham) | Abraham, Pulisic pen, Ziyech (Rahman assist), Ziyech (Broja assist), Broja, Ziyech
Jul 27 | Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea (Vitality Stadium) | Broja (Rahman assist), Ugbo (Barkley assist)
Aug 1 | Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (Emirates Stadium) | Havertz (Werner assist), Abraham
Aug 4 | Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Stamford Bridge) | Ziyech (Kante assist), Ziyech (Alonso assist)
Aug 11 | Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (Windsor Park) | Ziyech (Havertz assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Peterborough was a behind-close-doors game with no complete line-up or assist information or televised highlights.
  • Eight senior players had no pre-season involvement at all due to late returns from international duty: César Azpilicueta, Ben Chilwell, Andreas Christensen, Reece James, Jorginho, Mason Mount, Emerson Palmieri and Thiago Silva.
  • Thomas Tuchel has stuck with his 3-4-2-1 for much of pre-season, with both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz used through the middle at stages.

Form Players: Ziyech (6 goals), Broja (2 goals, 1 assist), Abraham (2 goals), Rahman (2 assists), Havertz (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

GK | Marcus Bettinelli | Fulham (Free transfer)

Key Transfers Out:

GK | Willy Caballero| Released
MID | Billy Gilmour | Norwich City (Loan)
MID | Marco van Ginkel | PSV Eindhoven (Free transfer)
DEF | Fikayo Tomori | AC Milan (£25m)
FWD | Olivier Giroud | AC Milan (Undisclosed)
MID | Victor Moses | Spartak Moscow (Undisclosed)
DEF | Marc Guehi | Crystal Palace (Undisclosed)
DEF | Tino Livramento | Southampton (£5.3m)

CRYSTAL PALACE

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 17 | Walsall 0-1 Crystal Palace (Bescot Stadium) | Zaha (Street assist)
Jul 24 | Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace (Portman Road) | Zaha pen
Jul 27 | Crystal Palace 2-2 Charlton Athletic (Selhurst Park) | Rak-Sakyi, Banks (Mateta assist) 
Jul 31 | Reading 1-3 Crystal Palace (Madejski Stadium) | Mateta pen, Ayew (Gallagher assist), Banks (Gallagher assist)
Aug 7 | Crystal Palace 3-1 Watford (Selhurst Park) | Zaha pen, Zaha (McArthur assist), Benteke (Riedewald assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Patrick Vieira’s first match in charge, against Crewe, saw him adopt a 4-3-3 set-up with Wilfried Zaha stationed out wide on the left. He has largely stuck with that system since.
  • Zaha has scored twice from the penalty spot in pre-season but Luka Milivojevic was off the field on both occasions.
  • New signing Michael Olise is set to miss the start of the season because of injury.

Form Players: Zaha (4 goals), Banks (2 goals), Mateta (1 goal, 1 assist), Gallagher (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Michael Olise | Reading (£8m)
GK | Remi Matthews | Free transfer
DEF | Marc Guehi | Chelsea (Undisclosed)
DEF | Joachim Andersen | Lyon (Undisclosed)
MID | Conor Gallagher | Chelsea (Loan)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Gary Cahill | Free transfer
MID | Andros Townsend | Free transfer
DEF | Scott Dann| Free transfer
GK | Wayne Hennessey| Free transfer
MID | James McCarthy | Free transfer
DEF | Mamadou Sakho | Free transfer
DEF | Patrick van Aanholt | Free transfer
FWD | Connor Wickham | Free transfer

EVERTON

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 10 | Everton 3-0 Accrington Stanley (Finch Farm) | Cannon, Gibson (Sigurdsson assist), Gordon (Gbamin assist)
Jul 17 | Everton 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (Finch Farm) | Gbamin (Kean assist)
Jul 25 | Millonarios 1-1 Everton (Florida) | Gray pen (Broadhead assist)
Jul 28 | Pumas 0-1 Everton (Florida) | Kean
Aug 7 | Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Old Trafford)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • The Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers games were ‘unofficial’ training ground friendlies, with no line-up information available for the former.
  • Rafael Benitez has favoured a back four in pre-season so far, switching between a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 4-3-3.
  • Demarai Gray scored from the spot in the draw with Millonarios, with Gylfi Sigurdsson absent.
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison haven’t featured in any of Everton’s summer friendlies, with the former on post-Euro 2020 leave and then injured and the latter away with Brazil at the Copa America and Olympic Games.
  • Gray led the line at Manchester United in the absence of a recognised striker.

Form Players: Gbamin (1 goal, 1 assist), Kean (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Andros Townsend | Free transfer
GK | Asmir Begovic | Bournemouth (Free transfer)
MID | Demarai Gray | Bayer Leverkusen (£1.7m)

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Theo Walcott | Southampton (Free transfer)
FWD | Joshua King | Released
MID | Yannick Bolasie | Released
MID | Muhamed Besic | Released
MID | Bernard | Sharjah FC (Undisclosed)

LEEDS UNITED

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 28 | Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Leeds United (Ewood Park) | Struijk (Harrison assist)
Jul 31 | Real Betis 2-3 Leeds United (Loughborough University) | Bamford (Firpo assist), Klich
Aug 4 | Ajax 4-0 Leeds United (Amsterdam Arena)
Aug 7 | Villarreal 2-2 Leeds United | Klich, Bamford (Cooper assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Marcelo Bielsa’s usual 4-1-4-1 and 3-3-1-3 set-ups have both been sighted in pre-season.
  • Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling have occasionally featured at centre-half and left-back, though injuries to the usual incumbents of those positions have forced the issue.

Form Players: Bamford (2 goals), Klich (2 goals)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Jack Harrison | Manchester City (Undisclosed)
DEF | Junior Sirpo | Barcelona (£13m)
GK | Kristoffer Klaesson | Valeranga (£1.6m)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Gaetano Berardi| Released
MID | Pablo Hernández | Released
DEF | Barry Douglas | Released
GK | Kiko Casilla | Elche (Loan)
DEF | Ezgjan Alioski | Released

LEICESTER CITY

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 24 | Burton Albion 0-0 Leicester City (Pirelli Stadium)
Jul 28 | Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Leicester City (Adams Park)
Jul 31 | Queens Park Rangers 3-3 Leicester City (Loftus Road) | Dewsbury-Hall (Daka assist), Daka (Albrighton assist), Iheanacho pen (Daka assist)
Aug 4 | Leicester City 3-2 Villarreal (King Power Stadium) | Soyuncu (Bertrand assist), Barnes (Bertrand assist), Perez (Dewsbury-Hall assist)
Aug 7 | Manchester City 0-1 Leicester City (Community Shield | Wembley Stadium) | Iheanacho pen

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Brendan Rodgers has experimented with different formations in pre-season but has opted for a back four throughout.
  • Leicester’s final three matches saw Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez flank Jamie Vardy in a 4-2-3-1, with Kelechi Iheanacho only a substitute.
  • Iheanacho scored two penalties but Vardy was off the field on both occasions.
  • Jonny Evans will be out until September, with Wesley Fofana sidelined for six months.
  • £4.0m defender Daniel Amartey featured at centre-half in the Community Shield.

Form Players: Daka (1 goal, 2 assists), Iheanacho (2 goals), Dewsbury-Hall (1 goal, 1 assist), Bertrand (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

FWD | Patson Daka | RB Salzburg (Undisclosed)
MID | Boubakary Soumare | Lille (£17m)
DEF | Ryan Bertrand | (Free transfer)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Christian Fuchs | Charlotte FC (Free transfer)
MID | Matty James | Released
DEF | Wes Morgan | Retired

LIVERPOOL

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 20 | Wacker Innsbruck 1-1 Liverpool (Salzburg) | Origi pen (Beck assist)
Jul 20 | Stuttgart 1-1 Liverpool (Salzburg) | Mane (Tsimikas assist)
Jul 23 | Mainz 0-1 Liverpool (Greisbergers Betten-Arena) | own-goal (Beck assist)
Jul 29 | Hertha 4-3 Liverpool (Tivoli Stadium) | Mane, Minamino (Salah assist), Oxlade-Chamberlain
Aug 5 | Liverpool 2-0 Bologna (Evian) | Jota, Mane
Aug 5 | Liverpool 1-0 Bologna (Evian) | Minamino (Shaqiri assist)
Aug 8 | Liverpool 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (Anfield) | Jota (Mane assist)
Aug 9 | Liverpool 3-1 Osasuna (Anfield) | own-goal (Minamino assist), Firmino (Tsimikas assist), Firmino (Minamino assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • The matches against Wacker and Stuttgart were 30-minute training ground games.
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played as a ‘false nine’ against Stuttgart, Mainz and Hertha, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah either side, but Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have since returned.
  • The matches against Bologna were 60-minute games played on the same day.
  • Andrew Robertson will miss the start of the season through injury; £4.0m defender Kostas Tsimikas looks set to deputise.
  • Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have both clocked up over two hours of pre-season football following their returns from injury.

Form Players: Mane (3 goals, 1 assist), Jota (2 goals), Minamino (2 goals, 2 assists), Firmino (2 goals), Beck (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

DEF | Ibrahima Konaté | RB Leipzig (£36m)

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Georginio Wijnaldum | PSG (Free transfer)
MID | Marko Grujic | Porto (£10.5m)
MID | Harry Wilson | Fulham (£12m)

MANCHESTER CITY

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 27 | Manchester City 2-0 Preston North End (Academy Stadium) | Mahrez (Rogers assist), Edozie (McAtee)
Jul 31 | Manchester City 4-0 Barnsley (Academy Stadium) | Edozie (Mahrez assist), Knight (Cancelo assist), Mahrez (Mendy assist), Ake (Moreno assist)
Aug 3 | Manchester City 4-1 Blackpool (Academy Stadium) | Edozie (Gundogan assist), Mahrez (Fernandinho assist), Gundogan (Mahrez assist), Gundogan (Cancelo assist)
Aug 7 | Leicester City 1-0 Manchester City (Community Shield | Wembley Stadium)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Pep Guardiola was deprived of many of his players in pre-season because of Copa America/Euro 2020 involvement, with Riyad Mahrez racking up over 200 minutes more pitch-time than any positional rival in the front three.
  • Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden look set to miss the start of the campaign through injury.
  • Six other players – Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Ederson and Kyle Walker – didn’t kick a ball in pre-season.
  • Ferran Torres was used ‘out of position’ up front in the Community Shield.

Form Players: Mahrez (3 goals, 2 assists), Edozie (3 goals), Gundogan (2 goals, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Jack Grealish | Aston Villa (£100m)
GK | Scott Carson | Derby County (Free transfer)

Key Transfers Out:

FWD | Sergio Aguero | Barcelona (Free transfer)
DEF | Eric Garcia | Barcelona (Free transfer)
MID | Jack Harrison | Leeds United (Undisclosed)

MANCHESTER UNITED

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 18 | Derby County 1-2 Manchester United (Pride Park) | Chong, Pellistri (Shoretire assist)
Jul 24 | Queens Park Rangers 4-2 Manchester United (Loftus Road) | Lingard (Pellistri assist), Elanga (Shoretire assist)
Jul 28 | Manchester United 2-2 Brentford (Old Trafford) | Elanga (Wan-Bissaka assist), Pereira
Aug 7 | Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Old Trafford) | Greenwood, Maguire (Shaw assist), Fernandes (Matic assist), Dalot (Fred assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Mason Greenwood has played both on the right flank and up front in Manchester United’s pre-season matches. Anthony Martial has also led the line.
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has begun the evolution to a 4-3-3 from his usual 4-2-3-1.
  • Edinson Cavani has yet to feature after a late return from the Copa America.
  • Greenwood and Wan-Bissaka were the only usual starters who racked up more than 90 minutes of pitch-time in pre-season but the likes of Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes returned against Everton.

Form Players: Elanga (2 goals)

Key Transfers In:

GK | Tom Heaton | Aston Villa (Free transfer)
MID | Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund (£73m)

Key Transfers Out:

GK | Sergio Romero | Released
MID | Tahith Chong | Birmingham City (Loan)
MID | Facundo Pellistri | Alaves (Loan)
DEF | Axel Tuanzebe | Aston Villa (Loan)

NEWCASTLE UNITED

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Fixtures against Wilson as loss of Andersen could aid Saints in Gameweek 15

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 18 | York City 1-0 Newcastle United (LNER Community Stadium)
Jul 23 | Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Newcastle United (Keepmoat Stadium) | Fraser (Lewis assist), S. Longstaff (Lewis assist), Wilson (Fraser assist)
Jul 27 | Rotherham United 1-1 Newcastle United (New York Stadium) | Hendrick (Murphy assist)
Jul 30 | Burton Albion 0-2 Newcastle United (Pirelli Stadium) | Murphy (Hayden assist), Joelinton (Fraser assist)
Aug 3 | Burnley 1-0 Newcastle United (Turf Moor)
Aug 7 | Newcastle United 3-0 Norwich City (St James’ Park) | Ritchie (Wilson assist), Gayle (Fraser assist), Gayle (Manquillo assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Steve Bruce has stuck with his usual 3-5-2/5-3-2 shape throughout pre-season.
  • Illness and injury deprived Newcastle of four goalkeepers against York City and Doncaster Rovers. Freddie Woodman looks the favourite to start in Gameweek 1, with Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow still struggling.
  • The newly recategorised Allan Saint-Maximin is again being used up top.

Form Players: Fraser (1 goal, 3 assists), Gayle (2 goals), Murphy (1 goal, 1 assist), Wilson (1 goal, 1 assist), Lewis (2 assists)

Key Transfers In:

None

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Christian Atsu | Released
FWD | Andy Carroll | Released
DEF | Florian Lejeune | Alaves (Undisclosed)
FWD | Yoshinori Muto | Mutual consent

NORWICH CITY

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Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 16 | King’s Lynn Town 1-3 Norwich City (The Walks) | Dowell, Dowell (Hugill assist), Idah (Cantwell assist)
Jul 20 | Norwich City 1-0 Lincoln City (Lotus Training Centre) | Lees-Melou
Jul 23 | Norwich City 2-0 Huddersfield Town (Lotus Training Centre) | Pukki (Rupp assist), Idah
Aug 3 | Norwich City 5-0 Gillingham (Carrow Road) | Lees-Melou (Cantwell assist), Idah (Cantwell assist), Rupp (Giannoulis assist), Idah (Dowell assist), Sørensen (Cantwell assist)
Aug 7 | Newcastle United 3-0 Norwich City (St James’ Park)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Daniel Farke experimented with a wing-back system at King’s Lynn and Newcastle United but his usual 4-2-3-1 has also been used in between.
  • A coronavirus outbreak put paid to two pre-season friendlies and has limited game-time for a number of Norwich players.
  • £4.0m defender Andrew Omobamidele has played 100% of the minutes available in pre-season, although fellow centre-half Grant Hanley is nearing a return.

Form Players: Idah (4 goals), Cantwell (4 assists), Dowell (2 goals, 1 assist), Lees-Melou (2 goals)

Key Transfers In:

GK | Angus Gunn | Southampton (Undisclosed)
MID | Billy Gilmour | Chelsea (Loan)
MID | Milot Rashica | Werder Bremen (Undisclosed)
DEF | Dimitris Giannoulis | PAOK (Undisclosed)
DEF | Ben Gibson | Burnley (Undisclosed)
MID | Pierre Lees-Melou | Nice (£3.5m)
FWD | Josh Sargent | Werder Bremen (Undisclosed)
MID | Christos Tzolis | PAOK (Undisclosed)

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Emiliano Buendía | Aston Villa (£33m)
DEF | Philip Heise | Karlsruher (Undisclosed fee)
MID | Alex Tettey | Released
MID | Mario Vrancic | Released
DEF | Jordan Thomas | Released
MID | Marco Stiepermann | Mutual consent
MID | Moritz Leitner| Mutual consent
GK| Orjan Nyland | Released
FWD | Josip Drmic | HNK Rijeka (Loan)

SOUTHAMPTON

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 24 | Southampton 1-1 Fulham (Staplewood Campus) | Long (Obafemi assist)
Jul 27 | Cardiff City 0-4 Southampton (Cardiff City Stadium) | Walcott (Obafemi assist), Djenepo (Diallo assist), Adams (Tella assist), Adams (Tella assist)
Jul 31 | Swansea City 1-3 Southampton (Liberty Stadium) | Tella (Adams assist), Redmond (Djenepo assist), Armstrong (Long assist)
Aug 4 | Southampton 1-0 Levante (St Mary’s Stadium) | Walker-Peters (Adams assist)
Aug 7 | Southampton 1-3 Athletic Bilbao (St Mary’s Stadium) | Walcott (Livramento assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Ralph Hasenhuttl has stuck with his usual 4-2-2-2 in pre-season.
  • Danny Ings has left the club, with Nathan Tella and Che Adams – who combined for three goals in the summer – in line for Gameweek 1 starts. New striker Adam Armstrong signed days before the start of the season, however.
  • Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy have again shared game-time between the posts.
  • Stuart Armstrong has spent time in the same number six role he ended 2020/21 in, with James Ward-Prowse’s Gameweek 1 availability in doubt due to injury.

Form Players: Adams (2 goals, 2 assists), Tella (1 goal, 2 assists), Walcott (2 goals), Obafemi (2 assists), Long (1 goal, 1 assist), Djenepo (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Theo Walcott | Everton (Free transfer)
DEF | Romain Perraud | Brest (Undisclosed)
DEF | Tino Livramento | Chelsea (Undisclosed)
FWD | Adam Armstrong | Blackburn Rovers (Undisclosed)
FWD | Armando Broja | Chelsea (Loan)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Ryan Bertrand | Released
MID | Jake Hesketh | Released
MID | Josh Sims | Released
GK | Angus Gunn | Norwich City (Undisclosed)
DEF | Kayne Ramsay | Crewe Alexandre (Loan)
DEF | Jake Vokins | Ross County (Loan)
DEF | Wesley Hoedt | Anderlecht (Undisclosed)
MID | Alex Jankewitz | Young Boys (Undisclosed)
FWD | Danny Ings | Aston Villa (£25m)

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 17 | Leyton Orient 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Brisbane Road) | Scarlett (Lucas Moura assist)
Jul 21 | Colchester United 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur (JobServe Community Stadium) | Son (Bergwijn assist), Lucas Moura (Son assist), Dele (Son assist)
Jul 28 | MK Dons 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Stadium MK) | Son (Lucas Moura assist), Dele (Son assist), Lucas Moura
Aug 4 | Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Stamford Bridge) | Lucas Moura, Bergwijn (Son assist)
Aug 8 | Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Arsenal (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) | Son (Tanganga assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a back four in all of his matches so far.
  • Son Heung-min has been an ‘OOP’ forward in Harry Kane’s absence and retained set-piece taking duties under his new manager.
  • Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and Steven Bergwijn have started all five friendlies under their new boss.
  • Japhet Tanganga has featured at both centre-half and right-back, where he ended pre-season in.
  • Kane hasn’t featured at all since Euro 2020.

Form Players: Son (3 goals, 4 assists), Lucas Moura (3 goals, 2 assists), Dele (2 goals), Bergwijn (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

GK | Pierluigi Gollini | Atalanta (Loan)
DEF | Cristain Romero | Atalanta (Loan)
MID | Bryan Gil | Sevilla (Part-exchange)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Juan Foyth | Villarreal (£12.8m)
DEF | Danny Rose | Released
GK | Paulo Gazzaniga | Released
MID | Erik Lamela | Sevilla (Part-exchange)
DEF | Toby Alderweireld | Al-Duhail

WATFORD

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Watford

Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 14 | Watford 3-2 Millwall | Quina, Masina, Fletcher
Jul 17 | Watford 2-1 Colchester United | Sarr pen, Mebude
Jul 17 | Watford 2-0 Colchester United | Hernandez, Gosling
Jul 24 | Watford 0-0 West Bromwich Albion (Vicarage Road)
Jul 24 | Watford 1-3 Brentford (London Colney) | Wise pen
Jul 27 | Stevenage 1-1 Watford (Broadhall Way) | Sema (Fletcher assist)
Jul 28 | Arsenal 4-1 Watford (Arsenal Training Centre) | Zinckernagel
Aug 4 | Watford 4-0 Doncaster Rovers (St George’s Park) | Etebo, Deeney (Cleverley assist), Gosling (Sarr assist), Fletcher pen (Trialist assist)
Aug 7 | Crystal Palace 3-1 Watford (Selhurst Park) | Deeney

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Watford’s pre-season friendlies against Millwall and Colchester United were played behind closed doors, with no line-up information, assist details or match highlights available.
  • Trialists have been handed over six hours of playing time in Watford’s pre-season.
  • Xisco has used both a 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 in pre-season, systems he employed in the Championship.
  • The Hornets conceded 10 goals in their three meetings with Premier League sides.

Form Players: Fletcher (2 goals, 1 assist), Deeney (2 goals), Gosling (2 goals), Sarr (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

MID | Kwadwo Baah | Rochdale (£150,000)
DEF | Mattie Pollock | Grimsby Town (£250,000)
MID | Imran Louza | FC Nantes (£8.6m)
FWD | Ashley Fletcher | Middlesbrough (Free transfer)
DEF | Danny Rose | Tottenham Hotspur (Free transfer)
FWD | Emmanuel Dennis | Bruges (Undisclosed)
MID | Peter Etebo | Stoke City (Loan)
FWD | Joshua King | Everton (Free transfer)
FWD | Dapo Mebude | Free transfer
MID | Juraj Kucka | Parma (Undisclosed)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Achraf Lazaar| Released
MID | Carlos Sánchez | Released
GK | Jerome Sinclair | Released
MID | Mamadou M’Baye | Released
DEF | Ben Wilmot | Undisclosed
DEF | Craig Dawson | £2m
MID | Ignacio Pussetto | Udinese (Loan)
FWD | Alberto Penaranda | Las Palmas (Loan)
FWD | Dapo Mebude | Wimbledon (Loan)
MID | Philip Zinckernagel | Nottingham Forest (Loan)
GK | Pontus Dahlberg | Doncaster Rovers (Loan)

WEST HAM UNITED

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Lingard and Bowen lead West Ham line as Masuaku misses out with late injury

Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 9 | Dundee 2-2 West Ham United (Dens Park) | Baptiste (Bowen assist), Bowen pen
Jul 13 | Leyton Orient 0-0 West Ham United (Brisbane Road)
Jul 13 | Northampton Town 1-2 West Ham United (Sixfields Stadium) | own-goal (Bowen assist), Coventry (Lanzini assist)
Jul 21 | Reading 0-3 West Ham United (Madejski Stadium) | own-goal (Diop assist), Coventry (Johnson assist), Johnson (Lanzini assist)
Jul 24 | Celtic 2-6 West Ham United (Celtic Park) | Antonio (Noble assist), Antonio (Fornals assist), Noble pen (Antonio assist), Benrahma (Fornals assist), Bowen (Benrahma assist), Oko-Flex
Jul 31 | Brentford 0-1 West Ham United (Brentford Community Stadium) | Benrahma (Noble assist)
Aug 7 | West Ham United 2-0 Atalanta (London Stadium) | Antonio (Benrahma assist), Fornals (Benrahma assist)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Jarrod Bowen took a penalty in the draw with Dundee but Michail Antonio, Mark Noble and Declan Rice were all off the field. Noble since scored against Celtic from the spot.
  • The friendlies against Leyton Orient and Northampton were played simultaneously, with the West Ham squad split across the two matches.
  • David Moyes has mostly stuck with a 4-2-3-1 but used a wing-back system against Atalanta.

Form Players: Benrahma (2 goals, 3 assists), Antonio (3 goals, 1 assist), Bowen (2 goal, 2 assists), Fornals (1 goal, 2 assists), Noble (1 goal, 2 assists), Lanzini (2 assists), Coventry (2 goals), Johnson (1 goal, 1 assist),

Key Transfers In:

DEF| Craig Dawson | Watford (£2m)
MID| Pierre Ekwah Elimby | Chelsea (Undisclosed fee)
MID| Armstrong Okoflex | Celtic (Free)
GK | Alphonse Areola | PSG (Loan)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Fabian Balbuena | Released
MID | Felipe Anderson | Lazio (Undisclosed)

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

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Content

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

Jul 17 | Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Gresty Road)
Jul 24 | Real Betis 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Estadio Municipal) | Cutrone (Semedo assist)
Jul 26 | Las Palmas 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Estadio Gran Canaria) | Hoever (Bueno assist), Gibbs-White (Mosquera assist)
Jul 31 | Stoke City 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (bet365 Stadium) | Jimenez (Semedo assist)
Aug 1 | Coventry City 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Ricoh Arena) | Silva (Neves assist), Neves (Gibbs-White assist)
Aug 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Celta Vigo (Molineux)

Scout Notes in Brief:

  • Bruno Lage used a 4-4-2 in his first match in charge against Crewe, with Raul Jimenez returning from injury up front and Rayan Ait-Nouri stationed ‘out of position’ on the left wing.
  • Lage ended the season in a 3-4-3, however, with Marcal and Nelson Semedo seemingly his first choices at wing-back.
  • Semedo missed the Celta Vigo game because of self-isolation but is expected back for Gameweek 1.

Form Players: Semedo (2 assists), Gibbs-White (1 goal, 1 assist)

Key Transfers In:

DEF | Yerson Mosquera | Atletico Nacional (£4.5m)
MID | Francisco Trincao | Barcelona (Loan)
DEF | Rayan Ait-Nouri | Angers (Undisclosed fee)
GK | Jose Sa | Olympiakos (£6.3m)

Key Transfers Out:

DEF | Ruben Vinagre| Sporting CP (loan)
GK |Rui Patricio | Roma (Undisclosed)