FPL Squawka Score: How we crunch the numbers to identify fantasy football gems
We’ve been very busy here at Squawka trying to find the best way to identify the top picks in FPL for the 2023/24 campaign. Introducing… the Squawka Score.
What is the Squawka Score?
To help find differential picks and under-the-radar fantasy football options for your 23/24 FPL squad, we have used the Twenty3 Sport Discovery Tool to create the Squawka Score.
The Squawka Scores judges a player’s per 90 output for a group of selected stats, with various weightings based on their potential to lead to actual points in FPL. The result is a percentage rating from 0 to 100.
The full lists of metrics used for each position and the weightings given to each are available at the bottom of this page.
By looking at advanced metrics such as Expected Goals, Expected Assists, Touches Inside the Opposition Box and more we can try to uncover hidden FPL gems.
These metrics do not produce FPL points directly but they can help identify attackers that are set to embark on a scoring streak, or highlight defences that may start leaking goals. Don’t worry, we have still included actual goals and assists in the rating.
Ahead of Gameweek 5, we have created a top 10 shortlist of the best FPL picks for each position based on their Squawka Score. And if you want to compare two players in more detail, use the FPL Squawka Comparison Matrix template here.
When picking your FPL squad, you will need to take into account price, fixtures lists and more, but the Squawka Score is the perfect place to start.
Throughout the season, we will use the Squawka Score to provide you with differential picks and help you get the edge in your FPL mini-league. On that note, you can use the code 8ju9vx to join the Squawka Challenge league and pit yourself against our FPL boffins.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards for the 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League. These will be updated weekly but have currently been compiled using last season’s statistics.
Best FPL Goalkeepers 2023/24
Here are the top 10 Premier League goalkeepers ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year.
| Player | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 Team | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Alisson | 69% | Liverpool | 5.5 |
| Nick Pope | 61% | Newcastle | 5.5 |
| David Raya | 60% | Arsenal | 4.8 |
| Bernd Leno | 58% | Fulham | 4.6 |
| Emiliano Martinez | 58% | Aston Villa | 4.9 |
| Lukasz Fabianski | 57% | West Ham | 4.4 |
| Dean Henderson | 56% | Crystal Palace | 4.5 |
| Ederson | 55% | Man City | 5.6 |
| Sam Johnstone | 54% | Crystal Palace | 4.5 |
| Aaron Ramsdale | 53% | Arsenal | 5.0 |
For the FPL goalkeeper Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all goalkeepers across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold.
Best FPL Defenders
Here are the top 10 Premier League defenders ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year.
| Player | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 Team | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 78% | Liverpool | 7.9 |
| Pervis Estupinan | 78% | Brighton | 5.3 |
| Ben Chilwell | 78% | Chelsea | 5.8 |
| Pedro Porro | 76% | Spurs | 5.0 |
| Ivan Perisic | 70% | Spurs | 4.9 |
| Andy Robertson | 66% | Liverpool | 6.5 |
| Ben White | 61% | Arsenal | 5.5 |
| Lewis Hall | 58% | Newcastle | 4.5 |
| Nathan Ake | 58% | Man City | 5.1 |
| Kieran Trippier | 58% | Newcastle | 6.5 |
For the FPL defender Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all full-backs across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold. The reason we choose full-backs is because you can select Trent Alexander-Arnold and William Saliba for the same position in FPL and wanted to highlight the potential attacking returns more starkly.
Best FPL Midfielders
Here are the top 10 Premier League midfielders ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year.
| Player | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 Team | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Mo Salah | 80% | Liverpool | 12.5 |
| Solly March | 80% | Brighton | 6.6 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 80% | Man United | 8.4 |
| Phil Foden | 77% | Man City | 7.6 |
| Bukayo Saka | 76% | Arsenal | 8.7 |
| Jack Grealish | 75% | Man City | 7.3 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 75% | Brentford | 6.8 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | 73% | Arsenal | 7.9 |
| James Maddison | 69% | Spurs | 7.8 |
| Eberechi Eze | 68% | Crystal Palace | 6.3 |
For the FPL midfielder Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all attacking-midfielders across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold. The reason we choose attacking-midfielders is because you can select Phil Foden and Declan Rice for the same position in FPL – even Mohamed Salah! So, once again, we want the threshold for potential attacking returns to be higher.
Best FPL Forwards
Here are the top 10 Premier League forwards ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year.
| Player | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 Team | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Erling Haaland | 76% | Man City | 14.1 |
| Gabriel Jesus | 70% | Arsenal | 7.9 |
| Callum Wilson | 69% | Newcastle | 7.8 |
| Eddie Nketiah | 63% | Arsenal | 5.6 |
| Ollie Watkins | 62% | Aston Villa | 8.0 |
| Alexander Isak | 61% | Newcastle | 7.7 |
| Danny Welbeck | 60% | Brighton | 5.8 |
| Cody Gakpo | 60% | Liverpool | 7.3 |
| Evan Ferguson | 52% | Brighton | 6.0 |
| Yoane Wissa | 50% | Brentford | 6.2 |
For the FPL forward Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all strikers across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold.
So, based on the above rankings, here is the Squawka Score FPL squad for Gameweek 5 of the 2023/24 season. If you think you can beat it, join the Squawka Challenge League here.
How we work out the Squawka Score
Here are the metrics used and the weightings given for the FPL Squawka Score.
| Outfield Metrics | 1-5 |
| Expected Goals | 5 |
| Expected Assists | 4 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Shots | 2 |
| Shots on target | 3 |
| Shots from inside the opposition box | 2 |
| Touches inside the opposition box | 2 |
| Chances created | 2 |
| Big Chances created | 3 |
| Crosses attempted | 2 |
| Penalty area entries | 2 |
| Through-balls attempted | 1 |
| Final third passes | 1 |
| Fouled in final third | 1 |
| Clean sheets | 4 |
| Goals conceded | 2 |
| Expected goals conceded | 5 |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 1 |
| Goalkeeper Metrics | 1-5 |
| Expected goals conceded | 5 |
| Clean sheets | 4 |
| Goals conceded | 4 |
| Saves made | 4 |
| Penalties faced | 1 |
| Penalties saved | 3 |
| Ball recoveries | 2 |
| Errors leading to a shot | 2 |
| Errors leading to a goal | 2 |
| Own goals | 2 |
| Yellow cards | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
| Penalty area entries | 1 |
| Final third entries | 1 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 1 |
READ MORE ON FPL GW5:
