FPL 23/24 tips: Our Gameweek 1 complete fantasy football squad
The first day of the 2023/24 Premier League season is finally here, which means the return of FPL.
We’ve been busy all summer creating Squawka Score, our fantasy football ranking system, which gives each player a percentage score and is designed to help you identify the gems set to propel themselves onto the FPL main stage.
Fancy your chances against our Squawka Score super computer? We’re challenging you to beat us in our own mini-league. You can sign up here or use the league code 8ju9vx to join the Squawka Challenge League.
You can also find a full breakdown of what Squawka Score is, and how it works, via this link.
We’ve used Squawka Score to pick our squad for Gameweek 1, which contains some very attractive looking fixtures.
Here, we’ve assembled a 15-man squad (within a budget of £100 million) you should be considering — taking into account value, points, performances and fixtures — when picking your very first squad of the 2023/24 FPL season.
Gameweek 1 picks
Nick Pope, Newcastle
FPL price: 5.5m
Squawka Score: 63%
One of our highest-scoring goalkeepers using Squawka Score, Pope enjoyed a great season at Newcastle last time out. Ranked as the seventh best ‘keeper by points-per-match, the Newcastle shot-stopper could be a good value choice to improve on that this season as Newcastle push for a top-four finish once again.
Pedro Porro
FPL price: 5.0m
Squawka Score: 75%
Maybe not the first player that comes to mind when picking your FPL team, but Porro ranked really highly on Squawka Score. In fact, he was the second-highest scoring defender overall last term. The Spaniard scored three and assisted three last season, a healthy return for a player that started only 13 games in the 2022/23 season.
If he can make the Spurs’ right back spot his own, he could end up being a great value pick at 5.0m.
Pervis Estupiñán
FPL price: 5.0m
Squawka Score: 69%
Estupiñán was, perhaps, the breakout star in FPL last season as Brighton took the league by storm. With one goal and seven assists, the Ecuadorian emerged as one of the best value defenders to own in the game.
With Brighton projected to mix it in the top half, once again, Estupiñán could be a great choice, especially priced at just 5.0m.
Diogo Dalot
FPL price: 5.0m
Squawka Score: 59%
Our first Squawka Score differential pick, Dalot will be hoping to build on a credible first season under Erik ten Hag. 10 clean sheets formed the basis of a solid campaign for the Portuguese full back in 22/23, helped along by a goal and two assists.
You can check out our reasons for Dalot being our defensive differential this week by clicking here, as well as finding out our best budget picks for your Gameweek 1 defence.
Bruno Fernandes
FPL price: 8.5m
Squawka Score: 73%
The new Manchester United captain, and driving force from midfield, was the seventh best midfielder in terms of points-per-game average last season. Eight goals and nine assists helped fire Fernandes to 176 points last term, but with the United man expected to take more offensive role this season, those figures are under threat. Fernandes could prove to be one of the most astute picks in the centre of the pitch this season.
Mohamed Salah
FPL price: 12.5m
Squawka Score: 78%
People spoke about Salah having a ‘disappointing’ season last time out but as the highest-scoring midfielder by points-per-game, with 19 goals and 13 assists, what more can the Egyptian really do? It’s a new-look Liverpool side this season, but Salah will still be the main focus in attack and it’s expected he’ll put up big numbers once again.
Bukayo Saka
FPL price: 8.5m
Squawka Score: 73%
Saka proved his worth to the Arsenal cause last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists. He also benefitted from 12 clean sheets for the Gunners, offering another nice little avenue for points.
The English star sits within the top 10 midfielders according to our Squawka Score FPL rankings, too. Have a look here to see our other top picks.
Phil Foden
FPL price: 7.5m
Squawka Score: 81%
Foden was the best midfielder on FPL last season, according to our Squawka Score rankings. The Englishman started 22 games last season but should see more time on the pitch this campaign, giving him ample time to improve on the 11 goals and seven assists he provided in 22/23.
If Foden hits the ground running he could provide plenty of points in the opening few weeks of the season and beyond. Game time will be key, as our Squawka Score suggests, because he certainly has the potential to mix it with the very best midfielders on FPL.
Solly March
FPL price: 6.5m
Squawka Score: 69%
Here is our midfield differential pick this week. Most people have been allured by Kaoru Mitoma in the Brighton midfield this season, but Squawka Score recommends a change of tack in picking March.
It’s not a huge jump to see why, either. Six goals scored and 10 assists is a tally that matches his Japanese team-mate (Mitoma scored seven but only assisted nine) but, with less then 3% of FPL managers picking March ahead of Gameweek 1, he could be a key differential player this season.
João Pedro
FPL price: 5.5m
Squawka Score: N/A
Pedro makes his return to the Premier League after spending last season in the Championship, with Watford. Big things are expected of the Brazilian following his arrival on the South Coast and 60 points scored in his last FPL season (for a relegated side) suggest there’s plenty of potential for Pedro at Brighton.
The first three fixtures for the Seagulls have all been rated as ‘easy’ on FPL, meaning the points could flow for Pedro early on.
Julián Álvarez
FPL price: 6.5m
Squawka Score: 69%
Álvarez is our attacking differential this week, something you can see all the info on by clicking here. He offers a change of pace from Erling Haaland (who has been picked by over 80% of FPL players). With the departure of Ilkay Gundogan, Pep Guardiola looks as though he could start both players on a more regular basis this season.
The Argentine was restricted to just 13 starts last season but still managed nine goals and three assists, a tally that he could eclipse with some ease this season.
Sam Johnstone
FPL price: £4.5m
Squawka Score: 58%
Our goalkeeping differential, Johnstone, heads into the new Premier League season as first choice ‘keeper at Crystal Palace. The tenth best shot-stopper by points-per-match last season, Johnstone looks set to head into the new campaign with trusty pairing Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen in front of him. And Roy Hodgson in the dugout means the Palace defence will be well-drilled.
Check out our goalkeeper tips in full, and the justification behind our differential pick, by clicking here.
Cody Gakpo
FPL price: 7.5m
Squawka Score: 65%
Liverpool face a tricky opening weekend fixture, against Chelsea, but Gakpo could be a wise choice to have in your squad as the season progresses. Getting him in early, at a reasonable price point, is key, especially when it looks as though he’s going to be Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice striker this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
FPL price: 8.0m
Squawka Score: 78%
It’s a similar story for Alexander-Arnold on the opening week of the season. Our highest-rated defender according to last season’s Squawka Score numbers, ‘TAA’ could prove to be best defender to choose this season. Get him in early, we’re predicting a price rise within the first few weeks of the season and he looks simply undroppable at this stage.
Jordan Beyer
FPL price: 4.0m
Squawka Score: N/A
Every team needs a cheap defender to fill out the bench, and here is ours. Beyer enjoyed a superb season on loan for Burnley in the Championship last season, playing well enough to convince the hierarchy at Turf Moor to stump up €15m to make his move to the Clarets permanent. The German could be a great sleeper pick this season.
