{"id":1480677,"date":"2026-08-19T16:33:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=gaming&p=1480677"},"modified":"2026-08-19T16:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:33:15","slug":"fpl-2026-27-best-gameweek-1-team-according-to-ai","status":"publish","type":"gaming","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/gaming\/fpl-2026-27-best-gameweek-1-team-according-to-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best FPL Gameweek 1 team according to AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No idea how to set up your FPL team for the start of the season? We\u2019ve got you covered with the optimal Gameweek 1 team according to AI, and there\u2019s no Erling Haaland!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to see the optimal FPL team for the opening week, player by player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three reasons to join Fantasy Football Hub:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Get your team rated instantly<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by AI for free, simply by uploading a screenshot and then explore your AI recommended transfers.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Win your league or your money back<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Fantasy Football Hub are so confident that you\u2019ll win your league following their AI advice, that if you don\u2019t you\u2019ll get a full refund. There\u2019s also 50% off right now.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A New App, Built to Win<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. The Fantasy Football Hub App has been rebuilt from scratch, ready for the 2026\/27 season.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    GKP\/DEF: David Raya & Gabriel vs Coventry City (H)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    David Raya gets the nod between the sticks after keeping 19 clean sheets last season, with Arsenal<\/a> the favourites to keep a shut-out in Gameweek 1 as promoted Coventry City visit the Emirates. Gabriel\u2019s price increases by \u00a32 million for this campaign, but with only Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes out-performing his fantasy points last season, it\u2019s justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DEF: Harry Maguire & Luke Shaw vs Hull City (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Manchester United<\/a> are second favourites for a clean sheet on the opening weekend as they travel to Yorkshire to face Championship play-off winners Hull City. They kept six shut-outs in 17 games under Michael Carrick last season, with Harry Maguire producing a goal in their final pre-season game. They are both friendly on fantasy budgets at \u00a35m and \u00a34.5m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    DEF: Virgil Van Dijk vs Newcastle United (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Liverpool<\/a> are always among the most consistent defences in the Premier League. I don\u2019t expect that to change under Andoni Iraola, after his Bournemouth side kept 11 clean sheets last season. Virgil Van Dijk justifies his \u00a36.5m price tag given his routes to points, with an impressive six goals in 2025\/26. Plus, he had defensive contribution points in 15 appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MID: Bruno Fernandes vs Hull City (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Bruno Fernandes completes a Man United triple up for Gameweek 1. With Ipswich Town visiting Old Trafford in Gameweek 2, he\u2019s set to be among the best captain picks for the start of the campaign. He has the routes to points given his set piece responsibility, including penalties, despite missing two spot-kicks during pre-season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MID: Enzo Le Fee vs Ipswich Town (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Fee comes in at a budget friendly \u00a36m. For starters, he has an enticing opening fixture against promoted Ipswich Town. He may add penalties to his appeal this season, along with involvement in their other set pieces. Le Fee produced 11 attacking returns for the Black Cats last campaign, with defensive contributions on eight occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MID\/FWD: Cole Palmer & Joao Pedro vs Fulham (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It is all change at Chelsea<\/a> under Xabi Alonso, with Cole Palmer expected to play as part of a midfield two behind Joao Pedro. Penalties and a full pre-season supports Palmer\u2019s appeal with Pedro in red hot form ahead of the campaign. He has produced seven goals and two assists across their preparations, sitting in over 55% of fantasy teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    MID\/FWD: Dominik Szbolszlai & Alexander Isak vs Newcastle United (A)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Momentum is gathering for Liverpool assets ahead of this new campaign with an exciting opener away at Isak\u2019s former employers Newcastle. The Toon, meanwhile, are in transition following the departure of Eddie Howe. You\u2019d expect one of this pair to be on penalties following the departure of Mohamed Salah, with Dominik Szoboszlai carrying the threat from free-kicks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s the optimal team in full, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (\u00a36.0m) a worthy first substitute in the 4-4-2 formation. The optimal team will change constantly through the week as more information arises. Check the current version <\/em><\/strong>as a Fantasy Football Hub member.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fantasy Football Hub is purpose-built to turn FPL managers into FPL winners. From their industry-leading AI to the experts who reveal their teams every gameweek, it\u2019s no surprise tens of thousands of managers gain the edge with the Hub every season. <\/em><\/strong>Get your team rated<\/em><\/strong><\/a> today!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    No idea how to set up your FPL team for the start of the season? We\u2019ve got you covered with the optimal Gameweek 1 team according to AI, and there\u2019s no Erling Haaland! Read on to see the optimal FPL team for the opening week, player by player. Three reasons to join Fantasy Football Hub:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":451,"featured_media":1435675,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"fpl gameweek 1","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"FPL expert Holly Shand looks at the Best FPL Gameweek 1 team according to AI, featuring Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer & Dominik Szbolszlai.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1480677","gaming","type-gaming","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"\nThe Best FPL Gameweek 1 team according to AI | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FPL expert Holly Shand looks at the Best FPL Gameweek 1 team according to AI, featuring Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer & Dominik Szbolszlai.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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