The start of the 2025/26 Premier League season has sent Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers into a frenzy, with drama on and off the pitch already shaping the narrative for the campaign ahead. As Liverpool kicked off their title defense with a pulsating clash against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025, fantasy managers and football fans alike saw just how quickly fortunes can turn in both real and virtual football.
Heading into Gameweek 1, the FPL community was abuzz with debate over the best budget picks, low-ownership differentials, and the impact of new signings and injuries. With the transfer window still open, several high-profile players were in limbo, adding another layer of uncertainty to squad selections. The stakes felt higher than ever as managers scrambled to find the right mix of value, upside, and reliability for the season’s curtain-raiser.
One of the most anticipated events was Liverpool’s opener, which saw new manager Arne Slot hand debuts to four fresh signings. Among them, £79 million striker Hugo Ekitike wasted no time making his mark, breaking the deadlock in the 37th minute to give Liverpool the lead. The Reds doubled their advantage through Cody Gakpo, and for a brief moment, it seemed like the defending champions would cruise to a comfortable win. But football—and FPL—rarely goes to script.
Slot’s tactical decisions soon became the talk of both Anfield and the FPL world. Around the 60th minute, with Liverpool up 2-0, he withdrew full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, both new arrivals and popular picks among fantasy managers. The timing proved critical. “Arne Slot bringing off Jeremie Frimpong in 60th minute so he misses out on a clean sheet bonus is insane work... and I hate it,” fumed one manager on social media. Another added, “This is what you get for subbing Frimpong off seven seconds before he got me a clean sheet in FPL SLOT!!!” The frustration was palpable, with FPL managers missing out on valuable clean sheet points by mere seconds.
The drama escalated less than four minutes later when Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo capitalized on a counterattack, halving the deficit and igniting the away end. Semenyo then struck again, leveling the match at 2-2 and sending shockwaves through both the stadium and the FPL community. For fantasy managers, the sequence was a double blow: not only did they lose out on clean sheet points, but Liverpool’s defensive frailties were exposed just as many had stacked their squads with Reds defenders.
Slot, however, had the last laugh. Chasing a winner, he introduced Federico Chiesa in the 82nd minute. The Italian forward repaid his manager’s faith, volleying home after 88 minutes to restore Liverpool’s lead. Mohamed Salah then sealed the victory in stoppage time, racing onto a loose ball and firing into the bottom corner. Liverpool’s 4-2 win was a rollercoaster for fans and fantasy managers alike—a reminder that the smallest decisions can have outsized consequences in FPL.
Off the pitch, FPL managers were busy finalizing their squads, scouring for budget gems and low-ownership differentials to gain an early advantage. A widely-circulated article on August 15 highlighted five outstanding budget picks for the new season. Among them, Martin Dubravka stood out as Burnley’s new number one at just £4 million, offering Premier League experience and the potential to be the only first-choice goalkeeper at that price point. Leeds’ Joe Rodon, another £4 million bargain, had played every minute of his club’s promotion campaign, making him a rock-solid defensive option.
Manchester City’s summer signing Tijjani Reijnders, priced at £5.5 million, was tipped as a bargain after being named Serie A’s Best Midfielder in 2024/25, notching 15 goals in 54 appearances for AC Milan. Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, at £5 million, brought proven attacking output from Leicester City’s Championship-winning side, with 12 goals and 14 assists last season. Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, now a permanent signing after a successful loan, was another popular pick at £6.5 million. With 14 goals and a high shot conversion rate, he was expected to take on penalty duties following Matheus Cunha’s move to Manchester United.
But it wasn’t just about budget enablers. The hunt for differentials—players owned by under 10% of managers—was also in full swing. The strategy was clear: balance attacking potential with defensive solidity. Anderson, a £5.5 million midfielder, was singled out for his all-around contributions, including 368 defensive actions last season, a new DEFCON scoring system boosting his value. Despite being in just 7% of teams, over 30% of elite managers had him in their squads. Welbeck, expected to lead Brighton’s line under new boss Thomas Frank, was another under-the-radar option, coming off a 125-point FPL season with 10 goals and 5 assists. Meanwhile, Murillo, a defender with 130 FPL points, 12 clean sheets, and 365 defensive contributions, remained a mystery at just 5.8% ownership.
Injury news added further complexity to squad decisions. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak was unlikely to feature amid a pending transfer to Liverpool, while Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite was ruled out until at least the end of September with an injury. Manchester City’s Phil Foden had returned to training after an ankle knock but was a doubt to start against Wolves. Other notable doubts included Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher, Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, and City’s Rodri. As always, managers were urged to stay glued to last-minute updates before finalizing their line-ups.
For those seeking high-risk, high-reward options, Solanke and Spence offered tactical punts with big upside if they secured starts. Solanke, now at Spurs, had 9 goals and 5 assists last season but faced uncertainty over his role for Gameweek 1. Spence, a £4.5 million wing-back for Spurs, provided flexibility and attacking potential, but his starting berth depended on team formation.
As the dust settles on an eventful opening night, FPL managers are left to reflect on their choices, rue missed opportunities, and look ahead to the next round of fixtures. With injuries, tactical surprises, and the ever-present threat of rotation, the only certainty is that this season’s FPL campaign promises more twists and turns than ever before. For now, those who backed Liverpool’s new boys—at least the ones who stayed on the pitch—will be celebrating. But in the world of fantasy football, there’s always another deadline just around the corner.
