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Lars Hamer

After two months of global sporting events, including Euro 2024, Copa America and watching Hong Kong stars at the Paris Olympics, you could be forgiven for forgetting to put together your Fantasy Premier League team (FPL) side.
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday in the UK, with Manchester United against Fulham scheduled to start at 3am on August 17 (HKT).
This means that FPL managers have until 1.30am to finalise their 15-man squad and starting 11 for the weekend.
With the new season just days away, the Post has compiled a guide for everything you need to know ahead of Gameweek 1.
Strong start

Ensuring you have a starting 11 that performs well early on means not playing catch up or need to overhaul your squad in the first few weeks.
With that in mind, Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham will expect to rack up early points and are likely to score goals and keep clean sheets – or both.
High-scoring players, who are guaranteed starters include Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7 million), Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak (£8.5m), William Saliba (£6m), Gabriel (£6m), Bukayo Saka (£10m) and Pedro Porro (£5.5m).
Also, Dominic Solanke (£7.5m), who scored 175 points last season, has just signed for Spurs and manager Ange Postecoglou has said he is confident the striker will start in Gameweek 1.
The new Cole Palmer?

At the beginning of last year’s FPL season, the Chelsea attacker (£10.5m) only cost £5m and then went on to bag 244 points, outscoring Erling Haaland, Phil Foden (£9.5m) and Salah.
This season, all eyes will be on Emile Smith Rowe (£5.5m) who has already scored two in preseason for Fulham following his transfer from Arsenal.
Before Palmer tore up trees, a lot of talk at the beginning of last season was around another Chelsea midfielder, Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m). However, his season was plagued by injuries and he only made two starts in the Premier League.
In this preseason, the France forward played more minutes than any other Chelsea player and in his final season at RB Leipzig scored 23 goals in 36 outings.
Meanwhile, Brighton left-back Valentin Barco started his side’s 4-0 win over Villarreal in preseason and even took a few set pieces. He is currently the highest-owned £4m defender in the game.
With the potential for assists from open play, set pieces and the occasional clean sheet, if Barco stays at left-back for most of the season he could prove to be great value for money.
Enablers

The cheap players who are usually on the bench and allow managers to afford the big names.
Brighton’s Barco is one, as are Leicester defender Wout Faes (£4m) and Fulham’s attacking left-back Antonee Robinson (£4.5m).
In midfield, Harry Winks (£4.5m) has been nailed on since moving to Leicester but Ipswich’s Massimo Luongo (£4.5m) offers more of an attacking threat.
Last season, Brighton striker Joao Pedro was regularly rotated out when his side had midweek Europa League games. He started 19 games in the league, with nine goals, three assists and 104 points.
With no European football for Brighton this year, a £5.5m Pedro could be the best value-for-money striker.
Must haves

Haaland’s £15m price tag makes him the most expensive player in FPL history and it also means that managers who opt for him and Salah will have to make huge sacrifices in other parts of the pitch to buy 13 players with their remaining £72.5m.
In midfield, Palmer, Foden and Saka are always in the conversation, but with home games against Wolves, Brighton, Leicester and Southampton and an away fixture at Bournemouth in their first eight games, the Arsenal man could be the best option.
On paper, Liverpool have the simplest start to the season of all the top four sides and defenders Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk (£6m) offer attacking returns in open play or from set pieces.
At only £7m and racking up 295 points in 55 games over two seasons, Eberechi Eze is expected to have another impressive season as Crystal Palace’s talisman.


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English Premier League

Fantasy Football tips: Premier League is back, Man Utd v Fulham kicks off Gameweek 1

Erling Haaland (left) is the most expensive player in FPL history as most managers look to emulate the success of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Photo: Reuters

Trent Alexander-Arnold is popular with FPL managers as a defender who contributes to attacking plays. Photo: EPA

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was arguably the best value-for-money signing for FPL managers in 2023/24. Photo: AFP

Brighton’s Joao Pedro (top right) will expect to improve on his 2023/24 numbers with no European football. Photo: AP

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka could be a great option because of the Gunners’ relatively easy start to the campaign. Photo: AFP

As Premier League loses clubs and fans, Hong Kong football needs urgent action to survive

Hong Kong Premier League matches in front of empty stands are commonplace. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong Premier League matches in front of empty stands are commonplace. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Mahama Awal of Kwoon Chung Southern does his best to raise the pulse against Lee Man. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Eastern (in blue) and Tai Po are two of the remaining nine Hong Kong Premier League clubs. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong tour ‘big step forward’ for European giants Atletico Madrid, says Diego Simeone

Atletico De Madrid’s Reinildo Mandava (right) and Kitchee’s Luís Machado challenge for the ball during the Boc Life Cup at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang

Atletico Madrid fans cheer on their team against Kitchee in the BOC Life Cup at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang

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