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            <p>The brilliant <a href="https://twitter.com/BigManBakar">@BigManBakar</a> shares his first FPL draft for the new season, powered by <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/">the Hub's data</a> and a stellar FPL record. He’ll also explain the reasoning behind each of his picks.</p>
<h3><strong>Edouard Mendy (£5m)</strong></h3>
<p>I usually tend to start with £4.5m goalkeepers but this season has made me re-think that strategy.</p>
<p>Chelsea were only behind Liverpool and Man City for clean sheets last season and were third on the xG conceded table as well. Mendy at £5m should offer a consistent stream of points.</p>
<h3><strong>Paulo Gazzaniga (£4m)</strong></h3>
<p>Could be any £4m to be honest since none of them are first choice. Gazzaniga was the first one that I randomly selected! I don't think I'd want triple Fulham at any point so a safe pick.</p>
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<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-46853" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screenshot-2022-07-05-at-12.11.47.jpg" alt="mendy fpl" width="1056" height="858" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Reece James (£6m)</strong></h3>
<p>Only Alexander Arnold recorded a better xGi per 90 among defenders than James last season.</p>
<p>We have seen time and again how explosive an asset James can be - to be very honest, I would have paid even £6.5m for him.</p>
<h3><strong>Ben Chilwell (£6m)</strong></h3>
<p>Tripling up on the Chelsea defence to begin with is obviously a big question mark, but I don't mind taking the risk, as Chelsea play just one of last season's top six in their opening seven fixtures.</p>
<p>Chilwell was averaging around nine points per game in the previous season before he was hit by injury - if he can get a proper pre-season behind his belt, he can start very strongly.</p>
<h3><strong>Andrew Robertson (£7m)</strong></h3>
<p>No defender had a better points per game average than Robertson's 7.4 since Gameweek 14 last season.</p>
<p>It was then when Robertson hit a serious run of form, and never looked back.</p>
<p>The consistency &amp; explosiveness that he offers is unlikely to be matched by most midfielders in the £7-8m club.</p>
<h3><strong>Trent Alexander Arnold (£7.5m)</strong></h3>
<p>No defender created more chances or had a better xGi per 90 than Alexander Arnold last season.</p>
<p>He's one of the most nailed players in my team - regardless of price.</p>
<h3><strong>João Cancelo (£7m)</strong></h3>
<p>Cancelo at £7m is very appealing.</p>
<p>He's playing for what was statistically the best defence in the league in terms of big chances and xG conceded last season.</p>
<p>Man City have amazing fixtures to begin with as well, so I see Cancelo as a very safe pick.</p>
<p>He had the most shots among all defenders in the league in 21/22, and was third among all Man City players for big chances created as well.</p>
<p>He's also very under-rated at accumulating bonus which makes him an all round explosive asset.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-46851" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screenshot-2022-07-05-at-12.08.05.jpg" alt="Best fpl defenders" width="1056" height="858" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Mohamed Salah (£13m)</strong></h3>
<p>Salah's price is a bit on the expensive side, but he's still a lock for me.</p>
<p>He's the most reliable captaincy option in the game, which sets him apart from the rest of the pack, and makes him worth the premium.</p>
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Bakar fpl first draft 22/23 season gameweek 1

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