Pre-season for all 20 Premier League clubs is over &#8211; but what did we learn from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective?
You&#8217;ll find details of every single result in our bumper <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">friendlies guide</a>, however this article is a summary of some of the key points.
For all our FPL tips, team reveals, best player articles and much more, see our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a>.
And see a brief summary of every summer signing on our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-transfer-hub">Transfer Hub</a> page.

<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">Win your FPL mini-league or your money back!</a>  
<h2>Who were the top performers in pre-season?</h2>
<h3>Seven goal involvements</h3>
Jacob Murphy (£5.5m) was the overall top performer in pre-season.
He outshone teammate Alexander Isak (£8.5m), the most-selected player in FPL at more than 55% ownership.
Isak had a strong pre-season himself, scoring three and assisting one, however Murphy managed more by scoring five and assisting two.
The budget midfielder should start on the right in Gameweek 1, so could be worth a punt over some of the other <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/who-are-the-best-fpl-budget-midfielders">cheap midfielders</a>.
There is a feeling among some Newcastle fans that Murphy will eventually be replaced by a new signing &#8211; but a new winger has yet to arrive on Tyneside.
Newcastle have two strong home fixtures from an attacking perspective in the first three gameweeks.
<div id="attachment_65885" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65885" class="size-full wp-image-65885" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Murphy.jpg" alt="Jacob Murphy" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Murphy.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Murphy-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Murphy-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Murphy-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />Jacob Murphy</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Six goal involvements</h3>
Dejan Kulusevski (£6.5m) has played most of pre-season as a false nine, and his central role has led him to three goals and three assists.
An out-of-position player is often something to jump on in fantasy football but in this instance, the experiment could be over by Gameweek 1.
Spurs have signed striker Dominic Solanke (£7.5m) from Bournemouth. The transfer was confirmed at the weekend, meaning the former Cherries talisman was not available for any of Spurs&#8217; friendlies.
But despite this, Ange Postecoglou said his new forward would be in the mix for their season opener against Leicester:
<blockquote>“Yeah, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be. He’s played most of the preseason.
“Slight knock in the last game Bournemouth played, but, of course, we’ll have a look at him during the week. But I think that considering he’s done most of the pre-season, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be available.”</blockquote>
Expect Solanke&#8217;s FPL ownership &#8211; currently at 20% &#8211; to rise as the first day of the season gets closer.
<div id="attachment_65887" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65887" class="size-full wp-image-65887" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solanke-stats-23-24.jpg" alt="Dominic Solanke's stats " width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solanke-stats-23-24.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solanke-stats-23-24-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solanke-stats-23-24-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solanke-stats-23-24-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />Dominic Solanke&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
Another six-goal star was Oscar Bobb (£5.0m), who managed two goals and four assists, including setting up a goal in the Community Shield on Saturday.
The right-sided midfielder grabbed the chances presented to him in pre-season and was expected to start Gameweek 1 until reports of a foot injury in training looked to have ended that hope.
Many of City&#8217;s first-teamers were missing from their United States tour after taking post-international tournament breaks.
That left Bobb and other City prospects to rack up plenty of minutes, with Bobb the standout performer.
<div id="attachment_65886" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65886" class="size-full wp-image-65886" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Bobb.jpg" alt="Oscar Bobb" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Bobb.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Bobb-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Bobb-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Bobb-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />Oscar Bobb</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Five goal involvements</h3>
A number of players finished on five goal involvements, including Erling Haaland (£15.0m), one of few senior players to travel with City.
Haaland&#8217;s five goals included a hat-trick against Chelsea, City&#8217;s Gameweek 1 opponents.
The Norwegian is one of the most expensive players in the game &#8211; but one of the cheapest managed as many goal involvements in pre-season.
Morgan Rogers (£5.0m) is highly fancied by Aston Villa fans to start the season. The cut-price midfielder has competition on Villa&#8217;s left but started six of the seven friendlies, scoring three and assisting two.
<div id="attachment_65227" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65227" class="size-full wp-image-65227" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FFStuffImage-23.jpg" alt="Morgan Rogers" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FFStuffImage-23.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FFStuffImage-23-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FFStuffImage-23-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FFStuffImage-23-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Morgan Rogers</div>
&nbsp;
A new signing, Brighton&#8217;s Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m), managed the same tally in an impressive start for his new club.
The former Newcastle midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, could start Gameweek 1 for Fabian Hurzeler&#8217;s team having caught the eye throughout.
Emile Smith Rowe (£5.5m) will be a popular player at the same price, having scored two goals in two matches since joining Fulham, but Minteh should be one on the watchlist.
Other players to manage five goal involvements were Alex Iwobi (£5.5m), Chris Wood (£6.0m) and Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling.
Wood and Nottingham Forest have some kind opening fixtures and is one of our top picks among <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/who-are-the-best-fpl-budget-forwards">budget forwards</a>.
<div id="attachment_65658" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65658" class="size-full wp-image-65658" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Wood.jpg" alt="Chris Wood" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Wood.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Wood-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Wood-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Wood-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />Chris Wood</div>
<h2>Will returning international players start in Gameweek 1?</h2>
The Copa America, Euro 2024 and Olympics threaten to play havoc with Premier League lineups in Gameweek 1.
Some of the players from teams who took part in the latter stages of these events are potential doubts to start the season after post-tournament breaks.
But it is a mixed bag, with some featuring in friendlies over the weekend and others not ready.
Pep Guardiola previously stated his English and Spanish players would be reintegrated in Gameweek 1 and 2.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile expected his stars, including Bukayo Saka (£10.0m), to be ready for the Gunners&#8217; first fixture.
Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) and Phil Foden (£9.5m) were two highly owned players who didn&#8217;t feature at the weekend.
There were however minutes for the likes of Anthony Gordon (£7.5m), Eberechi Eze (£7.0m) and Cole Palmer (£10.5m).
One player who won&#8217;t be ready for Gameweek 1 is Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m), who reached the Olympic final with France on August 9.
See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">team news and predicted lineups</a> page for news from every club before the deadline to help you decide who will start and who will miss out.
<div id="attachment_65888" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65888" class="size-full wp-image-65888" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Euro-players.jpg" alt="Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze" width="900" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Euro-players.jpg 900w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Euro-players-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Euro-players-768x624.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Euro-players-610x495.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze</div>
<h2>Battle for starting spots: Sels, Sanchez, Henderson and more</h2>
Pre-season always offers clues as to who managers are favouring.
And while not all dilemmas are resolved, such as who will start at centre-back for Chelsea and left-back for Villa, others are clearer.
Who starts in goal for Forest, Chelsea and Crystal Palace was unclear going into this season.
But it looks like Matz Sels (£4.5m), Robert Sanchez (£4.5m) and Dean Henderson (£4.5m) have claimed the starting spots for now.
Chelsea&#8217;s Sanchez could still be one to avoid though, with new £20m signing Filip Jorgensen (£4.5m) a potential replacement if the Spaniard slips up.
Henderson&#8217;s battle with Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) looked too close to call, however he played 90 minutes in the Eagles&#8217; last three games, while Johnstone has reportedly requested a transfer.
<div id="attachment_65890" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65890" class="size-full wp-image-65890" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Henderson.jpg" alt="Dean Henderson" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Henderson.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Henderson-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Henderson-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Henderson-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />Dean Henderson</div>
<h2>Teams with work to do</h2>
Leicester gained promotion under Enzo Maresca &#8211; but much has changed since then.
Maresca and top performer Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£6.0m) left to join Chelsea, with ex-Forest boss Steve Cooper taking charge of the Foxes.
Pre-season has not been encouraging, with Leicester failing to score in each of their last three friendlies, all games they lost.
Maresca and Chelsea also have much to work on.
The performances of Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m) and return of Palmer in the final friendly were positives.
But the Blues&#8217; defensive performances have been concerning, with 13 goals conceded in six games. This included four against Gameweek 1 opponents City.
A three-game ban at the start of the season puts Reece James (£5.0m) out of contention, while uncertainty over the starting centre-backs provides a good opportunity to wait and see how Chelsea perform in their first few games.
<div id="attachment_65166" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65166" class="size-full wp-image-65166" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enzo-Maresca.jpg" alt="Enzo Maresca. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enzo-Maresca.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enzo-Maresca-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enzo-Maresca-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enzo-Maresca-610x407.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Enzo Maresca. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
<h2>Check out our fantasy football ultimate guides</h2>
Our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a> has everything you could ever need to guide you through each gameweek. Regularly updated, it includes all our FPL content in one handy place – from team reveals from some of the best FPL managers in the game to tips on the best players and much more.
We also have ultimate guides for <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/dream-team-fantasy-football-tips-the-ultimate-guide">Dream Team</a> and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/telegraph-fantasy-football-tips-the-ultimate-guide">Telegraph Fantasy Football</a>, which are also home to tips and regular articles from experts in these formats.
<h3>Follow the Hub</h3>
<a href="https://twitter.com/FFH_HQ">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ffootballhub/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/FantasyFootballHub/?sub_confirmation=1">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/FFH_HQ/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ffh_hq">Tiktok</a> 
And view all our latest fantasy football tips on our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/">Homepage</a>

FPL pre-season round-up: Top performers and talking points

Win at FPL

Community & tools