With the new FPL season just around the corner, managers are already weighing up key decisions ahead of Gameweek 1.
To help you make informed picks, <a href="https://www.squawka.com/">Squawka</a> have compared two players from each position &#8211; and the same price point &#8211; using their <a href="https://www.squawka.com/en/comparison-matrix/">Squawka Comparison Matrix</a> to spotlight the statistics that matter most.
Whether you&#8217;re torn between options or simply curious how some of the high-profile options stack up, this article has you covered.

Join the Hub &#8211; <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">latest offers</a>

<h3>Want to run your own comparisons?</h3>
The Squawka Comparison Matrix allows you to compare up to five players or teams of your choice from across the world of football and a huge range of competitions over the last ten years.
Simply choose the players or teams you wish to compare and hit the ‘Edit <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">Stats</a>’ button and you can choose from a variety of different performance indicators. 
We&#8217;ve run some comparisons in each position:
&nbsp;
<h3>Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford vs David Raya</h3>
When it comes to FPL goalkeepers, Pickford and Raya are two standout picks heading into the 2025/26 season. 
Often overlooked, goalkeepers can quietly rack up points through clean sheets, saves, penalty stops, and bonus points &#8211; and both of these keepers have proven they can deliver on a consistent basis.
Pickford topped the 2024/25 FPL goalkeeper charts with 158 points, thanks to 12 clean sheets, 122 saves, two penalty saves, and even an assist.
 His consistency &#8211; playing every minute &#8211; combined with 15 bonus points makes him an attractive pick. However, his seven yellow cards were a blot on an otherwise outstanding campaign. 
Now priced at an increased £5.5m, he’s not cheap, but with early fixtures against Leeds, Brighton, and Wolves, he could get off to a strong start.
<div id="attachment_47364" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47364" class="size-full wp-image-47364" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1409387720.jpg" alt="Jordan Pickford. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1409387720.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1409387720-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1409387720-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1409387720-610x407.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Jordan Pickford. Picture by Getty Images</div>
Raya finished third in 2024/25 FPL goalkeeper points with 142, behind Pickford and Matz Sels. 
While he had fewer saves (82), he did secure the Golden Glove with 13 clean sheets and consistently finishes among the top keepers, including being the highest-scoring FPL goalkeeper in 2022/23. 
Also priced at £5.5m, Raya offers a more affordable route into Arsenal’s defence compared to Gabriel or Saliba &#8211; more on them in a moment &#8211; though the club’s tough opening fixtures may warrant patience.
Squawka Verdict: Both keepers have strong FPL pedigree. Pickford has finished top in back-to-back seasons, while Raya has been top-three for three straight years. You’ll be in safe hands with either, but early fixture difficulty might tip the scales in Pickford’s favour for now.
&nbsp;
<h3>Defenders: Gabriel vs William Saliba</h3>
Gabriel and William Saliba have built one of the Premier League’s most watertight centre-back partnerships, helping the Gunners concede just 34 goals in 2024/25 and 29 in 2023/24.
Saliba edged the FPL points battle last season with 130 (8th among defenders) and has started all but three league games across the last two campaigns. He’s reliable and consistent, chipping in with two goals in each of the last three seasons.
<div id="attachment_73164" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73164" class="size-full wp-image-73164" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Saliba-Getty.jpg" alt="William Saliba. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Saliba-Getty.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Saliba-Getty-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Saliba-Getty-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />William Saliba. Picture by Getty Images</div>
However, Gabriel &#8211; despite missing the final stretch of 2024/25 &#8211; scored more goals (3 vs 2), provided more assists (2 vs 0), and nearly doubled Saliba’s blocks (29 vs 16). 
He’s scored at least three goals in each of the last four seasons, making him the greater attacking threat, especially from corners and set-pieces.
<div id="attachment_74012" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74012" class="size-full wp-image-74012" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images</div>
This year’s new FPL rule awards 2 bonus points for defenders hitting 10 CBITs (clearances, blocks, interceptions, tackles) in a match. 
Saliba led his teammate in tackles, clearances and interceptions last term, but again, played seven more games.
Squawka Verdict: Arsenal&#8217;s early fixtures are tough, so it might be wise to wait on these two. But once the schedule softens, both players will be on the radar. Gabriel just edges it thanks to his attacking upside, though early form should dictate who earns your investment.
&nbsp;
<h3>Midfielders: Florian Wirtz vs Omar Marmoush</h3>
The midfield is always one of the most hotly contested areas in FPL squads. With five spots to fill, choosing the right players can be the difference between a strong start and early misery.
All eyes will be on Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116m record signing, as he looks to make an immediate impression in the Premier League. 
While there’s no FPL history to go on, his final Bundesliga season with Bayer Leverkusen was highly productive: 10 goals, 12 assists, over 1,300 passes completed at an 82.33% accuracy, and solid creative numbers including 26 through-balls and 82 take-ons. 
Though Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s designated penalty taker, it’s worth noting that Wirtz himself scored four from the spot, and Salah has missed his last two.
<div id="attachment_74023" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74023" class="wp-image-74023 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228561984-1.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228561984-1.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228561984-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228561984-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Florian Wirtz. Picture by Getty Images</div>
Over at rivals Manchester City, Omar Marmoush may be going under the radar ahead of the opening weekend. 
A January signing from Frankfurt, Marmoush made a stunning entrance after he scored a hat‑trick against Newcastle in only his third league game, delivering 17 FPL points.
 In total he scored seven league goals, but only got one assist.
Squawka Verdict: While Salah remains a premium option at £14.5m, Wirtz provides a far more affordable (£8.5m) route into Liverpool’s attack and should be a regular starter given his price tag. Marmoush, who is the same price, is also a tempting option, but with Pep Guardiola&#8217;s rotation always a factor it may be wise to wait and assess his minutes early on before committing. 
&nbsp;
<h3>Forwards: Ollie Watkins vs Viktor Gyokeres</h3>
With Erling Haaland priced at a hefty £14m and uncertainty surrounding the Alexander Isak situation at Newcastle, many FPL managers will be eyeing options in the price bracket below, with Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyokeres both available at £9m.
Watkins is as dependable as they come. The Aston Villa striker delivered 186 points last season; the fourth-highest among forwards, and even outscored Haaland. 
He recorded 16 goals and eight assists, featuring in every Premier League game, a testament to his durability and importance to Villa.
Even more impressively, Watkins has now hit double figures for goals in five straight seasons, while also registering 8+ assists in four of them. 
His previous tallies of 228 points in 2023/24 and 175 in 2022/23 show a player who consistently delivers FPL returns.
With Aston Villa coming up against Newcastle, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Sunderland, Fulham, and Burnley in their opening seven games, Watkins will be an easy pick for many.
<div id="attachment_73797" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73797" class="size-full wp-image-73797" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-and-Rogers.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-and-Rogers.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-and-Rogers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-and-Rogers-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Ollie Watkins. Picture by Getty Images</div>
As for Gyokeres, while the Comparison Matrix doesn’t yet feature Portugal&#8217;s Primeira Liga statistics, his record at Sporting CP was astonishing, scoring an eye-popping 97 goals in 102 games, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League last season.
At £9m, Gyokeres could become a must-have for a title-chasing club. However, Arsenal’s early schedule is tricky: they face Manchester United, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle in their first six. 
That said, their fixtures ease significantly from Gameweek 7 to 12, providing a potential window to pop Gyokeres into the team.
Squawka Verdict: This is a classic decision between a safe proven FPL pick vs the risky high potential newbie. Villa’s opening fixtures mean Watkins is almost irresistible here. He has the track record and pedigree to storm out of the blocks and rack up the points early doors. Arsenal have a nasty start and it may take Gyokeres a bit of time to settle, but come the fixture swing in gameweek seven, he could be ready to roll.
&nbsp;
<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>

Gabriel - a Triple Captaincy option? Picture by Getty Images

FPL tips: Key player comparisons | Squawka

Win at FPL

Community & tools