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            <p>Premier League teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the new season - but what should FPL managers be looking out for in the final round of friendlies this weekend?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheFPLWireFantasyPremierLeague">FPL Wire</a> co-host Pranil Sheth (Lateriser) guides us through what he's keeping a close eye on.</p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">Friendlies Guide</a> will be updated with all the goalscorers, assisters and key notes from every match.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join"><strong>Win your FPL mini-league or your money back!</strong></a></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<h2>Final pre-season friendlies watchlist</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most teams have just one or two pre-season friendlies left and there’s still a fair bit of relevant information we could find useful that could shape our FPL squads. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is what we should be looking out for in the final friendlies and how that might affect our teams.</span></p>
<h3>Minutes for Manchester City players in the Community Shield</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With </span><a href="https://x.com/City_Xtra/status/2087513845208117601?s=20"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reports</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the likes of <strong>Erling Haaland</strong> and <strong>Nico O’Reill</strong>y are back in training for City, the FPL community will be paying close attention to their minutes in Gameweek 1. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Talk of a non-Haaland Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 has gained some momentum amid doubts over how ready he'll be for the opening weekend following his efforts in the World Cup. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But as things stand, I’m not inclined to go without the Norwegian at the start of the season. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ll take 30 minutes from him in the Community Shield. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In pre-season, we’ve seen that Manchester City like to spread the ball wide to their wingers, who then take their man on and cross it into the box. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s a high-volume usage of wingers under Enzo Maresca. Not only does this bode well for Haaland but if I’m thinking of a secondary box-crasher in that City team, O’Reilly is the first name that pops into my mind. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Him starting might make me go for a premium defender and downgrade one of the midfielders I’ve showcased in my <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/lateriser-fpl-team-reveal">team reveal</a>.</span></p>
<div id="attachment_81201" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81201" class="size-large wp-image-81201" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/haaland-landscape-1024x768.jpg" alt="Erling Haaland" width="1024" height="768" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-81201" class="wp-caption-text">Erling Haaland's stats</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Who is Brentford's second centre-back?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Sepp van den Berg</strong> looks to be injured at the moment and that opens up a spot for a £4.5 million Brentford centre-back. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was pretty confident of <strong>Kristoffer Ajer</strong> as a pick but <strong>Ethan Pinnock</strong> played instead of him in the Bees' recent pre-season game. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, they split teams over two friendlies on the same day and <strong>Kevin Schade</strong> was also a part of the team Ajer was in. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopefully, Keith Andrews plays a clear starting 11 and we can then get Ajer in as a value defender who offers significant <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/player-profile?id=32bvxwhceid2xdcfx6cd8a8d1">defensive contributions potential</a> and has some decent fixtures to start the season.</span></p>
<div id="attachment_81390" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81390" class="size-large wp-image-81390" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ajer-landscape-1024x768.png" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-81390" class="wp-caption-text">Kristoffer Ajer's stats</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Who is Liverpool's penalty taker?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It would be great if Liverpool get a penalty in their last pre-season game, with both <strong>Alexander Isak</strong> and <strong>Dominik Szoboszlai</strong> on the pitch. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Isak did take one, I would probably downgrade Szoboszlai in my midfield and spread the cash around a little.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It would also increase Isak’s stock as an FPL asset.</span></p>
<div id="attachment_81503" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81503" class="size-large wp-image-81503" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/szoboszlai-vs-isak-1024x768.jpg" alt="Dominik Szoboszlai v Alexander Isak" width="1024" height="768" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-81503" class="wp-caption-text">Dominik Szoboszlai v Alexander Isak</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Who is most nailed in the Arsenal back four at £5.5m...if anyone is?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A lot of FPL managers are interested in a £5.5m Arsenal defender and at the moment are looking to get <strong>Cristhian Mosquera</strong>.</span></p>
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FPL tips: What to look out for in the final pre-season friendlies

FPL tips: What to look out for in the final pre-season friendlies

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