Fantasy Premier League or FPL returned with a bang last weekend, as the Premier League season began. As we enter Gameweek 2, let us look at some midfielders who you should have in your team this week.
First, let us look at last week’s results and the fixtures for this week. Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham, while Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. Brighton enjoyed a dominant performance, defeating Everton 3-0. Arsenal and Newcastle also started their campaigns with wins over Wolves and Southampton, respectively. There were draws between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, West Ham and Aston Villa, Leicester and Tottenham, and Brentford and Crystal Palace. However, Manchester City made a statement with a convincing 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Coming on to this weekend, the action continues. On Saturday, Brighton will host Manchester United, while Tottenham will face Everton. Crystal Palace will take on West Ham United, and Southampton will battle Nottingham Forest. Fulham will clash with Leicester City, and Manchester City will look to build on their strong start against Ipswich Town. Aston Villa will also aim for a victory against Arsenal. On Sunday, Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Chelsea, Bournemouth will face Newcastle United, and Liverpool will take on Brentford.
Best midfield picks in FPL teams for Gameweek 2:
#1 Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne remains one of the best FPL assets, even though looking at the game this season, you might not think so. His value has gone down to £9.5m and he is only 8.4% of all teams. At this point, he’s almost a differential. Even though he had a largely silent first game against Chelsea, only picking up 3 points, the world knows De Bruyne‘s prowess. This weekend, they face newly promoted Ipswich Town. A big return could be on the cards for the Belgian.
#2 Phil Foden
Phil Foden finally delivered on his potential in 2023/24, shattering expectations with a record-breaking points tally with an average of 6.6 . His goal-scoring and creative talents were finally coupled with consistent game-time making him a great asset. While his price has inevitably risen, at £9.5m, Foden remains a compelling option.
It remains to be seen if Foden can manage to replicate his form from last season. His 26.3% ownership will certainly be hoping for the same. Like De Bruyne, Foden too didn’t do very well against Chelsea, managing only a single point. But Ipswich should be wary as Foden will look to target them.
#3 Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer emerged as a breakout star in FPL 2023/24, securing a record-breaking £5.5m price rise to £10.5m for the following season. His impressive 244 points at the rate of 7.2 per gameweek and ten double-figure hauls positioned him as a top option. He is owned by 35% of the managers presently.
Last gameweek, he couldn’t deliver the goods, but against Manchester City, it is not that surprising. This game week however, Chelsea face a weak Wolves side and have great fixtures over the next one month too. Definitely buy him in if you haven’t still.
#4 Mo Salah
Mo Salah has remained one of the best FPL assets for 2024/25. He is priced at £12.5m and at the time of writing, he is in 36% of the teams. Despite a slight dip in form compared to previous seasons, he still managed an impressive 200+ points, averaging 6.6 per game. This season too, he has started with a bang, scoring a record ninth opening day goal and adding an assist to accumulate 14 points. Against Brentford, this weekend, Salah is expected to do more of the same and can therefore also be considered a captaincy option.
#5 Heung-min Son
Heung-min Son enjoyed a resurgence last season after a poor 2022/23, proving he can thrive without Harry Kane. Averaging a solid 6.1 points per game, the South Korean showcased both his goal-scoring prowess and improved creative ability. Priced at £10m and owned by 9% of managers, Son is a tempting option. He had only two points in the opening game versus Leicester City, but will be expected to do better against Everton in GW 2.