FPL experts' 2024/25 squads: Utkarsh Dalmia explains his picks

12 Aug 2024

The Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts are revealing their current 15-man squads ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline on Friday 16 August at 18:30 BST.

Dean Henderson (£4.5m): Crystal Palace were the fourth-best team in terms of Expected Goals Against (xGA) last season, while Henderson looks to have cemented himself as their first-choice goalkeeper. The Eagles also have a great run of fixtures to start the season.

Lukasz Fabianski (£4.0m): There has been some speculation regarding Alphonse Areola's (£4.5m) future at the club, so it looks like Fabianski could potentially be a £4.0m starter by the end of the transfer window. This is more in hope than expectation, though. But I want to keep my spend in the goalkeeper position to be minimal, and will be starting Henderson every week.

Josko Gvardiol (£6.0m): No defender had more penalty-box touches (51) than Gvardiol in the second half of last season, when he made the left-back spot his own. He was also ranked third for Expected Goal Involvement (xGI), just behind the Liverpool full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.0m). Crucially, the Liverpool pair have missed most of pre-season, while Gvardiol has logged 254 minutes.

Daniel Munoz (£5.0m): Munoz thrived under Oliver Glasner as a wing-back and was unlucky not to score last season. Additionally, he was ranked fifth for chances created, with 21, among defenders in the second half of last season and is worth the £0.5m over Joachim Andersen (£4.5m), as I plan to play him every week, regardless of fixture.

Ezri Konsa (£4.5m): The changes in the Bonus Points System (BPS) should benefit Konsa, who was fouled more than any other defender last season. With European commitments, we can expect some rotation in Unai Emery’s defence, but with Konsa’s ability to play in multiple positions, he should be one of the most nailed-on options in their backline.

Antonee Robinson (£4.5m): Among defenders currently priced at £4.5m or under, only Lucas Digne (£4.5m), with 38, and Vladimir Coufal (£4.5m), with 33, created more chances than Robinson's 32 last season, helping him register six assists. He’s also had an excellent pre-season, producing another two assists.  

Valentin Barco (£4.0m): Rather than go for a £4.0m defender from one of the promoted teams, I’m taking a punt on Barco, who should be playing at left-back for Brighton while Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m) is out injured. He has been taking corners for the Seagulls during pre-season, which also offers him an additional route to points.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m): Despite having a poor end to last season, Salah still posted great underlying numbers and I think he will thrive under new head coach Arne Slot. I like starting with the most expensive player in this position, as the likes of Bukayo Saka (£10.0m), Cole Palmer (£10.5m) and Phil Foden (£9.5m) have not had a full pre-season. I can downgrade Salah to bring one of them in if I need to later on.

Anthony Gordon (£7.5m): I really like Newcastle’s opening three fixtures from an attacking perspective and despite only playing 45 minutes during pre-season, I expect Gordon to start in Gameweek 1. After a breakthrough campaign last season, I expect his numbers to be even better this time around.

Eberechi Eze (£7.0m): In the absence of Michael Olise, I expect Eze to become even more of a talisman for Palace, with corner, free-kick and penalty duties. The Eagles have recruited well, with Daichi Kamada (£5.5m) and Ismaila Sarr (£6.0m) joining, which should only add to Eze’s points potential. 

Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m): The pricing of most players has been spot on this season, but I think Nkunku is one of the undervalued gems. He’s had a great pre-season under Maresca, scored three goals and getting consistent minutes. His versatility makes him perfect for the Italian’s system and the fixtures are great for Chelsea after Gameweek 1.

Harry Winks (£4.5m): The Leicester midfielder is purely bench fodder and a likely third sub most weeks. At £4.5m, he's a good budget enabler. 

Erling Haaland (£15.0m): The most expensive player in FPL also makes the most important decision every week, the captaincy, very easy. You just captain Haaland most weeks, especially if he’s playing at home. While Salah is operating under a new head coach, with Haaland you just know what you’re getting.

Alexander Isak (£8.5m): With Newcastle having no European commitments and a fully-fit squad, I am expecting big things from the Magpies this season. Callum Wilson (£7.0m) is currently a doubt for the start of the campaign, which means Isak should play centrally and take penalties.

Rodrigo Muniz (£6.0m): Over the final 10 Gameweeks last season, no forward took more shots in the box than Muniz's 32. Fulham have an excellent batch of opening fixtures too, facing two promoted sides Leicester and Ipswich Town in Gameweeks 2 and 3. 

Video is currently not available.