Here’s our FPL Preseason guide where we look at some of the main FPL teams preseason key and form players, Late world cup returners, Injuries, what to look for next and Def Con potential. Plus a possible GW1 lineup. The Main feed back will come after next weekend and the Community Shield
FPL preseason guide – Analysing Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd, Man City and Brighton
The FPL Experts Template Team, The best cheap enablers,
4 FFGeek Contributors Teams, Joe’s Transfer Planner, 4 Chip strategies to start the season with
4 GW1 Contributors Teams, 4 More FFGeek Contributors Teams
Liverpool
Under new manager Andoni Iraola, Liverpool’s pre-season highlights severe defensive vulnerabilities but high attacking upside.
- Key & Form Players: Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are locked in as elite FPL targets, both scoring in the recent 3-2 loss to Monaco. Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) looks is in the double pivot but has set pieces and Def Con as points avenues.
- Late Returners: Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Víctor Muñoz (£6.5m) missed the USA tour due to the World Cup but are now integrating.
- Injuries & Starting Doubts: Joe Gomez suffered an early tour injury, while £60m defender Jeremy Jacquet (£5.0m) apparently will play v Como. New signing Araujo could take either the RB or CB position. Curtis Jones sat out recently as a precaution.
- What to Look For Next: The final split-squad friendly against Como will reveal Iraola’s definitive Gameweek 1 starting XI and how quickly returning stars Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, and Cody Gakpo can gel.
- Def Con Potential: Virgil is the star. Iraola’s style could see Jacquet also produce points
Possible lineup for GW1
Alisson
Frimpong – Jacquet – Van Dijk – Kerkez
Gravenberch – Szoboszlai
Ngumoha/Munoz – Wirtz – Gakpo
Isak
Arsenal
Arsenal’s pre-season (as of 11 Aug 2026 with Friendly v Como on the 12th) has been mixed for FPL, with early attacking promise offset by defensive issues and World Cup returns.
Results: 3-0 MK Dons, 4-1 Girona, 1-3 Betis, 2-3 Dortmund. Final friendly: vs Como (12 Aug).
Form players: New signing Christos Tzolis (goals + multiple assists, including both vs Dortmund) stands out. Ethan Nwaneri (2 goals) and Max Dowman also impressed early.
Key players/World Cup absentees: Many stars (Saka, Rice, Raya, Merino, Zubimendi, Madueke, Eze) only recently returned or just back in training after deep runs. Odegaard featured limited minutes post-return. Gabriel/Martinelli returned earlier.
Injuries/starting doubts: Saliba (back, extended absence, no surgery) and Timber (groin, weeks away) miss the start—defence leaked goals in their absence. White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori and Gabriel will be the back 4 in some form instead.
Surprise positive: Tzolis looks impactful; Bruno Guimaraes (new £75m midfielder) could debut vs Como.
Def Cons potential: Gabriel remains elite for clean sheets + attacking returns (less pure DefCon volume). Rice offers strong midfield DefCon (tackles/recoveries) + set-pieces.
Transfers: Done — Hincapie, Meslier, Tzolis, Guimaraes. Outs include Trossard, Kiwior. Still possible: defender cover (e.g. Konsa), attacker (Alvarez, Yildiz or similar after missing Vinicius).
Vs Como watch and Community Shield: Minutes for returning stars (Saka/Rice/Raya etc.), Guimaraes integration, defensive solidity without Saliba/Timber, and who starts up front (Gyokeres/Havertz).
Lineup: No point speculating. Wait for the Community Shield
Manchester United
Man Utd preseason (FPL view, as of 11 Aug 2026): Results mixed—lost 0-1 to Wrexham, then 5-0 Rosenborg, 2-1 Atletico, 1-1 PSG. Next: Leeds (Dublin, 12 Aug) then AC Milan (15 Aug).
Form players: Bryan Mbeumo (3 goals, often up front with shots/threat); Amad (assist vs PSG); Andrey Santos solid in midfield. Bruno Fernandes returned for limited minutes vs PSG
World Cup absentees/returns: Mainoo, Rashford, Martinez recently rejoined after rest. Longer-term: Ugarte (knee), de Ligt (back).
Injury doubts: Sesko (shin, limited fitness, joined squad but match-fit concerns); Mount (precautionary after PSG); Heaton (hamstring). Cunha/Lammens back from illness. Martinez availability improving.
Starting doubts/positives: Mbeumo thriving centrally (Sesko delayed); Dorgu versatile attack; Tielemans debut minutes. Rashford in contention for first appearance in ages. Maguire/Shaw regulars.
Last friendlies watch: Fuller squad rotation, Plays CF, Sesko/Cunha/Mbeumo.
DefCon potential: Maguire – 16 points last season
Transfers: Santos and Tielemans in; further midfield possible post-Ugarte injury. Rashford future uncertain but training.
Possible GW1 lineup:
Lammens
Dalot, Maguire, Yoro/Martinez, Shaw
Santos, Tielemans
Amad, Fernandes, Cunha
Mbeumo
Or if Sesko ready Amad drops out
Manchester City
Man City’s 2026 pre-season (under new boss Enzo Maresca) has been limited by World Cup absences, with Asia tour results of 1-1 (pens loss) vs Inter, 3-1 vs K-League All Stars and 3-1 vs Atlético Madrid.
Key/form players: Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m) stood out with ~5 assists across the three games (often from the left), linking well with Omar Marmoush (brace vs Atlético). Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Aït-Nouri (goals + advanced roles) also featured regularly and impressed.
World Cup absentees (zero or minimal minutes so far): Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku. Rodri had minor back surgery post-tournament and faces a short rehab
Injury/starting doubts & positives: Haaland and other late returnees are due back ahead of the Community Shield; minutes and sharpness are the main questions. Surprise positives include Semenyo’s form/role and Aït-Nouri’s versatility/scoring. Gvardiol has been nailed across positions.
Last friendly (Community Shield vs Arsenal, 16 Aug): Watch for Haaland/Anderson/Guehi integration, starting XI clues under Maresca (wide direct play), and any fitness issues.
Def Cons potential: Elliot Anderson (strong historical DC points from Forest) is a high-floor mid option although City’s high possession % questions his DC points this season
Transfers: Record £116m Anderson already in; possible further midfield (e.g. Bouaddi interest) or outgoings (Rodri speculation, fringe players). Window still open.
Potential GW1 lineup: too much uncertainty. wait until after the Community Shield
Brighton
Brighton have enjoyed a perfect preseason under Fabian Hürzeler, winning three out of three including a dominant 3-0 victory against Roma.
FPL Preseason Summary
- Key/Form Players: Pascal Groß (£5.5m) remains crucial, boosting his FPL appeal by taking over penalty duties. Striker Georginio Rutter (£5.5m) and midfielder Yasin Ayari (£5.5m) are in fine form, both netting against Roma.
- Injury & Starting Doubts: Flying winger Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) suffered a leg injury against Roma and is a serious GW1 doubt. Kaoru Mitoma, Carlos Baleba, and Evan Ferguson are also major doubts or recovering from issues.
- Surprise Positives & Transfers: Following Danny Welbeck’s shocking transfer to Chelsea, Diego Gómez (£5.0m) has emerged as a major surprise positive, locking down extensive minutes.
- Defensive Contribution (Def Cons): New centre-back Luka Vušković (£5.0m) looks like an absolute monster for Def Con points potential after racking up six in just 45 minutes.
- Next friendly: FPL managers must monitor their final friendly against Bologna on 15 August to see whether Hürzeler prefers Vušković or veteran Lewis Dunk.
Potential GW1 Lineup (4-3-3)
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Vušković, Boscagli, Kadıoğlu; Ayari, Hinshelwood, Groß; Gómez, Rutter, Osman.
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