With Fantasy Premier League now LIVE ahead of the 2025/26 season, FPL expert Az Phillips has revealed his current 15-man squad and explained his choices. Notably, Az is planning to use the Bench Boost chip in Gameweek 1, capitalising on the fact that Fantasy managers can now use each chip TWICE this campaign.
Goalkeeper
Caoimhin Kelleher (£4.5m): The new Brentford shot-stopper comes in at a great price. Kelleher is a top goalkeeper, playing for a team that have historically invited a lot of shots. So he should, like his predecessor Mark Flekken, do well for additional save points.
Defenders
Josko Gvardiol (£6.0m): There are some question marks over what role he'll have in the team after the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (£6.0m) this summer, but Gvardiol is nailed on to start in Gameweek 1.
Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m): Liverpool's captain is a sure starter in a new-look defence. Van Dijk should do well at getting defensive contributions - the new points that have been added this season.
See: What are defensive contribution points?
Micky van de Ven (£4.5m): He has a great opening game against Burnley, who may be uncertain on which players will start at full-back for them.
Midfielders
Mohamed Salah (£14.5m): One of the greatest ever players in Fantasy, and he starts with a home game against AFC Bournemouth, who have sold some of their key assets from last season, especially in defence.
Florian Wirtz (£8.5m): Liverpool's new signing is an absolute lock-in for me and will surely make a mockery of such a low price tag.
Mohammed Kudus (£6.5m): A big-money signing for Spurs with something to prove against a promoted team in Gameweek 1.
Declan Rice (£6.5m): Presumably he will get a slightly more attacking role, and he should also benefit from the addition of defensive contribution points.
Forwards
Jarrod Bowen (£8.0m): Although he has been reclassified as a forward, which dents his appeal, Bowen faces promoted Sunderland in Gameweek 1, which looks good for a Bench Boost.
See: All the position changes for 2024/25 Fantasy
Joao Pedro (£7.5m): Surely the Brazilian starts up top for Chelsea after his FIFA Club World Cup heroics, and with Nicolas Jackson (£6.5m) suspended for the start of the season.
Dominic Solanke (£7.5m): So often the bane of my 2024/25 season, surely Thomas Frank takes the shackles off his frontman and he benefits from playing Burnley at home in Gameweek 1.
Bench
Alphonse Areola (£4.5m): A cheap route into the West Ham rearguard against a promoted side. He should be the perfect Bench-Boost goalkeeper.
Dwight McNeil (£6.0m): The Everton midfielder has set-piece responsibility and a modest price, as well as a nice Gameweek 1 fixture against Leeds United.
Vitalii Mykolenko (£5.0m): I couldn't afford James Tarkowski (£5.5m), so his slightly cheaper team-mate is a good alternative.
Maxim De Cuyper (£4.5m): Brighton & Hove Albion's budget-friendly defender could be a hidden gem if he is playing at wing-back or is on penalty duties now that Joao Pedro has left.