Manchester City begin our defence of the league title with a trip to Chelsea on Sunday 18 August, with kick-off in the capital scheduled for 16:30 (UK).
Pep Guardiola’s side enter the fixture buoyed by winning the Community Shield in our previous outing thanks to a 7-6 penalties success over Manchester United following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
Bernardo Silva’s late header at Wembley cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s opener and sent the games to spot-kicks where we held our nerve thanks to successful strikes from Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Savinho, Ederson, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji.
However, we’ll have to be at our best against a Chelsea side who we drew with twice in the Premier League last term.
And the Londoners will have a familiar face to City in the dugout with former Elite Development Squad and first-team assistant coach Enzo Maresca taking the Stamford Bridge reins this summer.
The Blues’ last meeting with Sunday’s opponents came on our pre-season tour of the United States of America when an Erling Haaland hat-trick and Oscar Bobb’s second-half strike helped us to a 4-2 win in Columbus, Ohio.
Eyes are fully now on the Premier League’s return and FPL managers will be looking to make a strong start to the term.
With that in mind, read the Scout’s report below ahead of Friday 16 August’s deadline at 18:30 (UK).
CITY STAR
Erling Haaland (£15.0m) is the most expensive Fantasy Premier League asset of all time.
Last season’s golden boot winner took part in City’s full pre-season schedule and played 328 minutes scoring five goals, including three against Gameweek 1 opponents Chelsea.
In the 2023/24 season, Haaland registered 27 goals and eight assists. Only one player in the game registered more attacking returns than the Norwegian. Even at £15.0m the Norway international remains an essential pick for FPL managers.
ONE TO WATCH
Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m) has been the man to watch for Chelsea this summer. The versatile France international has been reclassified as a midfielder in FPL and has three goals and an assist in pre-season.
DIFFERENTIALS
Elsewhere, Son Heung-min (£10.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) are low-owned gems who have good potential in Gameweek 1.
Son has looked back to his best with three goals in a series of free-scoring pre-season matches for Spurs. He is a good captaincy option.
Bowen has played just 61 minutes in pre-season but registered a goal and an assist. His 16 goals last season was the same tally as Bukayo Saka (£10.0m).
CITY FPL LEAGUE
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