We’re resurrecting an old favourite for the September international break: the Line-up Lessons return as we look back at Gameweeks 1-3 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
The aim here is to assess the team selections of all 20 clubs in the opening three Gameweeks and ponder what we might see when domestic football resumes in Gameweek 4.
It’s A to I in part one, as we cover the first 10 sides alphabetically.
GAMEWEEKS 1-3: CLUB-BY-CLUB SUMMARY
| Ever-present starters | No. of starting XI changes | Unenforced starting XI changes | |
| Arsenal | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| Aston Villa | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Bournemouth | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Brentford | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Brighton | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Crystal Palace | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Everton | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Fulham | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Ipswich | 7 | 5 | 4 |
ARSENAL
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
It’s been pretty much as we expected from Mikel Arteta so far. The 4-3-3 of last season has been in operation again, with Declan Rice (£6.4m) given more attacking license as an ‘eight’ and Kai Havertz (£8.1m) in turn pushed up front – as was the case for the final third of 2023/24.
Havertz is one of only two FPL forwards to play every minute of every game to date this season.
The only two areas of change have been on the left flank.
The more creative Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.0m) was preferred at left-back in Gameweek 1, with Jurrien Timber (£5.5m) shoring things up against stiffer opposition in the following two matches. Riccardo Calafiori (£5.8m) still awaits his full debut but was brought on at left-back in Gameweek 2 and then at left wing-back when Arsenal were reduced to 10 men last weekend.
On the left wing, Leandro Trossard‘s (£6.9m) goal off the bench at Villa Park was rewarded with a start against Brighton. The disappointing Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m) made way.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
As is the case with Aston Villa below, the fixtures start piling up now that the UEFA Champions League is here.
Atalanta are up first but we can forget about Arteta rotating on either side of that: it’s the north London derby in Gameweek 4 and Manchester City in Gameweek 5.
The clash with Paris Saint-Germain is sandwiched by home fixtures against Leicester City and Southampton, however. Might Arteta rest a few key players for at least one of those matches?
He didn’t really do that last season, preferring to run his regulars into the ground. Ben White (£6.5m), Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) and Martin Odegaard (£8.4m) started 35 league matches apiece. The three fixtures they didn’t start were all because of injury, rather than rest. Rice’s first and only Premier League breather didn’t come until April. William Saliba (£6.0m) didn’t get one, starting every league match.
Arteta has hinted recently, however, that he’d maybe be more prepared to rest one or two bodies. Saliba’s 2023/24 minutes, for instance, were mentioned when Calafiori signed. Gabriel Magalhaes‘ (£6.0m) 14-match run for club and country was cited as a reason for the Brazilian’s Gameweek 10 benching last season.
Having already lost one recruit in Mikel Merino (£6.0m) to a freak injury, Arteta will be hoping that lightning hasn’t struck twice with Calafiori on Friday.
ASTON VILLA
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Martinez, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Unai Emery has kept things very settled in August. His only change, in fact, was an enforced one, thanks to Matty Cash‘s (£4.5m) injury. In something of a surprise, it was Lamare Bogarde (£4.0m) and not Kosta Nedeljkovic (£4.0m) who got the nod to deputise at right-back in Gameweek 3.
Morgan Rogers (£5.1m) continues to play off Ollie Watkins (£8.9m), whose post-Euros struggles extend to fitness as well as form. He has been hooked before the 65th-minute mark in all three games; only once did that happen in 2023/24 and even that was because he was injured.
Rogers, by contrast, hasn’t been subbed off once.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
The start of the UEFA Champions League brings with it the usual threat of rotation. Villa face Young Boys between Gameweeks 4 and 5, with Bayern Munich to come between Gameweeks 6 and 7. More European fixtures follow after the October and November international breaks.
Despite a run to the UEFA Conference League semis last season, Watkins, Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) and the now-departed Douglas Luiz still started every league game they were available for. Others, like Leon Bailey (£6.4m), were more heavily affected. He was benched in the league matches immediately after Villa’s first six European ties.
Emery has a bigger squad at his disposal now, of course. The likes of Emi Buendia (£5.4m) and Jacob Ramsey (£5.5m) offer relief options for Bailey and Rogers. Ian Maatsen (£4.9m) will eat into Lucas Digne‘s (£4.5m) game-time soon, in one competition or another. Even Watkins has an in-form Jhon Duran (£6.0m) breathing down his neck.
The Villa boss will surely go stronger in Europe in 2024/25, too. Last season’s second group game was against the mighty Zrinjski Mostar (Watkins and Luiz were benched for that). This year’s is against Bayern.
BOURNEMOUTH
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Cook, Semenyo, Tavernier
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Andoni Iraola has been the busiest manager in the entire division. He’s made more unenforced changes (five) than any other head coach, while the Cherries have fewer ever-present starters (five) than any other club.
New signings have been part of the reason. Julián Araujo (£4.5m) and Evanilson (£6.0m) were introduced into the starting XI in Gameweek 2, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.5m) handed his Bournemouth bow a week later.
While the personnel has changed, the 4-2-3-1 system remains the same.
Amid all the carnage, Antoine Semenyo (£5.5m) has started and completed all three matches. Those ‘xMins’ have been important: both of his goals came after the 85th minute.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Expect more uncertainty.
The Cherries were desperately poor against Everton until their late, late comeback, by which point the likes of Luis Sinisterra (£5.0m) and Dango Ouattara (£5.0m) had been thrown on. Those two were involved in the three goals that Iraola’s troops scored.
Dean Huijsen (£4.5m) is threatening Marcos Senesi‘s (£4.9m) place, too.
Whoever gets the nod in Bournemouth’s XI, an early withdrawal is always a possibility. A dozen of Iraola’s 15 substitutions have been made before the 80th-minute mark. His energy-expending pressing game (they top the division for pressures) means theirs is a squad effort more than most.
There’ll definitely be one change for Gameweek 4: loanee Kepa can’t face parent club Chelsea.
BRENTFORD
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Flekken, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer, Norgaard, Jensen, Janelt, Mbeumo, Wissa
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Thomas Frank typically changes his formation depending on the calibre of opposition – and that’s what we’ve seen so far. The 3-5-2 he usually rolls out against a big-six side was more of a 4-4-2 at Liverpool, however.
Kevin Schade (£5.5m) was the surplus attacker making way at Anfield, with Keane Lewis-Potter (£5.0m) brought in on the left of midfield. The change was reversed a week later.
Midfielder Vitaly Janelt (£5.0m) moved to left-back in Gameweek 3, allowing Mikkel Damsgaard (£5.0m) into the engine room.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
It’ll likely be more of the same, formation-wise, after the break. A 3-5-2/4-4-2 in away matches in Gameweeks 4, 5 and 8, a 4-3-3 in every other game up until the end of November.
So far, everyone who has started a league match for Brentford was on the books last season. Big-money signings from Liverpool, Sepp van den Berg (£4.0m) and Fabio Carvalho (£4.9m), have only been substitutes so far – although there is a chance of the former getting a start in the next two Gameweeks if Frank proceeds with a back five. That may depend on the severity of Kristoffer Ajer‘s (£4.5m) injury.
Rico Henry (£4.5m) is nearing a return from a lengthy lay-off. Ajer and Janelt have been deputising at left-back this season but as soon as Henry is match-fit – which may be a few weeks yet – there is little doubt that he’ll regain his place.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Hinshelwood, Milner, Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma, Welbeck
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Fabian Hurzeler may have a wealth of rising talent at his disposal but he’s kept things relatively settled so far.
In fact, he’s made just one unenforced change in the first three Gameweeks – and that came between the posts. Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) returned from injury in the EFL Cup last week, subsequently ousting Jason Steele (£4.5m).
An injury to Mats Wieffer (£5.0m) and the sale of Billy Gilmour have prompted his two changes in central midfield.
Tactically, it’s been pretty much unchanged too – whether you want to call it a 4-4-2, a 4-1-4-1, a 2-3-2-3 or something in between. It’s a standard 4-4-2 off the ball but there’s some Hurzeler innovation in possession, with one central midfielder (James Milner (£5.0m)) pushing up high alongside Joao Pedro (£5.7m) in the hole.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Hurzeler’s assertion that he isn’t going to rotate his goalkeepers a la Roberto De Zerbi will see Verbruggen continue between the sticks.
And outfield, early-season momentum and a lack of European involvement may mean that Hurzeler resists tinkering too much for now. He didn’t do too much of that at St Pauli.
Look out for changes in the full-back department in the next few weeks, however. Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m), someone Hurzeler said had the potential to be “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League“, is injury-free – if short of match fitness. The exciting full-back Ferdi Kadioglu (£4.5m), who can play on either flank, has just been bought too.
Hurzeler has even hinted that Kadioglu could operate in midfield, as he has in the past. Injuries to Wieffer, Milner and Matt O’Riley (£5.5m) further that possibility.
There’ll be a modicum of concern about Joao Pedro (£5.7m) in Gameweek 4. A late call-up for Brazil, his country is in action in the early hours of next Wednesday – so there’ll be a bit of worry over minutes against Ipswich Town.
CHELSEA
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Jackson
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
After the carnage of pre-season, Enzo Maresca’s starting XI has settled down a little bit.
The goalkeeper and back four have remained unchanged, with Maresca confirming that Robert Sanchez (£4.5m) is his Premier League number one.
Malo Gusto (£5.0m) has been mostly inverting into central midfield from his right-back position.
An injury to Romeo Lavia (£4.5m) was the catalyst for a significant change in central midfield. With the budget FPL midfielder out, Cole Palmer (£10.6m) – who started on the right wing in Gameweek 1 – was brought infield for the last two matches.
That opened up a spot for Noni Madueke (£6.6m) on the right flank, and both he and Palmer did some serious damage in Gameweek 2.
Maresca’s only unenforced changes have come on the left flank. Christopher Nkunku (£6.2m), Mykhailo Mudryk (£6.4m) and Pedro Neto (£6.5m) have all started one league match apiece out wide.
Nkunku is a man without a position at present. On the left in Gameweek 1, he was brought on centrally in the hammering at Molineux. On Sunday, against Crystal Palace, he replaced Madueke on the right.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Reece James (£5.0m) is now free from suspension so will soon challenge Gusto. Both full-backs are rehabbing from muscle injuries, so it’s a race against time to see who recovers first.
Lavia is likewise working his way back; Maresca was hoping for a recovery after the international break. His omission from the UEFA Europa Conference League squad is an intriguing one. The midfielder, Palmer and Wesley Fofana (£4.5m) have been spared European involvement, so we can assume they’re earmarked for Premier League duty on a regular basis – unless there’s a serious injury we don’t know about.
Further forward, there’s the potential for some serious rotation in the weeks ahead – Palmer aside. Nkunku, Mudryk, Joao Felix (£6.5m) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.9m) were all on the bench in Gameweek 3, while we’ve now got Jadon Sancho (£6.3m) as a threat to Madueke on the right.
CRYSTAL PALACE
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Henderson, Guehi, Richards, Munoz, Wharton, Mitchell, Eze, Mateta
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Oliver Glasner has had his hand forced with five of the six line-up changes he has made.
A Joachim Andersen (£4.4m) exit and a Chadi Riad (£4.4m) injury meant that Nathaniel Clyne (£4.4m) was the third centre-half used in as many matches, alongside ever-presents Marc Guehi (£4.5m) and Chris Richards (£4.5m).
Daichi Kamada (£5.4m) was benched in Gameweek 2 in the only unenforced alteration made by Glasner. He swiftly returned to the line-up at Chelsea after Odsonne Edouard (£5.4m) was sold.
Illness and injury have meant that Will Hughes (£4.9m) and Jefferson Lerma (£4.9m) have hokey-cokeyed in midfield.
Otherwise, it’s been business as usual with Glasner sticking with the 3-4-2-1 set-up he used to great effect when taking over in the final third of 2023/24.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Two more centre-halves arrived on deadline day: Trevoh Chalobah (£4.4m) and Maxence Lacroix (£4.5m). Both potential candidates for the right-sided centre-back role, one could also play as the ‘middle’ centre-half. Guehi could shift left to accommodate both.
The two new arrivals will have to oust Clyne and Richards first. Not the most glamorous players on paper, they were two of the three starting centre-backs under Glasner at the back-end of last season. They know the system well and indeed performed admirably in Gameweek 3.
In a nutshell, Guehi is the only one you can be sure of starting a string of games when domestic football resumes.
Eddie Nketiah‘s (£5.9m) arrival is intriguing, too. Could Glasner switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Eberechi Eze (£6.9m) behind a front two of Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.4m) and Nketiah? Even if not, Kamada’s place is under threat from fellow summer signing Ismaila Sarr (£5.9m).
EVERTON
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Harrison, Iroegbunam, Gueye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
The classic 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 from Sean Dyche, who was initially reluctant to throw too many of his new signings in. That’s not unusual for the Everton boss, who has shown a tendency to stick with tried and tested.
He’s not had much choice but to play Tim Iroegbunam (£4.5m), however, given the dearth of options in midfield.
It’s been all change at right-back, with Ashley Young (£4.5m) starting the season there but being sent off in Gameweek 1. Youngster Roman Dixon (£4.0m) temporarily filled in before a fit-again Seamus Coleman (£4.4m) returned in Gameweek 3.
Dyche finally relented and handed Illiman Ndiaye (£5.4m) his full debut last weekend. He came in on the left flank, with Dwight McNeil (£5.4m) moving into the ’10’ role. Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.4m) made way.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
If the usually reliable ‘El Bobble’ is to be believed, then Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.9m) will soon return to challenge for a first-team place. Budget defender Michael Keane (£4.0m) is on borrowed time.
Dyche is a stubborn sort so it’s hard to see him changing too much come Gameweek 4. For 87 minutes of the defeat to Bournemouth, indeed, things were going well.
Ndiaye and Iroegbunam have really seized their chances and been two of the Toffees’ stand-out players but, Dyche being Dyche, you could never rule out the prospect of Doucoure and the fit-again James Garner (£4.9m) getting recalls.
FULHAM
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Muniz
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
Nice and simple from Marco Silva: unchanged in Gameweeks 1-3.
Emile Smith Rowe (£5.6m) and Andreas Pereira (£5.4m) have been incorporated into the same side, operating more as dual ‘eights’ on the ball rather than one in the ’10’ role.
Fitness may still be an issue with Smith Rowe: he’s been hooked in all three matches, his average start only lasting 67 minutes.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
While things have remained unchanged so far, that’s not going to be the case for much longer.
Jorge Cuenca (£4.4m) and especially Joachim Andersen (£4.4m) will soon threaten the established order at centre-half. The absence of ball-playing defenders was evident in Gameweek 3, so do not be surprised if Andersen ousts Issa Diop (£4.5m) soon. Cuenca may have to wait a little longer but he comes very highly rated.
It may be an either/or with Smith Rowe and Pereira soon, too. Sander Berge (£5.0m) has arrived to stiffen up a Palhinha-less midfield, and you could see him partnering Sasa Lukic (£5.0m) in the ‘tougher’ matches at the very least – perhaps Gameweeks 5, 7 and 8. Smith Rowe is an option on the left flank, should Silva insist on starting both him and Pereira.
IPSWICH TOWN
EVER-PRESENT STARTERS
- Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Hutchinson, Delap
WHAT WE’VE SEEN SO FAR
A bit like the situation at Bournemouth, it’s been the slow integration of new signings that has led to Kieran McKenna making four unenforced starting XI changes.
Arijanet Muric (£4.4m) and Sammie Szmodics (£6.0m) both got their first start in Gameweek 2 (Muric missed the opening game through injury), while Kalvin Phillips (£5.0m) and Chidozie Ogbene (£5.0m) came into the line-up in Gameweek 3.
Wes Burns’ (£4.9m) injury led to Ben Johnson (£4.0m) coming into the side in Gameweek 2 – but he was swiftly booted out again after Ogbene was handed a start against Fulham.
Goalkeeper Christian Walton (£4.5m), central midfielder Massimo Luongo (£4.5m) and attacking midfielder Conor Chaplin (£5.4m) have also all been relegated to the bench.
As was the case in the Championship last season, McKenna has predominantly used a 4-2-3-1. That can resemble a 3-4-2-1 at times, with Leif Davis (£4.5m) pushing well up the flank from left-back and operating more like a wing-back/winger at times.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
More new signings are waiting in the wings, too. Jens Cajuste (£4.5m) is another central midfielder and one to monitor given his budget price tag, while Jack Clarke (£5.5m) chiefly operates from the left wing.
A promotion for Clarke could see a reshuffle, with Szmodics and Omari Hutchinson (£5.5m) moving to the hole and the right wing respectively.
Perhaps the initial main starting XI challenge will come from Dara O’Shea (£4.0m). A right-sided centre-half, he’ll threaten the game-time of Luke Woolfenden (£4.0m). Woolfenden has not done a great deal wrong yet but McKenna has shown no sentiment in replacing the heroes of last season, like Chaplin, Luongo and Cameron Burgess (£4.0m), with new recruits.
As for Johnson, it looks as though he’ll be reliant on an injury or two to force his way back into the side.
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