PFL 2025/26: Top Player Picks to Boss Your Premier League Fantasy League!

Alright mate, grab a seat. Lets hold the pint this time…we should keep our wits sharp for this one!

Welcome back to EPL Fan Zone, your home for Premier League banter, EPL tips, and all things footy. I’m your guide, a retired midfielder who lived for crunching tackles and I even scored the odd screamer in my day and I’m definably looking forward to the 2025/26 season.

If you liked my last post, I’m hoping you’ll eat this one up too. Say hello to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) a free-to-play game that’s as thrilling as any last-minute winner.

Let’s unpack why FPL’s a must for Prem fans, how it fuels your footy fix, and my top player picks to help you dominate your mates’ mini-leagues like I bossed midfields back in the day.

Get the lads involved – this one’s a banger!

What’s This FPL All About?

Fantasy Premier League is the ultimate game for Prem lovers, run by the Premier League, and it’s free to play!

You pick a squad of 15 Premier League players within a £100m budget, choosing stars from Liverpool, Arsenal or credible underdogs like Forest. It’s a global hit with millions playing, with updates weekly on fantasy.premierleague.com from August 15 2025, when the season kicks off.

New to FPL? Check the basics at fantasy.premierleague.com!

How It Works: Pick your squad before the Gameweek 1 deadline (noon, August 15, 2025). Points come from real-world performances (goals, assists, clean sheets, bonus points).

Make one free transfer weekly (extras cost -4 points) and use chips – special boosts like Wildcard (reset your squad) or Triple Captain (triple points for one player) for big hauls. Track your rank in the FPL app, with monthly prizes (September 2025 to April 2026) and bragging rights for topping your mini-league. There’s even a cup competition for extra banter!

Why It’s Fun: It’s got that stat-crunching buzz, all about the Prem’s glitz and grit. Pick stars like Salah or bargains like Watkins, balancing your budget to outsmart your mates. Create a mini-league and watch the chaos when someone’s captain blanks – pure group chat gold.
Why Share It: Free entry makes it easy to rope in your mates. Set up a mini-league, tease their picks, and laugh when their star striker flops harder than my old free-kicks. It’s built for pub chats and WhatsApp battles.

My Tip: Sign up at fantasy.premierleague.com to get your squad ready before August 15. Create a mini-league now for maximum banter.

Why Prem Fans Will Love FPL…

If like me, you’re buzzing for the 2025/26 season – Liverpool’s title push, Arsenal’s hunger, or Sunderland’s fight to stay up – FPL’s your ultimate sidekick. Here’s why it’s a belter:

Prem Spotlight: FPL’s all about the Premier League’s big dogs and underdogs. Pick stars from the title chasers or newly promoted sides like Sunderland to flex your Prem knowledge.
Stat-Crunching Prep: FPL’s nerdy fun lets you dive into stats like a pro. Use the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), dropped June 18, 2025, ranking matches from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard), to pick players with favourable early games.
Banter Galore: Mini-leagues are made for winding up your mates. Create one and watch your WhatsApp group erupt when someone’s keeper concedes five at Old Trafford.

My Tip: Start a mini-league called “Midfield Maestros” and pick Prem stars like Florian Wirtz. Share your league code on X with #FPL2025 to get the lads involved!

Top FPL Player Picks to Win Your Mini-League Player prices for 2025/26 aren’t out yet (check mid-July at fantasy.premierleague.com), but here are my top picks to rack up points and school your mates, based on Prem form and trends from Fantasy Football Scout and The Athletic. Fixtures dropped 18 June 2025 – check premierleague.com!

Top Picks at a Glance: Salah (£12.5m, MID), Haaland (£15.0m, FWD), Saka (£10.0m, MID), Watkins (£8.5m, FWD), Wirtz (£9.0m, MID), Frimpong (£6.5m, DEF), Martinez (~£5.0m, GK).

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Midfielder, ~£12.5m): The FPL king, racking up goals and assists like clockwork. With Liverpool’s potential for easy early fixtures, based on last season’s strong start, he’s a must-have. Expect him to shine in openers like last season’s Bournemouth clash.
Erling Haaland (Man City, Forward, ~£15.0m): A goal machine, perfect for captaining in open games, like a potential Wolves clash. Even after City’s dip last season, his clinical finishing makes him a premium pick.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, Midfielder, ~£10.0m): Arsenal’s star winger with pace and flair. His goals and assists make him a points magnet, even with tough early games (United & City).
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, Forward, ~£8.5m): Villa’s talisman, a mid-price gem for games like a potential Newcastle opener. High ownership for his goal-scoring knack.
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Midfielder, ~£9.0m): Liverpool’s £109m signing from Leverkusen. His creativity and goals make him a differential for Liverpool’s early fixtures.
Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool, Defender, ~£6.5m): Liverpool’s new right-back, signed for £29.5m. His pace and attacking flair (9 goals, 7 assists in 2024/25 Bundesliga) bring assist potential, perfect for clean sheets in Liverpool’s strong start.
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Goalkeeper, ~£5.0m): A save-heavy keeper with >10% ownership. Villa’s solid defense makes him ideal for clean sheets, like vs. Newcastle.

My Tip: Build your squad with one premium (Salah or Haaland), two differentials (Saka, Wirtz), and a safe keeper (Martinez). Use the Triple Captain chip on Salah for a favorable Gameweek to max points.

FPL Strategy: Play Smart, Stay Cool

FPL’s free entry makes it a fun way to test your footy brain, but my tips still apply to avoid picking like a rookie:

Budget Your Picks: You’ll need to stick to your £100m budget, balancing premiums like Haaland with bargains like Watkins. Save transfers for easy fixtures, using the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR) (1=easy, 5=hard).
Hunt Differentials: Pick low-ownership players like Wirtz or Saka to leapfrog your mates. Check Fantasy Football Scout or The Athletic for form and stats.
Avoid FOMO: X posts hyping a Prem star? As I mentioned, ignore ‘em like dodgy agents. Trust stats from Premier League or Opta.
Banter Is Key: Mini-leagues are for taking the piss out of your mates when their picks flop. Share leader-board screenshots on WhatsApp – again it’s more fun than a winning post-match debrief!

My Tip: Use the Wildcard chip early (e.g., Gameweek 2) if your squad struggles with tough fixtures. Pick a captain weekly (Salah for doubles) and swap before lockout if their match looks shaky.

Final Whistle:

Get Stuck Into FPL!

The 2025/26 season’s shaping up to be a cracker – Liverpool’s title chase…Arsenal’s fight. Join FPL for free at fantasy.premierleague.com, set up a mini-league to school your mates, and build your squad with winners like Salah, Haaland, and Frimpong.

Swing by EPL Fan Zone weekly for more tips.