FPL 2025/2026 Preview & Analysis Of Rule Changes

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FPL 2025/2026 Season Preview

The new 2025/2026 Fantasy Premier League season is just around the corner, and FPL managers are gearing up for another year of exciting challenges, all with the goal of improving on last season’s rankings.

While the core gameplay remains familiar, each campaign introduces subtle yet impactful changes, and this season is no exception.

In this FPL analysis, we’ll explore the key rule updates, highlight notable player price reveals, and share a suggested early draft to help you prepare in the weeks leading up to the kickoff.

The 5 Most Expensive FPL Players for 2025/2026

Mohamed Salah £14.5M

Last season’s standout Premier League performer was also the top scorer in Fantasy Premier League, so its no surprise that Liverpools Mohamed Salah enters the new campaign as the games most expensive asset.

The Egyptian forward delivered an extraordinary 29 goals and 18 assists, finishing at the top of both the Golden Boot and assist charts.

He wrapped up the season with a staggering 344 FPL points.

Although his £14.5M price tag is steep, if he can replicate last season’s form, Salah could still prove to be excellent value.

Erling Haaland £14.0M

Erling Haaland began last season as the most expensive asset in Fantasy Premier League, but after a mixed campaign for Manchester City, his price has taken a slight dip ahead of the new season.

Despite the teams overall struggles, the Norwegian striker still managed to score 22 goals, finishing third in the Golden Boot race.

However, his FPL output was more modest.

He ended the season with 181 points, fewer than forwards like Jarrod Bowen, Yoane Wissa, and Chris Wood, all of whom come at a significantly lower cost.

At £14.0M, Haaland remains a premium option, albeit with some risk.

If Pep Guardiola can guide Man City back to their dominant best, Haaland has the potential to be one of the top performers in FPL.

The question is whether managers are willing to invest such a hefty portion of their budget from the outset.

Alexander Isak £10.5M

Newcastle’s star striker has been the subject of ongoing transfer speculation in recent weeks, which comes as no surprise given his impressive form over the past few seasons.

Alexander Isak wrapped up the last Premier League campaign with 23 goals, finishing second in the Golden Boot race and collecting 211 FPL points.

That total made him the top-performing forward in Fantasy Premier League for the 2024/25 season.

If the Swedish international remains in the Premier League, he is likely to be the preferred premium forward option for many FPL managers.

Cole Palmer £10.5M

Cole Palmer, the second most expensive midfield option this season, is expected to remain a popular pick among FPL managers, especially after Chelsea’s emphatic victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final.

Despite the teams inconsistent form during the 2024/2025 Premier League campaign, Palmer impressed with 15 goals and a total of 214 FPL points, securing his place among the top FPL performers.

With Chelsea’s favourable opening fixtures, Palmer is likely to be included in many fantasy football squads heading into FPL Gameweek 1.

Bukayo Saka £10.0M

The Arsenal winger missed several games last season due to injury, yet still managed to contribute 10 assists and 6 goals.

Bukayo Saka ended the FPL campaign with 127 points, a total he is likely to surpass if he can maintain his fitness throughout the upcoming season.

FPL Defensive Actions Rule Change

The upcoming Fantasy Premier League season will introduce a new scoring metric called CBIT, which stands for Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, and Tackles.

This system rewards players with additional FPL points based on their defensive contributions during matches.

Defenders

All players listed as defenders will receive 2 bonus points if they register 10 or more combined defensive actions under the CBIT metric in a single match.

For example, if Virgil van Dijk makes 3 tackles, 2 clearances, and 5 interceptions, he will qualify for the extra points.

Midfielders And Forwards

Midfielders and forwards can also earn points through the CBIT system, but they must register at least 12 defensive actions in a match to be eligible for the 2-point bonus.

It is important to note that regardless of how many defensive actions a player performs, the maximum number of CBIT-related bonus points that can be earned per match is 2.

Even if a player records 20 or 30 actions, they will not exceed the 2-point cap.

FPL Chip Rules For 2025/26

New FPL chip rules have been introduced for the upcoming FPL season.

All standard chips remain in place, including the Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain, and Bench Boost, but the Assistant Manager chip has been removed from the game.

For the first time, each of the four main chips can be used twice during the season.

Managers will be allowed to use each chip once between Gameweek 1 and Gameweek 19, and then again between Gameweek 20 and Gameweek 38.

This is a major change that introduces a new layer of strategy to the game, encouraging managers to carefully consider when to deploy their chips across both halves of the season.

Who Has The Best Opening Fixtures?

Every experienced FPL manager knows that fixtures play a crucial role when selecting their initial squad and planning short-term transfers.

A strong opening schedule can set the tone for a successful season.

A reminder that the FPL GW1 Deadline to finalise your team is Friday, August 15, 2025 at 18:30 GMT.

Lets take a closer look at the teams with the most favourable opening fixtures:

Chelsea

Chelsea appears to have one of the most advantageous starts in the Premier League.

They begin with a home game against Crystal Palace, followed by an away trip to West Ham.

Their next three fixtures include a home match against Fulham and away games against Brentford and Manchester United.

With such a promising schedule, Chelsea players could be excellent early picks for your FPL squad.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa start their campaign at home against Newcastle, which is a tough test, but the fixtures that follow are more appealing.

They travel to Brentford before facing Crystal Palace, Everton, and newly-promoted Sunderland.

If Villa can find their rhythm early, their key players could deliver strong returns in the first few gameweeks.

Nottingham Forest

Although Forest has lost influential players like Anthony Elanga, they may still perform well in their opening fixtures.

They start at home against Brentford, then face Crystal Palace away, followed by matches against West Ham, Arsenal, and Burnley.

While its unlikely that they will win every match, there is enough potential in this run to justify investment in a few Nottingham Forest assets.

Liverpool

The reigning Premier League champions have been active in the transfer market, and their early fixtures suggest a solid start is likely.

They open with a home game against Bournemouth, travel to Newcastle, and then host Arsenal in what promises to be a challenging fixture.

After that, Liverpool face Burnley and Everton.

FPL Draft Suggestion

Although transfers and injuries may still shake things up before the Premier League kicks off in a few weeks, putting together an early FPL draft is a valuable starting point.

For those seeking inspiration, weve put together an early FPL squad draft for you to consider: