Pre-season can change an FPL player's appeal quickly.
A goal in a friendly is useful, but it is rarely enough on its own. The strongest signals are repeated starts with the likely first team, increasing minutes, an advanced position, set-piece responsibility and positive manager comments.
This live watchlist separates the players and teams moving up from those who still require caution.
Risers
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United's 5-0 win over Rosenborg added to Bruno Fernandes' early appeal.
United open against promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town, while Bruno already offers penalties, set pieces, creativity and defensive-contribution potential. A productive pre-season would make him one of the safest premium selections.
The main point is not one friendly return. It is that United's opening fixtures already support investment, and Bruno remains central to almost every attacking phase.
OneFPL verdict: Strong riser and a leading Gameweek 1 captain alternative.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool scored four times against Sunderland in Andoni Iraola's first match in charge.
Szoboszlai is attractive at £7.0m because Liverpool avoid every team from last season's top 10 across their first four fixtures. His value rises further if pre-season confirms an advanced role or a share of penalties following Mohamed Salah's departure.
Watch whether he plays close to Alexander Isak or drops beside the deeper midfielders.
OneFPL verdict: Rising, but tactical position remains the final test.
Enzo Le Fée
Le Fée produced one of the standout moments of the early friendly schedule with a long-range goal against Liverpool.
Sunderland begin away to Ipswich, and Le Fée is expected to remain involved in corners, indirect free kicks and creative midfield work.
His price and starting role must still be compared with Granit Xhaka and Sunderland's other midfield options, but his technical responsibility is encouraging.
OneFPL verdict: A genuine promoted-team differential to monitor.
Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee impressed in Manchester United's win over Rosenborg, including an individual goal and creative involvement.
The problem is competition. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and other senior attackers are ahead of or competing with him for Gameweek 1 minutes.
His performance raises his place in the United depth chart without making him a secure FPL pick.
OneFPL verdict: Football riser, but still an FPL minutes risk.
Tottenham's defence
Tottenham followed a 1-0 win over MK Dons with a 2-0 victory against Auckland FC.
Clean friendly results do not guarantee Premier League clean sheets, but they support the defensive improvement seen after Roberto De Zerbi arrived late last season.
Pedro Porro remains the most attacking option, while the goalkeeper position and competition at centre-back require further evidence.
OneFPL verdict: Defence trending upward, individual roles still unsettled.
Hull's budget defenders
Hull beat Konyaspor 3-0, providing an encouraging start for their defensive options.
Charlie Hughes is particularly interesting because minimum-price centre-backs can now benefit from defensive-contribution points. Hull will face stronger attacks in the Premier League, which may increase his clearance, block, interception and tackle totals.
The opening fixture against Manchester United is difficult, so a Hull defender is more likely to begin as a substitute.
OneFPL verdict: Useful bench-enabler market rather than immediate starters.
Fallers
Crystal Palace's defence
Palace lost 3-0 to Bromley after opening pre-season with a 5-1 win against Swindon.
One result should not remove Daniel Muñoz, Tyrick Mitchell or Dean Henderson from consideration. However, a new manager and changing defensive structure mean last season's clean-sheet record should not be assumed to continue automatically.
The final two friendlies will matter far more than this early defeat.
OneFPL verdict: Slight fall until the new system becomes clearer.
Fulham assets
Fulham's 2-0 loss to Norwich increases uncertainty around their early attacking and defensive appeal.
The club is adapting to a new manager, and the opening fixture against Chelsea is not ideal. Antonee Robinson, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz remain relevant, but none needs to be forced into an opening squad before the strongest lineup appears.
OneFPL verdict: Watchlist rather than buy list.
Late World Cup returners
Players from Argentina, Spain, England and France who reached the final weekend of the World Cup have less than five weeks between international duty and the Premier League opener.
The risk is not limited to missing Gameweek 1. A player may start but be substituted early while rebuilding fitness.
Premium players should not be selected only because they are famous. They must return to team training and appear in a meaningful friendly.
OneFPL verdict: Falling temporarily until training and match evidence arrives.
Some low-priced players are currently starting because their main competitors are still resting after the World Cup.
This is one of pre-season's biggest traps. A budget player can score, play 70 minutes and still return to the bench when the senior international comes back.
Always compare the friendly lineup with the complete squad.
OneFPL verdict: Do not confuse temporary opportunity with a secure league role.
Teams worth monitoring next
Arsenal
Arsenal beat MK Dons 3-0 and finish pre-season with stronger tests against Girona, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
The Community Shield should provide the clearest evidence about Viktor Gyökeres, the wide positions and William Saliba's replacement.
Liverpool
Liverpool's upcoming matches against Wrexham, Leeds and Monaco should clarify the front three, penalty hierarchy and whether Szoboszlai remains advanced.
Manchester City
City's first matches under Enzo Maresca are among the most important of pre-season.
Managers need answers on Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo, the full-back roles and which defenders are safest beside Haaland.
Chelsea
Xabi Alonso has several flexible attackers and wing-backs.
The main FPL questions are whether João Pedro starts centrally, how Cole Palmer is positioned and which defenders are secure enough to justify investment.
How to use this watchlist
Move a player into your draft when several signals agree:
Repeated first-team starts
Rising minutes
Advanced tactical position
Confirmed set pieces
Strong opening fixtures
No obvious returning competitor
Do not rebuild your squad after every friendly goal.
The final major friendly and the last manager press conference are the strongest pieces of Gameweek 1 evidence.
FAQ
Do pre-season goals matter in FPL?
Yes, but they matter most when they confirm a secure starting role or advanced position. A goal for a mixed early lineup is much weaker evidence.
Which pre-season match is most important?
The final major friendly is usually the best guide because managers tend to select a team close to their intended Gameweek 1 lineup.
How many pre-season risers should I select?
Usually two or three is enough. Keep a reliable core and avoid building an entire squad around uncertain friendly form.
OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
