The Premier League season is just around the corner, and that means millions of fans around the world will be busy compiling their Fantasy Football squads for the new campaign, which kicks off on Friday, August 5, when Arsenal take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Compiling a team can feel like a daunting proposition at times. Here, we bring you all the rules, explain how to score points, and pick out an example squad.
How do you register your Premier League Fantasy Football team?
You'll have to sign up first. Head over to the official Fantasy Premier League site and sign up, or just sign in if you already have an account. Then, simply choose your team name, design a kit and start putting your squad together.
How do I build my squad?
Every FPL manager is handed a budget of £100m to spend as they see fit, although there are a few conditions. You have to select a squad of 15 players, including two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards.
Managers can only pick a maximum of three players from each Premier League team. You have until 6.30pm BST on Friday, August 5, to confirm your selections - 90 minutes before the opening game of the season.
If you're feeling a little lazy, you could simply hit the 'auto pick' option, which will see the site pick a squad for you. Once you've got a squad together, you'll be able to make transfers before every game week starts.
What are the rules of Fantasy Premier League?
It's all pretty simple. Just pick up more points than your rivals.
You will automatically be entered into leagues based on where you live and what Premier League team you support, but you can also set up or join a private league.
As well as players, you can set up your team in whatever formation you wish, although you have to select at least three defenders and one striker. Oh, and a goalkeeper of course.
You must also select a captain for each week, as well as a vice-captain. Your skipper will receive double points, while your deputy will step in if your original captain happens not to be selected.
The bench is also pretty important. Ordering your substitutes should be done as carefully as possible as the order in which you line them up is the order they will slot into the side when a member of your starting XI doesn't play.
If you want a more comprehensive overview of the rules, you can visit the official site here.
How do you score points?
The points are scored as follows:
- For playing up to 60 minutes: 1
- For playing 60 minutes or more (excluding stoppage time): 2
- For each goal scored by a goalkeeper or defender: 6
- For each goal scored by a midfielder: 5
- For each goal scored by a forward: 4
- For each assist for a goal: 3
- For a clean sheet by a goalkeeper or defender: 4
- For a clean sheet by a midfielder: 1
- For every 3 shots saved by a goalkeeper: 1
- For each penalty save: 5
- For each penalty miss: 2
- Bonus points for the best players in a match: 1-3*
- For every 2 goals conceded by a goalkeeper or defender: -1
- For each yellow card: -1
- For each red card: -3
- For each own goal: -2
* The FPL states that bonus points will be allocated by the following matrix: "The bonus points system (BPS) utilises a range of statistics to create a BPS score for every player. The three best performing players in each match will be awarded bonus points. 3 points will be awarded to the highest scoring player, 2 to the second best and 1 to the third."
What are the 'Chips' and what do they do?
There are four different 'chips' you can use throughout the course of the season.
Bench Boost : For that gameweek, both your starting XI and bench will receive points. Normally, only those you select to start the game are entitled to pick up points.. This really makes the most of a strong bench, but can only be used once.
Triple Captain : Your captain will receive three times the points a normal player would - as opposed to the usual double a skipper receives. Can only be used twice in a season.
Wildcard : This can be used twice, but only once in either half of the season. This chip allows you to make unlimited transfers.
Free Hit : Make unlimited free transfers for a single gameweek. It will revert back to your old squad once that gameweek has passed. Can only be used once.
What's the best team I can choose?
Well, it's difficult to say with much certainty at this stage, but this would be a pretty strong squad to get you going.
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson
Defenders : Thiago Silva,. Perisic, Alonso, Stones, Dias
Midfielders : Zaha, Coutinho, Barnes, Odegaard, Eriksen
Forwards : Darwin, Firmino, Vardy
