Ultimate Guide: Best FPL Midfielders for 2025/26 Season Gameweek 1
Why Midfielders Win FPL Leagues
Midfielders are the engine room of Fantasy Premier League success. For the 2025/26 season, their value skyrockets with revolutionary changes:
- Defensive Contributions System: Tackles, interceptions, and recoveries now yield bonus points
- Positional Flexibility: More players classified as midfielders (e.g., Omar Marmoush)
- Premium Haul Potential: 7 of last season’s top 10 point scorers were midfielders
Here’s how to build a title-winning squad:
⚡ Elite best fpl midfielders Premium Picks (£10.0m+)
1. Mohamed Salah (£14.5m – Liverpool)
Fixture-Proof King
- GW1-6: BOU (H), NEW (A), ARS (H), BUR (A), EVE (H), CRY (A)
- 2024/25 Stats: 344 points (1st overall), 27 goals, 18 assists
- Key Advantages:
- Penalty duty + 90-minute security
- Supported by record-signing Wirtz
- Outscored nearest rival by 100+ points
- Risk Analysis: Tough opening fixtures mitigated by Salah’s career 85% returns against top-6 sides
2. Cole Palmer (£10.5m – Chelsea)
The Safe Premium
- GW1-6: CRY (H), WHU (A), FUL (H), BRE (A), MUN (A), BRI (H)
- Ownership: 51.4% (2nd highest among mids)
- Post-World Cup Form: 4 goals/assists in 5 Club WC matches
- Set Piece Monopoly: Takes 92% of Chelsea’s penalties and corners
- Fixture Sweet Spot: First 5 opponents all finished 10th-15th last season
3. Bukayo Saka (£10.0m – Arsenal)
The Calculated Gamble
- Concerns:
- Gyokeres threatening penalty duties
- Early substitution pattern (78% subbed pre-80′)
- 4/6 opening fixtures rated “Hard” in FPL FDR
- Hidden Value:
- 0.77 xGI/90 (2nd among starting mids)
- 14 returns in 18 home games last season
💎 Mid-Price Magic of best fpl midfielders (£7.0m – £9.5m)
Florian Wirtz (£8.5m – Liverpool)
The New Kid on the Block
- Pedigree: 16G/15A for Leverkusen in 24/25
- Pre-Season Impact: Scored vs Bayern in Community Shield
- Tactical Fit: Expected to play advanced #10 behind Núñez
- Ownership Alert: 34.8% – avoid being left behind
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Omar Marmoush (£8.5m – Man City)
Positional Change Winner
- New Role: Reclassified from FWD to MID (+1 pt/goal)
- Pep Roulette?: Started 14/16 games post-January
- Fixtures: WOL (A), TOT (H), BRI (A), MUN (H)
- Stat Bomb: Outscored Haaland per minute after GW20
Morgan Rogers (£7.0m – Aston Villa)
The Budget King
- GW1-6 Goldmine: NEW (H), BRE (A), CRY (H)
- Minutes Security: Started every available game in 24/25
- Value Proposition: 19 returns at £5.0m last season – still underpriced
💰 Budget Enablers (<£7.0m)
| Player | Price | Key Strength | Fixture Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Kudus | £6.5m | Dribbling monster (261 duels won) | GW1 vs BUR (H) |
| Iliman Ndiaye | £6.5m | Defensive contribution leader | GW1 vs LEE (A) |
| Elliot Anderson | £5.5m | 55% defensive bonus rate | Set-piece threat |
Justin Kluivert (£7.0m – Bournemouth)
The Underrated Gem
- Penalty Duty: Took 5/6 spot-kicks last season
- Fixture Run: LIV (A) then WOL, TOT, BRI (all mid-table)
- Alternative: Semenyo (£7.0m) – better 90-min fitness
🔍 Differential Diamonds (<10% Ownership)
Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m – Man United)
The Overlooked Maestro
- Why He’s Undervalued:
- United’s poor 24/25 season overshadowed his 20 G/A
- Just 11.0% ownership despite penalty duty
- Fixtures: ARS (H), FUL (A), BUR (H) – two soft matchups
Eberechi Eze (£7.5m – Crystal Palace)
The Late-Season Flyer
- End of 24/25: 5 goals in final 5 GWs
- Transfer Watch: Arsenal move could hurt FPL value
- Alternative: Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m) – same returns for £1.0m less
🛡️ Defensive Contribution Specialists
Maximize the New Scoring System
| Player | Tackles/90 | Interceptions/90 | Bonus Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elliot Anderson | 3.1 | 1.8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Iliman Ndiaye | 2.9 | 2.1 | ★★★★★ |
| João Palhinha | 4.7* | 2.3* | ★★★★☆ |
| *Based on 24/25 data; Palhinha not yet covered in detail |
⚠️ best fpl midfielders which are High-Risk Players to Monitor
- Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m – Man United)
- Pro: 29 G/A last season
- Con: United’s attacking dysfunction – scored 28 fewer goals than Chelsea
- Matheus Cunha (£8.0m – Man United)
- Identical profile to Mbeumo – avoid doubling up
- Arsenal Midfielders
- Saka’s minutes risk + transfer rumors around Eze could disrupt stability
🔄 Strategic Squad Building
The 3-5-2 Formation Dominance
- Why It Works:”With defensive mids now viable and premium forwards scarce, loading up on 5 midfielders maximizes point ceiling” – FPL Statman (2025)
- Sample Structure:
- Premium: Salah + Palmer
- Mid-Price: Wirtz + Marmoush
- Enabler: Rogers
Conclusion: Your GW1 Blueprint
The best fpl midfielders squad (Total: £40.5m)
- Salah (£14.5m) – The essential captaincy option
- Palmer (£10.5m) – Fixture-proof consistency
- Wirtz (£8.5m) – High-upside newcomer
- Rogers (£7.0m) – Budget beast with perfect fixtures
- Anderson (£5.5m) – Defensive point machine
“Building around these five midfielders creates a balanced squad with multiple captaincy options and £9.5m left for Haaland”
📌 FPL FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
- Best 4.5m midfielders FPL 25/26?
Some strong picks include budget starters like Charlie Patino, Kobbie Mainoo (if nailed), and Dewsbury-Hall (if priced low again). - Best 4.5 midfielder FPL 25/26?
The most consistent 4.5m option is typically a regular starter with minutes—check pre-season form for options like Lucas Bergvall or Alex Scott. - Best 4.5m midfielders FPL 24/25?
In 24/25, players like Billy Gilmour and James McAtee stood out for consistent game time and rare attacking returns. - Best budget for best FPL midfielders 25/26?
Watch out for under-5.5m gems like Jacob Murphy, Andreas Pereira, or academy graduates getting regular minutes. - Best FPL midfielders 24/25?
Top-tier included Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer — combining form, fixtures, and goal involvement. - Best forwards FPL?
Erling Haaland leads the line, followed by Darwin Núñez, Ollie Watkins, and Alexander Isak depending on fixtures and form. - Best budget for the best FPL midfielders 24/25?
Andreas Pereira and Jacob Ramsey offered great value around the 5.0–5.5m mark with attacking potential. - Best FPL defenders?
Pervis Estupiñán, Kieran Trippier, and Arsenal defenders like Gabriel or Saliba were top picks.
