Fantasy Premier League is LIVE for the 2026/27 season. With so many new managers arriving in the Premier League, uncertain pre-season form and a shortened summer following the World Cup, fixtures are a key starting point when building a strong FPL squad.
In this blog, the teams with the best Fixtures for Attack and Defence Difficulty are identified using the Fixture Difficulty Ratings.
You can also read our guide to the FPL players to avoid for Gameweek 1, which highlights popular picks who may carry concerns over fixtures, fitness, rotation or expected minutes.
Let's dive in!
As shown in the image below from our Fixture Difficulty Ratings, Newcastle have the best opening run from an Attack Difficulty perspective.
The Magpies face Liverpool, Bournemouth and Hull in their first three home matches, while they also play newly promoted Coventry in Gameweek 6.
Osula (£6.0m) established himself as a regular starter towards the end of last season, scoring four goals across the final six Gameweeks. Only Haaland and Watkins, with 10 each, were afforded more big chances than Osula’s eight during that period.
Meanwhile, Gordon’s transfer to Barcelona could make Barnes’s (£6.0m) place in his favoured left-wing role more secure.
Everton rank second, with matches against newly promoted Ipswich and Hull in Gameweeks 5 and 6 looking particularly enticing. The Toffees also face two teams with new managers, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, across the opening two Gameweeks.
Garner (£6.0m) is currently an injury doubt for Gameweek 1, which could make Ndiaye (£6.0m) the go-to Everton option, with penalty duties adding to his appeal. However, Al-Hilal have reportedly opened talks over a potential move for the Senegal internationa.
Forest’s fixtures are a mixed bag. They have attractive home matches against Leeds, Spurs and Coventry, but away trips to Liverpool, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace suggest their assets may be better suited to a rotation strategy rather than being started every week.
As the above image from our AI Rotation Optimiser shows, rotating Forest assets with budget enablers from Coventry gives FPL managers a clear run of good Home fixtures for the opening six Gameweeks. However, somebody like Gibbs-White (£8.0m) is perhaps too expensive to be used in a rotation.
Man United play two promoted sides Hull and Ipswich over the first two Gameweeks and last year's second highest scoring FPL asset B.Fernandes (£12.0m) is currently sitting in nearly half of FPL squads (48%).
However, Mbeumo (£8.0m) is going under the radar. As the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, no midfielder was afforded more 'big chances' (22) than the Cameroon international last season and he currently sits in under 15% of FPL squads (13%).
Fulham's top two scoring attackers Wilson and Raúl have left the club and despite Fulham's attractive opening fixtures, the Cottagers are perhaps a wait and see under new manager Arbeloa, with none of their assets priced above £5.5m.
Everton top our Fixture Difficulty Ratings for 'Defence Difficulty' over the opening six Gameweeks, the Toffees matchups against Palace, Ipswich and Hull look particularly good for clean sheets with the fixtures against Bournemouth, Man United an Spurs less so.
As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, Senesi (£6.0m) was the only defender to accumulate more Defensive Contributions (DEFCON) than Tarkowski (£6.0m) last season.
Man United are second, the Red Devils shored up defensively under Carrick and conceded only 12 goals over the final 10 Gameweeks. Shaw (£4.5m) and Maguire (£5.0m) led the way for DEFCON amongst their defenders over this period and could be shrewd picks at their bargain price.
As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, Arsenal dominated the defensive numbers last season, the Gunners were top for goals conceded (27), clean sheets (19), shots in the box conceded (198) and 'Expected Goals Conceded' (xGC) (33.82).
Last season's top scoring defender Gabriel has been priced at £8.0m this season, leaving FPL managers with a difficult decision.
However, there could be a bargain in J.Timber (£6.5m) who is significantly cheaper. As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, the Dutch international attempted more shots in the box (24 vs 22) than the Brazilian centre-back and was also afforded more 'big chances' (eight vs seven).
Newcastle are ranked fifth with the home fixtures against Liverpool and Bournemouth in Gameweeks 1 & 3 potential banana skins but the matchups against Hull and Coventry in Gameweeks 5 & 6 merit investment.
Thiaw (£5.0m) was top amongst their defenders for DEFCON (292) last season and as the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, only Virgil (12) was afforded more 'big chances' amongst defenders than his 10.
The opening fixtures make Newcastle, Everton and Man United strong teams to consider when building an FPL Gameweek 1 squad. Barnes, Osula, Ndiaye and Mbeumo could offer attacking value, while Tarkowski, Shaw, Maguire and Thiaw provide alternatives to Arsenal’s more expensive defenders.
Some of the players highlighted above, including Bruno Fernandes, also feature in our early FPL Gameweek 1 template team article, which looks at the most popular picks currently appearing in manager drafts.
Fixtures should not be considered in isolation, however. FPL managers should continue monitoring pre-season minutes, injuries, transfers and predicted line-ups before the Gameweek 1 deadline. Using the Fixture Difficulty Ratings alongside player statistics can help identify the best Fantasy Premier League picks for Gameweeks 1–6 and build a balanced squad capable of starting the season strongly.
Follow first drafts and live team changes from our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers.
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