Gameweek 1 of the 2025/26 FPL season delivered a clear message: Haaland is back, and Salah remains the most reliable opening-week asset in FPL history.
- Erling Haaland (£14.0m) scored a brace in Manchester City’s 4–0 win over Wolves, earning 13 points and the maximum bonus. Captainers banked 26 points.
- Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) returned 8 points in Liverpool’s 4–2 win over Bournemouth, extending his streak of never blanking in a GW1.
More than 1.3 million managers captained Haaland, while Salah remained the most popular pick with over 3.6 million armband votes.
🔥 Verified GW1 Standouts
| Player | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Haaland | 13 | Brace + bonus vs Wolves |
| Salah | 8 | Goal vs Bournemouth |
| Hugo Ekitike | 11 | Goal + assist, 4 shots, 2 big chances |
| Cody Gakpo | 7 | Goal + assist, strong underlying stats |
| Federico Chiesa | 6 | Scored in Liverpool’s front four |
Liverpool’s attacking quartet all returned, with Ekitike emerging as a potential breakout star. His underlying stats—4 shots, 2 big chances, 2 chances created—ranked top in the match.
🧊 GW1 Template Failures
| Player | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cole Palmer | 2 | Blank vs Crystal Palace |
| Florian Wirtz | 3 | Created chances but no returns |
| João Pedro | 2 | Quiet game vs Fulham |
| Wan-Bissaka | 2 | West Ham conceded vs Sunderland |
Palmer was the third-most captained player but failed to deliver. João Pedro and Wirtz showed promise but lacked end product. Wan-Bissaka’s West Ham debut was defensively shaky.
🧮 EO & Captaincy Logic – JAM-IE Breakdown
| Player | Ownership | Captaincy Return |
|---|---|---|
| Salah | 54% | 16 pts (C) |
| Haaland | 48% | 26 pts (C) |
| Palmer | 58% | 4 pts (C) |
Managers who backed Haaland gained a clear edge. Salah captainers held ground, while Palmer picks fell flat. The EO matrix now favors Haaland as the default captain for GW2.
🧠 Squad Structure Reflection
GW1 rewarded squads with:
- ✅ Liverpool double-up (Salah + Ekitike)
- ✅ Haaland captaincy
- ✅ Avoidance of Palmer and João Pedro
- ✅ Flexible mid-price midfielders
Squads built around Salah, Haaland, and Ekitike now hold value and form advantage. Those with Palmer, Wirtz, or João Pedro may need early surgery.
🧪 Wildcard Strategy – GW2 Viability
If your squad scored under 50 and holds multiple underperformers, a GW2 Wildcard is tactically sound. Key reasons:
- 📈 Price rises: Ekitike already climbing
- 🔥 Form spikes: Haaland, Salah, Ekitike all firing
- 📆 Fixture swings: Arsenal, Brighton, and Chelsea assets become more attractive
- 💰 Team value: Early Wildcard lets you chase value and avoid droppers
📆 Fixture Targets – GW2 to GW7
| Team | Key Fixtures | Assets to Target |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Leeds, Forest, Bournemouth | Saka, Saliba, Calafiori |
| Brighton | Everton, Bournemouth, Spurs | M. O’Riley |
| Chelsea | Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth | Palmer, Cucurella |
| Liverpool | Arsenal, Everton, Burnley | Salah, Ekitike, Chiesa |
| Man City | Burnley, Newcastle, Spurs | Haaland, Aït-Nouri |
🧭 JAM-IE Tactical Blueprint
If you’re Wildcarding, build around:
- ✅ EO shields: Haaland, Salah
- 🎯 Differentials: Ekitike, Chiesa, Calafiori
- 🧠 Captaincy logic: Haaland (GW2), Salah (GW3), Saka (GW4)
- 🔄 Modular squad structure: 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 with flexible price points
- 📈 Price rise chasers: Ekitike, Chiesa, Gakpo
📝 Final Thoughts
GW1 was a reminder that ownership doesn’t equal output. Haaland punished doubters, Salah remained consistent, and Ekitike emerged as a tactical gem. Whether you’re activating your Wildcard or refining your squad for GW2, JAM-IE logic remains clear: build modular, publish-ready squads with captaincy clarity and tactical polish.
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