SuperCoach EPL: The secret picks experts don't want you to know

But for every diamond there’s plenty of fool’s gold.

New players are joining Premier League clubs from across the world where the numbers don’t always translate.

Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) scored 39 goals for Sporting in the Portuguese league last season and was snapped up by Arsenal.

Sounds great but then remember Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) from Benfica after he was top scorer in that league in 21/22 with 26 goals.

In his three Premier League seasons at the Reds he fell short of that with 25 goals.

In a 38-round season you don’t have to be too risky especially with the transfer window open until September 1 at the end of round three.

There is an international break between rounds three and four giving SuperCoaches a weekend off and 12 days to digest all the transfer activity as squads and player roles are locked in.

With that in mind let’s run through the most popular options and the premium, mid-price and budget PODs under 10 per cent that could be the hidden gems you’re looking for.

GOALKEEPERS

Most popular: David Raya (Arsenal) – £6.77m (31.9 per cent), James Trafford (Manchester City) – £3.9m (29 per cent)

PICK OF THE PODS

Premium:Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) – £7.05m (2.6 per cent)

Sels scored the second most points in the position last year and had as many clean sheets as Raya. Forest’s defence is rock solid and has a friendlier opening draw.

Mid-price:Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) – £5.73m (8 per cent)

Suspended for the first week so plenty will avoid. If you can bench him for a week and play your backup you’ve got a keeper who’s saved penalties in four of the past five seasons with a great opening draw.

Budget:Robin Roefs (Sunderland) – £3.9m (0.3 per cent)

Has the best opening draw of the promoted teams and a chance at clean sheets which could pocket you some cash early.

DEFENDERS

Most popular: Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool) – £6.5m (39.8 per cent), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham) – £4.64m (30.8 per cent), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham) – £5.28m (26.1 per cent), Kyle Walker (Burnley) – £4.2m (23.3 per cent), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – £9.04m (20.7 per cent)

PICK OF THE PODS

Premium:Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace) – £10.49m (3.4 per cent)

Munoz is simply made for SuperCoach with his speed and fitness he impacts the game both ends of the pitch. The right wing back is often the highest player on the pitch for Palace but he also had the most tackles of any defender last season. His 18 shots on target topped all defenders and he was second for key passes as he collected four goals and five assists.

Mid-price:Reece James (Chelsea) – £5.89m (6 per cent)

Injury has limited Chelsea captain James since his peak in 2021 when he was banging in goals for monster SuperCoach hauls of 36 points against Arsenal and 41 against Newcastle. The injury woes seem to have settled and it’s a great price for a player with clean sheet potential and attacking upside.

Budget:Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth) – £3.75m (8 per cent)

The new signing from French club Rennes is nailed for the left back spot after Milos Kerkez’s departure for Liverpool. Truffert is a similar player who has plenty of attacking threat. Bournemouth have also sold two centre backs so new combinations in defence are a slight concern.

MIDFIELDERS

Most popular: Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – £12.72m (52 per cent), Rodri (Manchester City) – £3.75m (43.2 per cent), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) – £3.92m (29.2 per cent), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) – £3.9m (23 per cent), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) – £7.9m (19.5 per cent)

PICK OF THE PODS

Premium:Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) – £8.47m (0.7 per cent)

The creative Dane had the third most assists and was equal fourth for key passes last season. Bryan Mbuemo’s departure leaves all of the set piece duties to Damsgaard which should help bump his numbers up again. Not at a big club or a flashy pick but has a good role to tick over numbers.

Mid-price:Lucas Paqueta (West Ham) – £5.34m (4.1 per cent)

Playing a more advanced role behind the two strikers, two goals and two assists in pre-season and on penalties. The Brazilian is ticking the right boxes and should be good value.

Budget:Josh King (Fulham) – £3.75m (0.6 per cent)

The 18-year-old Englishman has played all three pre-season games as the No. 10. A great cheapie if he gets the start. The game has pulled in stats to his profile from his namesake Norwegian Joshua King, 33, who was last seen in the Premier League running around with Watford in 21/22. It’s a bit confusing and makes it look like the Fulham Academy product was tearing it up as an 8-year-old in 2015/16 when he actually debuted last season.

FORWARDS

Most popular: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – £11.57m (40.2 per cent), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – £15.55m, Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United) – £3.9m (19.2 per cent)

PICK OF THE PODS

Premium:Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – £10.47m (6.8 per cent)

Arsenal’s right winger featured in just 25 games last season due to injury after playing all but three games in the three years before. Naturally his output was down with six goals and 10 assists but he was still the sixth best forward at 9.9PPG. Look back on those past seasons and they are all top three overall SuperCoach points tallies. In 23/24 he had 478 points at 13.7PPG, 443 at 11.7PPG in 22/23 and 398 at 10.5PPG in 21/22. I’d be happy to start with him and bank on a bounce-back even with Liverpool and Man City in his early fixtures.

Mid-price:Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) – £7.39m (0.8 per cent)

Gakpo played in 35 games last season averaging 7PPG. Not so impressive, but in the 23 games he started that bumped up to 9.8PPG (seventh best in forwards). He shared the left wing role with Luis Diaz who has left the club for Bayern Munich. Gakpo has the role all to himself and is about $3m underpriced if he continues that form. A potential bargain and proven in the Premier League.

Budget:Niclas Fullkrug (West Ham) – £4.63m (1.1 per cent)

The German striker only managed 18 appearances and six starts last year in an injury riddled first campaign in the Premier League. Prior to that in Germany he had 12 goals and eight assists with Dortmund in 23/24 and 16 goals and five assists with Werder Bremen in 22/23. He has scored three goals in three games forming a promising partnership with Jarrod Bowen in pre-season. If you’re looking for a cheapie forward he looks the pick of the bunch.

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Originally published as SuperCoach EPL: The secret picks experts don't want you to know