FPL Lessons: The Big Winners and Losers from the Weekend

From the under-performers who already have you sweating over the wildcard button, to those who have raced out of the blocks.

The first FPL gameweek of the season is finished, so let's look back at the weekend.

Here are Football Park's Winners and Losers from GW1:

GW1 Winners

Dan Ballard - Sunderland - 17pts

We know that Sunderland have had an exciting transfer window, and were somewhat of an unknown quantity heading into GW1. But nobody could've predicted centre-back Dan Ballard ending the weekend with the most points on FPL.

To his 2.7% ownership, we salute you.

Ballard scored, kept a clean sheet, earned two DEFCON points, and all three bonus.

This performance has led to 190,000 managers bringing him into their side for GW2.

Three #FPL managers Triple Captained @SunderlandAFC's Dan Ballard...

Time travel is real.

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 16, 2025

Antoine Semenyo - Bournemouth - 15pts

Despite Bournemouth losing 4-2, the Ghanian international was the best player on the pitch during Friday's curtain raiser at Anfield.

Semenyo was the figurehead in the Cherries comeback efforts with his two excellently taken goals, singlehandedly reducing the two goal defecit.

He is positioned as a midfielder on the game, meaning Semenyo's two strikes earned him ten points, as well as all three bonus. After contributing 18 goals for his side last season, he has seemingly already picked up where he left off.

Does he make it into your GW2 side?

Liverpool won the match but it’s Semenyo’s night. 2 goals was the perfect response to the nonsense! You have my full support and respect. Shouldn’t have had to deal with that tonight man.

Dear abuser, you are no longer welcome at Anfield….

— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) August 15, 2025

Erling Haaland - Manchester City - 13pts

There are people out there whose squads didn't include Haaland or Mohamed Salah, will they ever learn?

Both players opened their accounts at the weekend, but the Norweigan forward outscored his FPL rival, rewarding his faithful 28% ownership.

The moral of the story is: never ignore Haaland.

Pep Guardiola's side were impressive in their dismantling of Wolves in Saturday's eveing game, new signings Tijani Reijnders and Rayan Aït Nouri also kicked off their FPL seasons in style, and will be making their way into many GW2 lineups.

Erling Haaland.

Making millions regret not captaining Erling Haaland since 2022.#FPL pic.twitter.com/F2pTrdXzoc

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 16, 2025

GW1 Losers

Joao Pedro - Chelsea - 2pts

Many were tipping World Champions Chelsea as their Premier League dark horses for the upcoming season, but Enzo Maresca's side underwhelmed on Sunday afternoon.

Pedro, the second-most owned player on this years FPL, was ineffective for his new side before being substitued in the 72nd-minute.

Pedro's team mate, Cole Palmer, is the most owned player, also underperformed, but earned a clean sheet point, so we will let him off.

Pedro/Palmer owners will be hoping for a marked improvement when they take on West Ham in GW2.

FPL Twitter with Watkins, Bowen, Joao Pedro, Mateta, Evanilson and Strand Larsen watching that Chris Wood brace pic.twitter.com/APjqkMwRid

— FPL Marcin (@FPLMarcin) August 17, 2025

Victor Gyökeres - Arsenal - 1pt

The Gunners started their campaign with a 1-0 win against Manchester United, so it is not all doom and gloom, but their new star striker struggled at Old Trafford in Sunday's showpiece game.

Gyökeres was ineffective for the majority of the game and was subsequently substituted in the 59th minute, so he didn't even achieve full appearance points, adding salt to the wounds.

His 25% ownership will be praying for a fruitful home debut against newly-promoted Leeds next weekend.

Viktor Gyokeres 60 mins played

- 4/9 passes
- 21 touches
- 3/13 duels won
- 3 touches in opposition box
- 0 shots pic.twitter.com/qHYhLjUGfF

— EchoStats (@echo9stats) August 17, 2025

Jeremie Frimpong - Liverpool - 1pt

Similar to Gyökeres, Frimpong's debut didn't go to plan, as the most owned defender was hooked in the 59th minute, and replaced by Wataru Endo, due to Bournemouth constantly targeting Liverpool's right-hand side.

Liverpool's next two fixtures include an away trip to Newcastle, and Arsenal at home, his owners may already be looking elsewhere if they are in need of defensive points.

A difficult start for some of the most-owned #FPL players:

Gyokeres - 1 point
Frimpong - 1 point
Wan-Bissaka - 1 point
Joao Pedro - 2 points
Dubravka - 2 points
Wirtz - 2 points
Watkins - 2 points
Palmer - 3 points

There's always next week 👀 pic.twitter.com/uNCSVaSYTt

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 17, 2025