FPL Gameweek 1 – head-to-head comparisons: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk vs Arsenal’s Gabriel
We compare two premium FPL defensive assets and decide whether Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) or Arsenal central defender Gabriel (£6.0m) could prove the more lucrative FPL pick for Gameweek 1 heading into the 2025-26 Premier League season.
For a number of FPL managers, both these two players will be in their respective squads for Gameweek 1. But for those low on funds and having to choose between the two, these numbers give us an idea on the better value pick.
Despite higher attacking returns and a bigger xGI, to mention more bonus points to his name, Gabriel ended the 2024-25 campaign with 117 FPL points, 26 less than Virgil van Dijk. There are two reasons for this, firstly the clean sheets. Van Dijk registered 14 clean sheets when playing for Liverpool compared to Gabriel’s ten for Arsenal.
But the main factor are the minutes played. A hamstring injury kept Gabriel out of action from early April until the end of the season. He ended up playing just 2,363 minutes across the entire Premier League campaign, whilst Van Dijk played 3,330 minutes, almost a full thousand more.
Had Gabriel played as many minutes as Van Dijk, the likelihood is that he would’ve ended the season which a significantly higher FPL total score, especially when considering his superior xGI of 3.9.
Based on these numbers, Gabriel represents the better long-term FPL selection over the course of the entire season. But for Gameweek 1, Van Dijk has to be favoured when taking into account the two fixtures in play. Liverpool, a historically strong Gameweek 1 side will host Bournemouth, whilst Gabriel and Arsenal are away at Man Utd. It would be no surprise if Van Dijk contributed at both ends of the pitch for against the Cherries.
Verdict: Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m)
