Gameweek 1 produced a 166.5-point Perfect Line Up with goals arriving from every part of the pitch. Promoted clubs supplied the goalkeeper and one of the forwards, two defenders found the net, and three Chelsea attackers delivered in the same West London derby.
The XI is a good first look at what Balanced scoring can reward. Match-winning goals still matter, but saves, tackles, interceptions and chance creation helped turn strong performances into big scores. One weekend is far too small a sample for firm conclusions, so the roles behind the points are more useful than the totals alone.
Promoted sides make an immediate impact
Konstantinos Tzolakis takes the gloves after keeping a clean sheet in Hull City's 2-0 win over Manchester United. He made five saves on his Premier League debut and finished with 12.5 points. The result was eye-catching, but the combination of save opportunities and a clean sheet explains the fantasy return. Hull will not shut out every opponent, so the early signal is Tzolakis looking capable of collecting points even when his defence gives up chances.
Emersonn also marked his first Premier League appearance with an immediate return, scoring in Ipswich's 2-1 win over Sunderland. He took three shots, put two on target and created two chances in 66 minutes, enough for 14.5 points. The goal may prove to be a one-off, but his involvement as both a shooter and creator is worth following if his minutes grow.
Defenders refuse to stay in the background
Michael Kayode was Brentford's biggest scorer in their 3-0 win over Tottenham. He added the third shortly after half-time, took four shots and collected 16.5 points before leaving after 76 minutes. Marc Guéhi's route was more dramatic. Manchester City trailed Bournemouth until his 84th-minute equaliser, before Joško Gvardiol completed the comeback in stoppage time. Guéhi added three tackles and two shots to reach 14.5 points.
Timothy Castagne completes the defence despite Fulham conceding three against Chelsea. He supplied Josh King's equaliser, created two chances and later forced the save that led to Fulham's second, helping him reach 14 points. Signal or one-off? Defender goals are difficult to predict, but Kayode's four shots, Guéhi's defensive work and Castagne's attacking involvement give managers something more useful to monitor than the goals and assist alone.
Midfielders decide matches in different ways
Jack Hinshelwood did the most damage in Brighton's 4-0 win over Aston Villa, scoring twice in two minutes and reaching 15.5 points in only 64 minutes. Two of his three shots hit the target. That finishing rate is unlikely to hold, but his movement into dangerous positions could matter if Brighton continue to use him high up the pitch.
Vitaly Janelt and Anton Stach paired decisive goals with the off-ball work that suits Balanced scoring. Janelt scored Brentford's second and added four tackles plus four interceptions for 14.5 points. Stach struck an 88th-minute free-kick to beat Nottingham Forest, with three tackles and four interceptions supporting his own 14.5-point return. The goals could easily be one-offs. Their defensive involvement looks like the more repeatable route to points.
Chelsea's attack clicks at the first attempt
João Pedro needed only 31 seconds to open the scoring in Chelsea's 3-2 win at Fulham, finishing a move created by Cole Palmer. The pair combined again after half-time with their roles reversed, Pedro supplying Palmer for Chelsea's third. Palmer finished with a goal, an assist, five shots, three chances created and two tackles, taking him to a Gameweek-leading 20 points. Pedro's goal, assist, four shots and two created chances brought 15.
Morgan Rogers scored Chelsea's other goal and created five chances on his way to 15 points. Chelsea's front three therefore supplied six attacking returns between them, but the chance creation matters as much as the finishing at this stage. Their first match together was an encouraging signal, not proof that every weekend will be this productive.
What is worth watching next?
The opening weekend gave us several performances that could matter beyond their goals. Kayode repeatedly reached shooting positions, Hinshelwood attacked the box, Chelsea's front three shared the creative work, and Janelt and Stach scored well through several actions. Tzolakis and Emersonn also showed that promoted players should not be ignored. You can see how each contribution is rewarded in TFF's scoring formats.
Which of these players would you actually add?