Sorare Football Picks for GW97 Aug 4-7: Premier League

Tzolis arrives with real upside after a breakaway 2025/26 season. He registered roughly 25 goals and 30 assists across all competitions and posted about 0.55 xG per 90, so he profile fits a high-ceiling attacking option who can both finish and create. Arsenal completed the signing in late July and the club have explicitly moved on Leandro Trossard, so Tzolis is expected to be in contention for a place in the Starting XI on opening night at the Emirates against Coventry City on August 21, 2026. Coventry were a goal-rich Championship side but still conceded only about 0.98 goals per game last season, which makes them a reasonable matchup for a creative forward; with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks in your dataset and an 88-minute average, he carries a strong ceiling while the model’s medium confidence suggests a useful floor tempered by some adaptation risk to the Premier League.

Hot and playing the full 90s. He enters this trip to St James' Park on a five-match run that’s produced a goal per game in your sample, and he is listed as a Starter who averages about 92 minutes, so volume is on his side. His season totals back up that form: seven Premier League goals and roughly a 9.8 expected-goals figure, which shows he is getting into the right positions rather than relying on variance. Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most reliable sources of chances for Liverpool’s forwards, and Newcastle conceded 55 goals with only eight clean sheets last season, so the matchup offers a real ceiling while the probability of a useful return looks better than average; Sorare’s 79.8 projection with medium confidence reflects that balance.

Porro is worth a start this week mainly because he is a locked-in attacking right back who actually plays the full game, and his availability is obvious. He is in Tottenham’s Starting XI and has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, giving him a reliable floor while packing a high ceiling. He has created 12 chances in his last five matches and has accumulated roughly 49 chances created across the season, plus 32 shots with eight on target, so the assist and occasional goal upside is real. Brentford conceded just 21 goals at home last season (1.11 per match) and they host Spurs on August 22, 2026, which boosts both Porro’s clean-sheet probability and his chances to pick up attacking returns; Sorare Edge rates him 82.9 with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor defensive starter who can pop for a big fantasy day rather than a pure boom-or-bust punt.

If you need one clear edge for the Liverpool midfield this week it is Szoboszlai's set-piece and chance-creation upside against a Newcastle defense that conceded 55 goals and kept just eight clean sheets last season, and the fixture is at St James' Park which should amplify those opportunities. He finished last Premier League campaign with six goals and seven assists across 36 appearances and more than 3,200 minutes, and he has shown he can decide games from dead balls. Remember the stunning free kick that beat Arsenal. That profile makes him a high ceiling fantasy start when he is in the Starting XI and playing 90, while his heavy minutes give a decent floor; treat him as a medium-confidence play rather than a lock, which fits the Sorare Edge projection of 78.6 and medium model confidence you provided.

Buendía’s most decisive edge is dead-ball and late-box finishing. He finished 2025/26 with six Premier League goals and produced the spectacular free‑kick that helped Villa lift the Europa League, giving him a genuine high-ceiling scoring vector from set pieces. That dead-ball role is regularly assigned to him, so he draws chances from corners and direct free kicks, and he heads into the trip to the Amex against a Brighton side that conceded 46 goals last season, a matchup that amplifies both goal and assist upside; he has two goals and two assists across five appearances, and he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. Listed as a STARTER and averaging 72 minutes per game, Buendía offers a dependable floor in the Starting XI while the Sorare Edge projection of 77.9 points with model confidence MEDIUM maps to a solid ceiling if he converts set pieces or keeps his recent scoring run going.

If you want a goalkeeper who reliably plays and produces, Emiliano Martínez fits the profile: he was Aston Villa's clear No. 1 last season, starting every league match and logging roughly 2,835 minutes, so availability and big-match experience are a safe baseline. That availability pairs with elite shot-stopping; he recorded about 96 saves and roughly a 71 percent save rate across the campaign, so his upside often comes from save volume even when a shutout isn’t guaranteed. Brighton concede about 1.21 goals per game and kept double-digit clean sheets, which means clean-sheet upside exists but is far from a sure thing, so treat Martínez as a high-floor Starting XI start who delivers ceiling on saves and occasional shutouts; five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks back up that reliability, and Sorare Edge’s 80.2 projection with medium confidence reflects that risk/reward split.

Leno is as close to guaranteed minutes as you can ask for at Fulham, playing 90 each match and logging five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor comes from steady starts rather than rotation risk. He draws a headline fixture at home to Chelsea on August 24, 2026, which lowers his clean-sheet ceiling because Chelsea still scored freely last season, but Chelsea also conceded a fair number of goals, so Leno's value will come from saves and occasional shutouts; he posted a strong save rate and accumulated nine clean sheets across the campaign, which underpins a reliable floor of save points even when a clean sheet is unlikely. If you need steady baseline production he projects well (Sorare Edge 78.9 with medium confidence), but treat him as a ceiling-capped starter: good for saves and stable minutes, less attractive if you only chase clean sheets against elite attacks.

Kinský's clearest asset for the opener is clean-sheet upside, since Tottenham head to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on August 22 and Brentford conceded 49 goals (about 1.36 per league match) last season, which gives a real chance for a shutout if Spurs are compact. He is listed as the starter and has been playing the full 90, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and eight appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and Tottenham's club page even highlights his early clean sheet and the club treating him as a first-team option. There is upside if you want a conservative floor from starts and the chance of a shutout, and Sorare Edge projects 78.7 points with medium confidence, but expect medium variance because his campaign included a high-profile mistake and a well-reported redemption arc, so treat him as a start with solid ceiling for clean sheets and a measurable bust risk.

The clearest reason to consider Jaouen is form and profile: he posted 34 Ligue 2 appearances last season and kept 15 clean sheets for Reims, so the shot-stopping and aerial presence that powered that run are his calling cards. Newcastle completed the signing in June and have him in the squad for the season opener at St James' Park against Liverpool on August 23, and the Sorare Edge projection of 77.1 with medium model confidence points to a useful ceiling if he keeps the Starting XI spot and plays the full 90 every match. He also has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which supports treating him as a medium-confidence start: expect a steadier floor via saves and command of the box, with upside contingent on how quickly he adapts to Premier League quality.

If you want a dependable save floor, Nick Pope is the pick: he produced 89 saves and seven clean sheets in 27 Premier League appearances last season and posted about a 70 percent save rate, so he reliably converts opponent volume into fantasy points. He is the starter in Newcastle's Starting XI and logs 90 minutes per game, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and seven appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so you get secure minutes and plenty of shot‑stopping opportunity at home against Liverpool. Sorare Edge projects 77.1 points with medium confidence, which captures the tradeoff here: a strong, low-risk floor from saves and minutes, while the ceiling depends on landing a clean sheet in a high-profile match.

Porro is worth a start this week mainly because he is a locked-in attacking right back who actually plays the full game, and his availability is obvious. He is in Tottenham’s Starting XI and has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, giving him a reliable floor while packing a high ceiling. He has created 12 chances in his last five matches and has accumulated roughly 49 chances created across the season, plus 32 shots with eight on target, so the assist and occasional goal upside is real. Brentford conceded just 21 goals at home last season (1.11 per match) and they host Spurs on August 22, 2026, which boosts both Porro’s clean-sheet probability and his chances to pick up attacking returns; Sorare Edge rates him 82.9 with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor defensive starter who can pop for a big fantasy day rather than a pure boom-or-bust punt.

Romero's biggest asset is reliability plus set-piece upside. He's a near-automatic member of Tottenham's Starting XI, averaging about 95 minutes per game and logging five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, which gives him a high floor for clean-sheet points while also keeping his ceiling alive on corners and free kicks. He scored four Premier League goals in 23 appearances last season and racks up clearances and aerial wins that make those finishes repeatable. Brentford conceded 52 goals (1.37 per game) in 2025-26, so Romero's combination of secure minutes and headed-goal potential (the Sorare Edge projection sits at 80.8 with medium model confidence) makes him a trustworthy starter with upside in both defensive and attacking categories.

If you want a defender whose upside comes from volume, Jan Paul van Hecke is the guy. He played 3 goals and 3 assists across 36 Premier League appearances for Brighton last season and logged 3,210 minutes, so he brings genuine set‑piece threat and availability into Tottenham’s back line. Tottenham confirmed his move on June 18, 2026, and that continuity of minutes is the base of his floor, especially against Brentford, a fixture that produced a 0-0 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium on January 1, 2026 when Spurs kept a clean sheet. With five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, minutes per game at 96 and a STARTER tag, treat him as a medium‑confidence start who offers a high floor from starts and a reasonable ceiling if he gets on set pieces and the team shuts up shop.

Bassey is as close to a baseline starter as you can get for a Fulham defender, averaging 90 minutes and showing up in five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15, so his floor is the minutes and the counting defensive stats that come with them. He racks up tackles, interceptions and clearances. 62 tackles, about 22 interceptions and roughly 100 clearances last season. So there is real upside in a matchup against a Chelsea side that conceded 52 Premier League goals in 2025/26; that combination makes him a sensible start whenever you need a dependable clean sheet candidate plus the odd headed chance from set pieces. The Sorare Edge projection sits at 79.5 with medium confidence, which fits the profile: high floor from minutes and defensive actions, modest ceiling from occasional goal threat.

Start him for the matchup edge: Botman is a genuine aerial weapon against a Liverpool side that leaked an unusually high number of goals from set pieces in 2025/26, so his headed shots and corner threat bring a clear ceiling. He is a steady presence in Newcastle’s Starting XI, averaging 90 minutes and showing the sort of clearance and aerial-win numbers that produce a reliable defensive floor, and he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 12 appearances in the last 15 game weeks; his season metrics back that up (strong aerial duel win rate and high clearances per game). The short version for lineups: high floor from full 90s and set-piece upside versus Liverpool at St James’ Park, with a meaningful ceiling if Newcastle keeps a clean sheet or he gets on the end of a corner; Sorare Edge gives him 78.4 points with medium confidence, so treat him as a comfortable starter with upside rather than a boom-or-bust punt.

Gallagher's biggest edge is reliability. He is a regular in the Starting XI and logs heavy minutes, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so you can expect a sturdy floor from his playing time. He also offers real attacking upside this season. 11 shots and 13 chances created alongside one goal and one assist. Which matters because Tottenham open away at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, a fixture that hands minutes and shots value to a midfielder who gets into the box. Treat him as a medium-confidence, high-floor fantasy option in your lineup: the model upside is there, but his ceiling is capped until the shots and

Fernandes has already earned De Zerbi's trust and looks nailed for this trip, starting each of the last five matches and turning in 90-minute performances, and he is listed in Tottenham's Starting XI for the Brentford match. He brings real creative upside, collecting assists and piling up expected assists and chance-creation numbers this season, so his ceiling is a handful of key passes or a secondary assist if the front line clicks. His recent assists rate of 0.20 over the last five matches and a Sorare Edge projection of 79.8 support rostering him as a high-floor starter who can spike. Brentford have conceded roughly 1.37 goals and about 1.43 xG per game recently, which makes this an attractive spot for Fernandes to convert his chance-creation into returns, although keep an eye on mild injury chatter that the manager has publicly addressed; treat him as a dependable starter with a clear upside rather than a bargain pick.

Bruno is Newcastle’s creative engine and the clearest reason to pick a Newcastle midfielder against Liverpool, he led the club in chances created and posted elite expected-assist numbers last season, which explains why he draws so many looks around goal. He arrives with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 12 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, is listed as a STARTER and is averaging roughly 84 minutes a game, so his floor is high thanks to volume and set-piece involvement; that steady playing time also helps justify a Sorare Edge projection of 79.5 with medium model confidence. Liverpool conceded 53 goals (about 1.39 per match) last season, so this is not an easy matchup, but Bruno’s nine goals and five assists and strong xA suggest a meaningful ceiling if Newcastle get him into the box and he finds space at St James’ Park, making him a confident start for managers who prefer safety plus a genuine upside.

Availability is Bentancur's biggest fantasy asset: he is a STARTER who has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and nine appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he averages roughly 88 minutes per outing, which gives him a high floor as a steady passer and defensive presence. Offensively the upside is modest but tangible; he produced 1 goal and 1 assist in 2025/26 while registering about 0.8 expected assists, so against a Brentford side that conceded 52 goals last season (21 at home) there is a clear, medium-probability path to a points spike from chance creation or a late arrival into the box. Treat him as a safe, floor-first start with a medium ceiling. Sorare Edge projects 78.7 with model confidence marked medium. So expect steady returns from passing, tackles and the occasional attacking return rather than boom-or-bust scoring nights.

If you need one clear edge for the Liverpool midfield this week it is Szoboszlai's set-piece and chance-creation upside against a Newcastle defense that conceded 55 goals and kept just eight clean sheets last season, and the fixture is at St James' Park which should amplify those opportunities. He finished last Premier League campaign with six goals and seven assists across 36 appearances and more than 3,200 minutes, and he has shown he can decide games from dead balls. Remember the stunning free kick that beat Arsenal. That profile makes him a high ceiling fantasy start when he is in the Starting XI and playing 90, while his heavy minutes give a decent floor; treat him as a medium-confidence play rather than a lock, which fits the Sorare Edge projection of 78.6 and medium model confidence you provided.

Tzolis arrives with real upside after a breakaway 2025/26 season. He registered roughly 25 goals and 30 assists across all competitions and posted about 0.55 xG per 90, so he profile fits a high-ceiling attacking option who can both finish and create. Arsenal completed the signing in late July and the club have explicitly moved on Leandro Trossard, so Tzolis is expected to be in contention for a place in the Starting XI on opening night at the Emirates against Coventry City on August 21, 2026. Coventry were a goal-rich Championship side but still conceded only about 0.98 goals per game last season, which makes them a reasonable matchup for a creative forward; with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks in your dataset and an 88-minute average, he carries a strong ceiling while the model’s medium confidence suggests a useful floor tempered by some adaptation risk to the Premier League.

Hot and playing the full 90s. He enters this trip to St James' Park on a five-match run that’s produced a goal per game in your sample, and he is listed as a Starter who averages about 92 minutes, so volume is on his side. His season totals back up that form: seven Premier League goals and roughly a 9.8 expected-goals figure, which shows he is getting into the right positions rather than relying on variance. Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most reliable sources of chances for Liverpool’s forwards, and Newcastle conceded 55 goals with only eight clean sheets last season, so the matchup offers a real ceiling while the probability of a useful return looks better than average; Sorare’s 79.8 projection with medium confidence reflects that balance.

He is a heavy-minute starter who shows up every week: five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and an average of 86 minutes when in the Starting XI, which pairs well with a 0.60 goals-per-match clip over his last five. He finished last season with 14 goals across 35 appearances and about 14.5 expected goals, evidence that his scoring output came from volume and quality chances rather than luck, and he quickly became Leeds' focal forward under Daniel Farke. The trip to Nottingham Forest looks playable. Forest conceded 51 goals (roughly 1.3 per match) last season, so there should be box-time for his aerial and finishing strengths. But note a small recent training setback that kept him out of a preseason friendly, so the Sorare Edge 78.4 projection with medium confidence flags a high ceiling with a modest fitness risk.

Sarr's case rests on availability and finishing form: he finished the 2025/26 Premier League campaign with nine goals and roughly 2,176 minutes, and he popped up with a goal in Palace's 2-2 draw at Everton on May 10, so he's a genuine attacking outlet when he stays on the pitch. That matters because Everton were porous last season, shipping 50 goals at about 1.32 per match, which raises Sarr's ceiling on the counter or from late crosses; Sorare's edge (78.1 with medium confidence) mirrors that upside, so treat him as a high-floor starter with a realistic chance for a premium return if Palace create. He should be in Crystal Palace's Starting XI and averages close to 79 minutes, so your baseline is steady playing time rather than boom-or-bust rotation, but his best returns come when teammates like Michael Olise are feeding chances, making him a starter you trust for steady points and occasional spikes rather than a steroidal punt.

Szmodics is a classic floor-versus-ceiling gamble right now because reports say he has not featured in pre-season and is actively being linked with a permanent exit, so even though your data lists him as a STARTER his place could evaporate before kickoff and that caps his floor if he misses the Starting XI. When he does play he brings real finishing upside: last season he totaled four goals while accruing 5.67 xG from 44 shots and created 21 chances with nine classified as big chances, and he’s been logging 90 minutes per game with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 13 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his ceiling is a match-impacting attacking return. Sunderland conceded 48 goals (about 1.26 per match) in 2025/26, so if Szmodics makes the