Football
Safe Bets vs Risky Picks: Team Analysis for Final One Standing 2025/26
With four games gone in the 2025/26 Premier League season, it’s time to take a look back at which teams have asserted themselves so far.
Early patterns are beginning to emerge, and that makes this an ideal time to separate the “safe bets” from the “risky picks” for Final One Standing.
Thousands of players have already tested their instincts in this free-to-play elimination game, and the opening weeks have shown us just how quickly fortunes can change.
Safe Bets
Liverpool
Liverpool could hardly have asked for a better start, boasting a perfect record with four wins from four. On paper, they’re the very definition of a “safe pick.” However, the reality has been far from comfortable. Each of their victories has come courtesy of late goals, meaning those who backed them early will have endured some nail-biting finishes before breathing a sigh of relief.
That resilience is a strength, but it’s also a reminder that even the best teams can make you sweat. Still, with their attacking firepower and ability to grind out results, Liverpool stand out as one of the most dependable choices right now.
Arsenal
The only blemish on Arsenal’s record is a narrow defeat to Liverpool, which in itself says plenty about their level. The Gunners have been free-flowing in attack, finding the net nine times in their first four matches, and they look every bit like a side capable of challenging for the title again.
For Final One Standing players, Arsenal represent one of the most secure selections available, especially when matched up against mid-table or struggling sides. While no fixture in the Premier League can ever be considered a guarantee, Mikel Arteta’s team offer as much safety as you could reasonably expect.
The Rest
Beyond Liverpool and Arsenal, it becomes much harder to label anyone a ‘safe bet’. The Premier League thrives on unpredictability, and so far, this season we’ve seen plenty of evidence that even “favourites” can slip up without warning. At this stage, locking in either of the top two remains the clearest path to safety.
Risky Picks
Wolves
If you’ve gambled on Wolves so far, you’re already out. They’ve lost all four of their matches to date, making them one of the riskiest choices in the league. Until they find a way to turn their form around, Wolves are a team best left untouched.
Burnley
Burnley’s return to the top flight hasn’t started smoothly, and while they’ve shown moments of promise, like their win against Sunderland, consistency has been lacking. They remain a high-risk pick simply because you never know which version of Burnley will turn up.
Betting on them is a real risk. Sometimes they’ll surprise you, but more often they’ll leave you regretting the choice.
Aston Villa
Villa’s struggles have been particularly glaring: four games, zero goals. It’s a simple equation, without scoring, you cannot win games. Unless they find a way to rediscover their attacking spark quickly, they’re among the riskiest options available.
Picking them in Final One Standing right now would be closer to quitting than trying to stay in the game.
