| NAME | THIS WEEK | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (3) |  |  |  | Janet1952 | 295 | ||||||
| 2 (1) | | |  | Rutland Gooner | 280 | ||||||
| 3 (14) | |  |  | Kshatriya | 270 | ||||||
| 4 (5) | |  | | Mo7_4 | 265 | ||||||
| 5 (11) | | | | Forty Celsius FC Matt Emerson | 260 | ||||||
Saturday August 25
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
12.30pm BST, Molineux, Wolverhampton.
Wolves played well at Leicester last week and were more than a little unlucky to lose 2-0. They conceded two goals against 10 man Everton in their first home game and City are a much better team than Everton. It’s been tough going for Wolves in their return to the Premier League and I think they will start to rack up points soon, but maybe after this game.
Both Ruben Neves and Raul Jiminez look like very good choices for fantasy managers at the moment.
City strolled to a 6-1 win at home to Huddersfield last week and they’re on top of the table on goal difference. They had by far the best record away from home last season and they have already won away to Arsenal this season. City are strong favourites to retain their title and it’s going to take an awful lot to stop them.
The toughest thing about picking City players for fantasy managers is their rotation policy, but Ederson, Benjamin Mendy, Bernado Silva and Sergio Aguero look like they might not be included in that rotation at the moment.
As good as Wolves have looked at times so far I can’t see anything other than a City win in this game.
Prediction: 1-3
Arsenal v West Ham United
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal made plenty of chances at Chelsea last week, but ultimately some poor defending saw them lose 3-2 and kept them pointless. Only City had a better home record last season, but they did lose their opening home game against City. Having lost their first two games Arsenal will be anxious to get their first win under Unai Emery in this game.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan showed fantasy managers exactly what he can do last week and surely Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will put away some chances now that the fixtures are more favourable.
West Ham led at home to Bournemouth last week, but ended up losing 2-1 to continue their miserable start to the season. They conceded more away goals than any other team last season and they have already conceded four in their first away game this season. They have lost their first two games and they need to get some points quickly or they could be in trouble.
Marco Arnautovic is probably the only West Ham player for fantasy managers to consider at the moment.
I think Arsenal’s attacking prowess should see them win this game with a couple of goals at least to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Bournemouth v Everton
3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1 at West Ham last week and they have won their first two games. Only Watford conceded more goals at home last season, but Bournemouth tend to score quite a few goals at home too. They have won their first two games and they will feel they have a chance of making it three from three in this game.
Steve Cook, Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson are all doing very well for fantasy managers at the moment and available at a good price too.
Everton held on to win 2-1 at home to Southampton last week and they have started this season a lot better than last season. They only won three of their 19 away games last season and they struggled for goals on the road too, but they did get a point at Wolves in their first away game despite being down to 10 men. They have started the season well under Marco Silva and their hopes are high.
Richarlison is in great form for fantasy managers at the moment and Theo Walcott did quite well last week too.
I think this will be a very close game and a score draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 2-2
Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City
3pm BST, John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield
Huddersfield lost 6-1 at City last week and it looks like being a long hard season for them. No other team scored less goals at home last season and they need to improve at home if they’re going to stay up again. They were the lowest scorers in the league last season and they will struggle again if they don’t manage to score more goals.
I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers unless you want a very cheap goalkeeper and then Ben Hamer is the man for you.
Cardiff managed their first point in a 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle last week thanks to a last minute penalty save. Like any newly promoted team their home form will be very important, but they will think they can get something from this away game. It looks like they will have a huge uphill task to avoid relegation, but stranger things have happened.
If he keeps saving penalties Neil Etheridge might not be the worst goalkeeper for fantasy managers.
This is already a relegation six pointer and I think Huddersfield will get the better of a close affair.
Prediction: 1-0
Southampton v Leicester City
3pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Southampton came back strongly at Everton last week, but they couldn’t get that second goal and lost 2-1. Only West Brom took less points at home last season and they could only manage a scoreless draw in their first home game against Burnley. They came back strongly at Everton last week, but they need to start games better if they’re going to improve their results.
Danny Ings might just be the cut price striker fantasy managers are looking for while Alex McCarthy is doing quite well too.
Leicester won 2-0 at home to Wolves last week despite maybe not playing as well as they did in their defeat at United the previous week. Only West Ham conceded more away goals last season, but they still managed a fair few points despite conceding all of those goals. They have to target a higher finish this season, but breaking into the top six would be a very difficult task for them.
With Jamie Vardy suspended Ricardo Pereira and James Maddison could be the Leicester players to watch for fantasy managers.
This isn’t an easy game to predict and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Brighton And Hove Albion
5.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool won 2-0 away to Palace last week to stay just behind City on goal difference. They were the only unbeaten team at home in the league last season, but only two other teams drew more home games. They have had an excellent start to the season with two good wins and two clean sheets too.
There are so many Liverpool players to choose from for fantasy managers with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold probably the best of them.
Brighton surprised everyone with a 3-2 win at home to United last week, but this will be a much tougher game for them. They took less points away from home than any other team last season and they were the lowest scorers on the road too. They had seven points to spare over the bottom three last season and I think they would be happy with the same outcome this season.
Pascal Gross looks like he might have picked up where he left off last season for fantasy managers.
I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive Liverpool victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Sunday August 26
Watford v Crystal Palace
1.30pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford got a very good 3-1 win at Burnley last week to make it two wins out of two. No other team conceded more goals at home than Watford last season, but they did score a fair few goals at home too. They have had a very promising start to the season and a good result in this game would be very encouraging.
Roberto Pereyra, Will Hughes and Troy Deeney all look good for fantasy managers at the moment.
Palace just didn’t have enough to get anything from Liverpool last week, but they gave it a go. Only seven teams took more points away from home than Palace last season despite an awful start to their season. The defeat to Liverpool last week was a setback for them, but they have looked good so far and this season looks like it should be better than last season for them.
Wilfried Zaha still looks like the best fantasy choice in the Palace team while all of their defenders have the ability to do well too.
This game could go either way, but I have a feeling Palace might just shade it.
Prediction: 1-2
Fulham v Burnley
4pm BST, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham lost 3-1 at Spurs last week and they’re one of four teams without a point so far. They lost their opening home game against Palace and they need to make Craven Cottage a fortress if they are to have any chance of staying up. They might just fancy their chances in this game against a Burnley team who have had a lot of games thanks to their Europa League commitments.
Ryan Sessegnon still looks like the outstanding choice in the Fulham team for fantasy managers while Tom Cairney might not be a bad option either.
Burnley lost 3-1 at home to Southampton last week and it looks like their Europa League qualifying games could be taking a toll. Only the top five took more away points than Burnley last week and only three teams conceded less away goals. They will do very well to match their finishing position of last season and they still look like they will struggle to score goals.
I’m not sure there are any Burnley players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but Johann Berg Gudmundsson and all of their defenders can be expected to do well as the season progresses.
Despite their European exploits Burnley still won’t be easy to beat and this game will more than likely end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle United v Chelsea
4pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle
Newcastle could only draw 0-0 at Cardiff last week, but they would have won if Kenedy hadn’t missed a last minute penalty. They had a pretty good home record last season and a good defensive record at home too, but they did lose their opening home game against Spurs. Their biggest problem last season was scoring goals and judging by last week’s game against Cardiff it could still be a problem this season.
I’m not so sure there are any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
Chelsea looked very good for the most part in winning 3-2 at home to Arsenal last week to maintain their winning start to the season. They only lost four of their 19 away games last season and only three teams conceded less goals away from home. They have started the season well and they need to build on that start if they are going to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League next season.
If Eden Hazard can get a game he’s the best fantasy option in the Chelsea team along with Marcos Alonso while Pedro is doing well at the moment too.
I think Chelsea look strong enough to win this game narrowly.
Prediction: 1-2
Monday August 27
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
8pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United lost 3-2 at Brighton last week and it seems all is not what it should be at Old Trafford. Only City took more points at home last season and no other team conceded less goals on their own ground. Only City won more games and conceded less goals last season, but United finished a long way behind them and all the signs are they won’t improve on that this season.
Paul Pogba looks like he’s the only United player who should interest fantasy managers at the moment.
Spurs won 3-1 at home to Fulham last week to make it two wins out of two, but this will be a much tougher proposition for them. Only City took more points away from home last season and they started the season with a win away to Newcastle. They will hope to impove on their third placed finish of last season, but it won’t be easy for them to keep pace with City and Liverpool.
Harry Kane and Dele Alli are probably the best choices for fantasy managers in the Spurs team while Jan Vertonghen is the only defender you can be sure will avoid the constant rotation.
This is a big game for both teams and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Finally for this week my thoughts on some bargain buys for fantasy managers. The most popular defensive choice at the moment is Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but both Jon Gorenc Stankovic of Huddersfield and Ryan Bennett of Wolves are available at a very good price too. Huddersfield’s goalkeeper Ben Hamer is available at a great price too while both Danny Ings and Raul Jiminez look like the strikers who could do well at a good price. Finally the cut price midfielders to consider could be Will Hughes of Watford, Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth, Ruben Neves of Wolves, Tom Cairney of Fulham and maybe even the Chelsea pair of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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