Friday August 9
Liverpool v Norwich City
8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool came so close to winning the title last season and they should be right up there with City again this season. They were the only unbeaten team at home last season and no other team conceded less goals on their own patch. They only lost one league game last season and they conceded less goals than any other team with only City scoring more goals.
It’s impossible for fantasy managers to ignore Mohamed Salah and each and every one of them should have at least one Liverpool defender too with Sadio Mane the other obvious choice once he returns to full fitness.
Norwich did very well to win the Championship last season, but it’s a big step up in class for them to try to compete in the Premier League. They only lost two away games in the Championship last season, but they didn’t have to go to teams like Liverpool. Their target for the season has to be to avoid the drop, but they could be in for a lot of grief in this game.
I can’t profess to being an expert on Norwich, but their players who might interest fantasy managers are probably Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Saturday August 10
West Ham United v Manchester City
12.30pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham just about managed to squeeze into the top half of the table last season and they will hope to do a little better this season. They won nine of their 19 home games and only the top six scored more goals at home, but they will hope to take more points at home this season. They have brought a few players in, but their ability to replace Marco Arnautovic could be a prime factor in how they do this season.
Sebastien Haller has come in to replace Arnautovic and along with Felipe Anderson he could be of interest to fantasy managers while Lukasz Fabianski always seems to do well in goal no matter how many goals his team lets in.
City just about managed to keep Liverpool at bay last season and they’re favourites to win the title for the third season in a row. No other team took more points, scored more goals or conceded less away from home last season. They were the top overall scorers too with only Liverpool conceding less goals and it’s going to take an awful lot to stop them winning the title again.
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Aymeric Laporte are probably the City players of most interest to fantasy managers, but really there are so many of their players to choose from that it’s difficult to settle on one or two.
I think City will get their title defence off to a good start with a couple of goals to spare in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Bournemouth v Sheffield United
3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth finished 14th last season, but they were never really in any relegation trouble. Their home form has kept them in the league for the last few seasons and it’s going to be crucial for them again this season. Their start to the season is far from the hardest which makes their players pretty attractive to fantasy managers in the early weeks.
Calum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Josh King all look like very good options for fantasy managers while Jack Simpson and Diego Rico could be good cheap defenders.
United have a huge job on their hands trying to avoid relegation and their chances of staying up are pretty slim. They only lost five of their 23 away games last season and they will think they have a chance of getting something from this game. No other team conceded less goals in the Championship last season, but they could find defending a bit more difficult this season.
I can’t see any Sheffield United players who might make a difference for fantasy managers for the moment anyway.
I think Bournemouth will get their season off to a good start by winning with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Burnley v Southampton
3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley skirted with relegation for a while last season, but they ended up three places and six points clear of trouble. Only two other teams lost more home games and conceded more home goals last season and they have to improve that home record this season. Not only did they let in a lot of goals last season, but they struggled to score goals for much of the season too and again that’s something they need to change.
Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood are probably the best bets for fantasy managers in the Burnley team, but their chances could be complicated by the arrival of Jay Rodriguez.
Southampton did just enough late on last season to keep their Premier League place and they will hope to build on the progress they made since Ralph Hasenhuttl took the reins. They only won four of their 19 away games last season, but this game gives them an opportunity to get their away campaign off to a good start. Only the bottom two teams won less games last season, but no other team drew more games and turning a few of those draws into wins would certainly improve their lot.
Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse are probably the Southampton players for fantasy managers to consider.
I think this will be a close game and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Crystal Palace v Everton
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace nearly made it to the top half of the table last season and if they manage to hold on to Wilfried Zaha they might just get into the top 10 this season. Only one other team took less points and scored less goals at home last season though and they will not progress if they don’t improve that home record. Their hopes could depend on where Zaha plays his football this season and he’s by no means certain to stay with Palace.
Patrick van Aanholt and Luka Milivojevic are the next best fantasy options in the Palace team after Zaha with Martin Kelly as a cheap defensive option.
Everton finished eighth last season, but they will want to at least get a little closer to the top six this season. It was their away record which let them down last season with only five wins and 24 goals scored in their 19 games on the road. They might not be finished in the transfer market and they probably need a couple of players if they’re going to trouble that top six.
Lucas Digne, Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jordan Pickford are the ones to watch in the Everton team for fantasy managers while Moise Kean might make an impression too.
I think Palace might just have enough to get a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Watford v Brighton And Hove Albion
3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford just missed out on a top half finish last season and they were roundly thrashed in the FA Cup Final by City. They won as many games as they lost at home last season, but only five other teams conceded more goals at home. They haven’t done an awful lot to strengthen their squad so far and they will do well to match last season.
Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu are the Watford players most like to make a difference for fantasy managers.
Brighton just about managed to avoid relegation last season, but it wasn’t enough to save Chris Hughton’s job and they go into the new season with Graham Potter in charge. Their away form wasn’t up to much last season and they will need to improve it if they’re going to avoid relegation again. Only the three relegated teams scored less goals last season and they will need to find a way to add to their goal tally this season.
Glenn Murray, Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk all did reasonably well for fantasy managers last season and they could be worth considering again this season.
I think Watford should be good enough at home to take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
5.30pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs just about managed to finish fourth last season as they made their way to the Champions League final where they ultimately lost to Liverpool. They lost five of their 19 home games last season as they moved from Wembley to their new stadium. They only drew two games last season which helped to make up for the 13 games they lost and it looks like they might be very busy in the transfer market just before the season starts.
Harry Kane is still the best Spurs player for fantasy managers while Lucas Moura, Christian Eriksen (if he doesn’t leave) and Kyle Walker-Peters are all worth a shout too.
Villa could only finish fifth in the Championship last season, but they made their way to the Premier League via the play-offs. They only lost six of their 23 away games last season, but this will be a very tough start for them. They have spent an awful lot of money to bring in an awful lot of new players and it could take a while for all of them to settle in.
Tom Heaton is probably the Villa player most likely to perform for fantasy managers although quite a few have opted for Jack Grealish.
I think Villa will give Spurs a run for their money, but Spurs will take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunday August 11
Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
2pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester just about managed to finish in the top half of the table last season and they will be looking to improve on that after splashing out in the transfer market. They lost as many games as they won at home last season and they will need to improve at home this season. They will hope to be the best of the rest behind the top six this season and maybe even put some pressure on whichever team is in sixth place, but it will be a little harder since they sold Harry Maguire.
Ayoze Perez could be the bargain buy for fantasy managers in the Leicester team while James Madison, Youri Tielemans, Ricardo Pereira and Jamie Vardy are pretty good options too.
Wolves finished best of the rest last season after winning promotion from the Championship the previous season and it won’t be easy for them to match it this season. They struggled to score goals on their travels last season and their Europa League distractions could be a hindrance this season. They might not have scored an awful lot of goals last season, but only the top four conceded less goals.
Raul Jiminez and Diogo Jota are the Wolves players to watch for fantasy managers whike Leander Dondoncker is a very reasonably priced option too.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle United v Arsenal
2pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle
Newcastle finished 13th last season after flirting with relegation for a while, but they weren’t able to hold on to Rafa Benitez. Only two teams lost more home games last season and they conceded more goals than they scored at home. They have added to their squad during the summer, but the players they lost could make things difficult for them.
Fabian Schar and Isaac Hayden are both possibilities for fantasy managers and Hayden is at a very good price, but it might not be a bad idea to avoid Newcastle players for the moment.
Arsenal missed out on Champions League football by one point last season and they lost the Europa League final too. They lost more games than they won away from home last season and that away form needs to improve if they’re going to challenge for a top four place this season. Only the top two teams scored more goals last season and the additions to their squad would suggest they might score quite a few goals this season too.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks to be the best bet for fantasy managers in the Arsenal team while Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette could do well too if they’re fit to play.
I think Arsenal should just about manage to get the better of Newcastle to take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Manchester United v Chelsea
4.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United finished the season very poorly last time out and had to settle for sixth place. They scored less and conceded more goals than the rest of the top six at home last season and will need to make Old Trafford a much harder place for opponents to play this season. They had the worst defensive record in the top six and only managed to win half of their games last season and they still don’t look like they have the wherewithal to improve on that as it stands.
Marcus Rashford might be the best fantasy option in the United team and Paul Pogba (if he’s still a United player) can’t be ignored while Mason Greenwood is a real outside shot at a very good price.
Chelsea just about managed to finish third last season and they won the Europa League too. They conceded more goals than they scored away from home last season and it’s that away form which needs to improve this season. Only the top two conceded less goals last season, but they could struggle for goals this season with Eden Hazard no longer at the club.
With Hazard gone Christian Pulisic, Pedro and Ross Barkley could be the Chelsea players to consider for fantasy managers whike Cesar Azpilicueta is always a good option.
Both of these teams could do with a win to start their season, but I think they will have to settle for a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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