| POSITION | PLAYER NAME | THIS WEEK | POINTS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (3) |  |  |  | Feel | 235 | ||||||
| 2 (2) | |  |  | Mystical | 180 | ||||||
| 3 (7) | | | | Jazzcat | 170 | ||||||
| 4 (33) | |  |  | Anglo Saxon | 155 | ||||||
| 4 (6) | |  | | Samoz | 155 |
Friday August 23
Aston Villa v Everton
8pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth last week and they have yet to register their first point since their return to the Premier League. They won less than half of their home games last season and they didn’t get their home games this season off to a good start last week. They have a relatively good start to the season and they need to get a few points on the board before they play four of last season’s top six between gameweeks 10 and 15.
John McGinn looks like he could be the Villa player to make an impression for fantasy managers with Jack Grealish a possibility too.
Everton won 1-0 at home to Watford last week and they’re the only team who haven’t conceded a goal so far. They only won five of their 19 away games last season, but only four teams conceded less goals on the road. They only play two of last season’s top six in their next 12 games and that affords them an opportunity to keep very close to that top six.
Everton defenders would seem to be a good choice for fantasy managers at the moment with Jordan Pickford, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne (if he’s fit to play) probably the best of them.
I think Everton should win this game narrowly and they might even keep another clean sheet too.
Prediction: 0-1
Saturday August 24
Norwich City v Chelsea
12.30pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich won 3-1 at home to Newcastle last week as they continued their attacking approach to life in the top flight. They scored more goals and took more points at home than any other team in the Championship last season and they look capable of doing well at home this season too judging by last week’s performance. Despite their win last week only West Ham have conceded more goals in their first two games and it looks like there could be a lot of goals at both ends in their games this season.
Teemu Pukki seems like a must have for fantasy managers with both Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia worth a shout too.
Chelsea could only draw 1-1 at hone to Leicester last week, but they did at least manage their first point under Frank Lampard. They conceded four goals in their opening away game, but their upcoming away games offer them the chance to better that result. Only the top two conceded less goals last season, but they were the lowest scorers among the top six.
Mason Mount could be an interesting one to watch for fantasy managers and I still think Pedro might have a lot to offer too.
I think we could see a few goals in this game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a score draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Brighton And Hove Albion v Southampton
3pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton came from behind to get a point at home to West Ham last week and they have a chance to continue their good start in this game. Only Huddersfield scored less goals at home last season, but they look more capable of putting the ball in the net this season. They only missed out on relegation by two points last season and anything better than that this season will be considered a success.
Matt Ryan and Lewis Dunk look like good, reasonably priced options for fantasy managers while Pascal Gross might be worth considering too.
Southampton nearly managed to come back and take a point at home to Liverpool last week, but the 2-1 defeat left them pointless after their first two games. They only won four of their 19 away games last season and their opening away game at Burnley won’t have filled them with confidence. They play three of last season’s top six in the five games after this game and it could be a tough start to the season for them.
I still think Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse could do well for fantasy managers, but they need to start showing it soon.
I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United led at Wolves on Monday night, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw and they weren’t helped by Paul Pogba missing a penalty. They conceded more goals and took less points than the rest of the top six at home last season, but they had a very good 4-0 win against Chelsea in their opening home game. They don’t play any of the top six in their next four games and it gives them the opportunity to get off to a good start.
It looks like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the United players to have for fantasy managers at the moment.
Palace lost 1-0 away to newly promoted Sheffield United last week and they’re one of two teams without a goal so far. Only five teams took more points away from home than Palace last season and only three teams scored more goals on their travels. They struggled for goals at times last season and it looks like they might do so again this season.
I thought Wilfried Zaha might do well for Palace this season, but I’m not so sure any more.
I think United will win this game, but they won’t have it all their own way against a team who like to play on the break.
Prediction: 2-1
Sheffield United v Leicester City
3pm BST, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
United won 1-0 at home to Palace last week and they have started their Premier League campaign off on a very high note. No other team took more points or conceded less goals at home in the Championship last season and last week’s result suggests that home form could make the difference for them this season. Their defence was their strongest asset last season and it looks like it might just be so again this season.
John Lundstram could be the goal scoring, cheap defender fantasy managers have being searching for.
Leicester came from behind to get a very good 1-1 draw at Chelsea last week, but they’re still waiting for their first win. Only six teams took more points on their travels than Leicester last season and they managed almost as many points away from home as they did at home. They have drawn their first two games and they could do with a win before a couple of very tough games right after the international break.
James Madison looks the Leicester player most likely to perform for fantasy managers at the moment while Ricardo Pereira, Ayoze Perez, Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy might all be expected to do well too.
Despite United’s good start to the season I think Leicester should just get the better of a close game.
Prediction: 1-2
Watford v West Ham United
3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford lost 1-0 away to Everton last week and they find themselves rooted to the foot of the table without a point or a goal to their name. They lost as many home games as they won last season and their opening day defeat at home to Brightin doesn’t auger well for this season. They finished just outside the top half of the table last season, but the early signs are that could be a tall task this season.
I’m not so sure there are any Watford players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but Gerard Deulofeu is certainly capable of making an impression.
West Ham got their first point when they drew 1-1 at Brighton last week and they will want to build on that in this game. They lost 10 of their 19 away games last season and they will hope to improve on that this season. They only play one of the top six in their next 10 games and that run gives them a chance to start the season strongly.
If all of their players are fit Manuel Lanzini and Sebastien Haller could be the players to watch for fantasy managers.
I can see this game being a very close one and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1–1
Liverpool v Arsenal
5.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool just about held on to win 2-1 at Southampton last week and they moved to the top of the table ahead of Arsenal on goal difference as the only two teams who have won their first two games. Only City took more points and scored more goals at home last season and they started off this season with four goals in their first home game. Again only City took more points and scored more goals last season and the most likely outcome this season is another very close battle between those two teams.
Sadio Mane might just be the outstanding player in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers at the moment while it’s impossible to ignore Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and all of the Liverpool defence and goalkeeper.
Arsenal just about managed to win 2-1 at home to Burnley last week and they moved up to second place behind Liverpool on goal difference. They lost more games than they won away from home last season and only four other teams conceded more away goals. Their aim this season is a top four finish and the results of their next two games will give us a real pointer to their chances of achieving that goal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Dani Ceballos look like they could be the Arsenal players to have for fantasy managers while Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe are pretty good bets too.
I think this might be a very close game, but I’m letting my heart rule my head in predicting an Arsenal win.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunday August 25
Bournemouth v Manchester City
2pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth held on to win 2-1 at Villa last week, but City will prove to be a bigger test than the two newly promoted teams they played in their first two games. Their home form has helped them to stay up for the last two seasons and they will need to do well at home again this season, but they won’t find it easy in this game. Only Huddersfield conceded more goals last season, but only the top six scored more goals.
Callum Wilson is still the Bournemouth player most likely to perform for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game.
City led twice against Spurs last week, but they had to settle for a point in a game they probably should have won. No other team took more points or scored more goals away from home last season and they scored five goals in their first away game this season. They just about retained their Premier League title last season and it’s going to take an awful lot to stop them making it three in a row.
Raheem Sterling seems like a must have for fantasy managers at the moment while Kevin de Bruyne isn’t far off it with Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte and Ederson all worth a shout too.
I think City should have far too much in attack for Bournemouth and should win by at least a couple of goals.
Prediction: 1-3
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
4.30pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs came from behind twice last week to get a very good 2-2 draw away to City. They lost more home games than the rest of the top six last last season, but they will hope to change that statistic this season now that they are finally settled into their new stadium. They have a chance to get some points on the board with only one game against the rest of the top six in their next seven games.
Harry Kane could be a very good choice for fantasy managers in this game while Lucas Moura might be an option too if he can get a game from the start.
Newcastle lost 3-1 away to Norwich last week and they’re one of four teams without a point so far. They only lost seven of their away games last season, but no other team drew more games away from home. Only six other teams conceded less goals last season, but their start to this season hasn’t been good and it could be a long hard season for them.
I can’t see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Spurs should be able to win this game with relative ease and a few goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-0
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
4.30pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to United last week, but they’re still looking for their first win of the season. They only lost five home games last season, but they didn’t score too many goals at home. Their Europa League exploits might have an effect on their early season form, but they haven’t shown any signs of fatigue so far.
Raul Jiminez and Diogo Jota are probably the best of the Wolves players for fantasy managers to consider with Matt Doherty possibly injured.
Burnley lost 2-1 away to Arsenal last week and they might have got something from the game. They only won four of their away games last season with only three other teams conceding more goals on the road. They only missed out on relegation by six points last season after a slow start, but they look to have started this season much better.
Ashley Barnes is the in form Burnley player for fantasy managers and he’s available at a pretty good price too.
I think this will be a close game with Wolves probably just about getting the best of it.
Prediction: 2-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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