I didn’t have my greatest season in Fantasy Premier League last season and I’m hoping to finish a fair deal higher this season. As always the choice of captain is very important with Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland looking like the best options this week. I have all three in my team and the chances are I’ll be going with Isak.
There are a few players available at a good price to interest fantasy managers too with Emile Smith Rowe, Morgan Rogers, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga, Antoine Semenyo and Joao Pedro all worth considering. Getting the balance in your squad right from day one isn’t easy, but hopefully a mix of premium players and reasonably priced options can work out along with some old reliables.
Friday 16 August
Manchester United v Fulham
8pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United pulled something out of the hat last season when they beat City in the FA Cup Final and that result probably kept Eric Ten Haag in a job. They lost six home games last season which is very unusual for them and they will need to improve their home form this season. They conceded more goals than they scored last season and they need to fix their issues at both ends of the pitch if this season is going to be any better.
Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho are probably the best of the United players for fantasy managers at the start of the season while Marcus Rashford could be considered too if he can improve upon his showing last season.
Fulham finished comfortably in mid-table last season and they will be looking to move into the top half of the table this season. They only won four away games last season with only four other teams scoring less goals on the road. The loss of Joao Paulinho could cause Fulham a lot of trouble, but they still look good enough to remain well clear of the wrong end of the table.
Emile Smith Rowe could be a good choice for fantasy managers at a good price with Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz possibilities too.
I think Fulham will make a game of it, but the chances are United will start their campaign with a narrow victory.
Prediction: 2-1
Saturday August 17
Ipswich Town v Liverpool
12.30pm BST, Portman Road, Ipswich
Ipswich did incredibly well to gain promotion from the Championship last season, but they will struggle to remain in the Premier League. If they’re going to manage to stay up their home form will be crucial, but they have to play two of last season’s top four in their first three home games. They have the toughest start to the season of the three promoted teams with a trip to City after this game and the chances are they will be propping up the table early on.
I can’t see any Ipswich players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but that could change as the season progresses.
Liverpool finished third behind City and Arsenal last season and it’s all change at the top for them with the departure of Jurgen Klopp. They only lost three away games last season, but they drew seven with no other team drawing more games on their travels. Only the two teams who finished above them scored more and conceded less goals last season and they should be right in there among the contenders again this season.
Mohamed Salah has to be the best choice in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz possibilities too.
I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive victory for Liverpool in this game.
Prediction: 0-3
Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal finished second behind City last season and their priority this season has to be to finish one place higher. They won 15 of their 19 home games last season and no other team conceded less goals on their own patch, but they need to be even more ruthless at home if they’re going to win the title. Only City scored more goals last season and no other team conceded less and they look the most likely team to push City all the way again this season.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and all of Arsenal’s defenders and keeper are very good choices for fantasy managers, but they do have a difficult run of games to start the season.
Wolves ended up finishing in the bottom half of the table last season when it looked like a top half finish was likely for a long time. They only won five away games last season and two of their first three away games this season are against teams who finished in the top four. They have a very difficult start to the season with five of their first six games against teams who finished in the top seven last season.
Once their fixtures improve Matheus Cunha, Ryan Ait-Nouri and Hwang Hee-Chan could all be of interest to fantasy managers.
I think Arsenal will get their season off to a positive start with all three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Everton v Brighton And Hove Albion
3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton finished comfortably above the relegation zone last season despite their points deduction and they will want to finish a lot higher this season. They had a pretty decent defensive home record last season, but they struggled to score goals on their own ground. There is a possibility of yet another points deduction this season and it could see them ending up at the wrong end of the table again.
Everton’s defensive players are probably their best bets for fantasy managers with Jordan Pickford, Vitalii Mykolenko and Jarrad Branthwaite all possibilities.
Brighton started last season very well, but they suffered a lot of crucial injuries and somehow managed to finish in the bottom half of the table. They only won four away games last season and that will have to improve if they’re going to finish higher in the league. They drew as many games as they won last season and they need to turn a few of those draws into wins.
Joao Pedro and Valentin Barco could be good options for fantasy managers at a very good price while Kaoru Mitoma is worth a punt too.
I think this will be a very close game and the chances are the points will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle United v Southampton
3pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle
Newcastle finished seventh last season, but they failed to qualify for European football when United won the FA Cup. Only the top three took more points at home last season with only City scoring more goals and they will need to be even better at home this season if they’re going to improve on their seventh placed finish. Only one other team in the top half of the table lost more games last season, but only the top three scored more goals.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are both looking like very good early prospects for fantasy managers given Newcastle’s fixtures while Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn are worth considering too.
Southampton won the playoff final to bounce straight back to the top flight and their main ambition has to be to keep that status. Like any newly promoted team their home form will be very important, but any points they can get on the road will be a bonus. They have a very tough game to start the season, but the next few games aren’t quite so tough.
Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton Diaz are both worth keeping an eye on for fantasy managers while Taylor Harwood-Bellis is a cheap defender who looks like playing.
I think Newcastle should get their season off to a good start with a comfortable victory in this game.
Prediction: 4-1
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth
3pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham
Forest only finished one place above the bottom three last season in part due to their points deduction and they will be anxious to improve on that this season. Only the three relegated teams lost more home games last season with only two of them taking less points and they have to improve that home record this season. They have finished one place above the relegation zone for the last two seasons and they surely have to aim a lot higher than that this time around.
There are a few Forest players who could do well for fantasy managers with Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi all good choices, but picking the right one might not be so easy.
Bournemouth finished within a point of the top half of the table and it’s difficult to see them improving on that performance this season. They managed to take 21 points on the road last season despite only four other teams conceding more goals away from home. They have a reasonably good run of games to start the season and they will hope to have a few points on the board early on.
With Dominic Solanke sold to Spurs Antoine Semenyo could be the Bournemouth player to have for fantasy managers.
I think Forest should just about make home advantage count in a very close game.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Aston Villa
5.30pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham finished ninth last season and they parted ways with David Moyes so it’s not easy to see how things might go for them this season. No other team drew more home games last season with only five other teams losing less. Only the three relegated teams conceded more goals last season and they need to sort out their defensive issues if they’re going to improve their position this season.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are the West Ham players most likely to impress for fantasy managers with Niclas Fullkrug worth keeping an eye on too.
Villa finished fourth last season and they have Champions League football to look forward to this season, but their biggest challenge could be matching their performances of last season. Only the top three took more points away from home last season despite the fact that they had a negative goal difference on their travels. They have five very good fixtures in their first six games, but managing European and domestic games could prove tricky for them.
Ollie Watkins has to be the best choice among the Villa players for fantasy managers while Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers are possibilities too.
I think this is going to be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Sunday August 18
Brentford v Crystal Palace
2pm BST, Gtech Community Stadium, London
Brentford didn’t have a great finish to their season and they ended up only two places above the relegation zone. Only the three relegated teams won less home games last season, but they don’t play any of the big clubs in their first seven games on their own patch. They have a tough start to the season with trips to Liverpool, City and Spurs in their first five games so they will need to get something from their home games during that run.
Bryan Mbeumo looks like the best bet in the Brentford team for fantasy managers while Mark Flekken, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa could all do well too.
Palace finished last season very strongly to end up in the top half of the table and that will be their aim again this season. Only Sheffield United and Everton scored less goals away from home last season and the loss of Michael Olise won’t make scoring goals any easier. No other team in the top half of the table scored less goals last season, but they were much stronger in attack and defence once Oliver Glasner took the reins.
Eberechi Eze looks like the Palace player to have for fantasy managers while Jean-Philippe Mateta (when he returns after Olympic duty), Joachim Andersen and Dean Henderson aren’t the worst choices either.
This is another game that looks like it could go either way and the chances are it will end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Chelsea v Manchester City
4.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea had a strong second half to the season to finish in sixth place, but they will want to improve on that position this season. They won 11 of their 19 home games last season, but they couldn’t ask for a tougher home game to start this season. Only four other teams scored more goals last season and they have a good run of games after this one.
Cole Palmer is the outstanding Chelsea player for fantasy managers with Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke interesting options too.
City won the league for the fourth time in a row last season and they are favourites to win it again unless their upcoming proceedings go against them. No other team took more points or scored more goals away from home last season and it was those extra points on the road which proved crucial in the title campaign. They were the highest scorers last season and only Arsenal conceded less goals, but they have to play three of last season’s top seven in their first six games.
Erling Haaland is a must have for fantasy managers with Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden very good choices too.
I think City will get their title defence off to a good start with a couple of goals to spare in this game.
Prediction: 1-3
Monday August 19
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
8pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester won the Championship last season to bounce straight back to the Premier League, but they won’t find it easy to hold on to that status. They will hope to get something out of this game to get their season off to a good start, but their first two home games are both very tough ones. They only play two of the big six in their first 10 games which might give them the chance to get some points on the board.
I’m not sure there are any Leicester players to really interest fantasy managers just yet.
Spurs finished fifth last season and they will be trying to go at least one place higher this season. They only won seven away games last season, but only the top three scored more goals on their travels. They have a relatively good couple of games to open the season before playing three of last season’s top eight in their next four games.
Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-Min and Pedro Porro are the Spurs players who fantasy managers should be looking to include.
I think Leicester will make a game of it, but Spurs should take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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