| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 16.0 |
2 - |  | 0 | 7.5 | 6 | 1 | 14.5 |
3 - |  | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13.0 |
4 - |  | 1 | 4.5 | 6 | 1 | 12.5 |
5 - |  | 1 | 4.5 | 6 | 1 | 12.5 |
My choice of Alexander Isak as my fantasy captain sort of paid off, but he didn’t get much opportunities to add to add to his assist as Newcastle had to play most of the game with 10 players. It looks like Erling Haaland is nailed on to be my captain this week with a home game against newly promoted Ipswich. Mohamed Salah has to be an option too, but I am almost certain to go with Haaland.
I had a fairly good week with my fantasy team last week with the three players above all performing well for me along with Mark Flekken, Pedro Porro, Josko Gvardiol and Bukayo Saka. I can’t see myself making any transfers this week as I hope to let a few build up now that you can use up to five at once. Anyone looking to change their team this week could have a look at players like Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Antoine Semenyo, Kaoru Mitoma, Diogo Jota and Chris Wood.
Saturday August 24
Brighton And Hove Albion v Manchester United
12.30pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton got their season off to a flyer with a 3-0 win away to Everton which put them on top of the table. Brighton had a very good home record for most of last season and they will be looking to do the same again this time around. They play five of last season’s top eight in their next seven games which could hinder their hopes of a good start to the season.
After their win against Everton last week there would seem to be quite a few Brighton players for fantasy managers to consider with Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Yankuba Minteh and Simon Adingra all worth considering.
United won 1-0 at home to Fulham in their opening game and they will be looking to build on that victory before a very tough game against Liverpool next week. They lost as many away games as they won last season and they conceded more goals than they scored on the road. They lost 14 games last season and no other team in the top half of the table scored less goals.
Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and Nousssir Maxraoui are the United players who might be of interest to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think this is a game which could go either way, but I have a feeling Brighton might just manage to take all three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester City v Ipswich Town
3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City won their first game 2-0 away to Chelsea and they are already looking very strong as they bid to win their fifth title in a row. They were the only team unbeaten at home last season with no other team scoring more or conceding less goals on their own ground. They were the highest scorers last season with just short of 100 goals and only Arsenal conceded less.
Erling Haaland looks an absolute must have for fantasy managers in this game with Josko Gvardiol, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva good options too.
Ipswich lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool last week and they face an even tougher task in this game. Their home form is going to be key for them in their attempt to stay up, but any points gained on the road will be very welcome. They couldn’t have asked for a more difficult start to the season and it can only get easier from here.
Given time Sam Szmodics could do well for fantasy managers, but probably not in this game
I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive victory for City in this game.
Prediction: 4-0
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
3pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs drew 1-1 away to Leicester last week in a game they were expected to win. They were the only team not to draw a game at home last season and three of their next four games are on their own patch. Three of their next four games after this one are very tough and their prospects for the season could be a lot clearer after them.
Pedro Porro showed he can be an asset for fantasy managers against Leicester with James Maddison, Son Heung-Min and Dominic Solanke possibilities too.
Everton lost 3-0 at home to Brighton last week and that defeat put them at the foot of the table after the first round of games. Their next two away games are very tough before they travel to each of the three newly promoted clubs in a row. Only Sheffield United scored less goals last season with only the top three conceding less.
I thought Everton’s defenders and keeper might be of interest to fantasy managers, but I’m not so sure now after last week’s defeat.
I think Spurs will get their first win of the season in a close game.
Prediction: 2-1
Southampton v Nottingham Forest
3pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Saints lost 1-0 away to Newcastle last week despite playing against 10 men for most of the game. Four of their next five home games are games they will feel they have a very good chance of getting points from. If they can create as many chances as they did last week then they might just give themselves a chance of staying up.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis is a cheap defender who will play for fantasy managers, but it might not be worth having Southampton defenders.
Forest conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 at home to Bournemouth in their opening game. Only Sheffield United scored less goals away from home last season and their next two away games after this one are very difficult. They have only just avoided relegation in the last two seasons and they need to do a lot better this season.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi are the Forest players most likely to make an impression for fantasy managers.
This looks like it could be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Fulham v Leicester
3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham lost 1-0 away to United last time out and they will be anxious to get some points on the board at home to one of the newly promoted teams. Only Spurs drew less games at home last season and they don’t play any of the big six at home before December. They have a good run of games coming up and will hope to put themselves in a strong position over the next few weeks.
Emile Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz could all do well for fantasy managers while Antonee Robinson is an outside bet.
Leicester came from behind to draw 1-1 at home Spurs last week and that result should give them some hope going forward. Four of their next five away games are ones they will hope to get something from starting with this one. Their start to the season isn’t as difficult as the other promoted teams and they showed against Spurs that they are far from certain to go straight back to the Championship.
If his legs hold up Jamie Vardy could be the reasonably priced striker fantasy managers are looking for.
I think Fulham will get their first points of the season, but it will be a close game.
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace lost 2-1 away to Brentford last week after controversially having an Eberechi Eze goal disallowed. They did very well at home last season after Oliver Glasner took the reins and three of their next four games are on their own ground. They have to play four of the big six in their next eight games which could make things difficult for them.
Eze is the Palace player to have for fantasy managers with Jean Philippe Mateta worth considering too if he can find his form from the end of last season.
West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Villa last week and new manager Julen Lopetegui will want to get something from this game. They lost 10 away games last season with only two other teams conceding more goals on their travels. Their next game is away to City so they will want to get something from this game and only the three relegated teams conceded more goals last season.
Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Niclas Fulkrug are all worth looking at for fantasy managers and Tomas Soucek could be one to do well at the right price.
I think Palace will make home advantage count with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Aston Villa v Arsenal
5.30pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa won 2-1 away to West Ham last week and they will be looking forward to playing a team they beat twice last season. Their home games get easier after this one and only three other teams scored more goals on their own ground last season. They have a very good run of games after this one which could see them among the pacesetters.
It’s difficult to look past Ollie Watkins for fantasy managers among the Villa players.
Arsenal won 2-0 at home to Wolves in their opening game, but this will be a much tougher test for them. They only lost three away games last season and no other team conceded more goals on the road, but their first three away games are all against teams who finished in the top five last season. They will have to be at their very best over those games to keep pace with the teams at the top of the table.
All of Arsenal’s defenders and keeper are very good choices for fantasy managers with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz the best attacking options.
I think this will be a very close game with Arsenal probably edging it by one goal.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunday August 25
Bournemouth v Newcastle United
2pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth scored late to draw 1-1 away to Forest in their opening game and this is a tough game to start their home campaign. Four of their first five home games are against teams who finished in the top seven last season and they could struggle for points in those games. Only four other teams conceded more goals last season and they could find themselves letting a few in over the next few games.
Antoine Semenyo is the Bournemouth player looking most likely to perform for fantasy managers with new boy Francisco Evanilson worth keeping an eye on too.
Newcastle won 1-0 at home to Southampton despite playing most of the game with 10 men and they will be hopeful of building on that result in this game. Only three other teams lost more games and conceded more goals away from home last season. If they can improve their away form they might have a chance of getting back into the top four as they have no European football to distract them.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are the outstanding options in the Newcastle team for fantasy managers and Nick Pope could be worth a punt too.
I think Bournemouth will make Newcastle work hard and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them get a point in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea
2pm BST, Molineux Stadium
Wolves lost 2-0 away to Arsenal last week and they play another one of the big six this week. Their first four home games are all against teams that finished in the top seven last season which could prove very tough for them. Only the bottom five lost more games last season and their tough run of games to start the season could see them at the wrong end of the table early on.
With Pedro Neto leaving for Chelsea Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha are the Wolves players most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.
Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to City in their opening game and they need to get something from this game or who knows what pressure will be on Enzo Maresca. Only five other teams conceded more goals on their travels last season, but their first three away games are all very winnable. They might have lost to City last week, but their next six games are all ones where they will be favourites to win.
It’s difficult to know which players to opt for in the Chelsea squad for fantasy managers, but Cole Palmer is the only one to bank on at the moment.
I think Wolves should be good enough at home to take a share of the points in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Brentford
4.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool won 2-0 away to Ipswich last week and they will be very strong favourites to make it two wins out of two in this game. No other team took more points on their own patch last season with only City scoring more goals. Only City and Arsenal scored more and conceded less goals last season and they have a very good run of games to start the season.
Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold look like the Liverpool players to have for fantasy managers.
Brentford won 2-1 at home to Palace in their opening game, but this is probably their hardest away game of the season. Only two other teams lost more away games last season and they travel to three of last season’s top five in their first three away games. The win against Palace was very important for them with the difficult start they have and they will need to take three points off Southampton next week too.
Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the best of the Brentford players for fantasy managers for as long as Ivan Toney’s future is in doubt.
I think Liverpool should win this game with at least a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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