1 |  | 5 | 4.5 | 6 | 2 | 17.5 |
2 4 | | 4 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 17.0 |
3 2 | | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 17.0 |
4 5 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14.0 | |
5 4 | | 8 | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | 13.5 |
6 3 |  | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13.0 |
Saturday September 26
Brighton And Hove Albion v Manchester United
12.30pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton had a very good 3-0 win away to Newcastle last week, but United could prove a lot more difficult. Only Norwich won less games at home last season and only two other teams scored less goals on their own ground. They have played well in their first two games, but they have two very difficult fixtures in a row.
Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard could be of interest to fantasy managers and some of their defenders and keeper are available at a good price and worth considering too.
United lost their opening game 3-1 at home to Palace last week and they need to turn things around very quickly. Only two other teams lost less away games last season and only Liverpool conceded less goals on their travels. They need to improve quickly with Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal in their next four games after this one.
Despite their performance last week United players such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes are all good options for fantasy managers.
I think this is going to be a very close game with United just about taking the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Crystal Palace v Everton
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace won 3-1 away to United last week to it make two wins from their first two games and they have another tough game against Everton. They only won six home games last season and no other team scored less goals on their own patch. They have a fairly good run of fixtures up until soon before Christmas and they have a good chance to build on their impressive start to the season.
Wilfried Zaha has started very well for fantasy managers while Andros Townsend is a good option too along with Tyrick Mitchell who is available at a very good price.
Everton won 5-2 at home to 10 man West Brom last week to make it two wins out of two for them as well. They only managed five away wins last season and that statistic will have to improve if their league position is going to improve for this season. They’re only behind Leicester at the top of the table on goal difference and only Leicester have scored more goals.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has started really well for fantasy managers with Richarlison and James Rodriguez supplying the ammunition and doing pretty well too.
I think this is a tough game to call and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
5.30pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom lost 5-2 away to Everton last week and it doesn’t get any easier for them in this game. They only lost three home games in the Championship last season and no other team scored more goals at home, but the Premier League is an awful lot harder than the Championship. Their games get a little easier for a few weeks after this one, but they’re currently propping up the rest of the league and that probably won’t change after this game.
Matheus Pereira has been the bright spark for fantasy managers so far in the West Brom team with Grady Diangana worth a mention too.
Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool last week after they had a man sent off and they missed a penalty late on too. Only three other teams took more away points last season and only City scored more away goals. They have spent an awful lot of money on new players and their upcoming run of games should give those players a very good chance to settle in.
Timo Werner is the obvious choice for fantasy managers in the Chelsea team while Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech (when he’s fit) all look like they could do well too.
I think West Brom’s woes will continue in this game with Chelsea winning by at least a couple of goals.
Prediction: 1-3
Burnley v Southampton
8pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley lost 4-2 away to Leicester last week and they didn’t look too sound in defence. They lost almost as many home games as they won last season and they need to improve on that this season. They have a fairly good run of games at the moment and we should know in a few weeks if they will challenge for a top 10 spot again this season.
Chris Wood looks like the Burnley player to have for fantasy managers while Dwight McNeil is a good option too and Jimmy Dunne could just be the elusive cheap defender everyone wants.
Southampton lost 5-2 at home to Spurs last week after scoring first to make it two defeats in their first two games. Only Liverpool and City took more points away from home than Southampton last season and they will do very well to match that record this season. They have lost their first two games and they conceded six goals in those games, but their next few games give them a chance to get a foothold.
Danny Ings is again proving to be the Southampton player to have for fantasy managers.
I think this is going to be a very close game with a draw as the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday September 27
Sheffield United v Leeds United
12pm BST, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
United lost 1-0 away to Villa last week after playing most of the game with 10 men and they have no points and no goals from their first two games. Only City conceded less goals at home last season and they have games against two of the promoted teams for their next two home games. They have a very tough run besides those two games though with four of the big six in their next six games and they’re the only team without a goal at this stage.
I can’t see any United players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
Leeds just about held on to win 4-3 at home to Fulham last week and it was their second seven goal game in a row. They took more points and scored more goals away from home than any other team in the Championship last season and they will fancy their chances against a United team who have no points and no goals so far. They have shown enough in their first two games to suggest they should be able to stay up.
Patrick Bamford, Helder Costa and Mateusz Klich have all started very well for fantasy managers and they’re all available at very good prices.
I think this will be another very close game and the chances are the spoils will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
2pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs came from behind to win 5-2 away to Southampton last week to get their first win of the season. Only Liverpool and City took more points at home last season with only four other teams conceding less goals on their own patch. They have a very good run of games coming up, but they have a very busy schedule too.
Both Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane did exceptionally well for fantasy managers and they could easily continue that form over most of the next six fixtures.
Newcastle lost 3-0 at home to Brighton last week as the good feeling around their opening day win quickly evaporated. They lost 11 away games last season with only Norwich and Chelsea conceding more goals on the road. They have two tough games in their next three games before they have a long run of games where they will hope to be able to take plenty of points.
Callum Wilson might be a good option for fantasy managers, but Newcastle haven’t scored a lot of goals in recent seasons.
I think Spurs should be able to take the three points in this game despite their hectic schedule.
Prediction: 3-1
Manchester City v Leicester City
4.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City won 3-1 away to Wolves last week as they got their campaign off to a good start against a team who pushed them hard. Only Liverpool took more points at home last season and no other team scored more or conceded less goals on their own patch. They were the only team to score more than a hundred goals last season, but they lost nine games which is too many for a team hoping to win the league.
Kevin de Bruyne is the City player most likely to excel for fantasy managers while Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden are good options too and Gabriel Jesus should be considered while Sergio Aguero is injured.
Leicester won 4-2 at home to Burnley last week and that win was enough to put them on top of the table on goal difference. They lost more away games than they won last season and only three other teams scored more goals on the road. They play three of the big six in their next seven games and the results of those games might give us an idea of whether they can match their exploits of last season.
Timothy Castagne has had a great start to the season for fantasy managers while Jamie Vardy, Ashley Barnes and James Justin are all worth a shout too.
Despite Leicester’s good start to the season I think City should be able to win this game by the odd goal.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
7pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham lost 2-1 away to Arsenal in a game where they were unlucky not to take at least a point. Only the bottom two lost more games and conceded more goals at home last season. They have a really tough run of games coming up and they could find themselves in a very tough spot before too long.
Michail Antonio is the West Ham player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers, but maybe not over the next few weeks.
Wolves lost 3-1 at home to City last week, but they had plenty of chances to make the game a lot closer. Only five other teams took more points away from home last season and only two other teams conceded less goals on their travels. They have a very good run of games coming up which could see them in a very high position within a few weeks.
Raul Jiminez remains the Wolves player to have for fantasy managers while Daniel Podence and Romain Saiss could be good options too.
I think Wolves will get the best of this game and leave West Ham pointless.
Prediction: 1-2
Monday September 28
Fulham v Aston Villa
6pm BST, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham lost 4-3 away to Leeds last week and life back in the top flight hasn’t started well for them. Only Leeds took more home points in the Championship last season and only two other teams scored more goals on their own patch. Their schedule isn’t too difficult for the next few weeks and they have the opportunity to put themselves in a reasonably comfortable position for the moment at least.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is the Fulham player to have for fantasy managers while Andre-Frank Anguissa might be a good option too.
Villa just about managed to win 1-0 at home to 10 man Sheffield United last week to get their season off to a good start. Only Norwich and Watford took less points away from home last season while only Norwich and Chelsea conceded more goals. They have two very tough games after this one and any points they can get in this game would be very welcome.
Emiliano Martinez could be the Villa player to have for fantasy managers if his debut last week is any indication, but it’s a risk to pick a Villa keeper or defender.
I don’t think there will be too much between these two teams and I wouldn’t be surprised if the game ended all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Arsenal
8.15pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool won 2-0 away to 10 man Chelsea last week and they face another strong test of their chances of retaining their title in this game. They won 18 of their 19 home games last season with only City scoring more and conceding less goals on their own ground. If they’re going to retain the title their home form will be crucial and they will have to improve on their opening day 4-3 win against Leeds.
There are so many Liverpool players to choose from for fantasy managers with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and all of their defenders and keeper very good options.
Arsenal just about managed a 2-1 win at home to West Ham last week to make it two wins from their first two games, but this will be a much tougher test for them. They only won four away games last season and they will have to improve on that this season if they’re going to push for a top four place. They have some very tough games on the horizon with trips to both Manchester clubs to come in their next four games after this one.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers while Willian could be an option too if he can repeat his performance of the opening day.
Something has to give in this game between two teams who have won their first two games and my alliances make me opt for an Arsenal win no matter how unlikely it might seem.
Prediction: 1-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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