| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12.0 |
2 - |  | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10.0 |
3 - |  | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 9.0 |
3 - | | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 9.0 |
5 - | | 2 | 4.5 | 0 | 1 | 7.5 |
My fantasy team fared a lot better though with 113 points as an awful lot of my player picks came good. The two cheap 4 million each) defenders I suggested for fantasy managers both kept clean sheets while my choice of captain (Mohamed Salah) was the second highest scorer of the week. I’m going to go with Salah as my captain again this week and Emmanuel Dennis of Watford could be a very good cut price striker if he’s fit to play.
Saturday August 21
Liverpool v Burnley
12.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool won 3-0 away to Norwich last week and they will be looking to make it two wins out of two in this game. Despite a very bad run of results at home at one stage last season only City and Chelsea conceded less goals at home. They finished the season strongly to make the top four and it looks like they might just be starting this season the same way.
Mohamed Salah showed exactly why he’s so valuable to fantasy managers last week while Diogo Jota and all of their defenders and keeper are looking pretty good too.
Burnley lost 2-1 at home to Brighton last week after leading 1-0 and they have a very tough game this week. They were the team which ended Liverpool’s fantastic unbeaten home record last season and they might just face the backlash for that victory in this game. They only finished one place above the bottom three last season and only two other teams scored less goals.
Chris Wood could be a good choice for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool victory in this game even if they did lose this fixture last season.
Prediction: 3-0
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost 3-2 away to Watford last week as they got used to life without Jack Grealish, but they will hope to turn things around quickly in this game. They lost more home games than they won last season, but they will fancy their chances in this game. They had a poor end to last season with Grealish injured and those results might just be an indicator of how they do without him this season.
Danny Ings got a goal on his Villa debut last week and he could be the Villa player of most interest to fantasy managers.
Newcastle led 2-1 at half time at home to West Ham last week, but they ended up losing 4-2. They took 22 points away from home last season and they will do well to match that figure this season. Only four other teams conceded more goals last season and their defence looked far from tight against West Ham last week.
Callum Wilson is the Newcastle player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers while Allan Saint-Maximin could be one to watch too.
I think Villa will put their defeat last week behind them and take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace v Brentford
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace were well beaten away to Chelsea last week, but they will see this game as a very good chance to get their first win of the season. Only two other teams conceded more goals at home last season and they need to get something from this game. Only two other teams conceded more goals last season and they have a tough run of games coming up so a win in this game could give them some breathing space.
Wilfried Zaha is still the Palace player most likely to impress for fantasy managers.
Brentford had a very good 2-0 win at home to Arsenal last week as they returned to top flight football after a 74 year absence and they have every chance of getting something from this game too. Only Norwich took more points away from home in the Championship last season and no other team scored more goals on their travels. No other team scored more goals in the Championship last season and their result last week suggests they will be a handful for a lot of teams in the top flight this season.
There are a lot of Brentford players at very good prices for fantasy managers if they can continue on from their form of last week.
I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Leeds United v Everton
3pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds were well beaten away to United last week and they find themselves at the foot of the table after the first game. Like so many other teams Leeds took less points at home than they did away from home last season, but I think they will improve at home this season. They finished in the top half of the table last season, but only five other teams conceded more goals.
Despite their defeat last week Patrick Bamford, Raphinha and Jack Harrison all look like they could do well for fantasy managers.
Everton came from behind to win 3-1 at home to Southampton last week and they will fancy their chances against a team who shipped five goals last week. Only three other teams took more points away from home last season and they could have a good season if they can improve their home form. They only finished 10th in the table and that was mainly down to their inability to score enough goals.
Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were both impressive for fantasy managers last week and they’re both worth considering.
I think this will be another very close game and I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Norwich City
3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City got their title defence off to a bad start with a 1-0 defeat away to Spurs last week and they will want to put that right in this game. No other team took more points, scored more or conceded less goals at home last season and that home form will be crucial if they’re going to retain the title. After a poor start last season they won the league with ease with the best attacking and defensive records.
I’m still not sure about picking City players given the continual squad rotation, but if he’s fit Kevin de Bruyne is still a very good choice for fantasy managers.
Norwich lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool last week and it doesn’t get any easier for them in this game. They only lost four of their 23 away games last season, but as a newly promoted side they couldn’t have asked for a tougher opening away game. They won the Championship last season, but losing their best player to Villa could make life in the top flight difficult for them.
I can’t see any Norwich players to recommend to fantasy managers given the very tough start to the season they have.
I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive City victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Brighton And Hove Albion v Watford
5.30pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton came from behind to win 2-1 away to Burnley last week and they have every chance of making it two wins out of two in this game. They only won four home games last season and no other team drew more games on their own patch. They drew an awful lot of games last season and they will climb the table this time out if they can turn a few of those draws into wins.
Robert Sanchez looks like a good choice for a reasonably priced goalkeeper and Shane Duffy is back in favour and available at a good price too for fantasy managers.
Watford held on to win 3-2 at home to Villa last week week as they got their return to the top flight off to a good start. They struggled for goals away from home in the Championship last season, but no other team conceded less goals on the road. They had the best defensive record in the Championship last season and they showed in their opening game that they are more than capable of scoring goals.
Ismailia Sarr is the Watford player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers with Emmanuel Dennis definitely worth a shout too.
I don’t think there will be too much between these two teams and the chances are it will end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday August 22
Southampton v Manchester United
2pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Southampton led away to Everton last week, but they ended up losing 3-1 and they have an even tougher task this week. They were one of the few teams to do a lot better at home than away from home last season and they will want to keep that good home form this season. Only West Brom conceded more goals last season, but they were the top scorers in the bottom half of the table with the exception of Villa.
Che Adams could emerge as a good choice for fantasy managers while Adam Armstrong and James Ward-Prowse are good options too.
United thrashed Leeds 5-1 last week to become the early pacemakers in the Premier League and they will want to add to that start in this game. They went the whole season unbeaten away from home last season, but only Fulham drew more games on their travels. Only City scored more goals last season, but they conceded more goals than the rest of the top four.
Bruno Fernandes is a must have for fantasy managers while Paul Pogba showed exactly what is capable of last week and Mason Greenwood and Luke Shaw are good choices too.
I think United will continue their good start to the season by taking the three points in this game with at least a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 1-3
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur
2pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves lost 1-0 away to Leicester last week, but they probably should have got something from the game. They lost more games than they won at home last season and they need to improve that record if they’re going to challenge for a spot in the top half of the table. Only the bottom four teams scored less goals last season and they still look like they could have trouble in that department this season.
I’m still not sure which Wolves players to recommend to fantasy managers, but that should change over the next few weeks.
Spurs had a very good 1-0 win at home to City last week despite not having Harry Kane available. If their away form had been a little better last season they might well have finished in the top four. Only the top two scored more goals last season, but they could struggle for goals if Kane gets his wish to join City.
If Kane is back he’s a very good choice for fantasy managers and Heung-Min Son is a very good choice too.
This is a tough game to call, but I suppose I’ll have to opt for a score draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Arsenal v Chelsea
4.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal lost 2-0 away to newly promoted Brentford last week and they have two very tough games in a row starting with this one. Arsenal’s home record last season kept them out of European football for this season as they really struggled to score goals on their own patch. They finished last season strongly and only two other teams conceded less goals, but their loss to Brentford last week ahead of two very hard games was a real concern.
With their current run of games I’m not sure there are any Arsenal players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Chelsea strolled to a 3-0 win at home to Palace last week and they’re the favourites to win the Premier League this season. Only the top two conceded less goals away from home than Chelsea last season, but they didn’t score as many goals as expected on the road. Only City conceded less goals last season, but the arrival of Romelu Lukaku might just help to solve their goal scoring issues.
Chelsea’s defenders and keeper are all very good options for fantasy managers with Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Lukaku looking good too.
After last week’s results for both teams Chelsea are hot favourites to win this game and I’ll have to go with them no matter what my heart says.
Prediction: 1-2
Monday August 23
West Ham United v Leicester City
8pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham came back from 2-1 down at half time to win 4-2 away to Newcastle last week as they continued their form of last season. Only City took more points at home last season and they could be in for another very good season if they can continue that home form. The four goals they scored last week suggest they can do very well again this season as long as the exertions of European football don’t affect them too much.
I predicted Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma might do well for fantasy managers last week and they didn’t disappoint while Aaron Cresswell and Tomas Soucek proved their worth too.
Leicester were probably a little lucky to win 1-0 at home to Wolves last week and they will have their work cut out in this game. Only the top two took more away points last season and they could do very well again this season if they can sort out their home form. They have a reasonably good run of fixtures which could see them start the season strongly.
Jamie Vardy led the Leicester attack and did well for fantasy managers last which meant Kelechi Iheanacho didn’t really get a look in while the Leicester keeper and defenders are worth considering too.
Both teams got their season off to a good start last week and I think they will both stay unbeaten by sharing the points in this game.
Prediction: 2-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
I pray chelsea wins this cause of my bet. but will always be a gooner.
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