| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 1 | 4.5 | 6 | 1 | 12.5 |
2 - |  | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 11.0 |
3 - |  | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 11.0 |
4 - | | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 11.0 |
5 - | | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10.0 |
My choice of Mohamed Salah as my captain worked very well last week and I will most likely choose him again this week. Other options for fantasy managers are Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland, but not for me as they’re not in my team for the moment at least. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Ivan Toney all did well for me as reasonably priced players last week while I regret not sticking with Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Saturday August 13
Aston Villa v Everton
12.30pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost their opening game 2-0 away to newly promoted Bournemouth last week and they need to bounce back immediately in this game. If they’re going to play as badly as they did away from home last week Villa had better make sure their home form is good. They have a very hard run of games after this one and they could find themselves at the wrong end of the table early on.
Matty Cash, Leon Bailey and Philippe Coutinho are the Villa players who could be of interest to fantasy managers, but only if they play a lot better than they did last week.
Everton lost 1-0 at home to Chelsea last week and they’re not looking to be in a good place already. No other team took less points away from home last season and they don’t look set to do much better this season. Their next three games are against teams expected to be at the wrong end of the table with them and we might get a better idea of how good or bad they are by the end of the month.
I can’t see any Everton players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Villa will be the ones to get their first points and goals of the season in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Arsenal v Leicester City
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal won 2-0 away to Palace last week to get their season off to a perfect start. Only the top two took more points at home last season and that home form will be needed again if they’re going to improve on their fifth place finish. They have a good run of games to start their season and they need to be among the pacesetters early on considering those fixtures.
Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are the attacking players looking in form for fantasy managers in the Arsenal team with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes doing pretty well too.
Leicester led 2-0 at home to Brentford last week, but they had to settle for a point as their defence showed the same weaknesses they had last season. They only won four away games last season and facing Arsenal and Chelsea in their first two away games is no easy task. If they’re going to push for a top six place they will need to hold on to their best players and that might not be too easy at the moment.
James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are the attacking players to consider in the Leicester team for fantasy managers while Danny Ward is available at a very good price too.
I think Arsenal will continue their good start to the season by taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Brighton And Hove Albion v Newcastle United
3pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton won 2-1 away to United last week to record their first ever win at Old Trafford. They only won five home games last season, but they could do very well if they can sort that home form out. They have a good run of fixtures to start their season which could see them in a good position as long as they can find the net more often than last season.
Leandro Trossard is the Brighton player for fantasy managers to watch with Danny Welbeck a possibility too.
Newcastle won 2-0 at home to Forest last week and they will want to build on that victory in this game. They didn’t have a great record away from home last season and they will be looking to improve on that record this season. They have a tough run of games coming up with both of last season’s top two in their next three games after this one.
Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson are the Newcastle players who might make a difference for fantasy managers with Fabian Schar an outside bet too.
I think this will be a very close game with the spoils most likely to be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City won 2-0 away to West Ham last week to get their title defence off to a perfect start and they will be strong favourites to add three more points in this game. No other team scored more goals at home last season and the addition of Erling Haaland could add to that figure. They have a very good run of games to start the season and they could find themselves with a nice cushion at the top of the table in a few weeks.
Haaland made a fantastic start for fantasy managers last week with Kevin de Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and all the City defenders and keeper great choices too.
Bournemouth won 2-0 at home to Villa last week, but they are going to find this game an awful lot tougher. The fixture list hasn’t been nice to them with both of last season’s top two to travel to in their first two away games. They will be glad to have taken three points from their first game because their chances of getting any in their next three games are slim at best.
I’m still not sure there are any Bournemouth players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable City victory in this game.
Prediction: 4-0
Southampton v Leeds United
3pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Southampton lost 4-1 away to Spurs last week after leading early on and they look like they could have taken up where they finished off last season. They didn’t do too badly at home last season, but they drew too many games and they need to win a few more this season. They had a very weak finish last season and they probably need to win this game to try to stop the rot.
James Ward-Prowse is still the Southampton player most likely to make an impression for fantasy managers.
Leeds came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Wolves last week and they will think they have every chance of making it two wins out of two in this game. They took more points away from home than they did at home last season, but only Southampton conceded more goals on their travels. They have a relatively good start to their season with the exception of their game against Chelsea next week, but only Norwich conceded more goals last season.
Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo both did well for fantasy managers last week and they’re certainly worth considering.
I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham
3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves lost 2-1 away to Leeds last week after leading and they will be anxious to get their first points of the season in this game. They struggled for points and goals at home last season, but this game gives them a great chance to get their home campaign off to a good start. Only the three relegated teams scored less goals than Wolves last season and they won’t improve their position until they can score more goals.
Pedro Neto is the Wolves player of most interest to fantasy managers while Hwang Hee-Chan could do well during the absence of Raul Jiminez.
Fulham got a very good point at home to Liverpool last week and they showed they might be better equipped to compete in the Premier League than the last time they were promoted. They have some tough away games to start their season and this is probably the easiest of them. They showed against Liverpool that they might be able to avoid the drop and their display in this game should tell if that’s really on.
Aleksandar Mitrivoc showed exactly how good he can be against Liverpool and he might just be a great choice for fantasy managers if he can continue that form.
I think Wolves will get the better of Fulham in a close game.
Prediction: 2-1
Brentford v Manchester United
5.30pm BST, Brentford Community Stadium, London
Brentford came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 away to Leicester last week and they showed to be every bit as capable as they were last season. They have a fairly good run of home games early on which could see them get a good start to the season. They only face two of last season’s top 10 in their first 10 games so they will hope to be in good stead early on.
Ivan Toney is the Brentford player who should be of most interest to fantasy managers, but Josh Dasilva and Brian Mbeumo are interesting options too.
United lost 2-1 at home to Brighton last week and life under their new manager has not started well. They only won six away games last season after going over a year unbeaten away from home and three of their next four games are on the road. They need to add some new players to their team before the transfer window closes or this season could end up even worse for them than last season.
I’m not sure there are any United players to recommend to fantasy managers until things settle down and we get an idea of how they will play.
I think a draw is the most likely outcome which will probably please Brentford more than United.
Prediction: 2-2
Sunday August 14
Nottingham Forest v West Ham United
2pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham
Forest lost 2-0 away to Newcastle last week, but they will be looking forward to their first home game in the top flight in over 20 years. They were impressive in home games against top flight opposition in the FA Cup last season and they will want to replicate that in the league this season. They have a difficult start to the season and they might be at the wrong end of the table for a few weeks at least.
Neco Williams is on the bench of a lot of fantasy managers because of his price while Jessie Lingard and Brennan Johnson could be the Forest players to watch at home in particular.
West Ham lost 2-0 at home to City last week and they will be looking to pick up their first points in this game. They have a good run of away games to start their season and they will hope to do very well in them. Their European exploits made things a bit difficult for them last season and that could be the case again this season.
I still think Jarrod Bowen looks very sharp and he could have another successful season for fantasy managers.
I think Forest are going to be a tough team to beat at home which should probably see them take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 1-0
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
4.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea won 1-0 away to Everton last week, but a home game against Spurs will be a much tougher test for them. They lost as many home games as they lost away from home last season and this is a very tough game to get their home games going. They have a lot of work to do in the transfer market if they’re going to do as well as they did last season.
The Chelsea defenders and keeper look like good options for fantasy managers at the moment, but maybe not in this game while Mason Mount is probably the best of their attacking players.
Spurs came from behind to win 4-1 at home to Southampton last week and that win put them on top of the table on goal difference after one game. Only the top three took more points away from home last season, but they play three of the top five in their first five away games. They look like they could be set to do well this season and their performance in this game could be a real pointer to their capabilities.
Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski look like very good choices for fantasy managers while Harry Kane cannot be ignored either.
This looks like a tough game to call, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Monday August 15
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool had to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 away to Fulham last week and they won’t be happy to have lost ground on City already. They were the only team unbeaten at home last season and they have a favourable run of home games to start this season. They need to improve on last week’s performance if they’re going to keep up with City and we should see if they are up to it in this game.
Both Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez look like they will do really well for fantasy managers while Luis Diaz and all of Liverpool’s defenders and keeper are good options too.
Palace lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal last week and they face an even tougher task in this game. They only won four away games last season and it doesn’t get any more difficult than trips to Liverpool and City in their first two away games. No other team drew more games last season and they need to turn a few of those draws into wins if they’re going to improve their position.
Wilfred Zaha is the Palace player to have for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game.
I think Liverpool should have too much in attack for a Palace team are by no means easy to beat.
Prediction: 3-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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