Welcome back to another of Fantasy Premier League exclusives, and today in this FPL oriented article for GW3 we will be covering wide range of topics indexed below:
- GW 2 Review and Top Performers
- Fixture Preview GW3
- Trend Discussion
- Injury Analysis
- Captaincy Picks
- Points Predictions
- Transfers & Strategy
- Wild Card Talk
- Q & A
GW 2 Review and Top Performers
Nottingham Forest 2 vs 1 Sheffield United
Forest secured their first points of the season with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United, with Chris Wood’s 89th minute goal after coming off thebench in the 84th minute. Awoniyi started the scoring for Nottingham Forest in the 3rd minute, and the visitors canceled out the goal with a delightful strike by Gus Hamer.
Top Performers
Aurier – 10 points – Price 4.5M Def– Provided two assists and got all 3 BPS. Not yet worth an asset in FPL but good performance for his team.
Awoniyi – 7 points – Price 6.5M Forward – This is his 2nd 7-pointer in a row. Should be on a watchlist when Forest fixtures get easier.
Wood – 7 points – Price 5.0M – As mentioned earlier, got a last min goal, but only played few mins isn’t worth a look as an FPL option as of now.
Fulham 0 vs 3 Brentford
The Bees continued their unbeaten record in London derbies to 11 now. Even without Ivan Toney, their star player Brentford has performed very well this season. A first-half strike from Yoane Wissa coupled with 2 penalties from Bryan Mbeumo, ensured 3 points and their first win of the season for Thomas Frank’s team.
Fulham were down to 10 men when Tim Ream received his 2nd yellow of the game. And gave up 2 penalties to Brentford in the 66th minute and another late in injury time.
Top Performers
Mbeumo – 16 points – 6.7M Mid – After an insane GW-2 he’s already up 0.2, if you don’t already have him, get him in very nice fixtures for the next 2 GWs.
Wissa – 11 points – 6.1M Forward – He has also been a points magnet so far, and has seen a price increase already. Can be an ideal replacement for Pedro from Brighton.
Pinnock – 7 points – 4.5M Defender – The FPL community will say if there is a defender to pick from Brentford it would be Rico Henry, but we believe Ethan Pinnock is a better pick, he has more goal threat. Last season he was a very important differential for many FPL managers.
Liverpool 3 vs 1 AFC Bournemouth
Liverpool overcame a bad start after they went down 1-0 in the 3rd minute of the game from Antoine Semenyo goal, Diaz got an equalizer in the 27th minute, but Mo Salah tucked in a rebound from his own missed penalty, this was his 187th goal for Liverpool moving ahead of Steven Gerrard into 5th of the club’s scoring charts. Many captained him and in the end turned out to be an OK choice.
Top Performers
Diago Jota – 12 points – 8.0M Mid– Had an excellent game with a goal and an assist. Played only till the 76th minute, but was the star of the game, seems like Jota and Diaz are the best Liverpool assets to own ATM.
Norberto Murara Neto – 10 points – 4.5 G. K – In spite of conceding 3 goal his saved penalty earned him 5 points and also had 2 saves.
Luiz Diaz – 7 points – 7.7M Mid – Scored his 2nd goal in as many games. Has seen a price rise of 0.2 already.
Wolves 1 vs 4 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton went on top of the EPL, with a superb solo effort from Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March’s second-half double. Pervis Estupinan also got an assist and goal in the game as well, proving why he is a must-have defender in FPL.
Wolves did respond through substitute Hwang Hee Chan’s header just after the hour mark, but it was too little as Brighton was just too good for them.
Top Performers
Solly March – 15 points – 6.6M Mid – The highest point scorer in FPL, has had a price increase of 0.1 but is still worth it. Scored 2 goals in the 2nd half of the game. Has a few hard fixtures ahead in GW4 and 5.
Mitoma – 12 points – 6.6M Mid – Had another fantastic game for his team, and is another must-have from Brighton. Opened the scoring and provided an assist as well.
Pervis Estupinan – 11 points – 5.2M Defender – He is now owned by 62% of the FPL game. And he’s just scoring points for fun, like Mitoma has a goal and an assist. And has the highest points in the defender category. It would be fair to say these 3 are the top 3 Brighton assets to target.
Tottenham Hotspur 2 vs 0 Man United
Ange Postecoglou got his first win in his first home game as Pape Sarr’s strike and an own goal by Lisandro Martinez own goal settled the game in the end.
Rashford and, in particular, Bruno wasted some good chances. United were unlucky not to get a penalty after VAR reviewed a Cristian Romero handball. These were let-offs which allowed Spurs to win the game.
Top Performers
Guglielmo Vicario – 11 points – 5.0M GK – Spurs goalkeeper managed a CS and had 6 saves which got him all 3 BPS. Not the first player to target from the Spurs.
Pape Sarr – 10 points – 4.5M – Mid – Scored a goal which got him 2 BPS and a clean sheet point. He’s not an FPL option atleast for now with both rotation risk and we still need to check his in-game offensive involvements.
Micky Van de Ven – 7 points – 4.5M – Defender – CS points and 1 BPS got him this haul. Not someone we will pick in FPL given the alternatives from Spurs.
Man City 1 vs 0 Newcastle United
Julian Alverez’s amazing 1st half-strike handed Man City their 2nd win in as many games in the season. The score was 1-0.
Newcastle buoyed by thrashing Aston Villa 5-1 in their season opener last week, had travelled in the hope of claiming 1st league win at City for almost 23 years. Pep Guardiola’s men were not at their best but put in a professional performance, to claim 3 points.
Foden and Alverez were the 2 players to watch from City, Haaland had a rare blank.
Top Performers
Phil Foden – 9 points – 7.6 M – He’s already seen a price rise by 0.1, and after Haaland should be the next priority until KDB returns he should be nailed for City.
Akanji/Alverez/Ruben Diaz – 7 points- Def-Forward-Def– All 3 players were tied at 7 points each.
Aston Villa 4 vs 0 Everton
Aston Villa bounced back after a heavy defeat opening-day Premier League defeat by cantering to a 4-0 win against Everton. Goals from Captain John McGinn and Douglas Luiz’s penalty gave a 2-0 lead to Villa. And in the 2nd half goals by Bailey and Duran gave them a comfortable lead to end the game 4-0.
A rather forgettable day for Everton with nothing much to speak of.
Top Performers
Bailey – 14 points – 5.5M Mid – A goal and an assist along with 3 BPS gave him a haul of 14 points.
Lucas Digne – 10 points – 4.5M Defender – His tally was helped by his assist. Normally a player who rarely performs in FPL. Best left alone.
John McGinn – 10 points – 5.5M Mid – The captain provided the opening goal of the game and managed to get 2 BPS
West Ham United 3 vs 1 Chelsea
James Ward-Prowse set 2 goals in his debut and in the later stages, Lucas Paqueta scored a late penalty as a 10-man West Ham team somehow managed a 3-1 win over Chelsea.
Chelsea have now conceded a goal in each of their last 13 matches, their worst run since 1996. They were also gifted a chance to go ahead before half-time after Soucek tripped Raheem Sterling in the area, but Fernandez’s penalty was saved by Areola. Instead, Antonio fired West Ham into the lead 8 minutes later.
Another night to forget for Chelsea.
Top Performers
Areola – 10 points – 4.0M GK – Saved a crucial penalty and punished all those FPL owners who went over him to Turner (myself included).
Antonio – 9 points – 6.0M Forward – He had a good game and scored a goal for his team, not yet a player we need to own, but he does go on wild runs at times. Keep him on your watchlist.
James Ward-Prowse – 6.0M Mid – Had a great debut for his new side, and is on set pieces, he’s someone who should be on everyone’s watch list.
Crystal Palace 0 vs 1 Arsenal
A very hard-fought win for Arsenal who got a penalty in the 53rd minute and surprisingly it was taken by Captain Odegaard, Arsenal were also down to 10 men and still managed to win.
Crystal Palace unchanged from their own victory at Sheffield United a week ago- were fast out of the blocks, Aaron Ramsdale making a low stop to keep out an Eberechi Eze drive as the hosts built up a head of steam. But it was enough the visitors gradually took the game away from them as time went by.
Top Performers
Odegaard – 11 points – 8.5M Mid – Took the crucial penalty, but believing the press conferences, doesn’t look like he is the first choice taker and Bukayo Saka still is. Although massively involved in everything Arsenal did from that right hand space.
Fixture Preview GW3 to GW9
In this section, we take a look at the fixtures from GW-3 to GW-9 so it can help you plan transfers.
Chelsea Targets
Target These Players: Chilwell, Jackson, Colwill & Sanchez.
Chelsea boasts inviting home matches in GW3-4 and an away fixture against BOU. Chilwell and Jackson stand out as my top choices, while Sanchez & Colwill present solid value options.
Tottenham Targets
Consider Richarlison, Son & Udogie. Maddison is currently injured and was seen on crutches
Spurs have favourable matches ahead: BOU & BUR away, SHU at home in GW5, and LUT in GW8.
Man City Targets:
Look at Ederson, Dias, Gvardiol & Foden.
Man City’s great run begins with SHU & FUL matches. Focus on defence: Ederson & Dias are solid options. Gvardiol (5.0m) offers value.
Brentford Targets:
Consider Mbeumo, Wissa & Henry.
Brentford faces CRY, BOU, BUR, & EVE at home in GW3-9.
Mbeumo is my top pick, Wissa follows. Henry offers value as an attacking fullback. Ethan Pinnock is also worth a look.
Trend Discussion
– Gabriel benched again
– Joao Pedro benched
– March scores 3 goals in 2 matches
– Chilwell subbed off (61′)
– Salah misses’ penalty
– Watkins off pens
– Saka gives Odegaard pen
– Bruno’s point struggle
– Alvarez & Foden start
– Prowse debuts, 2 assists.
Injury Analysis
Maddison: Seen on crutches and boot. Likely okay, wait for a press conference.
Calvert-Lewin: Facial injury, maybe cheekbone break.
Trent: Possible knock.
Mount: Out till international break.
Captaincy Picks
Our top 2 Captaincy picks:
Haaland: £12.5m
Saka: £8.6m
Points Predictions:
Here are the top 10 assets with the best-projected points for GW3-8:
Haaland: 40.7
Salah: 34.6
Son: 33.8
Foden: 30.9
Saka: 30.8
Odegaard: 29.3
Rashford: 26.5
Flekken: 26.1
Martinelli: 25.9
Mbeumo: 25.5
Transfers & Strategy
Rashford & Bruno: Stick or Twist?
Owning these two has been quite frustrating. While one would get frustrated and won’t say don’t sell, MUN’s next match is against NFO (H), a good fixture. I personally owned only Rashford and have sold him.
Foden or Alvarez?
The stats are close, but I’d go with Foden. His 99 passes in central attack show more influence compared to Alvarez’s 66 passes.
Replacing Gabriel? And Should We Sell Pedro?
Given Gabriel’s repeated benching, it’s crucial to sell him. Consider options like Chilwell, Dias, Gvardiol, Henry & Saliba.
Regarding Pedro, we recommend selling him this week. Consider targeting Wissa & Jackson, who are more nailed with better fixtures.
Watkins: Time to sell?
He’s not lost his quality overnight. With 2 returns in 2 games, though not on penalties, he’s still valuable. Villa’s target man and creates chances. Hold this week vs. BUR (a), or consider GW4 vs. LIV to sell.
Top Picks for Buying:
Here are our top 5 player recommendations to target:
Mbeumo
Foden
Maddison
Wissa
Jackson
Wild Card Talk
While we don’t generally advise using your wildcard this early in the season, if you find yourself behind on key players and feel the need, it’s okay to activate it.
Our recommended team
Goalkeepers
Ederson – Price 5.5M
Turner – Price 4.0
Total Spent – 9.5M
Defenders
Chilwell – 5.6M
Estupinan – 5.2M
Saliba – 5.1M
Udogie – 4.5M
Pinnock – 4.5M
Total Spent – 24.9M
Mid-fielders
Foden – 7.6M
Mitoma – 6.6M
Mbeumo – 6.7M
March – 6.6M
Odegaard – 8.5M
Total Spent – 36M
Forwards
Wissa – 6.1M
Haaland – 14M
Semenyo – 4.5M
Total Spent – 24.6M
Still left with 5M In the bank for future transfers.
Q & A
If there are any questions with regard to your team, please do write to us in the comments, we will be happy to help.