Game week 4 is right around the corner after a short international break. As Saturday’s deadline nears, Fantasy Premier League managers across the globe return with some big decisions.
Favourable Fixtures
We kick off this weekend’s fixtures at St. Mary’s Stadium, where newly promoted Southampton take on Manchester United. The Red Devils will be hoping to bounce back following their humiliating defeat to Liverpool in game week three, whereas struggling Southampton will want to try and pick up their first points of the season in what would be seen as a big upset.
With what appears to be a favourable fixture for Manchester United, there are a few stand-out names that FPL managers should be considering. Creative and tricky winger duo Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho will be looking to create problems for the Saints’ defence. Another key choice is full-back Noussair Mazraoui, who currently sits at a bargain of £4.5 million and has 13 points to his name after a clean sheet and assist this season.
Brighton vs Ipswich Town: An Exciting 3 p.m. Kick-off Post-International Break
Following the opening match, we have the 3 p.m. kick-off, Brighton against Ipswich Town, which could prove to be an exciting game. With a pair of fixtures that benefit Brighton in the return after the international break, they have some crucial players for FPL managers to try and fit in their sides.
Their standout performer so far has been striker Danny Welbeck, who has registered two goals and an assist, providing fantasy players with a tasty 23 points and is currently the second-best ranked forward in the game. Welbeck’s fellow forward, João Pedro, is also a great option – sitting on 18 points so far and scoring back-to-back goals against Manchester United and Arsenal. Moving slightly behind the front line, midfielders Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh have provided six goal contributions, proving pivotal in the Seagulls’ attacking threat.
In the penultimate fixture on Saturday evening, the contest between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park could prove to be an entertaining affair. We see a winless Everton side, who have yet to pick up any points following two heavy defeats, and an Aston Villa team that has yet to keep a clean sheet.
However, FPL managers will be watching Aston Villa, notably the midfield duo of Amadou Onana and Morgan Rogers. Onana currently has an impressive 20 points, including two goals and a nice haul of bonus points.
Conversely, Rogers, who has yet to contribute to his best efforts, is in fine form and is returning to the Premier League. The creative midfielder scored twice in a 4-1 win for England against Austria in an under-21 match on Monday night. Therefore, he will look to make amends in the league and continue this scoring spree, starting with Everton.
Durán’s Destiny?
Another decision for many FPL managers will be whether to keep or sell Ollie Watkins. Despite an immaculate season last year, the Englishman has yet to find himself on the scoresheet this season, much to many people’s surprise, and as it stands, he may not feature against Everton this weekend. With the striker currently carrying a knock and having a 75% chance of playing, it could be a good time for FPL owners of Watkins to transfer him out soon. Even though Aston Villa face Wolves and Ipswich following the Everton fixture, the uncertainty around Watkins’ form will be a huge consideration for many.
An almost perfect replacement could be Jhon Durán. Durán has only featured for less than 30 minutes in all three games. However, the Colombian has gone on to score twice and receive four bonus points, making him the second-highest scorer on FPL for Aston Villa behind Onana. The £6 million striker could be an interesting differential choice, as he is only selected by 1.4% of players and will be desperate to pounce on the opportunity to impress if Watkins fails to pass match fitness.
Ødegaard Out
Ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster North London Derby, a massive blow for Arsenal and many FPL managers occurred Monday night. In the 67th minute of Norway’s narrow 2-1 victory against Austria, Martin Ødegaard was on the receiving end of an uncomfortable tackle to his ankle, resulting in the Arsenal captain being forced off injured. Not long after the final whistle, news broke with images of the attacking midfielder leaving the stadium on crutches. He is rumoured to be out for at least three weeks, meaning he could miss some crucial matches.
So, how will Arsenal and FPL managers adapt? We could see Kai Havertz drop back into that creative role in the number 10 position, opening up the striker spot for Leandro Trossard or new signing Raheem Sterling to slot into.
Chelsea Choices
Chelsea have had a mixed bag of results to kick off this new season, with a loss to Man City, a thumping 6-2 victory against Wolves, and a draw to Crystal Palace. It comes as no surprise that superstar Cole Palmer was at the centre of their successes, with a fantastic four assists and a goal, giving his FPL owners a total of 25 points.
However, for those who can’t reasonably afford the fairly pricey Palmer, here are some other suggestions from Chelsea who could still bring in those vital points. As a direct replacement, Noni Madueke is in midfield and comes in £5 million cheaper than his teammate. With only 11.7% of ownership, he is a less common choice that has provided a whopping 22 points – consisting of three goals and a maximum bonus points award. Madueke has linked up very well with Palmer this season, as his goals have come from Palmer’s passes.
The other player to consider is the man leading the Chelsea front line, Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson. Jackson has continued in what was a good debut season last year. So far this season, he has scored twice and provided an assist, too. This gives FPL managers food for thought, especially those looking to move on from Ollie Watkins. Coming in at £7.6 million, Jackson has 18 points and is only owned by a small percentage of 6.2% players, making him another key differential option.
It will be interesting to see what game week four will bring this weekend.