The second international break of the 2018/19 season has come to an end and we now have another month of big Football matches to come both domestically and in Europe.
There are four Rounds of Premier League Football to come between the two international breaks in October and November, while two Rounds of Champions League and Europa League Group Stage matches will begin to separate those teams making it through to the Knock Out Rounds and those who are going to be left disappointed.
It is a big time for clubs as the season settles into a rhythm and there are big games right out of the international break with ramifications at the top and bottom of the Premier League.
I have written a short piece about Manchester United and the win over Newcastle United which may have done little more than paper over the obvious cracks at Old Trafford. You can read that here.
Earlier this season I mentioned I was going to start adding Fantasy Notes to the selections made in the Premier League each round of games played.
I have decided I will pick who I believe will be the 'Fantasy Star' for each fixture and also an alternative selection.
I am still fine-tuning how I want to this to work going forward, but at the moment the 'Star' will be the player I believe can pick up the most points and bonus points from the official Premier League Fantasy Game .
The alternative selection will be a player who I think can have a positive return from each fixture, but bare with me as I look to find the best way to approach the increasingly popular Fantasy element.
Chelsea v Manchester United Pick: The noise around Jose Mourinho would have been deafening over the last two weeks if Manchester United had not turned around their Premier League game with Newcastle United and come away with a win after trailing 0-2 inside ten minutes.
Some may look to the result as the chance for Manchester United to turn the corner on what has been a very difficult start to the season, but personally I can't help feel it is nothing more than papering over significant cracks at the club.
The games between the October and November international breaks will tell us a lot about where Manchester United stand as they face Premier League trips to Chelsea and Manchester City as well as a Champions League double header with Juventus.
With 5 points already between Manchester United and the top four it is a big month ahead and this looks a very difficult away game facing them as they come out of the international break.
Chelsea have joined Manchester City and Liverpool on 20 points after a very positive start under Maurizio Sarri and they look to have the best Premier League player in their side. Eden Hazard may have stated his wishes to play under Mourinho again, but he could put another nail in the coffin of the manager at Manchester United with a big performance on Saturday.
As much as I would like to be wrong, it is very difficult to see anything but a Chelsea win on Saturday having beaten Manchester United 3 times in a row at Stamford Bridge while Jose Mourinho has managed the latter. Manchester United haven't scored in any of those trips to this part of West London and I am not convinced that things are all good and proper after one win.
The home team have been creating plenty of chances and showed in two games against Liverpool that they are capable of playing very well against the better teams in the Premier League. If Manchester United are even half as poor defensively as they were against West Ham United and Newcastle United in recent League games I do really worry for them here and the only suggestion for this game is backing Chelsea to win a game featuring two or more goals.
Manchester United have conceded three times in losses at Brighton and West Ham United away from home as well as the same number in a home loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Add in the fact that a goal shy Newcastle United scored twice against Manchester United and could have had more and I just can't see the side containing Chelsea here.
Fantasy Star: Eden Hazard- Arguably the best player in the Premier League and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Manchester United. All good things from Chelsea are going through the Belgian.
Alternative: David Luiz- a key figure at centre half for Chelsea who have kept clean sheets in all 3 games against Jose Mourinho's Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Potential free-kick taker too.
Bournemouth v Southampton Pick: You can't be anything but impressed with the start made by Bournemouth to the new Premier League season and any fears they would be dragged into a relegation battle have to be easing in each passing week.
They can take another big step towards the 40 point mark this weekend and that will still be the aim for Eddie Howe who knows how important it is to keep Bournemouth in the Premier League. However the start made to the season means Howe can also put some stock into giving Bournemouth a real shot at winning one of the Cup competitions.
For now the concentration will be on trying to win this derby game against a Southampton team who have not scored in their last 3 Premier League games.
Mark Hughes has to be feeling some pressure with the owners of Southampton unlikely to accept another battle against relegation from the top flight. The poor run of form in the League has seen Southampton slump to just outside the bottom three, but there is still something to like about a team that has the likes of Charlie Austin and Danny Ings to score the goals to fire them up the table.
I do think Southampton can create chances here against this Bournemouth defence which is anything but watertight. On the other hand it would be a surprise if the attacking football used by Eddie Howe doesn't pay dividends up the other end too and the amount of goals Bournemouth have been scoring makes them very dangerous.
Both teams look capable of hurting the other and I do believe we will see goals in this League game.
I give Bournemouth the slight edge in the fixture on Saturday, but they don't look like a team that will be keeping a lot of clean sheets. With the chances Southampton have been able to fashion I think they can score here and I will back at least three goals to be shared out in this fixture.
Fantasy Star: Callum Wilson- both Ryan Fraser and Josh King are carrying knocks, but Bournemouth score plenty of goals and Callum Wilson is pushing for an England call up.
Alternative: Danny Ings- Southampton have been better away from home and Danny Ings likely leading the line against an opponent who are far from defensively secure.
Cardiff City v Fulham Pick: To call a fixture a relegation six pointer in the middle of October is perhaps overstating things, but you have to feel this is a very important fixture for both Cardiff City and Fulham.
After promotion from the Championship, both clubs have struggled in the Premier League and I would be surprised if both of these teams were good enough to avoid the drop back down a level.
That could mean that the two League games between Cardiff City and Fulham are going to be all important in determining which of the teams is able to finish out of the bottom three positions. I do think both Neil Warnock and Slavisa Jokanovic will understand how imperative it is for their respective teams to come out of the international break with a big positive result and I think it could be a game filled with some real tension.
Despite that I do think the players will be able to express themselves and create chances to score goals.
Cardiff City have been a little goal-shy this season but they have created some big chances and a little more composure is all they have needed. They should be able to create more against a Fulham defence that has been looking extremely vulnerable as they try and find the balance between attack and defence in the move up to the Premier League level.
On the other side I also believe Fulham can create chances as they have in the majority of their League games so far. There are some talented players who like to get forward and Cardiff City have conceded at least twice in their last 4 games at home in all competitions.
Last season they shared out six goals here in a League fixture and I think the two teams will create chances and score goals in this one. The 1-1 is a potentially concerning score, but neither Cardiff City or Fulham have defended anywhere near to the level they would have liked and the points on offer should see the teams take risks to win this one.
Fantasy Star: Kenneth Zohore- Cardiff City have struggled in front of goal, but they are creating chances and Kenneth Zohore may be the best striker they have.
Alternative: Ryan Sessegnon- it hasn't been the introduction to the Premier League Sessegnon would have wanted, but Fulham play attacking football and he did score home and away against Cardiff City last season.
Manchester City v Burnley Pick: If Riyad Mahrez had scored his penalty at Anfield two weeks go Manchester City would have been a short priced favourite to retain the Premier League title they won last season.
Instead Mahrez blazed over the bar and that means there are three teams tied together on 20 points with Manchester City leading the way on goal difference. They might have been knocked off top spot by the time this game kicks off on Saturday afternoon, but Pep Guardiola won't be worrying about the League table and instead looking to get the best out of his players.
The squad looks to be getting healthier, but there is always a question mark as to how teams will react out of an international break.
In saying that I would be very surprised if Manchester City can't get the better of a Burnley team whose results have picked up but who have yet to really hit the heights in terms of performances that they did last season.
Teams are creating a lot of chances against Burnley and that would be a real worry for me if I was a fan of the club. All credit has to be given to Burnley for finding a way to pick up points in games where they have not been at their best, but they will have to be ten times better defensively to keep Manchester City at bay.
Manchester City potentially have Kevin De Bruyne back this week to offer an additional threat to opponents and they have already been creating a host of chances in games they have played in recent weeks. Pep Guardiola has not always been happy with the lack of composure shown in the final third, but Manchester City look like a team who will score plenty of goals even if they are not taking all of the chances that come their way.
Last season Manchester City beat a confident and more solid Burnley team by three goal margins in both the Premier League and FA Cup games they hosted against them. With this current Burnley team offering up a lot of chances to opponents, they are going to need Joe Hart to want to prove something to his former club to keep Manchester City at bay.
I simply don't know if Hart will be able to do that and I will back the home team to cover a big Asian Handicap.
Fantasy Star: Sergio Aguero- strong record against Burnley and been well rested the last two weeks and ready to lead the line for Manchester City. Seems an obvious choice.
Alternative: Benjamin Mendy- Fabian Delph has been ruled out so Mendy wil likely have the left back spot and is good for an assist or two in this attacking line up. Bonus is the potential for a clean sheet too.
Newcastle United v Brighton Pick: This looks to be one of the more intriguing Premier League games of the weekend as Newcastle United try and earn their first win of the season against what is likely to be a relegation rival.
It has been a very difficult start for Newcastle United, but that always looked like it could be the case when you consider they have already played five of the teams that finished in the top six last season. The home defeat to Leicester City would have hurt, but Newcastle United are about to enter into a much more positive set of fixtures for them.
Confidence is going to be a big factor for Newcastle United, but I was impressed with the way they approached their game at Manchester United two weeks ago. Like manager Rafa Benitez said after the defeat, I do think Newcastle United can win plenty of games against the lesser lights in the Premier League if they can match the intensity they showed at Old Trafford.
However playing with that intensity in a nothing to lose situation against Manchester United is different than when the expectation will be on the players to perform. That is going to be the case against a Brighton team who have been very poor travellers since being promoted to the Premier League.
You have to think Chris Hughton is going to look for his team to be well organised and difficult to break down. He will believe his Brighton team can do enough damage from set pieces and the counter attack to hurt Newcastle United, but The Seagulls are simply not as strong away from home as they are at the Amex Stadium.
Last season there were two tight games played out by these teams and I do think we will see something similar here where one goal could be enough to win the game.
6 of the last 7 between these teams has seen at least one of the teams fail to score and that will be my selection from this Premier League game.
Fantasy Star: Kenedy- scored at Old Trafford and could be the key to unlocking the Brighton defence in this fixture.
Alternative: Martin Dubravka- Newcastle United have not been as strong defensively as they would have liked, but the fixture list has been about as tough as it comes. The goalkeeper could be a key reason for a second clean sheet this season.
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur have to consider the start to the 2018/19 season to be a mixed one for the clubs as they get set for the first of two meetings in October.
Later this month the teams will meet again in the League Cup Fourth Round but the Premier League clash will likely be more important for both Manuel Pellegrini and Mauricio Pochettino.
Injuries are really hurting both squads, but I think West Ham United are the more settled of the two teams with the potential absence of both Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen a real blow for Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham Hotspur have won 3 League games in a row despite the injuries in the squad, but they have not been overly convincing against Brighton, Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City. This is expected to be a tougher challenge than against those teams especially as West Ham United have recently held Chelsea and beaten Manchester United at the London Stadium.
The Hammers have been producing a much more consistent attacking threat over the last six weeks and I think that can be key against a London rival that the fans will love to get one over. Last season Tottenham Hotspur did win 2-3 here, but they had previously lost 3 of 4 visits to West Ham United and I think the healthy start with the home team on the Asian Handicap can't be ignored.
I am surprised to see Tottenham Hotspur as an odds on favourite to win at a ground where two big teams have already stumbled this season. West Ham United have the kind of players who can step up their level against better teams and backing the home team with the start looks the call here.
Fantasy Star: Marko Arnautovic- the home team play much better against better opposition and the Austrian is a key to that having scored for his country during the internationals.
Alternative: Christian Eriksen- the Dane is expected back this week and Tottenham Hotspur have missed him. If they are to win here Christian Eriksen will be the key to it.
Wolves v Watford Pick: There is so much to admire about the way Wolves have gone about their business in the Premier League and the layers clearly agree by having them at odds on to win this fixture.
That has been the case in home games against Burnley and Southampton too and Wolves have not disappointed with victories in both while keeping clean sheets. Both have been deserved wins as Wolves have just been guilty of perhaps lacking some composure in the final third which has prevented those victories coming by big margins.
That could be a real problem for Watford who are going to be missing three key defenders for this trip to the Midlands. They are coming off an embarrassing 0-4 home defeat to Bournemouth which saw Watford trailing 0-3 by half time, but for the most part Watford have been playing with some confidence and with some quality football produced.
Watford have not won any of their last 5 games in all competitions and they have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League games. Some of those have been a little unfortunate, but Watford have just been struggling defensively as opponents have been able to create some quality chances against them.
This Wolves team should be able to do the same with the intensity and attacking quality they have produced at Molineux. They do need to produce a little more composure in the final third to make life a little easier for themselves, but I think Wolves can do that against a Watford team missing key defenders and I will back them to win and cover the Asian Handicap in this one.
Fantasy Star: Raul Jimenez- he has been influential in Wolves' start to the season and it really feels a matter of time before Raul Jimenez grabs himself a brace with the chances this team create.
Alternative: Matt Doherty- the wing back has been a key reason Wolves are able to create the chances mentioned. He scored last time out at Crystal Palace and could be good for assists and/or a clean sheet.
Huddersfield Town v Liverpool Pick: Jurgen Klopp had been bemoaning the international break after the draw with Manchester City and his mood won't have been improved when news came back that a number of his key players have suffered knocks.
It sounds like Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have avoided long-term problems, although Mane could miss out on Saturday's trip to Huddersfield Town.
Liverpool may not have won any of their last 4 games in all competitions, but it is not something their fans will be overly concerned about. They still have 20 points on the board to be level with Manchester City for the Premier League lead, but Liverpool could point to a much tougher fixture list than their rivals have played.
Now the fixture list looks to ease up for them and Liverpool should be far too good for a Huddersfield Town team who have struggled for goals and already suffered fairly comfortable losses to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at home.
Huddersfield Town have not scored in any of their last 6 home games in the Premier League and the style of play should be one that Liverpool are comfortable dealing with. That proved to be the case last season as Liverpool won both League games by the same 3-0 scoreline and I think it would be some surprise if Liverpool are not able to win here.
I think it could be more comfortable than that with Liverpool likely to match the margins both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur secured here by winning by at least two goals. Backing Liverpool on the Asian Handicap to do that is the selection as Liverpool get back to winning ways ahead of another busy week for the club.
Fantasy Star: Roberto Firmino- two of the front three were banged up on international duty but are not expected to miss out this weekend. However I will pick Roberto Firmino who scored at home and away against Huddersfield Town last season.
Alternative: Andrew Robertson- clean sheet possibility and an attacking intent from left back could see the Scottish captain find an assist too. Joe Gomez or Trent Alexander-Arnold are cheaper options in the defence, but could be one or the other this weekend.
Everton v Crystal Palace Pick: The television cameras head to Goodison Park on Sunday for a game between two clubs who will be expecting top half Premier League finishes but who have perhaps underachieved to open the season.
All of the momentum had been with Everton going into the international break as they won back to back League games while Crystal Palace had lost consecutive League games.
There has to be a little concern from Roy Hodgson that his team are not scoring as many goals as he would like and they are about to head into a four game stretch where they will play teams that finished in the top six last season.
Christian Benteke may not have been prolific for Crystal Palace over the last fifteen months, but he offers a focal point to the attack and his absence has been notable. Wilfried Zaha continues to play at a good level, but I do think he is more effective with someone like Benteke in the team and only Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City have scored fewer goals than Crystal Palace.
Everton's defensive issues may offer more chances to The Eagles, but Marco Silva's attacking intentions as a manager has also made them dangerous going forward. The side are creating plenty of chances in recent games and Everton will feel they can do the same against this Crystal Palace team despite the fact that Roy Hodgson's men have been pretty good defensively for the most part this season.
I do think Everton will get the better of Crystal Palace in this fixture and they can make it back to back home wins over their visitors having beaten them 3-1 here last season. There should be enough of an attacking threat from Everton to be able to score twice and that may not be easy for Crystal Palace to match considering their own issues in front of goal.
In their last away League game Crystal Palace struggled to contain Bournemouth and I will back Everton to win a game featuring two or more goals.
Fantasy Star: Richarlison- I like Everton's chances this weekend and the Brazilian can continue his early season form by being influential to that outcome.
Alternative: Gylfi Sigurdsson- he might be a little more expensive in the Fantasy game, but Sigurdsson has got four in four for Everton and is always a threat from set pieces.
Arsenal v Leicester City Pick: Any time a team puts together a 9 game winning run in all competitions they have to be respected and you can guarantee the players are excited about going to work.
That is what Arsenal are enjoying right now and it is going to be tough for Leicester City to slow them down, but I do think The Gunners have not been as strong as their results would indicate.
Where Arsenal have been enjoying success is the clinical finishing they have been producing in front of goal. They have some quality attacking players who are making sure that any chances are being gobbled up and that is something that may continue against Leicester City who have not been good enough defensively for Claude Puel's liking.
I do think Arsenal will produce some quality going forward, but Leicester City have to feel there are holes to expose the other way. The home team could be missing some key defenders and they have already been giving up some big chances to opponents but Arsenal have not been punished as they perhaps should have been.
Leicester City will feel they can be more clinical than some of the other clubs that Arsenal have played of late and that confidence will come from scoring at least twice in 3 straight away Premier League games. They also scored at Manchester United and have narrow losses to the 20 time English Champions and also to Liverpool this season.
In both games Leicester City have been competitive and I think they will cause Arsenal some real problems on Monday Night Football so getting the hook with the visitors on the Asian Handicap looks a good way to back a selection from this League game.
A one goal loss for Leicester City would still be a winner in that case and that will mean respecting the fact The Foxes have such a terrible record in this part of North London.
Leicester City may have lost 11 straight League games at Arsenal, but the last 5 of those have come by a single goal margin. Arsenal have needed to score in the 85th minute or later to win their last 3 at home against Leicester City and last season it was Leicester City who had been leading 2-3 here until the 83rd minute in a 4-3 defeat.
All credit has to be given to Arsenal for their strong run since the Chelsea loss in August, but Leicester City will have their chances here and I think they have enough in the final third to make sure they keep this game competitive.
Fantasy Star: Alexandre Lacazette- five consecutive League starts for Arsenal and has got three in three for The Gunners. Leads the line for a team who create plenty of chances.
Alternative: Jamie Vardy- well rested having called time on his England career and facing a team who have given up big chances defensively. The big threat for Leicester City who scored three times for them against Arsenal last season and a penalty taker too.
MY PICKS: Chelsea & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Fred (0 Units)
Bournemouth-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Cardiff City-Fulham Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Newcastle United-Brighton Both Teams to Score- No @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United + 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Wolves - 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Everton & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.30 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Leicester City + 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
October Update: 14-13-1, + 1.32 Units (56 Units Staked, + 2.36% Yield)
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