Two weeks of the Premier League might be in the books, but it has been a much more intense period than the players and the clubs are used to in normal circumstances.
Injuries and players still trying to improve their match fitness is where the majority of clubs feel they are at this stage of the season, although they only have another eight days before the UEFA Nations League returns.
You can't win the title at this stage, but teams won't want to be dropping too many points through the first four weeks of the new season and that does put pressure on the managers to get things right. The same can be said for Fantasy Football managers and I know how quickly things can change after a miserable GW2 following a reasonable start to the campaign.
I will have more thoughts about GW3 below following my thoughts on the Premier League games to be played from Saturday through to Monday.
Brighton v Manchester United Pick: Early goals were key for Manchester United in their 0-3 win at the Amex Stadium in June as they scored twice within the first half an hour and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping for a much more intense start to this fixture than their opening Premier League fixture of the 2020/21 season.
Previous visits to this part of the south coast had been difficult for Manchester United who lost both of their previous games at the Amex Stadium.
Those came against Chris Hughton's Brighton who have tended to be a little more disciplined defensively compared with Graham Potter's team. That isn't to say that Brighton are not enjoying success under Potter, but it also means they are perhaps a little easier to play against for the top clubs who will know that their hosts won't sit deep, but instead will come out and try and get on top of them.
Chelsea punished Brighton 1-3 here, but it was only the extra quality in attacking areas which made them more clinical in a competitive game. The home team missed a big chance to equalise for a second time that day which may have changed the course of the fixture, but you can't ignore the fact that Brighton have lost to Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea at home since June.
The home team will create chances and get forward, but they do leave spaces to exploit at the back and this Manchester United team should be capable of doing that. I don't buy the excuses for the performance last week and I would expect the manager to pick a stronger team than he did for the defeat to Crystal Palace and that pace in the forward areas have benefit from the spaces Manchester United tend to get away from home.
They have created chances in their recent away games and Manchester United have won 4 on a row on their travels in the Premier League and scored at least twice in each. Three of those wins came against clubs that finished in the bottom seven and I do think Manchester United will appreciate the way Brighton will approach this game.
Brighton have created chances of their own in defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea and they might have deserved more in those games. However, they have been porous at the back and I will look for Manchester United to get their Premier League campaign off and running with a win in a game that features at least two goals.
Crystal Palace v Everton Pick: There are only five teams who have won both Premier League games played so far this season and two of them are meeting on Saturday in a big game at Selhurst Park. Both Crystal Palace and Everton would love to keep the momentum going before the international break which will begin at the end of next weekend and I think this could be a better game than the layers think it may be.
The first point I have to highlight is that the last two games between these clubs at Selhurst Park have both ended goalless so there is every chance they cancel each other out again.
We have yet to see a draw in the Premier League, but 5 of the last 7 between Crystal Palace and Everton on this ground have ended that way.
It definitely makes Everton feel plenty short to win here at close to odds on and I do think Crystal Palace will be very confident having deservedly beaten both Southampton and Manchester United. Both of those clubs ended last season in much better form than Everton, while the latter benefited from a first half sending off last weekend in their 5-2 success over West Brom.
Everton are playing well though and they are creating chances, but Jordan Pickford feels like a liability in goal and that will always give opponents a chance... Just ask Fleetwood Town who took advantage of a couple of mistakes to give Everton a scare in the League Cup Third Round during the week.
Crystal Palace were short of goals last season, but Roy Hodgson has moved to try and fix that problem and his team have looked very dangerous going forward in both League games played. Injuries at the back have seen Southampton and Manchester United create chances too, but Hodgson may feel the best form of defence is attack in their current state.
With that in mind I do think Crystal Palace will get forward and look to challenge an Everton backline which has conceded twice in each of their two games played over the last week. Roy Hodgson's team have been resting and preparing for this game and I do think they have enough in the final third to get on the scoreboard in this one despite the poor recent history of goals in this fixture.
The last two may have finished goalless between the clubs at Selhurst Park, but Everton have not been short of chances and their extra quality signed in the summer will feel they can end the barren sequence. Those players have already had an impact on Everton in the first two Premier League games of this season and I do think both teams can find the net in this one with the way their first two fixtures have developed.
Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Wilfried Zaha are in form and scoring goals and I think that will help here.
This may be the first drawn game in the Premier League if recent history between the clubs is anything to go by, but this time I would expect both teams to hit the back of the net.
West Brom v Chelsea Pick: There is a real optimism about the team Chelsea are building having spent as much on young, quality players as they did in the off-season. That expenditure has raised expectations and it was perhaps no surprise to hear some fans being critical of Frank Lampard for the approach and the eventual result against Liverpool last Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
I was a little surprised by the approach myself, but for long periods it looked like Chelsea had got things right before Andreas Christensen was sent off moments before half time. Ultimately that changed the entire game and Chelsea were seen off, while Lampard will also be better judged when he has his first team healthy as possible.
Key players are going to miss out again this weekend, but Chelsea's level of opponent is not as high as it was last week. During the past few days they have hammered Barnsley in the League Cup to show what they can do when they get going and Chelsea also have a win at Brighton under their belt.
Now they are facing a West Brom team that arguably were fortunate to earn promotion to the Premier League in July and who have looked porous at the back. They have conceded eight goals in their two Premier League games, although there are factors that can't be ignored (two penalties against Leicester City and a first half sending off at Everton).
Even then you do have to worry about the defensive approach of this team and I do think Chelsea are more than capable of exposing the West Brom backline. They showed their attacking qualities in winning at Brighton and I do think The Baggies have shown a much greater vulnerability in their opening games.
Leicester City ended up with a comfortable win at The Hawthorns on the opening weekend and ultimately I think Chelsea will be able to do the same. Kai Havertz scored three times during the week, but it may be the turn of Timo Werner to announce himself in England and I think the visitors cover the Asian Handicap in the victory.
Burnley v Southampton Pick: There was a real sense of expectation around Southampton both in reality and in fantasy terms ahead of the new season, but it has been a very poor start for the team. Ralph Hasenhuttl might be bemoaning a bit of poor luck/finishing, but Southampton have to be a lot better defensively if they are not going to be dragged into another relegation scrap this season.
It was some really shoddy work being done by the defenders last week in the 2-5 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, but Southampton exited the League Cup in the Second Round and that means they have had a week to prepare for this fixture.
The manager will have wanted to make use of all that time having seen his team lose twice to Burnley last season in the Premier League. Burnley did not create a lot of chances to produce five goals, but this has become a feature of Sean Dyche's teams and I do think the performances over the last week shows they are a club that will be safe in the Premier League despite the rumours about the manager not being happy at Turf Moor.
Burnley scored twice at Leicester City last weekend, albeit in a losing effort, and they managed two more goals at Millwall in the League Cup to progress to the Fourth Round. I would be a little concerned by the fact that Burnley have not scored more than a single goal in any of their last 6 games at Turf Moor in all competitions, especially as they have only earned a single clean sheet in that time, and perhaps that is why they are the underdog here.
I can't be having Burnley as an underdog against an opponent that has lost 3 games in a row, but I also think this could be a game that continues the early trend in the Premier League over the first two weeks of the season. That trend has seen a huge amount of goals being scored in the English top flight as teams perhaps struggle with their fitness levels after a shortened pre-season than usual.
Both games between these clubs produced three goals last season and the game at Turf Moor saw both create chances. Neither have defended as well as they would have liked to open the season, but I think the managers will be impressed with some of the attacking elements to their game and that may lead to a higher than expected amount of goals.
Sheffield United v Leeds United Pick: The Yorkshire derby games between Sheffield United and Leeds United were intense and competitive two seasons ago as both chased down a spot in the Premier League.
Both teams earned narrow away wins, but chances were created by both sides and that will encourage Chris Wilder and Marcelo Bielsa. Since their last meeting both clubs have now returned to English Football's top flight and there will be a real belief that both have enough to survive at this level.
The opening games have been more positive for Leeds United than Sheffield United, but Chris Wilder will not be panicking just yet. His Sheffield United team may have lost 5 League games in a row, but The Blades have remained competitive and arguably deserved more from their 1-0 defeat at Villa Park on Monday night.
They were not helped by the relatively early sending off, while Dean Henderson's return to Manchester United is also a blow to the club. A lack of goals will be a concern for Chris Wilder considering Sheffield United have scored once in their last 5 Premier League games and only managed 39 in total through the entirety of the 2019/20 season.
Only four clubs managed fewer goals than The Blades, but they should find spaces to exploit against Leeds United who have conceded seven times in two League games back in the top flight. That will encourage Sheffield United who have created chances and I do think they can pose problems which could make a mockery of the fact that Chris Wilder's men are the home underdog.
You have to respect Leeds United under their current manager though and the week to prepare is something Marcelo Bielsa will have made full use of. Having Pablo Hernandez sidelined is a blow, but Leeds United have shown they have pace and ability in the final third which will give them a chance against any opponent they face in the Premier League.
Defensively there are holes and I do think at the moment Leeds United feel they need to outscore teams to earn points. It should encourage an open and entertaining fixture on Sunday and I think the two teams may surprise the layers by combining for at least three goals.
My very narrow lean is with Sheffield United, but having Henderson return to Manchester United and losing John Egan to suspension tempers the enthusiasm for the home team. We saw The Blades look vulnerable when the key players were not in action for them at the end of last season and I think both teams are likely to hit the net in this one.
Sheffield United and Leeds United should both be pushing for the three points though and I think that will help produce a fixture with at least three goals scored.
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Pick: This is an important game for both Jose Mourinho and Steve Bruce as they look to manage their teams through the very busy first month of the 2020/21 season.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have both earned 3 points from a possible 6 in the Premier League and both enjoyed Cup wins during the week. There is another similarity in that both clubs have lost their first home Premier League game of the season, and they have won more away games than at home so far.
That might encourage Newcastle United who beat Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 here last season and who have won 4 of their last 6 visits to a fixture hosted by Spurs. Steve Bruce is likely going to set his deep up to be very cautious defensively and make Tottenham Hotspur work for everything they get, and he certainly won't want to make the same start as last Sunday when his team were 0-2 down to Brighton inside seven minutes.
A strong win in the League Cup and a very winnable tie coming up should give Newcastle United confidence they can put a strong run together before the next international break. However, the defensive injuries are adding up and Newcastle United have allowed their two Premier League opponents to create some very good chances.
Now they have to deal with a Tottenham Hotspur team who were playing in Macedonia on Thursday evening and who are coming off 3 pretty good wins. The travelling is a concern, but Jose Mourinho was able to rotate his squad to some extent and that should mean the players are fresh enough to compete in this Premier League fixture.
Tottenham Hotspur have been creating chances in all of their games played so far this season and they have players like Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane in fine form in front of goal. I think that will give them the edge against something of a bogey team in North London, especially as Tottenham Hotspur won 1-3 at St James' Park in July.
I do think Steve Bruce's men can have an impact on the match too, but my feeling is that Spurs will have a little too much against a team missing their starting goalkeeper. The quick turnaround from the Europa League Qualifier is not ideal for Tottenham Hotspur, but they can edge to the victory on Sunday.
Manchester City v Leicester City Pick: This is one of the big Premier League games of the weekend as Manchester City and Leicester City look to show they are ready for the long and tough schedule of fixtures that are in front of them over the next several months.
Both clubs finished in the top five last season and there will be some feeling in the Midlands that Leicester City can use the experiences of last season to take another step forward this time around. Joining the title race might be too much for Leicester City, but the early season form is encouraging and Brendan Rodgers will want his team to show the rest of the Premier League what they are about in this one.
They were beaten in both Premier League games against Manchester City last season though and Pep Guardiola's men have come out this season with a pretty strong performance in seeing off Wolves at Molineux.
While more signings may yet be made, Manchester City know they have to be a lot more consistent this season if they are going to close the gap to Champions Liverpool. The win at Wolves shows the team are going to be up for the fight and I do think they will largely enjoy playing Leicester City even though the latter are going to be dangerous on the counter attack.
Manchester City did create a lot of chances in their two wins over Leicester City in the Premier League last season and they look like they will have too much for them again. As good as Leicester City have looked in their opening two games, they are now playing a team that is much stronger than West Brom or Burnley.
The home team should be able to come through with a relatively straight forward win by the time this one is in the books.
West Ham United v Wolves Pick: There will be some serious testing done at West Ham United in the coming days after two players and David Moyes came back with positive tests for Coronavirus ahead of their League Cup tie played last Tuesday.
A severe outbreak could see this live game on Sunday cancelled and postponed for another time, but for now the players will be focusing on their training and looking for a first League point of the 2020/21 season.
The Hammers will actually be looking for their first League points against Wolves since the latter returned to the top flight. In fact West Ham United have not scored in any of the 4 games played against Wolves in that time and it won't be easy to change that here.
However West Ham United have to be encouraged by the away performance at Arsenal last Saturday and they are a team that can create chances. They will be going up against a Wolves team that are transitioning the squad a little bit, but who continue to perform at a high level which makes them very difficult to beat.
In saying that, Wolves have not been watertight at the back and that should give West Ham United a chance to at least finally break their streak of failing to score against this opponent. They are a threat from set pieces and there is some pace in the West Ham United ranks, although defensively they remain vulnerable.
Wolves have shown they are certainly capable going forward and I would be surprised if they are not able to score here. They are favourites deservedly, but I do think West Ham United can finally break down the Wolves door for the first time since January 2016 and so expecting both teams to hit the net looks to the be the most likely outcome here.
Fulham v Aston Villa Pick: Two seasons ago Fulham had returned to the Premier League and made huge investments in the transfer market during the off-season to prepare for the top flight.
Things went horribly wrong for them and they were going to be inevitably relegated when Scott Parker was appointed as caretaker manager. He impressed enough to be given the permanent role and has helped Fulham earn promotion back to the Premier League at the firs time of asking, but a shortened off-season and not having the same policy as two years ago has made them favourites for relegation along with West Brom.
The early indications are not good as Fulham have looked miserable defensively, but they deserved more than they got at Leeds United last weekend. Scott Parker will be looking to build on that performance, although Fulham only won 6 of 19 home games at this level two seasons ago and look like one of the weaker teams in the Division.
In saying all that, I am not sure what Aston Villa have done to deserve favouritism in an away game in the Premier League. They were fortunate to eventually beat Sheffield United last week despite their visitors playing with ten men for the majority of the fixture, and I am not going to place a lot of stock in their two League Cup wins at Burton Albion and Bristol City.
Aston Villa have made some decent signings, but this is a team who won just 2 of 19 away games in the Premier League last season and were beaten at Bournemouth and Watford, two teams who eventually were relegated to the Championship.
Since the three month break, Aston Villa have played better all around, but there is still a feeling that they don't score enough goals. They have purchased players to improve on the numbers, but I don't think Aston Villa are deserving of being away favourites at any ground in the Premier League.
Fulham have a strong record at home against this opponent and there was enough to like from them in their 4-3 loss at Leeds United. Defensively there will need to be improvements, but a fixture like this one might not see Fulham fully exploited anyway and being able to get behind the home underdog looks like the right approach.
The draw could be a real player in this one, but I would be surprised if Fulham were to be beaten. A defeat and they might already want to plan on how to prepare for life back in the Championship before the fans are invited back into the Stadiums.
Liverpool v Arsenal Pick: These two teams will become familiar with one another over the coming days having already met at Wembley last month and having two games to come in the Premier League and the League Cup Fourth Round at Anfield.
There are likely to be differing line ups used for the League and League Cup fixtures, but that won't lessen the desire of the two managers to oversee two statement wins.
Arsenal are clearly a side progressing under Mikel Arteta and they have been clinical under the Spaniard, even if the defensive performances have perhaps not been as strong as some of the results have indicated.
Those defensive performances will be tested to the fullest by a Liverpool team that scored 52 Premier League goals at Anfield last season and have already produced four in the win over Leeds United. Their victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge underlines why so many believe Liverpool can defend the Premier League title and they were able to rest many of their key players in the 2-7 win at Lincoln City in the League Cup on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta will also restore some key players, and his team are well drilled and can cause problems with the pace they have on the counter attack. Their wins over Liverpool in the Premier League and Community Shield under Arteta will only increase the confidence at a ground where Arsenal have suffered some heavy losses in recent seasons.
I do think Arsenal will be able to get forward and test a Liverpool team that have conceded at least three times in their last 2 Premier League games here. However, I also think Liverpool are not going to be as wasteful in front of goal as they were when losing 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in July.
On another day Liverpool would have won very comfortably with the level of performance produced and I think that may be the case at the end of this one. While I don't underestimate Arsenal in their current form, Liverpool are still considerably stronger and look to have the goals and the confidence to hurt a team that does give more chances than the overall numbers being conceded will suggest.
Liverpool have scored at least twice in 9 of their last 10 Premier League games at Anfield and I think they will get to that mark in a winning effort on Monday Night Football.
MY PICKS: Manchester United to Win & Over 1.5 Goals
Crystal Palace-Everton Both Teams to Score- YES
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap
Burnley-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals
Sheffield United-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals
Tottenham Hotspur & Over 1.5 Goals
Tottenham Hotspur & Over 1.5 Goals
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap
West Ham United-Wolves Both Teams to Score- YES
Fulham + 0.25 Asian Handicap
Liverpool & Over 1.5 Goals
Fantasy Football GameWeek 3
GW2 was pretty brutal for a lot of people, but I have to be most disappointed with my late decision to bring in Marcus Rashford instead of Heung-Min Son.
It might not have changed the week into a really strong one, but it certainly would have made up for the fact that the majority of my starters offered nothing of significance.
In hindsight it looked an obvious miss, but I never would have expected Son to score four goals away from home while Rashford and Manchester United struggled as badly as they did.
After watching much of the Southampton collapse against Tottenham Hotspur I did really consider changing the plan and going with the early Wild Card... But instead of making a rash decision I stepped away, had a coffee and a spot of lunch and ultimately waited to see how the rest of the weekend would go.
It would be very easy to panic that some of my early differentials have not had the impact I would have wanted, but the underlying stats have given me enough belief to stick with the idea of not using the Wild Card this side of the next international break.
One decision I did want to make on Monday evening was removing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and bring in Kevin De Bruyne and to avoid waiting for the Belgian to increase in price. Fortunately that did end up being a transfer made before that was the case, although the unfortunate part is that De Bruyne picked up a slight worry against Bournemouth in the League Cup and is potentially going to miss out.
I won't lie, I have been frustrated by Che Adams for a second season in a row as he continues to find himself at the end of glorious chances but for some reason is attempting to hit through goalkeepers rather than either side of him. He isn't the best finisher, but the overall performances should mean Adams continues to earn a start for Southampton who have fixtures that can still be taken advantage of.
My patience will be running thin though and I am looking for more consistency from the eleven being picked- my bottom line at the moment is I picked a squad I believed in through the first four GWs which included using my transfers and I am sticking with the plan despite the kick in the teeth I took last week.
Hopefully the restraint will be rewarded over the next three days.
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