Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football GameWeek 10 Picks 2021 (October 30-November 1)

I'll be honest, I have not watched one minute of football since around 625pm last Sunday when concluding watching my team leave the pitch at Old Trafford.

There really is nothing more to say as we get ready to begin the week which will conclude with the November international break.

Leicester City v Arsenal Pick: The first game of the Premier League weekend sees Arsenal once again in front of the television cameras as both them and their hosts, Leicester City, look to continue what has been a positive run of form.

Both of these teams progressed to the League Cup Quarter Final during the week and both Leicester City and Arsenal have been moving up the Premier League standings after disappointing starts to the season. That will have given the players plenty of belief as they look to produce another big week before the latest international break sees the players jet off to represent their countries.

There is much to like about the performances of both Leicester City and Arsenal over the last month, but I think the home advantage for The Foxes can be important.

They were beaten twice by Arsenal at the King Power Stadium last season, but those were fixtures behind closed doors and it is different with crowds. Leicester City have won their last 3 at home against Arsenal with the supporters inside the King Power Stadium and the recent Arsenal unbeaten run has been built on home form.

Arsenal were fortunate to win at Burnley and to avoid defeat at Brighton, but Leicester City are scoring plenty of goals. Defensively there are questions for Leicester City to answer, but Arsenal have not offered the same attacking threat away from the Emirates Stadium as they have at home.

There is quality and pace in the counter attack which could make Arsenal dangerous, but Leicester City look to have turned a corner. This should be a competitive fixture, but Leicester City's attacking consistency could prove to be the difference on the day and I think they can be backed on the Asian Handicap to earn a vital three points.

Burnley v Brentford Pick: Over the years, this has been the kind of match that Burnley have found a way to win and it is those results which have ensured they have spent a number of seasons in the Premier League.

They have yet to win in the 2021/22 Premier League season, but Burnley have picked up a few points over the last month which has kept them just about in touch with those above them. The fixture list looks to be getting much kinder for Burnley in the weeks ahead, but they did fail to beat Norwich City here and that means they have not won any of their last 14 Premier League games at Turf Moor.

The team are not creating as many chances as they would like and Burnley have not been as intense defensively either. Put that together and it is very difficult to find wins, while it also leaves them potentially vulnerable to a defeat this weekend.

Brentford arrive having won their last 3 away games in all competitions and even the two Premier League losses in recent weeks is not expected to dent the belief of this squad. They deserved a lot more than they got against Chelsea and Leicester City and being able to compete with those clubs means Brentford will feel very confident going into a set of fixtures which look much more winnable on paper.

They have played really well at Wolves and West Ham United in winning efforts there and Brentford look like they are capable of making it three Premier League away wins in a row. David Raya will be a big absentee for Brentford, but the win at Stoke City in the League Cup during the week shows this is a team that will take things a game at a time and will not allow defeats to affect them too much.

Winning at Burnley is never easy, but Sean Dyche's men have lost 6 of their last 8 Premier League games at Turf Moor. The chances that Brentford are likely to create coupled with the pretty decent defensive shape they can produce means the away team look a good team to back on the Asian Handicap to secure a vital three points.

Liverpool v Brighton Pick: Counter attacking at its finest helped Manchester City beat Brighton comfortably at the Amex Stadium last weekend and that has to be a worry for Graham Potter after seeing how efficient Liverpool had been going forward in their big win at Old Trafford.

Unsurprisingly the layers all feel that Liverpool should be big favourites to win this game, but Jurgen Klopp will be reminding his players that it was Brighton who took 4 points out of their two League meetings last season.

Brighton were one of a number of teams who won games at Anfield in the Premier League, but this Liverpool team is flying and it is going to be a challenge to contain them. However, even at their best, Liverpool have not really blown Brighton away at Anfield and this could be a tough fixture if the home team are expecting to just need to turn up and roll over The Seagulls.

I do think recent games involving Brighton have seen the team just struggle when it comes to their defensive assignments and that is something that Liverpool can exploit. They have conceded six goals over the last seven days and I think Liverpool are well rested and they should be able to pick up from where they left off last Sunday.

Liverpool have been creating chances, but they are not nearly as defensively secure as some believe after one victory. Graham Potter may feel the best defence for his team is getting forward and challenging Liverpool, but that could leave them vulnerable here and the feeling is that the home team will win by a couple of goals on the day.

It won't be a straight-forward win, but Liverpool's attacking threat can see them create enough to put Brighton away and earn revenge for the defeat here in February.

Manchester City v Crystal Palace Pick: There are as many points between 4th place and 10th place in the Premier League as there are between 4th place and 3rd placed Manchester City and the feeling is that the top three Premier League clubs are significantly stronger than the rest of the Division.

That doesn't mean they are going to win every game against those further down the standings, as Southampton proved by drawing here in the Premier League, but it does mean that Crystal Palace are going to have to handle the pressure that Manchester City will exert on them.

Patrick Vieira's style has been pleasing to watch and Crystal Palace have caused problems for West Ham United and Arsenal away from home. Better finishing and better concentration would have seen Crystal Palace operating much further up the Premier League table, but that should not be something that stops Manchester City from showing their class.

Crystal Palace have also been beaten at Chelsea and Liverpool this season and both of those fixtures ended 3-0 in favour of the home team. The new style does leave Crystal Palace a bit more open defensively than they would have been under Roy Hodgson and Manchester City have shown they can create chances and score plenty of goals even without a recognised number nine for many fixtures.

The 1-4 win at Brighton underlined the point and Manchester City should have too much for Crystal Palace here. The key for the visitors has to be trying to stay in the game for as long as possible, but Crystal Palace could not quite get to half time in either of the defeats at Stamford Bridge or Anfield and I think Manchester City are more likely to match those margins of victory than have to settle for a draw like they did when hosting Southampton.

This is a very big margin on the handicap, but Manchester City would have covered it twice in their 4 home League games and also managed to do that in the Champions League win over Leipzig and the League Cup win over Wycombe Wanders. Even in the victory over Burnley it would have been a push and I think the chances being created should see Manchester City produce a strong win on Saturday.

Newcastle United v Chelsea Pick: In the next few seasons, Newcastle United versus Chelsea could be a fixture that has a major impact on the destination of some of the biggest trophies in England and European Football.

However, those days are in the future and right now there is a significant gap between these squads. Newcastle United are in the bottom three and looking to avoid relegation, while Chelsea are top of the Premier League table and amongst the favourites both domestically and in the Champions League and I expect that to show up here.

Graeme Jones did help Newcastle United avoid a defeat last weekend, but they were outplayed by Crystal Palace and this is another leap in terms of quality of opponent. The club may be under new ownership, but that doesn't mean the players are much better and Newcastle United are struggling at both ends of the field.

Better finishing from Crystal Palace would have secured three points last weekend and Newcastle United cannot expect Chelsea to be as wasteful. The absence of both Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner hurts Chelsea, but they did score seven goals against Norwich City without them and they will be encouraged by seeing how easily Tottenham Hotspur scored goals here a couple of weeks ago.

Chelsea have won 2 of their last 3 fixtures at St James' Park and they have already passed tests at tougher teams than the one they will see on Saturday. Defensively they don't give a lot away and I think Chelsea will have enough quality in the final third to be able to secure a comfortable looking victory to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Watford v Southampton Pick: One of the main areas in which Claudio Ranieri will be expected to improve this Watford team is the defensive performances, but they have conceded seven goals in the two games under the veteran Italian manager. However, Watford will be heading into this weekend with a spring in the step after scoring four goals inside the final 15 minutes at Goodison Park to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 2-5 win.

It is an important three points for Watford, but Ranieri will be working his squad very hard in training this week to make sure they are harder to play against. The goals being conceded in recent home games is a worry and makes it hard for Watford to pick up the results they are going to need, but they may be playing the right opponent to try and turn that around.

Southampton have been playing some very good football under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but they have not had the consistent finishing touch to that football. Danny Ings has moved on, but Adam Armstrong has yet to really convince at this level and it has arguably been the main reason Southampton do not have more points on the board.

In saying that, Southampton might have found someone in Armando Broja who can give them a cutting edge and they did score twice in the home draw with Burnley last week. The manager will know his team deserved more than they earned that day, but he has to be encouraged by the attacking performance and Hasenhuttl will believe it can see the squad turn in a few more positive results.

The two wins over Watford a couple of seasons ago will give Southampton further belief, but I expect the home team to cause problems too and this feels like a game that should feature at least three goals. In the 2019/20 season, both League fixtures between the clubs ended with three or more goals shared out, while 3 of the last 4 at Vicarage Road between Watford and Southampton have ended the same way.

The attacking chances being created has to encourage by teams, but neither has looked that secure at the back either. Southampton may feel more hard done by when looking at recent results, but I think they are playing with confidence and both of these teams may be more effective getting forward than at the back.

It may not be the most appealing game for the neutrals, especially not on paper, but I think Watford and Southampton will produce a fixture with goals here.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United Pick: A few weeks ago, fans of both of these clubs may have been expecting to be watching a game between two high-flying teams, but both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have been involved in miserable runs.

It means both Nuno Espirito Santo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are under immense pressure going into the weekend and it really would not be a major surprise if the losing team is searching for a new manager in the near future.

Limp losses to rivals last Sunday links Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United and there is going to be some real confidence issues going into the game on Saturday. Tottenham Hotspur at least won at Burnley in the League Cup Fourth Round during the week to erase memories of the 1-0 defeat at West Ham United a few days earlier, but confidence is not going to be in the best place.

They are at least facing an opponent who might not be able to drop much lower than being humiliated at home by Liverpool and I do think the first goal is going to be massive.

Spurs have won 8 of their last 10 at home, which should be inspire them, but the first goal is going to be massive in this fixture. That goes for both teams as there are questions whether the squads are still behind the manager at the helm and I think we are going to have some big answers in front of the television cameras.

It is certainly the case for the Manchester United squad who spent much of Monday leaking stories about their dissatisfaction with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian manager likely will never be closer to the Sack without being Sacked as he was on Monday after thousands had streamed out of Old Trafford at half time in the defeat to Liverpool, but now we will get to see how the squad will react and whether they have downed tools to remove Solskjaer.

Picking a winner has so much uncertainty about it- I did think Manchester United could bounce back, but Tottenham Hotspur have been a little more organised at home and this may not be the free-scoring game some think.

Manchester United have been messy defensively in their last three games, but Tottenham Hotspur have not found the balance between attack and defence. They have not been creating a lot of chances and I do think this is a fixture which could see one of the teams fail to find the net.

Both teams have scored in 3 of the 4 away Manchester United games in the Premier League, but if the squad is no longer interested, this could be a tough fixture. Tottenham Hotspur have seen 3 of 4 home League games end with one of the teams failing to find the back of the net and I do think both managers may be looking to make sure their team is able to be much more secure defensively than they have shown over the last few games.

One of the teams failing to score is a big price and I do think that is going to be the outcome of this one with neither team looking to give to much away. Neither is good enough defensively to believe in, but there is uncertainty about the motivations of the squads and that could contribute to a tight, low-scoring fixture.

Norwich City v Leeds United Pick: Games against the top clubs are not going to determine Norwich City's future in the Premier League this season, but that should not see anyone ignore the capitulation they had at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. Losing at Chelsea is going to be an experience for many clubs this season, but losing 7-0 just puts Norwich City under the spotlight a little more as they continue to be questioned about their suitability to play at this level.

The club is pretty well run which means they have proven to be too good for the Championship, but Norwich City have not really been competitive in their last couple of seasons in the Premier League. This looks like another season in which they will be relegation without much of a fight and it is up to Daniel Farke and his players to disprove that feeling.

Norwich City have not been that good defensively and that only highlights their struggles at the other end of the field. You are not going to win matches without scoring goals and Norwich City have managed a single strike in 7 games in all competitions.

However, they will be encouraged by back to back clean sheets before the hammering at Chelsea and it is something Norwich City can build on. They did create some decent chances against Brighton, but there is a pressure on the forward players to produce the goods knowing how hard it is for Norwich City to score goals.

They could be playing Leeds United at a good time though and that is because Marcelo Bielsa's team have been struggling for goals too. Leeds United were known for their attacking intent in the Premier League last season, but they have not scored more than a single goal in any of their last 9 in all competitions, while Leeds United have not scored a single goal in 3 away games.

Patrick Bamford's absence has been a blow, but Raphinha has been struggling for fitness too and the Brazilian will be a big miss if he cannot take part this weekend. It will certainly offer Norwich City a chance to earn their first win of the season considering Leeds United have not had an away clean sheet in the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign, and I do think the visitors are plenty short to win here.

I won't deny that I feel Norwich City are the worst team in the Premier League this season, but they have created chances in home games and a single strike may be enough to secure a point. The clean sheets against Burnley and Brighton before the thumping at Chelsea are encouraging and Leeds United may be vulnerable if their key attacking players are absent in the first of two live Sunday games.

Leeds United are a shorter price than Brighton were to win here earlier this month and there is nothing in the performances of the former to suggest that should be the case. The lack of goals gives Norwich City every chance to earn a positive result and I think they can be backed on the handicap to do that.

Aston Villa v West Ham United Pick: These two teams both play in claret and blue at home and both Aston Villa and West Ham United would have gone into the season with some big expectations from the fans.

Pundits may have been a little more uncertain, but West Ham United are proving that last season was anything but a fluke and they are looking strong. The 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday has moved West Ham United into the top four and they have been playing really well out of the October international break.

The squad looks deeper than many thought and David Moyes has the players all on the same page, which has led to some very strong performances. West Ham United have been particularly impressive away from the London Stadium and I do think they are capable of backing up their League win here in February.

Selling Jack Grealish did mean there was some uncertainty about how Aston Villa would react, but Dean Smith had reinvested significant sums. The hope was that those players could make up for the sale of their top player, but Aston Villa have struggled for consistency and that is largely down to the porous defensive performances that had not been evident last season.

It has nothing to do with the sale of Jack Grealish, but instead it feels like Aston Villa have been punished for the chances they have been giving up much more than they had been in the 2020/21 season. That has led to setbacks and a number of losses already and I do think West Ham United are the superior team.

You can't really underestimate some of the quality that Aston Villa have, but they have been conceding a lot more chances than West Ham United. If that plays out the same way on Sunday, I think West Ham United have shown they can play away from the London Stadium and produce big results where needed and backing the away team to come through with a win on the handicap looks the play.

Wolves v Everton Pick: Monday Night Football will come from Molineux this weekend and both Wolves and Everton are going to be expecting to challenge for European berths at the end of this season. Neither side really reached the level of expectation last season, but new managers have come in and there have been some positives to hold onto.

Momentum has moved in different directions though.

Wolves started out with some very poor results under Bruno Lage, but the performances had been better than those results indicated. In recent weeks the results have improved markedly and they are unbeaten in 4 Premier League games during which time Wolves have picked up 10 points from a possible 12.

Finding the balance between attack and defence at home is still a work in progress for Bruno Lage, but Wolves did beat Newcastle United here last time out. They have played better in other games, but a win will have just got the team feeling positive about playing here and I think that gives Wolves an edge.

Everton did beat Wolves both at home and away in the Premier League last season, but a positive start to this season has been replaced with much tougher performances. The back to back home losses to West Ham United and Watford would have stung the fans, especially as Everton have looked really messy at the back in those two losses.

It is not what you would expect from a Rafael Benitez team, but injuries are really hurting this team. Richarlison has returned and may have more minutes in the legs this week, but being without both Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a big blow for a team looking to bounce back from two very poor outings.

They have not won any of their last 3 away games in all competitions and Everton may just be vulnerable to the pace and quality that Wolves can produce in the final third. Raul Jimenez looks to be reaching his best levels again and I think he can make the difference between the two teams.

Wolves will not have things easy, but they should be the more confident of the two teams. I expect Rafael Benitez to be working his players very hard after conceding five at home against Watford, and they should have a better defensive shape, but Wolves have put the positive results together and I think they can be backed for the three points.

MY PICKS: Leicester City 0 Asian Handicap

Brentford 0 Asian Handicap

Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap

Manchester City - 2 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Watford-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals

Tottenham Hotspur-Manchester United Both Teams to Score- NO

Norwich City + 0.5 Asian Handicap

West Ham United 0 Asian Handicap

Wolves - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 10

That will teach me for going heart over head.

Mohamed Salah was clearly the right play as the Captain last week, but I could not go against United.

That will be the last time I allow my heart to dictate how I will feel about any GW, at least until Manchester United start to act like a big club. The fact that there were no changes made following the embarrassment of last week just underlines how little the club care, and that means I will have to make sure the head rules the heart going forward.

The Egyptian will be given my Captain armband this week, but I was just as irritated with Kai Havertz who has gone into full troll mode this week.

Not only was he the only Chelsea starter that didn't earn any attacking returns from a 7-0 win over Norwich City, but he scored in the League Cup during the week to put a spotlight on his shithousery. There is almost no doubt that Salah will blank this week and Havertz will score twice at St James' Park, but that is only going to happen if I Captain the former and that has to be the right play.

Last month I did mention that I would like to roll a Free Transfer through the international break, but injuries meant that was not possible. However, I think that is likely to be the case this week with the bench capable of making up for some of the injuries my squad is currently dealing with.

I will post my full team on Twitter on Saturday before the 12:30pm kick off, but I won't be making any transfers and the starting eleven looks like it picks itself.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (November 27-30)

Games keep coming thick and fast for all those clubs involved in European Football and it is up to the rest of the Premier League to take advantage of any fatigue that those top teams are feeling.

Qualification for the Knock Out Rounds of those European competitions have been confirmed for a number of the Premier League clubs this past week which should mean more of a chance to rotate squads and ensure players are going into the next month in the best physical shape as possible.

Managers may bemoan the schedule, but the Premier League has sold itself to the broadcasters and so any complaints should be with their own clubs rather than those paying the big bucks which in turn gives the managers and the players the kind of money that they are on.

Over the coming weeks the Fantasy Football deadlines are going to be at weird times so it is something to make a note of- this week and the next Game Week are both set for a 6:30pm deadline on a Friday, but things will get more awkward as the festive period games come around.

I'll have a few words about the Fantasy Football plans for GW10 below- first let's get on with my views about the Premier League games to come over the next four days.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: The Friday night offering from the Premier League may not be the most appealing for the neutrals as Crystal Palace and Newcastle United meet and that may be especially the case if Wilfred Zaha and Callum Wilson miss out.

The former is expected to be absent for Crystal Palace, but Wilson looks set to return for Newcastle United and that should at least give Steve Bruce's men a little more threat.

Both Bruce and Roy Hodgson are likely to set their teams up to be cautious defensively and I do think it is going to be a fixture where chances and goals are going to be limited.

It is perhaps no surprise that the recent meetings between these clubs have been tight and competitive and there have been seven total goals scored in the last seven between them. Both games last season ended 1-0 in favour of the home team and I can't ignore the likelihood of that being the scoreline again on Friday.

A clean sheet for one or both clubs can't be ruled out either, although Crystal Palace are not defending as well as Roy Hodgson would like. Even then I am not sure Newcastle United are going to be able to take advantage, while the home team are clearly not the same threat going forward without Wilfred Zaha.

6 of the last 7 between the clubs have seen at least one of the teams fail to find the back of the net and that looks the most likely outcome of this fixture too.

Brighton v Liverpool Pick: The late Wednesday evening kick off followed by the early Saturday lunchtime kick off has been bothering managers of clubs involved in European competition all season. This time it is Jurgen Klopp who will have to face that fixture having heard Ole Gunnar Solskjaer complain about the same situation earlier this season.

Ultimately they can't be annoyed at the broadcasters- the Premier League has been made the wealthiest League in the world by the money accepted from the broadcasters and so they have to dance to the tune being set by them too.

The players can't allow manager's complaints to affect their own performances and so there will be no excuses for Liverpool if they can't win on the south coast this weekend. They played at home on Wednesday so tiredness should not be a factor, while rotations were made to keep some key players fit to play.

Liverpool will have their attacking players ready to go and that is important against a Brighton team who have played better than their results would indicate.

For large portions of the season it has been the lack of goals holding Brighton back rather than their defensive organisation, but it is hard to believe they can contain Liverpool. With that in mind the best defence may be attack and Brighton have pushed both Chelsea and Manchester United in League games here already this season.

Graham Potter will recognise that the Liverpool defence is vulnerable and he has his attacking options available now Leandro Trossard is back from a knock. They should get forward and cause one or two problems for their visitors, and I do feel this could be enterprising game of football from both teams.

Liverpool have not been at their very best away from home this season, but the fixture list has not been that kind either. Draws at Everton and Manchester City will be seen as positive results and I do think they will have enough in the final third on Saturday to earn the points.

The approach from the home manager should mean Brighton are doing a lot more than simply trying to contain Liverpool and so the most likely outcome is an away win in a game that features at least two goals.

Manchester City v Burnley Pick: We have yet to really see Manchester City at their very best in front of goal, but that won't be much comfort to Burnley.

Pep Guardiola insisted the goals will come for his team after a narrow win at Olympiacos when Manchester City were wasteful in front of goal, but he may only have been saying that knowing Burnley were next up for his team.

That is no disrespect to Burnley, but they have been clearly second best when facing Manchester City in recent seasons. They have already lost 0-3 at home against this opponent in the 2020/21 season and Manchester Cit have beaten them 5-0 in 3 straight at the Etihad Stadium.

A well rested Manchester City team who have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero to come into the starting eleven should have too much for Burnley. While not creating as many chances as in previous seasons, Manchester City have been looking good at the back too and I do think they are going to have too much all around for Burnley.

Nick Pope is missing for the visitors which won't help and Burnley have not been scoring enough goals to believe they can threaten this Manchester City team.

A win on Monday would have been a huge boost for Burnley, but it is really difficult to imagine this fixture going any other way than a relatively routine home win.

Burnley have only scored a single goal in 6 against Manchester City and have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 Premier League games. I expect those trends will likely continue here as Manchester City secure an important three points and look to build momentum into the hectic December schedule.

Everton v Leeds United Pick: Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Bielsa arrived in England with big reputations and both have been tasked with reviving clubs who have not been reaching the levels that the fans would have been expecting in recent seasons.

Both Everton and Leeds United have been amongst the very best teams in England in recent enough memory and both have potential to at least return amongst the elite.

Leeds United fans might want to temper some of the enthusiasm for a top flight finish and the key for the club is simply consolidating their place back in the Premier League. There has been enough encouragement to believe they can do that, but Leeds United are still struggling for consistency in the final third as far as scoring goals is concerned.

The approach of their veteran manager means Leeds United will leave opportunities to be exploited at the back and the likes of Leicester City and Crystal Palace did that to devastating effect. While Leeds United were better against Arsenal, the visitors had their chances too and I think Everton will feel they can do the same.

Everton have missed some key players in recent weeks which have dented their confidence and their performance levels. They were much better against Fulham and Everton do score goals, although there has to be some concern that they have conceded at least twice in 6 straight Premier League games.

At home they have largely made up for that and I do think there will be opportunities for both teams in this fixture. The layers understand there are likely to be goals, but I would be surprised if they are wrong in this Premier League game between two teams that will want to get forward for much of the ninety minutes played.

West Brom v Sheffield United Pick: There is every chance that the losing manager from this fixture could be out of a job fairly shortly and the importance of the three points won't be lost on either Slaven Bilic or Chris Wilder.

It is hard to really have a good feeling about the direction this match will take- West Brom have struggled at both ends of the field, but the same can be said for Sheffield United and it may be the case of seeing which set of players is still behind their manager which makes the difference on the day.

Sheffield United are perhaps underachieving and arguably have deserved more than they have gotten in the early part of the season. The numbers suggest they will still turn things around, but the poor form has seeped over from the last campaign and I do think they need to 'prove it' rather than pointing at the underlying statistics.

The poor form from the end of last season was also something West Brom are dealing with which is a surprise for any team that is automatically promoted from the Championship. They did back over the line rather than really earn their own place in the Premier League and The Baggies have looked short of the quality needed to survive at this level.

Both clubs will want to get to the January transfer window in a better place and both managers may feel if they are in touch with the teams above them they can then bring in reinforcements to build the second half of the campaign.

At this moment I don't think either team can be trusted to earn a result and this one game I will be looking to analyse after the fixture is played rather than before.

Southampton v Manchester United Pick: Not many would have picked Southampton to be going into this Premier League game against Manchester United in late November sitting higher in the table than the 20 time former Champions.

It is all credit to the work done by Ralph Hasenhuttl, his staff and the players that Southampton have bounced back from a really poor start to the season to sit just outside the top four. They have looked good going forward and found the right blend defensively as Southampton have locked up 3 clean sheets in a row at St Mary's with three 2-0 wins in a row.

That makes them dangerous and Southampton have not missed a step without Danny Ings having beaten Newcastle United and then drawing at Wolves. Che Adams looks more comfortable at this level with a season under his belt and Manchester United could be short of defensive numbers which is something Southampton will look to exploit.

However it would be dangerous to not pay attention to the counter attacking ability Manchester United have and playing away from Old Trafford has seen the players rally for their better performances. Manchester United have won 9 of their last 10 away games in all competitions and have been scoring a lot of goals in those fixtures which makes them a threat to a Southampton team who do offer chances.

The Saints have been better defensively, but they have played West Brom and Newcastle United at home while picking up those clean sheets. They have also kept Everton quiet, but that was a team missing two of their first choice front three and Manchester United are much healthier and stronger than those three teams.

Games between these clubs have been competitive in recent seasons and I think this one will be the same. Goals have generally not been an issue when Southampton and Manchester United face each other with all 4 since Ralph Hasenhuttl took over on the south coast ending with both teams scoring.

3 of those 4 games have finished with at least three goals shared out and I think the attacking players on the field will help produce that here. I feel Manchester United may edge to the points, but it won't be easy and I think there will be goals at both ends of the field in this fixture which should be an attacking one for the ninety minutes.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The big game in the Premier League sees the current 3rd placed side take on the leaders on Sunday afternoon and it is the chance for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to show they are ready to compete for the title over the coming months.

The win over Manchester City was a very big one for Tottenham Hotspur last week and they have shown they can be perfectly set up to produce the goods on their travels too. Those results will be encouraging to Jose Mourinho and keeping a clean sheet in beating Manchester City will really have him believing his can help Spurs move to the next level after their achievements under Mauricio Pochettino.

I do think Tottenham Hotspur had to ride their luck at times in the win over Manchester City and in recent games they have perhaps had the fortune on their side. It is a positive winning games when perhaps not at your complete best, but Tottenham Hotspur are going to have to be very good to beat this Chelsea team.

Frank Lampard's team are flying at the moment as they continue to score goals but also look a lot more balanced defensively. Injuries are clearing up which is giving the manager plenty of options and they do look like they have goals from many areas which makes Chelsea very, very dangerous.

Unlike Tottenham Hotspur I do think Chelsea have yet to really have a stand out win with their biggest game ending in a home defeat to Liverpool. A draw at Manchester United was a decent result, but Tottenham Hotspur have won at Old Trafford and beaten Manchester City so perhaps will feel they have proved their credentials a little more than their hosts.

I am not sure that is going to matter though and especially not when you think Chelsea did the Premier League double over Chelsea last season as Frank Lampard got the better of Jose Mourinho. It should be a really good game, but my feeling is that Chelsea are perhaps going to be the more positive and that may lead to the points.

Tottenham Hotspur should be very dangerous on the counter attack, but they have lost a key player in Toby Alderweireld and I am not sure they can continue to soak up the pressure and hope teams are not clinical in the final third. As good as Manchester City are, their attacking issues have been well documented in the 2020/21 season but that is not a problem for Chelsea who have been scoring goals for fun over the last month.

I expect this will be a tough, competitive fixture, but my feeling is that Chelsea are going to nick the points at Stamford Bridge. I think they are going to have the better chances and with Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz likely going to be involved that they won't be as wasteful as the likes of Burnley, West Brom and Manchester City have been against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal v Wolves Pick: The last game on Sunday in the Premier League comes from the Emirates Stadium as mid-table Arsenal and Wolves look for a positive result to take them further up the League standings. Both managers have to be a little disappointed with their current positions, but they will also feel their current teams are a work in progress.

It would be a real surprise if this is a fixture which produces a lot of goals as both Arsenal and Wolves have been struggling for consistency in the final third. Neither is creating a lot of chances and that has meant a lack of goals being scored too.

Arsenal have failed to score in their last 2 Premier League games at home and have ended on the losing side both times. They have improved defensively, but not enough to believe they are going to have a host of clean sheets and I do think that could be an issue for them going forward.

They are simply not getting forward in the manner fans have become accustomed to seeing and so Arsenal always feel a short price to win games for me.

On the other hand Wolves have hardly set the scoreboard alight and they have failed to score in 2 of their last 3 away Premier League games. They were clearly second best against Leicester City and West Ham United which does make it hard to believe in them, but Wolves are a tough team to break down when at their best and I do think the return of Conor Coady is a huge boost for them.

Wolves and Arsenal have played some very competitive games since the former returned to the Premier League and both games at the Emirates Stadium have finished 1-1. Late goals have secured those draws and I do think this one will be another fixture that could easily end with the points shared out.

A well rested Wolves team could potentially make it three wins in a row for the visitors in the Premier League on this ground, and I do feel backing the away team with the start is the way to go. It would be a disappointing result for Wolves to lose and I think they are solid enough to contain a goal-shy Arsenal which should be enough to secure a point at the very least.

Leicester City v Fulham Pick: Those teams involved in the Europa League look to make short work of their Group Stages because they are very likely to be given a Thursday-Monday-Thursday schedule in these Covid-19 times.

This week it is Leicester City being asked to do that, but the draw in Portugal on Thursday means they have secured their spot in the Last 32 of the Europa League. They are likely to win the Group and Brendan Rodgers will be pleased he got some rest in for some of his key players.

The goals conceded since the November international break is a concern for Leicester City, but they should not be expecting the same threat from Fulham as Liverpool and Sporting Braga have provided. While Fulham are showing some signs of improvement, they are still struggling for enough goals and they are conceding too many.

Away from home Fulham have shown some stubbornness of late, but Leicester City are a team who can be very dangerous going forward. I expect the home team to have too much in the final third even though they have suffered some disappointing results at home and only have a Penalty scored in 3 at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.

That has to be a concern for Brendan Rodgers, but a returning James Maddison is the key to unlocking teams and I think that is important for the home team who perhaps rely on the counter attack a little too much.

Leicester City do have 3 clean sheets in a row at home and Fulham have not found a consistency in the final third to suggest they can break that streak for The Foxes. However I do think they have a threat which means Leicester City will have to try and get forward to make sure there is not a late twist in the fixture and that should see them win a game which features at least two goals.

Late goals saw Leicester City beat Fulham 3-1 when these teams last met two seasons ago and I think a late one might be needed to secure the points in this one too.

West Ham United v Aston Villa Pick: The last game of the Premier League weekend has all the makings of a really good one with both West Ham United and Aston Villa overachieving early in the campaign.

West Ham United and Aston Villa are separated by a single place and a single point and I do think this fixture is going to be as closely contested as the two draws they played out last season.

Michail Antonio and Ross Barkley are big misses for both teams and perhaps takes away some of the attacking element they are bringing to the table. However West Ham United have shown they can cope without their talisman and Aston Villa created enough chances against Brighton last week to believe they will be able to cope.

Both teams are looking sharp going forward and they are dangerous from set pieces so I am expecting more goals than we saw when they faced each other in the 2019/20 season. There were chances created in both of those games, but I think West Ham United and Aston Villa have improved this time around which should mean better and more efficient attacking football being on display.

A 1-1 scoreline can't be ruled out, but David Moyes and Dean Smith will be targeting more than that so I don't think either team will settle. In recent games both have been creating plenty, but perhaps not looking completely convincing at the back and their opponents have the talent and quality to expose any issues.

An early goal would certainly get this fixture going and I think there will be at least three goals shared out and not only because I have three or four Fantasy players involved in this one either.

MY PICKS: Crystal Palace-Newcastle United BTTS NO

Liverpool & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester City Win to Nil

Everton-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals

Southampton-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals

Chelsea - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Wolves + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals

West Ham United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 10

The Fantasy Football season is still one I am very interested in even though the way the Premier League have decided to broadcast the games continue to irritate me.

I would have much preferred the 3pm slot on a Saturday to feature a number of League games and they could have been broadcasted on the various channels Sky and BT Sport hold, but the one game per time slot does take away some of the enjoyment of the FPL game.

Now you have to really wait and see how the weekend shapes up whereas you could at least have a bit of a feel for any GameWeek on any given Saturday previously. We are going to have to deal with this situation through December as the fans continue to wait to return to Football grounds in any kind of number and my biggest fear is that the Premier League will look to use the Spanish model of scheduling League games going forward.

GameWeek 9 was not the best for my team, but I did mention a short term pain for a long term gain- it did not help that Jack Grealish did nothing as my Captain except get himself booked, but the return could have been a lot worse if not for the Chelsea clean sheet and both Diogo Jota and Che Adams bringing back some decent returns.

But what did I mean by short term pain? I removed Christian Pulisic in favour of Tomas Soucek and that means I have the spare cash to bring in a Manchester City player as I indicated I would last week.

Manchester City have not really played as well as they would have liked going forward, but they are capable of much more and the fixture list looks extremely positive over the coming weeks. Home games against Burnley, Fulham and West Brom can't be ignored and you would think Manchester City are going to get things turned around in the final third.

The bigger issue has to be Pep roulette- can you honestly predict which players will play the majority of minutes in that time? I would have thought Sergio Aguero would have been a good shout, but he is only recently back from an injury and instead the best assets look to be Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.

Some have tipped up Joao Cancelo who has been playing well, but Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko can play at left back so I am not sure about his playing time either!

Last week I suggested it may be time to take the first hit of the season to double up on the Manchester City assets with those fixtures in mind, but I am unconvinced now.

My decision is likely going to come down to KDB or Sterling coming in with Leandro Trossard, but it is one I will think about right up until the 6:30pm deadline. Whoever I pick is likely to go in as my Captain this week and the decision to hold Mohamed Salah last week looks to have been a correct one too.

Even now I won't rule out a hit, but again I will be thinking through the scenarios until the deadline is set to be hit.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (October 25-27)

The third round of Group games are in the books in both the Champions League and Europa League and it was a very big week for all of the Premier League clubs.

Seven matches were played and the English clubs won all seven which means they are all in strong positions to book their places in the Knock Out Rounds of those competitions and possibly ahead of the final Match Day of Group games too. That is important as managers and players will be looking for any kind of rest they can earn in December during the busy festive period so expect all of those clubs looking to put another three points on the board in the rematches of the Match Day 3 fixtures on Match Day 4.

There are a couple of weeks between those European fixtures and in that time we have a couple of League games to come as well as the League Cup Fourth Round during the week between those sets of fixtures.

Below I have my selections for the weekend football, which begins on Friday, as well as a brief look at GW10 of the Fantasy Football season.


Southampton v Leicester City Pick: The Premier League weekend opens up with a Friday Night Football offering from the south coast as Southampton prepare to take on Leicester City. The two teams might be on opposite ends of the Premier League table, but I think it could be an entertaining affair with both Southampton and Leicester City capable of creating chances but not always being the most convincing at the back.

That has certainly been the case for Southampton who continue to be let down by defensive errors while they have long been a popular 'Both Teams to Score' choice. 17 of the last 18 Premier League games played at St Mary's have ended with that being the outcome and I have little reason to think it won't be the case on Friday with the way Southampton have been performing.

Leicester City might have something to say about that with a decent defensive team capable of springing out on the counter attack. However they have conceded in 12 straight away Premier League games and that includes all 9 played under Brendan Rodgers. In fact Leicester City have only had 2 clean sheets all season and one of those was against ten man Newcastle United, while the other was thanks to a very dubious decision to disallow a Wolves goal on the opening weekend.

This all seems to be lost on the layers who are offering up close to odds against quotes on there being at least three goals shared out on Friday. I know Leicester City are not a prolific goal-scoring team, but they do like getting forward and I would not be surprised if Southampton help out with more defensive mistakes, while The Saints have been creating plenty of chances under Ralph Hasenhuttl and will be looking to exploit the lack of clean sheets their visitors have had on their travels.

4 of the last 5 Premier League games between these clubs have featured at least three goals share out. The last 4 at St Mary's between Southampton and Leicester City have done the same and there hasn't been a lack of goals in their home/away fixtures respectively this season.

A rainy day and the potential of a 1-1 scoreline is the biggest threat to this selection going wrong, but I do think both managers will be keen in being positive to earn the three points. It should gel into a decent football game on Friday night and I am backing at least three goals to be shared out.


Manchester City v Aston Villa Pick: The conditions in Manchester on Saturday might be the biggest hindrance to Manchester City when they host Aston Villa with heavy rain expected around the time this game kicks off. That will settle down during the ninety minutes and I think it is going to be a very difficult day for the visitors especially after seeing the kind of form Manchester City have displayed in the last seven days.

Comfortable wins over Crystal Palace and Atalanta have seen Manchester City score seven goals, while they are now facing an Aston Villa team who have had some real problems at the back. Those should be exposed by the levels Manchester City have produced throughout the season, although the real question mark remains in defensive areas as Manchester City continue to struggle to make up for the losses of Vincent Kompany and Aymeric Laporte.

Teams are creating chances against Manchester City and I do think Aston Villa's approach will see them do the same. Brighton came here earlier in the season and did have opportunities, although the approach does mean more spaces for Manchester City to expose as they did that day in a 4-0 win.

Aston Villa do not have a very good record at the Etihad Stadium in recent visits, but the last of those was over three years ago and Dean Smith won't be worrying about that. He has shown he wants his Aston Villa team to be positive and I do think there is every chance they can score at the Etihad this weekend.

If they do it will make the Asian Handicap look very big and one of the few times I might want to oppose a rampant Manchester City team. Pep Guardiola's one match in charge of this fixture did end 4-0 to Manchester City, but they will need to match that margin for a full payout here on the main Asian Handicap line.

However, I do think there might be some juice in playing the slightly adjusted line in favour of Manchester City this weekend. That will offer a full payout with a win by three or more goals and I do think they can match the tally that both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have managed in home games against Aston Villa this season.

While I do think Villa will score this weekend, I also have seen a team who give up hatfuls of chances and facing the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling is a huge challenge for them. Those three players have combined for six of the seven Manchester City goals in the past week and I do think the team will be chomping at the bit to close the gap on Liverpool with another strong showing here.

Pep Guardiola won't have forgotten the last Premier League result at home and I think his team will prove they have too many goal threats for Aston Villa to manage on the day. If they fall behind like they did on Tuesday it could be very difficult to surpass this line, but Manchester City scoring first should see them come through with a comfortable win in an entertaining affair that Aston Villa will contribute to with their own positive approach.


Brighton v Everton Pick: A lack of goals looks to be holding back both Brighton and Everton who are sitting inside the bottom six of the Premier League table when they meet on Saturday.

They come into this fixture in contrasting moods as a late goal secured the three points for Everton in a 2-0 win last time out, while Brighton lost a point when conceding deep into injury time against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The venue is all important here when you consider the struggles Everton have had on their travels. A lack of goals has to be a concern, but they did create chances at Bournemouth and Burnley which should bode well for them.

Brighton have been stronger at home and could easily have three wins here already having been the better team in draws with West Ham United and Burnley before hammering Tottenham Hotspur. A progressive side under Graham Potter, I do think Brighton will get forward and cause problems here and the only game in which they have failed to score at home was the one in which they were reduced to ten men after half an hour against Southampton.

Yerry Mina being potentially ruled out will leave Everton short at the back and I do think Brighton can exploit that, but the latter will have their own chances. With Potter's style, Brighton are not as watertight defensively and Everton have pace that should at least create one or two big opportunities to score too.

Backing both teams to score looks to be the play with half of their previous 4 Premier League games ending that way. A first half goal for either team could really open up the match and I do think there will be enough positive play in the final third to see chances created at both ends.

I was hoping the 'Both Teams to Score' market would have continued to underestimate the new look Brighton, but they are about right with the prices and that is my selection.


Watford v Bournemouth Pick: This looks a really difficult game to have a very good feeling about.

Watford are the favourites, but Bournemouth have been in the better overall form and have a decent record at Vicarage Road including thumping them 0-4 here last season. The goalless draw with Norwich City last weekend was a disappointment for Bournemouth, while Watford might feel they deserved more than the point they earned at Tottenham Hotspur, so it does feel a close game that might be decided by fine margins.

A draw can't be ruled out- 8 of the last 11 between these clubs have ended with the points shared out and I would not be surprised to see that again. However I do think there are better plays out there this weekend and will leave this one alone.


West Ham United v Sheffield United Pick: After the results last weekend I am sure there will be one or two people out there backing Sheffield United to continue their away Premier League successes with a victory at the London Stadium.

Any team who earns back to back away clean sheets in this Division have to be respected and a 'never say die' attitude instilled by the manager has seen Sheffield United come from 1-0 down to earn a draw with Bournemouth and 2-0 down to do the same at Stamford Bridge.

Those results have to be respected, but I can't help think that Sheffield United have overachieved and ridden their luck to their successful unbeaten start to the season away from home. Andre Gray missed an absolute sitter against them in the goalless draw at Vicarage Road and I do think we will see a much better performance from West Ham United who were dire at Everton last weekend.

The Hammers were beaten by Crystal Palace last time out here too which is a concern for Manuel Pellegrini, but I am not sure Sheffield United have the goals to really expose what has been a vulnerable defence. West Ham United also had clean sheets in wins over Norwich City and Manchester United here so they won't be too worried about bouncing back from a couple of setbacks.

West Ham United score goals and that will always give them a chance and one that should lead to an important three points this weekend. I do think Sheffield United will have their moments and this is a team that clearly doesn't lie down for anyone they face, but the lack of goals is a long-term concern for me unless they can resolve that in January.

It might be the difference between these teams on the day as Sheffield United may also find it hard to get the energy back after a strong showing in the win over Arsenal last Monday. Backing West Ham United on the Asian Handicap to return half the stake in the event of a draw looks the angle for me here as I think they have enough in the final third to edge out a tough Sheffield United outfit.


Burnley v Chelsea Pick: Frank Lampard said his boys turned into men in the win over Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday and I have to admit that Chelsea were very deserving of their success. They have some very talented players in the squad who are building experiences at the highest level, but Lampard's statement will be tested by a rugged Burnley team on Saturday.

This is the second of the live televised games being broadcast on Saturday and looks like a really good one on paper. Burnley have been strong at home and have also given the likes of Arsenal, Wolves and Leicester City plenty food for thought away from home while having a week to prepare for this fixture.

That could be key, especially as Burnley will have been stewing after being 'wronged' in the defeat at Leicester City last weekend. A controversial decision to disallow an equaliser will have not sat well with anyone associated with the club, but Burnley won't allow that to distract them here.

You know what you are going to get with Burnley as they look to make things difficult and find long balls to the likes of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. The latter might be missing this weekend, but Wood has been in great form himself and I do think Chelsea will be tested in a much different way than Ajax managed.

This time they will be faced by a team strong from set pieces and it will be difficult to keep another clean sheet having secured two already over the past week.

On the other side I do expect Chelsea to cause problems of their own as they are a fairly big team, but also have talented forwards in the final third that can create something out of nothing. The return of Callum Hudson-Odoi has been huge for Chelsea and I do think they will just about edge this game on recent away performances.

I would think Chelsea need at least two goals to win here and so backing them to win a game featuring at least that many at odds against looks the play. They have won 4 of their last 5 visits to Turf Moor and on each occasion Chelsea have needed at least two goals with the exception being a 1-1 draw.

Burnley will be tough and hard to beat as always, but Chelsea can show how much they have been learning by making it a seventh win in a row in all competitions.


Newcastle United v Wolves Pick: The Europa League is expected to tax a squad that looks to be as shallow as the one Wolves have, but they have managed to find some big results out of the Thursday games. The biggest was the 0-2 win at Manchester City prior to the last international break, but it is still hard to have complete faith in them.

Wolves just simply haven't been creating a lot of chances and you do think one goal is enough to get something from them. Whether Newcastle United have that in themselves is difficult to call too and like the layers I am finding it hard to separate these teams.

It might not be the best game to watch for those tuning in to the first of two live games on Sunday afternoon and I don't really have a good feel for the match.


Arsenal v Crystal Palace Pick: The layers are never going to offer the best prices for the big six in the Premier League and that is the case this weekend when Arsenal host Crystal Palace.

You have to credit the home team for the fight they have shown to recover from losing positions of late so they are deserved favourites, but they look short and hard to back when you think of the way Crystal Palace have played against the top six clubs over the last twelve months.

They have won at Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium and Crystal Palace also won at Arsenal a few months ago. However the layers aren't offering appealing prices on Roy Hodgson's men either and backing goals are plenty short too which makes me believe better options are out there with the live televised game that is being played at the same time.


Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The second of the Super Sunday live televised fixtures comes from Anfield as Liverpool look to keep their positive run moving forward at home and to maintain the lead they have over Manchester City coming into the weekend. The likelihood is that Manchester City would have beaten Aston Villa on Saturday which means an 8 point lead in the Premier League table is down to 3 points by kick off, but Liverpool should be confident at home.

They have won 13 in a row at Anfield in all competitions and Liverpool are scoring plenty of goals in those fixtures with at least two scored in each. That is always going to give them a chance to win football matches and they are now facing a Tottenham Hotspur team who have not been in good form.

Even taking on board the 5-0 win over Crvena Zvezda, Tottenham Hotspur have struggled for consistency and beating an overmatched opponent doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. The away form has been particularly poor in the Premier League with 8 losses from the last 10 games on their travels and I find it very difficult to believe Spurs can get something from this one.

However you should remember that one of the exceptions to those defeats was a 2-2 draw at Manchester City when Tottenham Hotspur rode their luck massively. It shows they can do that and Tottenham Hotspur did create chances in games against Liverpool last season despite losing all three of the fixtures against this opponent.

My expectation is that Liverpool will have too much, but I also anticipate this being a fixture that features a few goals. Backing Liverpool to win a game that has at least three goals featured would have been a winner in both Premier League games played between these teams last season and I think that is the most likely outcome here.

At odds against that has to be worth a back in my opinion.


Norwich City v Manchester United Pick: It says all you need to know about the current mindset of the manager and the club when you hear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggest he wants to 'stop' Norwich City when Manchester United visit Carrow Road on Sunday.

After a win in Belgrade he is also hoping to have some momentum to build upon, but it was another underwhelming performance as Manchester United continue to lack real creativity. Yet again a penalty is the best source of goals for Manchester United and very little outside of that was produced in the final third.

Things could change this weekend when they visit a Norwich City team who have conceded a host of goals in the Premier League this season as injuries have piled up. Norwich City have conceded at least two goals in each of their last 3 at Carrow Road, but Manchester United have not managed that many in a single game since the opening weekend of the season so something is going to have to give.

There are goals in the Norwich City team which makes them a threat and they did score at least twice against Chelsea and Manchester City here. Recent games have not been the best for Norwich City, but they will believe in their abilities at Carrow Road and there is plenty pointing to goals being the outcome of this one.

Manchester United have not scored enough goals to think they are a good thing at odds on here. And that is especially not the case when you think Norwich City could create the chances to hurt their visitors.

The home team receiving a start on the Asian Handicap looks the right angle here. However I am going to move past this as I hope Manchester United can prove my feeling wrong.

MY PICKS: Southampton-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.70 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton-Everton Both Teams to Score @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
West Ham United - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Liverpool to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

October 2019/20: 11-13-1, - 2.26 Units (50 Units Staked, - 4.52% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek10

In a GW where the average score was 37 points, picking up 54 points was a boost and resulted in plenty of green arrows on the screen which is all I can really ask for each week.

My only disappointment is that once again I have missed out on the right Captain and that continues to frustrate me. Last week it was Tammy Abraham who should have scored at least once, but instead I only earned the basic two points from him.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Youri Tielemans and a couple of clean sheets proved important to tick the points along.

In GW10 I do have one free transfer to use on my team and I think it is important to use it because of the way the fixtures have panned out. You can see the semi-risky move I am going to do below, although it is one that could easily be one I regret very quickly.

You can see my GW10 below as I look to build on last week and keep the green arrows coming. My aim is to use this squad for the next two GW and then have two transfers ready to go for the final game before the November international break.


Ederson- two home games against Aston Villa and Southampton to come. Both teams do offer a counter attacking threat against Manchester City, but you would expect at least one clean sheet.

Benjamin Mendy- with the injuries in the defensive areas, Benjamin Mendy may be back in a position to be the Fantasy darling he was prior to his injury in 2018/19. Has started back to back games this week, but I think he could be set for a run and I liked the Manchester City fixtures over the next two weeks despite the dangers both Villa and Southampton pose.

Andy Robertson- as he showed last week, the potential for assists covers up the lack of clean sheets. I expect that to begin to change very quickly though with Liverpool having some nice fixtures coming up.

Fiyako Timori- back to back clean sheets will be a boost for Chelsea, and Burnley could be down both Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood this weekend.

Sadio Mane- goal-scoring form can't be ignored, impossible to drop and has to start regardless of fixtures.

Raheem Sterling (C)- another huge performance from Raheem Sterling shows he has entered the 'world class' category of players. Picking him as Captain an easy choice but could be rested after two big games.

Youri Tielemans- a goal last week in the win over Burnley and now faces a Southampton team that can't keep a clean sheet.

Todd Cantwell- has been offering nothing in recent weeks, but Norwich City are a different proposition at home.

Callum Hudson-Odoi- a huge influence for Chelsea in the last couple of weeks as he returns from an injury and has to start.

Josh King- I have to assume King was rested last week because of his Norway commitments, but will have a watch on him in the coming weeks. Bournemouth have a nice set of fixtures and King has scored four goals in last three fixtures at Vicarage Road.

Tammy Abraham- possibly under pressure from Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi for playing time, but for now Tammy Abraham is Chelsea's first choice striker. That makes him a must start.


Bench- Michael McGovern, John Lundstram (tough away game at West Ham United, but happy to have him as first sub), Caglar Soyuncu (difficult away game at Southampton who have scored in 18 home Premier League games in a row), Xande Silva.