Premier League Picks and Fantasy Football GameWeek 4 2022/23 (August 27th-28th 2022)

The Premier League continues to move at a pace and we are very shortly going to add in European commitments for the top teams which means a huge amount of football will be played in a short space of time.

This is all down to the Winter World Cup in three months time and that is a problem for Fantasy players as much as the real life managers with rotation set to be pretty high.

It is the first test of the squads between GameWeek 4 and GameWeek 6 when three Premier League matches are played by each club in the space of eight or nine days. That will be a challenge for the deepest of squads and something that will mean needing a strong bench to negotiate the path through.

United Corner- Momentum, Momentum, Momentum

That was not a normal Monday night at Old Trafford.

It has been a long time since I've sat in such an inspired atmosphere and certainly the loudest the fans have been since the return to the stands following the Covid pandemic and I include the 5-1 mauling of Leeds United last season and the 4-1 win over Newcastle United as Cristiano Ronaldo made his second debut for the club.

I have to believe the that march to the ground that saw thousands of United fans come together certainly helped and the adrenaline was pumping at kick off. Anti-Glazer chants were shouted loud and proud before, during and after the game and Lisandro Martinez clearly captured the vibe around the Stadium by depositing Mo Salah to the turf within seconds of the start of the game.

I won't lie, I wasn't expecting much from United after their first couple of results, but it was a strong performance and a much deserved win, even if Jurgen Klopp was hesitant to admit that. Erik ten Hag got the big decisions right on the night and goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford will hopefully begin to spark their careers at the club.

As I've wrote in the headline, now it's all about momentum, momentum, momentum.

The win over Liverpool will quickly be forgotten if Manchester United are unable to take maximum points from the away games at Southampton and Leicester City before the visit of Arsenal next Sunday. Yes, the away form has been miserable over the last few months, but Southampton and Leicester City are very much winnable fixtures for any club that is hoping to chase a place in the top four and this is the time for the players to stand up and be counted.

Beating Liverpool in an intense atmosphere showed character, but United fans expect and demand more.

That word 'momentum' is also very important when it comes to the protests- the club are doing all they can to douse those, either by editing videos to remove chants they don't like, or taking down banners using weak excuses to do so.

The march down to the ground on Old Trafford was far bigger than the one that began against Norwich City on Easter Weekend and I do hope 'The 1958' can keep it going. The Glazers have been rocking, but United fans cannot allow one or two shiny new toys and a big win over those lot from down the road to cloud our judgement.

The real issue remains at the club, but I have faith that 'The 1958' will continue to swell in terms of support and the momentum is with them and us as we continue to remind the world how much the Glazer family have hurt the club over their seventeen year ownership.

Remember, Glazers Out.

Leaving Old Trafford on Monday night, you couldn't help but smell the change in the air with the fans pumped and the adrenaline coursing through each and every one of us.

I will admit that I have not been convinced with some of the early decisions made by Erik ten Hag, especially having Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire starting the first two League games, but I was feeling much better on Tuesday morning.

The manager has not only made some big decisions in his team selection, but his position to do so will have been strengthened after the 2-1 win over Liverpool and I was impressed with some of the football played. Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia were excellent on Monday, as was Raphael Varane, and I was enjoying the fact that all three were willing to make passes into players in front of them rather than always turning back or playing square as Shaw and Maguire have tended to do.

Some of that is down to shot confidence, but Manchester United need braver players and I think Martinez and Malacia have laid down a marker.

Now it is about backing it up.

I'd give them ample time to do that and not just remove either if they have a game short of what we saw on Monday- too many like Shaw and Maguire have had multiple chances and need to be reminded that form and performance levels, not reputation, gets you selected at a big club.

The manager is likely going to pick the same eleven that started on Monday night with the only question being which Anthony to go for- Elanga or Martial?

Regardless, I do think Erik ten Hag will feel much more settled as the manager of this club after the last game and stamping his authority on the squad is key.

Premier League Picks GameWeek 4

There is no hiding place- I've had an absolutely miserable start to the season.

Not much has broken my way, but there have also been some bad Picks.

It's not all going to come back at once, but a winning week is important with the fixtures coming round thick and fast and I am expecting much better than the production so far.

Another poor week may mean a reset is needed before going again, but these are my thoughts for the fixtures scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Southampton v Manchester United Pick: A win over Liverpool will always be appreciated by those who follow Manchester United, but for most this cannot paper over the cracks at the club and there will be a continued protest against the Glazer family who have been so damaging in their time in charge.

This is something that is likely going to drag on, but the fans still made sure they were firmly behind the team and the club rather than the owners on Monday night. A pumped atmosphere at Old Trafford was added to by the intensity of the Manchester United players and they deservedly came away with a first win of the season and of the Erik ten Hag era.

The manager made some big decisions in his starting line up having left out the likes of Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo, but those were justified in the 2-1 win. It is unlikely that there will be wholesale changes after that performance, but Casemiro is ready to make his debut and could come in for Scott McTominay, while the main question for ten Hag is which Anthony to start- Elanga or Martial?

Regardless, Erik ten Hag has to be spending the time between Monday night and Saturday lunchtime to remind his players that the win over Liverpool will mean nothing if they don't back it up at St Mary's. The effort and intensity shown has to be produced in every game and Manchester United will also be tested having lost their last 7 away Premier League games going back to last season.

Avoiding the early mistakes that proved devastating at Brentford will be important, but Manchester United will also have to match the intensity that Southampton will be playing with.

Rumours that the players were no longer behind Ralph Hasenhuttl were rampant and there would have been some real discontent in the stands as Southampton trailed Leeds United 0-2 in their first home game. However, the players showed considerable character to come back and earn a deserved draw and then backed that up with a strong performance and win at Leicester City.

Confidence won't be a problem in the home team and I do think Southampton have shown they can at least give Manchester United plenty to think about in recent years. Yes, they have taken a 9-0 thumping at Old Trafford in that time, but Southampton have drawn 3 of their last 4 at home against Manchester United and will feel there are still some vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

In saying that, Manchester United will be encouraged by the chances that both Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United have created against Southampton and this could be a fairly entertaining game on the south coast to open the fourth round of Premier League fixtures.

Both teams scoring would not be a surprise, but I do think Manchester United will be able to play with much more swagger in this away game than we have seen in recent months. The win over Liverpool coupled with the players knowing that their manager is capable of making big decisions in terms of team selection should help and I do think Manchester United can snap their really poor recent away record.

From a confidence stand point, it is important for Manchester United to score first and I do think they can create enough chances to do that. As long as they don't give away goals like they did at Brentford, Manchester United can win this game that should produce two or more goals.

Brentford v Everton Pick: Thomas Frank will not have been happy with the early attitude and then some of the defending in Brentford's 3-2 loss at Fulham last weekend, but the attacking side of the game does give The Bees a real sting.

They have now scored at least twice in all 4 games played in all competitions this season and more impressive is the fact that 3 of those have been away from home. The manager won't ignore some of the help that Manchester United gave his Brentford team here in a 4-0 win two weeks ago, but Thomas Frank has to be pleased with what he has seen from his team when they do go forward.

Finding a balance between attack and defence is not going to be easy, while I do think Frank is someone that wants his team to get forward and express themselves. I certainly think they can do that against an Everton team who have lost 9 of their last 11 away Premier League games and who have not had a clean sheet in the top flight so far this season.

Some credit has to be given to Frank Lampard and his team about the way they have defended and Everton have not conceded a lot of goals. However, both Chelsea and Aston Villa created plenty and I do think that offers Brentford encouragement.

A bigger question for Everton is whether they can pose much of a threat when they have the ball- while the team have played some good football into the final third, the lack of a clinical and composed finisher has hurt Everton. It would be surprising if they were not able to cause problems for Brentford, but in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the departure of Richarlison, the lack of a goalscorer has been a problem.

Demarai Gray has scored two in two, which will give him confidence, but the more consistent threat in this fixture is likely to come from Brentford.

With the goals being scored by Thomas Frank's men, I do think Brentford can do enough to secure a vital three points as they look to avoid second season syndrome in the top flight. Ivan Toney is showing he can produce at this level and he is the player that could make the difference and the feeling is that Brentford can make it three Premier League victories in a row against an Everton team still looking for consistent answers in the final third.

Brighton v Leeds United Pick: Both Brighton and Leeds United have made very strong starts to the Premier League and they have shown off a little of the squad depth as much changed starting elevens won League Cup ties against lower League opponents.

With unbeaten records to protect, the two meet on the south coast on Saturday and I think this will be a confident and entertaining match to watch. The two sides have both earned 7 points from a possible 9 in the Premier League, although something has to give on Saturday.

Brighton have won 3 times this season and all of those victories have been away from the Amex Stadium, while Leeds United have won 3 times and all at Elland Road. Both teams have settled for a draw in their sole home/away game respectively, although I do think both Graham Potter and Jesse Marsch will feel their teams could have won the game where they had to settle for a point.

The chances being created by both teams have to be respected, although I do think the early form has slightly favoured Brighton over Leeds United. While the two teams have been confident in the final third, Brighton have been a bit more convincing with their defending and have limited the chances that opponents have been able to create against them.

Last season both Premier League games between these teams ended in draws, but that was largely down to Brighton's wastefulness in front of goal. Previously they had found a finishing touch to their football when hosting Leeds United, and Brighton had won 5 in a row at home against them before the goalless draw between them here in November 2021.

Brighton's wastefulness and the Nick Pope performance means they failed to score in their first home game, but they have scored at least twice in the other fixtures played this season. As solid as the Leeds United results and performances have been, they have perhaps been a touch more fortunate than their hosts and I think that may show up here.

I expect Brighton to dominate the chances in front of goal and I think they can win this one, although this Leeds United team have to be respected. They are dangerous and have scored plenty of goals, but Brighton have looked pretty solid in the defensive third and I feel they can edge to the three points in this match between unbeaten opponents.

Chelsea v Leicester City Pick: You can sense there is a growing feeling that the Leicester City board and Brendan Rodgers could decide to part way, unless there is something significant that changes ahead of the final week of the transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers felt his squad needed some new blood at the end of last season, but Leicester City have not had the finances to support him and the potential sale of Wesley Fofana will be a blow. Teams have been circling James Maddison and Jamie Vardy too, while Youri Tielemens is another being linked with a move away and you do have to wonder if Rodgers may feel he can't take the squad any further.

The poor results and performances will not help.

Leicester City blew the 2-0 lead over Brentford on the opening day in an eventual draw, but they have deservedly lost at Arsenal and to Southampton last weekend. The latter defeat is really worrying as Leicester City were leading in that one too, but the departure of Kasper Schmeichel has left them vulnerable at the back and perhaps lacking some inspiration in attacking areas.

James Maddison is doing his best and has been a key player for Leicester City from an attacking sense, but the chances being given up are really worrying.

I think Chelsea will have their opportunities to take advantage, even if they have been lacking a Number Nine in their early fixtures. Creativity has not been a problem, but Chelsea need someone who can consistently provide the end product and that does not seem to be any player currently on their books.

Things are likely to change before September, but this current Chelsea squad should be able to manage against Leicester City. In recent seasons they have not enjoyed hosting The Foxes, but Leicester City look really vulnerable and short of confidence and a first goal for Chelsea could see them largely dominate the match.

Thomas Tuchel will be demanding a reaction from the 3-0 loss at Leeds United last Sunday and you have to believe a similar level to that produced against Tottenham Hotspur will be more than good enough for Chelsea against Leicester City.

The Foxes could play their part, but the goals being conceded makes it hard to believe they can earn a positive result for the fifth time in six visits to Stamford Bridge. Instead I expect Chelsea to have enough chances and eventually quality to convert and cover the Asian Handicap on their way to a first home three points of the season.

Liverpool v Bournemouth Pick: They travelled to Old Trafford as very, very strong favourites to beat rivals Manchester United again, but Liverpool were clearly second best on Monday night.

Now all the attention is on Liverpool who have surprisingly yet to have won a Premier League game this season and that despite facing Fulham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Jurgen Klopp's team have been favourites in all three games, strong favourites, but they have continued a bad habit from last season in conceding the first goal.

Jadon Sancho's strike on Monday means Liverpool have fallen behind in each of their last 7 Premier League games and injuries are not helping the cause. However, that would be a pretty poor excuse to use when you think of the quality still available and Klopp and the players will be demanding a much more focused effort all around.

Going forward Liverpool are still creating plenty of chances, but they do look to be missing Sadio Mane. Both Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez being on the sidelines hasn't helped as it has meant an over-reliance on Roberto Firmino who looks to have seen his best days in a Liverpool shirt.

I don't think the absences should be a factor on Saturday as Liverpool prepare to host a Bournemouth team who have conceded seven goals in losses to Manchester City and Arsenal combined. Scott Parker's team were well beaten in both games and he will be concerned with the early goals that his team have conceded in those defeats, especially as the approach has to be to frustrate Liverpool and see if defensive vulnerability remains in the home camp.

The Bournemouth players should certainly listen to Parker... I mean he was the last Premier League manager to earn a victory at Anfield from his time with Fulham.

After containing Liverpool early, Fulham broke to score on the stroke of half time and Scott Parker got his tactics spot on that day. That victory was against an injury hit Liverpool team too so there are similarities ahead of this fixture, although I do think Anfield will help the home players produce a big performance.

You ultimately cannot expect Liverpool to continue to be as wasteful in front of goal as they have been nor as sloppy as they have been in defensive situations. Bournemouth have not really shown much as a threat in the final third in any of their Premier League games this season in terms of number of chances created, and the defensive issues that were highlighted before the season have reared up in the defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal.

The same could potentially happen here if Liverpool can score the first goal and just play with a bit more confidence and I do think Jurgen Klopp's team will win their first League fixture on Saturday in some style.

Manchester City v Crystal Palace Pick: The dominance of Manchester City in recent seasons means they are going off plenty short in almost every Premier League fixture they will be playing and that is the case again on Saturday.

It fails to account for the fact that Crystal Palace took four points from Manchester City last season and Patrick Vieira's team did not concede a goal against one of his former clubs. Of course you will have to ride out some rough moments in being able to do that, but Crystal Palace were really solid in their game on this ground.

The 0-2 win at the Etihad Stadium means Crystal Palace have lost 1 of their last 4 visits to Manchester City and have to be considered something of a bogey team. That is especially the case considering The Eagles have won twice in that time and they have managed to score at least two goals in 3 of their last 4 games here.

After seeing Newcastle United hurt Manchester City last weekend, Crystal Palace have a further blueprint in how to attack the Champions and I do think they have quality in the final third. They showed that in the 1-1 draw at Anfield two weeks ago when only better finishing from Wilfried Zaha was needed to add to the goal he scored and perhaps earn Crystal Palace the win.

Pep Guardiola will be well aware how dangerous Crystal Palace can be and he will be looking for his Manchester City team to be much more resilient than they showed in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle United. There are clearly plenty of goals in the squad so you have to expect Manchester City to score in every game they play, even if they didn't against Crystal Palace last season, and the addition of Erling Haaland should help.

The injury to Nathan Ake to add to Aymeric Laporte is a blow, but Manchester City have looked very controlled in the games before the trip to St James' Park. I expect them to try and get back to basics in this one and avoid leaving Crystal Palace's wingers in one on one situations as they allowed Allan Saint-Maximin to dominate in the first half last Sunday.

This time Manchester City should be more settled without a first half injury to deal with and I do think they will be better for it.

Crystal Palace did score at Liverpool two weeks ago, but they did struggle for goals at the big six last season. They lost at Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur without scoring last season and even this very good looking attacking side produced by Patrick Vieira may struggle for the chances at the home of the Champions looking to show much better in their own final third than last week.

I do think Crystal Palace need to be respected when you think of the amount of goals they have plundered at the Etihad Stadium in recent years, but their sole defeat in their last 4 visits came in a game where they failed to score. I think that could be the outcome of this one with a much more focused Manchester City likely to be playing after the two fixtures between the clubs last season.

In fact Manchester City have earned 4 clean sheets in the last 6 between these clubs and a home win to nil looks a decent price.

Arsenal v Fulham Pick: A strong pre-season raised expectations, but the win at Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the campaign has really gotten people to sit up and take notice.

After only just missing out on a top four place last season, Arsenal look to have done the business in the transfer market to not only close that gap, but to feel anything less than a Champions League spot is a failure. That does place some pressure on Mikel Arteta's shoulders as manager of the club, but he looks happy and the players look very comfortable as the last remaining team with a perfect record in the Premier League.

The win at Palace was very impressive, even if Arsenal had to ride their luck at times, but backing that up against Leicester City and Bournemouth was important. I am still not sure what I truly think of Arsenal because it has been a relatively kind start to the campaign, but momentum can be very important and back to back home games gives them a chance to build on the foundation already laid down.

You would expect Arsenal to beat Fulham and Aston Villa, but expectations are not always met.

They will have to respect a Fulham team that took a point from Liverpool already, although I do think Arsenal will be excited to attack a Fulham defence that has looked plenty leaky. Both Liverpool and Brentford scored twice at Craven Cottage and this Arsenal team have been creating plenty of chances in their first three wins in the League.

Fulham may feel the best approach is to fight fire with fire and that has worked in their opening games as they remain unbeaten on their return to the top flight. Defensively there may be questions, but Fulham did create plenty of their own attacking chances in the games played in the Premier League and they may feel they can play a part in this fixture.

However, keeping Arsenal out is going to be very difficult with the approach set out by Marco Silva and I don't think the manager is going to be changing his principles too far from what he likes to see. That worked against Liverpool, but at the Emirates Stadium it could leave Fulham open to the Arsenal final third threat and I do think the home team will win again and by two or more goals for the fourth time in August.

Aston Villa v West Ham United Pick: Both Steven Gerrard and David Moyes have some big expectations to meet this season, although the latter's recent successes means he has a bit more goodwill in the bank.

The rumours are that the Aston Villa board are getting a little worried about Steven Gerrard and the direction of the club. The fans are not happy with the style of football being produced, while the huge investment made in the last two transfer windows have yet to turn into much improved results on the field.

A falling out with Tyrone Mings had threatened to split the dressing room in two and Gerrard is under pressure after another capitulation from his team in the 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.

At least Aston Villa have won their sole home Premier League game and they are facing a West Ham United team who played on Thursday night and who have struggled for form in the Premier League. The 3 losses in the League without scoring a goal is a worry, although David Moyes will feel his team have shown enough in the final third to change that as quickly as this weekend.

West Ham United were unfortunate to lose at the City Ground earlier this month, but you cannot ignore the fact that they have lost 6 of their last 7 away Premier League games. The poor end to last season has seeped into this one and I do think that West Ham United have looked vulnerable at the back, which should be very encouraging for Aston Villa.

The Hammers have won on their last 2 visits to Villa Park and scored at least three goals in both of those wins.

I do think David Moyes will be encouraging his team to get on the front foot and they can cause problems for Aston Villa, but the home team should also be able to have their successes when getting the ball into the final third.

The last 4 Premier League games between the clubs have all seen both teams score and all have also ended with at least three goals shared out. With some of the defensive issues that have been clear to see in both the home and away performances, I think this is another that should see goals flowing.

Wolves v Newcastle United Pick: The first live game on Sunday involves Newcastle United, but it would be a real surprise if this matches the intensity and attacking output we saw when they hosted Manchester City.

The fixture ended 3-3 with so much quality on display in the final third, but Newcastle United may not find it so easy to find the energy to bring that intensity to the field again.

Eddie Howe has clearly got a tune out of the squad, but Callum Wilson could be a big miss for Newcastle United. They did not create very much in their goalless draw at Brighton a couple of weeks ago and only Nick Pope's brilliance ensured Newcastle United were able to leave with a point.

Defending may be a little more comfortable against a Wolves team who have been struggling for goals and who have been in poor form towards the back end of last season which has seeped into the new campaign.

Alexander Mitrovic missed a Penalty in the last Premier League fixture at Molineux and that is the only reason Wolves have earned a point so far this season. If Mitrovic scores, there is every chance Wolves would have been heading into this fixture with 3 losses from their last 4 Premier League games.

I expect Wolves to have some chances if Newcastle United defend as poorly as they did at Brighton, but I also don't think Wolves are as effective going forward.

They do have some talented attackers and I think they will be dangerous when they click together, but Wolves and Newcastle United should feel they can largely contain the other. Set pieces are going to be key, but no Callum Wilson is a blow for Newcastle United and Wolves are still struggling for goals.

Games between these clubs have seen both teams regularly find the net against one another and the layers feel that may be the case again. However, their most recent game ended with a clean sheet produced by Newcastle United and I do think we will see one of these teams fail to find the net with the defences expected to be on top.

Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: If the first game at the City Ground with Nottingham Forest back in the Premier League is anything to go by, this is going to be an incredibly difficult ground to visit.

The fans made it a raucous atmosphere and Nottingham Forest played some very strong attacking football which will make them dangerous regardless of who they host.

However, it would be a mistake to forget some of the fortune that seemed to favour Nottingham Forest in the 1-0 win over West Ham United. The visitors hit the woodwork twice, missed a Penalty and also had at least one effort cleared off the line, while the Nottingham Forest goal was scrappy to say the least.

Steve Cooper won't care too much about that and neither will the fans, but the former will be aware that it may not be a sustainable approach. He will be looking for his Nottingham Forest team to be a threat going forward, but Cooper will want a better balance defensively if Nottingham Forest are going to earn another big result.

They are facing a Tottenham Hotspur team who have started slowly in all three Premier League games played before turning the screw. Antonio Conte will be demanding his players begin much more confidently as they are likely going to have to deal with the early Nottingham Forest pressure, but I do think the quality can tell in favour of the visiting team.

If they create anything like West Ham United, I would expect the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son to produce better composure in front of goal. Scoring first will be important for Tottenham Hotspur and I do think it will be a tough time for Nottingham Forest if they do fall behind, even with the home fans behind them.

All three of their Premier League opponents have been much stronger when it comes to the chance creation numbers in matches played by Nottingham Forest this season. They were well beaten at Newcastle United, and I do think Tottenham Hotspur can just remind their hosts about the level they have to find in every Premier League fixture they play.

Nottingham Forest will never roll over at home, not with the fans giving the players a lift, but I do think the big six clubs will cause plenty of problems for them barring a big improvement defensively. We have yet to see that and Tottenham Hotspur may be able to cover the Asian Handicap in a win in the second of the two live games being played on Sunday.

MY PICKS: Manchester United & Over 1 Total Goal @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)

Brentford @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Brighton @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Liverpool - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Manchester City Win to Nil @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.92 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Aston Villa-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Wolves-Newcastle United Both Teams to Score- NO  @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.09 Bet Victor (2 Units)

August 2022/23: 9-15, - 13.28 Units (48 Units Staked, - 27.67% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 4

Go big at the back... Go big at the back, you can't go wrong.

Well things went wrong, they went massively wrong last weekend.

That's right, my 'big at the back' team produced nine points between the six of them!

With that in mind, I am just glad to get out of GameWeek 3 with 47 points and look for much better in GameWeek 4.

I am going to hold a transfer in what is a very busy time of the season as teams choose to rotate players in a bid to keep everyone as fresh as possible.

Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he will not be expecting Erling Haaland to play every three days and so the premium striker becomes a question mark for me. Yes, Manchester City create enough chances to think that Haaland could get twenty minutes in any game and likely bring in significant points, but he becomes an uncertain Captaincy choice.

This week that comes down to Mo Salah or Gabriel Jesus, but my lean is towards the former. I expect Jesus to have a very strong game, but Bournemouth have looked slightly weaker than Fulham and the extra point for a midfielder scoring cannot be dismissed.

I've also moved Andy Robertson to my watch list- he has not played well this season and I would not be surprised if he is given a rest at some point. Unfortunately for my team, that looks most likely to happen this weekend against Bournemouth, although Liverpool's poor start should mean Jurgen Klopp picks a very strong team.

Joao Cancelo is another- he is not playing nearly as far up the field as last season and at the prices it feels that money can be spread around to improve the whole squad.

My really big decision this week comes down to who should be the first player I bench- Leon Bailey scored during the week and assisted Ollie Watkins last weekend and has a good looking home game against West Ham United, but Pascal Gross continues to return and plays a vulnerable Leeds United team.

It is not an easy choice, but the lean at this time is with Gross, but only just.

I will have two transfers to use before the Tuesday deadline, although at this stage I think it is good to have a few more games to add to the data before needing to make any decision as to who to bring in. It is a big weekend for some of the players in my squad and I am expecting a lot more points than GameWeek 3 brought home.

Weekend Football and Fantasy Football GameWeek 4 Picks 2021 (September 11-13)

SIUUUUUUUU!!!

Where else can I begin? It has to be about Cristiano Ronaldo and the return to Old Trafford after what has felt like an international break that has gone on for two months rather than two weeks.

I am fortunate enough to have a ticket to watch Ronaldo for the first time since I last saw him in a Manchester United shirt- Rome in May 2009- and I simply cannot wait. Unsurprisingly my FPL team will represent the excitement and I have activated my Wild Card far earlier than usual as I look to build on a decent, if not spectacular start to the season after three GameWeeks have been placed in the books.

First, the thoughts on the Premier League fixtures to be played this weekend.

Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: There are times when results overshadow everything and you do have to feel that is the case at Tottenham Hotspur who have secured three 1-0 Premier League wins in a row. They are the only team with a perfect record in the top flight and they are considered odds on to win this fourth fixture, but a deeper look at the actual performances suggest there has been some fortune around the results.

Winning games on the pitch is what matters, but the performances have to be sustainable and so there is work for Nuno Espirito Santo to do. He will be boosted by Harry Kane committing his short-term future to the club, but the manager will not have enjoyed the international break very much.

Three players are going to have to quarantine having represented South American nations in the international break, while both Steven Bergwijn and Heung-Min Son are doubts and could be vital losses if they cannot go this weekend.

Even then, Spurs are considered the favourites against a Crystal Palace team which is still finding its feet under new manager Patrick Vieira. The last couple of performances have been better and Vieira will have been pleased with the attacking display in the 2-2 draw at West Ham United two weeks ago, and that certainly gives Patrick Vieira something to build upon.

There have been some signs that the defensive capabilities of the Crystal Palace squad are still there even after the departure of Roy Hodgson and I do think this is a team that can pick up a positive result.

The first goal is going to be important in this opening Premier League fixture of this weekend, but I do think Crystal Palace are being underestimated. Better finishing from Manchester City and Wolves would have seen them pick up results against Spurs and I do think the latter are going to step back from the early season form unless vastly improving.

With a long injury list to deal with, I think Crystal Palace can take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur with the home supporters firmly behind them. The Eagles are unbeaten in 3 at home in all competitions against Tottenham Hotspur and they can extend that run to another game on Saturday with the attacking players looking like they can build on the performance at the London Stadium.

Arsenal v Norwich City Pick: Three Premier League games, zero points and a minus nine goal difference.

A 6-0 win over a Championship club in the League Cup Second Round.

Arsenal and Norwich City have made very similar starts to the 2021/22 season as two of the three clubs that have yet to produce a Premier League point this season. Both have also suffered a 5-0 hammering at Champions Manchester City and this is a big weekend for Arsenal and Norwich City as they look to pick up points from a better looking set of fixtures than they had to deal with in August.

The pressure is more squarely on Mikel Arteta with rumours that Arsenal are already sounding out replacements. He will be boosted by a more winnable fixture than the last two in the Premier League and the manager will also be able to call on the likes of Ben White, Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe this weekend which should give the Arsenal squad a boost.

They did have a strong second half of the season in the Premier League last time around and I do think Arsenal can offer more in fixtures like this rather than facing the top six clubs. The 2-0 defeat at Brentford was a huge disappointment, but Arsenal were missing key players for that one and they look healthier all around.

Norwich City have also been left pointless after being handed a start that saw them face three top five clubs from last season in August. Daniel Farke will have been pleased with some of the attacking play against Liverpool and Leicester City, but Norwich City will have to be a lot better defensively if they are going to avoid a second relegation in three seasons.

I expect Arsenal to have been working on their own defensive shape over the last two weeks and having Ben White and Thomas Partey back could be key for the team. They have enough attacking quality to feel they can open up this Norwich City team who have lost their last 7 away Premier League games and I do think Arsenal are going to produce a big result to keep the wolves from the door for their manager.

The visitors should pose one or two problems, but Arsenal have beaten Norwich City 5 times in a row at home and I expect them to be able to do that again on Saturday.

Brentford v Brighton Pick: There is no love lost between the two owners of Brentford and Brighton and Matthew Benham and Tony Bloom have not really repaired their relationship. However, both have a similar way of operating their football clubs and both Brentford and Brighton will feel their methods are going to be good enough to maintain their spot in the Premier League.

Bragging rights are going to be important on Saturday and I do think both managers will be aware of the need for a positive result, perhaps even more so than usual.

In saying that, the players should be largely shielded from the issues their club's owners have with one another and all the squads are going to be focusing on is building on a positive start to the season. The two teams have both progressed in the League Cup and Brentford have earned 5 points, while Brighton have 6 points in the Premier League.

Brighton have perhaps been the stronger performers early in the season, although Graham Potter will want his team to show slightly more in the defensive areas of the pitch. The hosts might be unbeaten, but Brentford could have easily had fewer points on the board and I do think they have not been as creative in the final third as Thomas Frank may be asking.

That could leave them vulnerable in this home game, although I do think the Brentford Community Stadium will be a difficult ground for teams to visit. The home fans will give Brentford a boost, but I think Brighton's play under Graham Potter has been very encouraging and they are looking like being a creative threat much like they were last season too.

The key for Graham Potter is that the early fixtures have suggested Brighton may not be as wasteful in front of goal and they were comfortable home winners over newly promoted Watford last month. Brentford will be a tougher team to break down, especially being at home and with the early form showing they are well organised and tough to open up.

That makes this a close match and I am not surprised the layers are having a hard time separating the teams. However, I do think Brighton's early performances in the final third are encouraging enough to believe they deserve the edge and they can be backed on the Asian Handicap to secure the three points.

Leicester City v Manchester City Pick: There is some real uncertainty coming out of the international break and even more so than usual for Manchester City who have seen the Brazilian FA enforce FIFA regulations that will rule Ederson and Gabriel Jesus out for this fixture.

The Premier League are trying to work things out and so the status of these two players will be determined later this week.

If Ederson is ruled out, Manchester City could be down to third choice Scott Carson to play between the sticks and that may leave them a little vulnerable. The last time Carson played, Manchester City conceded three times to Newcastle United, but breaking down the Champions won't be easy.

Manchester City have been in control of their last two Premier League matches and this Leicester City team have opened the season with some mixed performances. They were terrible in the heavy loss to West Ham United, while Leicester City were fortunate to beat Wolves in their sole home game played this season.

Brendan Rodgers may have some defensive reinforcements back in time for this one, but he will also want his Leicester City team to show a little more in the final third. Finding that balance against Manchester City is going to be very difficult, especially if Leicester City are continuing to struggle at the back.

I do expect Pep Guardiola's men to dominate the possession and they should have enough to win here even accounting for some of the players that are going to miss out. In the last two Premier League games, Manchester City have looked very strong at the back and they have won 3 of their last 4 Premier League games at the King Power Stadium.

Games between these clubs have tended to be low-scoring in recent years and 7 of the last 10 have ended with less than three goals shared out. That includes the game in the Community Shield, while the fixtures hosted by Leicester City have tended to be tight.

5 of the last 6 at the King Power Stadium have finished with fewer than three goals shared out and the feeling is that this will be another. Manchester City should end up as narrow winners on the day, but both teams may be looking to build any foundation for success on their defensive shape in this one.

Manchester United v Newcastle United Pick: There has been a huge amount of excitement in the Manchester United fanbase ever since it was announced that Cristiano Ronaldo will be returning to the club and this two week international break will have felt like a lifetime for many.

The fixture is not being broadcasted in the United Kingdom, but for those fortunate to have tickets this is a much anticipated game.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have produced 7 points so far this season and the signing of Ronaldo is one that could see Manchester United really build a title challenge. Last season Manchester United only won 9 of 19 home Premier League games, but Cristiano Ronaldo's presence could see them put a few more victories on the board.

Manchester United have played well in the first month, but there is room for improvement and this is a fixture that looks a good one on paper. First off Manchester United scored seven goals against Newcastle United in the Premier League last season, while The Magpies have had a poor start to the new campaign and look vulnerable.

Steve Bruce will soon be feeling the pressure again and his team have conceded at least two goals in each of their Premier League games played. Newcastle United have been comfortably beaten by both Aston Villa and West Ham United and the chances they have allowed teams to create against them is a massive worry.

Callum Wilson may be missing too, which only makes life that much more difficult for Newcastle United, and I do think they are going to struggle to contain the hosts. There should be a really hot crowd at Old Trafford to welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo and that should give the Manchester United players a boost much like it did in the 5-1 win over Leeds United.

An early goal would create a real problem for Newcastle United and Manchester United are capable of putting them to the sword. They have won 4 in a row at Old Trafford against Newcastle United and Manchester United have scored at least three goals in each of those home victories.

It feels like a match that Manchester United should control and I would expect the home team to score the goals that sees them win by a couple of goals at the very least.

Southampton v West Ham United Pick: Both of these teams went into the September international break off the back of a 2-2 draw, but Southampton would have been more pleased with their result compared with West Ham United.

A lot of key players have left Southampton this summer, but they have made a decent start to the season and they will feel they can hurt a West Ham United team who have looked a little vulnerable at the back. However, the bigger problem for Southampton is finding the balance to contain the strong attacking play David Moyes' men have put together.

I think that gives West Ham United the edge in the match and I do think they are going to be able to create chances. In the first two Premier League games, Southampton looked a little ragged at the back as the team gets used to being without Ryan Bertrand and Jannik Vestegaard, and I do believe that gives this West Ham United team spaces to exploit.

The Hammers have won 3 of their last 4 away Premier League games and this is a team that is playing with confidence as they sit in 2nd place in the table. The goals they are scoring makes West Ham United a very dangerous team at the moment and I do think they are going to take the game to their hosts.

Southampton may feel they can play a part in the game too, especially if they are as positive as they were at St James' Park two weeks ago. However, they have been a little inconsistent in the final third before that fixture against Newcastle United and I do think that says more about the latter than it does about Southampton.

West Ham United have a decent record at St Mary's in recent seasons and they can win for the third time in four visits. David Moyes will be hoping the September international break has not broken their momentum, and, if it hasn't, West Ham United should have enough threat in the final third to lead to the three points.

Watford v Wolves Pick: The underlying numbers have been very impressive from Wolves in the first three Premier League games played this season, but those are not enough to appease the fans. While they have played well enough to perhaps win all of their League games, Wolves have been impotent in the final third and that has led to 1-0 defeats to Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Poor finishing has been a real problem for Bruno Lage's men, but they have been creating some solid opportunities in all of the fixtures played. Defensively Wolves have looked pretty good for the most part and only a mistake from their goalkeeper cost them a positive result against Manchester United two weeks ago.

If they can continue producing these levels of performance, I do think Wolves are going to turn things around and start picking up some big results. However, they could be without Raul Jimenez this weekend to add to the attacking issues and Wolves are also visiting a ground on which Watford have enjoyed plenty of successes.

Back to back away Premier League defeats will have hurt, but Watford know it is the form at Vicarage Road which will determine whether they can avoid the drop or not. They have already won twice at home this season and that means they have won 11 in a row here in all competitions, while Watford have been reliant on strong defensive performances in those games.

They looked pretty well organised in the narrow defeat at Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago too and I do think Watford are capable of producing a positive result as an underdog. I can't ignore the fact that Wolves are playing much better than their results suggest and they have dangerous players in their squad, but Watford haven't played badly and are clearly very comfortable in home surroundings.

Two seasons ago Watford did enough to beat Wolves at home and I think they are worth backing as the underdog with a slight start on the Asian Handicap. The first goal could be massively important in this one, but Watford have scored first in their last 17 home games in all competitions and the home underdog can produce a positive result on the day.

Chelsea v Aston Villa Pick: The first international break of the 2021/22 season has caused some havoc for domestic clubs around Europe and particularly for those in the Premier League who have chosen to prevent players representing their South American nations.

It means Chelsea and Aston Villa are going to be missing some key players for this Premier League fixture, while injuries across the last two weeks could also have an impact on the game.

Romelu Lukaku would be a big miss for Chelsea, but Aston Villa are missing their first choice goalkeeper and have injuries in the squad that leaves them vulnerable. Ezra Konsa may also be missing and that leaves the heart of the Aston Villa team looking short of the quality they may need to take on a Chelsea team that have opened the season with positive performances and results.

The home advantage should be more important for teams this season compared with last and Chelsea have already beaten Crystal Palace here. Aston Villa are still finding their feet without Jack Grealish and they have looked a little shaky at both ends of the field and being without Emiliano Martinez is just another blow for Dean Smith to absorb.

Danny Ings has shown he can provide goals for Aston Villa and Ollie Watkins should be available, but Chelsea are well organised defensively. They have the attacking players that can make up for any Lukaku absence and the feeling is that Chelsea will have too much for their short-handed visitors in the late Saturday kick off.

Thomas Tuchel's tactics can be a little geared towards making sure Chelsea are hard to beat, but since he took over at Stamford Bridge they have won 5 of 11 Premier League games by two or more goal margins. Defensively Chelsea should be able to contain much of what Aston Villa bring to the table and I think they have the players that can score the goals to ensure a relatively comfortable win on the day.

Leeds United v Liverpool Pick: The late Sunday afternoon offering from the Premier League will see a full Elland Road having the opportunity to host one of the traditional big English clubs. After a season watching the team at home, the fans will be keen to provide a big atmosphere for the Leeds United players when they face Liverpool.

Marcelo Bielsa's men are unbeaten in 8 at Elland Road in all competitions and they have given some of the top teams something to think about in the second half of last season. Leeds United have not had the best of starts to this campaign, but they are a team that will put pressure on their opponent and they will be looking to create chances.

They will likely cause some problems for Liverpool, but Leeds United have not made the best of starts to this season from a defensive point of view. It is a worry for them when you think of the kind of chances that Liverpool have been creating and I do believe that will give the visitors the edge in this match.

When Leeds United hosted Everton, it was the team from Liverpool that created the best opportunities and I imagine The Reds will do something similar.

Even with Roberto Firmino expected to miss out, Liverpool should have the attacking threats to give Leeds United a number of problems to work out. I expect Leeds United will have some joy if Alisson is expected to sit out for Liverpool, but they are going to be without Raphinha and that does take away a real part of the threat that the home team would usually offer.

It would not be a massive surprise if both teams hit the back of the net, but the feeling is that Liverpool's attacking output early this season will give them the edge. The game here finished 1-1 last season, but Liverpool will feel they would have won that game if they showed more of a clinical edge.

That was also missing in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea two weeks ago, but Liverpool have beaten both Norwich City and Burnley pretty comfortably. Liverpool should have too much for Leeds United in this live game and they can win a game that should feature at least two goals.

Everton v Burnley Pick: The final Premier League game of the weekend could be a relatively decent watch if the early season form of Everton and Burnley is anything to go by.

Everton are the ones with the points on the board, but Burnley have arguably deserved more than a single point from a home defeat to Brighton and a home draw with Leeds United. They conceded late in the draw with Leeds United two weeks ago, while Burnley have lost 4 of their last 6 away Premier League games.

The hosts have made a good start under Rafael Benitez and 7 points from a possible 9 is very encouraging. The underlying numbers don't lie too much either and Everton have fully deserved their points and led twice at Leeds United before having to settle for a 2-2 draw away from home.

Rafael Benitez has helped his team find a pretty good balance and Everton are going to have Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line. The toe injury has slowed down the striker a little bit, but he leads the line effectively for Everton and this is a team creating chances.

I expect they can keep that going here with Burnley yet to really show their defensive organisation that people associate with a Sean Dyche team. As well as they have played at times, Burnley have looked vulnerable at the back and I do think a full Goodison Park crowd under the lights can inspire Everton to a victory.

Goals might not be too hard to find if these teams can pick up from where they left off a couple of weeks ago and I think Everton will get the better of a relatively high-scoring game. They were beaten by Burnley here last season, but the start to this campaign suggests Everton will be stronger and I think they show that by beating Burnley for the sixth time in eight home games against them.

MY PICKS: Crystal Palace + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Arsenal - 1 Asian Handicap

Brighton 0 Asian Handicap

Leicester City-Manchester City Under 2.5 Goals

Manchester United - 1.75 Asian Handicap

West Ham United 0 Asian Handicap

Watford + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap

Liverpool to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

Everton to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 4

The decision was made to use my Wild Card as soon as it became clear that Cristiano Ronaldo was signing for Manchester United.

Call it the heart ruling the head, but CR7 has a number of good looking fixtures to be played between now and the next international break and I think he is still a player capable of producing big returns at this level.

This is not an uncommon time for me to use my Wild Card as the summer transfer window has come to a conclusion, but in the last couple of seasons I have tended to hold onto the card.

However, this time around I had a couple of players I wanted to move on and bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo would have taken a couple more moves on top of that.

There are teams that have started fairly well that I had not picked in my original FPL squad and I think this is a good time to bring some of those players in, while I should have enough time to make sure I don't miss out on some of the good runs coming up for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

Those clubs have premium assets, but the likes of Wolves, Arsenal, Leeds United and Everton have decent fixtures coming up too.

Injuries and Covid concerns are never that far away, but like any Wild Card team, I am going to be playing with my selections for as long as possible.

At around 11am on Saturday morning I will reveal my GW4 team on Twitter

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (October 3-4)

The final weekend before a two week international break kicks off on Saturday morning with Chelsea looking for a victory and all ten Premier League games are going to have live television coverage in the United Kingdom through to Sunday evening.

I will have a few thoughts about the GW4 in the Fantasy Football game below, but before that you can read my thoughts about those Premier League games coming up.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace Pick: The first game in the Premier League this weekend comes from Stamford Bridge and Frank Lampard will be looking to just go into the international break with a little bit of positive momentum.

Going out of the League Cup at Tottenham Hotspur on Penalties and losing to Liverpool before falling 3-0 down at West Brom in the Premier League is not where Chelsea fans would have expected to see their team after a month of football considering the investment made into the side.

Individual errors have been a real problem for Chelsea, much as it was last season too, but they have been creating chances. Injuries are not helping them, but Lampard will be demanding one more big effort before reinforcements will return after the internationals.

They will have to be careful against a Crystal Palace team who have started the season better than expected. This is a team with pace and a real ability to get into positive positions on the counter attack as they showed in their win at Manchester United.

Controlling that counter attack won't be easy for Chelsea unless they are better collectively when it comes to defending, but they have enjoyed playing Crystal Palace in recent times. The Blues have beaten them 3 times in a row at Stamford Bridge and the last two wins have come by at least two goal margins.

With the squad still strong enough, I think Chelsea will be able to get the better of Crystal Palace again. There are goals in this Chelsea team and I expect Frank Lampard to be aware of the counter attacking ability of the visitors as he was last season.

I have to respect the performance at Old Trafford, but Chelsea should be able to cope a little better than Manchester United did that day. That should lead to a good win for Chelsea ahead of a very busy October and early November coming up.

Everton v Brighton Pick: You have to give Carlo Ancelotti some credit for the way Everton have opened up this season and the fans have to believe that their team are going to be able to maintain their 100% start to the season in this one.

They have a very good home record against Brighton in recent seasons and Everton have scored at least three goals in each of their home games over the last month. Granted two of those fixtures came in the League Cup and West Brom were reduced to ten men in the Premier League game, but Everton are creating chances and look to be playing with real confidence.

In players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin they have someone who doesn't look like missing at the moment and should have an extra bounce in the step after being called up by England for the first time.

Everton are also facing a Brighton team who have given up some big chances at the back, although there has to be a respect for the visitors who are unbeaten in 8 away Premier League games.

Graham Potter's men may have lost last weekend, but they deserved so much more against Manchester United and it could easily be argued that they are unfortunate not to have more points on the board. His style means Brighton will get forward and look to cause problems for Everton and I think the home team have shown a little vulnerability especially with Jordan Pickford in goal.

I expect the visitors to be in this game, but at the moment it is hard to oppose Everton. They look to be in form and if Richarlison is passed fit I think they will edge to the win in a game that does feature goals.

It did end 1-0 to Everton in the corresponding fixture last season, but there were a host of chances for both teams in that one. Both look to be showing a little more composure in front of goal at this moment and I will look for Everton to win a game featuring at least two goals.

Leeds United v Manchester City Pick: Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola famously spent several hours discussing philosophies during a time that the latter was just starting his Coaching career.

Ever since Guardiola has had an immense respect for his counterpart and described Bielsa as the best coach in the world.

Respect is one thing, but he won't have an inferior complex and Manchester City are going into Elland Road as a big favourite despite the heavy home loss to Leicester City. They bounced back from that defeat to beat Burnley in the League Cup during the week, and Manchester City have won 3 away Premier League games in a row while scoring plenty of goals in that time.

Losing the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus is a blow to the way Manchester City want to play, but they have shown they can cope with the performance at Burnley. Manchester City also should not be concerned about a team sitting in as they were when they played Leicester City last weekend and the spaces that Leeds United do leave behind should be exploited.

In saying that, Leeds United will also get forward in numbers and challenge a Manchester City defence that looked shot in their defeat last Sunday. Leeds United have scored plenty of goals and in their last two League games they have been creating chances, although the absence of Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez does hurt them.

I don't believe Bielsa will allow his team to sit and be hard to beat but instead will want to take the game to Manchester City. The evidence is the way they approached the FA Cup game against Arsenal last season and the opening League defeat at Liverpool and that should be music to the ears of the Manchester City players who are superior to their Leeds United peers.

It would be a real surprise if the home team do not cause problems of their own, but Manchester City should have spaces to exploit in this one and I think they win a high-scoring fixture with a little room to spare.

Newcastle United v Burnley Pick: If it wasn't for the staggered kick off times being used by the Premier League while the fans are not able to attend games, I don't think any of the broadcasters would have been rushing out to pick this one for television coverage.

That is no disrespect to Newcastle United or Burnley, but injuries are hurting both clubs and I think the managers would happily take the international break right now. It would give them time to bring back key names for the squad and both Steve Bruce and Sean Dyche will also be hoping their clubs are able to bring in some more bodies before the transfer deadline hits on Monday.

For now the concentration will be on trying to add to the points tally before the break in play.

Neither Burnley nor Newcastle United have been creating a lot of chances, but both managers will also set their team up to be difficult to beat and I do think goals will be in short supply. There was just a single strike across the two Premier League games between them last season and 4 of the last 6 has seen one of the clubs fail to hit the net.

With chances coming at a premium, I do think there will be a real possibility of one of the teams failing to score in this one. The new handball rule could change things very quickly, while set pieces are always a threat for both Burnley and Newcastle United, but the two defences have been on top so far this season.

Limited opportunities are being put together when these teams move into the final third and I think this may not be the most entertaining Saturday night game.

Leicester City v West Ham United Pick: Both of these teams will be very pleased with their opening performances even if it is Leicester City who have secured the more consistent results.

Better finishing and a bit more luck might have given West Ham United far more than the 3 points they have earned so far, but the 4-0 win over Wolves shows what this squad is capable of. The heavy loss at Everton in the League Cup also shows the defensive vulnerabilities that exist in the West Ham United squad and I do think that is where Leicester City have to try and get forward and put pressure on their visitors.

You don't always know what to expect from Leicester City when they are being asked to break down opponents, but the 4-2 win over Burnley in the first home League game will give them belief. Confidence has to be at a very high level after the win over Manchester City last weekend anyway and Leicester City did beat West Ham United twice last season.

The 4-1 win at the King Power Stadium before the suspension of League Football around Europe in March shows what Leicester City can do when they put their football together. Injuries are a slight concern with some key names likely to be absent on Sunday, but Leicester City should still have enough quality to get the job done and potentially go into the international break leading the Division.

I do think West Ham United will cause some problems with the levels they have been producing in the first month. They created a lot of chances in the last two games against Arsenal and Wolves so The Hammers won't be intimidated by this fixture, but this is a confident Leicester City team and I think they will edge a high-scoring game.

Southampton v West Brom Pick: There were a lot of people tipping up Southampton as being capable of a strong season who would have been surprised by their opening two League defeats.

The win over Burnley last weekend was a big one for The Saints and they will be looking at matches like this one as being very important to their survival bid. Southampton were poor at home last season, but they did create chances and ended the season with 2 wins from 3 Premier League games.

Better finishing would have put Southampton in a strong position to perhaps beat Tottenham Hotspur, but they collapsed when the chances came and went in the 2-5 defeat. However there was enough positive vibes from the players to believe they can do better and I think they are going to enjoy playing West Brom if the latter keep defending as they have done.

Slaven Bilic was furious that Chelsea's equaliser was allowed to stand last week, but he should be pretty worried about the defending. Despite a 3-0 lead, it always felt West Brom were vulnerable to Chelsea and in the first three games The Baggies have given up some huge opportunities.

The fact is that they haven't gotten away with it either having conceded at least three times in each Premier League game played. They also conceded twice in the eventual Penalties defeat to Brentford in the League Cup and I do think Southampton are going to cause plenty of problems for them.

West Brom should play their part with their speedy counter attacks likely to find spaces, but I don't think Southampton will let them off the hook when they get forward. With Danny Ings the home team have goals in the squad and I think they win this one in another potentially high-scoring Premier League fixture.

Arsenal v Sheffield United Pick: There has been a trend of seeing some high scoring games in the Premier League since the resumption of play in September and I think that is partly down to the lack of fitness some clubs have.

A short turnaround between seasons was always going to be difficult to deal with and having four Rounds of the League Cup scheduled to be played within a month has not helped.

The short off-season also means momentum can seep into this campaign from the last even more so than normal. Chris Wilder has to be worried about that now Sheffield United have lost 6 League games in a row and the lack of goals is a real issue for The Blades.

It is not for the lack of chances either with Sheffield United guilty of missing some glaring opportunities in the last two games including a missed penalty. Those lack of goals is certainly one of the reasons they are the underdog in North London this weekend, although Arsenal are still making some defensive mistakes which are allowing teams to create chances.

Both West Ham United and Liverpool did that so Sheffield United should arrive at the Emirates Stadium believing they can get off the mark in the goals for and points column.

However it will be a challenge to keep Arsenal out considering the early levels being produced by Sheffield United. The Gunners should be well rested despite having been scheduled to play on Thursday and they have been creating chances even if not at the rate to suggest they deserve to have 6 points on the board.

Under Mikel Arteta Arsenal definitely seem to be playing with a bit more confidence in front of goal and they remain a clinical team which is unsurprising considering the attacking talents at their disposal.

Arsenal will want to get forward and they do have a team that will have success, but I am expecting Sheffield United to find a bit more fortune in front of goal if nothing else. They can't keep missing big chances and I think this will help this game produce at least three goals on the day.

Wolves v Fulham Pick: Now I know Fulham are not going to lose every Premier League game they play this season, but at the moment it is very difficult to see where they are going to get their points from.

Certainly not enough points to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Scott Parker wants his team to play football, but the defensive mistakes being made are absolutely embarrassing and putting the manager under pressure. You can't concede three times in every League game played and expect to pick up results, but that is what Fulham have done after losing 0-3 at home to Aston Villa last week.

Defensive signings are likely to be made before the deadline, but those are not arriving just yet and Fulham look vulnerable.

To make matters more difficult, they are facing an angry Wolves team who were humiliated in their 4-0 defeat to West Ham United last Sunday. That is back to back losses for Wolves in the Premier League, but they have not lost 3 League games in a row since November 2018.

They have lost back to back League games four times since those three defeats in a row and Wolves have won 2 and drawn 2 the next time out. Being back at home should help and I do think Wolves have pace and power in the final third which will give them a real edge in this clash.

Wolves are simply going up against a team that offers up two or three really good chances every game they play and in Raul Jimenez they have someone who can gobble up those opportunities. Barring some huge turnaround in their defensive resiliency in the last couple of days, I think Wolves win this fixture.

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: There have been some petty words back and forth between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho in the lead up to this huge fixture in the Premier League.

Those are going to mean nothing when Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet on Sunday and this is a massive game for the two clubs. While Tottenham Hotspur look to have gotten the majority of their business done in the transfer market, Manchester United are under pressure to back their manager and that will only increase tenfold if they were to lose another game at Old Trafford.

It won't be lost on Jose Mourinho that he can put his successor in a heap of trouble by winning here and while he will speak about Spurs alone, I have no doubt it is something he is thinking about privately.

The schedule is not ideal having played Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday and now Sunday again. However Tottenham Hotspur have built up some momentum with their wins in the Cup competitions and the side have played some good attacking football, albeit against teams not quite of the level of Manchester United.

It has not been the best start for Manchester United and their own defensive shortcomings have to be a worry ahead of this Premier League fixture. Brighton should have beaten United, let alone draw, last weekend and Crystal Palace showed how effective the counter attack can be.

Both teams will feel they are better on the front foot in this one and I do think that will be the approach they take. Manchester United have to want to play attacking football at Old Trafford and Tottenham Hotspur will sense a vulnerability in the home team.

With their own defensive issues clear to see in the opening month of the season, I would be surprised if we don't see three or more goals scored for the third time in a row between these clubs at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa v Liverpool Pick: The final game of the Premier League weekend comes from Villa Park where the improved hosts really get to test how far they've come along when they meet the Champions.

Aston Villa have definitely improved defensively since the three month break between March and June and Dean Smith's team have been able to produce a lot more positive results thanks to that. There is some quality going forward, although this is still a huge challenge for them against a club who have won 6 games in a row on this ground in the Premier League.

Last season Aston Villa came awfully close to cracking the code as they led Liverpool into the dying embers of the fixture, but two late goals turned things around for the visitors.

They deserve to win that day, but it was a much closer and more competitive meeting when they played at Anfield in early July. On that day Aston Villa were able to restrict the chances that Liverpool created, although it has to be said there is something of the inevitable about this Liverpool team.

Like many top teams before them, there is a real sense that Liverpool are going to get things right no matter the situation at the moment. Even when they are under pressure they seem to put the right football together to earn the victory, or they have a couple of big defensive moments to swing the momentum towards them.

That does make it very hard to oppose Liverpool as it was to oppose Manchester City two seasons ago.

With the quality Liverpool have going forward you have to favour them to win most games they play, but Aston Villa have shown resiliency and I think they can make this competitive. It is harder for the underdog without the fans in the Stadium, but Aston Villa have beaten Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Sheffield United in that time and pushed Chelsea all the way.

They were giving Manchester United as good as they got before a controversial penalty was awarded against Aston Villa and I do think Dean Smith will have his troops ready to compete.

I would be very surprised if Aston Villa were to capitulate and lose really heavily in this one, although opposing Liverpool is a hard task these days.

MY PICKS: Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Everton & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Newcastle United-Burnley Both Teams to Score- NO

Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals

Southampton & Over 1.5 Goals
Arsenal-Sheffield United Over 2.5 Goals

Wolves & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester United-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals
Aston Villa + 1.75 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 4

After a pretty solid GameWeek 1, the last two weeks have been disappointing to say the least with both finishing under 50 points for the week.

That is not going to cut it although I think this could be a week in which it may be wise for me to stay steady and have two transfers to use following the international break.

I do think there are a couple of players I need to replace in my squad and I can use a transfer this week to move one of those out, although at this stage I want to make sure I am in a position to make the right choices once the real life transfer deadline is hit.

The kind of names that can't be long for my team are Luke Shaw, Ben Davies, Ayoze Perez, Tomas Soucek, Che Adams and Timo Werner.

Take away the two defenders and the other four have had their opportunities to put a big haul on the board, but missed chances and some poor luck has accounted for that and unsurprisingly some of the value has already been lost.

I still believe Adams and Werner can come good and I am willing to give Perez one more chance knowing the injuries in the Leicester City line up and with a very good looking home game come.

At this point you can't win any major prizes in your Leagues, but with the Wild Card to be used this side of the New Year it may be the best time to play it before GW5.

There have been some frustrating moments in the first three GWs of the season, but I am hoping some of the luck returns to my eleven selected before the two week break to have a real think about how I want to approach my team going forward.