Weekend Football and Fantasy Football GameWeek 7 Picks 2021 (October 2-3)

The next international break is set to begin from Sunday evening through to Saturday 16th October and so it is a big weekend for managers who will want to ease any itchy fingers any owners or boards have over the 'sack' button.

To be fair the majority of the Premier League are likely to be sitting in comfortable seats at the moment, but the two week gap between games is a good chance for any reevaluations to take place. The most concerned may be Daniel Farke at Norwich City, but results can quickly change a mood around the club.

It is how I felt after my worst Fantasy Football GameWeek of the season, but I will discuss that below with two free transfers to be used this week (definitely need to use one or lose one).

Manchester United v Everton Pick: There was a real buzz at Old Trafford at the end of the Champions League win over Villarreal, but the cold light of day shed a different stance on the fixture.

Even the most positive of Manchester United fans would have to accept that they were very fortunate to beat Villarreal with the visitors creating multiple strong opportunities. They could have been out of sight by half time and Manchester United will need to improve massively on that performance with some huge games to come between the October and November international break.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can ill-afford to look too far ahead and has to make sure his team bounce back from the Premier League setback last Saturday. In the same time slot, Manchester United were beaten 0-1 by Aston Villa at Old Trafford and they will need to be better organised and more creative if they are going to earn the three points in this one.

They are facing an Everton team who have earned the same number of points as Manchester United in the Premier League so far this season, but Rafael Benitez' men have not faced too many of the big clubs in the Division. That doesn't take anything away from the 13 points produced, but Everton were beaten 3-0 at Aston Villa two weeks ago and they are potentially going to be without a number of key performers.

Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin would all likely be involved in the first eleven, but all could be missing this weekend. As organised as Rafael Benitez will make the visitors, Everton are a team that have been learning what the new manager demands of them and that has seen them concede too many away goals.

Everton do have a good record at Old Trafford in recent years which has to be respected and Manchester United can struggle to break down teams that sit in. However, the ground should be feeling really positive after the win on Wednesday and the fans can inspire the squad to a big performance, one that can give Manchester United something to build upon later this month when bigger tests are to come.

I do think Everton could play their part, but Manchester United should be able to score the goals to secure the three points and end this week with momentum behind them.

Burnley v Norwich City Pick: There are still five teams in the Premier League who are waiting for their first win of the season, but two of those are facing one another on Saturday.

Both Burnley and Norwich City will have likely targeted a fixture like this one for important points in their bid to avoid the drop, but it is the former who have looked stronger this season.

Burnley may not have the points on the board they would have liked, but they have led in 3 of their last 4 Premier League games. Poor finishing and/or game management have let them down at times, but Burnley will feel the opening game is going to be vital in their bid to earn the victory on Saturday.

They have created chances and Burnley were unfortunate to lose to Arsenal in their last League fixture here. A similar level of performance would certainly have Sean Dyche and his players believing they can beat Norwich City, a team who have struggled at this level both in their relegation season in 2019/20 and in the early part of this campaign.

Norwich City have not played too badly at home, but have not been able to negotiate a tough fixture list. However, they have not been so strong away from home and that is where it looks like they could be vulnerable and a poor record at Turf Moor does not really inspire a lot of confidence.

Some believe Norwich City may end up with a new lowest point tally in the top flight since the Premier League was formed in 1992 and there hasn't been much encouragement for them. They have created some chances, but Norwich City have looked seriously vulnerable at the back and Burnley have shown enough going forward to believe they can take advantage of that.

The first goal is likely to be crucial and Burnley have managed to score the opener in 4 of their 6 Premier League games this season. It may just set them on their way to the three points and I think Burnley look likely to earn those this weekend.

Chelsea v Southampton Pick: In recent seasons Southampton have matched up pretty well with Chelsea and it has seen them pick up plenty of positive results against this opponent. They may be encouraged by the fact that Chelsea have lost back to back fixtures, although Ralph Hasenhuttl has to also expect there will be a reaction from the hosts.

The early season results had been decent as far as Chelsea were concerned, but there has been this feeling that they have not been playing as well as they would have liked. Thomas Tuchel will certainly not be happy with some of the attacking displays Chelsea have produced and he will be hoping that Mason Mount can return to offer a creative edge.

No one will dispute the talent that Chelsea have and you have to believe they will begin to get things right, but they look plenty short considering the form of the last week.

Southampton have only lost 2 of their last 7 games at Stamford Bridge and they have already secured draws with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City this season. Two weeks ago they showed plenty of resiliency to earn a point at the Etihad Stadium, but Southampton have given up some big chances in those draws and that should be encouragement for Chelsea.

It might be a tighter match than expected and Southampton are likely to pose problems from set pieces. However, the feeling is that they are going to want to defend deep and try and catch Chelsea on the counter-attack and it may mean The Saints struggle to create enough to win this game.

Chelsea are not likely to win without some drama on the day, but I do think they will do just enough to do that. They have not played well in their last two games, but The Blues should have enough defensive strength to set their team up for a victory, although it may be a tense atmosphere in West London right through to 5pm on Saturday afternoon.

Romelu Lukaku has had a couple of quiet games, but the big Belgian striker could make the difference for Chelsea. Another home clean sheet could be earned too as Chelsea secure three points that may see them top the Premier League table over the next two weeks.

Leeds United v Wolves Pick: The fans still very much believe that Marcelo Bielsa is going to turn things around for Leeds United who have had a hard time with injury early this season.

They are going to be without a couple of key players on Saturday, but defensive reinforcements could be arriving at the right time with Leeds United looking to secure a first League win of the season. Patrick Bamford is a miss, but I do think the style used by Leeds United means they can make up for that as long as they are responsible defensively.

Having a loud Elland Road behind them should be a boost for Leeds United who will have been sickened by the late goal conceded to West Ham United here last weekend. The visitors probably did enough to deserve the points, but Leeds United have played pretty well against Liverpool and The Hammers and they will feel this is a big step down from the level of those two clubs.

No disrespect will be intended for Watford, but this is a team who have struggled away from home and were very fortunate to earn a 1-1 home draw with Newcastle United last time out. They did crush Norwich City a couple of weeks ago, but Leeds United are a much stronger team than that and Watford have some huge defensive concerns that need to be resolved if they are going to consolidate back at this level.

Watford do have a very good recent record at Elland Road, but the last meeting was back in 2015 and Leeds United will feel this current squad is more than capable of turning the tide on that run. The first goal could be very important for either team, but I think Leeds United are creating enough to believe they can become the latest to expose the Watford back line and the home team can secure a vital victory that can ease any tension developing in the fan base.

Wolves v Newcastle United Pick: This is not as easy a game as the layers may think and that is largely down to the fact that Wolves continue to be a very difficult team to read.

They won last weekend at Southampton in a game where continued poor decisions in the final third may have been costly for what has been a wasteful team this season. Defensively Wolves looked sound, but Bruno Lage likes his teams to get forward and score goals and he is still trying to fit in the right players to his forward line to make sure they are more clinical in front of goal.

This certainly looks like a fixture in which Wolves will find spaces to exploit as Newcastle United continue to give opponents plenty of chances. It cost them two points in the 1-1 draw with Watford last week despite an improved performance, but I do think Newcastle United can be dangerous with the pace they have in the final third.

Last time out, Newcastle United created plenty of chances of their own against Watford, but Steve Bruce has not really seen his team produce consistently. They have matched up pretty well with Wolves if 5 straight 1-1 draws is anything to read into, but this is a more forward thinking Wolves and I think that could be important for them.

Failing to score a home League goal has to be a concern in backing Wolves, but I do think this is an opponent that will present chances to them. Add in the creativity that Wolves have shown and I do think they will have every chance to win this game and, like London buses, a home goal may be something the fans have waited so long for that two come at once.

Brighton v Arsenal Pick: The late Saturday afternoon kick off sees Brighton looking to prove they could potentially be a club challenging for European places at the end of this season.

A late Neal Maupay goal salvaged a point against Crystal Palace last Monday and Brighton are a team playing with confidence. Before that draw, Brighton had won 3 in a row in all competitions and they have looked pretty good at both ends of the field.

However, they are not nearly as dominant as they were on the expected goals stat as they were for much of last season and Brighton may see results just dip over the coming weeks and months. Playing at home will be a boost for a Brighton team that have lost 1 of their last 9 games here in all competitions, but Graham Potter's men are going up against a much improved Arsenal team.

Results have picked up over the last month and that has eased the pressure on Mikel Arteta with his Arsenal team winning 4 in a row in all competitions. The first half blitz of Tottenham Hotspur would have been massively enjoyed by the Arsenal fans, but they had been struggling to convert chances into goals prior to that victory.

It may be another tough outing for them in this game, but they showed resiliency in the 0-1 win at Burnley. Arsenal were perhaps a touch fortunate that day and they will need to be a lot better against a Brighton team that will play their football and look to take the game to their visitors.

Last season both games were tight and competitive and I think this one will be no different. 4 of the last 6 between Brighton and Arsenal have ended with fewer than three goals shared out and there is every chance this is going to be another fixture that trends in that direction.

The first goal could be key in deciding the winner, but I am not anticipating a lot of goals between these clubs on their current form. Both are decent going forward, but they are looking to be defensively responsible as much as possible and it could see the managers looking to make life difficult for the other.

One of these teams failing to score would not be a massive surprise and a relatively low-scoring fixture could develop.

Crystal Palace v Leicester City Pick: They may have created the chances to earn a result in Poland on Thursday night, but Leicester City were beaten 1-0 at Legia Warsaw and they have considerable work to do if they are to progress in the Europa League.

It underlines the poor start made to the 2021/22 season as Leicester City have struggled for consistency. They are conceding too many goals and Leicester City have not been as creative in the final third as they have been over the last couple of years under Brendan Rodgers and there has to be some concern about the opening two months of the season.

A big result on Sunday will at least give Leicester City some confidence before they return in two weeks time to take on Manchester United. They were able to rest some key players, but travelling back from Poland is not ideal for a team that has won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions.

To compound the issue, Leicester City will be taking on a Crystal Palace team who have looked pretty good over the last month and who will have been resting and preparing for this fixture. Patrick Vieira's tactics have been much more eye-pleasing for the neutrals to enjoy and the Crystal Palace players have responded with some strong performances.

It can be argued that Crystal Palace have deserved more than they have gotten from those fixtures, but Vieira has to be encouraged by what he has seen. His team have created chances in their last couple of home games and they can expose what has been a soft underbelly at Leicester City who have yet to build a partnership at the back with injuries hurting them.

Crystal Palace have only lost 1 of their last 5 at home against Leicester City and I do think they are a surprising home underdog this weekend. On current form, Crystal Palace have every chance of earning the upset outright, but I certainly think they can avoid defeat as they look to keep the points ticking over against an opponent lacking confidence and travelling back from Europe.

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Pick: An easy home European game on Thursday evening will have been a good chance for Tottenham Hotspur to erase the performance at Arsenal from their minds, but the fans won't have easily forgotten.

It felt like Tottenham Hotspur had waved the white flag very early in the North London derby and they have lost all 3 Premier League games played since the September international break. Even more embarrassing is the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo is known for being defensively well-organised, but Spurs conceded three goals in each defeat to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal.

There is a sense of tension around this ground and inside the Stadium and that means there is pressure on the manager to make sure Tottenham Hotspur start much better in this one. They did not play badly in the first half of the 0-3 home defeat to Chelsea, but Tottenham Hotspur are a team lacking confidence and there is a sense of vulnerability when teams get forward and take their chances to attack them.

Dean Smith is likely going to be setting up his Aston Villa team to test this Tottenham Hotspur backline if their performances at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford are anything to go by. They were well beaten at Chelsea in the Premier League, but Aston Villa could have gotten so much more out of that game with better finishing when the game was in the balance.

Last week it looked like poor finishing was going to be costly for Aston Villa again, but a late goal earned them three points at Manchester United. It was another forward thinking system that Dean Smith had Aston Villa playing and I do think they have every chance of matching the win they earned here in May.

This won't be easy if Tottenham Hotspur make a fast start and try and get on top of Aston Villa, but I do think the visitors are being under-rated. They were the better team at Stamford Bridge and the same could be said at Old Trafford, while this is a step down from that level despite the likes of Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane being in the home dressing room.

Beating Mura is a good, confidence boosting result, but Tottenham Hotspur are a little vulnerable. If Aston Villa can score first, I think the home fans could add to the pressure on the Spurs players and it may lead to another big away result for Dean Smith's progressive team.

West Ham United v Brentford Pick: You have to give a lot of credit to both David Moyes and Thomas Frank for not only the results that their respective sides have earned, but the kind of performances that West Ham United and Brentford have put together.

Both of these London clubs may feel there is a big season ahead of them to build on the foundation laid and I do think the fans will have a good game to look forward to.

West Ham United are still trying to find the balance between Europa League and Premier League commitments and I do wonder how they will handle the short turnaround between fixtures. There hasn't been much to worry about in the main, but it could be argued that West Ham United's worst performance of the season came against Manchester United days after Match Day 1 of the Europa League Group Stage.

They were comfortable winners over Rapid Vienna at home on Thursday, whereas the previous Premier League match came after an away game in Croatia, but it is something to consider.

The Hammers are creating chances and they have Michail Antonio in the form of his career leading the line. I certainly think they can challenge a well organised Brentford team who have struggled for goals despite the three they managed against Liverpool.

Brentford have been a breath of fresh air in the top flight and I do think this is a club that is progressing. The development under Thomas Frank makes them a team to be respected and I do think every club in the top flight will have a tough test when visiting the Brentford Community Stadium.

However, I do think home advantage could be key for West Ham United here and that may give them enough of an edge to earn the three points. Nothing will come easy against Brentford this season, but David Moyes' team have been pretty good at the back in recent games and, with Michail Antonio, there is always the quality in the final third which may end up making the difference for the East London club.

Liverpool v Manchester City Pick: The top two in the Premier League table going into this weekend will be meeting one another on Sunday afternoon and it is a big chance for Liverpool and Manchester City to lay down a marker for their title ambitions.

Both teams have made a strong start to the season, but there have been a couple of setbacks too. I do think that raises some questions as to the direction this fixture will take, but for the large part you would expect Liverpool and Manchester City to try and impose their game on the other.

They are heading into this weekend off the back of different Champions League away experiences during the week, but Manchester City may feel hard done by in losing at Paris Saint-Germain. The 0-1 win at Stamford Bridge last weekend shows what kind of level Manchester City are still capable of performing at and I think they are going to cause problems for Liverpool.

The key for Manchester City will be getting through what is likely to be an early Liverpool storm, but they have largely been defending pretty well. It took a couple of special goals to break them down in the French capital, while Manchester City were able to keep Chelsea at arm's distance for much of the fixture last weekend.

Liverpool will believe they can do better than Chelsea, while their own defensive performances have been decent enough. Virgil Van Dijk's return has been a huge boost for the home team and I think this is a fixture which is likely to go against the trend of recent Liverpool and Manchester City clashes at Anfield.

4 of the last 5 between these clubs at this ground have ended with at least three goals shared out, but I don't think either manager will want to give too much away here. Manchester City are still lacking goals, especially away from home, while Liverpool will find it tough to break down their visitor's defences.

A tight game is expected between two confident clubs and the feeling is that we will see fewer than three goals on the day with every chance of the points being shared.

MY PICKS: Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals

Burnley

Chelsea Win to Nil

Leeds United & Over 1.5 Goals

Wolves & Over 1.5 Goals

Brighton-Arsenal Under 2.5 Goals

Crystal Palace + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Aston Villa + 0.5 Asian Handicap

West Ham United

Liverpool-Manchester City Under 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 7

That was a hard week to get through.

My decision to essentially pick Mason Greenwood over Diogo Jota looked a poor one, while Cristiano Ronaldo was not able to extend his run of scoring goals on his return to Manchester United and ended any hopes of my Captain salvaging the week.

Injuries to Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold have put their participation in doubt for GameWeek 7, but those two players combined for a monster 1 point last time out.

And all in all, a sub-40 point score is an absolute disgrace, although overall I have pushed over the 400 point mark which is the only positive I can lean on after the horrible scenes.

I did manage to hold a Free Transfer through the week and have two for GameWeek 7, although the feeling is that I am going to hold off making both this week.

Initially the plan had been to bring in Romelu Lukaku and another Chelsea player ahead of what looks to be a very promising run of games for that team, but the disappointing last week means I am going to take a risk and have to deal with any fallout of not picking up the Belgian number nine.

Michail Antonio is too important to drop at the moment, while those injuries to key defenders means I am likely going to spend one transfer in that position of my team. I am actually fairly happy with the options I have in the squad, and might even have rolled through this week if that was going to give me another Free Transfer to hold.

There is no doubting the kind of asset Trent Alexander-Arnold can be in this game, but the Liverpool run over the next several weeks may not result in a lot of clean sheets. His attacking starts are obviously highly encouraging, but the groin injury has to be a concern and I do think I can drop him now and bring him back in a month/six weeks when other areas of my team can be downgraded.

An easy choice here looks to be doubling down on the Chelsea defence before their run of games that could easily see the team put a number of clean sheets on the board. It saves some considerable cash with the Alexander-Arnold move to someone like Antonio Rudiger, who looks the most set of the Chelsea back line with Cesar Azpilicueta, and the risk of two defenders from the same team could pay off.

As mentioned before, I had also planned to move Mason Greenwood from my team this week- I like the young Manchester United player and I think he is going to be a star for the club for years to come, but the last couple of weeks have been difficult for the 20 year old. With Jesse Lingard producing off the bench and with Marcus Rashford expected to return in two weeks time (possibly on the bench this weekend) and I do think Mason Greenwood is going to become a rotation casualty.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want to look after Greenwood and it could be a time to take him out of the starting eleven with senior players in form and returning from injury. With the games coming up, I do think the decision to move Mason Greenwood and pick up Raphinha from Leeds United looks too much to ignore.

Raphinha is someone who looked underpriced in the game, but his form remains exceptionally high, while the attacker has four very good looking fixtures coming up from which he could truly benefit. He could pay immediate dividends in a home game with Watford and Raphinha should be well rested for what is to come next.

Using both Free Transfers without taking a hit will put some pressure on my team if the international break plays havoc as it can do, but I do like the shape it gives my squad and the huge amount of options I have in GameWeek 8 and further ahead into the fixtures coming up.

I don't want to be in a position where I have to take too many hits, but that's an option for GameWeek 8 which I will discuss in the next thread in two weeks time (if needed).

Hopefully I can have a much better week all around this time after the horrible showing in GameWeek 6.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (October 30-November 2)

The season has been plenty strange already and I think it is telling that we have heard things like Kylian Mbappe talking about being fatigued and feeling like this is the end of the season rather than the beginning.

Injuries are piling up through the top European Leagues and managers are in an unenviable position of having to find results at the same time as maintaining their duty of care to their players by making sure they are well rested.

It hasn't just made things difficult for the real managers, but Fantasy Football managers have to also be feeling the pain. That is the case for my time and I am having my worst start to the Official FPL season as I have had in many a year with nothing seemingly going right and the strange, Twilight Zone entering results meaning some unfamiliar or unexpected names lead the way in terms of the points being earned.

I'll moan more about that below.

Wolves v Crystal Palace Pick: Inconsistent results have been a feature of the early Premier League season and that is the case for both Wolves and Crystal Palace. One week they can look pretty good, but on another they can play terribly and that makes it hard to get a good read on either side.

The only element that has been clear for Wolves is that they are struggling to create a lot of chances and that has resulted in problems scoring goals. Raul Jimenez continues to lead the line effectively, but they have not scored more than a single goal in any of their last 6 in all competitions since stunning Sheffield United with two early goals on the opening weekend of the season.

Back to back 1-0 wins would have been appreciated, but last week Wolves were punished for the lack of goals when conceding in the last few minutes in their 1-1 home draw with Newcastle United. At least Wolves can point to the fact they largely contained their visitors before Rui Patricio's error in setting up his wall for the free kick that was converted by Jacob Murphy.

It is difficult to know which Crystal Palace will turn up on Friday too- will it be the one that has been very effective going forward in their wins at Manchester United and Fulham or the one dominated at home by Brighton. Roy Hodgson's team have been better away from home where the onus is on their hosts to get forward which leaves space for a pacy attack, but Crystal Palace have also been hammered at Chelsea.

Defensive injuries are mounting up which makes it more difficult to trust Crystal Palace who have not had a clean sheet in their last 5 Premier League games and only once in their last 14 in the League. The Eagles have been scoring goals to make up for that, but it won't be easy to break down this Wolves team and games between these clubs have tended to be low-scoring since the latter returned to the top flight.

All four games have ended with fewer than three goals scored and the feeling is that this PPV game on Friday evening may go the same way. An early goal could really change the entire feel of the fixture, but I think both Nuno Espirito Santo and Roy Hodgson are managers who will look to restrict the spaces for the fast, attacking players and that could lead to another tight fixture involving Wolves.

Goals have been more frequent in Crystal Palace games, but I would be surprised if either team is producing a lot of chances in this one. Set pieces could be key, but both clubs are pretty adept at defending them too and I think this will be a game that doesn't feature more than two goals.

Backing at least one to avoid hitting the net looks the more appealing price now the money has come down on the Under 2.5 Goals option with the 1-1 scoreline the biggest danger.

Sheffield United v Manchester City Pick: The Premier League campaign has not started ideally for Manchester City, but they will be pleased that their early setbacks have not been as costly as they tended to be twelve months ago.

This time around none of the teams have shown the kind of consistency Liverpool displayed in the first five months of the 2019/20 season and that means Manchester City are 'only' 5 points behind the League leaders with a game in hand. That is not as big a gap as they may have expected having won 2 of their 5 Premier League games played, but Pep Guardiola will know they can't afford to keep dropping points.

Back to back 1-1 away draws at Leeds United and West Ham United have just raised some doubts about this Manchester City team, but they have shown in their win at Marseille in the Champions League that there is still plenty in the tank. Being without Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus does mean Manchester City lack a focal point, but they are still creating chances and I do think they are playing much better defensively than their recent results may suggest.

In their last 4 games out of the international break Manchester City have been particularly good at the back and I do think Sheffield United are going to have a tough time breaking them down. Set pieces will likely be their biggest threat, but The Blades have been lacking a cutting edge overall which makes it hard to believe they can pick up a positive result here.

Chris Wilder is more pleased with the recent performances from his team, but Sheffield United continue to struggle in the final third. They do play some decent football which creates chances, but lacking a clinical striker is not just an issue which has plagued them this season.

Even last season Sheffield United perhaps did not have the kind of end product they deserved for their play, but they were stronger defensively. That has not been the case in the 2020/21 season so far and Sheffield United have not had a clean sheet in their last 9 Premier League games.

They have scored just once in their last 4 home League games and even that was a Penalty and I do think Manchester City will be too strong for them. I am not sure whether the away side will be capable of blowing away Sheffield United on their own current form, but Manchester City should have enough to secure the points and I will back them to win a game in which fewer than five total goals are produced.

When Manchester City are at their best they capable of hammering any team at any ground, but this is a team who have looked to be a little more defensively sound in recent games. They have not scored more than a single goal in their last 2 away Premier League games, but Manchester City should have at least one more in them here which will likely be enough to secure the three points.

Burnley v Chelsea Pick: The difficulty for those clubs playing in European Football compared with those who are not is clear to see as Chelsea will continue to play every three days while Burnley are going to have had a week to prepare for the fixture.

Even then there are no excuses for the so called 'bigger' clubs who have deeper squads and ultimately have players who are used to being involved in big games all the time.

Chelsea's 0-4 win in Krasnodar was an impressive one for the players as they ended a 3 game run without a victory. Most pleasing for Frank Lampard has to be the third clean sheet in a row and I expect he is going to be preparing his team to be focused from set pieces as they look for a fourth in a row.

They are facing a Burnley team who played well on Monday Night Football in their narrow 0-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. On another day the 1-0 scoreline may have been in favour of Burnley and Sean Dyche has to be encouraged by the level of performance.

Injuries continue to hurt Burnley, but they are not a team who are likely to roll over for Chelsea despite the poor home run against them. Burnley have lost 5 of their last 6 at Turf Moor against Chelsea and they have conceded four goals in each of the last 2 here against them.

It may be a concern that Chelsea managed that number in wins over Crystal Palace and Krasnodar earlier this month, but there is still a lack of consistency in the away side. That is no surprise with the number of new faces in the squad, although Chelsea have looked much more secure defensively ever since Edouard Mendy has taken over from Kepa.

He made some decent saves in Russia on Wednesday and was also a key performer in the goalless draw at Manchester United. It might give Chelsea the slight edge here, and I can't ignore the current struggles Burnley have been having at getting on the scoreboard recently.

The feeling is that one of these teams will end up failing to score and that is more likely to be Burnley than Chelsea. It could be a battle if Burnley replicate the levels they produced against Tottenham Hotspur though and the feeling is that it may be a fixture where one, or both, of the teams fail to find the back of the net.

Liverpool v West Ham United Pick: You can't help but be impressed with the recent performances of West Ham United and David Moyes is rebuilding his reputation following a poor time as manager of Manchester United.

It has been over six years since Moyes has left Old Trafford, but he has not had much consistent success anywhere. His two spells at West Ham United have been the best moments in the time since and the start made to the new season has just reminded people of the successes David Moyes had when managing Everton.

The fixture list could not have been much more awkward for Moyes and The Hammers to open the 2020/21 season, but the character of the squad has produced some huge results. Even in the defeat at the Emirates Stadium West Ham United were the better team and they have followed that with Premier League wins over Leicester City and Wolves and come from 3-0 down to earn a draw with Tottenham Hotspur before another draw against Manchester City.

Those are some top results and they will head up the M1/M6 with some confidence despite the poor recent outcomes from visits to Anfield. This time West Ham United have largely a fully fit squad to choose from and they are taking on a Liverpool team that has problems in picking a backline for this game through injury.

With the goals West Ham United are scoring they will give it a go here, although they will obviously be given a setback if Michail Antonio is not able to take part. Even then you have to believe West Ham United have to try and challenge a Liverpool backline which is decimated at the heart of the team.

That will be an issue for the home team to deal with, but Liverpool's front three are fresh and they are a team that create chances at Anfield. As positive as the eventual results have been, you can't just throwaway the 3-0 deficit West Ham United found themselves in at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month before the late recovery.

Manchester City also had some decent chances against them and in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah Liverpool do have players who won't be as wasteful in front of goal. Liverpool have also scored plenty of goals when hosting West Ham United in recent times and I do think the home team will look to protect the makeshift centre half pairing by getting on the front foot and pushing West Ham United backwards.

I would not be surprised if The Hammers played their part in this fixture, but Liverpool should be too good and I think that will lead to an important victory for them ahead of a big week. A late goal may be needed, but I expect Liverpool to find a way to break down West Ham United and win this by a comfortable looking margin when all is said and done.

Aston Villa v Southampton Pick: There won't have been many who would have suggested this would be a fixture between two of the current top seven in the Premier League and especially not at this stage of the season.

Both Aston Villa and Southampton have to be very pleased with the starts made to the campaign and this may be a special season if the rest of the Division continue to perform as inconsistently week to week as they have been.

The two clubs are both within touching distance of the leaders Everton and there should be a confidence about them.

Some of that may have been knocked from Aston Villa who were beaten 0-3 by Leeds United last time out and now they have to face a Southampton team who are unbeaten in 4 games. The Saints have won 3 of those including the victory over then unbeaten Everton last Sunday and they have looked pretty good defensively ever since the home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Those stronger performances have resulted in 3 clean sheets from their last 4 Premier League games and I do think Southampton won't be worried about this fixture. While they will recognise the quality Aston Villa have in the final third, Ralph Hasenhuttl has to believe his own attacking players can have success at Villa Park in what could be a decent watch on Sunday.

Southampton may have a slight mental edge having beaten Aston Villa twice last season, although both wins came before the break in play in March. Since then Aston Villa have been much better and you have to say the defeat to Leeds United is more of an exception than the normal level since June.

It looks like a really good game on paper and the potential to be one, but both clubs are actually playing pretty well defensively. It may mean there isn't much in this one and I do have to give Southampton a slight advantage as the underdog in what could be a close game.

I can't rule out the draw, but I do think Southampton have perhaps been playing slightly better than Aston Villa of late. The home team did hammer Liverpool here which has to be respected, but they perhaps didn't deserve to beat Sheffield United and I think that win over Liverpool makes them a touch over-rated.

Perhaps I will be wrong, but Southampton should be good enough to avoid defeat on their current levels of performance.

Newcastle United v Everton Pick: While Newcastle United earned what was largely an undeserved point, Everton were losing their unbeaten start to the Premier League season and both managers have to be looking for an improvement in fortunes.

Neither club has won either Premier League coming out of the international break and that does put a bit of pressure on them with two weeks to go until the November break in play.

In saying that, I do think both Newcastle United and Everton will be happy with the way things have been going and it is all about making the small adjustments to improve results. Out of the two teams the feeling is that Everton are still performing at a better level than Newcastle United despite the downturn in results.

The absence of Richarlison is a blow to the line up and losing both starting full backs for this game does mean the squad is being stretched. That has to be a concern for Everton fans as they look to maintain their spot at the top of the Premier League, but they will believe there is still enough quality to hurt a Newcastle United team who have not been at their best defensively in the last couple of weeks.

Newcastle United should have some successes of their own with the pace they have in forward areas through Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, but I think the edge has to be with the visitors. Everton have a very good record in recent visits to St James' Park too and there might still be enough quality in the team even without Lucas Digne, Seamus Coleman and Richarlison to edge to the points here.

The first goal is absolutely huge in this one, but if Everton can get it I do think they can go on and secure the three points in a big game for the squad.

Manchester United v Arsenal Pick: 

Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton Pick: 

Fulham v West Brom Pick: 

Leeds United v Leicester City Pick: 

MY PICKS: Wolves-Crystal Palace Both Teams to Score NO

Manchester City to Win & Under 4.5 Goals

Burnley-Chelsea Both Teams to Score NO

Liverpool - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Southampton + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Everton - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Manchester United - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Tottenham Hotspur - 0.75 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 7

I honestly can't quite get to grips with the Official FPL game this season.

If things could go wrong they probably have for my team and I can't seem to get out of the way of those players who lose value which makes it very difficult to turn things around too. It would help if those I have selected could convert some of their XG and XA marks into actual points and overall I am sure you can sense my feelings of frustration.

It does irritate me that others are seemingly benefiting from players who have picked up points almost undeservedly, but at this stage I just feel it is a long season and I am hoping things begin to settle in what has been a strange Premier League season to this point.

I am not entirely convinced they will which means having to make adjustments in the thinking, and that may also mean having to take more Hits than I am used to.

Press Conferences are going to be important for the next two months to try and get a feeling of where players are being rested and it does mean the squad in general has to be stronger than I have sometimes had in the past.

I was hoping to have a transfer roll over into GW8, but I think there is a feeling that either Sergio Reguilon or Ben Chilwell could be rested. That would mean Adam Webster coming in, but I think I can upgrade the defence this week and I am going to want to roll over the transfer through the international break.

For the main part I am happy with the squad and I am not going to rush out and make changes to my team knowing I deserve more points than I have earned to this point. At some stage the luck has to change and I have already made the mistake of dropping Timo Werner before he returned in the kind of manner I would have wanted.

Marcus Rashford is another who has thrived just after I have taken him out of the squad and I want to avoid those rash decisions this week.

Some players are in the last chance saloon- I can't carry Riyad Mahrez for his value and lack of returns, but he has a decent looking fixture this Saturday assuming he is given the start. I do have an idea of some teams and players I would like to target in the weeks ahead, but for now I am looking for this squad to find a way to produce the returns.

I will post my team on Twitter at the deadline on Friday evening.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (September 28-30)

We might only be eight days away from the next international break of the 2019/20 season, but for the top Premier League clubs it is a big eight days which covers two rounds of Premier League fixtures as well as Match Day 2 of the Champions League and Europa League.

Big games need big performances so there is pressure on teams to deliver especially at the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United where negative headlines have been written by clubs who were beaten in the Premier League last weekend and then struggled massively in the League Cup during the week as they were taken to Penalties by teams from the lower Leagues.

At least Manchester United managed to earn their place in the next Round of the League Cup, but Tottenham Hotspur losing on Penalties to Colchester United has just kept the questions going about whether something is seriously wrong in that part of North East London.


My deeper thoughts on Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can be read here.


We move into the next Round of Premier League fixtures- this thread is concentrated on selections to be made from the games to be played from Saturday through to Monday Night Football, but I will then have a thread for the Midweek Champions League and Europa League games before rounding off the week with another set of Picks from the Premier League as well as Fantasy Football talk going into GW8.

It is GW7 this week and there look to be some big decisions that need to be made in terms of who to select as Captain, but I will get to those after the Premier League Picks from this weekend which can be seen below.


Sheffield United v Liverpool Pick: The early kick off in the Premier League comes from Bramall Lane as Sheffield United host Liverpool and the layers can only see one team winning.

It would be a surprise if Liverpool were to drop their first points of the season in this fixture when you think of the lack of goals that Sheffield United seemingly have in the side. I know they scored twice last weekend, but Sheffield United had only one shot on target which underlines some of the problems they are having at this level.

That has been particularly evident at home where Sheffield United have failed to score in their last two games against Southampton and Sunderland. They did create chances against Southampton, but this Liverpool defence is considerably better than the one The Saints send to the field even in the absence of Alisson.

Alisson has been a big miss if judging by the lack of clean sheets Liverpool are producing, but they have been a little unlucky in a couple of games. That was not the case last week at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea created the better of the openings, but there is a belief about Liverpool at the moment and the front three they can send out onto the field should be able to cause Sheffield United some big problems.

In the early away games played this season, teams have created good chances against Liverpool so there is an opportunity for Sheffield United if they can get things right in the final third. The problem for Chris Wilder's team will be finding the balance between attack and defence, especially at home, and I do think that will ultimately be too much to figure out against one of the two best teams in England.

I expect a lot of hard work and energy put in by the Sheffield United players, but Liverpool have scored at least twice in 7 away Premier League games in a row and that may be enough for them to cover this Asian Handicap.


Aston Villa v Burnley Pick: This is the kind of fixture that Burnley have made it their business to earn a result which will eventually lead to safety in the Premier League. Last weekend they beat newly promoted Norwich City comfortably at Turf Moor and Burnley have shown enough resilience away from home to believe they can cause all sorts of problems for Aston Villa.

The home team have played well this season but Aston Villa are finding it hard to strike the balance between attack and defence at Villa Park. Dean Smith has some talented players at his disposal, but Aston Villa have not created a lot of chances in the last couple of games here and they struggled to impose themselves on West Ham United when the latter were reduced to ten men.

I expect Burnley will look to come here and make things as tight as possible, but Sean Dyche will also want to see some defensive improvements from the last Premier League away game. Brighton should have beaten Burnley that day, but this tough, hard working Premier League club were much better against the Norwich City attackers last week and I really don't think there is much between the clubs.

The layers are expecting goals and an Aston Villa win judging by the odds being offered. I actually feel the opposite is more likely in both markets with Burnley and the start on the Asian Handicap appealing.

However I would need a Burnley win for a full payout and I am not completely in belief they can earn that. Instead I am going to back at least one of the teams to fail to score which might not have hit in any Burnley away game so far, but would have been a winner in the last two at Villa Park.

Neither team creates a lot of chances in home/away games respectively and the biggest threat to my selection is likely going to be set pieces. Aston Villa are better than what they have shown at Villa Park so far this season, but Burnley have the know how of the Premier League to limit them here, while they simply don't offer as much going forward on their travels as they may do at Turf Moor.

An early goal will shift the dynamics of this one, but if we can get through the first half hour at 0-0 the possibility of just one goal being enough to settle this increases massively. I will back at least one of the teams not to score in the fixture at a very big looking price.


Bournemouth v West Ham United Pick: The layers look to have a good feel for this game with the very short odds on there being goals between two attacking teams.

Both Bournemouth and West Ham United used much changed teams in the League Cup during the week and both were upset by League One opponents away from home. That shouldn't have dented the confidence of the players too much considering the majority of those involved on Saturday did not play, but the defeats are still disappointing.

My lean is towards Bournemouth using home advantage to earn the three points, but this is a tough fixture to pick considering the improvements West Ham United have made. They have shown some resiliency away from home which makes me lean towards Bournemouth too slight for me to play this game with better options out there as far as I can read right now.


Chelsea v Brighton Pick: Frank Lampard will feel a sense of relief that Chelsea have finally won at Stamford Bridge under his watch even if it was against an overmatched lower League club in the League Cup.

After defeats to Valencia and Liverpool in games Chelsea deserved more than they got, Lampard has to be pleased the squad was utilised in the fashion it was and the return of Callum Hudson-Odoi is a huge bonus for the club.

Hudson-Odoi is unlikely to be risked from the start on Saturday, but Chelsea will be big favourites to win their first League game at home. They have created a host of chances in their last couple of games here without reward, but I think the players have some belief in what the manager wants from them and I do think they are going to be a little too good for Brighton.

I am not disrespecting Brighton when I say that as I have been impressed with the changes Graham Potter has already made at the club. They are attacking with verve and slightly better finishing would have resulted in a lot more points earned than they have on the board right now.

Not many teams would try and take the game to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium as Brighton did, but that openness has perhaps left them a little vulnerable at the back. I don't think Potter will change his methods so I do think Brighton can potentially hurt a Chelsea team that don't seem to deal in clean sheets any more, but I also believe that we will see Chelsea continue to create a lot of chances at Stamford Bridge.

It could be a fun game to watch for the neutrals, but my feeling is that Chelsea's extra quality in the final third will be telling by the end of this one. They did blow a 2-0 lead over Sheffield United here so it is not easy to back Chelsea, but I believe they win their first League game at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard and can cover the Asian Handicap in the process.


Crystal Palace v Norwich City Pick: I am only going to make one point about this game- if Crystal Palace had been a better home team over the last couple of years they would have been very much worth backing to win this game at odds against.

No Premier League team should be odds against to beat Norwich City at home on the current form shown by Daniel Farke's men away from Carrow Road. Last weekend they were beaten comfortably at Burnley who created a host of chances against them, but Crystal Palace are much tougher to trust at Selhurst Park.

I do think Crystal Palace win and they came close to being picked, but ultimately it would not be a massive surprise to me if Norwich City did earn something here. When you think like that, I do think it is hard to back a team at the price Crystal Palace are and I will move on.


Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton Pick: There is a bit of unrest at Tottenham Hotspur and the defeat to Colchester United in the League Cup Third Round has only compounded the darkness that is beginning to engulf this club.

Mauricio Pochettino does not seem to be very happy and there are a number of players who have their futures clouded which is perhaps disrupting the harmony inside the squad. It has led to inconsistent results and performances and that makes this is a very big game for Tottenham Hotspur and the manager on Saturday.

They can't expect an easy ride against a Southampton team who have won 4 away games in a row in all competitions and just come off a crushing of rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The goals for Danny Ings will have helped the confidence of a striker for a team who have perhaps not been as clinical in the final third as they would have liked and it certainly means Southampton will arrive in North East London with a spring in their step.

The Saints have not enjoyed recent visits to Tottenham Hotspur with 3 straight losses here and the last two have come by wide margins. As bad as it feels things are at Tottenham Hotspur, they have won 2 of their 3 home games in the Premier League and scored at least three goals in both wins and I do think we will see a reaction from the home team.

It may only be a slight relief from the pressure that is building and I do think Southampton might be able to play a part here considering the defensive issues at Tottenham Hotspur. However I do think Southampton have been riding their luck to 4 away clean sheets in a row and I will look to back Tottenham Hotspur to remind the fans they are still on the same page from manager to player with a good looking win on Saturday.

I will look for Tottenham Hotspur to cover the Asian Handicap in this one.


Wolves v Watford Pick: What can you say about this game? Wolves have looked like they are troubled with the commitments they have to make to the Europa League alongside the Premier League and have not put too many wins on the board in recent weeks and nothing domestically that makes them hard to trust at odds on.

On the other hand Watford have produced two contrasting performances under Quique Sanchez Flores. In the first game they battled back from 0-2 down to draw with Arsenal at Vicarage Road and arguably deserved more than they got, but then last week Watford lost 8-0 at Manchester City.

I would expect The Hornets to have a much stronger sting this week and they did win at Molineux last week, but I can make a case for either of these teams bouncing back from some poor form. I'll keep a watching brief on this one.


Everton v Manchester City Pick: There are some big expectations at Everton and this was a club that many thought would challenge the top six from last season after further investments were made in the summer. Marco Silva's men had a strong end to the 2018/19 season which increased hopes and the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all look vulnerable.

However Everton have not been able to take advantage of what looked a good opening set of fixtures and the 0-2 home defeat to Sheffield United last weekend has really put some pressure on the manager.

A win over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup will have helped soothe some of the unrest at Goodison Park, but Marco Silva might have wished for almost any other opponent rather than the Champions. Manchester City have been scoring goals for fun all season and rested some of their biggest names in the League Cup win at Preston North End during the week, while Pep Guardiola learned plenty of lessons from his first visit as manager to this ground.

Manchester City have won back to back games here and were the last team to win a Premier League game at Goodison Park before Sheffield United managed to match their result last weekend. With the goals in the squad I do think Manchester City will erase memories of their last Premier League away game at Norwich City and I think Everton are still on the edge of complete mutiny against the manager.

If Manchester City take the lead here I do think the home fans might show plenty of discontent which will make it difficult for the Everton players to make the kind of impact they would want. The defensive issues at Manchester City does raise some questions, but I think they have played very well at Goodison Park in the last couple of visits and mentally the players will be more prepared than they were for the trip to Carrow Road.

Plenty of the top names got a rest during the week and Manchester City have scored two or more goals in 6 straight away games in all competitions. Everton will have their moments, but I think Manchester City will be too strong for an opponent who are quickly going to lose confidence if they fall behind.

As long as Manchester City play a clean game defensively and avoid the big mistakes they made at Norwich City, I think they can win and cover the Asian Handicap here too.


Leicester City v Newcastle United Pick: This is a big game for Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City to show they are ready to compete for places higher up the Premier League standings. It is one thing beating Tottenham Hotspur as an underdog, but dealing with opponents like Newcastle United with a huge sense of expectation behind them is the next step in the development of Rodgers' team.

They look set to be without James Maddison this weekend which is a big blow and the only team to win at the King Power Stadium since Brendan Rodgers was appointed are the visitors this weekend.

Leicester City have shown they are capable of creating chances, but they will miss Maddison's creativity against a Newcastle United team who are going to sit back and look to constrict spaces. That will make it tough for Jamie Vardy, but Newcastle United are a team that will offer chances for Leicester City and Steve Bruce is yet to really get the fans onboard with his decisions.

At least Bruce can point to the win at Tottenham Hotspur as a sign of how his team can be successful here, but the goals conceded at Norwich City and Liverpool is a concern. Newcastle United looked short of ideas for long periods against Brighton last week and I do think this Leicester City have shown strong enough defensive shape to be able to contain their opponents.

We might not see the most free-flowing of games on Sunday in front of the television cameras as both teams might struggle to break down their opponent. However you have to give the slight edge to Leicester City even without James Maddison and I think they can win a tight game that features fewer than four goals on the day.

At the prices it is more appealing than asking Leicester City to cover the Asian Handicap and win by two or more clear goals. I don't think Leicester City have shown enough to think they can score three or more goals here which means that any win is going to fail to surpass the number of goals I have set here.

With that in mind my selection at odds against looks to be the call.


Manchester United v Arsenal Pick: Two teams who only just missed out on a top four finish last season meet on Monday Night Football this week and the pressure is on Manchester United to get back to winning ways.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want his side to begin to lose touch with the teams chasing the Champions League places with the season yet to roll into the third month of the 2019/20 campaign. He admitted as much after the win over Leicester City earlier this month, but once again Manchester United are going to have to dig deep to earn a result.

Losing Marcus Rashford to injury means United could be down to Mason Greenwood as the only recognised striker they can call upon. Anthony Martial is hoping to be passed fit to return, but otherwise it is going to be up to the 17 year old who has scored in his last two starts at Old Trafford.

A teenage striker has made an impact for an injury hit Manchester United team against Arsenal before when Marcus Rashford really announced himself to the fans with two goals in a 3-2 win over them in 2016. It is still asking a lot for Mason Greenwood to do the same even if Arsenal have defensive issues, especially as Manchester United have displayed a real lack of creativity in recent games.

Arsenal are scoring plenty of goals at the moment which is going to have a lot of people looking to back the underdog to win at Old Trafford. I can't blame the thinking, but Arsenal have not been very creative in recent away games and I do think Manchester United have defended well enough to at least limit what the visitors can do.

It just feels like the makings of a much tighter game than the layers are expecting and this may be another opportunity to back less than three goals being shared out as I did when Manchester United hosted Leicester City. Outside of a penalty little was created that day, and even the defensive issues that Arsenal clearly have may not be fully exploited in this fixture.

3 of the last 5 between these clubs at Old Trafford have ended with at least three goals shared out so history suggests I am barking up the wrong tree here. However, looking at the early performances of the two clubs and I can see a game being played out with some caution by both with two under pressure managers not looking to concede too much ground.

Defensively Manchester United have looked the stronger, but I am not sure they have enough attacking thrust to score twice here. Arsenal will feel they have the goals and creativity to win here and score the goals needed to do that, but they haven't been as good on their travels and I am going to back under 2.5 goals being shared out on the day.

MY PICKS: Liverpool - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Aston Villa-Burnley Both Teams to Score- No @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City & Under 3.5 Goals @ 2.05 Coral (2 Units)
Manchester United-Arsenal Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.25 Bet Victor (2 Units)

September 2019/20: 10-5-1, + 8.42 Units (32 Units Staked, + 26.31% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football (GameWeek 7)

Like many Fantasy managers last week, Pep Guardiola's decision to rest Raheem Sterling hurt all the more when you think Manchester City scored eight goals against Watford.

He was my selection for Captain and that meant Sadio Mane took over the double points portion of the game.

Other than that decision from Guardiola which infuriated a lot of managers out there, it was a very good week in the most part for the GW6 team that was selected. A return of 68 points was almost 20 points more than the average for the week and it was Bernardo Silva's hat-trick that was the key contribution as my faith in sticking with the midfielder was rewarded.

Andy Robertson, John Lundstram (who came in because Sterling did not play), James Tarkowski and Ederson were the other big contributors as I saw a bunch of green arrows beside my team as we all aim for every week.

In GW7 I am looking to only make the one transfer and it is finally the right time to move out Che Adams who has had some big chances, but has not had the confidence to score the goals he perhaps should have. I am still convinced Adams will be ok at this level, but he needs that first goal to just get back on track mentally.

However Southampton are about to hit a difficult patch of their schedule and there is no point holding onto someone who is not producing the points needed.

There were four strikers that really appealed with the money I have in the bank and those are Teemu Pukki, Ashley Barnes, Tammy Abraham and Sebastian Haller.

All of those players are affordable and ready to enter a decent portion of their schedule, but you will have to have a read of my GW7 team to see which one of those I have selected.

Thanks to some misinformation about the availability of a midfield player, I also made the decision to take my first four point hit of the season. It is my mistake as I usually wait until after the Friday press conferences before making transfers, especially when having injuries in the squad, but the downgrade I saw on Thursday evening on Manuel Lanzini's status meant I wanted to change him.

Hopefully that decision does not come back to haunt me in the weeks ahead.

Picking a Captain is not easy this week with the main contenders away from home, so it is actually a new signing that will take the armband for my squad in GW7.

GameWeek 7 Team

Ederson- a tough away game at Everton, but I remain a one goalkeeper team.

Andrew Robertson- started to produce the returns on the attacking side of the field even though Liverpool have struggled for clean sheets.

James Tarkowski- Burnley have not had an away clean sheet, but I think they have a chance of potentially getting from the visit to Villa Park.

Caglar Soyuncu- Leicester City are facing a goal-shy Newcastle United and have looked pretty good defensively for the most part this season.

Youri Tielemans- James Maddison might be missing for Leicester City so it will be up to Youri Tielemans to find the creativity to unlock what is likely going to be a stubborn Newcastle United.

Sadio Mane- expected to overcome a knock suffered in the win over Chelsea and a big threat for Liverpool.

Raheem Sterling (VC)- it won't be easy at Everton, but Raheem Sterling should be fresh having only played 70 minutes at Preston North End over the last ten days.

Bernardo Silva- there is a potential ban incoming for Bernardo Silva after a poor decision to tweet 'banter', but his hat-trick last weekend should offer him another start here.

Todd Cantwell- I mentioned him very early in the season, but I had yet to make my move for him. Manuel Lanzini looked set to miss a few weeks so I had to take a hit here to move him out and bring in a player who has a good set of fixtures coming up. Remember kids, never make transfers before the full injury updates are available to us to avoid taking more hits in the future.

Josh King- a home game with West Ham United and Josh King is off an influential outing against Southampton.

Tammy Abraham (C)- Che Adams is moved out and Tammy Abraham was the player I felt most comfortable bringing in, even though his value has rocketed in the last few weeks. That price is not likely to come down if Abraham is able to score points during a run where Chelsea take on Brighton, Southampton, Newcastle United, Burnley, Watford and Crystal Palace.


Bench- Michael McGovern, John Lundstram (home against Liverpool), Fabian Delph (home against Manchester City), Xande Silva.