After a one-week hiatus due to FA Cup games and a super crazy transfer deadline day, premier league action is back this weekend. 'Blockbuster' would be the only word that can truly define the transfer deadline day as fans witnessed some of the most surprising transfers.
As the scouting teams of premier league clubs are enjoying much-needed rest after a hectic transfer window, fantasy managers are busy tracking the transfers to make necessary changes in their strategy. The following list could be a useful guide for some of the important transfers that happened on the deadline day:
- Enzo Fernandez (Benfica to Chelsea)
- Joao Cancelo (Manchester City to Bayern Munich)
- Jorginho (Chelsea to Arsenal)
- Marcel Sabitzer (Bayern Munich to Manchester United)
- Pedro Porro (Sporting to Tottenham Hotspurs)
Key Takeaways from the last round
Arsenal maintain their 5 points lead at the top of the table as they emerge victorious against Manchester United in an exciting game that saw Eddie Nketiah scoring a 90th-minute winner. Manchester City was clinical in their 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspurs both won their games 1-0 against their respective opponents.
Perhaps the most consequential match of the round was West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over Everton which ended Frank Lampard’s tenure as Everton’s manager. Chelsea and Liverpool played a goalless draw, a result which helped neither side in providing a much-needed boost to their campaigns.
Players to watch out for
With the majority of premier league teams testing their bench strength in the FA cup matches last week, squad selection would be an interesting dilemma for managers. There would also be an additional fixture as Manchester United hosts Leeds United in the midweek, meaning selecting players from these two sides could fetch a higher number of points.
The following football stars could shine the brightest in the premier league galaxy next week:
Forwards
a. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) scored his fourth hat trick of the season in City's 3-0 win against wolves. He is chasing the record for the most goals in a single premier league season, having scored 25 goals already.
b. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) scored the winner for his team in a hard-fought match against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. The forward was praised by his manager Unai Emery, who expects Watkins to be Villa's chief source of goal in the upcoming fixtures.
Tip: For 8.2 credits, Manchester United's Weghourst (81 points) could be a great attacking option as the forward is pretty much a guaranteed starter for United in absence of the injured Anthony Martial.
Midfielders
a. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) produced a dynamic midfield display, which was a regular feature in West Ham's success last season. Bowen's brace ensured that West Ham was outside the relegation zone.
b. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) scored a screamer in the win against Manchester United, 25 yards outside the opponents' penalty box. His performance has been reflective of the gunners' ascendancy to the top of the premier league standings.
Tip: For 9.9 credits, Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma (752 points) is another one of the underrated gems playing in midfield for high-flying seagulls that could ensure high rewards for any fantasy manager placing their bets on him.
Defenders
a. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) was outstanding against Liverpool, winning almost every duel on the floor and in the air as he ensured his side preserved their clean sheet. The 38-year-old veteran has played the most number of minutes for Chelsea this season, showing no sign of slowing down with age.
b. Fabian Schar (Newcastle United) is enjoying a wonderful season for the magpies as he helped his side register their 12th clean sheet against Crystal Palace.
Tip: For 5.8 credits, Tottenham Hotspurs’ Eric Dier (964 points) could be an investment that could reap great returns in the long run as the player has been an ever-present figure in the spurs' defense.
Goalkeepers
a. Vicente Guaita (Crystal Palace) had an impressive game against Newcastle United as he calmly dealt with all the shots coming his way. Palace would rely on Guaita’s shot-stopping prowess as they face tough assignments in form of Manchester United and Brighton in the upcoming games.
b. Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest) was efficient in his side’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. The Welsh goalkeeper would enjoy considerable game time as Forest would be missing their first-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson for 4-6 weeks.
Tip: For 4.6 credits, Liverpool’s Alisson Becker (983 points) is a safe choice for any team as the Brazilian showstopper is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.
What Next?
So there you have it, a comprehensive preview of the quality players who are set to light up the English Premier League. Now all that is left to do, is to pick your team and make sure you win the KridaFans fantasy game!
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