As we approach another thrilling round of the Premier League, the echoes of the previous week's excitement still resonate. Some teams are already positioning themselves as strong contenders early on, while others continue their quest to regain their momentum. Although the outcomes of on-field battles remain uncertain, teams are wielding their influence in the transfer market, striving to enhance their lineups and refine their squads by strategically offloading players. Amidst the dynamic blend of on-field drama and off-field negotiations, fantasy managers face the challenge of cementing their positions on the Krida Fans leaderboards, requiring meticulous strategizing to ensure their success.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 2
Tottenham Hotspur notched their inaugural victory under Ange Postecoglou's leadership, emerging victorious against formidable rivals Manchester United. Meanwhile, the reigning top two teams from the previous season, Manchester City and Arsenal, sustained their winning streaks with narrow 1-0 triumphs over Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, respectively.
Aston Villa, Brentford, and Brighton showcased their prowess with commanding victories, each securing wins by a margin of more than three goals against their adversaries. The most surprising upset of the round unfolded at the London Stadium, where West Ham United stunned Chelsea with a resounding 3-1 triumph.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 3
As this week brings a complete slate of fixtures, fantasy managers are faced with the task of fine-tuning their squads to maximize their potential for points in the upcoming round. Before delving into the players who could elevate your position on the leaderboard, it's important to take note of any significant absences from the teams:
Notable Absences
As the upcoming fixture promises an array of talented players to choose from, it's worth noting that some key individuals will be absent from the action. Manchester United's Mason Mount, due to an injury, will be sidelined until the international break. Chelsea's recent goal-scorer, Carney Chukwuemeka, will be out for six weeks following knee surgery. Additionally, Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu will serve a suspension in the match against Fulham after receiving a red card for two bookings during last week's game against Crystal Palace.
Forwards
a. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) has kicked off the season in exceptional form, finding the net 3 times in just 2 games. His impressive performance has propelled him to the top of the goalscoring chart, sharing the spot with Solly March. With Ivan Toney unavailable, Brentford will heavily depend on Mbeumo and Wissa to carry the scoring burden for the team throughout the season.
b. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), even though he hasn't managed to score in the opening two Premier League matches, showcased his striking abilities with a stunning hat-trick against Hibernian during the midweek Conference League fixture. This recent display of form reflects his potential, and despite securing 15 goals in the previous season, Aston Villa has elevated expectations for him to exceed that goal tally in the ongoing season.
Tip: For 13.5 credits (130.6 points), Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi is a smart buy as he surprisingly features in less than 1% of the fantasy squads. The forward has been great for Forest, having scored for six consecutive matches with a total of 8 goals in those games.
Midfielders
a. Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United) penalty late in the injury time confirmed West Ham United’s surprise win over Chelsea last week. The midfielder, who was the subject of transfer speculation for the last two weeks, seems to be staying with West Ham United for this season. The Hammers would expect him to inspire the team to success this season, particularly after the departure of Declan Rice.
b. Declan Rice (Arsenal) was impressive in Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Arsenal’s record-breaking purchase is touted as the difference maker as the Gunners look to better their second-place finish last season.
Tip: For 10.7 credits (96.8 points), Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić could be a great choice for fantasy managers. Manchester City would be reliant on the summer acquisition from Chelsea as they miss Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva due to injury.
Defenders
a. Luke Shaw (Manchester United) was Manchester United’s player a couple of seasons ago. The left-back is still regarded in the Premier League and United would be expecting him to step up as they would be looking to improve after a slow start to the season.
b. Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton) is one of the most popular players among fantasy managers, featuring in more than 89% of the teams. The defender is enjoying a great start to the season, having contributed heavily in the attacking part with a goal and 2 assists.
Tip: For 7.2 credits (53.6 points), Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Max Kilman could prove to be a smart inclusion for fantasy managers. The defenders remain the linchpin of the Wolves' defence which faces bottom place Everton who are yet to score this season.
Goalkeepers
a. Alisson Becker (Liverpool) might not have a clean sheet to his name this season yet but the Brazilian goalkeeper has already shown his worth by making 8 saves in two games. With Liverpool facing another top-four contender Newcastle United in the next game, they would be relying on Alisson's show-stopping skills to deny Newcastle United's attack any success.
b. Nick Pope (Newcastle United) is in a similar situation as the goalkeeper of his next opponent Alisson. He would face the stern challenge of facing the fierce Liverpool attack consisting of Luis Díaz, Mo Salah, and Diogo Jota but Newcastle United would be confident in their goalkeeper’s ability.
Tip: For 5.5 credits (130.4 points), Tottenham Hotspurs’s Guglielmo Vicario could be an interesting option as he features in less than 1% of the squads. The goalkeeper earned his first clean sheet against Manchester United last week and would be eager to repeat the same performance against Spur’s next opponent Bournemouth.
What Next?
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