Premier League action strides into a fresh month, marking a pivotal juncture as teams prepare to release players for international duties following the fourth-round fixtures. Amidst just three games, Manchester City already appears poised for another title triumph, setting a dominant tone as other contenders grapple with challenges. As the transfer window draws to a close on Friday at 11 PM BST, certain teams have concluded their business dealings, others are keenly seeking minor upgrades, while a handful remain in the throes of last-minute signings driven by urgency. In each scenario, fantasy managers find themselves fervently keeping tabs on every piece of information, fueled by their aspiration to elevate their overall score.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 3
Manchester City stands as the lone team to maintain an unblemished record this season, persevering through a tougher contest than anticipated against Sheffield United and emerging victorious with a 2-1 triumph. Meanwhile, London-based clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur experienced comfortable victories in their respective matches, besting Luton Town and Bournemouth. On the other hand, Arsenal was held to a draw by Fulham, who rallied from a disadvantaged position even after being reduced to 10 players.
Manchester United faced an uphill battle, grappling with a two-goal deficit in the early stages, only to stage a remarkable comeback and secure a 3-2 triumph against Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, Liverpool's 2-1 victory was nothing short of dramatic, with Darwin Núñez's inspiring performance propelling them to rally from behind, despite losing Virgil Van Dijk to an early red card. In an equally engaging match, Wolverhampton Wanderers managed to secure a win against Everton in the clash between the two teams situated in the lower half of the standings.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 4
As the transfer window draws to a close, fantasy managers find themselves at a pivotal juncture, tasked with the mission of refining their squads to unlock their full potential for accumulating points in the forthcoming round. Prior to delving into the prospects of players who could significantly boost your position on the leaderboard, it's imperative to be attentive to any notable absences from the team lineups:
Notable Absences
As the upcoming fixture list offers a plethora of skilled players to consider, it's important to bear in mind that certain pivotal individuals will be missing from the action. Manchester United will be facing a challenge as defenders Raphaël Varane and Luke Shaw will be unavailable for the next few weeks due to injuries. Newcastle United is expected to be without Sven Botman due to injury in their upcoming match against Brighton. Virgil Van Dijk will be absent from Liverpool's league game against Aston Villa due to his red card in the previous match against Newcastle United.
Forwards
a. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) has kicked off the season on a positive note for West Ham, making a significant impact with 2 goals and 1 assist in the matches played thus far. The skilled forward is undoubtedly eager to sustain his impressive form as his team prepares to take on Luton Town.
b. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), initially brought in as an understudy to Erling Haaland last year, has swiftly proven his worth by seamlessly stepping into the role of a replacement for the injured Kevin De Bruyne. Notably, the Argentine World Cup winner has already made his mark with a goal and an assist in the initial three games. Fulham undoubtedly recognizes his capabilities as they prepare to face Manchester City at Etihad on Saturday.
Tip: For 11.6 credits (237.8 points), Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling seems to have got his high-scoring Manchester City form back at Chelsea. Despite his brace last week, the experienced forward remains under-appreciated with only 8% of the fantasy managers having him in their team.
Midfielders
a. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspurs) has stepped into the role of being Tottenham's dependable English player, previously held by Harry Kane. The midfielder's remarkable performance has been a driving force behind their impressive start to the season. Ange Postecoglou, the manager, holds hope that Maddison's capabilities will aid in surmounting the formidable challenge posed by Burnley in their upcoming match.
b. Pascal Groß (Brighton) remarkable performances for Brighton have earned the 32-year-old midfielder his first call-up to the German national team. As a veteran player, Groß has become a dependable cornerstone in Brighton's midfield, providing vital support to the talented attackers ahead of him.
Tip: For 9.8 credits (71.6 points), Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister could be a great choice for fantasy managers. He scored against Aston Villa last season while playing for Brighton and would surely like to repeat the same this season for Liverpool.
Defenders
a. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) has played his role as starting right back effectively this season for Manchester United. The 25-year-old former Crystal Palace player always has been praised for his defensive abilities but he has improved his offensive game too.
b. Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) was impressive for the Wolves in their much-needed win against Everton last week. The Portuguese footballer will face a tougher assignment against Crystal Palace this week and would like to achieve the same result this week too.
Tip: For 6.5 credits (147.2 points), Nottingham Forest’s Serge Aurier could prove to be a smart inclusion for fantasy managers as he features in less than 1% of the squads despite assisting two goals already this season.
Goalkeepers
a. Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) would be under constant pressure this season owing to the presence of David Raya in Arsenal’s Squad. The goalkeeper would be looking to make his mark as Arsenal face their toughest opponent yet in the form of rival Manchester United.
b. Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace) has started all three games for Palace this season but is expected to face a challenge from new signing Dean Henderson. Wolves would be Palace's next opponent and their struggle for goals means Johnstone would have a great opportunity to earn another clean sheet.
Tip: For 4.9 credits (220.8 points), Fulham’s Bernd Leno could be an interesting option as he features in less than 3% of the squads. Leno had a good game against his former side Arsenal as he made key saves in the game, he would look to make a similar impact against Manchester City in the next game.
What Next?
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