As the Premier League continues its thrilling journey, we are now entering the most demanding phase of the season. With the addition of European competitions and the EFL Cup matches midweek, the depth of teams' squads will be put to the test in the upcoming rounds. This week holds particular significance, featuring the first North London Derby of the season, promising to offer a clearer picture of the title race with at least five teams in contention. For both Manchester United and Chelsea, it's a critical juncture, as any further slip-ups could result in a significant point gap from the leaders, with less than 25% of the season played. With so much excitement on the field, fantasy managers will be meticulously fine-tuning their squads to maintain their strong season form.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 5
Liverpool managed to secure a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite the latter dominating the first half of the game. Meanwhile, Manchester City displayed their resilience by bouncing back from a goal behind to triumph 3-1 against West Ham United. In an astonishing run of success, Brighton secured their fourth consecutive league win over Manchester United with their latest 3-1 triumph.
Arsenal and Newcastle United both secured narrow 1-0 victories over Everton and Brentford, respectively, while Tottenham Hotspur orchestrated a stunning late comeback, scoring twice in injury time to snatch a 2-1 win against Sheffield United. In contrast, Chelsea experienced further frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth, dropping valuable points in the process.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 6
Prior to delving into the prospective game-changers for your fantasy team, it's imperative to stay vigilant regarding any notable absences from the starting lineups. These omissions can significantly influence your team's performance on the leaderboard, so keep an eye out for them:
Notable Absences
Manchester United's right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be sidelined for a few weeks due to injury, a setback for the team. Manchester City faces a similar injury blow, with Bernardo Silva set to be out for a few weeks following an injury sustained during their Champions League victory. In unfortunate news for Tottenham Hotspur, Ivan Perišić's season has come to an abrupt end after he suffered an ACL injury during training, expected to be out for the remainder of the campaign.
Forwards
a. João Pedro (Brighton) appears to be adapting seamlessly to his new club, making a strong start by finding the net twice in both the Premier League and Europa League. Given Evan Ferguson's fitness concerns, the Brazilian forward is poised to become the primary source of goals for the high-flying Seagulls, shouldering a significant role in their attack.
b. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) has made an impressive start to the season, already notching four goals and securing a spot as the second-highest scorer in the league. With Crystal Palace showcasing a more aggressive approach under Roy Hodgson this season, Edouard will be eager to maintain his stellar form and play a pivotal role in their attacking endeavors.
Tip: For 11.4 credits (341.2 points), Manchester City’s Phil Foden is significantly underrated this season, featuring in less than 1% of fantasy squads. With Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish injured, Foden is likely to become the chief creator of opportunities for Haaland and Alvarez to score.
Midfielders
a. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) played a pivotal role in Aston Villa's recent 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, converting a crucial penalty in injury time that ultimately secured the win. As a central midfielder, he continues to be the linchpin for Aston Villa, driving their efforts to surpass their performance from the previous season and aiming for an even better finish.
b. Martin Ødegaard’ s (Arsenal) has evidently found his form once more after a sluggish start to the season. The Norwegian international has been instrumental, contributing with vital goals in both the Premier League and the Champions League. His resurgence will be a linchpin for his team's success this season, as they harbor ambitions of concluding the campaign with silverware.
Tip: For 9.8 credits (282.6 points), Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Mario Lemina could be a great gamble for a fantasy team. The midfielder, who features in less than 1% of the squad, could play a crucial role as Wolves play bottom side Luton in the next game.
Defenders
a. Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) has seamlessly carried over his impressive performances from the previous season into the current one. As Brentford is renowned for their attacking prowess, Pinnock's contributions in defense remain pivotal to maintaining stability on the backline, ensuring that the team remains competitive on both sides of the pitch.
b. Andrew Robertson's (Liverpool) 85th-minute goal proved pivotal in granting Liverpool the lead in their recent clash against Wolves, eventually securing a 3-1 victory for the Reds. The consistently reliable fullback continues to be one of Liverpool's most trusted players, offering invaluable support to both the attacking and defensive aspects of the team's game, exemplifying his importance to the squad.
Tip: For 7.3 credits (416.2 points), Tottenham Hotspurs’ Cristian Romero has gathered the maximum points among the defenders this season so far. With the Spurs' attack showing better form this season, the World Cup-winning defender would be key to their defensive side.
Goalkeepers
a. Nick Pope (Newcastle United) enjoyed back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League and Champions League after enduring a tough start to the season. Newcastle United would be eager to build up on their last week’s result and Pope would be favorite to add another clean sheet against Sheffield United.
b. André Onana’s (Manchester United) mistake cost Manchester United a goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League defeat, adding another blow to United’s season. However, the goalkeeper, among the top 10 goalkeepers nominated for the Ballon D’or Yashin Trophy, has the potential to overcome the challenging start and make a difference for United.
Tip: For 5 credits (227.8 points), Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez could be an interesting option as he features in less than 1% of the squads. Chelsea may be facing a challenging period, but they have some of the best talent in their squad, including Sanchez who has proved himself multiple times in the past with his performances for his previous club Brighton.
What Next?
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