Happy New Year everyone!! The world has said goodbye to the year 2022 and has welcomed the year 2023 with open arms. The premier league was very much in the mix of the celebrations this time around with fixtures on both New Year’s eve and the first day of 2023.
The start of the new year also means that the transfer window has opened for the month of January. Teams across the league table would be eager to make additions to their squad, either to add a newer dimension to their squad or to just cover up for any ongoing or potential injury.
Key Takeaways
Martin Odegaard scored a goal and assisted another in Arsenal’s 4–2 victory against Brighton. Source: flashscore.com
Arsenal was again the biggest gainers from the last round of fixtures, having extended their lead to 7 points at the top of the table. On the other hand, Southampton and West Ham United lost their 5th match in a row and are surely in the battle to survive relegation in 2023.
The race for the champions league positions saw Manchester United stepping up to the fourth position, courtesy of their victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, at the cost of Tottenham Hotspurs sliding down to fifth after their defeat against Aston Villa in the first premier league match of 2023.
Players to watch out for
There is little time for managers to make adjustments based on the last round of fixtures as the action returns the very next day for the next round. The following players could potentially make an impact for this round:
Forwards
a. Ivan Toney (Brentford) scored his second goal in as many matches after missing out on being part of England’s world cup squad. Brentford would be hoping that his injury scare at the end of the last match would be a minor one as his form and abilities would be much required by Brentford against Liverpool in the first fixture for the new year.
b. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) scored again as he is enjoying a starting role for Arsenal in absence of injured Gabriel Jesus.
Tip: For 3.5 credits, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ new signing Matheus Cunha (0 points) could provide the goals the wolves are really in need of.
Midfielders
a. Joao Palhinha (Fulham) scored the winner in Fulham’s win against Southampton. He is Fulham’s third-highest goal scorer this season and could be crucial to them maintaining their status as a premier league club.
b. 21-year-old Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) assisted both of the palace’s goals against Bournemouth, taking his tally to 4 assists for the season.
Tip: For 10.4 credits, Brighton’s Pascal Gross (1049 points) continues to rack up goals and assists without being in the limelight and could be a great inclusion for any midfield.
Defenders
a. Luke Shaw (Manchester United) has been solid in his new role as he played as left-center back in successive games, both of them clean sheets.
b. William Saliba (Arsenal) has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world at the age of just 21. No wonder, Arsenal is looking to have him sign a new contract to secure him at the Emirates for the long term.
Tip: For 5.7 credits, Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk (851 points) could be an economical addition to any team looking for an energetic left-back.
Goalkeepers
a. David De Gea (Manchester United) made critical saves against Wolverhampton Wanderers to earn his seventh clean sheet this season, second only to Newcastle United’s Nick Pope.
b. Jordan Pickford (Everton) helped his team earn a hard-fought point against the champions Manchester City. He has already made 62 saves this season, the second most in the league.
Tip: For 4.4 credits, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez (646 points) would be eager to produce performances matching his new status as the World Cup Golden Gloves winner.
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 Krida Fans fantasy game!
This New Year is more enjoyable because you can use promo code “HNY2023” and get 20% off your entry fees. If you want to test it out, then you can join the KridaFans platform for free too.
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