Scout Picks – Gameweek 1

Finally, we’re back. After a three-month domestic hiatus, we’re just hours away from the first Gameweek of the 2013/14 season. There’s plenty to consider, with Chelsea and Villa preparing for a double, while kind fixtures for Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all play a part in how we assess the Fantasy landscape this Friday evening. Let’s get to it, then:

We opt for Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny ahead of a home clash with Villa. Similarly priced to his defensive team-mates at 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), our decision to select the Pole was mainly down to the fact that we also wanted Liverpool coverage and, as we’ll see, there are more budget-friendly options on offer at the back from the red half of Merseyside.

Branislav Ivanovic is our Chelsea defender of choice ahead of the home games with Hull and Villa. Certainly, the Serbian looks in the driving seat for the right-back role against Steve Bruce’s side on Sunday due to Cesar Azpilicueta’s extended summer break, while Ivanovic’s versatility could stand him in good stead if Jose Mourinho freshens up the heart of his defence against Villa. Having notched five times over 2012/13, Ivanovic’s attacking threat is enough to earn him the nod.

Kindly priced across the Fantasy games, Kolo Toure comes into the reckoning as Liverpool prepare for a home clash against Stoke. As mentioned above, the Ivorian is cheaper than any defensive team-mate (5.0 in FPL) and will be looking to benefit from a backline that racked up 16 clean sheets in Brendan Rodgers’ first season at the Anfield helm. Up against a Potters side with 13 away goals to their name last time out, the chances of defensive returns seem strong.

We were all set to snap up James Collins but his withdrawal from the midweek Wales squad has slightly altered our targets. Fellow West Ham centre-half Winston Reid is called up as an alternative ahead of a home showdown with promoted Cardiff, then, as Sam Allardyce’s side look to mirror the defensive resilience that harvested 11 clean sheets in 2012/13. With the Bluebirds’ star striker Andreas Cornelius still a doubt, the Hammers will be confident of keeping out their opponents tomorrow afternoon.

The arrival of Roberto Martinez on Merseyside has already made an impact on Kevin Mirallas. Shifted to the right of a front three for Everton, the Belgian has responded with four of his side’s 12 goals over the summer period and makes his way to Norwich in impressive form – listed as a midfielder, he looks a strong out of position contender over the season ahead.

Runaway leader in the Captain Poll, Eden Hazard rolls up to Chelsea’s double Gameweek with the weight of expectation firmly on his shoulders. While concerns remain over Juan Mata’s match sharpness, the Belgian has a full pre-season behind him and has wasted little time in reproducing the form of 2012/13 – Hazard is also next in line for spot-kicks if Mourinho eases Frank Lampard back into action and has already converted two penalties over the summer period.

Philippe Coutinho is an in-form pick ahead of Liverpool’s home game with Stoke. The Brazilian has notched three times over pre-season and while Daniel Sturridge was also an option, doubts remain over the latter’s overall fitness after he only returned to action last week. While Sturridge is expected to start tomorrow, Coutinho looks far likelier to be afforded the full 90 minutes to wreak havoc against Mark Hughes’ side. Although Iago Aspas ended the summer as Liverpool’s top scorer, the Spaniard’s classification as a forward, allied with a likely starting role on the Reds’ right, dents his overall appeal.

Having grabbed a goal and two assists in Arsenal’s final friendly win over City and netted the opener for England in midweek, Theo Walcott welcomes Villa to the Emirates in fine form. Despite being subbed off towards the end of the win over Scotland with a knee knock, Walcott wasn’t mentioned in this morning’s injury roll call by Arsene Wenger – we’re taking this as a sign that he’s fit and raring to go as the Gunners square up to a backline that conceded in each of their last 22 matches in the season gone by.

Granted, there are concerns over rest and rotation for Chelsea’s pair of fixtures but it’s impossible to overlook the form of Romelu Lukaku. As mentioned in our Scouting the Doubles article on Chelsea, the Belgian has produced five goals and two assists from just 256 minutes over the summer – crucially, three of those goals and an assist have arrived from the bench, an indication that even if he’s introduced as a sub for one of the two fixtures, he needs little time to make an impact.

After a slow start to life at Villa, Christian Benteke racked up the goals in the last few months of his debut season. The Belgian notched 14 times in his final 17 league appearances and with seven strikes in five pre-season matches, he’s one of the most in-form forwards around ahead of back-to-back trips to Arsenal and Chelsea. While doubts remain over Jose Mourinho’s forward selection, Benteke looks good for 180 minutes under Paul Lambert and also has penalty duties for the midlands outfit.

With 59 goals in his final three seasons in La Liga for Valencia, Robert Soldado has firmly established a reputation as one of the most feared marksmen around. Tottenham’s final summer friendly also confirmed the Spaniard is on spot-kicks – furthering his already substantial appeal ahead of Sunday’s trip to Palace.

Our first bench spot goes to Norwich new boy Martin Olsson. While we’re banking on Mirallas to produce for visitors Everton, the former Blackburn man was fielded on the left of midfield in the final pre-season friendly and, at 4.5, could offer us a cut out of position prospects against the Toffees tomorrow.

Robert Snodgrass is unlucky to only make the bench. With 152 points in FPL last time out, he was head and shoulders above any other Norwich Fantasy asset last time out, yet remains in the mid-price bracket at 6.5. With the majority of set-pieces allied with a keen eye for goal, Snodgrass’ contribution is likely to be crucial at Carrow Road.

Seven goals in seven summer games highlights the impact of Nicolas Anelka since moving to West Brom. At 5.5, the nomadic Frenchman has already persuaded 18% of Fantasy managers to snap him up as he prepares for a Hawthorns debut at home to Southampton tomorrow afternoon.