Liverpool show no mercy as Torres lets rip. United stutter to a Saha-inspired victory over Keane’s men and Chelsea crash at Villa Park. Anelka continues to set the pace in the goalscoring charts, while Owen gets himself in the race with a winner against Wigan. Bale continues to impress as does City’s Schmeichel, while Fantasy Managers enter the international break pondering just how to work Ronaldo back into their lineups. Get my thoughts on the weekend’s events…

Moyes was the villain of the weekend once more, juggling his troops again this weekend. Hibbert dropped out so Jagielka in at right-back. Piennar meanwhile came in for Osman who was relegated to the bench. Lescott came back with Stubbs out injured. Gravesen appeared for the last half hour and earned the assist for Lescott’s winner. His arrival puts Carsley’s place under threat then and also threatens Arteta’s monopoly at set pieces. Jagielka could well get a run at right-back but there are plenty of rumours that Moyes hasn’t been convinced thus far. Stubbs meanwhile, surely faces a fight to displace Lescott, although Moyes has become very difficult to read. Basically, beyond Howard, Yobo, Arteta and the new front pairing of Yakubu and Johnson, the rest of the Everton side have competition for their place and the threat of rotation hanging over them. Everton face United, Villa and Boro in September – certainly not the easiest of runs.

Sammy Lee at Bolton, seems to be far more predictable. He went with the same lineup that beat Reading with Davies, Braatan and Wilhelmsson on the bench. Cid and Hunt picked up injuries though so there could be changes next time out, with Gardner and O’Brien threatening for places. Anelka head’s the Premiership scoring charts and remains Bolton’s prime Fantasy target. Games against Birmingham, Derby and Spurs in September look likely to see his stock continue to rise.

Sanchez “rested” Healy to the bench for the visit of Spurs, playing Dempsey up front once more with Kamara. Both scored as Fulham came back from the dead to frustrate Jol. Dempsey then, appears to be a decent gamble if you’re looking for budget midfielder, although there’s obvious doubt to just how long he can continue to hold his place in the forward line. Games against Wigan, City and Chelsea this month, also don’t appear to offer great goal potential. Stefanovic made an unimpressive debut and won’t tempt anyone with his Portsmouth price tag. Seol missed out with a back injury. Niemi returned in goal and should see off Keller and Warner from this point on.

Spurs had Kaboul back in the side with Gardner out with a groin injury. Dawson was on the bench and came on, so both are likely to lineup next time out against Arsenal. Huddlestone was preferred to Zokora in midfield but Jol may have a shake-up for the visit of Wenger’s men. Bale does seem likely to be a fixture however, impressing and scoring at Craven Cottage. Spurs’ fixtures aren’t kind in September and October but Spurs always promise goals and Bale looks a real threat in open play and from set pieces. Very tempting if you can afford the outlay.

Newcastle lined up as expected against Wigan, with Owen up front with Viduka and Cacapa making his full debut, shifting Taylor to right-back. The only surprise was perhaps the omission of Given who was kept on the bench by Harper. Owen will attract some Fantasy interest – he faces the Derby defence at Pride Park next time out. Following this game, Newcastle face 3 home encounters in 4, with West Ham, City, Everton and Spurs to come. A favourable run that makes Owen, Geremi and Viduka (injury permitting) useful targets.

Wigan meanwhile were without Valencia through injury so Hutchings handed Brown a full debut. Sibierski was passed fit. Kilbane’s dismissal is likely to see an appeal. If Wigan fail to clear his name, then they will struggle to fill the left-back role. Boyce could return and is one possible makeshift solution. Wigan’s fixtures are getting tougher too – Fulham and Reading shouldn’t pose too many questions on paper but Liverpool and United lie in wait immediately afterwards. Sibierski could well be ditched in a few weeks then, while Koumas has failed to live up to his pre-season performances and hype. He’s hit the woodwork twice this season, but failure to register significant points in the next two games could well be the final straw if it hasn’t reached that point already.

Reading’s slump continues. Having looked rock solid at Old Trafford, their defence has combusted and let in six goals in two games. The defeat to West Ham saw Duberry return for Bikey who dropped to the bench. Murty and Shorey were both back. Lita partnered Doyle up front, while Fae clearly has the edge over fellow new signing Cisse in Coppell’s thinking. The dip in form will alarm Coppell then, and their players won’t tempt many Fantasy Managers. Games against Sunderland and Wigan are now crunch encounters in September that could shape their season and their players Fantasy potential. After these games, Reading face Portmsouth, Derby, Blackburn, Newcastle and Fulham. A decent enough run if they can get their confidence and form back.

Southgate’s Boro were unchanged with Wheater keeping his place in defence and scoring. Boro’s run of favourable fixtures continues, with games at West Ham and home to Sunderland to come although things get tougher soon after with games at Everton and Man City followed by United and Chelsea in October. Downing, Mido, Arca and Rochemback represent decent mid-price options for the next couple of fixtures at least then. Similarly, Wheater appears to be an attractive budget option in defence.

Rafa preferred Mascherano to Sissoko in midfield in the absence of Gerrard. Kuyt and Torres started as expected. Riise was kept on the bench by Babel who looked impressive as did Pennant who kept Benayoun benched. Liverpool are likely to have Gerrard back in a fortnight and maybe Carragher too. With Babel grasping his opportunity, it seems Riise faces a fight to gain a place. In a nutshell, the Liverpool lineup looks hideously hard to predict although Arbeloa, for one, looks a good bet. He, along with Reina, has played in every game for Liverpool thus far. Liverpool visit Portsmouth next, followed by games against Birmingham, Wigan and Spurs.

Derby brought in Rob Malcolm and Mo Camara for thier first starts. Mears and Davis both fit to start. McEveley, Teale and Moore relegated to the bench. Derby, like Birmingham however, appear to be starved of any Fantasy potential, at least until Barnes returns from injury or Birmingham’s McSheffrey finds some semblance of his Championship form.

Louis Saha put Fantasy Managers on alert – returning to the fold as a second-half sub and heading the winner as United edged past Keane’s Sunderland. The doubt over Saha’s Fantasy potential are of course his fitness. It seems unlikely he’ll go throughout the season without something or other breaking off his glass frame. The other factor of course is the return of Rooney. Word is that Rooney is closer to a return than expected. The Everton game in a fortnight might be too early but the clash with Chelsea on September 22 looks tailored made for Rooney. Elsewhere in the United lineup, Sir Alex brought in Eagles and Anderson for Carrick and Giggs. It was Anderson who gave way for Saha at half-time and with Rooney returning and Saha taking his chance, the Brazilian seems likely to be a regular bench warmer at best for the time being.

United have a couple of tough games to come against Everton at Goodison and Chelsea at Old Trafford. Perhaps not a time to get on board with United’s defence with Yakubu and Drogba in wait however Ronaldo’s return from suspension at Everton could well spark their season, particularly with Saha likely to provide them with a centre forward option for the first time this season.

Sunderland started with Leadbitter in a five-man midfield with Chopra employed wide on the right and Jones making his debut up front. Higginbotham also made his debut in the centre of defence with Keane shifting McShane to right-back. It will be interesting to see what Keane does next time out. Higgingbotham and Nosworthy performed well in the centre of a stubborn defence and Halford, who was suspended for this game, hasn’t impressed at right-back. My bet is that McShane could feature at full-back against Reading next time out.

In Sunday’s games there was no sign of Steve Sidwell, despite Lampard’s absence. Mikel and Makelele formed the central midfield pairing. Sidwell’s situation remains a mystery which shouldn’t be a concern to Fantasy Managers – he was never a decent prospect for the season given the competition in Chelsea’s midfield. As predicted, Belletti got his first start at right-back and seems set to be a fixture. Interestingly, Alex also got a first start in the centre of defence in place of Ben Haim. That could have been to see off the threat of the towering Carew and Ben Haim could well get a recall next time out although the threat of Santa Cruz might persuade Jose otherwise. If Alex continues to figure however, he will be a big threat from set pieces, but that’s a big “if” considering with Ben Haim and Carvalho in the background.

The Villa lineup saw Luke Moore get his expected starting role. Petrov was dropped to bench and Agbonlahor moved out wide. Villa gave the defensive display of the weekend with Knight scoring on his debut and Laursen, once again, immense. O’Neil seems very likely to stick with the same lineup for the City game in a fortnight making Moore a decent budget buy while Villa’s defence will be coveted by those looking to save some pennies. The visit to City seems likely to be a tight affair and Villa follow that with 3 of the next 4 at home with games against Everton, Spurs, West Ham and United.

City conceded only their second goal of the season in the 1-0 defeat at Blackburn. Sven went with 4-5-1 again, this time with Bianchi preferred to Mpenza up front. He quickly switched to 4-4-2 on falling behind, sacrificing Johnson for Mpenza. City couldn’t break the Blackburn resolve however, even with Tugay dismissed. Schemiechel again starred, in front of the impressive City defence. He is likely to find himself facing competition for the number one spot next time out however, with Isaksson likely to be fit after the international break. Sven has indicated that Schmiechel is likely to keep his place, but the pressure is there, as is the risk to Fantasy Managers looking to get on the bandwagon and save some cash. City fixtures to come however are very attractive. City face Villa, Newcastle, Boro and Birmingham at home with Fulham away in the next five. A very attractive run of games which perhaps lifts Schmeichel and his defence to “must buy” status. Dunne however will miss City’s next outing against Villa after seeing red today – Onuoha will doubtless deputise but Dunne’s absence could mean it’s worth holding fire for a week given that Villa’s confidence will be sky high after today’s result. Beyond clean sheets, the likes of Elano, Petrov and Bianchi may also be worth a look with that run of games in mind.

There were few surprises in the Blackburn lineup. Savage and Dunn got recalls although Savage went off with a knock on 17 minutes to be replaced by Tugay who was then sent off in the second-half. Samba came back into the lineup for Ooijer after he missed the Carling Cup tie in midweek. Blackburn go to Stamford Bridge next time out and then have a run of 3 home games in 4 with games against Portsmouth, Sunderland, Birmingham and Reading. A very decent run which promotes the Fantasy potential of McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Bentley and Gamst-Pedersen.

Arsenal were at their imperious best against Portsmouth, despite losing Senderos to a red early in the second-half. They lined up as expected although Sagna failed to make it, leaving Flamini to fill in at right-back. One point of interest – Van Persie won the penalty for Arsenal’s first but Adebayor fired it home. The Dutchman missed against City last weekend and appears then to have handed duties to his strike partner rather than Gilberto. Arsenal face Spurs at White Hart Lane next, followed by 3 of the next 4 games at the Emirates with Derby, West Ham, Sunderland, Bolton and Liverpool to come up until November. Fabregas in particular looks irresistible given those run of games.

Portsmouth were without Campbell with Pamarot filling in alongside Distin. Johnson made an impressive debut at right-back with Lauren pushed forward into midfield as expected. Taylor kept his place with Muntari playing in the centre alongside Davis. Kanu and Utaka remained in favour up front. Expect things to change markedly for Portsmouth’s game against Liverpool however. Bouba Diop should make his debut in central midfield, while Campbell could be fit for a return. Taylor will face a fight to keep his place with Krankjcar and Muntari a threat for the left midfield role given that Mendes could return in the centre. In addition to this uncertainty, Portsmouth’s fixtures aren’t kind. After the Liverpool game they face 3 of the next 4 away from Fratton with games against Blackburn, Reading, Fulham and Wigan.