Team News

The FPL line-up lessons we learned from Gameweek 2

We again take a look back at the Premier League line-ups from the weekend just gone, analysing the systems and personnel used by the 20 top-flight clubs in Gameweek 2.

Arsenal v Burnley

Having not started any of his summer signings in Gameweek 1, Unai Emery brought in David Luiz and Dani Ceballos into his starting XI for the visit of Burnley. 

Luiz took the place of Calum Chambers at centre-back, while Ceballos effectively replaced the injured Granit Xhaka.

Starting as a number ten, Ceballos interchanged with Joe Willock throughout the game, with Emery saying afterwards:

With him, it’s for us to use his qualities in the best position in our team with our ideas. I spoke with him – before coming here – to play like an eight and a 10. Today he started like a 10, but a lot of times he was changing with Willock into the eight position, where he can feel better on the pitch.

Emery kept faith with a 4-2-3-1 and the only other change to the starting XI saw Alexandre Lacazette return up front, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan making way and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moving to the right flank.

The half-time introduction of Nicolas Pepe for Reiss Nelson saw Aubameyang switch to the left to accommodate Pepe on the opposite wing.

The Burnley team news was much more straightforward, with Sean Dyche unsurprisingly naming the same starting XI that defeated Southampton on the opening weekend.

Charlie Taylor was on the bench for the first time this season, while Jay Rodriguez replaced Chris Wood for the final half an hour.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Sokratis, Monreal; Ceballos (Torreira 83′), Guendouzi; Nelson (Pepe 45′), Willock, Aubameyang; Lacazette (Kolasinac 71′)

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters; Gudmundsson (Lennon 72′), Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Wood (Rodriguez 61′), Barnes.

Aston Villa v Bournemouth

Dean Smith made just the one change from the defeat to Spurs, with Douglas Luiz replacing Conor Hourihane at the base of the midfield.

Villa were again in a 4-1-4-1 (or 4-3-3), with Jack Grealish and John McGinn getting well forward to support the front three.

Jota replaced Anwar El Ghazi late on, with Trezeguet switching flanks.

Eddie Howe ditched the wing-back system and went back to a tried-and-tested 4-4-2, with Chris Mepham the surplus centre-back to make way.

Harry Wilson came in on the opposite flank to Ryan Fraser, with Charlie Daniels replacing Diego Rico at left-back.

Aston Villa XI (4-1-4-1): Heaton; Elmohamady, Engels, Mings, Taylor; Douglas Luiz; Trezeguet (Davis 87′), McGinn, Grealish, El Ghazi (Jota 75′); Wesley.

Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Smith, Cook, Ake, Daniels; H. Wilson (Solanke 76′), Billing (Surman 46′), Lerma, Fraser; C. Wilson, King.

Brighton and Hove Albion v West Ham United

Brighton were again in the 3-4-3 formation that Graham Potter rolled out in Gameweek 1, with new signing Leandro Trossard coming in for Jurgen Locadia on the left flank.

New signings Neal Maupay and Aaron Mooy had to make do with substitute appearances, with Maupay replacing Pascal Gross on the right midway through the second half.

Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to the side that were beaten by Manchester City, the most surprising of which saw Angelo Ogbonna replace Fabian Balbuena at the heart of the defence.

Arthur Masuaku came in for Aaron Cresswell at left-back, while injured pair Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller were replaced by Robert Snodgrass and Javier Hernandez.

New signing Pablo Fornals made his first start, with Michail Antonio dropping out.

There was much rejigging of tactics from the Chilean during the game, with Snodgrass starting on the right and Fornals drifting in from the left.

The unimpressive Jack Wilshere, playing in between Declan Rice and the front four, was hooked at half-time, with Michail Antonio replacing him.

That change saw Antonio support Hernandez up top in what resembled a 4-4-2, with Fornals switching over to the right, Lanzini move to the left and Snodgrass pushed infield.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-3): Ryan; Burn, Dunk, Duffy; March, D Stephens, Pröpper, Montoya; Trossard (Mooy 85′), Murray (Andone 74′), Groß (Maupay 67′).

West Ham United XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Masuaku, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice, Wilshere (Antonio 45′); Fornals (Yarmolenko 77′), Lanzini, Snodgrass; Chicharito (Sánchez 83′).

Everton v Watford

Marco Silva’s only change was an enforced one, with Jean-Philippe Gbamin making his first start in place of the suspended Morgan Schneiderlin

Andre Gomes passed a fitness test to start alongside Gbamin in central midfield, with the Toffees again in a 4-2-3-1.

An injury to Lucas Digne saw Mason Holgate brought on at right-back and Seamus Coleman switch flanks to fill in for the departed Frenchman.

Javi Gracia also only made one change from the side that lost at home to Brighton, with Roberto Pereyra coming in for Andre Gray.

Pereyra was in his usual left-wing position as Gerard Deulofeu, who had occupied that role in the first half against the Seagulls, returned up front alongside Troy Deeney.

Danny Welbeck was thrown on midway through the second half for his first minutes in a Watford shirt.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne (Holgate 73); Gomes, Gbamin; Richarlison (Walcott 63′), Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin (Kean 72′).

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster; Femenia, Dawson, Cathcart, Holebas; Pereyra, Doucoure, Capoue (Gray 83′), Hughes (Welbeck 67′); Deulofeu (Cleverley 78′), Deeney.

Norwich City v Newcastle United

Daniel Farke’s only change saw Moritz Leitner step in for Kenny McLean in central midfield, with the Scotsman only fit enough for a place on the bench after being a major doubt for this clash with Newcastle.

Todd Cantwell kept his place on the left flank with Onel Hernandez having been ruled out for three months with a knee injury.

Steve Bruce kept the 3-5-2 shape that he used against Arsenal in Gameweek 1 but made two changes to his starting XI, with Emil Krafth replacing Javier Manquillo at right wing-back and Ki Sung-yueng ousting Sean Longstaff in central midfield.

Allan Saint-Maximin missed out with a hamstring problem.

Norwich City XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Lewis (Byram 90′), Godfrey, Hanley, Aarons; Leitner, Trybull (Tettey 87′); Cantwell, Stiepermann (Vrancic 84′), Buendía; Pukki.

Newcastle United XI (3-5-2): Dúbravka; Dummett, Lascelles, Schär; Ritchie, Ki (S Longstaff 74′), Shelvey, Hayden, Krafth; Joelinton (Muto 67′), Almirón.

Southampton v Liverpool

The exertions of the Super Cup evidently had a bearing on Jurgen Klopp’s team selection at Southampton, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Joe Gomez all dropping out after 120-minute run-outs in Istanbul.

Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold – who all started on the bench in that midweek match – returned to the starting XI.

Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were all in the starting line-up for the first time this season, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first league start since April 2018.

Ralph Hasenhuttl dropped a forward – namely Danny Ings – and brought in an extra central midfielder in the form of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as he switched from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 in a bid to stifle their visitors; Hasenhuttl had used this system against the Reds at the back-end of 2018/19.

Maya Yoshida replaced Jack Stephens as the middle centre-half, meanwhile.

With the Saints trailing 1-0 midway through the second half, Oriel Romeu was sacrificed and Ings was thrown on up front as Hasenhuttl briefly reverted to his Gameweek 1 shape.

Summer signing Moussa Djenepo saw his first Premier League minutes as a late substitute.

Southampton XI (3-5-2): Gunn; Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard; Valery, Ward-Prowse, Romeu (Ings 64′), Hojbjerg, Bertrand (Djenepo 77′); Adams (Armstrong 68′), Redmond.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Henderson 89′), Wijnaldum, Milner (Fabinho 74′); Salah (Origi 79′), Firmino, Mane.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

Pep Guardiola made four changes to the side that beat West Ham 5-0 last time out, with Sergio Aguero replacing Gabriel Jesus up top and Bernardo Silva – rested in Gameweek 1 as a precaution – ousting Riyad Mahrez on the right flank.

Nicolas Otamendi filled in for the injured John Stones at centre-half, with Ilkay Gundogan preferred to David Silva in central midfield.

City were in their usual 4-3-3, with all of Guardiola’s second-half changes like for like.

Mauricio Pochettino made only one alteration to his starting XI – Christian Eriksen in for Lucas Moura – but abandoned the diamond formation in favour of a more regimented 4-4-1-1.

Erik Lamela was the man tasked with supporting Harry Kane in attack, with Eriksen operating on the left flank and Moussa Sissoko on the right.

The introduction of Lucas for Harry Winks saw the Brazilian lead the line alongside Kane and Lamela move to the right wing.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri (D. Silva 78), De Bruyne; Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 80′), Aguero (Gabriel Jesus 65′), Sterling.

Tottenham Hotspur XI (4-4-1-1): Lloris; Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Rose; Sissoko, Winks (Lucas Moura 56′), Ndombele, Eriksen (Skipp 90); Lamela (Lo Celso 85); Kane.

Sheffield United v Crystal Palace

There were no surprises with the line-ups at Bramall Lane, with Chris Wilder sending the same 11 players out in the 3-5-2 system he used at Bournemouth.

In-game injuries to John Fleck and Callum Robinson saw Luke Freeman and Oli McBurnie replace them directly as the Blades kept their shape.

Roy Hodgson’s one alteration to his starting XI saw ‘out of position’ midfielder Wilfried Zaha come in for Andre Ayew up front, while Jeffrey Schlupp made his comeback from injury when replacing Max Meyer on the left midway through the second half.

Palace were again in a 4-4-2.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Norwood, Fleck (Freeman 29′), Lundstram, Stevens; McGoldrick (Jagielka 89′), Robinson (McBurnie 56′).

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Ward, Dann, Kelly, van Aanholt; Townsend (McCarthy 70), McArthur (Wickham 82′), Milivojevic, Meyer (Schlupp 65′); Zaha, Benteke.

Chelsea v Leicester City

The Chelsea starting XI showed only one change from the side that took on Liverpool in midweek, with Mason Mount replacing Mateo Kovacic in midfield.

Pedro and Christian Pulisic flanked Olivier Giroud in the Blues’ attack, with Mount starting the match as a ‘number ten’ in a 4-2-3-1 but gravitating towards the left of midfield as Chelsea occasionally resembled a 4-3-3.

Ben Chilwell missed out with a hip injury, with his place at left-back being taken by Christian Fuchs.

That was Brendan Rodgers’ only change to the side that drew 0-0 with Wolves in Gameweek 1, so Ayoze Perez and James Maddison again supported Jamie Vardy in a 4-3-3.

Wilfred Ndidi was at the base of the midfield three, with Hamza Choudhury and especially Youri Tielemans more advanced.

Dennis Praet replaced Choudhury in the middle of the park in the final 20 minutes.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1) Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Jorginho (Kovacic 70′), Kante; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic (Willian 70′), Giroud (Abraham 61′).

Leicester City XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Choudhury (Praet 73′), Ndidi, Tielemans; Perez (Albrighton 79′), Maddison, Vardy.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United

Having made nine changes for the second leg of Wolves’ Europa League tie against FC Pyunik, Nuno Espirito Santo reverted to the familiar-looking starting XI and 3-5-2 that drew 0-0 with Leicester.

Illness saw Matt Doherty replaced at wing-back by Adama Traore at half-time.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s only change saw Daniel James replace Andreas Pereira on the right flank.

Anthony Martial again led the line, with Marcus Rashford stationed out wide on the left of a 4-2-3-1.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Boly, Coady, Bennett; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Doherty (Traoré 46′); D Jota (Neto 86′), Jiménez (Cutrone 90+1′).

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Pogba; Rashford (A Pereira 89′), Lingard (Mata 80′), D James (Greenwood 89′); Martial.


Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

3,049 Comments Post a Comment
  1. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    so I’m unsure on what to do with Ceballos I could increase the budget from 5.9 to 6.9 so I can still play 5 in midfield.

    Do you reckon vvd to AWB and then Ceballos to say Lanzini or someone around that mark?

    on a WC so no issues. Would leave me with no pool defence though

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Err... McGinn?

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah it’s just that is villa and not sure on it. But yeah anyone up to the value I guess even a straight swap without adjusting like McGinn

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      McGinn

    3. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ditching all Liverpool defensive assets is sheep mentality. Do you honestly believe 0 Liverpool defensive coverage is a good idea?

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not really that’s why I’m using you guys as a sounding board

    4. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Keep Ceballos. I don't know what else to say. It's a no brainer.

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I do want to think he is. If he does lose lots of mins it could be a simple swap

    5. Dude1234
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No pool defense could hurt. There must be huge ownership out there. Could when the clean sheets finally come

  2. Canary_Kid
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How's this WC?

    Adrian Button
    Zinchenko AWB Soyuncu Montoya Lundstrum
    Sterling Mane KDB Martial Cantwell
    Kane Pukki Wickham

    Still deciding between: Pope vs Adrain and Zinch Cantwell Kane vs Robbo Son Greenwood

    1. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      have a similar WC but ive gone for ceballos instead of cantwell by downgrading zinch,

      two 4.5s in your attack means you are likely playing 4-4-2 and not sure if your defence is strong enough to support that

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Starting 2 of Soyuncu/Montoya/Cantwell/Lundstram looks good for next 4 or 5 when I checked earlier

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Exactly same squad but with Pope. Kane over Son option.

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not liking the Adrian pick, go with Pope or Ryan instead Zinchenko a risk I'd guess but hopefully good for a while.

    4. Dude1234
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Son over Kane for me.

    5. Fernandito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Exactly the same except I have Pope!

      Was happy with team, a little concerned about lack of Everton and Liverpool defenders

  3. Crystal Alice
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sigurdsson > Martial -4? Would also save me team value

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martial yes but I think stick with Siggy. Could have easily had a goal first game and god knows how he didn’t get an assist last week... you got him for his fixtures right? Still the same...

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looking at getting in Siggy myself.

  4. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    you guys prefer barnes and coleman or martial and diop

  5. tissae
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Salah + Perez OR Mane + Martial?

    1. Canary_Kid
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mane Martial

    2. CornerTakenQuicklyOrigi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      M&Ms

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mmmm peanut ones.

        Also This ^^^

    3. tissae
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Should i do it this week and use WC or next week and take a -4 hit?

  6. CornerTakenQuicklyOrigi
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    The final five places of Das Wildcard. Hopefully the layout makes it easier to differentiate between each choice...

    A) Kane----Mane-Ceballos-Boly-Soyuncu
    B) Firmino-Son---Mina------TAA-Zinchenko
    C) Firmino-Son---Mount----TAA-Zinchenko
    D) Mane---Son---Mina------Boly-Zinchenko

    1. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A for me

    3. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A or C

  7. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    a) Perez & Wilson > Martial & Pukki
    b) Robbo/TAA & Wilson > Lundstrom & Kane

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  8. Tombory
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Wilson + Perez
    B) Martial + Pukki/King

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      1. Tombory
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        So pukki or king?
        King decent fixtures after City and pukki is on fire

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Seems you answered the question.

        2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Pukki, king plays city, Bournemouth haven't looked good and he only scores pens

    2. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      dumb question.
      everyone is dumping A to get B

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Doesn't mean they are right 😉

      2. Tombory
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Why is it dumb? Haha! Pukki or king then?

        1. SMOOTH
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          pukki

    3. Dude1234
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B by a mile

  9. child of God
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Chances pukki will rise again before deadline?

    On a scale of 1to 10

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      9

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      1

    3. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      6.9

    4. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      1

      The deadline is Friday.

  10. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perez + King ➡ Mount + Barnes?

    1. Dude1234
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Definitely

  11. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    2 FT

    Ryan Button
    VVD Robertson Digne Zinchenko Lundvekam
    Salah Sterling Maddison Moura Dendoncker
    Jota Wilson Greenwood

    A) VVD & Wilson --> AWB & Rashford
    or
    B) VVD & Moura --> AWB & Martial
    or
    C) Something else?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  12. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So many people playing their wildcards this week o_O

    1. sovietrockettes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'm kind of jealous

    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Which only goes to show you *aren't* supposed to wait for your team to be in shambles

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think the teams look the same as at the beginning of this season.

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I know... it's kind of scary

  13. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMWCT

    No Spurs for now but could downgrade KDB to a 4,5 and get Kane in for Barnes or make a straight swap to Son later on.
    Not sure on going without Liverpool defence but think Laporte will outscore VVD with those excellent fixtures that City have coming up.

    Pope Button
    Digne Laporte AWB Dunk Lundstrum
    Sterling Salah KDB Martial Ceballos
    Barnes Pukki Wickham

    Thoughts on this lot ?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty good

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Go for KDB and Kane. Think that's what most/all WCers are doing.

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        At the expense of Laporte, Barnes, Salah (Mane)

        1. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Comes down to

          Soyu, Mane, Donker, Kane
          or
          Laporte, Salah, Ceballos, Barnes

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            A for me. Clearly both will do well. Dendoncker should be Cantwell IMO. Don't fancy Ceballos much.

            1. Gazza2000
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Cheers, will think about it

    3. sovietrockettes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I would go for Kane - you want to have the flexibility in your squad for a premier striker

    4. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have to have a big striker if you are on WC, so hard to get Kane/Aguero etc if you have to...

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Could do KDB to a 5,5 and Barnes to Kane with 2FT

  14. Midweek Commitments Community Article?
    FP Elephant
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    They Might Be Tired (Gameweek 3)

    Trying out a new update… if useful to the FFS community I’m happy to do this regularly to note which teams have midweek competitions, whether home or away, and the most popular FPL players involved (over 5% ownership). After the midweek games I’ll update with minutes played and any goals/assists or early injury news. Please comment and upvote if this is helpful and hopefully the benevolent FFS mods will invite me back next week.

    Conventional wisdom says extra midweek game time (and extra travel) might leave players feeling tired and not at their (FPL) best come the weekend. And the worst-case scenario is picking up an injury. This doesn’t mean you bench Sterling just because he plays in a Champions League game on a Wednesday night, but for captaincy decisions or 50/50 bench calls this info could tip the scales in one direction. Keep in mind that many teams will rest or limit important players’ minutes in midweek fixtures to keep them rested for Premier League games – especially during early rounds of international or League/FA Cup competitions. If your lineup has players involved midweek or as you’re planning transfers, do make sure to check the results to see how much they played, if they stayed fit (and if they scored!) in the lead up to the weekend games.

    For example, does a tiring midweek Super Cup match explain Liverpool’s lackluster display at Southampton this past weekend? Mo Salah logged 120 extra minutes (plus penalty shootout) and thousands of miles of travel to and from Istanbul. I still captained him – oops – so maybe I should listen to my own advice.

    Carabao (League) Cup starts next week and 14 of the 20 Premier League teams will have midweek games and just 2-3 days’ rest before Gameweek 4. Then later in the season we’ll have FA Cup matches and the start of the Europa and Champions League group stages. Are you ready for some football?

    Midweek games before FPL Gameweek 3:

    • Wolves play tomorrow in a Thursday (Aug 22) Europa League match, away in Italy vs. Torino (7th in Serie A last year), before their Sunday home game against Burnley.
    • Key players: Raul Jimenez (18% owned), Diogo Jota (11%), Leander Dendoncker (16%), Ruben Neves (9%), Joao Moutinho (7%), Willy Boly (7%), Rui Patricio (5%)

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good point made

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Worried about Wolves attack after lackluster display this weekend, so think it is a valid point. Will try to ship Jota at least

    3. FPL Bielsa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agree with this I captained Sterling over Salah last week for that reason.

      On a WC this week and gone for Barnes over Jota due to the two Torino games which I think will affect Wolves.

      1. FP Elephant
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Good points about Jota. I'm a bit nervous owning him right now but I think I'll want him later so I may hang on for now.

        Jota and Jimenez both played well tonight - but they both started and logged roughly 70 minutes. I still have Jota in my team. Both are excellent, but I'm worried about fatigue in the next month with both the Torino games and then the next round if they go through... which is looking more likely after winning the away leg in Italy.

    4. Chemical76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      WCC for Liverpool as well

      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        But that's not till December - and is likely to mean a blank GW18 for them.
        If so they will also have a DGW - but will their GW18 game (at West Ham) be brought forward to an earlier game-week or postponed to a later one?

      2. FP Elephant
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks Chem76. Good point - I had noted on my spreadsheet that Liverpool have a couple random added games this year... Super Cup in Instanbul last week and as you mentioned the Club World Cup in December in Qatar.

        Otherwise I will just be analyzing the added midweek fixtures from Europa and Champions League and FA/Carabao Cup.

        Is there anything else I'm missing that will involve the clubs (of course there's also the international breaks and those matches are usually well covered by others at FFS).

        Thanks! - FP Elephant

  15. AFlynny
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    2FT. Salah + King to Mane +Pukki sound good?

    People seem unwilling to do Salah to Mane unless on WC. Just think that £1M saved could be so crucial upgrading eg a Barkley to a Martial. Am I missing something?

  16. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Got with £1.4m itb after jumping late on Pukki train like everyone else. But now really stuck with no really apparent choices to use the £1.4. Not enough to upgrade McGinn to Martial r Jota to e.g. Rashford. Maye it is a price structure problem due to KDB price point?

    Pope
    VVD TAA Digne (Lowton / Diop)
    Salah Sterling KDB McGinn (Dendoncker)
    Pukki Jota (Westwood)

    Don't like leaving money in the bank., but completely bereft of ideas. Anyone care to help out spending the funds ?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This on WC? If not just keep it in the bank for a week, no big deal

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No WC, goit one FT. Used one on Wilson -> Pukki.

    2. Rocky FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Westwood is not a striker. ?
      Who is your third striker?

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        😳 should be Greenwood ofc

    3. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      How about TAA & Jota/Mcginn —> AWB/Maguire & Rashford/Martial?

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Doesn't look half bad with Jota -> Rashy and maybe lose VVD rather than TAA in that case. But not sure its worth a -4, so will wait till next GW with such a move

        1. FP Elephant
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Team looks solid and banking that 1.4m if you like your team isn’t bad. Means another week of data and flexible funds to upgrade a striker or 4th mid next week. Flexibility means less hits later to get that player you really want after they score a brace this weekend!

  17. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMWCT!!

    Ryan | *Button*
    Mings | Lowton | Soyuncu | *Kelly* | *Lunds*
    Cabellos | Sterling | Salah | McGinn | *Cantwell*
    Kane | Aguero | Pukki

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Love the Kane/Aguero move!

    2. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nice Aguero pick, I want to get him on a WC later, those fixtures could be hattrick potential. Really hoping Jesus doesn't feature much

  18. Ed
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Robertson, Fraser & King > Wan Bissaka, Martial & Pukki (-4)?

  19. TheBrazilianRonaldo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    98 players prices have fallen, just 18 players prices have risen so far..

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Most of the fallers are the ones who havne't started. I think t will even out after a few GW's

      1. TheBrazilianRonaldo
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        98 falling seems a lot though! I’ve not paid this much attention before so don’t know if it was like this also last year

        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Perfectly normal. Mostly a wide variety of random players only owned by casuals being replaced by a smaller number of more template players.

  20. Kudo Warrior
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Replace Zaha? And if so for who? Would have 7.4m itb

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ceballos long term

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I 2nd this depending where the savings end up.

  21. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    please help me decide between

    coleman and barnes
    diop and martial

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cole Mart

      1. SMOOTH
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        what? thats not an option

  22. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    WC team...

    Ryan
    VVD - Digne - Zinchenko - AWB
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Martial
    Pukki - Barnes

    Button - Cantwell - Lundstram - Greenwood

    0.0m itb

    Thoughts guys ?
    Thanks.

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good team

    2. sovietrockettes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      7.5

      Not bad, but you can do better than Barnes

    3. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no spurs

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes downgrade kdb and upgrade barnes

    4. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kane or spurs cover required

  23. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I appreciate its some way off, but I'm trying to get my head around the move of choice next week...
    A. King to Haller (risky of course, but any sign of form this week and it could be a saucy differential, does mean I'd have to play Dendoncker). Could go for Jota/Barnes instead however.
    B. Rico to Soyuncu/4.5 (keep King, improve squad).
    C. Dendoncker to McGinn/Ceballos (same as above).
    Any thoughts welcome.

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      King to Barnes/Pukki? (guessing you already have him) I'm looking at Jota to Barnes, his fixtures are juicy and he's been a stats monster since the second half of last season

  24. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Rico now effectively a dead fpl option? Why did he not play last week? (owner)

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks it, Charlie Daniels ahead of Rico.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rico is no longer suave'

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx64_N4AA04

  25. Net Gains
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who to captain this week out of:

    A. Rashford
    B. Kane
    C. Martial

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kane from that list. I'm tempted to captain Sterling though.

    4. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      Why not look at the poll?

    5. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You pay the premium on Kane to captain him in these games.

      1. villa_til_i_die
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Been useless 2 games so far, lucky v Villa (although I admit spurs better team). Newc desperate for a result, he’ll blank again!

    6. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kane by miles

  26. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will King drop before deadline?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He'll be close at best.

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Friday deadline might save him.

  27. dzrihan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    For the next games ??

    A) Martial , Pukki , Mane
    B) KDB , Rashford , Son

    1. sovietrockettes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martial Mane KDB and Pukki

  28. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A or B? Thanks

    A. KDB Rashford
    B. Mane Barnes

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  29. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would appreciate some thoughts on what to do with this lot. I've got 2FT and 0.5 ITB.

    Pope, Heaton
    Robbo, Digne, Zinc, Lund, KWP
    Salah, Sterling, Perez, Dendonk, Robinson
    Kane, King, Greenwood

    Some ideas:
    1) Robbo & Perez > Kelly & KDB
    2) Perez & Robinson > Martial & 4.5m (Cantwell, Doug Luiz, Stephens?)
    3) Perez or Robinson > Trossard (save 2nd FT)
    4) King > Pukki or Barnes (save 2nd FT)
    5) Something else?

    thanks in advance

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I like 2 with Cantwell

  30. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Montoya, Martial
    B) Digne, Mount/Trossard

    Currently on A as no Rashford.

    Cheers...

    1. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would go A, think martial will have a good season

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B with Mount, but would also consider McGinn.

      I don’t view united as “essential”, at least yet, if that’s why you’re making the point about not having rashford. I have no United players yet either

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers. Still see Mount as a bit of a gamble, decent player though for sure. Just think Martial OOP and @ 7.5M is a must have, but agree United aren't as prolific as other teams.