Three days. Ten games. Points on the line. It’s another full weekend of Fantasy League football.
Soak these heady times in, because it won’t be long before the fixture calendar takes us into ‘conditional permutation season’ i.e. ‘my team will be ahead when my players have played their games in hand’ etc, etc.
Which is no fun for establishing absolute bragging rights.
The action kicks off on Friday evening in Southampton with another South Coast derby (the Saints beat Brighton & Hove Albion on matchday three) as Bournemouth arrive at St Mary’s.
It just needs Portsmouth to reclaim their place in the Premier League (albeit sitting 18th in League One it is perhaps unlikely) and the region could lay claim to being the footballing hotbed of the UK. Must be the sunshine.
The incentive for three points is clear and obvious, as it would take either side – temporarily – up to third in the division.
Momentum would seem to be with Southampton who are unbeaten in four games in all competitions.
Bournemouth were impressive in their win over Everton but continue to have a lengthy injury list and have often tended to fluctuate during their time in the Premier League.
So for those looking to pick up some early points, it’s worth looking at James Ward-Prowse – always a threat with his set-piece delivery – and Angus Gunn for a little clean sheet gamble.
Eyes will inevitably be drawn to the weekend’s standout clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, when Chelsea welcome Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a 2-0 reverse against Napoli in midweek and may suffer the first dent in their 100% Premier League record if the home side can reproduce the threatening form they showed at Molineux last weekend.
Christian Pulisic may be a strong option for managers’ first XI picks. The American – so elusive and incisive in the final third – could well make hay in the wide spaces left by the full-back flyers, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
With the Salah-Mane-Firmino axis in front, it’s probably not the weekend for Chelsea’s defenders to turn around their porous form – so best avoid selecting them. Unless, perhaps, you think Marcos Alonso may get another start (quite possible given Frank Lampard’s success playing 3-5-2 at Wolves) and that he can have a compensating impact going forward.
It doesn’t get any easier for Watford as they travel to the Etihad to face the champions. Whoever holds Sergio Aguero in your leagues will surely only be more points rich by Sunday, given the Hornets have already conceded ten times this season.
They and Wolves are the league’s only winless sides, and with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side also away from home, their respective waits could go on until matchday six.
Lastly, keep an eye on Arsenal. Auba-Laca-Nico has to click soon, and it might just be this weekend….
