Hi troops, and welcome to your preview of GW 6 ahead. If you are still basking in the post Hazard or Fraser glow, then you will be looking forward to the week ahead. Those of us who were without the two big hitters from GW5 seemed to have pretty average weeks. Aguero playing well and going off with a knock didn't help things for me, although Arnautovic did repair some of the damage with a great showing on Sunday.
More interesting games upcoming this week, with the big teams entering Europe midweek and the possibility of some major men being rested. Lets see where we think points could be lurking within….
Fulham v Watford
Saturdays early game sees the Hornets travel across London to visit The Cottage, in a game that would have been a top end Championship game last term. The home side were beaten well by City, which is no disgrace, and these are the games that will ultimately define their season. Watford's good start has raised expectations for them, but Fulham will surely be targetting this game. Mitrovic has been the most transferred in player this week so far, and that could be a good move in this game. Cairney is almost back fit and the return of the Fulham Captain would be welcomed. Watford dropped their 1st points in defeat to Man Utd, and Gracia will hope for a reaction from his men here. Deeney is the leader of the team nd he will need to lead the line well again if Watford are to get anything out of West London. Motoring along nicely at the back are Cathcart and Holebas, both men good low cost point scoring options so far.
Prediction � Ful 2-1 Wat
Burnley v Bournemouth
Burnley will hope home advantage brings them luck this week against the in form Cherries on Saturday. With only 1 point form 5 league games so far, Dyche must be concerned. Wolves should and could have won by many more than the 1-0 scoreline, and the so far fragile defence is not like Burnley of the past few seasons. Joe Hart kept them in the game, he will continue to be crucial for them. Vydra came off the bench at the weekend to give the one paced frontline a bit more zip, and he may get a chance to start this weekend. Bournemouth continued their good form with a 4-2 thumping of Leicester, and the 2 goal performance of Fraser was outstanding, earning him a deserved spot in the official FPL team of the week. Eddie Howe should be able to name an unchanged side, and goals are likely to come again from the likes of King and Wilson.
Prediction � Bur 1-3 Bou
Cardiff v Man City
After taking a shock lead Cardiff were well beaten at the Bridge, and this is another massive challenge for them. They will not be on many coupons to get a result either with the visit of the Champions this weekend. Warnock's men will need to be strong in defence, and their main point scorers o far are in the backline. Bamba showed he can be a threat at the other end as well, but it will be a tough ask as we have said. City will hope their Champions League disater vs Lyon has not tired them out physically or emotionally, but their squad is strong enough to cope even if they do need to rotate. Aguero was protected at the weekend and the Argentine is still City's go to man. Both Silva's impressed at home and their continued good form is lessening the blow of De Bruyne's injury. Many of us will be gutted that Mendy has also seemingly been ruled out too.
Prediction � Car 0-2 MNC
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
2 teams here who have had disappointing starts to the season, but Palace will have been boosted by their away win last weekend. Although they were not altogether convincing, the 3 point were very welcome and they will hope to build on that. Zaha is so important for them and he will hope to be backed up by the likes of Ayew and Townsend in attack. Rafa's men again lost out to a top team by a narrow scoreline, but Arsenal were in full control of this game. They have defended well and their goal difference is a credit to that, but they seem to lack in the forward areas. They need to step up and play to get anything out of London. Clark scored after replacing Lascelles at half time last week, and he is in contention to start if the latters ankle doesn't recover in time. Shelvey has the talent and should be drving his team more than he has been able to so far, Saturday is as good a time as any.
Prediction � Cry 1-1 New
Leicester v Huddersfield
Leicester were taken apart on the south coast by Bournemouth, and they will be looking to bounce back here against one of the weakest sides so far this year. The Foxes have good players and whilst no-one would expect them to be back troubling the trophy engravers, they should be pushing into the top 10 this season. Maddison notched another goal from the spot and Albrighton chipped in a goal too, so not all the onus is on Vardy to get amongst the goals. Morgan's red card could be a blessing in disguise, as Evans should return. Huddersfield have been poor overall, but they look especially light up front. Wagner changed to a 3-4-3 at the weekend to try and get more bodies further up the pitch, to support Depoitre and he may stick with this as they played well in spells vs Palace. Lossl and his backline will also need to play well to get anything here.
Prediction � Lei 2-0 Hud
Liverpool v Southampton
Klopp and his Reds are still 100% after an impressive win away at Spurs. The team and fans will also still be buzzing from their stirring 3-2 win vs PSG at Anfield. Firmino's eye for goal (if its still in the socket) will be looked to again and Sturridge's start and goal might see him coming in again at the weekend. The continued relative poor form of Salah will be concerning many FPL managers, the Egyptian not hitting the heights of last season so far. Southampton threw away a 2 goal advantage at home to Brighton and Mark Hughes will be tearing his hair out at this. The Saints now come into a tough run of games, so you may be looking to move out their players over this period. Ings is unable to paly against his parent club, so we could see Austin and Long up top. Bertrand and Cedric are picking up points weekly, the defenders will be key at stopping Liverpool in the wide channels they love to exploit.
Prediction � Liv 3-1 Sou
Man Utd v Wolves
Mourinho's men took a good 3 pts back on the train with them on Saturday, spoiling Watford's 100% record in the process. The dark clouds of a few weeks ago seem to be clearing, but the preseason expectations of a title challenge still seem some way off. Smalling scored a great goal for a centre half and Lukaku has begun hitting the goal trail, some thing they rely on with out much options in the CF position. Pogba's Champions League heroics could propel him onto greater things at the weekend also. Wolves won on Sunday, but the margin of victory should have been much greater. The concern for Wolves will be the chances not being tucked away. Nuno will hope to show his fellow Portuguese and former manager that his team is up for the challenge of playing at one of the most impressive venues in world football. The electric pace of Traore has been used to good effect in the later stages of games, but may be used on the counter from the start on Saturday. Jimenez notched his 1st goal in English football at the weekend and should be the focal point again.
Prediction MNU 3-1 Wol
Brighton v Tottenham
The late game on Saturday takes us down to the AMEX. Brighton are fast becoming the come back kings of the EPL season, their late show to draw at Southampton mirroring the 2-2 with Fulham a few weeks ago Their willingness to keep going in the face of adversity is admiable but you would think it will catch up to them soon. Spurs have their own story to tell of late goals, but going in at the wrong end having managed to throw away their game in Milan in midweek. Liverpool also seemed to make light work of winning at Webmley last weekend. Poch has made the rod for his back not having recruited in the summer, and a 4th defeat in all comps would not go down well with the fans. For Brighton, Murray remains their biggest goal threat and Propper is impressing in midfield. Spurs will again look to the likes of Eriksen and Kane, with Trippier rested in Milan looking to come back in too.
Prediction � Bri 2-3 Tot
West Ham United v Chelsea
Sunday sees Chelsea pop over to The London Stadium to face a Hammers side still bubbling over from the impressive win over Everton. A change of shape and personnel from Pellegrini saw a better balance to their side allowing the 3 atacking players a better base to go and create from. Yarmolenko announced himself to the FPL world with 2 goals and Arnautovic further cemented himself as a favourite for us all. The visit of Sarri's men does pose an altogether bigger threat though, as the Blues look to stay 100%. Hazard was imperious against Cardiff and his hattrick gave a lot us a massive points boost. The continued good form of Alonso (even without the phantom assist) and he goal off the bench from Willian show the Blues mean business this season.
Prediction � WHU 1-2 Che
Arsenal v Everton
Things are wrapped up for the week at the Emirates and the home side will fancy their chances against an Everton team not firing on all cylinders in the past few weeks. Arsenal won in the North East, and they are slowly feeling their way in to the season after a tough opening 2 fixtures. They have favourable fixtures upcoming, so expect their players to make their way into a lot of your thoughts for transfers soon. Ozil's goal at Newcastle shows that he still has the quality to be a big player for the Gooners, and supported by the likes of Lacazette and Aubamayeng, there are points to be gained. Everton have their main man Richarlison back from suspension and the Brazilian will hope to inspire them again as he did in the earlier weeks. Sigurdsson scored a good goal in defeat on Sunday, and looked more comfortable in the no10 position. How Silva resolves this with his 2 best players naturally vying for the same position is the big dilemma. Defence will need to be on point and Pickford will need to show World Cup form if the Toffees are to get anything here.
Prediction � Ars 3-1 Eve
A week of ups and downs ahead and the FPL will frstrate and delight again in equal measures as always. Until next time…
LETS GO!!!
PaulT
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