A second gameweek with a bad total average points on the trot. Well both my teams clinched points above the average mark. Looking into the mid-week European games, the English teams did well in the Champions and Europa League. Manchester City and Tottenham banged 5 past their opponents, Liverpool hit 4 while Chelsea clinched a 1-0 victory over Ajax. Elsewhere, in the Europa league, Arsenal and Wolverhampton made comebacks while Manchester United won their first away game quite a long time. A lot of managers will be looking to bounce back after the last two weeks and I think I know just the right picks for Gameweek 10.
1. AFC Bournemouth
D. Ake (4.9), F. King (6.3), F. Wilson (8.0)
Vs Watford (A)
A clean sheet and goals is what Eddie Howe will be looking for as the Cherries face bottom of the table Watford. A great opportunity for Wilson to find the net while Joshua King’s inclusion is a mystery. I thought he would start last week but I’m still going to keep him as the Watford fixture is mouth-watering.
2. Arsenal
F. Lacazette (9.3), F. Aubameyang (11.1)
Vs Crystal Palace (H)
The Gunners succumbed to 1-0 loss against Sheffield United and came close to losing once again vs Vitoria SC in the Europa League, only for Nicolas Pepe to come on and save Arsenal with a double. Holding, Bellerin and Tierney started in the Europa League and could feature once again vs Crystal Palace. Arsenal’s defence wasn’t at its best, not sure what their best defensive four is but they should’ve done better with Holding, Tierney, Mustafi and Bellerin at the back. Aubameyang hasn’t scored in his last two games. Lacazette is back and could help Auba get running. That should’ve been Ozils job, but the former Real Madrid player is even struggling to make the bench.
3. Aston Villa
F. Wesley (6.1)
Vs Manchester City (A)
Don’t really see this going Aston Villa’s way but Wesley could still be a threat.
4. Brighton and Hove Albion
F. Maupay (6.0)
Vs Everton (H)
Brighton will miss out on Mooy as he received a red card against Aston Villa. They do play at home though and will make it difficult for Everton. Maupay scored in Brighton’s last home game vs Tottenham Hotspurs and will be looking to get on the scoresheet again this week against Marco Silva’s men
5. Burnley
F. Wood (6.2)
Vs Chelsea (H)
Ashley Barnes has passed on the mantle to Chris Wood who has 4 goals in the last 4 games. Wood is the safest bet if you want a Burnley player in your team but they face Chelsea who have conceded only once in their last 3 games.
6. Chelsea
D. Alonso (6.2), M. Mount (6.8), F. Abraham (7.8)
Vs Burnley (A)
Marcos Alonso rescued Chelsea against Newcastle last week. Tammy Abraham came close too. Chelsea also beat Ajax by a goal and will be in good spirits when they travel to Turf Moor to play Burnely. This of course won’t be an easy fixture for Frank Lampards men, but with in-form Mount, Willian and Abraham anything is possible.
7. Crystal Palace
Vs Arsenal (A)
No comment.
8. Everton
M. Sigurdsson (7.9)
Vs Brighton (A)
I knew it for sure last week that this lad is going to find the net. Sigurdsson has been one of the most creative midfielders this season and his 92nd minute goal last week will only attract more managers.
9. Leicester City
D. Pereira (6.2), M. Maddison (7.2), F. Vardy (9.1)
Vs Southampton (A)
I don’t have to make a point about Maddison and Vardy since they do it themselves.
10. Liverpool
M. Mane (11.8), M. Salah (12.4)
Vs Tottenham Hotspurs (H)
Tottenham have a shot at making Liverpool drop points but the reds can be lethal at attacking. Both the teams are doing great at the back. Salah and Mane were on the scoresheet vs Genk. Managers will be happy to have Salah back after the Egyptian was rested vs Manchester United.
11. Manchester City
D. Mendy (6.), M. Sterling (12.1), M. De Bruyne (10.1), F. Aguero (12.2)
Vs Aston Villa (H)
There are so many players that I could suggest from Manchester City for this game, David Silva and Ederson too could give you good points. The Citizens beat Atalanta 5-1 in the Champions League with Sterling scoring a hattrick and Aguero grabbing a brace. I doubt Aguero’s place in the starting eleven tomorrow as he played full 90 minutes in the CL. I don’t want to get on another Pep Roulette. Last week I switched Mendy for Pereira and Mendy kept a clean sheet while Leicester conceded.
12. Manchester United
M. Martial (7.5), M. James (6.1), F. Rashford (8.4)
Vs Norwich City (A)
Manchester United have been just poor while attacking. The red devils have received a boost with Anthony Martial returning and also scoring the only goal in their victory over Partizan in the Europa League. I don’t have a good feeling going into this game as Norwich are fantastic at home while United are the terrible playing away. They did win vs Partizan but their only shot on target was penalty. I honestly have no clue what the lads do in training. Rashford and James had a decent outing against Liverpool and should do the same against Norwich.
13. Newcastle United
Vs Wolverhampton (H)
The magpies won their last home fixture vs Manchester United and now face a tricky test in Wolverhampton. Fabian Schar and Andy Carrol will miss the game. Steve Bruce will be looking forward to extend the home run but there hasn’t been any consistency from any player this season, so it’s difficult to pin a name.
14. Norwich City
F. Pukki (7.0)
Vs Manchester United (H)
Pukki hasn’t had a great run of late but I’m pretty sure this Icelandic beast will break his purple patch against United, who have a knack of conceding goals vs debutants or players that haven’t scored in months. #ScriptedPukki
15. Sheffield United
GK. Henderson (4.6), D. Lundstrom (4.)
Vs West Ham United (A)
I was preparing for a difficult paper while Sheffield United played Arsenal. It was past 1 am and I was with my books when ‘ping’ a notification popped on my phone. Lys Mousset scored against the gunners. I felt so relaxed after that game. Sheffield United has won my heart. I’ve been praising them every week for their performances and now the Blades sit at 9th place. Dean Henderson already has 4 clean sheets this season and could extend his tally this wek.
16. Southampton
F. Ings (5.9)
Vs Leicester City (H)
I don’t know how he does it but he does it. Ings seems be at the right place at the right time and that surely is a trait to score goals.
17. Tottenham Hotspurs
M. Son (9.7), F. Kane (10.9)
Vs Liverpool (A)
I’ve been suggesting this duo for a few weeks now and both Kane and Son grabbed two goals each vs Crvena Zvezda. Never heard about them but it definitely has give Pochettino a little breathing space. Spurs have a really really difficult task ahead against Liverpool at Anfield. Tottenham have been poor at the back and they conceded 13 shots vs a team that sounds like the name of some spell while Liverpool themselves have not been clinical at the back. This game could potentially be a goal fest.
18. Watford
Vs Bournemouth (H)
The only team yet to register a win in the premier league, that’s gotta sting #hornets
19. West Ham United
F. Haller (7.4)
Vs Sheffield United (H)
Post their Manchester United victory, the Hammers have lost thrice and drew once in all competitions. They face Sheffield United on Saturday who beat Arsenal and will be in high spirits. I have a feeling that Haller can dominate that Sheffield defence but he won’t have an easy task for sure.
20. Wolverhampton United
F. Jimenez (7.1)
Vs Newcastle United (A)
Can wolves go on a five game unbeaten run? Nuno’s boys made a comeback against Slovan Bratislava with Saiss and Jimenez finding the net. After the Leicester thrashing, Newcastle have shown some improvement at the back beating United 1-0 and losing to Chelsea with same scoreline. Both of Jimenez’s goals Southampton and Slovan Bratislava were penalties.
