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The opening weekend of this season’s Fantasy Premier League produced an entertaining start as an average score of 56 points suggests a healthy return for most managers.
Several key players are still missing from their sides’ starting XI while many teams will take time to find their feet. We did get a little glimpse into the managers’ thinking though so there’s a little more information to work with.
However, you can only learn so much from GW1. Many questions are still unanswered and the second round of fixtures brings with it a fresh set of queries as well.
So here’s a few insights to help you out.
CAPTAIN – SERGIO AGUERO | MANCHESTER CITY | 11M
Manchester City immediately flexed their muscles and brushed Arsenal aside in a convincing 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium with relative ease. It was an impressive start to the champions’ title defence but for their all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero, it proved to be a frustrating outing.
The explosive striker only managed two shots on the day and really should’ve scored from the second as he was sent clean through on goal courtesy of an error from Matteo Guendouzi. Aguero couldn’t beat the advancing Petr Cech though and that summed up his display.
Nevertheless, it there was little wrong with his movement and overall play. He got into the right areas but was heavily marked at times. With the Citizens to play Huddersfield at the Etihad Stadium this time, he could get a lot more joy – although there is a slight chance that Gabriel Jesus gets the nod.
City are likely to bombard the visitors and camp on the edge of their area. As a result, there’s bound to be plenty of balls slid across the six-yard box for Aguero to feed off. He scored 14 goals and picked up two assists in home games against teams outside of the top six last season. A goal glut is not outside the realms of possibility.
Sergio Aguero
ALTERNATIVES
BENJAMIN MENDY (6.1m) was one of the standout stars of GW1. He seemed to operate like an auxiliary winger and regularly ventured into the final third. Having picked up two assists, his attacking threat is evident and should come to the fore again when Huddersfield come knocking. With City very likely to keep a clean sheet as well, he could easily deliver 12 points as captain even without attacking returns.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (9.5m) is another one, like Aguero, that some managers may be put off by after the opening week. The Tottenham playmaker only managed two points but his underlying stats were impressive. The Dane’s delivery into the box was exceptional as usual, particularly from set-pieces and he created five chances – more than any other player in GW1. With Fulham – who have injuries at the back – to play at home, he could come good.
BOLD CHOICE
DAVINSON SANCHEZ (6.0m) picked up an assist against Newcastle United as his flicked header from Eriksen’s corner found Jan Vertonghen at the far post. However, the former Ajax defender proved to be a nuisance from set-pieces a couple of more times in that fixture and perhaps should’ve scored from one of those opportunities. With Eriksen standing over dead balls, expect him to get more chances.
Davinson Sanchez
TWO TO WATCH
EDEN HAZARD | CHELSEA | 10.5M
Chelsea’s opening fixture against Huddersfield away came too soon for Eden Hazard but the Belgian who starred at the World Cup this summer made an instant impact off the bench in the second half and grabbed an assist in the process. He could well be handed a start against Arsenal and it will be interesting to see if he can carry forward his excellent form.
Eden Hazard (c)
RYAN FRASER | BOURNEMOUTH | 5.5M
Only Eriksen (5) and Alexis Sanchez (4) created more chances in the opening weekend than Ryan Fraser. The midfielder also created more chances (42) than any of his Bournemouth team-mates over the course of last season and picked up an assist against Cardiff City at home. At 5.5m, he’s a real bargain and has good fixtures to come. He’s stated he wants to score 12-15 goals this season. Wouldn’t that be a treat?
Ryan Fraser
TWO TO AVOID
KEVIN DE BRUYNE | MANCHESTER CITY | 10.0M
Like Hazard, fellow Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne also wasn’t included from the start last Saturday but was impressive when he came on and should’ve got on the score sheet had Aguero been inclined to square the ball for him. The midfielder has since suffered a knee injury in training and could be sidelined for a reported two months.
Kevin De Bruyne
ARON GUNNARSSON | CARDIFF CITY | 4.5M
Few 4.5m midfielders are guaranteed starters. Aron Gunnarsson is one of them and that is largely the appeal of the Cardiff City man from an FPL perspective. However, he picked up a knock in the first fixture against Bournemouth and may only return later this month. His fixtures don’t look great from that point on though with back-to-back games against Arsenal, Chelsea and City to come.
Aron Gunnarsson