FPL Tips: PL Game Week 3 Review
Fantasy Premier League game week 3 ended with an average of 44 points.
Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane were the major talking points over the weekend for FPL managers, most of whom had mixed fortunes with the results.
Woeful Manchester United
Crystal Palace provided the first shock with a 1-2 away win over Manchester United, thanks to Patrick van Aanholt’s (£5.5m) last-minute strike.
Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) opened the scoring on the day as United was made to work hard by the visiting team. Last week’s missed penalty by Pogba (£8.6m) meant Rashford (£8.7m) stepped up this time. However, the English striker disappointed his 27.6% owners with a failed kick which crashed on the back of the post.
Daniel James (£6.0m) and Anthony Martial (£7.7m) were the only players who passed the eye test for the Red Devils at least in terms of player value.
#MUNCRY (Man Utd 1-2 Crystal Palace) xG: 2.53 – 0.69
— SoccerSouls (@SoccerSouls) August 25, 2019
Top for toches in final third: Rashford- 42, AWB 36
Big Chances Created: Schlupp & Maguire – 1 each
Goal attempts: James, Pogba, Rashford 4 each & Martial -3, Zaha 2
Shots Conceed: United 5, Palace 22
Shots On Target: 3 Each
Newcastle stun Tottenham
Harry Kane (£11.1m) disappointed more than a million FPL managers who captained him as Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United picked up their maiden win of the season.
Davinson Sanchez‘ (£5.5m) mistake led Christian Atsu (£5.4m) to deliver a pin-point ball to Joelinton (£5.9m), who made no mistake in converting his chance. However, Spurs, on the whole, were average going forward. Only Son looked to be doing something productive when the home side managed to break.
With Eriksen’s future up in the balance, it would be wise to avoid investing in Tottenham’s asset despite their run of good fixtures.
#TOTNEW Tottenham vs Newcastle: xG 1.13 – 0.81
— SoccerSouls (@SoccerSouls) August 26, 2019
Top for toches in final third: Son 66, Joelinton 19, KANE 18
Big Chances Created: Atsu & Sissoko -1 each
Goal attempts: Son 6, Moura 5, KANE 1
Shots Conceed: #Spurs 8, #NUFC 17
Shots On Target: Tottenham 2, Newcastle 3
Budget options open up for Norwich and Chelsea
Chelsea and Norwich played an entertaining match with the Blues picking up their first victory under Frank Lampard.
Teemu Pukki‘s (£6.9m) party continued over the weekend as the newly-promoted striker both scored and assisted to take his season tally to 35 points from the first three weeks.
At £6.9m he is still a great budget option. Norwich’s fixtures up to Gameweek 10 with the exception of Man City in Gameweek 5 is excellent.
Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) has a goal and two assists while Emi Buendía (£6.0m) has two assists so far this season. Norwich’s assets could turn out to be the most important budget options, much like the Wolves team of last season.
However, steer clear of their defenders who have shipped 8 goals already (highest in the league).
Tammy Abraham (£7.0m) struck twice for Chelsea as he rewarded his manger’s faith. However, be wary of his playing time with Giroud (£6.9m) knocking the door.
Mason Mount (£6.2m) was once again the pick of the lot for Chelsea with his clinical performance. The 20-year old has cemented his place in Lampard’s starting line-up. Expect his 10.2% ownership to keep raising with Chelsea’s nice run of fixtures and the build-up to the first international break after Gameweek 4.
#NORCHE (2-3)
— SoccerSouls (@SoccerSouls) August 25, 2019
Top for toches in opp half: Emerson – 65
Big Chances Created: Emerson and Pukki – 1 each
Goal attempts: Barkley and Mount – 5 each. Pukki converted from 1 of his 2 attempts.
Shots Conceed: Chelsea 6, Norwich 23
On Target: #CFC 8, #ncfc 5
Things to watch out for ahead of Gameweek 4
Avoid Wolves’ assets
Wolves are clearly struggling with their European commitments. The game against Burnley came after just two days of rest.
Nuno Santo’s side were the least rotated team last season and it would be wise to re-think before holding onto Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota as there are multiple options opening up in the same price range. Pukki, Barnes, Haller and Wesley to name a few.
Is Sergio Aguero overlooked?
2) Aguero
— Adam Hopcroft (@ahopcroft13) August 26, 2019
1.21 xG
2 goals
4 shots (2 on target)
3 key passes
✅possible differential – 17% ownership
✅on pens (City could have had 1 yesterday)
✅excellent fixtures
❎Jesus could be back after int break
❎Most expensive striker so hard to fit in
Aguero (£12.0m) has attacking returns in all the 3 matches played so far. Although 90 minutes is not guaranteed for the Argentine striker, he more than makes up for it with his goals.
With Jesus sidelined after pulling his hamstring, it might be worth it to take a short-term punt on Aguero if you still have your wild card intact.
Salah punishes his doubters
Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) was the most transferred out player going into Gameweek 3 with over 300,000 managers dumping the Egyptian. With a brace and maximum bonus points, Salah once again proved his worth.
Sadio Mane (£11.5m) was unfortunate to get any attacking returns despite Liverpool dominating the game. In that respect, Salah clearly has an advantage over the Senegalese star. He is on penalties and almost all of Liverpool’s attacks go through him.
Players that stood out GW3
— Adam Hopcroft (@ahopcroft13) August 26, 2019
1) Mo Salah
1.60xG
2 goals
5 shots (2 on target)
1 key pass
✅41% ownership
✅viable captain option
✅FOMO
❎Mane – Last 4 FPL game weeks Mane & Salah have alternated as top scorer
❎Fixtures – NEW & LEI only appealing home matches until gw14
Sebastien Haller another option?
Sebastien Haller (£7.4m) scored twice in an impressive win over Watford.
West Ham play Norwich and Aston Villa next and with just over 3% ownership, he could be a great short-term differential.
Haller had a shot accuracy of 75% and a conversion rate of 50% from the four chances he had.
3) Haller
— Adam Hopcroft (@ahopcroft13) August 26, 2019
1.82 xG
2 goals
4 shots (3 on target)
✅great fixtures – NOR avl next
✅only 3% owned – so short term differential
✅proven track record of goals & assists
❎more expensive than other strikers (Jota, Barnes, Pukki, etc)
❎could Lanzini or FA be better WHU option?
