The Premier League returns with a blockbuster weekend to savour after the first international break of the campaign, with Sunday’s north London derby the pick of the matches in Gameweek 4.
With almost a fortnight to chew over their 15-man squads, FPL managers have had plenty of time to reflect on the opening three weeks of the season.
Premium attackers Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have more than paid back their expensive price points with a handful of returns so far, with the City sensation netting back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham ahead of the international break.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to be without both Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice for the north London derby due to injury and suspension respectively, in a match that could pay a pivotal role in the Gunners’ title hopes given their 1-1 draw with Brighton last time out.
Mail Sport’s prediction panel, with help from the FPL experts over at Fantasy Football Hub, have given their verdict on the best players to own from each fixture and tipped every full-time result.
Fantasy managers have until 11am on Saturday to submit their FPL teams for Gameweek 4
Nathan Salt, Manchester United correspondentÂ
There is no escaping that this has been a really disappointing start for Manchester United with two defeats from their opening three games, but Southampton’s risky play-from-the-back style should present opportunities.
The fact Marcus Rashford (£6.9m), owned by just 2.9 per cent, didn’t go away on international duty – long trips for Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo could work against them – means he is likely to start, while Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m) remains the United pick that feels the most secure for a points return, even with a knock picked up on international duty.
FPL stock in United stars is low right now but Southampton haven’t kept a clean sheet in any competition all season and have shipped six goals in the past two matches.Â
This game should give Erik ten Hag – and any FPL managers with United assets – some welcome relief.
Prediction: Man United to win 3-1Â
United’s Bruno Fernandes has been very unlucky not to have scored so far, with an xG of 1.17
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Lewis Steele, Merseyside football reporterÂ
On a personal level, I will be doing all in my power to work out a way of getting Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) into my team after a fine start to the season that has seen him play a role in every Liverpool goal.Â
He looks fitter than ever after a long break in the summer — he snubbed playing at the Olympics with Egypt — and looks a must-have in your XI.
A slightly rogue pick might be Luis Diaz (£7.6m), who is now picked by 17 per cent of players at the time of writing. He has had an extremely strong start to the season, most notably his brace at Manchester United a fortnight ago.Â
I have the similarly-priced Diogo Jota (£7.6m) in my team and, as a No 9, I am sticking by him for now but Diaz is not a bad pick by any means. With both, I would say: be wary of rotation as fixture congestion commences this week with European football returning.
As for Nottingham Forest, Chris Wood (£6.1m) looks one of the bargains of the season so far. With nine-point hauls in two of three games this season, the New Zealander is banging in the goals despite now being 32. Liverpool are yet to concede this season but that record might not last if Wood is on form at Anfield on Saturday.
Prediction: Liverpool win 3-0
Luis Diaz netted a brace last time out and has had seven shots in the box so far this campaign
Man City vs Brentford
Wes Prickett (FPL Heisenberg), Fantasy Football Hub expert
Pep Guardiola’s men have started the season with three wins from their first three games. From an FPL perspective, Erling Haaland (£15.2m) has stolen the show with back-to-back hat-tricks, and you don’t need me to tell you he’s a great captaincy shout this gameweek at home to Brentford.
Kevin De Bruyne (£9.6m) was unfortunate to blank in Gameweek 3, hitting the woodwork and forcing West Ham’s Alphonse Areola into a great save in the first half.Â
This game should be tailor made for De Bruyne to do well so consider him if you’re looking for a differential.
Rico Lewis (£4.7m) is a popular pick given his relatively cheap price and his attacking threat. However, I fear rotation will kick in with Lewis soon enough with the likes of John Stones and Kyle Walker vying for more game time – having said that, Lewis could still be a good short-term pick for this fixture.
Prediction: Man City to win 3-1Â
Erling Haaland is highest for predicted points in Gameweek 4 – followed closely by Mo Salah
Fulham vs West Ham
James Sharpe, Mail Sport football writer and co-host of the Fantasy Island podcast
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While many will be getting excited about the north London derby, it’s a former Arsenal man who could have a big say in another all-London tie.
Emile Smith-Rowe (£5.6m) already has one double-digit haul to his name, in Gameweek 2 against Leicester, and now that he’s slowly building up his minutes, he is going to be key to Fulham’s hopes this season. He gets into excellent attacking positions, often arriving late into the box.
Andreas Pereira’s (£5.4m) owners can also count themselves unlucky so far. He’s created the most chances in the league so far but has nothing to show for it.
Managers who started out with Antonee Robinson (£4.6m), however, have been duly rewarded with two assists already. He’s been the standout defender in his price bracket so far. Don’t be surprised to see him pick up another return.
Up front, this must surely be the last dance for Rodrigo Muniz’s owners. Muniz (£6.1m) was a popular third striker in many Gameweek 1 squads but has endured a goalless first three games, including plum ties against Leicester and Ipswich.Â
West Ham haven’t been the tightest at the back so far so a return here isn’t out of the realms of possibility but managers on wildcard would be better placed looking at Wood, Yoane Wissa (£6.1m) or even Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.9m).
Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) has slipped under the radar a bit this season. For someone who scored 16 goals and added six assists in 2023-24, you’d think would have been in more managers’ sides.
Bowen’s quality has shone through already, though, with a goal and an assist to his name and some tasty fixtures coming up. A haul at the Cottage – you wouldn’t count one out – and watch the clamour for him rise.
Prediction: 2-2 drawÂ
Emile Smith-Rowe offers better goal threat than Andreas Pereira, who appears more creative
Brighton vs Ipswich
Abdul Rehman (FPL Salah), Fantasy Football Hub expertÂ
Brighton have really impressed in their opening three games. They have scored six goals with two wins and a draw despite not-so-easy fixtures against Everton (a), Man United (H) and Arsenal (a). They now play newly-promoted Ipswich, which is probably their most favourable game of the season.
The Seagulls have looked great going forward with their array of attacking talent and they have more than a few good options in the final third.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.6m) has looked dangerous and has one goal and an assist to his name. Joao Pedro (£5.7m) has also looked immense with two goals and impressive displays. He has also been playing plenty of minutes with 90 minutes in his last two. This was a bit of a concern going into the season due to how many attackers Brighton possess.
However the most exciting prospect for me this week is Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m). He had a great record last season for Feyenoord where he registered 10 goals and six assists in 17 starts.
The Gambia international already has two assists and hasn’t had any issues with adapting to the Premier League. He looks very direct and attacking which is exactly what we want from an FPL asset.
If he carries on getting starts and minutes, I have no doubt he will pick up plenty of attacking returns and the fixture this week doesn’t get much better.
Prediction: Brighton to win 3-1
Yankuba Minteh is getting into plenty of dangerous positions for Brighton on the right flank
Crystal Palace vs Leicester
Matthew Lambert, Tennis reporterÂ
Eberechi Eze (£6.9m) owners have been unlucky to receive only one return so far this season – and any impatient sellers could be heavily punished hear as he faces perhaps the worst team in the division.
Palace’s main man remains an excellent buy and this is a great week to get him on board.
The Palace defence have the fifth-best odds of a clean sheet so Dean Henderson (£4.5m) and Daniel Munoz (£5.0m) owners can feel some confident.
As for Leicester, Stephy Mavididi (£5.3m) was the most popular pick from their attackers for Gameweek 1 due to the chances of him being on penalties.Â
But with Jamie Vardy (£5.6m) starting and Mavididi’s minutes being poor, the time has come to sell if you haven’t already. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (£5.1m) looks the best replacement.
Good luck for the gameweek.
Prediction: Palace to win 3-1Â
With Leicester up next, there’s every chance Eberechi Eze adds to his goal tally at the weekend
Aston Villa vs Everton
Sami Mokbel, Chief Football ReporterÂ
Villa defender Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) appeared to pick up an ankle knock while on international duty for England against Finland on Tuesday, but Unai Emery has said he will likely be fit enough to play.
It’ll be intriguing to see how Emery utilises his squad this weekend with his side’s Champions League debut against Young Boys next week. The Spaniard may well be tempted to rotate against the Toffees.
Sean Dyche will be hoping his side can finally get points on the board following three defeats in three matches so far.
Armando Broja (5.5m), a deadline day arrival from Chelsea, is not expected to be available as he recovers from an Achilles injury.Â
With the striker firmly rooted to the sidelines, it makes Calvert-Lewin a promising pick, given that Everton have a sea of favourable fixtures to come. The target man already has 16 points to his name this campaign.
It also remains to be seen if Seamus Coleman (£4.4m) can play after he limped off in the game against England in Dublin last weekend. Issues for Dyche.
Prediction: Aston Villa to win 3-1Â Â
Fewer strikers have better fixtures than Dominic Calvert-Lewin over the next five gameweeks
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Aadam Patel, Sports Reporter and Content CreatorÂ
Nicolas Jackson (£7.6m) has two goals in his last two matches and could be worth including against a Bournemouth side that are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
That said, Chelsea have also not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (£5.6m) is in terrific form.Â
With attacking returns and at least five points in each of Bournemouth’s three games so far, the Ghanaian is an absolute steal at his affordable price.
However, all eyes will be on Cole Palmer (£10.6m) – selected by over 40 per cent of FPL managers – who left England’s camp during the international break to continue rehabilitation for ongoing issues.Â
He is expected to be fit on Saturday and with 25 points across three games this season, he has picked up exactly where he left off last season.
Prediction: Chelsea to win 3-2Â
No player has had more shots than Antoine Semenyo over the opening three gameweeks
Tottenham vs ArsenalÂ
Jian Batra, Fantasy Football Hub expert
Considering Arsenal are likely missing their captain Martin Odegaard (£8.4m) and world class midfielder Declan Rice, several fans will be tipping a Tottenham triumph in the north London derby this weekend.
However, I’m expecting Mikel Arteta to set up in such a way that makes Arsenal very difficult to beat – and particularly hard to score against.
I haven’t been overly impressed by Spurs’ attacking dynamics when the going gets tough so far this season, and thus I’m predicting the Gunners to win comfortably. That being said, I think it will be a tougher game than the result below suggests.
Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) is the third most popular transfer out ahead of Gameweek 4, yet he’s the one player I really like for this game. With Odegaard likely out, he should have complete dominion over that right-hand side and should thrive given Spurs’ tendency to open up under Ange Postecoglou.Â
Spurs are also pretty poor at defending set pieces and Saka is primed to take all of them from his side of the field.
I still think Kai Havertz (£8.1m) is a hold, regardless of whether he plays in the midfield or not. Given the frequency at which he crashed into the box, he certainly can get a return or two if he replaces Odegaard in the engine room.
Finally, although I’m not necessarily expecting Arsenal to score, Son Heung-min (£10.0m) is the most likely to do damage for Spurs, especially if he plays up top. Pedro Porro (£5.5m) isn’t the worst to start either, considering all his avenues to attacking returns.
Prediction: Arsenal to win 3-0
Kai Havertz (right) has slightly better xG than his Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka (left) so far
Wolves vs Newcastle
Ben Willcocks, Senior Sports Reporter
Despite picking up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest before the international break, Wolves have looked really vulnerable in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Conversely, Newcastle have the wind in their sails off the back of triumphing 2-1 over Tottenham and that confidence should inspire yet another victory against Gary O’Neil’s struggling side at Molineux.
Alexander Isak (£8.5m) was the hero of the piece last time out and would be my tip for most points ahead of Sunday’s clash against Wolves, given that strikers have enjoyed playing against the Midlands club so far.
Forwards Kai Havertz (£8.1m), Nicolas Jackson (£7.6m) and Wood have all scored against Wolves across the first three gameweeks, profiting from chances opening up through the centre of the park.
A word too for Anthony Gordon (£7.4m), who has endured a surprising price drop despite averaging five points per game so far. The England international has looked dangerous so far for the Magpies and will see Sunday as a perfect opportunity to grab his second goal of the campaign.
If you wish to invest in Newcastle, it’s now or November. After Wolves and Fulham, Eddie Howe’s side run into a tricky late September and October, with Man City, Everton, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal to face in their next five fixtures.
Prediction: Newcastle to win 2-0Â
Alexander Isak and Newcastle have a mixed bag of fixtures over the next five gameweeks
FPL Salah, FPL Heisenberg and FPL Jian Batra are all Fantasy Football Hub contributors and have joined Mail Sport’s expert panel to kickstart the FPL season.
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