Teams to target: Manchester City & Brentford
Brentford vs. Crystal Palace
Brentford have shown little to suggest they will miss the suspended Ivan Toney, claiming four points from their first two matches.
Bryan Mbeumo has stepped up in Toney’s absence, scoring three goals, two from the spot and encouragingly for owners, he has actually under-performed his goal total!
Crystal Palace continue to be defensively solid under Roy Hodgson, conceding just once in two games this season, a Martin Odegaard penalty.
Only Brighton have a higher XG this season than Brentford and despite a difficult opponent, it’s going to be hard to ignore the form of the Cameroonian striker.
Sheffield United vs. Manchester City
I’m of the belief Sheffield United will finish bottom of the Premier League and two games into the season, little has let me to think otherwise.
They’ve looked desperately blunt thus far and their only goal has come through a screamer from one of their few with Premier League quality in Gustavo Hamer.
I don’t need to go into detail about Manchester City; however it’s worth noting their defensive stats are incredible at this early stage of the season.
A triple up from the champions appears a must in a GW3 dream team and I’d be looking at Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez as the second attacking option.
Erling Haaland is the only must, whilst defensively Ruben Dias appears the best bet.
Opposition to target: Luton Town & Fulham
Chelsea vs. Luton Town
Performances have been encouraging for Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino; however they’ve yielded just a single point from two games.
Expect that to change this weekend though when they entertain Premier League debutants Luton Town.
Luton looked comfortably short of the required quality in their opening game a fortnight ago and I’d want at least two Chelsea options if I was freehitting this week.
Ben Chilwell appears the lock, whilst Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling are good attacking options.
Arsenal vs. Fulham
Arsenal have recorded two wins from two; however performances haven’t been massively impressive.
They have a good record against Fulham and welcome a side to the Emirates who looked defensively abject.
Incredibly lucky to keep a clean sheet at Goodison Park in GW1, Fulham have conceded the highest XG of any side this season.
Tim Ream is suspended for Fulham, whilst their two key players from last season have either been sold or struggling with injury in the form of Alexander Mitrovic and Joao Palinha respectively.
Martin Odegaard being on penalties is surprise and puts him above Gabriel Martinelli in the pecking order of picks.
Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are the two locks from an Arsenal perspective in a dreamteam.
Other options
Manchester United vs. Nottingham Forest
Manchester United have looked desperately poor this season, fortunate to sit on three points from their first two matches.
Despite that they’ve been wasteful in front of goal, no side has underperformed their XG greater than United, you’d imagine soon they will become more clinical.
Statistically Nottingham Forest have been good defensively this season and stats would suggest they’ve been unlucky to concede three goals, with an XG against of 1.31, the second lowest in the division.
I certainly wouldn’t be buying any Manchester United options this week, especially with a trip to the Emirates in GW4, but I’d be giving the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes one final fixture here.
Brighton vs. West Ham United
Our under valued Brighton assets returned once again last week, with Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan all with two contributions each.
They’ve an incredible record against West Ham United, unbeaten in all 12 matches since earning promotion to the Premier League.
All three of the above, plus Joao Pedro, following the news of Julio Enciso’s injury, are good options going into GW3.
It’s worth noting though, I’d actually go without a Brighton option should I be freehitting this week, mainly as a result of the fixtures of other sides.
GW3 Dream Team: Flekken; Chilwell, Dias, Saliba; Mbeumo, Rashford, Odegaard, Saka, Foden; Jackson, Haaland (C)
