Teams to target: Manchester City & Liverpool
Manchester City vs. Bournemouth
Erling Haaland punished those who offloaded the Norwegian international with a huge 16 point return in the Manchester derby last weekend.
He’s the obvious captain this week and the easiest of locks in a free hit side.
Bournemouth earned their first win of the Premier League season last time out, but a trip to the champions is as hard as it gets.
As a result you’d want a triple up on City assets this week and it’s just deciding who to have alongside Haaland.
Manchester City have had a full week to prep for this one and as a result their strongest XI is likely. Ruben Dias and either Phil Foden or Julian Alvarez are the best other options.
Luton Town vs. Liverpool
Liverpool are really starting to find their stride this season and eased to a 3-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Darwin Nunez has an incredible goal contribution return this campaign considering how many minutes he’s played. He scored off the bench midweek in the cup and it would be a huge surprise if he didn’t start this week.
Alongside him, Mohamed Salah remains an easy pick with his form massively going under the radar this campaign.
At £4.6m Kostas Tsimikas is a gift from the FPL gods, with the Greek international coming into the side following Andrew Robertson’s injury.
Given Tsimikas’ price, there is no need to go for the more costly Trent Alexander Arnold, whose returns have been limited this campaign.
Opposition to target: Sheffield United & West Ham United
Sheffield United vs. Wolves
Sheffield United have made the worst start to a Premier League in the competition’s history, claiming just a single point from 10 matches.
They can’t score and look horrible defensively, especially from set pieces and a low owned Wolves asset or two on a free hit is a great pick.
Pedro Neto has been excellent this season, however he will miss the trip to Bramall Lane through injury.
Hwang Hee-Chan has an impressive six goals this season and remains under 5% owned making him an excellent differential this week.
Craig Dawson is the best defensive pick and if any Wolves asset is going to punish Sheffield United’s set piece fragility, then he is the man.
Brentford vs. West Ham United
Perhaps a rogue pick to suggest West Ham are a team to target this week, but the stats suggest a home win.
West Ham have the fifth highest xGA this season and go into the game having won just one of their last five league matches.
They will also be without key personnel for the trip to Brentford, with Lucas Paqueta and Edison Alvarez suspended, whilst captain Kurt Zouma is a doubt.
Recent history would also suggest a home win, with Brentford winning all four matches in the Premier League against the Hammers.
I’d only have the one Brentford asset though and he’s the obvious pick in the side.
Of midfielders only Heung-Min Son and Salah have scored more points than Mbeumo, who goes into the game with 27 points in his last two games.
Other options
Fulham vs. Manchester United
Manchester United’s awful start to the season shows no sign of improving after the week from hell.
Consecutive 3-0 home defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United means the pressure is massively on Erik ten Haag.
Despite that, I’d probably hold United assets for a couple more weeks with Fulham and Luton Town on the horizon.
Both opponents are in the bottom seven for xGA and if United’s form is going to turn around then it could well start on Saturday.
That being said I definitely wouldn’t be buying any Manchester United players and none would make a free hit side.
Tottenham vs. Chelsea
The Ange Postecoglou revolution rolls on and Spurs are the surprise leaders a quarter of the way through the season.
On Monday evening their former manager Mauricio Pochettino returns for the first time since being dismissed back in 2018.
Things haven’t gone to plan for Poch at Chelsea and their struggles in front of goal continue with just six goals in eight games against non promoted sides.
It still represents a difficult game for Tottenham and I wouldn’t be buying any of their assets this week, but I definitely wouldn’t be selling either.
A James Maddison or Son would find their way into a free hit team.
GW11 Dream Team: Johnstone; Dawson, Dias, Tsimakis; Maddison, Mbeumo, Salah, Foden, Hwang; Haaland (C), Nunez
