Teams to target: Bournemouth & Liverpool
Bournemouth vs. Luton
Bournemouth sit top of the Premier League form table, having won four and drawn one of their last five matches.
In the run they’ve easily beaten Newcastle United and thrashed Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford last week.
After a slow start to the campaign, they are really starting to find their feet under manager Andoni Iraola and any relegation fears have gone given their recent run.
Marcos Senesi has scored twice in this run, keeping three clean sheets in the process and only Trent Alexander-Arnold has more points among defenders in the last five games.
Alongside him I’d want one attacker and Dominic Solanke is probably that man. Only four players have scored more league goals than Solanke this season.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
It’s hard to look past anything other than a comfortable home win on Sunday with the two sides separated by 10 points at this early stage of the campaign.
Liverpool went top of the league last weekend, whilst United suffered a seventh loss of the league campaign and also exited European competition following a home defeat to Bayern Munich.
United could be without numerous options for the trip to Anfield and both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were forced off injured midweek and both will be doubts.
Mohamed Salah has a superb record against United, scoring 10 goals in 11 league matches against Sunday’s opponents. He scored twice and assisted a further two in the 7-0 win over United last season.
Salah for me is the best captaincy option this week, especially with Erling Haaland being an injury doubt.
Darwin Nunez hasn’t been in the best of form, but I’d gamble on the striker who scored twice in the meeting last year. Trent Alexander-Arnold or Kostas Tsimikas would be the defensive pick as I’d want a triple up given the contrasting spirits in the camps.
Opposition to target: Nottingham Forest & Sheffield United
Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham
Nottingham Forest are rock bottom of the Premier League form table having claimed just one point from their last five matches, with the pressure on manager Steve Cooper intensifying.
Since promotion their record at the City Ground has been impressive; however they’ve lost the last two in front of their own supporters against Brighton and Everton.
Tottenham ended their own poor run last time out and they are getting a few players back and will be confident of back to back wins here.
Son Heung-Min is a guaranteed pick in a free hit side, alongside one of their attacking full-backs, with slight preference for Pedro Porro.
Should I triple up on Spurs options, then Richarlison, who bagged twice against Newcastle United last week, would be the final pick.
Chelsea vs. Sheffield United
Sheffield United are the only side in the league yet to earn an away victory this season, claiming just a single point, a 1-1 draw away at Brighton.
Chelsea are in poor form themselves, but you’ve got to fancy their chances in GW17 as they’ve got the best fixture of the lot.
Đorđe Petrović is in line for a first start since joining Chelsea, with Robert Sanchez coming off injured in GW16 against Everton.
Should we get news of Sanchez absence, then Petrovic is the cheap keeper option this week and one I’d be willing to gamble on.
Chelsea don’t score enough goals, but you’d still want an attacking option this week and it’s a toss up between Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, with slight preference for the latter.
Other options
Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
Manchester City’s home stats this campaign aren’t as impressive as previous years and they rank just 12th for xG in home matches.
Haaland is a major doubt for GW17 and that only lessens the appeal of their options; however Crystal Palace are in poor form, just one point in five games and I’d still want at least one option.
Julian Alvrez is perhaps the one to own this week with Haaland’s availability unclear. His points have dried up in recent weeks, but he’ll probably start in his favoured role and remains an under-priced option.
Only four teams have scored fewer goals on the road than Crystal Palace and I’d want a defensive pick too, with Kyle Walker perhaps the best bet.
GW17 Dream Team: Petrovic; Senesi, Alexander-Arnold, Porro, Walker; Son, Salah (C), Palmer; Solanke, Alvarez, Nunez
