PLAY: Sportal EPL Dream Team
Goalkeepers & Defenders
If you are making changes to your defensive lineup have a look at the fixtures this weekend. If you have a Manchester City, Aston Villa and Swansea defender in your team I can guarantee you at least one clean sheet. Pablo Zabaleta has a knack of popping up with the odd goal or assist so he’d be my pick as Manchester City host Stoke who have managed one goal in their first two games. If you are looking for value, then Villa Park may be your destination. Villa have not conceded a goal yet and they are at home to Hull who have only scored one themselves. Aly Cissokho may look suspect defensively, but he likes to get forward and plays almost as an extra midfielder at times. Sign him up.
I’d also keep an eye on Angel Rangel and Jordi Amat at Swansea, who host an average West Brom side on Saturday. Eric Dier may look like a no brainer as the top scoring fantasy defender so far, but his days in the Spurs starting lineup could be numbered. Despite two goals and two clean sheets so far he is the one most likely to make way for new signing Federico Fazio.
Midfielders
Angel Di Maria to Manchester United is officially the largest transfer in British history. He got 17 assists last season in La Liga, which is four more than Cesc Fabregas, who seems to be setting goals up for fun back in the Premier League. Last week I told you to get hold of Raheem Sterling, Fabregas and Gylfi Sigurdsson and I have seen nothing to convince me otherwise, but you may have to sacrifice one of them to accommodate Di Maria. As far as I’m concerned it’s about getting some value out of the next two spots in your midfield.
Nacer Chadli was the best performer last week with 2 goals, but I would be more inclined to go for his midfield partner Erik Lamela. He had a terrific pre-season for Spurs, and he has more than continued that form in the first two games. The assist for Chadli’s second goal against QPR was an absolute worldy. If you can afford him, Andre Schurrle looks like he is going to have a great season at Chelsea too. One player to keep an eye on could be Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson. He takes free-kicks and corners which may well be Sunderland’s best supply line.
Strikers
Our tip last week was to make Diego Costa your captain. He scored again and looked impressive for Chelsea but he has picked up an injury that may well keep him out for up to six weeks. Sergio Aguero is yet to start for Man City, but he would be my choice to replace Costa. He came off the bench to score against Liverpool and must be nearing full fitness in time for Stoke on the weekend. If you are looking for a bit of value up front then West Ham’s Mauro Zarate would be a great choice. He was the best player on the pitch as West Ham beat Crystal Palace 3-1 last weekend. He scored a fantastic volley and looked dangerous the whole game. If you followed our advice in week one you will already have Stevan Jovetic in your team. If not, then he could still be a handy pick up. With Edin Dzeko nursing a slight injury he could be set to start up front alongside Aguero.
PLAY: Sportal EPL Dream Team