Form is a fickle mistress, it stays and it goes as it chooses. Some start off bright but end with a fizzle, while others come into their own in the dogfight at the dusk of the season. The trick is to pick players who are peaking early at this stage of the season, and appear bustling enough out there on the pitch to be backed off of it.
Every week T4o’s FPL scout will scour the form book to bring you the 4 sure bets for the upcoming game-week, depending mostly on expectation and inference than hope, as per a player’s performance from the week prior or his general promise displayed overall, which would prove to be an indication of what’s to follow.
Here’s this week’s edition for your addition for the Premier League game week 3.
Goalkeeper
David De Gea
Club: Manchester United
Price: 5.5
While Cech would be the ideal choice for many, Arsenal’s defensive injury crisis, and their opening fixture vs the readily firing Liverpool who beat Barcelona 4-0 recently at Wembley, would give us enough reason to not ply him for at least a few weeks. Manchester United relied on the heroics of David De Gea to bail them out of a lot of tricky situations last season, churning out as many bonus points as he did. This season, however, expect his performances to be a bit muted, considering the defensively-sound Jose Mourinho at the helm, who, on more than a few occasions will look to park the bus. Guaranteed clean-sheets.
Man United travel to Hull City who have former Red Devil Mike Phelan at the helm, and would be looking to sit back and soak the pressure – making for a somewhat easy shut out scenario for the Spaniard.
Defender
Patrick van Aanholt
Team: Sunderland
Price: 5.0
Seen predominantly as an attacking force from the back, Van Aanholt, (under Sam Allardyce, before he left) has since improved his defensive aspects in the latter half of the season. Already racked up 10 points in two weeks, mostly owing to a goal scored against Middlesbrough in the opening game week. He’ll be one to watch out for, making inroads against attacking-minded Southampton.
Midfielder
Sadio Mane
Team: Liverpool
Price: 8.9
Hefty, as you’d think, his price tag is in FPL as well as in real life – on evidence of last season, and then his pre-season with Liverpool, he is surely one who would be among the goals and assists with his breathless, turf-tearing attacking play. Arsenal with their defensive shuffle, was at his mercy in the opening week, going on a Roger Milla-esque run, thumping one in. Missed GW2 due to a shoulder injury, he’s back again after inspiring his team to a 0-5 win over Burton in the English League Cup, with two assists.
Striker
Michy Batshuayi
Team: Chelsea
Price: 9.0
Three goals and 1 assist in 3 appearances for the former Marseille who is looking to displace Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi from the starting berth of their national side, Belgium – by no means an easy task, but, considering his blistering start, looks more than probable. Could have gone with the red-hot Kun Aguero, but it’s giant killers West Ham, Man City are against. Michy looks to be a safer bet facing Burnley ay home.
