Following a thrilling start to the 2021/22 Fantasy Premier League season with a high-scoring Gameweek 1, managers’ focus now shifts to Gameweek 2 as they consider which players to add or replace in their squad. The 2021/22 Premier League season started with a bang, with significant wins for Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea providing good point returns for FPL managers, with an average score of 69.
GW1 also involved some incredible FPL performances. There were plenty of performances that caught FPL managers’ attention, from Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes both scoring 16+ points to Watford’s budget striker Emmanuel Dennis establishing his name in the Premier League.
However, now that GW2 has arrived, it’s time for managers to make their first free transfer of the season and make the tough choice of who to add to their squads. Let us have a look at the most essential midfielders that you should have on your FPL teams for GW2.
Mason Greenwood (£7.5M) [SOU, (A)]
Mason Greenwood is an extremely good option for GW2, coming off a 5-1 thrashing of fierce rivals Leeds. Both of United’s main strikers, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani are not expected to start this weekend, making Greenwood the most likely candidate to start for the Red Devils upfront. And, with him being classed as a midfielder on FPL, it would sound foolish not to pick him if you had the chance to include him in your FPL lineup.
On the opening weekend, Southampton allowed three goals against Everton, and it could have been a lot more. The Saints have a new-look defense that faltered against the Toffees in their first match, and Greenwood’s innate ability to finish the majority of opportunities that come his way in the box means there isn’t a better moment for the 19-year-old to face them.
Greenwood’s link-up play, run-behind technique, and deadly finishing drew the attention again during the Leeds encounter. He scored one of the five goals, and for £7.5 million, he’s definitely worth having on your squad. Despite his fantastic performance over the weekend, the teenager only had one shot and only created one chance. However, he is set to start as the primary striker again this weekend, and we can expect more.
Bryan Mbeumo (£5.5M) [CRY, (A)]
Mbeumo might well be a useful differential for GW2 when Brentford meets Crystal Palace, following a great Premier League debut against Arsenal. He is playing out of position as an attacking partner to Ivan Toney in Brentford’s 3-5-2 formation, but following his performance against Arsenal, you can see why Thomas Frank is doing so.
The bulk of Brentford’s attacking sequences began with wide players sending balls forward, with Toney vying for the first ball and Mbeumo grabbing the second. Brentford used this technique against Arsenal as Mbuemo raced through on goal several times. Mbeumo is classed as a midfielder in FPL and hence is an out-of-position asset that can be relied upon if he starts finishing whatever chances Brentford create during the game. He is an excellent choice for Gameweek 2 and with an unsettled Crystal Palace side with a new manager, Mbeumo could surely be a huge threat to their unstable defense.
Ismaila Sarr (£6.0M) [BHA, (A)]
£6.0m is a steal for a regular starter and attacking menace who created four chances and fired two shots in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa, scoring one of the goals. The winger played on the right side in Watford’s 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 formation in their win against Villa and was a constant threat with his average playing position being even further forward in comparison to their main striker, Emmanuel Dennis.
The Senegalese forward picked up nine points in Gameweek 1 while scoring one goal and also scoring two bonus points and can be expected to perform similarly, if not better, in the Hornets’ away game against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend. Watford has some favourable matchups coming up, so the winger appears to be a viable choice until GW-7 against BHA (A), TOT (A), WOL (H), NOR (A), NEW (H), and LEE (A).
Paul Pogba (£7.6M) [SOU, (A)]
Paul Pogba (£7.6M) is a modest add-on alternative who looked like he was wearing the France national shirt while assisting four times against Leeds. He already has more assists in one game than he did the entire previous season (3). He was excellent in all aspects, helping out in the defense, coming down deep to help out in the transitional plays, creating chances out of almost nowhere and also, playing almost as a second striker in support to his teammates & help score and create goals.
Pogba had a stunning four assists from five key passes, and could have had a goal if he hadn’t squandered a golden opportunity created by Mason Greenwood. Four assists on the first day earned him a 16-point return, and like Greenwood, an away trip to St Mary’s, looks like a great opportunity to put more points on the board – and all for a reasonable price given his unpredictability.
