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  • Southampton vs West Ham United: Match Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    Southampton vs West Ham United: Match Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    As Premier League is back in action after the international break, we will look forward to watching the fourth round of fixtures unfold. Teams who have got off to a flying start will look to keep up their form, and one of them is West Ham United who have emerged as the side to beat in this early part of the season. David Moyes’ side who finished sixth in the league last season are in incredible form having won two, and drawn one out of their first three Premier League fixtures, and will look to keep up their unbeaten start on their away trip to Southampton.

    The Saints will welcome the Hammers to St. Mary’s Stadium on the South coast, hoping to register their first win of the season. Ralph Hassenhüttl’s men have only accumulated two points from their first three league games in what has been an underwhelming start to their season. While West Ham sits as high as second in the early weeks after scoring ten goals in their outings against Newcastle United, Leicester City and Crystal Palace – Southampton are languishing at 13th position on the table after losing their first match of the season to Everton, but following it up with a couple of draws on the bounce against Manchester United and Newcastle United.

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    Both the teams will be going into this game off the back of 2-2 draws in their respective last outings in the Premier League before the international break – while the Hammers were held by a resilient Conor Gallagher for Palace despite taking a 2-0 lead, the Saints rallied to come back from behind twice and hold Newcastle, courtesy of a Mohammed Elyounoussi goal and a James Ward-Prowse penalty in injury time. Form favours the visitors who are in great form while Southampton are on a winless run of five matches in the league, and have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last fourteen games. Recent history between the sides also favours the visitors who have won six out of their last seven games against the hosts. While this fixture ended in a goalless draw last season, West Ham got the better of Southampton in the reverse fixture.

    WHEN AND WHERE?

    Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium.
    Date: Saturday, 11th September 2021.
    Time: 3 pm (BST).

    MATCH OFFICIALS:

    Referee: David Coote
    Assistant referee: Harry Lennard and Nick Hopton
    Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
    VAR: Martin Atkinson and Derek Eaton

    TEAM NEWS

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    Southampton have a number of notable absentees for the weekend fixture. The Saints will be without winger Theo Walcott who has been ruled out with an unspecified minor issue, and while Shane Long is out with coronavirus, Stuart Armstrong’s calf problem makes him a major doubt for Saturday.

    Injuries have not been as harsh for their opponents – only Winston Reid remains unavailable, and it might still be too early for Kurt Zouma to make his debut after securing a move from Chelsea. The pair’s unavailability means that it will likely be Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna in the heart of the Hammers defence once again.

    MATCH ANALYSIS

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    West Ham have been incredible since the start of the season. The East London side have created chances at will, and the presence of a clinical centre forward in Michael Antonio has meant that they are quite the formidable side. David Moyes’ side has had goals coming from midfield as well in Saïd Benrahma and Pablo Fornals, and at the moment, they might just have too much quality for Southampton to deal with. Even though Ralph Hassenhüttl’s men have struggled to keep clean sheets over the past year and have already conceded six goals in the league this season, they have an in-form striker as well – in new signing Adam Armstrong who will look to make his mark once again. West Ham have shown excellent attacking ability in the opening matches but their defensive frailties have most recently been exposed by Conor Gallagher who struck a 12-minute brace against them – which the Saints will be looking to capitalise on.

    KEY PLAYERS

    Michael Antonio

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    The man who just won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August is in the best form of his life right now, and anything he touches turns to gold. Antonio already has racked up four goals and three assists in the league so far this season and will be looking to get on the score sheet once again in order to break another record. Only a couple of matchdays after he became the club’s record goalscorer in the Premier League era, the 31-year-old can now become the first-ever player to score and assist in four consecutive Premier League games. The big, burly centre forward will look to give the Saints’ defence a torrid time with his physicality, occupying the centre backs to help the wingers and running behind the back four.

    Valentino Livramento

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    A surprise choice as Southampton’s key player for the weekend is the new signing Tino Livramento. The 18-year-old is a highly rated full-back who left Chelsea for regular game time at the South coast and immediately impressed on his full Premier League debut against Manchester United. Livramento started as a right-back and produced a Man of the Match performance to hold United to a draw – and his youthful burst of energy will be required to shut down the in-form Saïd Benrahma on the left flank for West Ham. Even though Livramento has mostly excelled defensively in his short Saints career so far, he has a wicked cross on him which can help Southampton make the most of through Che Adams and Adam Armstrong upfront.

    PREDICTED LINEUPS

    Southampton: McCarthy; Livramento, Stephens, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Djenepo; Adams, Armstrong.

    West Ham: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio.

  • FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 4 – Forwards Watchlist

    FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 4 – Forwards Watchlist

    Due to the international break, Premier League fans and, in particular, FPL managers have had a dry spell for the past several weeks, but the league is set to return this weekend.

    Also, Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived! In an unprecedented change of circumstances, the Portuguese forward decided to return to Manchester against all odds. He’s also not in Manchester’s blue half like most were expecting him to be. All attention will be on Manchester United as they host Newcastle to Old Trafford for Ronaldo’s first appearance.

    Hence, a lot of FPL managers have opted to go for their wildcards, changing their teams completely. Alongside Cristiano, let us have a look at some of the best forwards to go for in Gameweek 4:

    MICHAIL ANTONIO (£7.9M) [SOU, (A)]

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    Antonio has had a great start to the season, scoring four goals and adding four assists in his first three games. Therefore, as a result, with 40 points so far this season, he is by far the highest-scoring player in FPL. Antonio is a terrific value at £7.9 million, and he can easily match, if not outplay, expensive FPL alternatives, as he has demonstrated thus far. As a result, the West Ham striker should be a must-have in your wildcard lineup.

    So far this season, Michail Antonio has been the breakout gem. He has already grown in value by £0.4 million, and rightfully so. He tops in goals scored (4) and FPL points after three gameweeks (40). He is the most prolific player in the Premier League at the moment, with the most shots on target (7), most shots in the box (13), highest xG (3.39), highest xA (1.90), and also the most big chances (3). With a base price of under £7.5 million, it’s fair to assume he’s a must in our FPL lineups. So far, West Ham has been excellent offensively, scoring 10 goals (1st), with 25 shots on target (2nd), 38 shots in the box (2nd), 11 big chances (2nd), and an xG of 7.4 (3rd). In Gameweek 4, they face Southampton, who have surrendered six goals (17th) in their opening three games with an xGC of 5.3 (15th). There were 29 Shots in the Box (15th), 15 Shots on Target (17th), and 8 Big Chances conceded (18th).

    With four goals, four assists, and three double-digit hauls in a row, it will be incredibly difficult to gamble against the Jamaican striker this week.

    ROMELU LUKAKU (£11.5M) [AVL, (H)]

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    Romelu Lukaku is the next player you must take into account for your FPL teams. The Belgian has only appeared in two games for Chelsea this season, but he has already established himself as the Blues’ final link in attack. Lukaku has the fourth-most shots in the box of any player in the Premier League this season, despite playing one game fewer than those ahead of him.

    And, with Chelsea taking on a Villa side that has struggled to keep clean sheets this season, a Lukaku goal or two appears to be a near certainty. Villa’s defense is also likely to be affected by the fact that no. 1 goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is currently in isolation after visiting red-listed Argentina during the international break. In Gameweek 4, the Blues enjoy a favourable matchup at home against Aston Villa. Despite a relatively straightforward run of fixtures, the Villains have allowed 23 Shots in the Box (13th), 10 Shots on Target, and an xGC of 3.2 against Watford (A), Newcastle (H), and Brentford (H).

    Chelsea’s attacking prowess has improved, and with Lukaku now spearheading the charge, they will be a far more dangerous attacking side. Not only that, but the Belgian is highly probable to be the talisman. He’s a sure-fire starter who leads the front line. Lukaku can also provide assists when required. Last season, he added 10 assists to his 24 goals in the league for Inter Milan. During his time in the Premier League, he has a total of 44 assists. There’s also a possibility he’ll take penalties, but it is yet to be confirmed.

    DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (£8.2M) [BUR, (H)]

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    Despite a lingering toe issue since pre-season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (DCL) has produced in all three of Everton’s opening three games. We can predict the Everton forward’s goal tally to continue to rise this season now that he has been approved to be on penalty duty. With Burnley, Villa, and Norwich in the following three games, DCL’s attraction grows even more. However, we must keep an eye on his present injury issue and await word from Rafa Benitez, as DCL is now recovering from a damaged toe and a thigh strain. DCL, however, is likely to be ready for GW4.

    With an xG of 2.98, he has the second-most Shots on Target (7), the second-most Shots in the Box (11), and the second-most Big Chances (4).  In Gameweek 4, Everton travels to Burnley (H) for one of the biggest fixtures of the week. The Toffees had 19 shots on target (3rd), 28 shots in the box (6th), and an xG of 5.9 (4th) in the first three games, while netting 7 goals (3rd). This places them among the league’s leading five attacking teams. Their opposition this weekend are one of the league’s weakest defensive teams thus far, with a history of bad defense dating back to last season. They’ve given up 41 shots in the box (20th), 19 shots on target (20th), 8 big chances (18th), and have allowed a whopping xGC of 6.2 (18th). So it is pretty safe to say that DCL is an excellent choice for your teams for the upcoming weekend.

    And last, but not the least by far:

    CRISTIANO RONALDO (£12.5M) [NEW, (H)]

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    Can you really believe he’s back?  Hardly ever do we see a player have more than 13% ownership prior to kicking a ball during a season that has already started. But this isn’t just any player; this is Cristiano Ronaldo. In the previous few weeks, he has been actively working to get fit enough to play, completing 90 minutes for Portugal over the international break and netting a brace. With Ronaldo having already started training with the squad on Tuesday, he should have plenty of time to reacquaint himself with his old club before United’s match against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Saturday.

    Cristiano Ronaldo’s homecoming to the Premier League and Manchester United has piqued the interest of most fantasy managers, and properly so. He is one of the greatest players in the game’s history, and his track record speaks for itself. He has 674 goals and 229 assists in 895 games during the course of his long and successful career. He scored 101 goals and 22 assists in 134 appearances for Juventus in the last three seasons (29, 31, and 21 league goals). He is still functioning at a world-class level despite the fact that he is 36 years old.

    In Gameweek 4, he returns to the Red Devils against Newcastle at Old Trafford in front of a likely sold-out crowd. The Toon have had a dismal start to the season, losing two of their first three games and having drawn one. They’ve also given up eight goals (18th), 30 attempts in the box (16th), 17 Shots on Target (18th), 11 Big Chances (19th), and an xGC of 7.7 (19th). These are concerning figures for Steve Bruce’s club, as their opponents haven’t really been top-tier competition (West Ham, Aston Villa, and Southampton). Man United, on the other side, have netted seven goals (2nd), attempted 30 shots in the box (5th), and have also averaged an xG of 4.9 (5th).

    With the addition of Ronaldo, their offense will certainly improve, and he will undoubtedly lead the charge. Another point worth mentioning is that there’s a good likelihood that he’ll replace Bruno Fernandes (£12.1m) as the penalty and free-kick taker. Although it is only rumor at this time, it is difficult to envision Ronaldo refusing to take penalties for Man United. He has always been the first choice taker at every team he has played for, and he also does so for Portugal. Fernandes is, of course, also Portuguese. He is without a question the best choice for Gameweek 4 if he starts against Newcastle.

  • What will Alex Kral bring to West Ham United?

    What will Alex Kral bring to West Ham United?

    Deadline day has got all clubs across Europe moving in a hurry to get their targets before the 23:00 deadline, and as a result, there is a lot of movement in the market, with almost all clubs and player agents working overtime to secure deals for their targets. West Ham United are no exception to that, with some deals set to be completed in the next few hours.

    The East London club have already announced the acquisition of attacker Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow earlier this morning. Now, the Hammers are looking to strengthen even further for the upcoming season, with reports stating that they are close to signing Spartak Moscow midfielder Alex Kral. The midfielder has been a long-time target of manager David Moyes, and West Ham are now close to signing the 23-year-old on loan.

    West Ham have had a superb opening to the new season and now find themselves second in the premature league ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, and Manchester United. They were brilliant and dominating in all their games, and with two wins and a draw, they are now in a great position going into the first international break of the season. The Irons will need to sustain this form if they were to challenge for the Champions League spots and to do that Moyes needs to have more quality and depth in his squad, which brings us to Alex Kral.

    WHAT WILL ALEX KRAL BRING TO THE IRONS?

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    The Czech midfielder will arrive at West Ham as a bit of an unknown entity, although few fans on social media were quick to bring out compilations of his best bits at Moscow. That has certainly got the fans going, and they are excited to welcome the 23-year-old to the club. Kral will have some hopes pinned on him, after the last two Czech transfers in the form of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek having excelled since their arrivals.

    Scouts and pundits have described Kral as a holding midfielder or a defensive midfielder. Although he did not start out as a midfielder instead playing as a defender early in his career before progressing on to a midfield role after his playing ability became evident. This factor makes him an absolute dream solution to any midfield, with his ability to cover for defensive positions.

    While the Czech is a primary holding midfielder, he is also said to be comfortable in a box-to-box role, which bodes well for West Ham, meaning he can replace either Declan Rice or Tomas Soucek whenever they are unavailable. Both of them are key to West Ham’s form. They can work in tandem and make things tick for the West Ham midfield.

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    Coming to Kral’s strengths, his main strength would be his ability to read the play and intercept passes. He has an amazing understanding of the game and can read the opposition play while intercepting dangerous passes. His natural defender also comes to shore with his penchant for tackling and getting stuck in. Again, another great quality to have in a rough and physical league like the Premier League!

    Last season, West Ham set up in a 4-2-3-1 for most of the season, while also experimenting with a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 at the end of the season. Almost all of their best plays came from counter-attacks, where at least one holding midfielder stayed at the back while the other made late runs into the box. With Kral, they have the defensive cover they need at the back, allowing whoever playing beside him to go further ahead and supplement the attack. Even in possession, Kral is calm, composed and his dribbling abilities are superb.

    Another factor that would make the Czech suitable for David Moyes’ system is caution when on the ball. A typical feature of Moyes teams along the years has been a sense of caution while in possession. They do not take unnecessary risks, playing safe passes and progressing up the pitch. Kral is known to be a safe passer and likes to play short passes. His ability to play long passes and picking out a run from the deep need some development, but nevertheless, his short passes are almost always inch-perfect.

    The promising youngster had a decent 20/21 campaign as well, with 29 appearances, averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, and 0.8 clearances, while also providing five assists. With two full seasons in the Czech league under his belt, all signs indicate that he is on a clear path of development. He has bettered his stats from 19/20 in 20/21 and with fellow countrymen in Soucek and Coufal to mentor him, he will no doubt get even better at West Ham.

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    West Ham have a set defensive midfielder in Declan Rice, whose injury left the Hammers short in the midfield at the back end of last season. The signing of Kral addresses that issue and ensures that Moyes has options to select from in case either Rice or Soucek are unavailable. The Hammers’ midfield were one of the main reasons for West Ham’s upturn in form at the end of last season, and it is once again key to their form now.

    Although West Ham’s midfield options are praiseworthy, there is no denying that Alex Kral is a really promising youngster and they would love to get their hands on Kral before his transfer value increases.

    There is no doubt that at 23-years of age, Alex Kral has shown enough potential to prove that he is ready to make the step up to the Premier League. It now remains to see if the deal is completed before the 11 pm BST deadline, with both the clubs and agents said to be working fervently to bring the player to London. While all talks as of now are of a loan deal, West Ham have pushed towards a buy option as well, with the initial fee said to be around £12 million.

  • West Ham United vs Crystal Palace: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    West Ham United vs Crystal Palace: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    When West Ham United host Crystal Palace at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon, they will be seeking to build on their strong start to the 2021-22 Premier League season. With six points from their first two games, the Hammers are now in first place, while Palace are in 14th place with one point from their first two games of the season.

    West Ham did extremely well in the Premier League last season, finishing sixth with 65 points from 38 games, ensuring that they will play in the Europa League group round in 2021-22. Due to an uneventful summer transfer market – at least until now – many questioned if the Hammers would be able to deploy another bid for a European spot this season, but David Moyes’ side has been in fine shape in the early stages of the campaign.

    In the opening weekend, the Hammers defeated Newcastle United 4-2 before defeating Leicester City 4-1 on Monday night; Michail Antonio scored two late goals against the Foxes and became the club’s all-time Premier League goalscorer with 49 goals.

    Meanwhile, Palace began the 2021-22 Premier League season with a 3-0 loss against Chelsea on the opening weekend before drawing 0-0 with Brentford at Selhurst Park the following weekend. On Tuesday, the Eagles were also involved in the Carabao Cup business, with a strong team losing 1-0 to Watford, ensuring that new head coach Patrick Vieira is still without a win as the club’s manager. Because their next two Premier League games are against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, Palace will be apprehensive of another dismal result on Saturday.

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    During the 2020-21 season, Palace earned a point in the equivalent fixture, and they have been only defeated once in the Premier League away from West Ham since January 2017.

    WHEN & WHERE?

    Venue: London Stadium.
    Date: Saturday, 28th of August 2021.
    Time: Kick-off at 15:00 BST.

    MATCH OFFICIALS:

    Referee: Stuart Attwell.
    Assistant Referees: Dan Cook, Harry Lennard.
    Video Assistant Referee: Graham Scott.
    Fourth Official: Josh Smith.

    TEAM NEWS

    WEST HAM:

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    Winston Reid and Arthur Masuaku will be sidelined again for West Ham, but the Hammers did not have any new troubles in their victory against Leicester on Monday night. The players have had more than enough time to recuperate after not playing in the EFL Cup during the week, and it would not be surprising to see a similar starting XI as it was against Leicester, with Benrahma, Fornals, Bowen and Antonio upfront.

    CRYSTAL PALACE:

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    Michael Olise, Ebere Eze, and Nathan Ferguson remain injured for Palace, while Luka Milivojevic is expected to be left out again due to some personal reasons. Vieira is anticipated to make alterations from the starting lineup against Watford, with James McArthur, Christian Benteke, Tyrick Mitchell, and Vicente Guaita expected to return. However, the Eagles fielded a solid team against Watford, and Wilfried Zaha, Conor Gallagher, and Cheikhou Kouyate should all return to the starting lineup this weekend.

    MATCH ANALYSIS

    Can Moyes’ resilient attack be stopped?

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    West Ham are in fantastic form and do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon, having won two games in a row and scoring eight goals in the process. With Michail Antonio scoring for pleasure and him becoming West Ham’s all-time Premier League goalscorer, Palace and the rest of the team should be wary heading into this match.

    Michail Antonio,  Said Benrahma, and Pablo Fornals have been excellent upfront for the Hammers’ attack. They also have good depth on their bench with players like Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini, and with firepower like that, it will be tough to keep West Ham’s forwards silent.

    Can Vieira’s Palace finally pick up a win?

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    Watford knocked the Eagles out of the Carabao Cup round two on Tuesday, also under new boss Patrick Vieira. Vieira will expect a significant reply from his team against their London neighbours at the London Stadium after a sluggish start to the league season and an early departure from the League Cup.

    The Eagles are yet to win or even score a goal under Roy Hodgson’s replacement, with a 3-0 loss at Chelsea on opening weekend, a goalless draw with Brentford, and a 1-0 defeat to Watford in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday. With the players the Eagles possess upfront, they will be expecting to at least put up a fight against the Premier League’s most in-form team at the moment.

    KEY PLAYERS

    WEST HAM – MICHAIL ANTONIO:

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    Michail Antonio, along with Manchester United maestro Bruno Fernandes, is the Premier League’s leading scorer with three goals. Out of West Ham’s 8 goals in the Premier League this season, Antonio has been involved in 6 of them, scoring three and assisting three.

    One can easily see how important the Englishman is to David Moyes’ setup and also to the Hammers’ attack. After a fiery display against 10-man Leicester City, the 31-year-old will be ready to make the game pretty difficult for the Crystal Palace players.

    CRYSTAL PALACE – WILFRIED ZAHA:

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    Patrick Vieira and Crystal Palace are in desperate need of some motivation to begin their season, and Wilfried Zaha appears to be the man for the job. The Ivory Coast international is one of the most difficult forwards to deal with, and on his best days, he can be untouchable.

    He is yet to find his feet this season and once he does, he will surely be a force to be reckoned with. With 11 goals and four assists, Wilfried Zaha was Crystal Palace’s top scorer last season. In addition, he produced 38 percent of Palace’s goals. He would certainly be the most threatening player for the visitors at the London Stadium on Saturday.

    PREDICTED LINEUPS

    West Ham(4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio.

    Crystal Palace(4-3-3): Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Gallagher, Kouyate, McArthur; Zaha, Benteke, Ayew.

  • FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 3 – Defenders Watchlist

    FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 3 – Defenders Watchlist

    The time is running down to the Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 3 deadline, and managers have a lot of deliberation and decision-making to do following an unusual GW2. Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City all had a smooth GW2, with each team keeping a clean sheet while claiming three points and racking up points for FPL managers all over the world.

    GW-2 jolted everyone back to the real world just as many FPL managers were relishing their huge scores from GW-1. After a week in which the two most popular players, Bruno Fernandes and Mo Salah, scored 20 and 17 points, they only scored 1 and 3 points this week. That exemplifies what Fantasy Premier League is all about, and stresses the need of having a strong enough squad to compensate for weeks when your captain pick fails.

    Hence, having a strong and reliable defense is important for FPL teams to succeed. While I might not suggest spending a huge amount of your bank on your defense, a decent investment on the defense could go a long way in helping you achieve your FPL goals. Keeping that in mind, let us have a look at some of the best defenders to have in your FPL teams ahead of Gameweek 3:

    DANIEL AMARTEY (£4.1M) [NOR, (A)]

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    Amartey is available for £4.1 million, making him a cost-effective option for enabling improvements elsewhere. Wesley Fofana’s preseason setback allowed Amartey to establish his case for a starting spot, and he hasn’t put a foot astray since. Amartey’s high 17.8 percent ownership indicates that many managers believe in him, and Norwich could be the ideal match to introduce him to your squad.

    Until Jannik Vestergaard makes it to the starting lineup for the Foxes, Amartey looks a really appealing option keeping in mind his cost, Leicester’s ability to pull off clean sheets and also his versatility allowing him to play in different positions like right-back, centre-back and also, the defensive midfield.

    AARON CRESSWELL (£5.5M) [CRY, (H)]

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    With West Ham scoring eight goals in their first two games and facing a Crystal Palace team that has yet to get a win this season, there is no better opportunity than now to reap the benefits of the Irons’ excellent run. Aaron Creswell, their left-back, has already scored a goal and kept a clean sheet in his first two games of the season, after picking up eight assists in the prior season. Fixtures against Crystal Palace and Southampton provide greater scoring possibilities as well as clean sheet bonuses.

    For GW3, Aaron Cresswell appears to be a very attractive prospect. This season, the left-back averaged six crosses per game while playing in an attacking position on the left. He might comfortably maintain a clean sheet against this Palace team while also providing a goal contribution himself.

    TINO LIVRAMENTO (£4.0M) [NEW, (A)]

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    Tino Livramento is a steal at £4.0, albeit only scoring 3 points thus yet. The Saints full-back appears to be a permanent starter this season, making a simple switch from Tsimikas (£4.1) or Amartey (£4.0) quite appealing. Southampton appear to have found a true gem in 18-year-old right-back, who has already started both of the Saints’ first two games and looked fantastic in Gameweek 2. One exceptionally impressive run in the first half, as well as his six interceptions, stood out of a Southampton team which has been pretty lackluster so far.

    Kyle Walker-Peters (£5.0m) came in for Romain Perraud (£5.0m) on the 82nd minute, and thus, the former Chelsea youngster played the entire 90 minutes heading into Newcastle United’s trip next week. It’s also worth mentioning that at halftime, Ralph Hasenhüttl changed his system from 4-2-2-2 to a back three. As a result, Livramento was made to play as a wing-back, despite the fact that United’s offensive maneuvers often stifled his attacking ambitions.

    LUKE SHAW (£5.5M) [WOL, (A)]

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    In Gameweek 3, Manchester United takes on Wolves, and the Red Devils have a huge chance of keeping a clean sheet. Despite having 42 shots on goal this season, the Wolves have been unable to score. Only nine of them have hit the mark, indicating that they are poor in the finishing area.

    Man United has allowed a goal in each of their first two games. Despite this, they have only allowed 6 shots within the box, 6 shots on target, 2 big chances, and an xGC of 1.9.  Their defensive statistics have been solid, indicating that they are still a solid defence. After a 1-1 stalemate and no attacking contributions, Luke Shaw ended up scoring two bonus points against Southampton last Gameweek. He’s produced four chances, one of which was a big chance, and he’s also taken some corners and free kicks. His attacking contributions will resume, as will the clean sheets.

  • FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 3 – Midfield Watchlist

    FPL 2021/22: Gameweek 3 – Midfield Watchlist

    Following a rollercoaster ride in game week two, which saw differentials grab the limelight, game week three marks a pivotal pause in play before a two-week international break. Michail Antonio (£7.7mn) and Reece James (£5.5mn) proved to be the pick of the lot, with both garnering more than 15 FPL points in game week two.

    With a tough fixture for Mohamed Salah (£12.6mn) and Bruno Fernandes (£12.1mn) blanking last weekend, differentials could, yet again, be the catalysts going into the next game-week. While the likes of Antonio, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.1mn), and Danny Ings (£8.1mn) fill up the top-three forwards going into the weekend, it is midfielders who are expected to play a pivotal role in game-week three.

    Going into the weekend, in this article, we take a look at the midfielders most likely to deliver in the coming fixtures whilst also examining their long-term impact considering the two-week international break following the upcoming game-week.

    Demarai Gray (£5.5M) [BHA, (A)]

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    Much like Benrahma, 25-year-old Demarai Gray has raised a few eyebrows coming into season. Despite failing to register an attacking return in the opening weekend, a nine-pointer against Leeds United in game-week two makes him a bargain in a robust Everton line-up. Having started both games and been only subbed off after sealing the result, Gray’s position and attacking potency make him a unique asset in the midfield.

    Having started the season as a creative midfielder, the 25-year-old was deployed as a left-winger against Leeds. Receiving the ball in the penalty box, Gray regained his balance and produced a scintillating finish to push the Toffees into the lead against Leeds last weekend. Though the game ended at 2-2, Gray’s willingness to involve himself in the attacking build-up marks him as a potential differential going into the coming game-weeks. While his next fixture against Brighton may be unconvincing to some, the forward may provide significant returns if he keeps his place and delivers in a relatively easy set of fixtures for Everton following the international break.

    Said Benrahma (£6.2M) [CRY, (H)]

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    Finalising their draft before the opening game week, few expected the Algerian to create a buzz amongst FPL managers. Following an excellent opening weekend which saw him score 12 FPL points, the midfielder maintained his output racking up the same number of points last weekend.

    Having scored and assisted one goal in a 4-1 victory over Leicester City, Benrahma was a constant threat in the attacking third. Playing on the left flank, the Algerian often drifted in, thus, taking on players and delivering crosses in the box. Additionally, his late run into the penalty box which resulted in a fine finish into the bottom-left corner of the net, makes him an indispensable asset for game-week three.

    Benrahma has evidently formed a working chemistry with Antonio as the striker, with both players boasting ten goals involvements between them. With West Ham hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday, Benrahma is expected to be a vital part of Moyes’ starting line-up as the Hammers look to win their third consecutive game since the start of the season.

    Raphinha (£6.5M) [BUR, (A)]

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    Having grabbed his first goal of the season against Everton last weekend, the Brazilian is set to be a vital part of FPL planning for the coming game weeks. Following a disappointing result against Manchester United, Leeds bounced back as Raphinha’s equaliser against the Toffees ensured they grabbed a point at Elland Road.

    The attacking midfielder managed to grab eight FPL points last weekend as Leeds travel to Turf Moor facing a defensively vulnerable Burnley on Sunday. With their talisman Patrick Bamford (£8.0mn), yet to score a goal, Burnley offers a significant opportunity for both, Bamford and Raphinha to get their season running and potentially grab a combined double-digit haul in the upcoming game-week.

    Provided they gain momentum, a relatively easy set of fixtures following the international break allows Leeds to go on a winning streak, thus, enabling Raphinha to provide handsome returns in a pivotal period for FPL managers. Nevertheless, given his proven potential, the Brazilian is an attractive long-term option to bring in before a potential price in the coming weeks of the season.

  • West Ham United vs Leicester City: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    West Ham United vs Leicester City: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    A fixture that has withstood the test of time, and one we can confidently say has turned out to be a modern-day classic. For the Hammers, it’s a special day, the London Stadium opens its gates to fans for West Ham’s first home game of the season. The forecast for this Monday night fixture is in expect bubbles and a thunderous roar, from the West Ham supporters. 

    What was once a relegation battle, last season became a European scuffle. Two teams that proved to be the best of the rest, West Ham United & Leicester City gave the big boys a run for their money last term, with the Hammers and Foxes both pushing Chelsea and Liverpool for a Champions League spot. Although the two fell just short of the mark in the end. 

    That wasn’t discouraging in any stretch of the word, however, as it just showed what the underdogs can be capable of. 

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    MATCH OFFICIALS: 

    Referee: Michael Oliver.
    Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett.
    Fourth official: Graham Scott.
    VAR: Darren England.
    Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan.

    WHEN & WHERE?

    Venue: London Stadium.
    Date: Monday, 23rd August.
    Time: 8pm BST

    TEAM NEWS:

    West Ham 

    Arthur Masuaku’s knee injury was the only negative for the Hammers from the win at Newcastle. The rest of the squad is fresh and relishing last week’s comeback victory.

    Leicester City 

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    Ryan Bertrand was ruled out for Leicester’s first game of the season due to illness but is expected to walk straight into the starting XI. Vestergaard is expected to remain on the bench, as the new signing hasn’t quite settled into the team yet. Apart from that, Brendon Rodgers has a fit squad to choose from.

    MATCH ANALYSIS: 

    The Hammers are now aiming for a third straight victory against Brandon Rodgers’ team after completing the double over the Foxes last season. The recent fixtures between the two have not been too favourable for Leicester City defensively. Leicester City have only managed 3 clean sheets in 28 games against West Ham, considering that the Foxes have a system built around defensive solidarity, and it is a surprise that West Ham have had the key to the foxhole so often.

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    Last season, this fixture served us a 5 goal thriller with West Ham winning 3-2. More of the same could be on the cards, with West Ham scoring 4 on their last outing, they look decisive in the final third, and with midfielders arriving late into the box, crosses are a real threat. The Hammers have the height advantage in both boxes, but playing the set pieces strategically could play into Leicester City’s hands. 

    Leicester themselves didn’t look too bad on an opening day, after sinking their teeth into Wolves last time around. They would want to keep up their momentum after failing to qualify for the Champions League at the final hurdle in two consecutive seasons, missing out on the last day on each occasion. But they have made an incredible start to the season, winning the Community Shield, beating Manchester City by a single goal.

    This fixture will be feisty, goalmouth action will be plenty, but whether both sides can convert the chances that fall to them remains to be seen.

    Key Players: 

    Aaron Cresswell – West Ham

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    Aaron Cresswell has been on top of his game from the start of last season, going forward he has been a major boost when he bombs forward to stretch opposition defenses. The width that Cresswell can provide will really harm Leicester especially with Leicester’s own wing-backs wanting to attack, which means they will leave massive gaps in transition. Cresswell’s crosses have been causing problems, his ability to find precise areas to put the ball, where players like Antonio, Soucek, and Fornals can attack it, will most likely be the source of West Ham’s goal.

    Jamie Vardy – Leicester City 

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    A player that has aged like fine wine, Jamie Vardy just cannot stop scoring. The Leicester forward bagged the winner for the Foxes on opening day and is pushing to keep Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench. Leicester have been known to play to the strengths of their forwards, especially Jamie Vardy. If Maddison or Harvey Barnes can time the right pass, then Jamie Vardy will get on the end of it and wheel away in celebration.

    The Foxes must use every opportunity to try to find Vardy who will keep the entire West Ham backline on their toes the entire evening. Using the spaces that Cresswell leaves behind and using his pace to run up a slow Hammers defense hands Vardy a major advantage in this encounter.

    Predicted Lineups: 

    West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio.

    Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Thomas, Soyuncu, Amartey, Bertrand; Tielemans, Ndidi, Barnes; Maddison, Perez, Vardy.

  • Newcastle United vs West Ham: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    Newcastle United vs West Ham: Preview | Premier League 2021/22

    Yes, the Premier League is back with all its charisma and charm to rule over the sporting telecasts all across the globe! The return is much more significant as the fans are back in the stadium cheering loud and clear supporting their teams and injecting the energy which the beautiful game lost over the previous season. With the new season initiated, will we witness another West Ham run where they surprised everyone finishing much closer to a Champions League spot than the relegation spot? Can the Hammers start it with flying colors or the Magpies will be the roadblock to their great start?

    Newcastle and West Ham will commence their Premier League 2021/22 Season at the St. James Park in an early Sunday clash. While West Ham will want to build on the great previous season, Newcastle will hope to build up well on last season’s 12th place finish. Both teams will hope for a very good start to build on the season.

    WHEN AND WHERE?

    Venue: St. James’ Park
    Date: 15 August’21
    Time: 13:00 HRS GMT

    MATCH OFFICIALS

    Referee: Martin Atkinson
    Assistant Referees: Lee Betts and James Mainwaring
    Fourth Official: David Coote
    VAR: Peter Bankes
    Assistant VAR: Neil Davies

    TEAM NEWS

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    Newcastle have finally managed to land Joe Willock from Arsenal but his match fitness for the season opener will still be in doubt. Also, Martin Dubravka will be missed in the nets with injury as will be Darlow and Dummett. The rest of the squad will have the Magpies’ strong attacking line which is the key for their success this season.

    With Ogbonna ruled out with injury, the West Ham defence will be weakened. Also, the saga around their keepers will be interesting where Areola and Fabianski fighting for the no.1 spot between the sticks. Also, Lanzini and Masuaku will be missed on the bench for the Hammers.

    MATCH ANALYSIS

    Wilson, Maximin to carry the team?

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    Newcastle’s future this season very much relies on how their front line will act and that majorly depends on the goal contributions by Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin. After contributing in more than 50% of goals last season in the league for Newcastle, the duo will be responsible for the threat that will be posed on the West Ham’s defence. Conceding less than 50 goals in the last season, the West Ham’s rigidity will be difficult to break but with the creativity of Saint-Maximin and the lethal finishes of Wilson, nothing is impossible.

    MUST READ: FPL 2021/ 22: Newcastle United Preview | Fantasy Premier League

    Rice-Soucek the best midfield duo?

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    The reason for the Hammers’ great surprising run in the league was the midfield magical duo of Declan Rice and Soucek. They will be up against the aforementioned attacking duo of Wilson and Maximin. With Rice just increasing his stature day by day, and Soucek just proving why he is one of the best ever transfers for West Ham will define and shape the game. Their passing in the build-up and their defensive stability, with not the best-looking defensive line, will direct the momentum of the game and thus eventually leading to the result of the game.

    The battle of these 2 duos will be a very interesting one with each team looking to start of a flyer.

    MUST READ: FPL 2021/ 22: West Ham Preview | Fantasy Premier League

    KEY PLAYER: Declan Rice

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    Yes, Rice is still a Hammer and will continue to lead the West Ham line unless a very big surprise in the last stages of the window, which looks very unlikely. With a European spot guaranteed with his great efforts and leadership, can he lead West Ham to push higher competing with the best teams in the league? His ball interception and tackling has enlisted him amongst the best players of the league. Against a Newcastle team, who lack ac creative midfielder, considering that its looking likely that Willock doesn’t start, Declan’s stature on the field will rise higher. He can have more possession on the ball and can also track back in the box as 3rd center back to hold Wilson from causing a difference in the match.

    PREDICTED LINEUPS

    Newcastle United: Woodman; Fernandez, Lascelles, Schar; Murphy, Hayden, S. Longstaff, Almiron, Ritchie; Wilson, Saint-Maximin

    West Ham United: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio

  • Premier League 2021/22 Season Preview: West Ham United

    Premier League 2021/22 Season Preview: West Ham United

    West Ham United were one of the better-performing sides last season. Their decision to hire David Moyes as the manager received heavy criticism from fans and rivals alike. But, the Scotsman has completely changed the club’s fortunes. Fans of Hammers witnessed probably the best season off late as they finished the season sixth in the table, while a possible Champions League place was not far. West Ham successfully exposed the likes of Leicester and Villa while also stealing points from the biggies like Manchester City and Arsenal.

    The likes of Coufal, Antonio, Soucek, and Rice stepped up their game to display a very attractive football while Jese Lingard completely revamped his career while being on loan at the London-based club. Lingard’s performances were key to the success of Moyes’ plans and their ability to convert from set-piece situations won them enough points to challenge for the top four until the last week of the season.

    Hammers’ faithful will hope for better this season if not, at least they’ll be asking for similar results as last season’s. Much will be expected from David Moyes as he will be taking West Ham to European competition with decent expectations. If the Scotsman manages to bring the best out of already established players in Antonio, Fornals, and Soucek along with the inclusion of the likes of Coventry, and Silva; by all means, West Ham United will be set to a similar outing as last season.

    SEASON EXPECTATION

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    Following their success last season West Ham will be expected to aim for a European finish in the league table. They will also aim to take their European campaign as far as they could. West Ham board will be pressured to keep hold of their star Rice, as he is ready to take his game to a bigger stage and his Euro2020 performances suggest that the English midfielder will likely look for a move away from the London Stadium.

    AREA OF IMPROVEMENT

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    Although West Ham will be on an adventure in Europa League, it may prove to be a problem for their players. West Ham doesn’t possess any depth in the attacking department and they have just one first-team striker in Antonio. He may come in handy but, he has missed some games last season owing to his hamstring problems. David Moyes should look for a reliable backup for Antonio to make sure that he will be ready to play in both competitions without any worry. Hammers haven’t replaced Jesse Lingard yet, something also necessary to check on before it’s too late. Their squad depth will be a concern going into the new season.

    KEY PERIOD: GW 11 to GW 17

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    West Ham will likely have the most challenging October and November they can have. This term, David Moyes will be on the opposite side touch-line to Liverpool, Tottenham, City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. That’s just one club short of the big 6. They will also have their European commitments at the same time and their players are most likely to fall victims to fatigue. Although they stole points from several top clubs last season, this season West Ham will be having their eyes on European matches as well. The lack of squad depth will be exposed in these weeks and a couple of players are likely to get injured due to a challenging run of games.

    It will be an accomplishment for David Moyes to guide his team to respectable results in these games as it will likely shape their approach for the rest of the season and most probably for the winter transfer window.

    KEY PLAYER: DECLAN RICE

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    West Ham United depends on Rice so much that without him, Hammers completely bottled their chances of finishing in the top 4 last season. Declan Rice is an extremely talented player and his ability to shield his defense is so good that he is one of the most sought-after defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Already a confirmed target for Chelsea, other teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal were also interested in the prospect of signing the young midfielder.

    One of the most crucial players in Gareth Southgate’s setup from Euro2020, Rice will seek to carry his form coming into the new season. Premier League is a fast-paced and physical league and having a player like Rice adds value to the side. His ability to break the opposition plays, tackling and interception skills are his standout qualities. His dribbling and speed make him an asset to his club. Already captained his club last season, Rice will most probably take up more responsibility this season and be a commanding force in West Ham’s midfield along with Soucek.

    REALISTIC LEAGUE GOAL

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    West Ham are really strong side when all of their players are available. If they keep themselves fit for the whole season, West Ham could easily top teams a run for their money. Considering their European matches and cup commitments, David Moyes and his team will aim for a similar finish to the last season. This time, he may hope for a better position but likely in the same bracket of Europa league spots.

    MUST READ: FPL 2021/ 22: West Ham Preview | Fantasy Premier League

  • Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic to West Ham United: What will he bring to East London

    Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic to West Ham United: What will he bring to East London

    After having a fantastic run in the 2020-21 season, where they saw themselves finishing in 6th place in the points table and qualifying for the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League, West Ham is now once again looking like a solid team that can give tough competition to other teams in the Premier League especially ‘The Top 6’.

    It’s just their defense unit that is still lacking a bit of flair. And going into this year’s summer transfer market, West Ham will be looking for a strong Central Defender who could bolster their defensive line. Especially now that they will also be playing in the Europa League and have to face some tough competition against non-premier league clubs.

    And after a failed attempt to buy Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma, David Moyes has now set his eyes on the 23-year-old Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic.

    Milenkovic currently plays for the Serie A club Fiorentina as both the Central Defender and also as a Right-back and last season he made a total of 34 appearances for the Italian club. He has also made a total of 28 appearances for his national team Serbia.

    Why do the Hammers need a Central Defender?

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    Although they had a pretty good 2020-21 season, it’s still very evident that they lacked the much-needed flair in their defensive unit as their attack scored many goals but their defensive line let them down by conceding some easy goals which could have been stopped and it was seen to the naked eye that there were some holes in their defensive line.

    And now that they have let go of their experienced Fabián Balbuena, West Ham now only have Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna, and Issa Diop in their squad as their recognized Centre-backs who have a decent amount of Premier League experience.

    If we look at some of their younger defenders, the Hammers are short on that end, except a very young Danish defender Frederick Alves, who have made some excellent performances in the defensive line for the first team in their pre-season matches and is now constantly knocking on the first team door for a debut in the Premier League.

    Still, if they are looking for an improvement in the team’s performance for the upcoming season, they have to invest in a defender in this year’s summer transfer window as for this season, they will also be competing in the UEFA Europa League.

    What does Nikola Milenkovic bring on to the table?

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    What other big teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea have is a physically strong and aggressive centre-back, who can be a great leader on the field for them.

    Playing as a regular in a team like Fiorentina, who is actively competing with big clubs in Serie A tells a lot about the 25-year-old Serbian. Nikola Milenkovic mostly likes to play as a centre-back, right centre-back to be precise. He is a player who has great physic and has a dominating personality while playing as a centre-back. His aggressive playing style mixed with his physically large frame does bring fear into opposition strikers.

    Nikola Milenkovic can be a great leader on the field for the team. he plays aggressively and is known to be very vocal while playing.

    He is apt in carrying the ball forward to the opposition’s half and playing long cross-field passes to his attackers. He is not that efficient with his crossing but is pretty good with his passing. This is what David Moyes wants from his defenders but couldn’t get from them – so in comes Milenkovic.

    Milenkovic can play a big part in solving David Moyes and the Hammers’ defensive issue, as he is just 25-years-old and has experience of playing in more than 150 matches for his club and country. He is still pretty young and if this deal is done, he can be a great asset to this West Ham side, who can get his services for at least five years

    Can West Ham actually complete this deal?

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    After their bid for their primary target, Kurt Zouma was rejected by Chelsea, who were asking for £25 million for the 26-year-old French defender, they looked at their other two options, first being Olympique de Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car, who was also worth £20 million and then Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic who was worth just £14 million.

    Milenkovic being a cheaper option and his contract running out next season with the Italian club, it only makes more sense for West Ham.

    Anyway, if they want to continue their good form and compete in the Premier League and the Europa League, they have to buy a defender as the upcoming season will be much more difficult than the previous season and now that Jesse Lingard, who was the epicenter of their attacks and goals have returned to his parent club Manchester United after completing his loan. More workload will be on the defensive unit to stop the tough opposition attacks from scoring goals and for that, investments have to be made this summer.