EPL Predictions Gameweek 3

Brighton & Hove Albion host Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime in the first Premier League game of the weekend before the action concludes on Monday night with the most-anticipated game of the week: Liverpool versus Arsenal at Anfield.

In between that, Manchester City welcome Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium and Crystal Palace host Everton in a match between two teams with six points from six.

Here’s a look ahead to each of the weekend’s games:

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United
Manchester United started the 2020-21 Premier League season with a 1-3 loss at home to Crystal Palace, whilst Brighton were comfortable 3-0 winners away to Newcastle United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did the double over the Seagulls last season, including a 3-0 win here in June, so perhaps they can pick up their first points of the campaign on Saturday. Bruno Fernandes scored two here just three months ago and is always difficult to leave out of your fantasy team.

Continue reading

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 3 Picks

After EFL Cup action midweek the Premier League returns on Saturday lunchtime with Brighton & Hove Albion hosting Manchester United at the AMEX Stadium.

Crystal Palace host Everton in a game between two sides on a 100% win record to start the 2020-21 campaign, whilst Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways away to West Bromwich Albion.

Sunday sees Leicester City travel to Manchester City whilst the best has been saved to last when defending champions Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Monday night.

Here are our picks for your fantasy team this weekend:

Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Clean sheets haven’t been easy to come by in the opening two weekends of the season but Rui Patricio kept one away to Sheffield United in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ opening game before facing a rampant Manchester City on Monday night. With a trip to the London Stadium on Sunday there’s a good opportunity for Nuno’s side to keep a second clean sheet against West Ham United’s poor attack.

Continue reading

EPL Weekend Picks – Round 13

David Silva

The 13th week of the 2018-19 Premier League season sees Manchester City travel to West Ham, while Tottenham host Chelsea in one of the biggest games of the campaign so far. Let’s take a look at 11 players who you should consider for your EPL Fantasy team this weekend…

GK – Rui Patricio (Wolves)
Wolves play two of the Premier League’s lowest-scoring sides — Huddersfield and Cardiff — over the next week, so Rui Patricio is well worth considering. The Portuguese goalkeeper has 18 points so far this season.

Continue reading

EPL Weekend Picks – Round 8

Eden Hazard

The eighth week of the 2018-19 Premier League season features the biggest game of the campaign so far, Liverpool v Manchester City, while Manchester United host Newcastle. Let’s take a look at 11 players who you should consider adding to your EPL Fantasy team before the weekend.

GK – Rui Patricio (Wolves)
Rui Patricio has picked up an incredible 17 points this season — Ederson, Allison and Kepa Arrizabalaga are the only goalkeepers with more — and he could easily add to that tally in upcoming matches against Crystal Palace, Watford and Brighton.

Continue reading

EPL Best XI – Romelu Lukaku leads the line

Romelu Lukaku

The fourth weekend of the 2018-19 Premier League season saw Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford maintain their winning starts, while Manchester United responded to their 3-0 loss against Tottenham by beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor. But which players stood out to make the EPL Best XI of the Weekend?

GK: Rui Patricio, Wolves – seven points
Summer signing Rui Patricio picked up his first clean sheet as a Premier League goalkeeper in Wolves’ 1-0 win at West Ham on Saturday. The Portugal international earned seven points, moving him on to three points for the season.

Continue reading

Cristiano Ronaldo can’t solve Portugal’s problems on his own

Screen Shot 2018-06-20 at 15.37.42

Quite how Portugal managed to see off Morocco in their second World Cup group game is a mystery.

The current European Championship holders were dire for long periods and were it not for a flying header from Cristiano Ronaldo in the fourth minute of the game, Portugal would’ve ambled to a goalless draw at best.

Though he was the game winner, in truth Ronaldo did little else against a team that caused his side problems throughout. Continue reading

Club disunity causes World Cup headache for Portugal

rsz_soccer-euro-2016-portugal-france-eb750d85da436206

With less than 48 hours to go before the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, national sides are putting the final touches to their meticulous preparations for the tournament.

The focus is on maintaining concentration on the task at hand, and ensuring that all unnecessary distractions are kept to a minimum at this late stage.

However, as is often the case in international football, players and management are affected by external club issues, that are outside of their control.

This has certainly been the case with defending European Champions Portugal, as they prepare to launch an unlikely bid to the ‘do the double’ of a European and world title in successive tournaments.

Continue reading

World Cup 2018: Fernando Santos looking to Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani to recreate Portugal’s Euro 2016 glory

Portugal

Next up in our look ahead to the World Cup in Russia this summer, it is the turn of European champions Portugal to rest under the spotlight. Having surprised many by winning the Euros in 2016 after a relatively sub-par tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo and company will be hoping they can build on their momentum and carry a great showing to the biggest tournament in football. Their 35 man preliminary squad features many stars who played in that title winning campaign two years ago, including Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani  and goalkeeper Rui Patricio. Having won their previous major tournament, Fernando Santos’ men will have the expectations of a nation raised quite considerably this time around. Renato Sanches, however, misses out.

Continue reading