Crystal Palace 1–4 Man City

Cherki stole the show here, most likely cementing his place in next week’s starting XI against Coventry. There’s an argument that Cherki over Semenyo is the way to go for those Free Hitting next week, particularly given his lower ownership. Good to see Haaland scoring too. City, for the most part, dominated this game.Anderson hitting DefCon, O’Reilly starting in midfield again, and Gvardiol getting another attacking return only makes the pool of viable City options even wider. My three for those Free Hitting would be Haaland, Cherki and O’Reilly, but there are plenty of others who could easily make their way into the squad.Palace, on the other hand, need work. No Mateta could be a sign that he’ll be sold, which would cement Strand Larsen as the starting No. 9. Even so, I’d probably avoid all Palace assets outside of the defence for DefCon potential for the moment. Shoutout to Wharton, Pino and Nketiah, who I thought all played well from a real-world football perspective.

The Takeaways

• 💎 Triple City on Free Hit feels like a must

• 🎯 Cherki could be the lower-owned alternative to Semenyo

• 🧠 O’Reilly remains in midfield

• 📈 Anderson continues to offer DefCon potential

• ⚽ Even during the teething period, City will continue to score goals

Liverpool 2-2 Nottm Forest

I think the data flatters Forest here, with their penalty coming from a rather questionable call. Liverpool looked, well, just okay in these early showings. I thought Muñoz on the right wing showed some of the flair they needed, but disappointing games from Szoboszlai and Gakpo didn’t help.

Although Szoboszlai hit DefCon, he finished the game at right-back, which is definitely something to note going forward. Wirtz showed his class and, alongside playing the full 90, covered more ground than any other player on the pitch. That’s a change from last year we were hoping to see from an Iraola side. It was also good to see Isak on the scoresheet.

The defence still needs work, though, and the lack of defensive squad depth is concerning, especially with Mac Allister having to operate as the No. 6.

Forest set up in a low block and managed to be very effective on the counter. There’s still plenty to learn when it comes to their FPL assets, but Neco Williams continues to look like a good 12th-man option. He hit DefCon this week while also winning Forest’s penalty, giving him multiple routes to points at his price.

The Takeaways

• 🛡️ Szoboszlai filled in at RB for the final 20 minutes

• ⏱️ Wirtz played the full 90 and covered the most ground

• ⚽ Stick strong with Isak

• 💰 Neco Williams remains a solid 12th-man option

• 🚩 Liverpool’s defensive depth is still a concern

Bournemouth 1-1 Everton

Two mid-table teams battling it out here. Alex Scott was the standout, coming away with a goal, DefCon and all three bonus points. Tarkowski wasn’t far behind, scoring himself and picking up two bonus points.

From an FPL perspective, we’re once again seeing high DefCon numbers from the Bournemouth centre-backs, while Tavernier and Scott are emerging as two decent midfield enablers with multiple routes to points. Scott in particular is one to keep an eye on after recording 11 and 15 DefCon across the opening two games.

For Everton, it’s worth noting that Garner has returned, and even in his 60-minute cameo he managed to rack up 11 DefCon. Dewsbury-Hall created the most chances and continues to look a threat, although I question him as one of the best options at £6.5m given his limited routes to points. When someone like Pascal Groß sits £1.0m cheaper with set pieces and penalties, it makes Dewsbury-Hall a difficult sell.

Mykolenko starting is also worth monitoring. At £4.5m, he could become a useful option, particularly against weaker opposition.

The Takeaways

• 👀 Garner is one to watch after 11 DefCon in just 60 minutes

• 🧱 Tarkowski remains as reliable as ever

• 🛡️ Bournemouth CBs continue to offer DefCon points

• 🎯 Tavernier has plenty of routes to points

• 📈 Scott is one to watch after 11 and 15 DefCon in his first two games + goal threat and set piece share

Coventry 0-1 Hull

Keeping this one short, as I know this result hurt plenty of Gameweek 2 Bench Boosts (including my own).

Thomas did hit DefCon again, but was subbed early for new signing Pinnock, who could start eating into his minutes going forward. Outside of finding your 15th-man enabler, I don’t think there’s much FPL relevance here for now.

The Takeaways

• 🛡️ Egan hits DefCon again

• 👀 Thomas’ minutes are worth monitoring with Pinnock now in the picture

• 💰 Not much FPL appeal outside of your 15th-man pick

Spurs 0-2 Newcastle

Early in the game, I thought to myself, “Spurs actually look better this week.” With some key players returning, there were glimpses of what this squad could become, but things went downhill pretty quickly.

In short, give Spurs more time. There’s a good squad in there, but they need players back and fully fit before we can properly judge them. For now, I wouldn’t be transferring any Spurs assets in. Marmoush looks interesting, however, if he is on Penalties.

Newcastle, on the other hand, look like they’re really starting to come into their own. I’ll continue to praise Wissa, Elanga and Barnes, as all three look like genuine attacking options around the £6.0m mark. Newcastle are also heading into arguably the best fixture run in the league, so I’d be looking to get at least one of them in. Wissa would be my preference, especially as I suspect he’ll be on penalties when he’s on the pitch.

And Lewis Hall is a class player, isn’t he? Picking up DefCon was a nice surprise and adds another potential route to points. I think both Hall at £5.0m and Dedić at £4.5m look like genuine options, alongside Thiaw, who I’m always singing the praises of as a cheap defender capable of both scoring and hitting DefCon.

The Takeaways

• 🟢 Newcastle are a buy

• ⚔️ Attack: Wissa > Barnes > Elanga

• 🛡️ Defence: Thiaw > Hall > Dedić

• 📅 Newcastle sit No. 1 on the fixture ticker

• ⏳ Give Spurs time

Chelsea 4-3 Brighton

I’ll reiterate what I said last week: Chelsea are going to score a lot of goals, but they’re probably going to concede a fair few too. I do think they took their foot off the gas a little towards the end here though, so I’m not quite as concerned about them letting the lead slip as the final scoreline might suggest.

I’ll also happily take my victory lap on this one because Palmer looks back, doesn’t he? He looks like the main man again and, right now, I genuinely think he’s the best FPL asset in the game. With Hull coming up in GW4, I’d be looking at double or even triple Chelsea. Even if you’re Wildcarding in GW3 ahead of Arsenal, I’d still want Palmer and Pedro in there ready for that fixture.

For Brighton, De Cuyper and Groß just keep adding more strings to their bows. Set pieces, goal threat, creativity, there are plenty of routes to points for both. It was also really encouraging to see Kadıoğlu return at left-back without pushing De Cuyper out of that left-wing role. I’m happy owning him for the longer term, especially from GW6 onwards, or at least until Mitoma returns.

Gomez is another interesting one. He looks to have made that wing spot his own for now, and at £5.0m he could be a really handy FPL option.

The Takeaways

• 🔵 Double or triple Chelsea for GW4

• 👑 Palmer looks like the best asset in the game right now

• 🎯 I’d still have Palmer + Pedro on a GW3 Wildcard

• 📈 Groß and De Cuyper are long-term holds

Leeds 1-1 Brentford

Good game, this one. I’m not too sure what to make of Dango being left out, but I suspect it was more down to Antony’s cup form than anything else. I’d expect Dango to come back in next week for the favourable matchup against Sunderland, and if you own him, I’d be starting him.

Sangaré finally got through the full 90 and hit DefCon again. Now that he’s playing 90 minutes regularly, he’s starting to look like the next Anderson-type option — nothing particularly exciting, but someone who can quietly keep ticking over with DefCon points.

Brentford’s defence continues to look solid too. For anyone Free Hitting in GW3, I’d probably want two Brentford players, with my preference being to double up on the defence rather than force a third attacker in.

For Leeds, Muharemović is finally starting to live up to those DefCon expectations and looks like the defender I’d want going forward. Stach continues to impress as well, hitting DefCon while also having set pieces in his locker. He’s becoming a genuinely interesting cheap midfield option with a few different routes to points.

And finally, good to see Calvert-Lewin get his campaign up and running. If you already own him, I certainly wouldn’t be rushing to sell.

The Takeaways

• 🤝 Stick with Dango - I’d start him next week

• 🛡️ Muharemović is my Leeds defender of choice

• 👀 Sangaré looks much more interesting now he’s getting 90s

• ⚽ I wouldn’t rush to sell Calvert-Lewin

• 🐝 2–3 Brentford on FH3 looks good - I’d lean towards two defenders

Sunderland 1-0 Fulham

Not the most exciting game of the week and, to be honest, I’m not sure there’s loads to take from this one.

Mukiele returning to the starting lineup and picking up 19 DefCon from centre-back is probably the main thing that caught my eye. His minutes should be much more consistent now, which at least puts him back on the radar.

I’m much less convinced by Enzo Le Fée. He’s now offered very little across two favourable fixtures, and at £6.0m I could probably name five midfielders I’d rather own who have better routes to points through set pieces, penalties or general attacking threat. Xhaka should continue to tick over nicely, but I’m not sure there’s enough upside there to get overly excited about either.

Fulham still feel like a bit of a work in progress, so I wouldn’t be rushing towards any of their assets just yet. King and García remain the two I’m most interested in watching, but for now that’s all they are — ones to watch.

The Takeaways

• ❌ Plenty of better £6.0m options than Le Fée

• 👀 King and García remain the Fulham players to watch

• 🛡️ Mukiele back in the XI and straight to 19 DefCon

• 🔄 I’d be looking to move on from Sunderland assets

Man Utd 5-2 Ipswich

Not much more to say here other than Bruno ran the show. His routes to points through set pieces, penalties and open play were all on display, and I think this game showed exactly why I’d be keeping him on a GW3 Wildcard, even alongside your other premiums.

Outside of Bruno, though, I’m not sure there’s much I want from United right now. With Europe starting, I wouldn’t be opposed to moving on from pretty much every other United asset, especially the defence. Cunha and Mbeumo obviously have plenty of open-play threat, but at around £8.0m, I’m not convinced that outweighs the potential rotation risk. There are just too many other ways I’d rather spend that money.

Ipswich continue to give teams a good game, and I still think there could be something there from an FPL perspective. Enciso and O’Shea are the two that interest me most, but this is definitely a watch-and-wait situation rather than somewhere I’d be putting my transfers right now.

The Takeaways

• 👑 Keep Bruno - even on a GW3 Wildcard

• 🔄 I’d be happy moving on from other United assets

• 🚫 Steer clear of the Man United defence

• 👀 Enciso and O’Shea remain ones to watch

Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal

I think this game was a bit of a reality check for some FPL managers, especially Tzolis owners, when it comes to just how much rotation risk Arsenal’s midfielders and forwards could face this season.

Arsenal replaced four of their five starting midfielders during the game, with only Saka staying on the pitch. He even managed 11 DefCon despite spending an intense 90 minutes pressing and working off the ball. For me, it’s a similar problem to what we’ve seen with City over the years. Great squad depth is brilliant for the team, but not necessarily for FPL.

Tzolis has always looked more like an open-play threat to me, and I’m still not convinced he has enough routes to points to justify picking him over someone like Sangaré or Groß. Maybe he proves me wrong, but the added rotation risk certainly doesn’t help his case.

This was a proper dog fight, though, and Arsenal’s defence deserves a lot of credit. They stuck to their game plan, battled through it and came away with another very valuable clean sheet. Right now, I’d much rather invest in that defence and Saka than gamble on the other attackers.

As for Villa, there are so many new players coming into this squad that I don’t think we need to rush into any conclusions yet. Let’s actually see how they line up and who gets the minutes before buying anyone.

The Takeaways

• ⚠️ Exercise caution with Arsenal attackers. Prioritise the defence and Saka

• 📊 The defensive data doesn’t lie

• 🔒 Arsenal’s squad depth means plenty of rotation risk

• 👀 Konsa should be back starting next week

• ⏳ Wait and see on Villa

Thank you to @robtFPL for the data