Premier League 2023/24 Season: FPL Fantasy Forecast - Gameweek 2
Ahead of each Gameweek in the Premier League, The Hype Train's team provide a rundown of the upcoming round of games in the Premier League; predicting scores for every game, picking a budgeted squad of 15 players that we think are the top selections each week, whilst we also comb over other relevant statistics, impressions and insight from around the game and the league to best navigate you through the world of fantasy football, all for free. Welcome to the Forecast. All aboard.
Premier League: Gameweek 2 Fixtures:
2023/24 Premier League Season: Fixture Predictions
Below, our score predictions pit the train's three members against one another. Let's find out how they think the Gameweek will shape up for teams.
2023/24 Premier League Season: Fantasy Forecast
The team go through a list of questions and insight to provide their predictions ahead of each Gameweek. None of the team pay for any subscription based FPL services, and the type of opinions here are based in both stats and analytical thinking where possible, as we tackle the latest round of games.
2023/24 Premier League Season: Gameweek Fantasy Forecast (Sam Austin)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 2
Postponed: Luton vs. Burnley
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Sheffield United
Fulham 1-3 Brentford
Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
Wolves 1-2 Brighton
Spurs 1-2 Man United
Man City 1-1 Newcastle
Aston Villa 2-0 Everton
West Ham 1-2 Chelsea
Crystal Palace 0-3 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid for Gameweek 2?:
Aston Villa (Watch): This is only because Everton are just that bad. They completely fumbled what should have been an easy win against Fulham. Villa wasn’t terrible against a good Newcastle team, so this could be a good time to invest in some Villa assets.
Liverpool (Watch): The Reds beat Bournemouth 9-0 last time round in this fixture, so there is a lot of optimism for this fixture. After tiring to a draw against Chelsea in GW1 the Reds can really start their season at Anfield. Mo Salah should be raring to go after being subbed off and should be wanting to prove a point.
Man City & Newcastle (???): This week’s uncertain fixture features the two big winners from GW1, as both Newcastle and City can score a lot of goals and keeping a clean sheet. I can see both teams cancelling each other out.
Top FPL player targets for GW2:
GK: Alisson (LIV, GK, £5.5mil, 9.8% ownership)
DEF: Ben Chilwell (CHE, DEF, £5.6mil, 20.3% ownership)
MID: Luis Díaz (LIV, MID, £7.6mil, 9.4% ownership)
FWD: Eddie Nketiah (ARS, FWD, £5.5mil, 5.2% ownership)
FPL Differentials: GW2
NFO/SHU: Morgan Gibbs-White (NFO, MID, £6.0mil, 2.6% ownership)
FUL/BRE: Yoane Wissa (BRE, FWD, £6.0mil, 6.7% ownership)
LIV/BOU: Diogo Jota (LIV, MID, £8.0mil, 3.0% ownership)
WOL/BHA: Solly March (BHA, MID, £6.5mil, 4.0% ownership)
TOT/MUN: Richarlison (TOT, MID, £7.0mil, 4.1% ownership)
MCI/NEW: Julián Álvarez (MCI, FWD, £6.5mil, 5.4% ownership)
AVL/EVE: Pau Torres (AVL, DEF, £4.5mil, 2.6% ownership)
WHU/CHE: Carney Chukwuemeka (CHE, MID, £4.5mil, 3.1% ownership)
CRY/ARS: Eddie Nketiah (ARS, FWD, £5.5mil, 5.2% ownership)
Differential Captain: Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
Brentford were good against Spurs in GW1, and the new look forward duo of Mbeumo and Wissa caused the Spurs defence plenty of problems. Both the forwards picked up fantasy points, and against Fulham I can see the dynamic duo causing them issues in pursuit of even more points.
Gameweek 2 - FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Mohamad Salah (LIV)
Alternative: Bukayo Saka (ARS)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-5-2
Budget: £100.0m
Starting 11
GK: André Onana (MUN)
DEF: Gabriel (ARS)
DEF: Pervis Estupiñán (BHA)
DEF: Luke Shaw (MUN)
MID: Marcus Rashford (MUN)
MID: Bryan Mbeumo (BRE)
MID: Bukayo Saka (ARS) (VC)
MID: Kaoru Mitoma (BHA)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV) (C)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI)
FOR: João Pedro (BHA)
Substitutes
GK: Matt Turner (NFO)
DEF: Sven Botman (NEW)
DEF: George Baldock (SHU)
FOR: Hwang Ui-jo (NFO)
2023/24 Premier League Season: Gameweek Fantasy Forecast (Robert Austin)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 2
Postponed: Luton vs. Burnley
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Sheffield United
Fulham 1-1 Brentford
Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth
Wolves 0-1 Brighton
Spurs 1-1 Man United
Man City 1-2 Newcastle
Aston Villa 2-0 Everton
West Ham 2-3 Chelsea
Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Looking ahead to Gameweek 2?:
On Reece James getting injured:
You know FPL is back when Reece James (CHE) has been injured out of the blue. Surely, people are done considering the FPL player an option. As of writing, 15.6% of players own James, that fell for the trap. The best to come out of this latest injury is that Malo Gusto (£4.0m) will be a cheap budget option and a better option than Baldock (SHU) as a 5th defensive option. Should you back Gusto this week only to stick the player on the bench? It would definitely strengthen your team and with 1.8% ownership offers a true differential.
On Mohamed Salah’s anger at being subbed vs. Chelsea:
Don’t read into it. The Egyptian King is a competitive person and always shakes it off. What Salah didn’t do last season, even in a 9-0 home win, was score against Bournemouth. Liverpool are the best alternatives to Haaland’s dominance over the FPL game, however, for the Gameweek, so Salah will be a strong captaincy pick – he won’t be as highly selected as the Scandinavian Robot due to the sheer levels of his ownership – and will also offer a different route should Newcastle keep City quiet.
Should you make a transfer this week?:
The burning question to consider is just this. Options for solid points potential is fewer on the ground this week, but due to how templated the game has become, I wouldn’t worry. I’d hold your transfer if you can – most likely will ahead of a potential refresh in Gameweek 3. The only way I would be tempted would be if I held Gabriel (ARS) and would make the sideways move to Saliba… Regarding transfers, just remember that there are so many dummy accounts and challenge teams that just want to run up a squad value, that the volumes of transfers for real FPL players looks worse than the reality.
On Liverpool losing out on Caidedo & Lavia: Endo joining from the Bundesliga was completely unexpected and there are clearly issues in the boardroom at Anfield. However, in both these cases, Chelsea offered more wages and are situated in London, where both players wanted to move. So Liverpool couldn’t do anything else.
On Mason Greenwood potentially returning to Man United:
It’s a disgrace this is even being considered. Keep him away from professional football.
What are the potential stumbling blocks to a good Gameweek?:
- Haaland and City frustrated at Newcastle for captains
- FPL and Premier League viewers constantly writing off Newcastle has become an issue. They’ve got some tough fixtures, but may prove to be the exception to the rule this season as they’re just hard to beat and have improved
- A few injury doubts to Estupinan (BHA), Baldock (SHU), Gabriel (ARS), James (CHE) among others. Mostly is fear among the FPL Community, but will naturally reduce scores if one or more rumours are true
- Generally speaking, the scores for Gameweek 2 will be going down. Fixtures are harder to predict and the gut feeling at least from my perspective is that 50-60 points would be a very, very good Gameweek
- Spurs could limit Man United like Wolves did, so may be a slow start for Rashford in FPL this season. I am tempted to make the move to Saka and double up on Arsenal midfielders
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid for Gameweek 2?:
Man City (Cautious) & Newcastle (Watch): I’ve been set on an opinion all week that City are there for the taking. The narrative all summer has been that Man City can’t repeat their treble winning heroics from last season after losing some key players, as well as the conversation that there is a natural drop off in performance after achieving such a height. Newcastle have improved over the summer in all the right areas and their midfield with Tonali-Bruno-Joelinton looks incredible in particular. City may struggle in this one and even if I am wrong, will be a serious test of their mettle this season. I’m backing Newcastle though to fuel the conversation that Man City will drop off this season (somewhat).
Aston Villa (Watch): Everton can’t buy a goal, so across the pitch Villa look pretty solid to make a good comeback after being humbled 5-1 at Newcastle. Moussa Diaby is one player that I do not have in FPL that I am dreading – he has the potential to be a real difference maker against a Toffees team that will struggle.
Liverpool (Watch): This one looks cut and dry… until Solanke scores after 3 minutes.
Spurs (Watch): They’ve got a fighting spirit under new Management and I can see them frustrating United in a score draw.
Brentford (Watch): Wissa and Mbuemo were great to watch against Spurs and look sharp to take on a Fulham team that did the Italian Job away at Everton last weekend. If they don’t improve at home, Brentford will take full advantage.
Sheffield United (Avoid): They don’t look the part at all. Turner will be a big favourite to start tonight for FPL players and to keep a clean sheet in the process.
Gameweek 2 - FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
Alternative: Bukayo Saka (ARS)
Differential (low ownership %): Moussa Diaby (AVL)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-4-3
Budget: £100.0m
Starting 11
GK: Matt Turner (NFO)
DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV)
DEF: William Saliba (ARS)
DEF: Pervis Estupinan (BHA)
MID: Moussa Diaby (AVL)
MID: Mohamed Salah (LIV) – (C)
MID: Bukayo Saka (ARS) – (VC)
MID: Kaoru Mitoma (BHA)
FOR: Alexander Isak (NEW)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI)
FOR: Ollie Watkins (AVL)
Substitutes
GK: Andre Onana (MUN)
MID: Alejandro Garnacho (MUN)
DEF: Levi Colwill (CHE)
DEF: Malo Gusto (CHE)
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The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in general football and Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.
We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.
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In 2021, we formed the Reading Sunday Social League (RSSL), a competitive Sunday League involving 8 teams in its debut season. During the 2021/22 season, we won our first-ever trophy, lifting the East Berkshire Football League's Presidents Cup!
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