Premier League 2023/24 Season: FPL Fantasy Forecast - Gameweek 3
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 ?? 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 3
Chelsea 1-0 Luton
Bournemouth 1-2 Spurs
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
Brentford 3-0 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-0 Wolves
Man United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 3-1 West Ham
Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa
Sheffield United 0-3 Man City
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 3
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid for Gameweek 3?:
Man City (Watch): The treble winners have an appetising run of games, and away against a promoted team is their bread and butter. Sheffield United will just be glad to get this fixture out of the way so early.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool: The Toon got the short straw for fixtures to start the season, and after narrowly losing to City, they now host Liverpool. The Reds were the only team to do the double on Newcastle last season, and they’ve looked bright to begin the campaign. Luis Diaz is the man at the moment and is going to cause Trippier lots of problems. I can see this game going either way, I just think Liverpool have Newcastle’s number in this fixture and am opting for an entertaining game with the travelling team stealing the points.
There aren’t too many teams to avoid, as most of the predictable teams have good fixtures for the Gameweek.
Top FPL player targets for GW3:
GK: Ederson (MCI, GK, £5.5mil, 18.7% ownership)
DEF: Ben Chilwell (CHE, DEF, £5.7mil, 28.7% ownership)
MID: Bryan Mbeumo (BRE, MID, £6.7mil, 23.2% ownership)
FWD: Yoane Wissa (BRE, FWD, £6.1mil, 15.4% ownership)
FPL Differentials: GW3
CHE/LUT: Axel Disasi (CHE, DEF, £5.1mil, 5.8% ownership)
BOU/TOT: Cristian Romero (TOT, DEF, £4.5mil, 4.2% ownership)
ARS/FUL: Eddie Nketiah (ARS, FWD, £5.6mil, 6.8% ownership)
BRE/CRY: Rico Henry (BRE, DEF, £4.6mil, 6.3% ownership)
EVE/WOL: Matheus Cunha (WOL, FWD, £5.5mil, 0.6% ownership)
MUN/NFO: Raphaël Varane (MUN, DEF, £5.1mil, 6.8% ownership)
BHA/WHU: Lewis Dunk (BHA, DEF, £5.0mil, 4.2% ownership)
BUR/AVL: Lucas Digne (AVL, DEF, £4.5mil, 2.6% ownership)
SHU/MCI: Joško Gvardiol (MCI, DEF, £5.0mil, 5.1% ownership)
NEW/LIV: Dominik Szoboszlai (LIV, MID, £7.0mil, 4.1% ownership)
Differential Captain: Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
So far, I am two for two from differential captains with Diaz (GW1) and Wissa (GW2) being shrewd picks. This time I’m going for Nketiah who has been starting up front for Arsenal in place of the injured Jesus and has two returns from the first two Gameweek’s of the season so far. The young Englishman doesn’t look out of place up top for the Gunners and hasn’t been picked up by many FPL players due to 91.3% of them prioritising Erling Haaland. Arsenal host Fulham in a game which should give Nketiah a good chance of making it three returns from three – and yes, even though Gabriel Jesus is back, I’ll still be backing Eddie to start and get the points.
Gameweek 3 - FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Alternative: Bukayo Saka (ARS)
Differential (low ownership %): Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-5-2
Budget: £99.9m
Starting 11
GK: André Onana (MUN)
DEF: Rico Henry (BRE)
DEF: Pervis Estupiñán (BHA)
DEF: Manuel Akanji (MCI)
MID: Marcus Rashford (MUN)
MID: Bryan Mbeumo (BRE)
MID: Bukayo Saka (ARS) - (VC)
MID: Kaoru Mitoma (BHA)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI) - (C)
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 3
Chelsea 3-1 Luton
Bournemouth 1-1 Spurs
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-1 Wolves
Man United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 2-0 West Ham
Burnley 0-2 Aston Villa
Sheffield United 0-4 Man City
Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 3
Insight ahead of Gameweek 3?:
Chelsea conceding against Luton was would about right given the ebb and flow of Chelsea’s season so far, they haven’t looked convincing from a defensive viewpoint, and Luton’s two up top may cause some good chances. Morris for Luton in particular looks a handful and will be buzzing after a goal on opening day away at Brighton.
Fulham scoring would also cause uproar amongst FPL players. Gabriel can’t get a start (yet) and Saliba has returned in both Gameweek’s so far. Odegaard (£8.5m) being on penalties really changes the dynamics of Arsenal’s options. If you own Martinelli, like I do, you have already been onboarded to the fact that the Brazilian isn’t on penalties and rely on a lack of set-piece goals, with Saka (£8.6m) also joining in those ranks. The reality is, there is no point in making a sideways move from any of the trio, they’re all good options and in the wake of some defensive woes for some FPL players, other priorities have arisen.
On the subject of defensive woes, Luke Shaw (19.3%) joins Reece James (7.0%) on the treatment table, whilst Gabriel (22.3%) owners are cursing their own luck at not selecting William Saliba (27.8%) to start the season. 8.2% of players still own John Stones (MCI) too, who hasn’t kicked a ball due to injury – with all 4 listed above the most selected transfers out. Ben Chilwell (28.9%) and Pervis Estupinan (64.1%) are the ones called in by FPL players in this period to help reshape millions of defences.
Looking at the state of transfers, Bryan Mbeumo (23 points) has seen over a million transfers in his favour, so a tight defensive performance from Palace will really scupper a great start. Mbuemo though is an undeniable transfer in right now – the £6.7m midfielder has a brace of winnable home games, is on penalties, and playing out of position. It also frees up some cash in FPL if you downgraded on Rashford’s £9.0m price point, which helps free up another transfer without much financial limitations.
Besides a few tinkering transfers in midfield and defence though, this FPL season has relatively gotten off to a predictable start and there is no reason to panic. Most are in the same boat and transfers are relatively easy to make given the flow of fixtures currently, so
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid for Gameweek 3?:
Everton (Avoid): Sean Dyche can’t buy a goal and Wolves looked more assured on the road. Playing Brighton last week really highlighted the elite tactical set-up Brighton have, but Wolves won’t have to worry about that at Everton – they can’t score and are leaky at the back. There’s only so much a home crowd can do before their screaming into their pillows at night after leaving a game frustrated that their Toffees haven’t scored.
Liverpool (Avoid): I’ve not been convinced one bit. They were second best against Chelsea, and could have been 2-0 down at home to Bournemouth after 2 minutes on the clock. Klopp is a wonderful Manager but he has been badly let down by FSG in the transfer market. They are screaming out for a defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho in particular and I think it will be a case that Newcastle win the game in midfield against the Reds. Newcastle will also want to prove they can beat a Champions League contender after Klopp’s team were the only to do the double over Newcastle last season, and I think the stage is set for that to happen.
Spurs (Cautious): Bournemouth are a little bit off the level of a team like Liverpool, but can cause a scare on their day. Spurs are coming into their own, but away from home I think we’ll have a tighter game that can see The Cherries get a point. It’s arguably the one game this weekend without an obvious winner in my eyes (and the only draw I’ve gone for in my predictions)
Man United & Forest (Cautious): If there was ever a game for Nottingham Forest to make a statement and take advantage of an obvious lull in an established legacy club, it’s now. Taiwo Awoniyi (£6.5m) is coming into his own having scored in both games this season, whilst it is time for Anthony Elanga (£5.0m) to start. In both outings off the bench for Forest, Elanga has been electric and changes the game for the better. Against his old club, this is a moment for Elanga to take and if they decide to go for it like they did in the second-half against Arsenal away on the opening day, they can cause real issues at Old Trafford, against a United side who look vacant of any quality and drive.
Chelsea & Brentford (Watch): Both teams have good fixtures and are the main harbingers of transfers in ahead of the deadline. Wissa and Mbuemo have started the season lightning fast, whilst Chelsea should get off the ground in some form of fashion against Luton, right? I’ve avoided the temptation of Nicolas Jackson (19.0%) up top for Joao Pedro (BHA), until the target man can get off the mark.
Gameweek 3 - FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Erling Haaland (MCI)
Alternative: Alexander Isak (NEW)
Differential (low ownership %): Julian Alvarez (MCI)
FPL Squad Picks: Gameweek 3
Formation: 3-4-3
Budget: £100.6m
Starting 11
GK: A. Onana (MUN)
DEF: L. Colwill (CHE)
DEF: W. Saliba (ARS)
DEF: P. Estupinan (BHA)
MID: B. Mbuemo (BRE)
MID: K. Mitoma (BHA)
MID: M. Salah (LIV)
MID: M. Odegaard (ARS)
FOR: A. Isak (NEW) – (VC)
FOR: J. Alvarez (MCI)
FOR: E. Haaland (MCI) – (C)
Substitutes
GK: M. Turner (NFO)
MID: A. Garnacho (MUN)
DEF: M. Gusto (CHE)
DEF: S. Botman (NEW)
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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.
In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award.
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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