🔮 GW23 Complete Guide 🔮
⭐️ Breaking Down Every Game ⭐️ Rating FPL Prospects ⭐️ Predicting Results
⚒️ West Ham vs Sunderland 🐈⬛
West Ham:
- Moved to a 4-4-2, with Pablo and Castellanos playing in a front 2
- Defence is quite vulnerable when they sit deep
- Vulnerable from set-pieces
Sunderland:
- Will either set up in a 5-4-1 or 4-4-2 (see image) without the ball
- Can lack end product in the final third
- Dangerous from set-pieces
✍️ Analysis
West Ham’s defence is always vulnerable, and Sunderland are well-coached enough to take advantage. However, Sunderland’s attack isn’t always clinical, so an open game could suit West Ham. Set-pieces could decide this game.
🔮 Prediction: Sunderland win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- WHU Defence 🟠 - Not expecting a CS
- WHU Attack 🟠 - Sunderland are relatively solid, but I expect them to get chances
- SUN Defence 🟢 - Quite a good chance of a CS, and set-pieces could lead to returns
- SUN Attack 🟢 - West Ham have kept 1 CS all season
🎯 Differential Pick: Brobbey (0.6%) - 2 goals in the last 3 games, and I can see him bullying West Ham’s CBs!
🍷 Burnley vs Spurs ⚪️
Burnley:
- Will defend in a 5-4-1 (see image), and sit quite deep
- Concede cheap goals
- Not that threatening in transition
Spurs:
- Struggle to break teams down
- Solanke’s return could improve their attack
- Dangerous from set-pieces
✍️ Analysis
I can definitely see Burnley frustrating Spurs in open play and creating chances in transition. However, Burnley give away cheap goals and can be vulnerable from set-pieces.
🔮 Prediction: Draw!
📊 FPL Ratings
- BUR Defence 🟠 - Small (but real) chance of a CS, and a good DEFCON opportunity
- BUR Attack 🟠 - Should get a few chances in transition
- TOT Defence 🟢 - Good chance of a CS, and could do well from set-pieces
- TOT Attack 🟠 - They struggle to break teams down, but should still get chances
🎯 Differential Pick: Solanke (0.9%) - If Spurs score, I think he’ll be involved!
⚪️ Fulham vs Brighton 🕊️
Fulham:
- Will probably set up in a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 (see image)
- Attack should improve with Iwobi and Chukwueze back from AFCON
- Tough to break down
Brighton:
- Have been open in transition
- Not in their best attacking form
- Always dangerous in chaotic games
✍️ Analysis
I expect Fulham to keep Brighton’s attack relatively quiet, and think they’ll create good chances at the other end. If the game opens up, Brighton can definitely take advantage, but I think Fulham will have too much for them.
🔮 Prediction: Fulham win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- FUL Defence 🟢 - Good CS + DEFCON opportunity
- FUL Attack 🟠 - Expect them to create good chances
- BHA Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS + decent DEFCON opportunity
- BHA Attack 🟠 - Fulham don’t keep many clean sheets, so they should get chances
🎯 Differential Pick: Raul (2.2%) - He’s in good form, and I think he can unsettle Van Hecke!
🔵 Manchester City vs Wolves 🐺
Manchester City:
- Not been good in possession recently
- Vulnerable in transition
- Haaland hasn’t scored from open play in 5 games
Wolves:
- Will sit deep in a 5-3-2 (see image)
- Their low block isn’t that solid
- Can be open to counters when they attack
✍️ Analysis
I expect Wolves to sit deep and create chances on the counter. However, I don’t think they’ll be able to stop City from scoring. I won’t be surprised if this turns into a high-scoring, back-and-forth game.
🔮 Prediction: City win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- MCI Defence 🟠 - Decent chance of a CS
- MCI Attack 🟢 - Should create good chances
- WOL Defence 🟠 - Good DEFCON opportunity
- WOL Attack 🟠 - Expect them to get decent chances on the counter
🎯 Differential Pick: Mane (1.0%) - City are open on the counter, and his pace is very tough to stop!
🍒 Bournemouth vs Liverpool 🔴
Bournemouth:
- Not going to be as dangerous without Semenyo and Tavernier
- Vulnerable when they defend deep
- Still dangerous in transition
Liverpool:
- Struggle to break teams down
- Vulnerable in transition
- Salah’s return could improve their attack
✍️ Analysis
I expect Liverpool to dominate the ball and think we’ll see Bournemouth sit in a deep 4-4-2 (see image). Their defensive block is more compact without Semenyo, as he often stayed higher up the pitch.
Bournemouth are always dangerous, but I think Liverpool will have too much for them.
🔮 Prediction: Liverpool win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- BOU Defence 🟠 - Good DEFCON opportunity
- BOU Attack 🟠 - Will probably get chances in transition
- LIV Defence 🟠 - Good DEFCON opportunity, small chance of a CS
- LIV Attack 🟢 - Expect them to open Bournemouth up as the game goes on
🎯 Differential Pick: Kroupi Jr (4.4%) - I can see Kroupi floating around Evanilson and ghosting into dangerous positions!
🐝 Brentford vs Nottingham Forest 🌳
Brentford:
- Defend in a 4-4-2 (see image)
- Very dangerous in transition
- Defence + Kelleher can be slightly error-prone
Forest:
- Also defend in a 4-4-2
- Defence hasn't been that solid recently
- Attack can be dangerous, but has also been underwhelming at times
✍️ Analysis
Both sides are very direct on the ball, so they could cancel each other out. However, I expect the game to open up and think both sides will create good chances.
🔮 Prediction: Brentford win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- BRE Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS + decent DEFCON opportunity
- BRE Attack 🟢 - I think they’ll create good chances
- NFO Defence 🟠 - Good DEFCON opportunity, with a small chance of a CS
- NFO Attack 🟠 - Should create a few good chances
🎯 Differential Pick: Schade (2.8%) - Should’ve scored against Chelsea, he looks sharp!
🦅 Crystal Palace vs Chelsea 🔵
Crystal Palace:
- Will set up in a 5-4-1 (see image)
- Not as solid without Guehi
- Sarr’s return should improve their attack, Munoz could be back too
Chelsea:
- Didn’t look threatening in possession against Brentford
- Can be vulnerable in transition
- Rosenior is still new
✍️ Analysis
Both teams have experienced a lot of change recently, so this is hard to predict.
I expect Palace’s 5-4-1 to limit Chelsea’s opportunities, but it’s hard to know how solid Palace’s 5-4-1 will be without Guehi and potentially Mateta. Similarly, Chelsea’s attacking play didn’t look great against Brentford, but this could easily improve.
🔮 Prediction: Draw!
📊 FPL Ratings
- CRY Defence 🟠 - Decent CS + DEFCON opportunity
- CRY Attack 🟠 - I think they’ll get good chances in transition
- CHE Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS
- CHE Attack 🟠 - I think Palace will be tough to break down
🎯 Differential Pick: Yeremy (0.2%) - Finished his goal well against Sunderland, I think he’ll be crucial to Palace’s attacking play!
⚫️ Newcastle vs Aston Villa 🥷
Newcastle:
- Will set up in a 4-5-1, but sometimes defend in a 5-4-1 (see image)
- Struggle to break teams down
- Dangerous in transition
Villa:
- Happy to sit in a passive 4-4-2
- Always create good chances
- High line can be exploited
✍️ Analysis
I expect Newcastle to exploit Villa’s high line, but think they’ll struggle to break down Villa’s 4-4-2 (when Villa are deep). Villa are dangerous in transition, and always create good chances when they have space. This should be a tight game!
🔮 Prediction: Newcastle win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- NEW Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS + decent DEFCON opportunity
- NEW Attack 🟢 - I think they’ll create good chances in behind
- AVL Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS + decent DEFCON opportunity
- AVL Attack 🟠 - Should create good chances in transition
🎯 Differential Pick: Wissa (1.0%) - He’s always dangerous against a high line!
🔴 Arsenal vs Manchester United 👹
Arsenal:
- Sit in a compact 4-4-2 without the ball (see image)
- Struggle to break teams down
- Dangerous from set-pieces
United:
- Happy to sit deep without the ball, was often a back 6 against City
- Very dangerous in transition
- Might not be as comfortable playing against a deeper, more compact block
✍️ Analysis
I think United can frustrate Arsenal when they sit deep and create good chances in transition. If United open up too much and the game becomes chaotic, Arsenal could easily take the game away from Carrick’s side.
🔮 Prediction: United win!
📊 FPL Ratings
- ARS Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS, but a good DEFCON opportunity
- ARS Attack 🟠 - They’ll most likely create a few good chances, but they could struggle against United’s deep defence
- MUN Defence 🟠 - Small chance of a CS + decent DEFCON opportunity
- MUN Attack 🟢 - I expect them to be very dangerous in transition
🎯 Differential Pick: Dorgu (7.9%) - Good chance he starts at LW again + he could be on the end of good chances in transition!
🍬 Everton vs Leeds ⚪️
Everton:
- Will most likely play a 4-5-1
- Ndiaye and Gueye’s returns should improve them
- Have been fairly open defensively
Leeds:
- Sit in a solid 5-4-1 (see image)
- Dangerous in transition, but can lack end product
- Can be vulnerable in transition (sometimes)
✍️ Analysis
I think both sides will play direct football and keep each other relatively quiet. I expect goals to come from small moments of quality, rather than either side dominating for long periods.
🔮 Prediction: Draw!
📊 FPL Ratings
- EVE Defence 🟢 - Decent CS + DEFCON opportunity
- EVE Attack 🟠 - Don’t think they’ll get too many clear-cut opportunities
- LEE Defence 🟢 - Decent CS + DEFCON opportunity
- LEE Attack 🟠 - Don’t think they’ll get too many clear-cut opportunities
🎯 Differential Pick: Ndiaye (3.3%) - He’s Everton’s talisman, and I can see him causing Gudmundsson some issues!