After a hat-trick in his last game at the Etihad, Agüero is this week’s headliner ahead of Man. City’s home encounter with Newcastle. The Argentine had chances to get on the scoresheet against Wolves in gameweek three rattling the woodwork on two occasions, from a total of four goal attempts, three of which came from inside the box. As the Custom Stats table shows, his total of 16 efforts at goal this season is joint-first in the league, matched only by Salah and the pair are also neck-and-neck for shots inside the box (SIB), with 11, and shots on target (SOT), with six. Last season, Agüero scored 15 of his 21 goals at home and had more 'big chances' at the Etihad than any other teammate. He has scored 14 goals in 11 league games against Newcastle, with eight of those coming during his last two home matches against the Magpies. They certainly are an opponent he seems to enjoy playing against. Man. City’s attack has shown little sign of withering after De Bruyne’s injury. The champions have fired 28 SOT so far, seven more than second placed Liverpool. Newcastle are the sixth-worst side in terms of SOT conceded (29), and will surely have their work cut out in stopping Man. City’s relentless attack. Our Fix Algorithmbacks Agüero to prosper, with a point score of 6.0.
Hazard had a poor 2017/18 season by his lofty standards, with only 12 goals. A large part of this can be attributed to playing in a defensive system under Conte. In fact, since Hazard joined Chelsea, he has often been shackled by defensive managers. Things have changed this year though, with the arrival of Sarri, a manager known for free-flowing attacking football. After providing an assist in each of his two appearances off the bench, Hazard returned to the scoresheet in his first start of the season during Chelsea's 2-1 away win over Newcastle. In just 133 minutes, the Belgium international has taken eight attempts at goal and only Pedro with nine, has taken more amongst Chelsea players this season. The Spaniard has played over 100 minutes more. The mercurial midfielder's teammates cannot outdo his five attempted assists, with this record only being matched by Willian, but beating Pedro's four. Amongst midfielders only De Bruyne (39), Eriksen (40) and Salah (68) took more than the Belgian’s 37 SOTs last season, while only Fabregas (90), Eriksen (94) and De Bruyne (105) produced more than his 85 attempted assists. Sarri’s influence is already evident in Chelsea’s stats. The Blues have created a chance every 5.5 minutes, only Man. City (4.2) and Liverpool (5.1) have done better. With five goals in as many appearances against the Cherries the Fix algorithm backs Hazard to keep up his scoring run with a point score of 6.0.
After signing a new contract to end transfer speculation it should be a big season for Zaha. Often accused of lacking end product, he has so far proved the doubters wrong with two goals in the opening three games, meaning he is now the all-time highest goalscorer for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, with a total of 24 goals. The 25-year-old was directly involved in 16 league goals last season, scoring nine times and providing seven assists across 29 appearances and he has now returned an impressive total of seven goals in his last nine league games. Amongst forwards this season only Agüero and Mitrovic with three, have scored more goals than Zaha's two, while his four SOTs can only be beaten by Jesus, Wilson and Agüero, who have managed six, and Mitrovic who has managed seven. When compared with other forwards priced at 7.1 or below Zaha’s average of 1.8 shots from inside the box per game last season was joint-first along with Arnautovic, and the West Ham man was the only player to provide more Fantasy Premier League (FPL) involvements amongst that group of players with 18 to Zaha’s 16. The winger now embarks on an excellent run of fixtures, with games against Southampton, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Wolves all of which finished outside the top eight last year. Our Fix algorithm predicts Palace to score 7.97 goals over the next five games, the most of any side outside last season’s top eight and a point score of 3.5 for Zaha.
Following Richarlison’s sending off and subsequent suspension FPL managers will be on the lookout for a mid-priced midfielder to replace the Everton man. Walcott has put his name in the mix as a like-for-like replacement, after scoring his second goal of the season during the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in gameweek three. Amongst midfielders priced at 7.5 or below Walcott’s three FPL involvements this season is joint-first, along with Richarlison, Pereyra and Moura. His underlying numbers will not blow your socks off, having scored his two goals from a total of just four efforts and only three of those came from inside the box. But it is worth noting that Everton have had a man sent off in two of their opening three games so far, and the Toffees will be looking to Walcott to fill the void for the impressive Richarlison. Amongst Everton players only Richarlison with four, and Keane with six, have taken more SIB than Walcott's three this season, and with the pair both set to be absent in the near future through suspension and injury respectively, perhaps we will see the former-Arsenal midfielder step up. The Englishman could have hardly asked for a kinder schedule, as he plays Huddersfield, West Ham, Arsenal and Fulham, the four sides who have conceded the most SOT thus far. Our Fix algorithm backs Walcott to be the top scoring midfielder under 7.0 over the next six weeks, and a point score of 4.8 vs Huddersfield.
Despite Chelsea’s shift to a back four, Alonso has continued to demonstrate the same attacking threat that has made him such an attractive FPL option over the past two seasons, producing a goal and four assists in his opening three matches, making him the highest scoring FPL asset thus far, with 35 points. The Spaniard was directly involved in both of Chelsea's goals during the 2-1 away win over Newcastle in gameweek three - winning a penalty for Hazard to convert, before striking a shot that was eventually turned in for an own goal by Yedlin. No defender has taken more goal attempts than the left-back this season, with seven, and his total of five FPL involvements is more than any other player in his position, beating Mendy's four and Holebas' three. In the 2017/18 season, Alonso’s 65 goal attempts was at least 30 more than any other defender and his total of seven goals was top amongst defenders, beating Van Aanholt and Monreal, who manage five each. Our Fix Algorithm expects Alonso to continue topping the points table for defenders, with 27.8 points over the next six games, and a point score of 4.8 vs Bournemouth.
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