We’re just a few weeks into the Premier League 2018/19 season, yet it appears that the men have started to separate themselves from the boys and a similar theme is being followed in its virtual dimension —the Fantasy Premier League (FPL)— as well.

Mini-Leagues across the world have witnessed contenders putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack, but there’s hope yet for those languishing at the bottom for there are still 34 gameweeks to go.

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Even those coasting at the moment could do with a tune up and that’s why The Statesman is at hand with expert picks ahead of Gameweek 4.

The indicators are:

Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.

Prices (in £ million) marked in Green indicates a rise in Base Price.
Prices (in £ million) marked in Red indicates fall in Base Price.

Goalkeeper

Wayne Hennessey

Team: Crystal Palace
Fixtures: Southampton (H), Huddersfield (A), Newcastle (H), Bournemouth (A) and Wolves (H)
Price: 4.5
Score: 13
Ownership: 3.2%

Why yes: Palace are expected to see off Southampton at home and should register a shutout as well. The Eagles have some inviting fixtures ahead so don’t be surprised if they shoot up the table.

Why no: Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5 m) and Jeffrey Schlupp (£4.5 m) are great picks if you’re in the market for defender and clubbing them along with Hennersey would be a risky stratagem.

Defenders

Marcos Alonso

Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), Cardiff City (H), West Ham United (A), Liverpool (H) and Southampton (A)
Price: 6.7
Score: 35
Ownership: 33.4%

Why yes: It looks like the season of left-backs, for giving Benjamin Mendy and Luke Shaw a run for their money is Chelseas’s marauding Spaniard.  It seems that he’s perpetually camped near the opposition box and is a potential goldmine for FPL managers.

Why no: Almost as expensive as some mid-priced midfielders, so accommodating him might force you to change your strategy. Won’t be much of a differential.

Mason Holgate

Team: Everton
Fixtures: Huddersfield (H), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H) and Leicester (A)
Price: 4.5
Score: 3
Ownership: 0.2%

Why yes: The young defender is a thrifty third/fourth-choice pick for your defence and with two ‘easy’ home games on the trot, the Toffees should keep a few clean sheets in the coming Gameweeks.

Why no: Might not start post the international break. Marco Silva’s men haven’t exactly kept a tight ship at the back so far.

Midfielders

Pascal Gross

Team: Brighton & Hove Albion
Fixtures: Fulham (H), Southampton (A), Spurs (H), Manchester City (A) and West Ham (H)
Price: 6.9
Score: 12
Ownership: 5.2%

Why yes: The Seagulls may have lost two of their opening three games so far, but they have given a good account of themselves over the course of the 270 minutes. Gross was excellent in that famous win over Man United and against an inconsistent Fulham side at home, should make his FPL owners happy.

Why no: Gameweek 6 onwards, the Seagulls may find the going tough.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Team: Everton
Fixtures: Huddersfield (H), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H) and Leicester (A)
Price: 7.4
Score: 4
Ownership: 1.5%

Why yes: With everyone flocking to Theo Walcott after Richarlison’s suspension, Everton’s Icelandic midfielder could be a massive differential. He’s playing the No.10 role just behind Cenk Tosun and is renown for his deadly free-kicks.

Why no: Walcott is a much more direct option and it remains to be seen if Sigurdsson can keep up with his teammate’s purple patch.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero

Team: Newcastle United
Fixtures: Newcastle (H), Fulham (H), Cardiff City (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (H) and Liverpool (A)
Price: 11.3
Score: 24
Ownership: 48.5%

Why yes: He’s the guy who scored five past Newcastle once, so are you willing to risk not having him when the Magpies come visiting again? Clearly in great form and after their draw against Wolves, the whole City squad will be raring to return to wining ways against Newcaslte.

Why no: Strange times we find ourselves in that the City backline has some excellent options (Ederson and Benjamin Mendy). And their midfielders like Bernardo Silva and David Silva remain a safe bet as well. So how will you accommodate the pricey Aguero too?

Romelu Lukaku

Team: Manchester United
Fixtures: Burnley (A), Watford (A), Wolves (H), West Ham (A), Newcastle (H)
Price: 11.0
Score: 11
Ownership: 7.1%

Why yes: United seem to be in dire straits at the moment, but they can only get better from here, right? Lukaku’s favourable record against ‘lesser teams’ augurs well for FPL managers willing to take a punt on him. Burnley are clearly struggling to juggle their European ambitions with their domestic ones, so expect the Red Devils to secure all three points. Don’t be surprised if the burly Belgian hits a rich vein of form, especially if one considers United’s opponents.

Why no: Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba are picks that could prove to be great differentials in midfield and with Luke Shaw starting to look like a must-have, how many United players can you fit in your squad? Perhaps, the bigger question is why would you want multiple player from a club on the verge of crisis?

PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/4 pm IST.

Previous articles in the series:

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 3

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 2

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 1