With the first gameweek of the 2023-24 campaign in the books, we take a look at three fantasy related points of note from the round of Premier League matches played, which could play a part in an FPL managers’ thinking looking ahead to Gameweek 2.
SALAH SUBBED OFF – TO HIS DISPLEASURE!
The second Sunday after fixture in Gameweek 1 saw Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It didn’t take long for Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) to make his mark on the match, setting up the opening goal with a gorgeous through ball to Luis Diaz. The Egyptian thought he’d doubled Liverpool’s lead but VAR adjusted him as narrowly offside. However, with the game poised at 1-1, Salah was subbed off by Jurgen Klopp in the 77th minute and made no attempt to hide his frustration. An angry Salah is a very dangerous FPL asset and one wonders whether he will take it out on Bournemouth at Anfield in Gameweek 2.
HAALAND AND ALVAREZ START TOGETHER
Heading into Gameweek 1, the general consensus was that Julian Alvarez (£6.5m) would start on the bench for Man City with Erling Haaland (£14.0m) utilised as the only specialist striker. However, Alvarez’s quality and versatility saw him feature from the off playing just behind the Norwegian. Not only did Alvarez assist Haaland for Man City’s second goal, the World Cup winner could easily have scored himself and should command plenty of FPL interest moving forward, assuming he keeps his place in the team. Pep Guardiola’s side host early table toppers Newcastle in Gameweek 2.
MBEUMO & WISSA TO CARRY BURDEN OF TONEY ABSENCE
With striker Ivan Toney out for the foreseeable future, Many FPL managers have waited to see how Brentford would compensate for the loss of his goals. Gameweek 1 went some way to answering that question, with forward Yoane Wissa (£6.0m) starting and scoring for the Bees against Spurs. Also finding the net was Bryan Mbeumo (£6.5m), who got his goal from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw. Listed as a midfielder in FPL, Mbeumo came out of Gameweek 1 with his fantasy reputation further enhanced, especially if him and Wissa are to be trusted going forward to supply goals in Toney’s absence.
