FPL GW 3 Preview: Points Hit and KDB Out
Code to join the upnnunder league: 31939–793128

My plan to have 2 FT (free transfers) by the international break now is out of the window. An injury in gameweek 1 was key in determining whether I’d have made it all the way through to gameweek 3 with the same squad. Zaha got injured, I transferred him out.
I’ve made 3 changes to the team, resulting in a 8-point hit. I was against a hit this early, or ever. but imminent changes in player prices, both current and those in my watchlist, meant a change was coming. Having a solid first 2 gameweeks softened the blow, but a hit still a hit.
Kevin De Bruyne is the first casualty. His value of £10.0m, two blanks in a row and the firepower of the City attack resulted in bringing in Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The United midfielder already has 4 assists, takes set-pieces and more importantly has been given the right to roam behind Lukaku. He could be subject to rotation once the Champions League starts, but his link up play and ability to produce attempted assists means it will be difficult to drop him.
It’s only a matter of time before the Man City juggernaut starts rolling. KDB’s exit means the route to the City attack for my team is now through Sergio Aguero. Once they went down to 10 men against Everton, Aguero passed up on an easy opportunity, but almost bagged an assist. Gabriel Jesus was taken off at halftime and Aguero led the line himself showing he might still be the main man at the Etihad. In his two games, he has created 6 chances, only 2nd to David Silva’s 9 for City. He has scored one goal and is highly involved in the attacking third. He replaces Firmino.
Manolo Gabbiadini, despite scoring against West Ham, is out for the man that bagged a brace against his team… Chicharito. The Mexican was very lively in leading the 10 men of the Hammers. Gabbiadini remains a solid attacker and fluid in his interplay with the midfield, but he rarely makes the 60 min mark with Austin and Shane Long lurking. Penalty duties are also not assured to be the Italian’s, a source for goals for a team that doesn’t score many. For the ‘Little Pea’, he faces Newcastle away and then Huddersfield at home. I back him to get some points in that period.
Gameweek 3 Lineup

Plenty of Premier League teams will have played their Carabao Cup fixtures (EFL Cup) by matchday 3.
Ben Foster continues in goal at home to Stoke as they try to begin the Premier League season with 3 clean sheets in a row.
Arsenal face a tricky fixture against Liverpool, which has always led to plenty of goals and no clean sheets for either, in recent seasons. Sead Kolasinac might not start this game after the return of Laurent Koscielny from suspension. But if he does, hopefully he starts at wingback, in place of Hector Bellerin, and Ox moves to the right wing back position.
Bailly remains in the middle of my defense as he too seeks a third consecutive clean sheet, this time against Leicester who have scored 4 so far. This should be a sterner test compared to West Ham and Swansea.
Bertrand is away at Huddersfield and I honestly don’t know what to expect from the Saints in their first away game of the season under a new manager and against a promoted team that’s full of confidence having won 2/2 and conceded none.
Everton played a tough fixture on Monday night against Man City. On Thursday, they play Hadjuk Split in Croatia in their second leg of the Europa League qualifier, then travel back to London to face Chelsea in the PL 3 days later. Willian is in against the potentially lethargic Toffees. This could possibly be one of his last games as a sure starter with the return to fitness of Pedro and Eden Hazard.
Christian Eriksen and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have home fixtures against Burnley and Leicester respectively. Both players have a chance to add to their impressive starts to the new season. Aaron Mooy is in for the home fixture against Southampton.
Sergio Aguero plays Bournemouth, and Man City will be looking for a good response after their spirited fight back to draw against Everton. Chicharito will spearhead the Hammers’ attack once more against an average looking Newcastle team that are yet to keep a clean sheet or score. His brace last week has led to him being the most transferred in player, with just over 320,000 transfers.
Romelu Lukaku’ takes up the third forward position and having scored 4 in the last 5 against the 2016 PL Champions, he is the front runner for captain.

