Can the big boys capitalise on a lack of midweek action in Gameweek 3?

While Everton and Liverpool are both involved in European action and a whole load of Premier League sides have had to negotiate Carabao Cup ties, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all got the chance to put their feet up this week and prepare fully for those GW3 match-ups.

Man City get things under way when they take on Bournemouth on the South Coast in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off and the Citizens will be looking to inflict a third straight defeat on the Cherries. The visitors have the highest goal expectancy of all the sides in action this weekend as illustrated in the table below.

José Mourinho, who was spotted at the Etihad watching United old boy Wayne Rooney get on the score-sheet in the Monday Night Football, will be hoping that his side can make it 3 wins from 3 and keep up their early season goal scoring spree when the Foxes visit Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

Chelsea and Spurs are not in action until Sunday and it will be fascinating to see how the rumours about Antonio Conte’s future progress as the week unfolds. The Blues host Everton at Stamford Bridge, while Spurs take on Burnley at Wembley in a fixture that is sure to catch the imagination of many fantasy football managers.

Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday and Arsene Wenger will be hoping that ‘freshness’ gives the Gunners an edge in this one, with the Reds still having to finish off Hoffenheim on Wednesday to book their place in the Champions League group stage draw.

Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town will both be looking to secure a third successive clean sheet. The Baggies host a Stoke City side that saw off Arsenal in GW2, while the Terriers welcome Southampton to the John Smith’s Stadium.

With an international break on the horizon, Fantasy Premier League managers will be looking for a good send off, so it might just pay to side with players that have had a midweek breather!