Fantasy football
Fantasy Premier League managers need to to get their teams ready for action as the English top flight resumes this weekend following the international break, kicking off with a cracker between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Here, Phakaaathi’s Emmett McConnell casts his eye over three players that could make a difference to your team.
1) Harry Kane Playing an in-form Liverpool might not seem like the best chance for Kane to shine. But the last time Liverpool travelled to Wembley, Spurs cruised to a 4-1 victory. Kane led the show with two goals and an assist. August is usually not a prolific month for Harry Kane, September, however, is where he starts to pick up the pace. Last September, Kane bagged six goals over the course of four games. Both his history against Liverpool and in September are a good sign for Kane owners for this match. Liverpool have yet to really be tested. The match will probably be a fast-paced game which benefits strikers in either team. His additional threat as a penalty-taker means Kane is a good goal-scoring option, especially at home.
2) Marcos Alonso Chelsea take on a Cardiff squad that has yet to score in two away matches so far. Defensively, Chelsea are wellsuited to keeping a clean sheet, making defender Marcos Alonso (below) an essential pick, especially because of his dual threat as an attacker. He has more attempted shots than any other Chelsea player this season. It doesn’t hurt that Alonso has the most points of any Premier League player, despite being a defender. He has another added bonus of being the primary free-kick taker for Chelsea, giving the defender yet another avenue to rack up the goals. His five assists this season ties Alonso for most in the league with Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy.
3) Callum Wilson Bournemouth FC were on fire, scoring six goals in three matches before firing blanks against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week. Bournemouth are unlikely to get shut out at home against Leicester City, and when the goals come, Callum Wilson is usually involved. Of the six goals Bournemouth have scored this year, Wilson was involved in five, with two goals and three assists this season. Any additional goals will likely go through the centre forward.
Don’t forget that you can still join Phakaaathi’s Private Fantasy League for a chance to win some great prizes. Simply follow the competition rules in the advert at the bottom of this page. September’s overall winner will pick up a Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera, valued at R4 999.