| Introduction (An Alternative One)|

So it is another GW, a midweek one, I am doing bits everywhere here.

Playing 2 fantasy football games can be a juggling act, but it is isn’t working down the mine is it, and I am back into football properly again.

I have been looking at the fixtures again, looking at some other bits.

And.

Now I feel more clarity, I think doing these help too, it is a two way street here.

I am looking forward to this GW, that is what it is about for me, but also I am feeling very focused too.

What a win for Liverpool on Sunday, and that match was truly brilliant, and it is a reminder to myself how amazing football can be at the highest level.

I do not like this ‘elitism’ lark, but in a sporting sense I can very much appreciate what is happening on the pitch, if not off it.

I think there is still plenty of work to be done for Liverpool, it was an amazing win.

But this is the Premier League, there are other challenges to come, despite the fixtures looking better (on paper!).

And re FPL (Sky Sports FF too), this GW is interesting to see how people negotiate it (or don’t perhaps), so let’s get stuck into these fixtures.

You know what, it is actually quite tricky finding some things to say on some teams, that or I am weary of not just writing anything or trying to sound like I have a UEFA coaching badge (I very much don’t) but I’ll try to get into as much as possible (general form, home/away form, how teams are setting up, underlying numbers etc.).

Just to say, that I am trying to embrace this data matrix world more, I am trying to understand it as well as possible.

To be quite frank, there are only so many teams that win 6 in a row (or more) in this league, but we can look at who is playing well and who is on a little decent etc.

There has been a few things that have given me a boost recently.

Being honest I am trying to pull this together here.

I am trying to beef these up more, and make them a bit more ‘professional’ and concise.

But I’ll have to keep them a bit trippy too.

OK, got these bits done, I’ll come back to this later on.

I am conscious of how there may be a small sample size is some areas.

But we are entering GW12.

I am doing these again, and I am feeling more focused.

Some recent form can be a guide.

Overall records from recent seasons can be a guide.

How teams set up in each fixture can be a guide.

Underlying numbers can be a guide.

The eye test can be a guide.

A bit of everything can be a guide.

I have been finding it hard to enjoy football at times this season, but I have curiously been enjoying playing fantasy football again (kinda), or at least I am finding the stimulation of it to be useful to me.

OK, I’m still in the zone (sorta), had to leave to look up some bits.

I’m trying to embrace this mad matrix data world more then.

I’ll include a song a bit later on.

Is right, think I am in flow state now, that helps for sure.

| Some Little Bits |

▪︎ 18 teams involved (Manchester City & Arsenal are not involved)

| Music (Spotify) |

| Fixtures |

| 18/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | The Amex | Brighton Vs Nottingham Forest |

| Brighton Are Creating Chances (I Know, I Have Heard That Before Too, But They Really Are Though) & Forest Continue Conceding |

▪︎ Forest have conceded in *** 8 *** consecutive league matches.

| 18/10/22 | 20:15 (GMT) | Selhurst Park | Crystal Palace Vs Wolves |

| Palace’s Positive Signs (?) & A Selhurst Park Bounce |

▪︎ Palace go into the fixture off the back of 4 points from a possible 6

| 19/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | The Vitality Stadium | Bournemouth Vs Southampton |

| Bournemouth Unbeaten Since GW5, Bright Going Forward & Southampton Continue Conceding |

▪︎ Southampton have conceded in every league match in 2022/23

| 19/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | The Brentford Community Stadium | Brentford Vs Chelsea |

| Brentford Keep Conceding Chances (At Home) |

Brentford have an xGA of 6.5 at home in the Premier League in 2022/23, albeit it only being GW11, but it may be something to look out for form wise.

Chelsea scored at the right times in GW12, and capitalised on mistakes made by their opponents Aston Villa.

However the win came, it is a 4th consecutive league win for Chelsea.

| 19/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | Anfield | Liverpool Vs West Ham United |

| Liverpool Remain Unbeaten At Home, City Win Boost & West Ham’s Mini Unbeaten Run (All Comps) |

▪︎ Liverpool remain unbeaten at Anfield this season (7 matches in all competitions)

▪︎ Liverpool remain unbeaten at home in the Premier League since the start of 2021/22 (pretty sure that is right! Unbeaten in front of fans for absolutely ages anyway)

▪︎ Liverpool are the 4th highest scoring team in the Premier League in 2022/23

▪︎ Liverpool have an xG of 16.7 (FBREF)

▪︎ Liverpool have an xG *** at home *** of 10.3 (4th)

▪︎ West Ham United are unbeaten in 5 matches in all competitions

▪︎ West Ham United have a xGA away from home of 3.8

| A Few Side Notes |

Liverpool are surely likely to score, West Ham United may have some absences from a defensive point of view, but Moyes’ side may set up with 3 or 5 at the back (possibly with a low block).

Liverpool look like they may be more a 4-4-2 (or 4-2-4) side now, but do have Diaz and Jota out for the foreseible future, so they could still possibly line up with a 4-3-3 (or possibly a 4-4-2 with Elliot part of the attack).

I think formations are very fluid these days, Liverpool could be seen as 4-3-3, 4-4-2, or possibly 4-2-3-1 (or 4-4-1-1).

I don’t know mate, I’ll leave it to Jurgen!

| 19/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | St.James’ Park | Newcastle United Vs Everton |

| Newcastle March On, Best Defence & Everton’s Away Day Problems (?) |

| A Few Side Notes |

▪︎ Newcastle United (9) currently have the best defence in the league in terms of least goals conceded (I think they bode well in terms of having pretty decent underlying numbers wise too)

Newcastle are looking good, and have really good form overall this calendar year, with Trippier proving to be a key player (influential too).

In fairness to Everton, despite the fact they have conceded in the vast majority of their league matches (they have conceded in every away match) in 2022/23 they are setting up with a good shape.

That generally speaking does make it difficult for teams to break them down (open the tin, as it is said in Spain), but they do have a rather high xGA this season.

I think they can be particularly be got at on their left hand side.

Just another reminder that I am not Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Conte etc.

I’m just some lad playing fantasy footy!

| 19/10/22 | 20:15 (GMT) | Old Trafford | Manchester United Vs Spurs |

| Manchester United Conceding Chances At Home (?) & Spurs’ Goal Scoring Threat / Manchester United’s Improvements Going Forward & Spurs’ Left Hand Side Weakness (?) / Kane’s Form & Away Day Joys (?) |

▪︎ Manchester United have an xGA at home of 5.1

Manchester United have quietly been picking up more points recently (City game aside) and are seemingly playing better/with more intensity.

▪︎ Spurs are the 3rd highest scoring team in the Premier League in 2022/23

▪︎ Kane has returned in the vast majority of league matches this season

▪︎ 5 of Kane’s 9 league goals this campaign have been scored away from home (I think that’s right!)

| 20/10/22 | 19:30 (GMT) | Craven Cottage (Is it still called that, think it is, these days stadiums get called the Pepsi Max Arena every 5 mins don’t they) | Fulham Vs Aston Villa |

| Fulham’s (Home) Conceding Habits / Villa’s 2 Goals Or Less Matches (?) |

▪︎ Fulham have conceded 2 goals or more in 8 of their league matches in 2022/23 (pretty sure that’s correct, let’s just that it is)

▪︎ 7 of Aston Villa 10 league matches have had 2 goals or less in this season (probably, mesin, that’s pretty much right mate)

| A Few Side Notes |

Just thought I’d throw that Villa stat (or observation) in for a laugh really

| 20/10/22 | 20:15 (GMT) | The King Power Stadium | Leicester City Vs Leeds United |

| Leicester’s Maddison Absense, Inconsistency (?) & Leeds’ Quitely Better Defensively/Playing Well (?) |

▪︎ Leicester City remain on just 1 win in the league this season (at the time of writing)

▪︎ Leeds United have conceded 1 goal or less in 4 of their previous 6 league matches (think that’s right, definitely maybe, not talking about Oasis)

| A Few Side Notes |

I think this could be a bit of tight game actually (score wise, but open at times), I mean both teams will have a go, but Leicester are without Maddison.

Leeds United started the season really well results wise, and have been playing well.

Neither side have been scoring a huge amount of goals.

| Teams (FPL & SSFF) |

| Overview Ish (Big Picture, I’ll Paint You One, With Words) |

▪︎ All chips are left at my disposal

I don’t know what else to write here to be honest, I’ll leave it there (for a laugh).