Those of you who chose to “triple captain” Erling Haaland last week were rewarded with 48 points, as he scored twice and provided an assist against Burnley.

Paul Springer, who tops the RG Fantasy League with 412 points overall, did just that with “Surgeon General”, and he leads the chasing pack by six points.

There does not appear too many options to play your chips this week. Arsenal players might have been considered for the home game against West Ham United, but the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as head coach means they will be playing to frustrate the Gunners on Saturday,

It’s also worth remembering that Bournemouth play Fulham at 4pm Bermuda time today, so do not leave it too late to pick your team.

Today

Bournemouth v Fulham (4pm)

Bournemouth have still lost only once this season, and in Antoine Semenyo and Marco Senesi they have the highest-scoring midfielder and defender in this competition.

Coach Andoni Iraola will fancy his chances of beating a Fulham side who became Aston Villa’s first Premier League victims of the season last week. They also have fitness doubts surrounding strikers Rodrigo Muniz and Raúl Jiménez, so a Bournemouth clean sheet may not be out of the question.

Prediction: 2-0

Saturday

Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur (8.30am)

A tough game to call with Leeds yet to taste defeat at home, beating Everton and drawing with Bournemouth and Newcastle. Midfielder Anton Stach is the eighth-best midfielder in terms of points.

Tottenham played in Norway in the Champions League on Tuesday night and their early defensive solidity appears to be slacking, with Brighton (twice) and Wolves both finding the net in recent matches. Richarlison is among the top five forwards and is likely to again lead the line.

Prediction: 1-0

Arsenal v West Ham United (11am)

Arsenal’s late winner against Newcastle last week, unsurprisingly from a set-piece, pulled them within two points of Liverpool. Martin Odegaard should be fit to start and with Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Ricardo Calafiori all among the top ten defenders, their defence can rack up the points.

West Ham picked up a good away point against Everton in Nuno’s first game as head coach. He will aim to have the Hammers difficult to beat, employ a low block and hit Arsenal on the break. Tomas Soucek is suspended and Aaron Wan Bissaka is out injured.

Prediction: 2-0

Manchester United v Sunderland (11am)

It is so difficult to know what to expect from Manchester United, who continue to struggle under Ruben Amorim. Fantasy League managers will have to take into account that Bruno Fernandes may be taken off penalty duty after missing his second of the season against Brentford last week. Amad Diallo is out because of a family bereavement.

Sunderland’s rearguard have laid the foundations for their strong start to the season. They have the top Fantasy League goalkeeper in Robin Roefs and Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete is the third-best defender.

Prediction: 2-1

Chelsea v Liverpool (1.30pm)

The big game of the weekend, and Chelsea will be hoping to keep ten men on the pitch after having players sent off in their past three matches in all competitions. Trevoh Chalobah is suspended for this game and Cole Palmer has been ruled out until after the next international break with injury.

Liverpool are facing the first real challenge of Arne Slot’s reign after losing to Crystal Palace in the league last weekend and Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Alisson misses this game with injury, while forward Hugo Ekitike is a doubt.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Aston Villa v Burnley (10am)

Villa finally started to fire with victory over Fulham, but face a quick turnaround after playing in the Netherlands in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Burnley are struggling in the league, and are without a win in five matches in all competitions. However, they have two of the top ten midfielders in this competition in the shape of Jaiden Anthony and Josh Cullen. They will be no pushovers here.

Prediction: 1-1

Everton v Crystal Palace (10am)

Everton defenders are where to focus your attention, with Michael Keane (31 points) and James Tarkowski (28) continuing to provide value. Midfielder James Garner also goes under the radar and is the team’s top scorer in this game with 32.

Crystal Palace are this season’s surprise packages and are up to third after beating Liverpool last week. In Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix and Tyreek Mitchell, they have three of the top ten defenders in Fantasy League, but they will have done a lot of travelling in the past few days after playing in Poland against Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday.

Prediction: 1-0

Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (10am)

Newcastle, fifteenth at this early stage, are the joint-lowest scorers in the league alongside Aston Villa and Wolves with only four goals in six games. They also suffered an injury blow last week with Tino Livramento, their best defender in terms of this competition, taken off on a stretcher against Arsenal.

Ange Postecoglou may already be starting to feel the pressure with a home defeat by Sunderland last week leaving him still searching for his first win as Forest head coach. Another Premier League team in European action on Thursday, but at least they played at home.

Prediction: 2-2

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion (10am)

Wolves are the only team in the Premier League without a win, but they did pick up a good away point against Tottenham last week. None of their players has managed more than 16 points in the competition.

Brighton have been inconsistent, but Yankuba Minteh is proving himself to be the next star off their production line. He is worthy of transfer consideration.

Prediction: 1-2

Brentford v Manchester City (12.30pm)

Brentford will be hoping to down the blue half of Manchester after beating the red half last week. Forward Igor Thiago has picked up 30 points this season and will prove dangerous on the break.

Manchester City have beaten only bottom club Wolves away from home in the Premier League this season, but that poor run must surely end here with an in-form Erling Haaland smashing in the points.

Prediction: 0-2