Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 4 Tips

Following the International break where fantasy football managers are crossing everything hoping their star players don’t pick up injuries, normal service resumes this Saturday. The weekend sees the return to action of all twenty Barclays Premier League teams, and with it, the return of Fantasy Premier League. Phew!

Our Fantasy Premier League gameweek 4 tips cover the usual mix of statistic crunching, fixture checking and result predicting, looking at the key names available in gameweek 4 and how you should line them up together. As usual, we’ll cover goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards, plus the usual captain suggestions prior to this weekend’s action commencing.

It seems like a while since the last gameweek but we’re sure that few fantasy football addicts will need reminding who the star performers were. RvP and Carlos Tevez stole most of the headlines, while Chelsea and Reading took a breather from Premier League action while Chelsea features in the European Super Cup against Athletico Madrid.

Who’s Hot Ahead of Gameweek 4?

Apart from Tevez and van Persie, there are other players who are currently worth a mention given their early season form. Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa scored a potential goal of the season winner against Aston Villa. Meanwhile Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres look fair bets to return to many fantasy managers starting line ups come the weekend. West Ham’s Kevin Nolan has also been in decent goal scoring form, and Swansea’s Michu looks like he’s a perfect replacement for the departed and long-forgotten Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has yet to show anything like the same form as he had at Swansea last season under new boss AVB at Spurs.

Then there are the new signings. Dimitar Berbatov should start for Fulham while Michael Owen could make an appearance in Stoke City’s tricky home fixture against current champions Manchester City.

Arsenal visit Southampton on the back of impressive displays from both Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski in gameweek 3, although it must be said that Southampton look anything buy easy to beat, given their exploits so far against both Manchester clubs.

With that said, here are our gameweek 4 tips. And don’t forget, it’s not always a bad idea to play your wildcard at this early stage of the season, or to take a -4 point, or -8 point hit if necessary. After all, taking a points hit now gives you plenty of time to make up for the loss with the right transfers, whereas wholesale changes at the end of the season could be far too late.

And before we forget, we’re suggesting a 3-4-3 formation for gameweek 4.

Fantasy Premier League Tips for Gameweek 4

GOALKEEPER TIPS FOR GAMEWEEK 4

David de Gea – Man United – £6.0m (A) vs Wigan

Why?

After Anders Lindegaard’s shaky performance against Southampton, and with United playing at home in gameweek 4, de Gea looks set to reclaim his place between the posts.

DEFENDER TIPS FOR GAMEWEEK 4

Rafael Da Silva – Man United – £5.6m (H) vs Wigan

Why? – With injuries to many of United’s key defenders, Rafael looks a dead cert to start at right back and can get forward to score and assist. Meanwhile Alexander Buttner could make his debut ahead of the error prone Patrice Evra at left back.

David Luiz or Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea – £6.5m & £6.8m (A) vs QPR

Chelsea have a few injury concerns at the back, and with John Terry and Ashley Cole doubtful for gameweek 4 with injuries keeping them out of England’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, David Luiz in particular looks like a definite starter.

Per Mertesacker – Arsenal – £5.0m (H) vs Southampton

Why? – Probably Arsenal’s most solid defender so far this season and much cheaper than Vermaelen.

MIDFIELDER TIPS FOR GAMEWEEK 4

Michu – Swansea City – £7.3m (A) vs Aston Villa

Why?

Highest points scoring midfielder in this season’s Fantasy Premier League so far. Sign him up! If you can’t afford him, opt for Nathan Dyer as Swansea have a nice run of fixtures following their gameweek 4 trip to Villa Park. Next up it’s Everton (H), Stoke (A) and Reading (H), so there should be plenty of opportunities for goals and assists.

Eden Hazard – Chelsea – £10.1m (A) vs QPR

Why?

Only one point behind Michu and will be craving a Premier League match after not playing last gameweek due to European Super Cup duties.

Santi Cazorla – Arsenal – £9.1m (H) vs Southampton

Why?

Cazorla looks like he’s going to be Arsenal’s main man in midfield this season. His flair, and creativity have won many plaudits already and he could become the Gunner’s most important import since Cesc Fabregas.

Steven Pienaar – Everton – £6.6m (H) vs Newcastle

Why?

We tossed a coin between Pienaar and Fellaini and Pienaar won! Either will be a good bet ahead of gameweek 4. Pienaar’s just behind Fellaini in the leader board, but is cheaper.

FORWARD TIPS FOR GAMEWEEK 4

Carlos Tevez – Man City – £9.8m (A) vs Stoke City

Why?

Fantastic recent form in the absence of Sergio Aguero. Tevez is City’s main man upfront, and has goals and 3 assists, 3 goals and 6 bonus points already in this season’s Fantasy Premier League.

Lukas Podolski – Arsenal – £8.4m (H) vs Southampton

Why?

Arsenal haven’t exactly been outstanding so far this season, but Podolski has done the hard part and scored his first goal for the Gunners. And good strikers usually kick on from there. The Gunners entertain new boys Southampton on Saturday 15 September and despite the Saints near-heroics against both City and United this season, they’re unlikely to cause an upset in gameweek 4.

Robin van Persie – Man United – £13.4m (H) vs Wigan

Why?

4 goals in 3 games, Wigan at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney injured….need we say more?

Nikica Jelavic – Everton – £8.5m (H) vs Newcastle

Why?

Newcastle are leaking goals so far this season, and Everton are looking good, despite a recent slip-up against West Brom in gameweek 3. Everton have home advantage against the Magpies in gameweek 4, and it there’s anyone in the Toffee’s starting eleven you had to bet on scoring, it’s Jelavic.

 

So, that concludes our Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 4 tips. Don’t forget Fernando Torres either, and if you’re after a differential, think about Dimitar Berbatov, who could make his debut for new club Fulham at home against West Brom on Saturday. Good luck everyone, and don’t forget to use our comments section below in case you need extra tips or want your squad analysing.