Fantasy Premier League

Scout Selection: Best FPL team for Gameweek 2

By The Scout 15 Aug 2023

Rashford backed to return to form in team lining up in a 3-5-2 formation. Who's got the armband?

Travelling to face Tottenham Hotspur can help Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) get his first attacking return of the new Fantasy Premier League season.

TOT

2-0

MUN

TV Info - Broadcasters

The Manchester United star disappointed his 49 per cent owners with a blank at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Gameweek 1.

After being deployed as a striker against Wolves, there is a chance that Rashford - who is listed as a midfielder in FPL - will return to his favoured left-wing role to take advantage of a Spurs defence who were often exploited by Brentford wing-back Rico Henry (£4.5m) last weekend.

Rashford takes his place in a best XI that lines up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Erling Haaland (£14.0m) handed the armband and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) named vice-captain.

Remember, the FPL deadline is Friday, 18 August, at 18:15 BST.

Matt Turner (NFO) £4.0m

A visit from Sheffield United gives Nottingham Forest’s new No 1 the chance to deliver a clean sheet on his home debut. Steve Cooper’s side were far more reliable in defence at the City Ground in 2022/23, with six of their eight clean sheets coming at home.

Ben Chilwell (CHE) £5.6m

Managers have rushed to the Chelsea defender after his assist and seven-point haul against Liverpool in the opening weekend. Chilwell is the second most-bought player in the Gameweek, earning over 420,000 new owners for his visit to West Ham United.

See: Chilwell can fix FPL managers' defensive issues

Pervis Estupinan (BHA) £5.1m

The left-back is found in 55 per cent of squads for Brighton & Hove Albion’s match against Wolves. Estupinan’s total of six chances created in Gameweek 1 ranked joint-second among all players in Fantasy.

Rico Henry (BRE) £4.5m

The wing-back made a team-high three key passes against Spurs, while his two big chances created placed joint-first among all players in Fantasy. Henry’s strong all-round potential makes him a great differential with an ownership of just over three per cent for the Bees’ London derby at Fulham.

Mohamed Salah (LIV) £12.5m

Liverpool’s home encounter with AFC Bournemouth makes the Egyptian the best captain alternative to Haaland. Salah has blanked just once in 11 appearances since the Reds changed formation last season, averaging 7.5 points per match.

See: Why Salah can outscore Haaland as captain in Gameweek 2

Marcus Rashford (MUN) £9.0m

The Man Utd star was a big success away to Spurs last season, producing a goal, an assist and two bonus to earn 12 points.

Gabriel Martinelli (ARS) £8.0m

The Brazilian’s impact in away matches could prove decisive as Arsenal visit Crystal Palace. Martinelli was involved in 12 goals on the road last season, joint-top with Martin Odegaard (£8.5m).

See: The advantages of starting FPL in Gameweek 2

James Maddison (TOT) £7.5m

Two assists and nine points on his Spurs debut show why the midfielder will be a key figure in the north Londoners' first season under Ange Postecoglou. Maddison now has a home match against a Man Utd side who conceded 17 shots in the box in Gameweek 1, the second-worst total after the 20 of Luton Town.

See: Plan ahead for Spurs and Chelsea's dream fixtures

Moussa Diaby (AVL) £6.5m

Aston Villa’s Frenchman made an immediate impact in his first outing in Fantasy, scoring to earn seven points against Newcastle United. Diaby’s kind cost offers a value route into Villa’s attack against an Everton side with only one clean sheet in nine away matches under Sean Dyche.

Erling Haaland (MCI) £14.0m

Although Salah has the better fixture, Manchester City’s Norwegian is already in top form, with two goals and 13 points against Burnley last week. Haaland averaged 9.7 points per start at home last season and faces a Newcastle side who conceded in each of their final nine fixtures on the road in 2022/23. Indeed, their last away clean sheet was in Gameweek 21 last season.

Julian Alvarez (MCI) £6.5m

The Argentinian’s brief substitute appearance against Sevilla in midweek lifts his prospects of returning to the starting XI on Saturday. Alvarez created a team-high six chances in Gameweek 1 and collected an assist in the 3-0 win at Burnley.