Mail Sport’s FPL predictions: Who is ‘making a mockery’ of his price ahead of Gameweek 8? And who will triumph in this week’s crunch clash between Liverpool and Chelsea?

The Premier League is back this weekend after the second international break of the season and we’re straight into a mouthwatering gameweek of fixtures.

Chelsea face a huge test of the Enzo Maresca project on Sunday as they travel to Liverpool in what is the standout game of the weekend, while the under-fire Erik ten Hag will be desperate for a victory against Brentford.

Meanwhile, the likes of Ipswich, Southampton, Wolves and Crystal Palace are all still searching for their first win of the campaign, with Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool hoping to keep to the pace at the top of the table.

With so many players to choose from, Fantasy Premier League managers have plenty to ponder ahead of the next round of matches, with popular premiums as expensive as they’ve ever been and an abundance of budget options on offer.

With that in mind, Mail Sport – with help from our friends over at Fantasy Football Hub – have forged a panel of experts to predict each game’s full-time result and the players they expect to score the most points in Gameweek 8.

Tottenham vs West Ham

Wes Prickett (FPL Heisenberg), Fantasy Football Hub expert 

I’m predicting a bonkers game between these two teams with goals aplenty at both ends.

Brennan Johnson (£6.6m), James Maddison (£7.5m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.4m) are my three picks this week. Johnson is chasing a personal record of scoring in eight consecutive matches in all competitions and you wouldn’t back against him achieving that at home to a leaky West Ham side.

Maddison’s creativity from open play and set pieces makes him a great pick this week. Furthermore, he’s a massive differential as he’s only in 5.5 per cent of FPL teams.

Bowen’s consistency for West Ham and knack for scoring in crucial matches makes him a reliable option. He has five attacking returns in seven matches this season and although Spurs are a top side they concede plenty of goals, so there’s no reason why Bowen can’t fill his boots at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Prediction: 3-3 draw 

Brennan Johnson is hoping to score in his eighth consecutive match in all competitions

Ipswich vs Everton

Lewis Steele, Merseyside football reporter

Despite being winless, Ipswich have scored in five of seven games this season. My new signing for the last gameweek – which feels a lifetime ago after the international break – was Liam Delap (£5.7m). He paid dividends straight away with a goal, his fourth of the season. The young Englishman looks a great third striker option.

As for Everton, Dwight McNeil (£5.7m) is in the best form of his Toffees career. He is creating more chances and having more shots since Sean Dyche moved him into a No 10 role. He is now owned by nearly 10 per cent of players and the 5.7m midfielder should be on your radar, too, with 31 points across the last four gameweeks.

Dyche’s boys have six ‘green’ matches coming up according to the fixture difficulty rating (FDR) so it could be time to obtain a defensive asset. 

Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.8m) should be fit this weekend and, after a few price drops this season, is decent value.

Prediction: 1-1 draw 

Dwight McNeil is in the form of his Everton career and the Toffees have a good run of fixtures

Man United vs Brentford

Will Pickworth, Sports reporter  

Erik ten Hag may have breathed a sigh of relief this week when Thomas Tuchel – who had been tipped to replace the under-fire Dutchman at Manchester United – was appointed as England’s new manager.

Nevertheless, the need for a victory at Old Trafford this Saturday has arguably never been greater for Ten Hag, with the Red Devils languishing in a lowly 14th place, three places behind Saturday’s opponents Brentford. 

Given they have scored just five times in seven games, United’s attacking assets aren’t exactly in form, although Marcus Rashford (£6.9m) has three goals and two assists in three Europa League and EFL Cup games. 

Elsewhere, Rasmus Hojlund (£6.9m) made his first start of the season against Aston Villa last time out and the young Dane will be desperate for his first league goal of the campaign.

Meanwhile, despite their defensive deficiencies, it may be a surprise to read that United have kept four clean sheets, with Andre Onana (£5m) having picked up 31 points in the past four gameweeks, something that also increases the appeal of Diogo Dalot (£5.1m), who seems to be nailed on for starts right now.

For Brentford, look no further than Bryan Mbeumo (£7.5m), with the Cameroon striker having already netted six goals, the second most in the top flight, in 2024-25.

Prediction: Man United 2-1 Brentford

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo already has six goals in just seven Premier League games

Fulham vs Aston Villa

James Sharpe, Mail Sport football writer and co-host of the Fantasy Island podcast 

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Ollie Watkins (£9.1m) is perhaps the perfect reminder that many different people play FPL, not all of them play it the same way, and even fewer spend all their days scouring social media, gorging on podcasts or using AI models to help them pick their teams.

Nearly 30 per cent of the 10 million or so managers who play FPL have Watkins in their team. Erling Haaland is the only forward in more squads while only Haaland and Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson have more points. Four goals and an assist in his last four.

And yet he’s rarely the name at the heart of discussion among the online FPL community as to who to bring in and a name in very few squads I see strewn up and down my X timeline.

That’s probably due to his price. At £9.1m he’s in an awkward bracket when many managers have Haaland are trying to crowbar in the likes of Buyako Saka and Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Team-mate Morgan Rogers (£5.3m) is finally making the mockery of his price many thought he would after his early season performances with a goal and two assists in his last three. 

A nailed No10 in a Champions League team for less than £5.5m is ridiculous.

Fulham have only lost to the two Manchester clubs this season and are no mugs at the back but Unai Emery’s side should have enough.

For me, I hope it’s Rogers who makes the difference. Though, knowing me, I’ll have probably benched him.

Prediction: Aston Villa to win 2-1

Ollie Watkins is owned by nearly 30 per cent of FPL players despite his hefty price tag

Newcastle vs Brighton

Matthew Lambert, Tennis reporter

Two teams at the lower end of the ticker, this should not be a fixture we are looking to invest in. However, for those still hanging on to Anthony Gordon (£7.3m), as long as Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson remain out, he is on penalties so is a decent hold for this game at least, before they face Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two.

As for Brighton, the injury to Joao Pedro has put his owners in a sticky spot because: a) there is no timeframe on his return; and b) the options around his price bracket do not look appetising. The idea of letting him rot on the bench until more clarity can be found on his injury is not unreasonable.

This is how I would approach things for Pedro owners:

If you have a ‘dead’ spot as an eight attacker (e.g. Winks, Stewart) then he must be replaced. If you can get to him, Dominic Calvert Lewin is the best option unless you can go all the way to Dominic Solanke.

If you have a decent eighth attacker whom you are happy to play every week – e.g. Morgan Rogers – it seems better to roll your transfer than to spend one on Pedro, especially if you have little-to-no money in the bank.

For those with more than three free transfers, Solanke, a good eighth attacker and minimal cash in the bank – this is my own position – it is difficult to know what to do. Selling for Liam Delap, Jorgen Strand Larsen or Jamie Vardy seems okay, but they would likely just sit on the bench most weeks themselves.

Prediction: Brighton to win 2-1

Anthony Gordon has been playing as a central striker in recent weeks, increasing his appeal

Southampton vs Leicester 

Jian Batra, Fantasy Football Hub expert

The Saints are a talented squad, and I see it as only a matter of time before it starts to click at least somewhat.

I’ve noticed quite a big disparity in the performances of the promoted sides when they play at home compared to away.

Leicester have showed they are susceptible to conceding quite a few big chances when away from the King Power.

With the attacking quality within Southampton’s ranks, I expect a few goals.

Tyler Dibling (£4.6m) is comfortably my preference given his expected minutes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jamie Vardy (£5.7m) profits by catching a mistake in Southampton’s build up.

Prediction: Southampton to win 2-0

It’s hard not to look past Southampton’s Tyler Dibling given his bargain price of just £4.6m

Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Abdul Rehman (FPL Salah), Fantasy Football Hub expert 

Arsenal are going into this game with a few injuries. Martin Odegaard looks like he is going to be out for a few more months and Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also doubts.

However even without the mentioned players Arsenal will still be strong favourites to win this game.

Bournemouth have had a decent start to the season with two wins and as many draws. Antoine Semenyo (£5.7m) is their highest scoring FPL player with three goals and one assist. He has the highest xGI (expected goal involvement) from his side so if the Cherries get anything here he is the one likely to be involved.

I am guessing Saka (£10.1m) and Havertz (£8.3m) will both be fine and think the latter is the one to watch in this fixture.

The German has played 90 minutes in every league game so far picking up four goals and one assist. Last season he scored 13 goals and 10 assists in only 30 starts and in 2024 is matching Haaland for non penalty goal contributions.

With two weeks rest over the international break he should be fit, fresh and ready to go. He is the one to watch for Arsenal this term and his place in the starting XI is as nailed as ever.

Arsenal will score a fair few goals this season and at the moment its looking like Kai will be their top scorer.

Prediction: Arsenal to win 2-0 

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka are injury doubts, but they have huge potential if they are fit

Wolves Man City

Aadam Patel, Sports reporter and Content Creator

Erling Haaland (£15.4m) has now gone two Premier League matches without scoring (crazy for his standards) but, up against statistically the worst defence in the league in Wolves, surely you stick with the Manchester City forward, who already has 10 league goals this season.

A word too for Mateo Kovacic (£5.5m), who is a bargain and bagged a mammoth 15 points last time out. With Rodri out, expect to see even more of the Croatian who is selected by less than three per cent of FPL managers.

For winless Wolves, Matheus Cunha (£6.5m) provides a rare bright spark, averaging a healthy return of 4.3 points per game and with two goals in his last three. 

City have failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening weekend of the season and though victory is expected for Pep Guardiola’s side, it would not be a surprise if Wolves got on the scoresheet.

Prediction: Man City to win 3-1

Erling Haaland has had the most shots this season and will hope to add to his goal tally 

Liverpool vs Chelsea

Nathan Salt, Manchester United correspondent

The game of the weekend right here. Chelsea’s last three matches have yielded a 9-5 aggregate score in their favour and so assets such as Cole Palmer (£10.8m) and Nicolas Jackson (£7.9m) are worth considering given the boom-and-bust approach of Enzo Maresca’s side.

But the asset that appeals more than most is on the Liverpool side and he is not named Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s team-mate Luis Diaz (£8.0m) has already scored five goals in the Premier League from the opening seven matches. That’s only three shy of his league total from the entirety of last season.

The Colombian looks right at home in Arne Slot’s system and with Chelsea still finding ways to plug leaks at the back, look to Diaz to light things up in front of a packed out Anfield.

Prediction: 2-2 draw

Liverpool’s encounter against Chelsea sees three of the five most-owned players in action

Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace

Ben Willcocks, Assistant Sports Editor

Having shocked Liverpool with a 1-0 win and drawn 1-1 with Chelsea over their last four matches, Nottingham Forest have shown grit and mettle in defence so far this season.

Meanwhile, it’s been a dismal start for Oliver Glasner’s winless Crystal Palace, who sit in the relegation zone alongside Southampton and Wolves ahead of Sunday’s trip to the City Ground.

Footage of Morgan Gibbs-White on crutches was shared by his partner on Instagram this week, so the hosts will be without their talisman – and this could perhaps limit creativity into Chris Wood (£6.2m), who has started the season superbly.

Although I expect it to be a low-scoring affair, Wood is still a great option at his price and is probably the pick among the mid-priced forwards. I, for one, am somewhat ruing picking Dominic Calvert-Lewin over him on Wildcard a few weeks back.

My investment in this fixture, if at all, would be in the Nottingham Forest defence. Ola Aina (£4.5m) and Nikola Milenkovic (£4.5m) both offer decent value at their price points and can be kindly rotated with Brentford or Fulham defenders over the next couple of months.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest to win 1-0 

Chris Wood may struggle without Morgan Gibbs-White, but he is having a superb campaign

FPL Salah, FPL Heisenberg and FPL Jian Batra are all Fantasy Football Hub contributors and have joined Mail Sport’s expert panel to kickstart the FPL season.

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