Welcome to AM’s Perfect XI - Week 4 player picks. This column focuses on Togga’s Perfect XI game, which you can play via their IOS and Android app. Find the apps here and make sure you update regularly to take advantage of the constant enhancements: https://www.playtogga.com
In case you missed it we’ve set up a Rotoworld PL Private League where you can challenge myself and the rest of the RW PL team over the course of the season. To join it download the app and then click the below link from your device, or find us from the Featured Leagues tab:
Each week I provide a Perfect XI of my own for the upcoming gameweek, recommending 11 players to consider along with some honourable mentions. The players listed won’t necessarily be the exact 11 selected for my own Perfect XI fantasy side. The point of this column isn’t to tell you exactly who to pick; it’s to present some ideas and get your brain whirring. I’ll be listing a combination of the must-haves and slightly riskier options, alongside the odd hunch. Hopefully you’ll find this useful whether you’re playing Togga’s game or looking at potential transfers for your official Fantasy Premier League team.
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It seems a long time ago due to the international break, but Week 3 was another average one as my Perfect XI team scored 135 points with the following line-up:
Courtois, van Dijk, Fuchs, Dann, Baines, Mahrez, Hazard, Redmond, Pogba, Aguero, Ibrahimovic
That forward-line of Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were a total bust as the two combined for a pathetic 8.5 points but Eden Hazard, Leighton Baines and Scott Dann helped boost my score up to around par. I’m currently sitting 600th overall and 55th out of 800 teams in the Rotoworld Private League. Could be better but could also be worse at this early stage of the season.
Week 4 comes with a standard Saturday 12:30 BST (British Summer Time) kick off and it’s a cracker, as Manchester United host Manchester City in the early game. Here are the fixtures ...
SATURDAY
Man Utd v Man City
Arsenal v Southampton
Bournemouth v West Brom
Burnley v Hull
Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace
Stoke v Tottenham
West Ham v Watford
Liverpool v Leicester
SUNDAY
Swansea v Chelsea
MONDAY
Sunderland v Everton
As I’ve mentioned in earlier columns in the Perfect XI game you can swap out a player right up to one minute before their match kicks off and bring in an alternative player whose match is also yet to kick off. This flexibility should allow you to prevent the pain of a surprise benching or unreported injury and a big fat zero. Ensure you keep your eyes on the RW PL Twitter account for line-ups one hour prior to matches.
Here are my Week 4 picks ...
KEEPERS
Adrian - West Ham have the pick of the fixtures at “home” (if you can count the London Olympic Stadium as feeling like a home ground yet) as they host Watford, and Adrian has already picked up a clean sheet in the win over Bournemouth. My gut is telling me the Hammers win this one by a goal to nil.
Honourable Mention: Petr Cech at home to Southampton, Thibaut Courtois away at Swansea
DEFENDERS
Curtis Davies - A goliath for Hull so far and near the top of the scoring charts in Perfect XI, Curtis Davis has been racking up points from interceptions and clearances and should continue this form at Burnley in Week 4.
Laurent Koscielny - Arsenal spanked £30million+ on Shkodran Mustafi to play alongside Laurent Koscielny which should help tighten things up at the back, but I actually feel Koscielny could pop up with a goal this week as Southampton visit the Emirates.
Leighton Baines - Back on penalties under Ronald Koeman, Leighton Baines was admittedly lucky to see his effort rebound off Shay Given in Week 3 but the fullback has been getting forward well and has a clean sheet chance as Everton travel to Sunderland.
James Collins - As mentioned I feel West Ham can shutout Watford this week and if I’m right then James Collins will be at the heart of it. Plus if Alexis Sanchez can win a header in the Hornets box then the Welshman should fancy it whenever the Hammers have a set piece.
Honourable Mentions: Charlie Daniels at home to West Brom, Cesar Azpilicueta away at Swansea
MIDFIELDERS
Eden Hazard - I’ll repeat my Week 3 tip. In world class form. Taking penalties. Facing Swansea. Eden Hazard is a no brainer.
Dimitri Payet - This is the second time Dimitri Payet has featured in this column in the opening four weeks. The first time he failed to make the bench for West Ham after picking up a late injury, but the Frenchman played 45 minutes for France last weekend and a further 35 competitive minutes last night so he’ll be ready to feature from the start against Watford. We all know what he can do.
Robert Snodgrass - It’s been an outstanding start to the season for Robert Snodgrass. Not only has he been key to Hull’s surprisingly hot start, but he followed that up with a hat-trick for Scotland during the international break. A trip to Burnley provides Snoddy the chance to continue his unbelievable form.
Sadio Mane - Frighteningly good performances away at Arsenal and Spurs already this season suggests the £35million paid for Sadio Mane could prove a bargain. The Senegalese attacker has integrated well alongside Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana, with his pace proving a major asset on the break, so it’ll be interesting to see how he can make this work against Leicester’s deep-lying set-up. The thought of running at Wes Morgan and Robert Huth should have Mane licking his lips.
Honourable Mentions: Mesut Ozil at home to Southampton, Yannick Bolasie away at Sunderland
STRIKERS
Alexis Sanchez - There are signs that Alexis Sanchez’s batteries are recharged after a difficult 2015/16 season and when the Chilean is in his best form he’s right up there alongside Aguero as a fantasy asset. Week 4 visitors Southampton have found things tough going under Claude Puel and could struggle to deal with the Gunners in full-flight, with Sanchez likely to be the main man.
Romelu Lukaku - Everton have had an excellent start so far so it’s a surprise to see Romelu Lukaku is still sitting on zero goals for the season. Expect that to change as the Toffees travel up to the Stadium of Light, with Barkley, Bolasie and Mirallas providing the ammunition for the big Belgian to fire and keep his side undefeated.
Honourable Mentions: Zlatan Ibrahimovic at home to Manchester City, Diego Costa away at Swansea
That’s it for Week 4. Check out the Rotoworld Features page to see a whole bunch of great content to get you ready for the weekend ahead. Feel free to comment below to us know how you’re getting on so far. And of course, good luck to all managers this week.
