Daily Fantasy Football Tips - Gameweek 1

Starting 11 is a new Daily Fantasy Premier League football game and app, which has become extremely popular among the FPL community since August 2017, as managers get to pick a brand new fantasy team each week, without the headache of managing a season-long team.

As always, this week’s picks are suitable for all fantasy football game formats and will suit most scoring systems, so we hope you find good use for them, whether you’re playing Fantasy Premier League, or daily fantasy games over at Starting 11.

If you’d like to get involved this week by challenging us, simply create your lineups today via the FREE app.

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Forwards

Safe Pick – Salah vs West Ham (H)

Of course we have to kick off the season with last season’s Golden Boot winner, Mo Salah.

The fact that he is classified as a striker on Starting 11 make no difference to me, he is the first player on my team sheet and I’ll happily captain him this week vs West Ham.

Liverpool are the team to put pressure on Manchester City this year and I expect them to start the season with a win, with Salah key to that victory.

Differential - King vs Cardiff (H)

I don’t hold out much hope for Cardiff this season who are one of the favourites for the drop come May – their first opponents on Saturday are Bournemouth.

Callum Wilson was tempting, but with King taking his sides penalties and his impressive goal scoring form during preseason he’s my differential forward for Gameweek 1.

Midfielders

Safe Pick - Bernardo Silva vs Arsenal (A)

Looking for a safe pick in that Manchester City midfield?  Pep Guardiola’s comments after the Community Shield strongly suggest that Bernardo will be the first name on his team sheet on Sunday.

Bernardo and Aguero looked the sharpest players on the pitch last Sunday, playing centrally and pulling all the strings for Manchester City as they put on another show of attacking football.

Differential – Jota vs Everton (H)

Jota could be the name on everyone’s lips in a few weeks. Can he produce the same attacking returns in the Premier League that he did in the Championship last season?

17 goals and 6 assists would be an incredible return for a midfielder in the Premier League, largely down to being classed as a midfielder but playing in a more advanced role – we love a good out of position player for fantasy football!

Everton have leaked goals during pre-season and I have little faith in their defence when they travel to Wolves on Saturday.

Defenders

Safe Pick – Rudiger vs Huddersfield (A)

Rudiger seems to have nailed down that centre back position under new boss Maurizio Sarri in a partnership with David Luiz.

OK, so they didn’t look exactly water tight at times during last Sunday’s Community Shield, but that was Manchester City – Huddersfield won’t offer the same level of attacking football.

A big threat from set pieces in the air during preseason, I am expecting us to see some attacking returns from him this season.

Differential – Mee vs Southampton (A)

There has been no talk to Burnley this preseason, seemingly ignored due to their involvement in the Europa League qualifiers – but could this be a good thing?

Players who have been playing competitive football already are going to be sharper and focused on their game – they could be very useful assets in the opening weeks before their squad is stretched too thin.

Ben Mee was fantastic last season and who’s to say Sean Dyche’s Bus can’t start the season with a clean sheet vs Southampton?

Goalkeepers

Safe Pick – Alisson vs West Ham (H)

Liverpool defence is terrible?  It’s a myth! Defensively they were one of the best last season in terms of limiting the number of shots on goal they allowed – unfortunately it tended to take only one defensive error for their goalkeeper to concede.

That issue has been resolved with the signing of goalkeeper Alisson – a big reason why I expect Liverpool to challenge Manchester City this season.

I think we will see a number of fantasy bosses utilising Liverpool defensive assets this season.

Differential – Foster vs Brighton (H)

It wouldn’t be fantasy football without starting the season with Ben Foster, now at Watford. An opening fixture vs Brighton is tempting.

Brighton scored only 34 goals last season, one less than relegated Stoke City.

Watford showed a defensive improvement after appointing new manager Javi Gracia, can this continue into the new season?

Gameweek 11 - Daily Fantasy Premier League Tips

Starting 11 is a new Daily Fantasy Premier League football game and app, which has become extremely popular amongst the FPL community since August 2017, as managers get to pick a brand new fantasy team each week, without the headache of managing a season-long team.

This week we welcome Dale from the Fantasy Football Pundits to write for us.  He's here to give us his Differential vs Safe Pick for Saturday's Gameweek 11 fixtures.

If you’d like to get involved this week by challenging us, simply create your lineups for Gameweek 11 today via the FREE Apple or Android apps.

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Written by @FFPundits_Dale

Strikers

Safe Pick – Mohamed Salah

NOTE: On the Starting 11 game, Mohamed Salah is deemed as a striker, for those of you who many be confused to see him here.

The Egyptian has been in decent form of late and despite missing a penalty in Liverpool's victory over Huddersfield, he scored in the 4-1 loss at Wembley by Spurs and also netted two goals and an assist in the 7-0 win against Maribor in the Champions League.

Liverpool face a West Ham side that are in bad form of late - their last two games have seen them lose 3-0 at home to Brighton and also blow a two goal lead in the last 10 minutes away at Crystal Palace.

Liverpool will be looking to get their top 4 challenge back under way against the Hammers at the Olympic Stadium this Saturday and with Mane out through injury and Coutinho likely to be sidelined, all eyes are on Salah for a big performance.

Differential Pick – Glenn Murray

Murray has recently worked his way back in to the Brighton side and has been putting away his chances in the last two weeks, scoring two against West Ham and also bagging the equaliser against Southampton in Gameweek 10.

Murray has a good overall scoring record for Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring 25 goals in just 52 games and shows no signs of slowing down just yet.

Murray faces a Swansea side who are in poor form - with only 1 win in their last 5 games, Murray will look to take full advantage of the uncertainty in The Swans defence, with his physical presence and eye for goal likely to cause them problems.

Midfielders

Safe Pick –  Riyad Mahrez

The Algerian has seen a resurgence in form in the last few gameweeks - accumulating 3 assists and 1 goal in his last 3 Premier League outings.

To me, it looks like Mahrez has been given a free role in the Leicester side after just one game under Claude Puel, and with a licence to roam, we could see Riyad Mahrez delivering healthy fantasy returns.

Leicester face a Stoke City side with one of the leakiest defences in the Premier League right now - conceding 20 goals so far this campaign, with a new manager and a confident performance in the last match against Everton, good times are on the horizon for The Foxes.

Differential Pick – Pascal Groß

The German midfielder is fast becoming the talisman for the South coast club and is racking up the attacking returns in the process – 3 assists in the last 3 gameweeks have shot him up the fantasy pecking order, with more of us paying attention to the Brighton asset.

Brighton face a Swansea team who are blowing hot and cold - winning just 1 of their last 5 matches, this represents another chance for Brighton to get more points on the board and continue their blistering starting start to the Premier League.

With Murray in form up top and Pascal consistently pulling the strings for Wagner's Seagulls, it's hard to imagine him not being amongst the fantasy attacking returns come 5pm on Saturday afternoon.

Defenders

Safe Pick – Stephen Ward

Sean Dyche has drastically improved Burnley’s away form this season and as result, The Clarets now sit 7th in the Premier League table.

Stephen Ward has been a massive part of that defence and has even chipped in with a goal this season, as Burnley march up the table and show no signs of slowing down.

Burnley face a very defensive Southampton team this weekend and will be looking to give their inspirational manager a reason to stay, with Everton rumoured to be sniffing for his signature to fill their vacant managers position.

Ward and Co. have impressively kept 3 clean-sheets in Burnley's last 5 Premier league outings and whilst Southampton have scored in each of their last 4 games, a stubborn Burnley defence could shut them out in Gameweek 11.

Differential Pick – Harry Maguire

As mentioned already, Leicester City have started life well under their new manager, with a  2-0 victory last weekend against Everton in front of their home crowd likely to fill them with confidence going in to Gameweek 11.

Puel is renowned for making his sides defensively solid, so this may be the time to take advantage of Leicester defensive assets, with Harry Maguire being the standout pick.

Maguire has looked comfortable at centre-half for Leicester City since making the switch from Hull in the summer and aside from the obvious defensive points on offer, he's also an attacking threat from set-pieces.

Goalkeepers

Safe Pick – Jonas Lössl

The Terriers have not been in the greatest form of late - despite beating Manchester United two weeks ago in a shock 2-1 victory, in Gameweek 10 they were ultimately outclassed by Liverpool at Anfield, losing 3-0.

Up until Huddersfield faced Tottenham in Gameweek 7, Wagner and Co. were defensively sound, but 3 tricky fixtures in their last 4 outings has diminished their stats and hard work, but hopefully bounce back in Gameweek 11 against a leaky West Brom.

West Brom have a slightly dysfunctional attack, but last week (somehow) managed to score twice against the champions elect, Manchester City, despite losing 3-2.

Whereas in Gameweek 9, West Brom looked toothless in front of goal against Southampton, registering only 2 shots on target.

Differential Pick – Robert Elliot

Robert Elliot has found his way into many a fantasy football team this season across all formats, offering us an alternative to premium goalkeepers.

Elliott has already registered 4 clean sheets this season and also steadily scoring points for saves made - it's also worth noting that Newcastle have conceded more than 2 goals in a single only TWICE this season.

Newcastle face a Bournemouth team who have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring only 2 goals in their last 4 Premier League outings.

Whilst Eddie Howe's Cherries will be confident of getting something from this game, Rafa has a well-drilled defence and confident keeper between the sticks who will be hard to break down in Gameweek 11.

Captains' Pick

With most of the big boys playing on Sunday this weekend, the captaincy picks were slim pickings - however, with Liverpool likely to score the most goals in Saturday's fixtures, its hard to ignore Mohamed Salah's form and capabilities.

With Mane injured and Coutinho set to be sidelined, Mohamed Salah is likely to be the centre of attention in Liverpool's attack, with goals and assists looking likely.

Whatever you decide, I hope you’ll join me in Gameweek 11 by downloading the FREE Starting 11 app in the App Store or the Google Play Store.