The Premier League returned with some thrilling action this weekend including another entertaining Manchester derby as City edged out United by a 2-1 score to remain undefeated atop the table through four games. The derby was definitely fun to watch but neither team is represented among the top fantasy performers from the Premier League this past weekend. Here is a look at the top individual EPL fantasy performances by position from this past weekend.
GK: Artur Boruc, Bournemouth; Hugo Lloris, Tottenham
It isn’t often that two Premier League goalkeepers match one another for the best EPL fantasy score at their position in a particular week, but that was the case this past weekend with Boruc and Lloris posting identical scores. Boruc stopped the two shots he faced in a 1-0 win over West Brom while Lloris turned aside the two shots he faced in a 4-0 win over Stoke City. The fact that two saves was the high for Premier League goalkeepers that registered clean sheet wins means it wasn’t the most impressive weekend for the top fantasy goalkeepers but it is Boruc and Lloris sharing the honors nonetheless.
Honorable Mention: Steve Mandaranda, Crystal Palace; Ben Foster, West Brom
D: Kyle Walker, Tottenham
Representatives from Spurs and Bournemouth nearly shared top EPL fantasy defender honors as well this week but a yellow card ultimately cost Adam Smith the opportunity to match Walker’s top fantasy score at the position. Both players registered assists in their respective team wins but Walker avoided the yellow card to earn top fantasy honors.
Honorable Mention: Adam Smith, Bournemouth; Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal; Charlie Daniels, Bournemouth
M: Son Heung-Min, Tottenham
Considering their lopsided 4-0 win over Stoke City, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Tottenham is represented again on this list. Their star midfielder from South Korea delivered two goals including the eventual game-winning marker and added an assist to finish with three points in total.
M: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool
Spurs recorded the clean sheet victory over the weekend but Liverpool’s win might have been the more impressive of the two based on the opposition. Firmino and company took down the defending Premier League champions with a 4-1 win to improve to 2-1-1 on the season. Firmino played a key role in the Liverpool midfield with two goals on three shots with Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana chipping in with a goal apiece in the lopsided win. Liverpool has been excellent at the offensive end in terms of EPL fantasy, scoring nine goals in four games. However, they’ve been on the weaker side in terms of the defense as they’ve allowed seven goals already. That’s the fourth-highest amount in the EPL, which is partially why they are slumping in the standings table.
Honorable Mention: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City; Etienne Capoue, Watford; Michail Antonio, West Ham
F: Diego Costa, Chelsea
Costa continued his outstanding start for the Blues with a brace in a 2-2 tied with Swansea City on Sunday. Costa opened the scoring in the 18th minute and then rescued Chelsea from a 2-1 deficit with the tying goal in the 81st minute to help them remain undefeated. Costa finished with two goals on five shots to raise his season total to four goals in as many games as he continues to play at an impressive level early on following a disappointing 2015 campaign.
F: Odion Ighalo, Watford
Ighalo hasn’t been nearly as impressive to start the season for Watford but he did break through with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over West Ham on Saturday to earn a spot on this list. Ighalo got on the board with Watford trailing 2-0 in the 41st minute and then added an assist as the home side scored four unanswered to rally for the victory. Ighalo’s first two points of the season were enough for him to earn a spot on this list as he edged out Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke for the second-best fantasy score of the week among Premier League forwards.
Honorable Mention: Kelechi Iheanacho, Manchester City; Christian Benteke, Crystal Palace; Callum Wilson, Bournemouth
