Fantasy Football Files - 2026/27 - Gameweek 3 - 'The Arches'

Hoping to keep the momentum going from my first win of the season, I was pitted against one of my closest friends Rian (Milito). I was on a 3-game win streak against him and was hoping it would continue. We usually talk weekly about FPL, this was not to happen this time as he was coming back from holiday, so I made sure I did not contact him beforehand.

When the deadline passed, I was shocked to see that he used his ‘Bench boost’ bonus chip, I had waited to see if he figured it out that we were up against each other and he ‘claims’ he did not know however, I know he surely must of which is why he used it this early. Some people used theirs in the first week to try to give them an advantage as in a head-to-head league you of course were blind to who your opponent would be, I do not believe I ever recall Rian every using his this early though. He did say later that he would have used his in gameweek 2 if he was not preoccupied being abroad…hmm.

I was not going to make any transfers then just before the deadline with Manchester City’s home game against Coventry in mind, I decided to bring in Josko Gvardiol. The issue was who I would sell for him, and in my rush with the deadline nearing I let go of Tyrick Mitchell. After confirming I remembered Sunderland had Arsenal and Manchester United coming up in gameweeks 4 & 5. Therefore, it probably would have made more sense to sell Nordi Mukiele, my heart began to beat fast, and I knew I had surely made a huge error. My opponent had two free transfers and sold the injured Marco Palestra and Bryan Mbeumo for Maxim De Cuyper and his namesake Rayan Cherki. Rian and I of course both captained Erling Haaland.

For the third week in a row the action started on a Friday night. Liverpool travelled to Ipswich and I had strongly considered giving my captaincy to Alexander Isak, as it was the first contest of the gameweek, and Haaland had a home game I went with him. It took just six minutes for Isak to show me I should have trusted my gut as he opened the scoring with a powerful strike at the near post after being found by Cody Gakpo. The Swede was not done there as just three minutes later Gakpo found him again with a lovely outside of the foot pass and Isak twisted and turned before slotting in left footed as Kjell Scherpen was well off his line. Many thought Andoni Iraola’s men would go on to add more but it was to stay 2-0. Dominic Szoboszlai was unlikely to not get on the scoresheet as he had three efforts on target that produced some decent saves. Virgil van Dijk was on for 8 points but finished with 6 as with Alisson having to make more saves than expected pipped him in the bonus points with Isak and Gakpo being the highest recipients. Gakpo’s 4 goal contributions in 3 games have seen him rise to £7.2m as he is the most transferred in player before gameweek 4 as it stands.

Neither of us had anyone in the 2-2 draw to start Saturday between Newcastle and Bournemouth so we go to the 3pm’s. Brentford and Sunderland shared the spoils as it ended 1-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium. Mamadou Sangare was booked and subsequently taken off at half-time, so Rian was not pleased. Vitaly Janelt’s well taken second goal of the season meant no clean sheet for Mukiele, the Frenchman at least got defensive contributions. Wilson Isidor won a second half penalty that was converted by Enzo Le Fee, meaning Isidor has contributed in both matches since I sold him. In regard to Le Fee (£5.9m), with him on penalties and he sometimes is a defensive contributions possibility he could be a decent pick. At the Amex Stadium it was painful for me as Brighton and Leeds also drew 1-1. I cannot believe how it did finish like that when you see the chances both teams had. After Jayden Bogle gave Daniel Farke’s men the lead, I should have got points from Pascal Gross, he put a shot just over from a set piece and he also had a second half effort that went just wide. Bart Verbruggen could not get us a clean sheet, but Rian benefitted from De Cuyper assisting the late leveller for Luka Vuskovic (£5m) whose height may produce more goals or assists from set pieces this season. Gross had a chance to win it, but he could only put the ball over as I was left in anguish.  

Fulham took the lead at home to Crystal Palace through a deflected Josh King goal and with King (£5.5m) ahead of Emile Smith Rowe as the ‘10’ for Alvaro Arbeloa, he is proving hard to ignore. My worst fears were then confirmed as Mitchell smashed the ball in at the near post to draw Palace level, I screamed like I was in severe pain, it was just my luck. The Cottagers restored their lead, before to my bemusement Mitchell scored again! This goal was fortunate compared to the first as the ball seemed just him after a six-yard box scramble. Mitchell went on to accumulate 15 points. The Eagles won it with a late goal by Ben Chilwell as Palace’s left backs came up trumps. An FPL record 1.7 million managers used their ‘Triple captain’ bonus chip and despite Manchester City beating Coventry, things did not entirely go how they would have liked. It ended 1-0 and Haaland got his goal, but many would have wanted more. Carl Rushworth made a great save to deny Haaland, and he also had a goal disallowed. Cherki was the most transferred in player, and he hit the post in the first period. Gianluigi Donnarumma was my opponent’s keeper, and he almost scored an own goal early on. The Italian made a massive save late on from Ellis Simms. Phil Foden came off the bench to my annoyance, he almost scored as he had a shot cleared off the line as I was unlucky once again.

I left Antonin Kinsky on my bench so trust Tottenham to get their first clean sheet of the campaign. They had a huge scare as Neco Williams thought he had won the game, only for him to be penalised for handball. Williams still got Rian clean sheet points. With Rian and I not having anyone in Hull and Aston Villa’s stalemate, I finished the day eight points ahead 55-47. The issue was I only had two men left and he had four.

Everton and Manchester United started proceedings on Sunday. Rian had Luke Shaw, while I was desperately in need of something from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as my lead was so narrow. The first half ended goalless, but then Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead as soon as the second half began. It looked like it would end 1-0 when Tyrique George’s 83rd minute powerful strike levelled things up. My pleasure was very short-lived as not even five minutes later Shaw’s cross was headed in by Benjamin Sesko, I needed something amazing to happen to win anyway but this was the final nail in the coffin. Dewsbury-Hall had two tame efforts from the edge of the box, and I guarantee next time he gets similar chances he will score. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ wonder goal salvaged the Toffees a point with the last kick of the game.

With me already consigned to defeat, Arsenal and Chelsea went to battle. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea the lead just two minutes in. Kai Havertz got Rian further points as he equalised. At the start of the second half a fine Arsenal move was finished off by Martin Odegaard and assisted by Christos Tzolis as again my opponent benefitted. Rian and I both had Joao Pedro who was booked and frustrated throughout.

So, Rian won 74-60, in terms of the head-to-head it was smart use of the bench boost as 17 of his points came off his bench, so without it I would have prevailed. 'Rian, mate…you are supposed to be my ‘brother’, and this is how you treat me? Aligning the fact that selling Tyrick Mitchell was a huge mistake, here you have thrown me down the pit in ‘The Arches’ like Grant did to his brother Phil Mitchell in Eastenders, sleep with one eye open guvnor, this is not over!'.

@DubulDee