The Premier League came back with a bang last weekend.
Man City lived up to their tag as champions as they recorded a 5-0 thumping of West Ham at the London Stadium. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool areas free-scoring as they have ever been with 4-1 win over new boys Norwich City, and Man United got off to a great start by hitting Chelsea and new boss Frank Lampard for four on Sunday at Old Trafford.
And in the Advertiser Tribal League in association with Monroe's Tavern, there were equally explosive starts to the campaign for our top three managers.
1 John Timmins - Phone a Friend - 112
If manager John Timmins is phoning a friend, he is not needing help or advice as he and his charges sit at the summit of the table with a massive 112 points. It is a start of which every Fantasy manager dreams, as attacking trio, captain Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, and Harry Kane did the business on the opening weekend for Timmins. In defence, there were clean sheets for goalie Nick Pope, and defenders Sokratis and Nacho Monreal, with Virgil Van Dijk chipping in with a goal. It is a phenomenal start but the league is not a sprint but a marathon and every manager will now be gunning to knock Timmins and Phone a Friend off their perch.
2 Fergal Conroy - WanBassakassfun - 111
Sitting one point and one place behind the league leaders is WanBassakassfun. Fergal Conroy has a wonderful balance to his squad with a rock-solid defence, securing 31 points at the weekend, combining with a deadly strike force of Gabriel Jesus, Harry Kane, and Divock Origi, garnering 31 points from four goals. The team is captained by the hottest property in the league, hat-trick hero Raheem Sterling. Is this a squad that can go all the way? In my opinion, yes, but suspensions, injuries, and international call ups will be issued with which Conroy must contend through the season.
3 Brian Keane - Haven't Got a Kalou - 107
He might not have a Kalou but on the evidence of the first game week, manager Brian Keane knows what he is doing when it comes to football management. Currently third, Keane and his men, thanks to superb performances by the fantastic four, Raheem Sterling, Mohamed Salah, Divock Origi, and captain Harry Keane. Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan, and defenders Luke Shaw and Lucas Digne also put in super showings to help Haven't Got a Kalou into the top three.
Top tips
But those results are in the past and Saturday is a new round so who should you select to earn precious Fantasy points for the Advertiser Tribal League in association with Monroe's Tavern?
1 Neal Maupay (Brighton - £6 million ) v West Ham
Brighton's £20 million signing for Brentford started life with the Seagulls with a bang as he came off the bench to secure victory at Vicarage Road with a tidy finish. It is probable manager Graham Potter will throw the Frenchman on from start for the visit of West Ham on Saturday. The Hammers are notoriously slow starters, having lost on the opening day for the past three years and Saturday lunchtime was no different as champions Man City gave them a good 5-0 pasting. I believe the east London side's early-season woes will continue at the Amex Stadium this Saturday and Maupay will be the man to dish out the pain. Get him in your team.
2 Billy Sharp (Sheffield United £6 million ) v Crystal Palace
Eight minutes played last week and eight points secured, now that is what I call a great conversion rate. After spending his whole career in the lower echelons of English football, Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp finally got his chance to play top-flight football and he took it with both hands, scoring the equaliser against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to earn the Blades a well-deserved point. Sharp (33 ) will no doubt be used on a rotational basis by Chris Wilder but he will start this weekend as the South Yorkshire outfit target home games. It is Crystal Palace who makes the trip to the steel city on Sunday. Roy Hodgson's men are as unpredictable as they come but I am going to stick my neck and say they will be going back to south London empty-handed thanks to Sharp.
3 Raheem Sterling (Man City - £12.1 million ) v Spurs
If you are one of the very few who risked not putting in Raheem Sterling last weekend, all I can say ask is; What are you doing? The winger-cum-striker was last season's hottest property and he has begun the new term where he left off, scoring a hat-trick as well as having a goal ruled out by VAR for being 3mm offside. The England international is almost unplayable for opposition defences and on Saturday evening Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino will find out to their cost. Make Sterling captain for double the points.
Don't miss a minute of the action with Monroe's Tavern
Remember you can catch all of game week two's action live at Monroe's Tavern where punters can enjoy wings and a pint or burger and a pint for €10 during the matches.
Saturday:
Arsenal v Burnley (12.30pm ) BT Sport.
Man City v Spurs (5.30pm ) SKY Sports.
Sunday:
Sheffield United v Crystal Palace (2pm ) SKY Sports.
Chelsea v Leicester City (4.30pm ) SKY Sports.
Monday:
Wolves v Man United (8pm ) SKY Sports.
