Matchweek four gave us plenty of goals, with Tottenham putting four past Aston Villa, Sheffield United got their season up and running thanks to an Amy Andrews hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Durham, and not forgetting the very entertaining 3-3 draw played out by Birmingham City and Crystal Palace, which saw Océane Hurtré bag a brace for the hosts.
Now it's time to look ahead to matchweek five, and there's plenty to get excited about. Manchester City host Arsenal in the weekend's standout fixture. Tottenham welcome high-flying London City, and Durham, still without a point, take on the best side in BWSL 2. It’s tough to pick a team with so many players in good form, but we've gone for three up top, backing the firepower. Keep an eye on team news before the deadline, but here's who we think will be in the points this week.
The Back Line
Anna Tamminen (Newcastle United) - £5.0m
Newcastle have won all four games this season. They’ve netted 11 and conceded just one, so there isn't much to think about in goal. Tamminen is the top-scoring goalkeeper in the game on 33 points, averaging 8.3 a game. She’s one of our regular choices, and given her excellent form, there’s no reason to change that just yet.
The fixture plays a part as well. Newcastle are away at Durham, who are struggling to get going this season. They sit bottom of BWSL 2 with no points and have shipped 13 goals in four games. There’s plenty of clean sheet potential here then, with save and bonus points on offer on top.
Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) - £7.0m
Another regular choice stays in the back line this week. The Australian is the top-scoring defender in the game on 41 points, and ten of those came against Arsenal last weekend, in a game Chelsea won 1-0 without her even getting on the scoresheet. That tells you just how influential Ellie Carpenter is for this Chelsea team. Sonia Bompastor’s side have conceded just once in four games, so with a solid defence we could be looking at clean sheet points, and the attacking involvement stacks on top because she spends so much of her time flying up the pitch.
At £7m she's the most expensive defender in our team, and at 28% ownership she's not a differential, but she's certainly a defender we'd trust to hand you a big score. Up next is a West Ham side who are having something of a mixed start to the season. Based on that, Chelsea should be in control of the game, and Carpenter is right in the middle of everything they do.
Caitlin Dijkstra (Tottenham) - £5.5m
Tottenham are another team very much in excellent form. Martin Ho’s side have scored 15 and conceded just two in four games. So, it makes a lot of sense to put a Spurs defender in our fantasy team, but Caitlin Dijkstra isn't just a clean-sheet pick. She scored in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend, and only 1% of managers own her, making her a very shrewd pick.
London City are the visitors this week, and they're no pushover, having scored nine of their own and beaten Brighton 2-0 last time out, so the clean sheet isn't a given here. However, Spurs are at home, and right now, they're scoring for fun while looking defensively solid.
Beth Roe (Ipswich) - £4.0m
Beth Roe is one of those players we just can’t ignore, especially when we consider the £4m price tag. She is currently on 25 points, with a goal and two clean sheets to her name, and only 1% of managers own her. Ipswich have been one of the steadiest sides in BWSL 2 during the early fixtures, unbeaten in four, third in the table, and they've conceded just two goals so far this season.
This week it's Sheffield United, who did put four past Durham last time out but have struggled in their previous three games. This is one of those where a clean sheet isn’t certain, but if Ipswich keep it tight, she's potentially collecting big points; worth the risk.
The Midfield
Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City) - £6.0m
Hurtré is the highest-scoring midfielder in the game with 42 points, and just 3% of managers own her. She’s currently averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game for a Birmingham side who are looking to re-establish themselves back in the topflight.
Amy Merricks’ side travel to Everton this week, which, on paper, isn’t the easiest fixture, especially with the Toffees having conceded just three goals in four games. However, they’ve also only scored twice all season, so Birmingham will fancy staying in the game, and Hurtré is in fine form in terms of her goalscoring and creative output. At £6m, she offers a high output combined with low ownership; she could be the pick that helps you beat your mates.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest) - £7.5m
If you want a midfielder who makes things happen, look no further than Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. She's picked up 33 points so far this season, and her seven bonus points are more than any other midfielder in the game has picked up. Only 2% of managers own her, which makes her one of the best differentials on the board. She also would have scored 127 points last season, so we know she’s a consistent performer at this level.
She's the player Forest look to when they need something. Her equaliser at Southampton last weekend earned them a point, and she was on the scoresheet in the draw with Watford as well. This week, Forest face Burnley at home. If Forest manage to control the game, they'll likely create plenty of chances. At £7.5m, she’s on the premium side, but she can always pop up with a moment of magic.
Beth Lumsden (Newcastle United) - £7.5m
Lumsden has been in this selection on a couple of occasions, and she's given us plenty of reasons to put her in again this week. She’s a dynamic player who loves to drive forward with the ball and find dangerous areas, and that's paying off in a Newcastle side who've won all four games so far this season.
With Newcastle up against Durham this weekend, there’s every chance of Lumsden not only getting on the scoresheet but also picking up those attacking involvement points. The Magpies beat Leicester 4-0 last weekend, so there's no doubt who has the momentum. Yes, we're going heavy on Newcastle this week, but given their current form, it makes sense to back them.
Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea) - £8.0m
Alyssa Thompson had a stormer in matchweek four. She's in our fantasy team this week fresh off her match-winning performance against Arsenal. The U.S. international has become a key player for Sonia Bompastor; her ability to carry the team forward is second to none, plus she's more than capabale of chipping in with a goal or two.
With Chelsea facing West Ham this week we could see her find the back of the net again. Even if she doesn't, we're backing her to pick up some involvement points here. Yes, she's a premium pick but she's one player Chelsea can count on in the big moments.
The Forwards
Martha Thomas (Newcastle United) - £5.0m
Martha Thomas is the highest-scoring forward in the game with 36 points, and she costs just £5m, which makes her the best-value forward in the game. The Newcastle forward has been in fine form over the last few weeks, including netting twice in three minutes last weekend.
She’s one of those forwards who knows how to stay involved in the game and you can rely on her to find the back of the net as soon as the chance arrives. With Martha Thomas, you have a forward doing everything a Fantasy manager wants, at a price that leaves plenty of room to spend elsewhere in your team.
Vivien Endemann (Liverpool) - £6.0m
Here's one that just makes sense. Endemann has been one of the stories of the season, right from the first game; she’s been electric for Liverpool, with two goals and two assists to her name before last weekend even came around. Only 16% of managers have her, so she's a pick that could split your mini-league.
She's not just a goalscorer either. She's involved in pretty much every part of Liverpool's attacking play, which is why the points keep coming even when she’s not on the scoresheet. The Reds face Manchester United, who've conceded nine goals in four games, so we expect there to be goals here. Gareth Taylor’s side have scored nine themselves and will fancy making it a long afternoon for the rivals. There are plenty of chances to go around, and Endemann will be at the heart of them.
Amber Hughes (Wolves) - £5.0m
Our second differential up front, and one who's earned her place. Amber Hughes is enjoying life in BWSL 2. She’s netted three goals in four games, picking up 29 fantasy points along the way and only 2% of managers own her. She scored Wolves' goal in the 3-1 defeat at Ipswich last weekend, and Wolves have scored seven in four as a newly promoted side, which is a solid early-season return.
This week they face Watford at home; a game they will want to take maximum points from. Watford have conceded nine in four games and lost 2-1 at Sunderland last weekend. We think this will be a tight game, but given Hughes’ recent form, Wolves are well placed to pick up all three points.
Subs
Subs
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) - £5.5m
If you're not sure about Tamminen, Hampton is the one to swap in, because Chelsea are as sound defensively as anyone in the league. They've conceded just once in four games, including a 1-0 win over Arsenal last weekend. She's owned by 54% of managers, so you're in good company and the Blues will be firm favourites against West Ham this weekend.
Grace Fisk (Liverpool) - £5.0m
The Reds captain scored twice on the opening day and has 29 points so far this season, with 15% of managers owning her. Liverpool head to Manchester United, who've scored just four goals in four games, so a clean sheet is potentially on the cards. If you're nervous about Roe or Dijkstra, Fisk is the ideal swap.
Hannah Blundell (Everton) - £4.5m
Blundell has 20 points at £4.5m, and only 3% of managers own her. Everton are at home to Birmingham, and the former Manchester United defender is one of the steadiest options at the back. If you want to swap in a defender without spending much, she's a safe option from the bench.
Fran Kirby (Brighton) - £6.0m
Brighton are at home to Charlton, who've conceded ten goals so far this season. Yes, Brighton have also struggled to get going this season, but the fixture is a kind one and is probably their best chance to click. With 20 points already, the former Lioness has enjoyed a decent start to the season; her talent is undeniable, and she could be a difference-maker for Brighton here.
