If you followed our Fantasy Football advice last week, it wouldn't have been the most profitable of weekends for you but on the positive side, it wouldn't have been disastrous either.
Our inclusions didn't really fire on all cylinders, although we would have earned some clean-sheet points for you if the referee hadn't made a bad call in Hull City's match with Stoke City, so we aren't taking blame for that! As for who not to pick, none of our selections scored any points so we did good there, right?
See who has made Sports Mole's lists for week three below.
Who to pick
1. David Silva: With Manchester City hosting Stoke City at the weekend, there are a whole host of City players that we could advise you to pick. The likes of Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Sergio Aguero are all at the top of that list, but it's unclear which pairing that Manuel Pellegrini will go with for the visit of the Potters. After taking that into consideration, David Silva seems the most attractive pick. The Spaniard has started the campaign in top form, and if he can add a goal to his usual creative play in the final third, the 28-year-old could achieve some valuable points for your side.
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2. Erik Lamela: Before the season started, few of you will have given any thought to including Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela in your starting lineup, but after enduring a nightmare first year in the Premier League, the Argentine has returned after the summer break keen to rediscover the kind of form that encouraged Spurs to spend a reported £30m on his services. He has yet to score under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, but he has played a major part in his team's three wins in all competitions and if he can continue to improve against a Liverpool side who have looked uncertain at the back, Sunday could be the day where he opens his league account.
3. Ashley Williams: It's a difficult week to find a defender who will provide value and a good chance of a clean sheet, but we've decided to go for Ashley Williams. The Welsh international is unlikely to get you a goal, but with Swansea having recorded back-to-back wins and opponents West Bromwich Albion still looking for their first victory of the campaign, it might be a good opportunity to select a Swansea defender while they are in good form.
Who to avoid:
1. Dejan Lovren: After his £20m move from Southampton in the summer, it hasn't been the best of starts for Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren at his new club. The Croatian centre-back looked shaky against his former side on the opening day of the season and his fortunes didn't improve at Manchester City on Monday evening as the Anfield outfit were exposed at the back. Manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to keep faith with one of his major signings, but with Tottenham Hotspur having hit the ground running this season, keeping a clean sheet at White Hart Lane will be a difficult task for Lovren and his Liverpool teammates.
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2. Steven Caulker: Queens Park Rangers defender Steven Caulker was considered as one of the "value" choices before the start of the season, and with Rio Ferdinand for company in defence, nobody could blame you for selecting the England international. However, while he is a threat in the opposition's 18-yard box, QPR have looked poor in defence and against a Sunderland side who impressed against Manchester United last weekend, it doesn't look like it will get any better for Harry Redknapp's side on Saturday. Caulker could prove to be an asset later in the season, but he's one to avoid this week.
3. Alexis Sanchez: We can here the moans and groans from here, but let us explain. Yes, Olivier Giroud has been ruled out until next year with a broken leg. Yes, Alexis Sanchez produced a match-winning performance against Besiktas on Wednesday night. Yes, the Chilean attacker is likely to have too much quality for a Leicester City team who were promoted last year. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he will start at the King Power Stadium. The former Barcelona man ran himself into the ground in his side's Champions League qualifier, even more so when the Gunners were reduced to 10 men. It has also been reported that the 25-year-old was seen in a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning, so when all factors are considered, Sanchez could find himself on the bench on Sunday afternoon.
Darren Plant
