Gm football fans. Route One here, we’re the sweeper keeper - you can rely on us to tidy up all the rubbish football news.

Today’s briefing is a ~5 min read:

• Gameweek 11… strap in as we analyse the biggest games of the weekend 🤩

• Fantasy Premier League tips 📊

• Around the world in 60 seconds: Bayern Munich knocked out by 3rd-tier team 😬

• Extra time: Arjen Robben had a scary left foot… 👻

GAMEWEEK 11 IS HERE…

🗞️ Morning Brief

GAMEWEEK 11 PREVIEW

Fulham vs Manchester United

Saturday 4th November @ 12:30 on TNT Sport

There will be a big elephant in the stadium when Fulham hosts United…

If Ten Hag’s men fail to beat Fulham, question marks around the manager’s future will be bigger than ever.

Can this fixture spell more trouble for United?

Well, put it this way, United have taken 3 points on just one of their last 11 Premier League visits to London.

But, United fans should be hopeful that Fulham are the second-worst in the league for turnovers (111) this season. Meanwhile, United have made more high turnovers than any other side this season (112).

And, as the saying goes: styles make fights.

And this should be a fight that United wins - or risk facing the consequences.

• 💉 Quick hits: Man United haven’t drawn a game this season in any competition, winning or losing all 15 of their matches.

—

Everton vs Brighton

Saturday 4 November @ 3:00 pm

Everton is aiming for back-to-back league wins after their 1-0 win at West Ham.

The Toffees are in better form than Brighton, who are winless in four Premier League games.

Dyche’s men also won the last meeting in May with a 5-1 thrashing at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton’s away form also hasn’t been convincing this season. They have lost 6-1 to Aston Villa and 2-1 to Manchester City.

But… Seagulls fans should rejoice in the fact that they’ve not lost three away games in a row since May 2021.

They also have the fourth-best xGC and Big Chances away from home.

It’ll be a close game. But we have a feeling Everton will pull something out of the bag…

• 💉 Quick hits: Brighton’s Even Ferguson has scored 10 Premier League goals in 2023, the most by a teenager in a single calendar year since Wayne Rooney in 2005 (11).

—

Newcastle vs Arsenal

Saturday 4 November @ 5:30 pm

The biggest game of the weekend.

Arsenal is unbeaten and has won eight of their last ten games against Newcastle.

But this is a different Newcastle side.

A side that is third in the league in terms of xG at home and leads the Biggest Chances (24) stats too.

With a few injuries and a tired-looking squad, it’s the best time for Arsenal to take advantage.

Perhaps set pieces will be Arsenal’s way to victory. They have scored a league-high six goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) this season.

Either way, there’s bound to be lots of goals and no doubt a thrilling game.

• 💉 Quick hits: Arsenal has kept 30 Premier League clean sheets against Newcastle, the most any side has kept against another in the competition’s history.

Spurs vs Chelsea break-down in Monday’s newsletter.

Around the world in 60 seconds 🌍

🇺🇸 Luis Suarez is on track to play for Inter Miami next season. The Uruguayan striker will be reunited with his old Barcelona teammates after three years apart.

🇩🇪 Bayern Munich is stunned as they are knocked out of the German Cup by third-tier side Saarbrucken. Marcel Gaus’ effort in the sixth minute of injury time sparked wild celebrations.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Phillipe Clement continued his unbeaten start as Rangers manager with a dominant Scottish Premiership victory at Dundee. The game started 45 minutes late and was then halted after flares were set off in the away end.

🇪🇸 Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Alphonso Davies. He is a key target for the Spanish side and they’re confident of agreeing a deal with his current club Bayern Munich.

FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE GW11 🎯

QUICK FPL TIPS 💉

1/ Pedro Neto replacements…

Some managers may be losing out on a reliable pick this week. Neto is expected to be carrying a hamstring injury. Ouch.

Before you make any rash decisions:

• Wait for the press conference today. The severity of his injury is still unknown.

• And… consider benching him (depending on how long he’s out for).

But, if you want a replacement, here are some options:

Hwang Hee-Chan

• He’s the best bang for your buck at £5.5m.

• 5 goals in 7 matches.

• He has a high non-penality goal involvement (NPxGI) at 2.34.

• Good fixtures from GW 11 - 16.

Antony Gordon

• Newcastle is joint-best for goals (26) and number one for big chances (41).

• Gordon’s minutes are more secure with Barnes, Murphy, and Anderson out.

• He sits joint with Neto as the best sub-£6.0m midfielder for big chances created (five) and is second for penalty area touches (41)/

Cole Palmer

• The best budget option at £5m.

• On penalties and is a great enabler.

• But, Chelsea has Spurs, City and Newcastle over the next three weeks.

2/ Is it time to go big on Arsenal?

When it comes to FPL, there are two schools of thought: short-run and long-run.

And, let’s be honest, the long-term strategy is the way to go.

So, while Arsenal have Newcastle this weekend, the Gunners are set to have a tidy run of games that could deliver defensive and attacking returns.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR), only one of Arsenal’s 11 matches scores more than 3 (out of 5).

BACK LIVERPOOL WITH CAUTION ⛔️

You’ve seen Liverpool’s fixture, haven't you?

You’re tempted, right?

We don’t blame ya. An in-form Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah against Luton’s defence almost feels too good to be true.

Salah has the second-highest Expected Goals (xG) in the league with 7.21, and the fifth-highest Expected Assist (xA) with 2.99.

So, what’s the catch?

Well, Luton is playing at home.

Son captainers still scarred from Gameweek 8 will know what we’re talking about.

There’s a reason the Hatters have the fourth-best Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) in the league at home.

Make no mistake. It’s a tricky place to play and the small pitch makes it difficult for teams to create chances.

Look, the odds are that Salah or Darwin will return.

But, will they haul? That’s another question.

You’ve been warned…

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

Abou Diaby was something special. If it wasn’t for injuries, there’s no doubt he would have been an Arsenal legend. Here’s a thread of all 19 goals he scored for The Gunners.

Karim Benzema has been labelled ‘lazy’ by his fans. His move to Saudi Arabia isn’t going to plan as Al-Ittihad has slumped to sixth in the table and is in danger of falling out of the title race.

There really was nothing scarier than Robben cutting inside. Despite never using his right foot, defenders couldn’t stop him from doing the same thing. Over… and… over... again.

Apparently, there’s something called a ‘new manager bounce’. Boing Boing.

MEME 😂