Brighton FPL Gameweek 3: A good August for March
Two Solly March goals helped Brighton to a second successive 4-1 victory which leaves them top of the Premier League table for the first time ever and certain to become even more popular with FPL managers.
Having defeated both Luton Town and Wolves comfortably, the confident Seagulls host West Ham United in Gameweek 3. Since their promotion to the top flight in 2017, Brighton have not lost any of their 12 meetings against the Hammers.
West Ham have suffered heavy 4-0 defeats on their previous two visits to the Amex in March this year and May 2022. To say Sussex ins not a happy hunting ground for the Hammers would be an understatement.
More attacking success for Estupinan
Following last week’s six created chances against Luton, Pervis Estupinan (£5.2 million) scored and doubled his assist tally at Wolves.
His 11-point total has helped him rise in price for a second time and reach an ownership of 60 percent, keeping him as one of the most popular players in FPL.
Estupinan is in front of everyone else else by creating three big chances, whilst the Brighton team has the most goals (eight), attempts (43) and shots on target (20) so far.
His 11 penalty area touches and five chances are better than all other defenders. He is undoubtedly the best left back in the Premier League right now.
A good August for March
Meanwhile, the Premier League’s top scorer for goals (three) and FPL points (24) is Brighton’s Solly March (£6.6 million).
Handed the same starting price as team-mate Kaoru Mitoma (£6.6 million), March was selected in far fewer initial squads despite having been equally popular as the Japanese Bullet Train towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign before injury ruled him out for the final few weeks.
Nobody has bettered March’s six shots on target and only three players have had more overall attempts. His attacking instinct since last winter’s World Cup has been superb, considering he went over two years without a league goal between November 2020 and December 2022.
That is indicative of the difference Roberto De Zerbi has made to this Brighton squad since replacing Graham Potter last September.
Captain fantastic
Gameweek 2 was hyped up to be a big battle between those that captained Erling Haaland (£14.0 million) and those whose armband was on Mohamed Salah (£12.5 million).
In the end, all felt disappointed. Yet Haaland will be backed to make amends for his blank when facing newly promoted Sheffield United on Sunday.
Elsewhere, the highly-owned players from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all have strong fixtures to look forward to in Gameweek 3.
Blues left back Ben Chilwell (£5.7 million) is at home to Luton and will be confident of success at both ends of the pitch, with a forward-thinking mentality that has him frequently involved in Chelsea attacks.
His 86 touches in the final third are already way ahead of all other defenders, with second place Emerson Royal (£4.5 million) sat on 58.
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