You vs WhoScored: WhoScored Expert MondoGoal XI - Gameweek 1
Recommencing our partnership with unique fantasy football platform MondoGoal, WhoScored are challenging you to beat our expert's XI in the opening round of Premier League fixtures.
To kick off the new season, MondoGoal are offering the chance to win a share of a big cash kitty of £10,000 in the very first week of the season. Entries are £2 so it’s a small risk to take for a big reward on offer!
To help you get the best chance of winning a stake in such a great prize, here are our tips ahead of the highly-anticipated gameweek 1 in England's top-flight, staying within the £100m budget.
THIBAUT COURTOIS
Champions Chelsea kick-off their campaign in the late game on Saturday with a tough opener against Garry Monk's Swansea, though the Blues hit 9 past the Welsh outfit last season. The Swans have scored in just one of their last 6 meetings with Mourinho's side, who boasted the best defensive record at home last season, conceding just 9 times at Stamford Bridge.
SEBASTIAN COATES
A key player in Sunderland's escape under Dick Advocaat last season, the permanent transfer of Sebastian Coates was a welcome one this summer. The Black Cats get under way away at Leicester and we're tipping a repeat of last season's action between the two, when both meetings between the sides ended in a 0-0 draw.
ROBERT HUTH
Much like Coates, Robert Huth made a loan move permanent this summer, signing for Leicester prior to the appointment of new manager Claudio Ranieri. The German played a key role in the Foxes fantastic end to the season, earning the highest WhoScored.com rating of any player at the club (7.42) in 2014/15.
LEIGHTON BAINES
After a disappointing season last time out Everton will be hoping for an improvement this time around and will be confident of getting off to a winning start against a new look Watford side that may need time to bed in their numerous signings. Leighton Baines registered 9 assists last season - his best tally since 2010/11 - and will hope to have an impact at both ends.
NATHAN REDMOND
Norwich winger Redmond may well be one of the young players to watch this season having matured a great deal in the Championship last season, and he looks set to have a big campaign in the Premier League. The Canaries begin life in the top-flight again at home to Palace and the 21-year old is hoping to build on respective returns of 6 goals and 13 assists last season.
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM
A new arrival to the Premier League, Georginio Wijnaldum has made quite an impression for Newcastle in pre-season, scoring in his first two games for the club, and he'll bring goals to the Magpies' midfield. The Dutchman scored 14 times last season, captaining PSV to the Eredivisie title, and will be aiming to get off the mark competitively for McClaren's men against Southampton, who played in Holland on Thursday.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
Big things are expected of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this season and his match-winning goal in the Community Shield will have guaranteed the youngster a start against West Ham. No player completed a dribble more often in the Premier League last season (every 18 minutes), and the task now is to add more goals to his game, picking up where he left off last weekend.
MATT RITCHIE
If newly-promoted Bournemouth could have picked a game to start their first ever season in top-flight football it may well have been at home against Villa, who have lost key players and will take time to adjust. Winger Matt Ritchie had a sensational campaign for the Cherries last time out, scoring 15 goals and registering 17 assists, and he'll be keen to prove he can cut it in the Premier League.
THEO WALCOTT
If the Community Shield line-up was anything to go by then Theo Walcott may well start the campaign up front for Arsenal and if he does he'll be hoping to build on an excellent record against West Ham on Sunday. The 26-year old has scored 5 goals in his last 5 appearances against a Hammers side that may be low on morale after their Europa League exit in midweek.
SERGIO AGUERO
Manchester City begin their quest to reclaim the Premier League title from Chelsea with a trip to the Hawthorns on Monday night, with the Baggies struggling to cope with City's firepower in recent seasons. Indeed, the visitors have scored 3 goals in each of their last 4 meetings with West Brom, who will do well to keep out last season's top scorer Sergio Aguero (26 goals).
WAYNE ROONEY
The United captain has a lot of pressure on his shoulders this season, tasked with leading the line as the one star striker at present following the departures of Van Persie and Falcao. The England forward has scored 8 goals in his last 11 league appearances against Saturday's opponents Spurs, who may be a little weary having only returned from two pre-season matches in Germany on Thursday.
Do you think you have what it takes to get the better of the WhoScored Expert? Why not enter MondoGoal's weekly contest for a shot at a stake of the £10,000 cash pot?
This would've been a crap week for the WhoScored expert, with Courtois earning a red and costing Chelsea 2 points, with Theo Walcott not featuring from the off (something I also did not see coming) and with Jordan Amavi putting Ritchie in his backpocket with a performance that confirms him as my favourite to win the young player of the year award.