After starting the season with a tough opening run of opponents, Newcastle United are about to embark on a schedule that lifts their prospects in Fantasy Premier League.
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The Magpies have faced Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool in their first three matches.
Their visit to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend means they will have faced four of last season’s top seven sides in the opening four Gameweeks.
From Gameweek 5, however, Newcastle's schedule becomes far more promising.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of their subsequent six matches score only two.
Newcastle's next six Gameweeks
| GW | Opp | FDR | GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | BRE (H) | 3 | 8 | WHU (A) | 3 |
| 6 | SHU (A) | 2 | 9 | CRY (H) | 2 |
| 7 | BUR (H) | 2 | 10 | WOL (A) | 2 |
Newcastle have yet to keep a clean sheet this season ahead of their trip to Brighton this weekend.
However, their kind run of opponents can bring Kieran Trippier (£6.5m) back into contention for managers’ backlines.
The right-back was the top-scoring defender in Fantasy in 2022/23, combining a goal and nine assists with 16 clean sheets to claim 198 points.
Although he has managed a mere four points in the first three Gameweeks, Trippier has been Newcastle’s top creator and supplied nine key passes.
That suggests he could be worth the extra outlay if budget is no object in the upcoming period.
Botman an alternative?
Alternatively, Sven Botman (£4.5m) can be a budget gem if he recovers from a knock that forced him off against Liverpool last weekend.
The Dutchman’s three shots in the box are more than any other Newcastle defender this season.
Although the turn in schedule also offers encouragement for the Magpies’ attackers, it coincides with the start of the UEFA Champions League and is very likely to result in rotation among their forwards.
Alexander Isak (£7.7m) has started each of the opening three matches, scoring twice against Aston Villa in Gameweek 1 to earn 13 points.
Isak's second goal v Villa
A beautiful finish from Alex Isak. 🍟👌 pic.twitter.com/HcdKyhqF2h
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 13, 2023
But the Swede may well share minutes with rival Callum Wilson (£7.9m) as head coach Eddie Howe utilises the depth of his squad to cope with the extra number of matches.
Newcastle’s midfielders are somewhat less expensive than Isak and Wilson, with Anthony Gordon (£5.5m) and Miguel Almiron (£6.4m) appearing to secure the wide roles in a front three.
Nonetheless, with summer signing Harvey Barnes (£6.5m) and the versatile Joelinton (£5.9m) also offering options on the flanks, Newcastle’s defence may ultimately be the safest way to go.
