This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
Following the first international interruption of the season, the Premier League's teams have reconvened ahead of Gameweek 5 this weekend.
While the players' varying travel schedules and involvement levels over the break could shake-up some squad selections, fantasy owners should look forward to picking up where they left off.
This weekend's fixtures are headlined by another installment of the classic rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool, but the Red Devils' neighbors, Manchester City, actually face tougher opposition in terms of the standings. That's because the first-place Citizens head to Crystal Palace, who surprisingly sit in second-place so far.
Although the inevitable early season outliers exist, team and player outlooks for the current campaign have more substance behind them now that we're four weeks into the action. As that reality assists in the evaluation process, let's take aim at the Best XI for the latest round of the Premier League.
Goalkeeper:
Petr Cech
Fresh off two straight clean sheets, Cech returns from international duty with another fruitful matchup this weekend. Arsenal hosts Stoke City, whose mark of three goals this season is tied for the fourth fewest league-wide. Mark Hughes' men failed to score at West Brom in Gameweek 4, when a pair of straight red cards issued to attackers Ibrahim Afellay and Charlie Adam figures to leave them short-handed Saturday. Furthermore, the Potters have been held scoreless in four of their past six visits to the Emirates Stadium, where Cech notched an eight-save clean sheet in his most recent appearance.
Defenders:
Aaron Cresswell
Although his team's puzzling contrast between home and away form is noteworthy, Cresswell's upcoming matchup versus Newcastle has potential to please the Upton Park faithful. That's mostly due to the Magpies' away ineptitude, as they've gone winless in 14 of their last 15 road Premier League matches, while failing to even score in seven of the last eight of those outings. In the corresponding fixture last season, Cresswell recorded the lone goal in a clean sheet victory for West Ham, whose home form could be straightened out with a similar performance this weekend.
Eric Dier
After playing in multiple positions across Tottenham's back line last season, Dier has been advanced to a defensive midfield role this term. Nonetheless, the young Englishman remains designated as a defender in most fantasy formats, thus offering a pleasant perk to his stock. Dier has already scored a goal this season, which matches his clean sheet in Gameweek 4 to provide a well-rounded early return. This weekend, he seeming stands to benefit from Spurs squaring off at Sunderland, whose mere 8.5 shot attempts per game ranks 19th in the Premiership.
Kyle Naughton
Once again off to a stellar start to the season, Swansea City has received solid contributions from Naughton's right back position thus far. Through four matches, the former Tottenham man has doled out one assist and clinched one clean sheet, but could very well add another scoreless outing to his CV come Saturday. That's because Swansea is welcomed by Watford, whose promotion to the Premier League has resulted in zero wins and just two goals to this point. Moreover, the Hornets have gone three consecutive matches without scoring, a sample that shapes up nicely for Naughton and Swansea's defense.
Midfielders:
Yaya Toure
Despite his end-of-season totals of 10 goals and one assist, last term was widely categorized as a down year for Toure. However, with his Manchester City future solidified, he has responded with a reinvigorated 2015-16 campaign, as he's struck two goals to go with two assists and four clean sheets already. Exhibiting the all-around acumen that made him fantasy's best midfielder two years ago, Toure enters this weekend's contest at Crystal Palace with clear confidence. In fact, the Ivorian found the scoresheet in both of City's matches against the Eagles last year. So although Alan Pardew's outfit figures to be flying high given their own recent form, Toure is the pick of the patch in Saturday's top-heavy tussle.
Pedro
A former teammate of Toure's at Barcelona, Pedro has instantly assimilated to the English game, evidenced by his one goal and two assists through his first couple games for Chelsea. Even though the Blues have been beaten in both of those matches, Pedro is probably the last person to fault. As Jose Mourinho's men look to get back on track, they can take solace in the fact they outscored this weekend's opponent, Everton, 7-3 in two ties last season. Personally, Pedro could prosper from his right wing station, as Leighton Baines' injury absence leaves either Bryan Oviedo or youngster Brendan Galloway to play left back against the accomplished attacker.
Andre Ayew
Another swift success in England, Ayew has started his Swansea City career by scoring three goals and setting up one more in his first four matches. At present, only one midfielder has more goals than the former Marseille man, and Ayew's most impressive performance yet came in Swansea's 2-1 victory versus Manchester United last round. In Gameweek 5, Ayew and Swansea travel to Watford, whose summer transfer activity has somewhat predictably resulted in an unfamiliar outfit initially struggling in their ascent to the Premiership. Conversely, with Swansea averaging a league-high 9.5 shot attempts on target through their first two away appearances, Ayew could be active again Saturday.
Alexis Sanchez (C)
Oddly, Arsenal's leading scorer at the moment is "own goal," as two of the Gunners' three goals have come from shots redirected off opponents into their own net. While Alexis was the catalyst for one of those own goals, Arsenal's leading scorer from a year ago has yet to find the scoresheet himself, despite attempting a Premier League-high five shots per game. Come Saturday, Arsenal will host Stoke City having somehow gone scoreless in a five of their past six home games. While those developments have raised concerns, this weekend's matchup might mend Alexis and Arsenal's scoring woes, as the Gunners have registered three goals in three of their past four home matches versus Stoke, who Alexis bagged a brace against at the Emirates Stadium last season.
Forwards:
Diego Costa
With one goal and one assist through four matches, Costa's form starkly contrasts the start he got off to last season, but he'll surely remember how an away date at Everton kick-started his previous campaign. To that point, Costa scored just seconds into Chelsea's sensational 6-3 win at Goodison Park, where he also supplied a 90th-minute goal to bookend his performance. Everton has allowed two goals in both of their home games so far this season, and if Chelsea's defense continues to falter, another open match could ensue in Saturday's early encounter.
Harry Kane
One of only two players to outscore Costa last season, Kane has also begun the current campaign in unflattering fashion. The Tottenham talisman has yet to score or assist this season but is still averaging a team-high 3.3 shot attempts per match. That figure is exactly the same to Kane's average from last season, suggesting he just needs to take his chances better to return to his scoring ways. Fortunately, Kane has a perfect opportunity to do so this weekend, as Tottenham takes on Sunderland. In addition to having leaked a league-high 10 goals this season, the Black Cats have allowed opponents to attempt 19.5 shots per game, also the worst mark league-wide.
Bafetimbi Gomis
Unlike Costa and Kane, Gomis has been a model of consistency so far, as he's scored one goal in each of Swansea's four games this season. With a fantastic yet frightening celebration to go with his goal scoring exploits, Gomis has taken the Premier League by storm in his first season as Swansea's starting center striker. Right now, no player has found the back of the net more than Gomis, who faces recently promoted Watford on Saturday. The Hornets have yet to win this season, so combining to consider the Hornets' early hardship with Gomis' stupendous start offers an outstanding outlook for the French frontman.
BENCH:
GK: David de Gea
Astonishingly still at Manchester United, with a newly signed contract as well, de Gea figures to return to his place between the posts this weekend against Liverpool. The Reds will be without top attacker Philippe Coutinho (suspension), while Manchester United's defense already posted three clean sheets without de Gea's delectable denial ability.
DEF: Aleksandar Kolarov
Four consecutive clean sheets to begin the campaign, not to mention a goal for himself, makes Kolarov hard to ignore heading into this weekend's matchup at Crystal Palace.
DEF: Jeffrey Schlupp
Another attack-minded left-sided defender, Schlupp and Leicester City carry an eight-match unbeaten streak dating back to last season into this Sunday's game against Aston Villa, who failed to score at King Power Stadium last term.
MID: Nacer Chadli
With a goal and an assist already, Chadli figures to be looked upon to help fill injured teammate Christian Eriksen's attacking absence at Sunderland, where Chadli scored in the second minute last season.
MID: Sadio Mane
Provider of two assists last time out, as Southampton won their first match of the season, Mane carries momentum into Saturday's match at West Brom, who have allowed a league-high six goals at home so far.
FWD: Jamie Vardy
Holder of six goals and five assists through his last 14 Premier League appearances, Vardy scored the lone goal in upstart Leicester City's most recent outing, and now the Foxes host an Aston Villa outfit that fielded the league's third-worst defense just last season.
FWD: Olivier Giroud
The much-maligned forward was dropped for Arsenal's most recent league outing but figures to reclaim his place Saturday against a winless Stoke City, who have struggled at Arsenal in recent seasons.
