This article is part of our FPL Roundup series.
The Premier League returned this weekend from it's first international break of the season, and Saturday's opening game of Manchester United versus Manchester City was the perfect matchup to welcome fantasy owners back to the action.
Three first-half goals between bitter rivals who both entered Saturday with perfect records under new managers made for great entertainment, even though a goalless second half followed.
One of Manchester United's marquee summer signings, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, earned his first start for the Red Devils, but he only lasted until halftime before boss Jose Mourinho pulled him out.
While Mkhitaryan, like most his teammates, struggled to get into the game as City dominated possession during the first 45 minutes, his lack of opportunities under Mourinho should maybe begin to worry fantasy owners.
Along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, Mkhitaryan is a client of super agent Mino Raiola, who engineered the Armenian's move to Manchester this summer. After 19 goals and 24 assists across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund last season, Mkhitaryan figured to be the creative catalyst in Manchester United's retooled setup, but that line of thinking failed to consider Mourinho's age-old tactics.
Long criticized for his defense-minded, results-based philosophy – no matter how successful it's proven in Europe's biggest leagues – Mourinho's desired style couldn't differ more from Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel's possession-centric approach, and this difference is perhaps why Mkhitaryan's Man United career has started sluggishly.
At Dortmund, Mkhitaryan was used to a pretty free attacking role, where he could switch flanks or operate through the middle. However, besides Eden Hazard, who nearly always sticks to the left side anyway, this type of fluent attacking midfielder seems like a square peg unsuited to the round holes Mourinho's scheme prefers. Remember, Mourinho notoriously overlooked Kevin de Bruyne during the now-prolific Belgian's short stint at Chelsea.
Although its been mentioned since Saturday that Mkhitaryan may be nursing a knock to his knee, his mere 107 minutes through four appearances under Mourinho is hardly what fantasy owners should've been hoping for upon his arrival to England. Of course, there's still plenty of time for Mkhitaryan to break into Mourinho's comfort zone, but the seemingly reluctant start to their relationship is somewhat concerning as it stands.
Someone whose importance to his team cannot be understated, Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla appears to be back at his best to start this season.
With an ever-present smile on his face, Cazorla has notched two goals and two assists already, topping his scoreless 2015/16 campaign that included just three assists in 15 starts. A knee injury kept Cazorla out for an extended period last term, and his absence in orchestrating Arsenal's midfield was obviously evident over that span, but since coming on as a second-half substitute in the Gunners' opening match this season, Cazorla has not looked back. Both his assists came during that 29-minute cameo against Liverpool, and after he stayed in for 73 minutes the following match versus Leicester, he has played the entirety of Arsenal's past two performances, scoring from the penalty spot in both outings.
On Saturday, his 93rd-minute penalty goal clinched three points for Arsenal and was just the reward Cazorla deserved for his stellar display. In pulling the strings for his side, the twinkle-toed Spaniard connected on 73 of 79 passes, created three scoring chances and waltzed his way to three dribbles completed.
Even though his growing age has coincided with a deeper midfield deployment, and thus fewer goal-scoring opportunities, Cazorla could benefit from being Arsenal's designated penalty-taker, and his 25 goals in 125 appearances for the Gunners is still rather commendable.
What's more, since he joined Arsenal in 2012, only one Premier League player (Manchester City's David Silva) has been credited with more than Cazorla's 35 assists. Currently costing £7.6m in the Premiership's official fantasy game, Cazorla could be a delightful value for owners going forward.
Speaking of enjoyable storylines from the weekend, how fun was Saturday's match between West Ham and Watford?
The hosts needed just five minutes to take the lead, and they doubled their advantage less than 30 minutes later with a second Michail Antonio goal set up by Dimitri Payet.
On the back of that brace, Antonio, who earned his first England call-up over the recent break, has now scored in three straight league matches, giving him four goals in total. Also, despite too often being utilized as an attack-minded right back, Antonio now boasts 12 goals in 27 starts since arriving at West Ham last season. That record, along with his defensive hiccups, should surely influence manager Slaven Bilic to keep Michail in more advanced positions in upcoming matches.
For as good as Antonio has been for West Ham this term, Payet's assist for his teammate's second goal Saturday was even better. The Hammers' talisman had the confidence to not only attempt, but also pull off a Rabona cross to put his team further ahead. Words really don't do it justice, so just have a look here:
After that glowing review, you'd think West Ham ran away with three points, but Watford actually stormed back Saturday, scoring four unanswered away goals. In doing so, both strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney found the scoresheet, with the later goal being particularly awesome, but midfielder Etienne Capoue's goal warrants the most fantasy discussion.
That's because Capoue entered this season with a £4.5m price tag. In other words, no player at his position came cheaper. However, through four games, the Frenchman has now accumulated three goals and an assist, making him the top-scoring midfielder. Unsurprisingly, that unexpected surge has seen Capoue's price rise to £4.8m already.
Overall, Saturday's match wasn't all that different from West Ham's second home game last season, when they fell 4-3 to Bournemouth. While having lost both affairs will certainly upset the Hammers supporters, neutral fans couldn't help but be entertained.
Arguably the team that's had the most eventful start to the season, Liverpool continued to prove unpredictable this weekend.
After winning 4-3 at Arsenal to start the campaign, then losing to Burnley and drawing against Tottenham, the Reds smashed defending champions Leicester City in Saturday's late game.
Three of Liverpool's four goals were scored by midfield men Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, who should both be under heavy consideration by fantasy owners.
Despite his position designation, Firmino always plays as a member of Liverpool's front three, and often as their center forward. Although Daniel Sturridge returned to that spot Saturday, Firmino's two goals in that match now give him 12 scores and eight assists in 28 career Premiership starts. That would be solid production for a striker, but it's even sweeter for an £8.4m-priced midfielder.
Similarly, Mane remains a threat no matter where he plays. After two shining seasons at Southampton, he's responded with two goals and an assist through his first three games for Liverpool. Since entering the Premier League in 2014, his 23 goals trail only Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez for the most among fantasy midfielders.
On a lesser note, the lone goal Liverpool conceded Saturday bears witnessing. In complete contrast to the quality of Payet's aforementioned assist, Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva, who started at center back, set up Leicester's goal in the worst of ways.
