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Liam Twomey's fantasy picks for the Premier League weekend

Fantasy, Fantasy Soccer

ESPN's new fantasy game is underway, but don't worry if you have yet to sign up. You can start whenever you want -- and that applies not only to our Premier League game but to the Champions League, La Liga and Liga MX too.

As soon as you join and fill your league, your competition starts. 

To help you make up your mind about your eight-man team, we've enlisted the help of ESPN FC's Chelsea correspondent, Liam Twomey, to pick out a player from each of the tiers. 

Check out our detailed breakdown of the scoring system to make sure you're picking your team with this in mind. Get your mates involved ahead of this weekend's round of games and play each other each week in a head-to-head match.

Every week, you'll submit a new team, or you can stick with the same eight but only if they are still in the same tiers. So make sure you're always checking and selecting the best team to beat your rival each week. 

Let's take a look at who Liam has picked for this weekend. And, just as importantly, why.

This is what Liam had to say:

Tier 1 forward -- Roberto Firmino: Liverpool attackers are always productive fantasy picks, and recent form gives Firmino the edge over his more illustrious teammate Mohamed Salah. He has contributed two goals and two assists in five Premier League appearances, and will be brimming with confidence after his dramatic, late Champions League winner against Paris Saint-Germain. Expect him to be a constant danger to the Southampton defence.

Tier 2 forward -- Marko Arnautovic: West Ham finally showed signs of life in victory over Everton last weekend, and Arnautovic has been involved in more Premier League goals in 2018 (16, scoring nine and assisting seven) than anyone not named Salah. Chelsea's defence is shakier than their record suggests, so a clean sheet at London Stadium looks unlikely..

Tier 1 midfielder -- Eden Hazard (captain): The form player in the division at the moment, Hazard is shooting more under Maurizio Sarri and that makes him an essential fantasy selection. The majority of Chelsea's attacks go through him on the left flank, and with the selfless Olivier Giroud starting up front, he and Pedro tend to find themselves finishing moves. 

Tier 2 midfielder -- James Maddison: The former Norwich City man is already looking like one of the signings of the summer. Deployed in an advanced midfield role by Claude Puel, Maddison has registered two goals and one assist in five Premier League games this season and will fancy his chances of breaching Huddersfield Town's leaky back line. On the evidence of last weekend's consolation against Bournemouth, he also appears to be on penalty duty.

Tier 3 midfielder -- Ryan Fraser: Two goals against Leicester City last weekend reinforced the notion that Fraser, now 24, is poised for a career-best season at Bournemouth. He has three goals and two assists to his name from the left flank already, and has a great opportunity to bolster those numbers against a struggling Burnley defence that is giving up a worrying number of chances.

Tier 1 defender -- Marcos Alonso: Is there a more attack-minded player in the Chelsea team than Alonso? He spends most of his time in the final third of the pitch, running beyond Hazard and into the penalty area where he has an uncanny ability to find space, the ball and the net. Add to that his aerial quality and set-piece prowess, and the Spain international is too dangerous to leave out.

Tier 2 defender -- Steve Cook: Bournemouth have looked better defensively this season, even if they remain closer to average than elite. Cook is valuable this week though because he faces Burnley, who are desperately struggling for goals. And there's always a chance he might nab you a goal from a set piece. 

Goalkeeper -- Alisson: Liverpool's defence has been formidable this season. They have conceded just twice in five matches and only Manchester City are giving up fewer shots per game. Alisson may well find himself a glorified spectator again when Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday, and even if he is tested he's likely to prove equal to the task.

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