EPL Friendly Round Up

Bellamy Opens Liverpool Account
(Wrexham 0 - 2 Liverpool)
Liverpool opened their Pre-season fixture list with a 2-0 win over Wrexham on Saturday. Reds' boss Rafa Benitez handed newcomers Paletta and Bellamy their debut at the Racecourse ground and both duly impressed. Paletta looked comfortable at the back throughout the 45 minutes that he appeared in, while striker Bellamy opened his Liverpool scoring account at the other end after connecting with a Robbie Fowler pass to slot one home in the 52nd minute. It was a well taken goal to add to Paul Anderson's effort in the first-half. Fowler, who was introduced at half-time, linked up well with debutant Bellamy - a sign of things to come? Another player back in the starting xi was Zenden, who had not been seen since last November after damaging his cruciate ligaments. He played in the middle of the park and looked comfortable throughout. Striker Pongolle also appeared.

Fantasy Insider's View: Well there is a lot to take from this game. Bellamy was on the scoresheet, fat-boy Fowler got an assist, Paletta got his debut and Zenden kicked a ball again. These are all positive signs for Liverpool who, at times last season, missed real squad depth. Liverpool should only be stronger this season and £5 says that Craig Bellamy will be their top-scorer come next May.

Liverpool: Dudek, Roque, Paletta, Hobbs, Finnan, Riise, Zenden, Guthrie, Anderson, Bellamy, Idrizaj. Subs - Martin, Smith, Antwi, Hyypia, Diao, Peltier, Hammill, Fowler, Sinama Pongolle, O'Donnell, Threlfall

Arsenal Youth Fail to Deliver
(Barnet 0 - 0 Arsenal)
You just had to look at Arsenal's team on Saturday to work out who Ashley Cole doesn't like - it was the left-backs wedding to the Geordie feather-weight (boxer) Cheryl Tweedy and those playing were left off the invite list, including boss Arsene Wenger. Nevertheless the Arsenal gaffer fielded a pretty strong team which included Cygan, Almunia, Hleb and Flamini. Unfortunately this failed to raise the standards as the Gunners played out a goaless draw. And to think I was contemplating going to this game...

Fantasy Insider's View: Jeremie Aliadiere looked sharp on his return to the Arsenal side. He has something to prove to boss Wenger and he looks like a man on a mission. Listening to Aliadiere talk in interviews recently it amazed me to hear that he is a Frenchman that talks with a cockney accent. Zut alors me geezer, init. Everybody else looked rusty on a hot Saturday afternoon. No fantasy relevance.

Reading Win in Bizarre Fashion
(Bromley 0 - 1 Reading)
It took a goal from reserve Aussie keeper Adam Federici to resolve this one. Federici was pushed up front after a bad ankle injury to Aaron Brown, taking the injured man's place in attack and within ten minutes had put away a neat goal for the winner. The game got even more surreal when Reading assistant kit man Selby Armstrong came on to play the last 10 minutes as Shane Long was given a rest. Why play two games in two days if you haven't got the players?

Fantasy Insider's View: Reading were tired after their 9-1 endevour against Didcot on Friday night. Man of the match in the last game, Leroy Lita, played the first 45 minutes as he continues to build up match fitness for the start of the Premiership.

Reading: Federici, Halls (Joseph-Dubois HT), Golbourne, Brown (Hamer 60), Makin (c) (Ujah HT), Cox, Osano, Davies, Hayes, Lita (Rendell HT), Long (Armstrong 80)

Fulham Look for the Nearest Exeter
(Exeter 1 - 0 Fulham)
Fulham kicked off their pre-season fixtures with a drab 1-0 defeat to Exeter on Saturday. Chris Coleman had put out a fairly good squad with most of the first team figuring in the match at sometime or another. There were also debuts for Bullard and Zakuani, who had signed in the summer transfer window. Bullard appeared in the first half but had little impact on the game, while Zakuani did relatively well at the back in the second half.

Fantasy Insider's View: Fulham struggled with their away form last season and it looks like they might again for the forthcoming season. They failed to convert their chances, with John and Diop missing opportunities. McBride and Boa Morte were absent due to their World Cup campaigns and it showed. Fulham are too reliant on their influence and they will definitely struggle if either gets injured this season.

Everton Double
(Port Vale 0 - 2 Everton) & (Bury 1 - Everton 3)
David Moyes decided to play two games at the same time on Saturday as his A and B sides took on Port Vale and Bury respectively. There were double victories as Port Vale were beaten 2-0 and Bury 3-1. All non-World Cup players were on display apart from new boy Lescott who was suffering from a virus. Striker Victor Anichebe had a good day against Bury as he scored two and Everton player of last season, Mikel Arteta, struck a trademark freekick in that game. James McFadden and Kevin Kilbane got the goals against Port Vale.

Fantasy Insider's View: Arteta is certainly one to watch for the upcoming season. If he isn't banging in goals from set-pieces he getting assits from whipping them in. He is a consistant performer and is recommended as a good fantasy purchase. New boy Andy Johnson also made his debut.

Now I am off to dance to Club Tropicana at Ashley Cole's wedding...