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Season 2026/27

Gameweek 2 Last Man Standing Picks

CH
Conor Hutchins·LMS HQ Founder

Honest picks, the teams to stay away from, and a bit of common sense for your survivor pool

Deadline

Friday, 28th August 2026 at 19:00 BST

The Strongest Picks

1
Liverpool logo
Liverpool (H)

vs Forest

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Forest have been beaten 1-0 and 2-0 by Leeds at the City Ground in three days without scoring, and Gibbs-White is a doubt with an ankle injury. Liverpool needed a stoppage-time penalty at Newcastle and Forest have won their last two league visits to Anfield, so this is the obvious pick rather than a certain one

2
Arsenal logo
Arsenal (A)

vs Aston Villa

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Villa lost 4-0 at Brighton, Gomes is banned for three games, Konsa and Rogers have been sold and Watkins is pushing for a move. Arsenal have won six league games in a row. A Monday night away is the only reason to hesitate, and if you saved them in GW1 this is a fair week to think about spending them

3
Man United logo
Man United (H)

vs Ipswich

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shortest price of the weekend, at home to a promoted side. That was also true at Hull, where two set pieces cleared out the United pickers on RedCafe. Ipswich beat Sunderland and Leicester this week, so respect the price without trusting it

4
Chelsea logo
Chelsea (H)

vs Brighton

⭐⭐⭐

Alonso's side won at Fulham with Joao Pedro, Rogers and Palmer all scoring. Brighton have won the last two meetings and just put four past Villa, but they play Tromso in a Conference League play-off on Thursday night with the tie at 0-0, then come to Stamford Bridge three days later. A three because Brighton keep beating them

This Week's Fixtures

Crystal Palace logo
Crystal PalacevsMan City
Man City logo

28 Aug at 20:00

Medium

Friday night at Selhurst, City needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth

Liverpool logo
LiverpoolvsForest
Forest logo

29 Aug at 12:30

Easy

Forest beaten twice by Leeds in three days, Gibbs-White a doubt

Bournemouth logo
BournemouthvsEverton
Everton logo

29 Aug at 15:00

Hard

Everton kept a clean sheet against Palace, Bournemouth still draw too often

Coventry logo
CoventryvsHull City
Hull City logo

29 Aug at 15:00

Differential

Hull played 120 minutes and penalties at Stoke on Tuesday

Spurs logo
SpursvsNewcastle
Newcastle logo

29 Aug at 17:30

Hard

Spurs lost 3-0 at Brentford with two ACL injuries in the squad, Newcastle held Liverpool

Chelsea logo
ChelseavsBrighton
Brighton logo

30 Aug at 14:00

Medium

Brighton play Tromso in a Conference League play-off on Thursday, then Stamford Bridge on Sunday

Leeds logo
LeedsvsBrentford
Brentford logo

30 Aug at 14:00

Hard

Leeds have beaten Forest twice this week, Brentford put three past Spurs, stay out

Sunderland logo
SunderlandvsFulham
Fulham logo

30 Aug at 14:00

Differential

Fulham play Wimbledon in the cup on Thursday, Sunderland at home

Man United logo
Man UnitedvsIpswich
Ipswich logo

30 Aug at 16:30

Easy

Shortest price of the weekend, a week after Hull

Aston Villa logo
Aston VillavsArsenal
Arsenal logo

31 Aug at 20:00

Medium

Villa lost 4-0 at Brighton, Gomes banned, Konsa and Rogers sold, but it is a Monday night away

Stay Away From These

Forest logo
Forest

Two defeats to Leeds at the City Ground in three days without a goal, Gibbs-White a doubt, and a 12:30 kick-off at Anfield. Their record there is the only argument and it is not enough

Brighton logo
Brighton

The 4-0 over Villa is the trap. Brighton play Tromso on Thursday night in a play-off that is level at 0-0, then go to Stamford Bridge on Sunday without Mitoma, Minteh and Ferguson. They have won the last two meetings, which is exactly why people will be tempted, and exactly why the draw is live

Spurs logo
Spurs

Beaten 3-0 at Brentford, Simons and Odobert are out for the season and Kulusevski and Kudus are still missing. Newcastle held Liverpool under Jaissle. Being at home does not fix this

Hull City logo
Hull City

The heroes of GW1 played 120 minutes and penalties at Stoke on Tuesday, then go to the Championship champions on Saturday. Ajayi and Mendy both came off with cramp against United. Enjoy the memory, do not pick them

If You've Burned Through the Good Teams

Coventry logo
Coventry (H)

vs Hull City

Moderate

Hull went to penalties at Stoke on Tuesday and travel with seven players already injured. Coventry went up with 95 points, beat Plymouth 4-2 in the cup and are marginal favourites at home. A win here saves every big side for later

Sunderland logo
Sunderland (H)

vs Fulham

Risky

Fulham play Wimbledon in the cup on Thursday and conceded three at home to Chelsea. Sunderland lost late at Ipswich and are missing Adingra, so this is a genuine gamble, but it is the kind of week where a mid-table home win keeps Liverpool and Arsenal in the bank

What We're Actually Picking
Liverpool logo

Liverpool

Forest have lost twice in three days and may be without Gibbs-White. Anfield against that is the one, and it keeps Arsenal in the bank if you still have them

Form Guide (Last 5 Games)

Liverpool logo

Liverpool

One league win in six, and the point at Newcastle needed a stoppage-time penalty

LDLDD
Forest logo

Forest

Beaten by Leeds twice in three days, no goals yet this season

WDLDL
Arsenal logo

Arsenal

Six league wins in a row after the 3-0 over Coventry

WWWWW
Man United logo

Man United

Lost 2-0 at Hull, both goals from set pieces

WDWWL
Chelsea logo

Chelsea

Won 3-2 at Fulham in Alonso's first league game, one win in the last five of last season

LDWLW
Coventry logo

Coventry

Lost 3-0 at Arsenal after going up with 95 points

DWWWL
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Key Stats

0

Forest goals this week

Beaten 1-0 in the league and 2-0 in the cup by Leeds at the City Ground, three days apart

2 of the last 2

Forest league wins at Anfield

1-0 in September 2024 and 3-0 last November, the reason Liverpool are a four and not a five

168 of 220

RedCafe LMS survivors

Most of the 52 went out on United at Hull. The declared GW2 picks are United and Liverpool again

4

Villa goals conceded at Brighton

Gomes sent off on debut, Konsa sold to Arsenal since, and Watkins pushing for a move before Monday night

Injury Updates

Morgan Gibbs-White

Forest

High Impact

Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool

High Impact

Joe Gomez

Liverpool

Medium Impact

William Saliba

Arsenal

High Impact

Jurrien Timber

Arsenal

Medium Impact

Joao Gomes

Aston Villa

High Impact

Amadou Onana

Aston Villa

High Impact

Matthijs de Ligt

Man United

High Impact

Mason Mount

Man United

Medium Impact

Dean Henderson

Chelsea

Medium Impact

Kaoru Mitoma

Brighton

High Impact

Xavi Simons

Spurs

High Impact

Jeremy Doku

Man City

Medium Impact

Last updated: 26 Aug, 19:37