Bernd Leno’s superhuman display sets him apart from Dream Team’s other goalkeepers in Gameweek 1
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IT would be a mistake to read too much into the first Gameweek of the season.
But in the same breath, it's never too early to acknowledge a superhuman performance.
And that's exactly what Bernd Leno (£3m) produced against Everton on Saturday.
The German goalkeeper didn't quite cut the mustard at Arsenal but he's single-handedly earned Fulham a substantial number of points since his transfer last summer.
Last season, only David Raya (£3.5m) made more saves than Leno in the Premier League but no keeper made more in Gameweek 1.
The 31-year-old produced NINE saves to deny the Toffees at Goodison Park as part of a heroic display to help his team to a 1-0 victory - the hosts accumulated 3.31 xG!
Granted, he benefited from from sloppy finishing, particularly from Neal Maupay (£2m), but the Cottagers' custodian was more than worthy of the credit he received from fans and pundits alike.
Leno's efforts translated to 11 Dream Team points, putting him top of the pile in his position at this early stage.
Remember, goalkeepers earn one point for every two saves (per fixture) this season in the improved scoring system, meaning Leno pocketed four for his nine saves on top of his clean sheet and appearance points.
After the weekend's action, that haul put Leno in a bracket all of his own among his peers but Andre Onana's (£4m) ten-point haul against Wolves on Monday night came close to parity.
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It's an intriguing situation for Dream Team gaffers; on the one hand Leno's shot-stopping prowess seems perfectly suited to the 2023/24 scoring system.
On the other hand, Fulham allowed Sean Dyche's side 19 shots in total, an unsustainable level if they hope to keep many more clean sheets.
Everton were the league's second-lowest scorers last season, mustering just 34 in their 38 games.
Surely even an average attacking side would have beaten Leno at some point on Saturday?
When selecting the perfect value-for-money option between the sticks, the ideal balance seems to be a keeper with enough saves to make but not so many that clean sheets are few and far between.
Fulham's overall display in Gameweek 1 was far too porous as it's unlikely Leno will be able to channel Superman every time he steps onto the pitch.
However, if Marco Silva's side can tighten up then the German could fit the bill nicely - he features in just 1.5% of teams at the time of writing.
Fulham host west London rivals Brentford in Gameweek 2.
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