With the start of the new Premier League campaign just a day away, you can rest assured that fantasy managers from around world will be spending a lot of time on their Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team in a bid to strike the right balance. Here, we have decided to assess some of the safest options who will guarantee returns more often than not over the course of the season.

Nick Pope �?5.5m

Nick Pope finished last season as the top goal-keeper in FPL with 170 points after keeping 15 clean sheets for Burnley. Part of the PFA Team of the Year last season, Pope’s consistency between the post suggests that he can be expected to have another strong season, especially with a stubborn backline in front him, which is rarely left found wanting. Pope also topped the bonus points system (BPS) in FPL among shot-stoppers last season and at just 5.5m, he makes for a smart acquisition to have in your squad.

• Fantasy Premier League 2020-21: Bargain buys

Trent Alexander-Arnold �?7.5m

Trent Alexander-Arnold doesn’t seem to be on an even playing field with other defenders thanks to his exquisite vision and passing range that makes him a constant creator of chances. He finished top among defenders with 210 FPL points last campaign �?29 more points than the next best defender. Besides all the clean sheets that he notches up being a part of Liverpool’s defence, what sets him apart is his ability to pick out a pass as his 15 assists last season �?a Premier League record for defenders �?suggests. Add his penchant for goal-scoring to that, especially from dead-ball situations, and having Alexander-Arnold in your team becomes a no-brainer.

Kevin De Bruyne �?11.5m

The 2019-20 Premier League Player of the Season, Manchester City and Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now. A supremely talented and technically gifted player, De Bruyne is simply a must-have in any team owing to his ability to be constantly involved in the attacking-third, where he makes things happen. He picked up 251 FPL points last season after making 13 goals and tying Thierry Henry’s assists record having set up a further 20 goals. With Manchester City and De Bruyne desperate to bring back the Premier League crown to the blue half of the city, expect the Belgian midfielder to have another strong season.

• Fantasy Focus: Top picks from the first week of the Premier League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang �?12m

A smart candidate to captain your FPL team in the first gameweek with Arsenal travelling to newly-promoted Fulham, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be relishing his opportunity to start the season by hitting the ground running against their London rivals. Aubameyang has managed 205 FPL points in each of the last two seasons and could exceed that total in the new campaign in a more fluid and cohesive Arsenal unit under manager Mikel Arteta. He’s scored 22 league goals in each of the last two seasons and the fact that he’s been moved into midfield options for the new campaign means that he will pick up extra points for goals and clean sheets.

Mohamed Salah �?12m

After his below-par spell with Chelsea and since returning to the Premier League from AS Roma to Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has set the Premier League ablaze, which in turn makes him a fantasy favourite. He’s scored 303, 259 and 233 FPL points in his three seasons back in the Premier League and doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon. Last season saw him score 19 goals and provide 10 assists in the league but Salah will be determined to finish the upcoming campaign with even better numbers since his overall goal involvement was marginally less than that of his first two seasons with Liverpool.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Arsenal ended Liverpool's bid to set a new Premier League points record with a 2-1 win over the champions, while Manchester City pushed Bournemouth closer to relegation with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp's side needed to win their final three games of the season to break Manchester City's record of 100 points set in 2018.

They were on course when Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a clinical finish from Andrew Robertson's cross at the Emirates Stadium.

But two careless mistakes condemned Liverpool to a third league defeat this season.

Virgil van Dijk's wayward backpass went straight to Alexandre Lacazette, who rounded Reds keeper Alisson Becker to slot home in the 32nd minute.

1 - Arsenal's equaliser came following Virgil van Dijk's first error leading to a goal in the Premier League since March 2019 (v Fulham), while it was also the Gunners' first shot of the game. Gift. pic.twitter.com/N6IlV0hgJL

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2020

Alisson was guilty of an equally costly blunder when his pass out was intercepted by Lacazette and he picked out 20-year-old Reiss Nelson for a cool close-range finish.

Liverpool have failed to win three of their five matches since clinching the title.

They have 93 points and with just two games left and can only reach 99 at the end of their first title-winning campaign for 30 years.

"Twice there was a massive lack of concentration. We took a break after 1-0. Those two moments killed the game for us," Klopp said.

"You can't win games when you concede chances like that. We have to learn from it, 100 per cent."

Arsenal climb to ninth place as they chase qualification for the Europa League.

1+1 - Alexandre Lacazette is the first @Arsenal player to score and assist against the side starting the day top of the league since Thierry Henry vs Man Utd in January 2007. Statement. pic.twitter.com/ioCNSEjSeD

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2020

Mikel Arteta's side go into Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City in good spirits after bouncing back from Sunday's defeat at north London rivals Tottenham.

"In terms of energy and happiness in the dressing room before the semi-final, it's a good medicine," Arteta said. 

"To beat this team you have to have moments in the game when you take your chances, defend and have a bit of luck."

Stunning strike

Manchester City had enjoyed a big win off the field already this week with their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning a two-season ban from playing in European competitions, freeing up Pep Guardiola's men to play in the Champions League next season.

111 - Pep Guardiola has won 111 of his first 150 Premier League games, six more than any other coach at this stage of their career in the competition. Master. pic.twitter.com/TJ3OWsZf8X

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2020

Guardiola left Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez on the bench against Bournemouth to keep them fresh for Wembley, but City still had too much quality in the form of David Silva and Gabriel Jesus.

Silva showed why he will be so missed when he leaves at the end of the season, the midfielder curling a free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar after six minutes.

Jesus was ruthless in the 39th minute as he wriggled between two weak Bournemouth challenges before firing into the far corner to score for the third consecutive game.

5 - The 16 instances of a Spaniard reaching 10 Premier League assists in a single season are made up of only five players:

x6 | Cesc Fábregas
x4 | David Silva
x2 | Santi Cazorla
x2 | Juan Mata
x2 | José Antonio Reyes

Collection. //t.co/UhlRaXte16

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2020

City finally conceded for the first time in five home games since the restart when David Brooks turned home Callum Wilson's cross two minutes from time.

"It was a really difficult game. We started well in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half but then we had a problem in our build-up," Guardiola said.

Defeat leaves Bournemouth still three points adrift of safety from Watford and West Ham, who face each other on Friday.

Wolves held, but Tottenham won

Wolves remain three points adrift of the Champions League places with just two games to play after Chris Wood's 96th-minute spot-kick gave Burnley a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

It was not until 14 minutes from time that the visitors broke the deadlock thanks to Raul Jimenez's stunning strike on the half-volley.

In stoppage-time, Mike Dean pointed to the spot for a handball by Matt Doherty despite the Irishman seemingly being impeded by Wood's attempt at an overhead kick.

200 �?Harry Kane’s strike is his 200th club career goal in his 350th appearance in all competitions, with 184 of these coming for Spurs (Millwall (9), Leyton Orient (5) & Leicester (2)). Beacon. pic.twitter.com/0hcENvkQz7

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2020

Tottenham won 3-1 at Newcastle to keep their chances of European football next season on track by moving up to seventh.

Son Heung-min's shot crept in at Martin Dubravka's near post to open the scoring for Tottenham

Matt Ritchie got Newcastle's equaliser, but Harry Kane restored Tottenham's lead and the England captain added his second in the final minute.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Childs

Jurgen Klopp was frustrated by Liverpool's lack of killer instinct as Burnley became the first visiting side to avoid defeat at Anfield in the Premier League for 18 months in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Andy Robertson's first-half header had the champions on course to maintain their perfect home record this season and close in on a record points tally for the English top flight.

But the Reds were made to pay for a host of missed chances when Jay Rodriguez's fine finish earned a point to further Burnley's late push for a place in Europe next season.

"We left the door open, we didn't close it. We should have scored two, three, four goals at least," said Klopp, who was also irked by referee David Coote's lenient attitude to Burnley's physical approach.

"The ref let all these challenges today happen. When the ball comes in the box, Burnley are always dangerous.

"They stayed completely in the game, they just did what they wanted to do. It is frustrating because we should have scored much earlier."

Liverpool can still break Manchester City's record points haul of 100 two seasons ago, but will now need to win all three of their remaining matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Klopp has insisted he is not looking to rewrite the record books, but there was no sign of the German easing up with a first title in 30 years long since won.

Robertson and Sadio Mane were recalled from the side that won 3-1 at Brighton on Wednesday with only injured captain Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold missing from Klopp's strongest XI.

Salah's double in midweek kept him in the running for a third Golden Boot in as many seasons at Liverpool and only Nick Pope in the Burnley goal prevented the Egyptian closing in on Jamie Vardy at the top of the scoring charts.

Pope turned a fiercely struck Salah volley over before spreading himself well to deny Liverpool's top scorer in another one-on-one.

The opening goal came from a much more unlikely source as Fabinho picked out Robertson's run and the Scotland captain looped a header into the far corner for his first goal since November.

Pope and Liverpool's Alisson Becker are battling for the Golden Glove and the England international showed why he is in the lead with 14 clean sheets as he kept his side in the game once more before half-time to turn Mane's powerful shot over the bar.

Chances continued to come and go for the hosts after the break. Remarkably, despite Liverpool's home form, their number nine is still yet to score at Anfield in the league this season as Roberto Firmino hit the post to extend his wait for a home goal.

Liverpool's profligacy was punished 21 minutes from time when Rodriguez's brilliant finish from James Tarkowski's knock-down beat Alisson from the edge of the area.

Burnley then had the best chance to win the game in the final stages as Alisson flapped at another set-piece and the ball fell for substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who hit the crossbar.

"That would be pushing it a bit," admitted Burnley boss Sean Dyche had his side snatched victory.

"Forget there is no one here. It's still very difficult to come here against sides like that.

"They don't give you a breather. We felt if we could stay in it as the game wore on we might find moments and we did."

A prized point moves Dyche's men up to ninth, with eighth possibly good enough for a place in the Europa League should Manchester City's two-season ban from European competitions be upheld.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Sheffield United dealt a major blow to Chelsea's chances of a Premier League top-four finish by thrashing the Blues 3-0 at Bramall Lane, while Liverpool's long winning run at Anfield came to an end in a draw with Burnley on Saturday.

Manchester City did guarantee their presence in the top four for a 10th successive season with Raheem Sterling scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 win at Brighton.

However, they will have to wait for the outcome on Monday of their appeal against a two-season ban from European competitions to see if they will play Champions League football next season.

Norwich will be playing in the Championship after Michail Antonio's four-goal blitz confirmed the Canaries' relegation in a thumping 4-0 win for West Ham that should seal the Hammers' top-flight status for another year.

76 - Chelsea had 76% possession in this match but lost 3-0 �?since 2003-04, when full possession data is available, this is the biggest margin of defeat for a team to hold as much as 76% possession in a Premier League game. Countered. pic.twitter.com/P4f2lfJo1V

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

Sheffield United have long since achieved that feat in their first season in the Premier League for 13 years and the Blades are still eying the top four themselves as they moved within five points of fourth-placed Leicester.

Chelsea remain in third, but could end the weekend down in fifth if Leicester and Manchester United beat Bournemouth and Southampton respectively.

The Blues have already reinforced their attack for next season with the signings of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, but Frank Lampard was again shown it is at the other end his side desperately need to improve.

David McGoldrick's long wait for a first Premier League goal came to an end when he was quickest to react after Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Oli McBurnie's deflected shot.

1 - David McGoldrick has scored his very first Premier League goal; it took him 42 shots and 1615 minutes to do so. Relief. pic.twitter.com/OuhJQfeue7

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

More slack defending from the visitors then allowed McBurnie a free header to double the hosts' lead.

Lampard sent on Antonio Rudiger at the start of the second-half, but the German international did little to improve Chelsea's defending as his attempted clearance from Lys Mousset's cross only teed up McGoldrick to score his second 13 minutes from time.

"They were better than us, physically, in the mind and with the ball," said Lampard. "I learned a lot and I won't forget that."

- Liverpool held -

For the first time since January 2018, Liverpool failed to win a Premier League game at Anfield as an inspired performance by Nick Pope in the Burnley goal and Jay Rodriguez's equaliser to cancel out Andy Robertson's first-half header gave Burnley a share of the spoils.

Jurgen Klopp's men now need to win their remaining three games to be surpass the record total of 100 points in a Premier League season set by City two years ago.

23 - Liverpool had 23 shots in this match, their most in a Premier League game they failed to win since December 2017 (23 vs Everton). Holy. pic.twitter.com/YHKvK0FUeI

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

"We left the door open, we didn't close it. We should have scored two, three, four goals at least," said Klopp.

City scored four or more goals for the fourth time in six league games at Brighton.

Sterling's treble took his best ever season's tally to 27, while Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva also netted in another rout for a pleased Pep Guardiola, who is hoping his players' efforts on the pitch are rewarded by playing Champions League football next season.

"We deserve to be there because we won it on the pitch. Hopefully on Monday UEFA can allow us to play like this team and these players deserve to," said Guardiola.

14 - Andrew Robertson is the 14th Liverpool player to score a league goal at Anfield this season, only in 1992-93 (15, excluding own-goals) have they had more different players score at home in a Premier League campaign. House. pic.twitter.com/W2kwkTPx6W

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

- Norwich relegated -

At Carrow Road, a seventh successive league defeat condemned Norwich to relegation as Antonio's ruthless display boosted West Ham's own survival bid.

"We wanted to beat the odds again but when the dust settles the outcome is more or less what was expected. It doesn't take anything away from the fact that we are disappointed," manager Daniel Farke said.

5 - Norwich City have become the first team to be relegated from the Premier League on five separate occasions. Demoted. pic.twitter.com/Q8JhUb8lMn

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

West Ham's second win in four games opens up a six-point cushion over the bottom three.

The early signs were ominous for Norwich as West Ham took the lead in the 11th minute through Antonio's close-range volley.

Antonio struck again in first-half stoppage-time, glancing his header into the far corner from Mark Noble's free-kick.

He completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute with a looping header and his fourth came in the 74th minute from Ryan Fredericks' cross.

4 - Michail Antonio is the ninth player to score four goals away from home in a Premier League match and the first to do so since Harry Kane against Leicester in May 2017. Crazy. pic.twitter.com/v1c9C9gqLk

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

Watford also moved to the brink of survival as two Troy Deeney penalties beat Newcastle 2-1 to move level with West Ham on 34 points.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

Burnley captain Ben Mee told fans who flew a "White Lives Matter" banner above the Etihad Stadium at the start of a 5-0 defeat by Manchester City on Monday "to come into the 21st century".

The banner reading "White lives matter Burnley" was seen shortly after all players and match officials had taken a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

"The aeroplane that went out at the beginning of the game, I am ashamed, I'm embarrassed, that a small number of our fans have decided to put that around the stadium," said Mee.

"It completely missed the point. The group of lads in there are embarrassed to see that and not what we are about at all.

Read | Football community shows solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter

"It missed the point of the whole thing of what we are trying to achieve. These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves as a lot of us do. I'm really upset that happened."

Burnley also issued a statement at half-time saying those responsible for the aircraft would be handed lifetime bans from the club.

"We wish to make it clear that those responsible are not welcome at Turf Moor," Burnley said. "This, in no way, represents what Burnley Football Club stands for and we will work fully with the authorities to identify those responsible and take appropriate action.

"We are fully behind the Premier League's Black Lives Matter initiative and, in line with all other Premier League games undertaken since Project Restart, our players and football staff willingly took the knee at kick-off at Manchester City.

Read | 'Black Lives Matter' to replace names on shirt in Premier League

"We apologise unreservedly to the Premier League, to Manchester City and to all those helping to promote Black Lives Matter."

Black Lives Matter have been printed on the back of shirts rather than players' names for the first 12 games of the Premier League's return.

The gesture comes following the death of black American George Floyd at the hands of police last month, which sparked protests around the world and led to sportspeople showing solidarity with those demonstrations.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan was named Tuesday as one of six individuals at three Premier League clubs to have tested positive.

The results came after the Premier League announced earlier Tuesday that it had tested a total of 748 players and club staff on Sunday and Monday.

Premier League officials did not name the individuals concerned but a Burnley statement said, "Burnley Football Club can confirm that after completing a test on Sunday, 17th May, assistant manager Ian Woan has tested positive."

"In line with strict Premier League requirements and following a positive test, Ian will now self-isolate for a period of seven days, with a view to being tested again week commencing Monday, 25th May.

"Ian is asymptomatic and is currently safe and well at home. He will remain in close communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in training once he is clear of the virus."

Premier League clubs began returning to training in small groups on Tuesday after protocols on safety measures were signed off on Monday.

Read | Premier League clubs to start limited group training from Tuesday

Brighton have previously confirmed three positive cases among their squad at different stages of the pandemic, while positive tests for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi played a major role in the decision to suspend matches on March 13.

The number of positive cases represents just 0.8 percent of those tested and is consistent with similar widespread testing conducted by other major leagues hoping to complete the season.

Germany's top two divisions registered 10 positive cases out of 1,724 tests two weeks ago ahead of their return to action last weekend.

Five players from Spain's top two divisions tested positive last week before La Liga's return to group training.

Premier League clubs are aiming for a return to action by the middle of next month, but face resistance from players concerned over their welfare.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has said he will not return to training this week due to fears he could pass the virus on to his five-month-old son.

"I can't get a haircut until mid-July, but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and jump for a header," said Deeney on The Talk podcast.

"I don't know how that works. No one could answer the questions, not because they didn't want to, but because they don't know the information."

Newcastle left-back Danny Rose claimed players were being treated like 'guinea pigs or lab rats'.

Rose's manager Steve Bruce said the majority of his players are in favour of a return to training and praised "meticulous" planning on behalf of the Premier League to make the environment as safe as possible.

However, Bruce has also questioned the limited preparation time players could have between returning to contact training and competitive matches, warning his squad could 'fall down like a pack of cards' with injuries.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Christian Pulisic hit a hat-trick to inspire Chelsea's impressive 4-2 win at Burnley as the US winger enjoyed his Premier League breakthrough moment on Saturday.

After going nine games without scoring for his new club, Pulisic tore Burnley to shreds at Turf Moor to notch the first treble of his career.

Pulisic had endured a slow start following his move from Borussia Dortmund as the heir to former Blues star Eden Hazard, but this virtuoso display suggested he could live up to the hype.

The £58 million ($74 million) signing, who spent the second half of last season with Dortmund after agreeing the Chelsea switch in January, had started only one match since the end of August and that was against Grimsby in the League Cup.

But Frank Lampard admitted this week the 21-year-old "deserved" a chance to start after he came off the bench to set up Michy Batshuayi's winner against Ajax in the Champions League.

Pulisic replaced Callum Hudson-Odoi as Lampard made one change to the team that won in Amsterdam and he seized his chance, becoming the youngest Chelsea player to score a Premier League hat-trick.

Jay Rodriguez and Dwight McNeil reduced the deficit for Burnley, but Chelsea are fourth in the league after a seventh successive win in all competitions.

Pulisic initially forgot to collect the match ball from the referee, saying of the hat-trick tradition: "I just didn't think about it, but my team-mates reminded me!

"It's unreal. It's obviously a very special day for me."

Asked about his lack of opportunities until now, Pulisic added: "I'm happy with the progress I've made so far and I'm going to go on from there."

Lampard added: "He had a week's break this summer. He arrived for a big price and wanted to come straight back in but at the same time why am I going to throw him in? 

"I have to do it in the right way and get the best out of him."

Pulisic quickly illuminated a dank evening in Lancashire when his incisive run set up Mason Mount's blocked shot.

It was a warning that Burnley failed to heed and Pulisic put Chelsea ahead in the 21st minute.

When Matt Lowton dithered in possession near the centre circle, Pulisic pounced to rob the Burnley defender as he stumbled to the turf.

Pulisic accelerated into the penalty area and kept James Tarkowski at bay with a step-over before drilling a left-foot shot across Burnley keeper Nick Pope and into the far corner.

Burnley should have been level when Ben Mee's header reached Ashley Barnes at the far post, only for the striker to nod wide of the empty net from virtually on the line.

On the stroke of half-time, Pulisic doubled Chelsea's lead with a fine solo effort.

Willian intercepted Tarkowski's wayward pass and found Pulisic, who raced towards the Burnley area and drilled a low strike that took a deflection off Mee on its way past Pope.

As they did against Ajax in midweek, Lampard's men kept their composure as Burnley pushed hard before Pulisic delivered the knockout blow in the 56th minute.

Mount's cross was cleared back to the midfielder and he curled over a cross that Pulisic met with a well-timed glancing header past Pope.

Chelsea were carving through the Burnley defence and Willian made it four in the 58th minute when the Brazilian took Abraham's pass and slammed a low shot into the far corner.

Burnley suddenly came to life in the closing moments and Rodriguez struck with a 25-yard thunderbolt in the 86th minute.

McNeil got Burnley's second with a deflected 89th minute effort, but that failed to take the gloss off Pulisic's day to remember.

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Oli Scarff

Liverpool's 17-match winning run was halted in a draw at Manchester United, while VAR caused more havoc and Chelsea's revival gathered pace.

Here are three things we learned from the Premier League this weekend:

VAR chaos and confusion

The dominant feature across the weekend's action was controversy over the use of VAR.

Aston Villa, Wolves, Burnley and Liverpool saw goals ruled out, Tottenham did not -- despite the big screen saying their late equaliser against Watford had been -- and a host of penalty appeals were waived away.

"I'm a big fan of it but it has to be used more wisely than that," said Burnley manager Sean Dyche after his side had a late equaliser at Leicester ruled out for the slightest of touches by Chris Wood on Jonny Evans.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola sarcastically said his players are clearly "diving" after VAR did not award what appeared clear penalties to his side against Crystal Palace, while Watford were also hard done by when Jan Vertonghen was not punished for bringing down Gerard Deulofeu inside the area.

"I was thinking VAR is objective, but now I am thinking it is something very subjective," said Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores.

The Premier League's decision to impose an extremely high bar to overturn a referee's initial ruling is under fire as is the reluctance of referee's to review their decisions on a TV at the side of the pitch.

Amazingly, VAR is yet to award a penalty 89 games into the season.

Salah-less Liverpool lack spark

Liverpool's lead at the top of the table was cut to six points after their 17-game winning run in the Premier League was ended in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

The European champions enjoyed nearly 70 percent possession at Old Trafford, but laboured to create chances without the injured Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian has often failed to reach the heights of his stunning debut 2017/18 season in 2019, but in his absence the in-form Sadio Mane was forced to switch position to the right-hand side while Roberto Firmino struggled to have his usual influence linking the play.

Jurgen Klopp hopes to have Salah back for his side's Champions League trip to Genk on Wednesday and on this evidence Liverpool cannot afford for him to miss to many matches in their bid to win the league for the first time in 30 years.

More to come from in-form Chelsea 

Marcos Alonso says Chelsea are still a work in progress after they moved into the top four with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

Alonso's 73rd minute goal at Stamford Bridge sealed the Blues' fifth successive victory in all competitions.

The Spanish defender is pleased with the progress under new boss Frank Lampard, but insists there is still more to come.

"We have many options in the team and this is good. The team is getting better, we are improving game by game and we need to continue in this way," Alonso said.

"It's a new season with new staff and there's room for improvement but since the beginning we have improved a lot. We need to keep focused on each game and work hard in training."

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Oli Scarff