Gameweek 23 – This Much We Know

There won’t be many times you’ll find me waxing lyrical about John Utaka, Lee Chung Yong and Sotirios Kyrgiakos. That’s a good thing considering I needed Google to sanity check my spelling. Like it or not though, they all featured prominently in last night’s action…

Gerrard and Liverpool are still chugging…
Yes the talismanic skipper returned from injury but both Gerrard and the Liverpool machine that he drives, coughed and spluttered with little effect at Wolves. Liverpool have struggled for goals away from home all season and at times last night were forced to turn to route one in an attempt to unlock even the Wolves defence. The absence of Torres is key but it does at least appear to ensure that Kuyt will get a run as the central striker. Rafa only introduced Ngog to shift Kuyt back to midfield in the latter stages. With two consecutive home games against Bolton and Everton to come next, the Dutchman could offer some value. As for Gerrard – he may have to rely on set-plays to get his fantasy scoring ticking again. It’s doubtful that there will be many fantasy managers looking to invest given his hefty price tag.

Against the odds, Sotirios Kyrgiakos is the name that may well be more attractive. The big Greek defender is not only earning investors clean sheets, he’s also winning enough headers to attract the attentions of the wayward Fantasy Premier League bonus point judges. Kyrgiakos has started the last three league games for Liverpool and earned 8 bonus points over those games. At 5.8 he could attract interest, although Agger’s return to fitness will provide an immediate threat to his starting role.

Bentley is in the shop window…
A forgotten man at Spurs, Niko Kranjcar’s sick-note gave David Bentley the chance to display his wares and he took it by putting in a decent shift, capped with a deflected goal in the 2-0 win over Fulham. Bentley still looks out of favour with Redknapp and it seems unlikely that Kranjcar owners will have to worry ahead of the trip to Birmingham this weekend. It’s worth keeping an eye on but it seems more likely that Bentley will be on the move in transfer window. West Ham are apparently sniffing round.

Utaka has points to prove…
Very few of us will be shopping for fantasy talent at Fratton Park, although John Utaka is doing all he can to win some plaudits in the light of the £80,000 a week wage claims. The Nigerian was snubbed for the African Cup of Nations so has had a couple of points to prove right now. A fine FA Cup performance last weekend was capped with an eye-catching display in the 1-1 draw with West Ham last night. Utaka earned an assist and maximum FPL bonus points and is of course classed as a 5.0 midfielder in that game. That may be a temptation, although his role in the side will surely come under threat given that Dindane is set to return from duty in Angola and with Grant free to flex his transfer muscles again. One for the radar though, given that Pompey have a double fixture in the gameweek.

Lee continues to show Eastern promise…
Lee Chung Yong continues to sparkle down at the Reebok and the arrival of Owen Coyle may well bring a brand of football that will see him flourish further. Lee scored the winner in last night’s encounter with Coyle’s former club, his fourth league goal of the season. Maximum FPL bonus also arrived in the lap of the 5.0 midfielder, alerting more fantasy managers to his potential. While Matt Taylor continues to frustrate for his 6.6 price tag, Lee appears to be presenting a cheaper and perhaps more consistent alternative. One concern would be that Bolton face four of their next five games away from the Reebok, although that does include a double fixture in gameweek 26. That may see interest in Bolton players increase then, although it’s worth noting that Klasnic was again replaced by Elmander around the hour-mark last night. The Croatian’s potential as a cheap fantasy striker looks in doubt then.

Eagles dares to gain bonus again…
Honestly, it’s becoming a bit of mystery this. Chris Eagles again earned FPL bonus last night, giving him 18 for the season so far. The Burnley winger has now earned bonus returns in 8 of his last 9 league starts and they seem to keep arriving regardless of Burnley’s results and also his own personal returns. He has only contributed a goal or an assist in one of those 8 games. Answers on a postcard please.