Scouting the Doubles – Liverpool

Liverpool face up to their two Gameweek 36 fixtures having suffered one of the worst runs of form in their Premier League history. While they sealed passage to the FA Cup final with a spirited comeback against local rivals Everton, their league form has been abject – Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to West Brom typifying the recent malaise.

Seven defeats in the last ten league encounters, with just two wins over Everton and Blackburn in that spell, will have severely reduced the confidence in their Fantasy assets. Going forward they’ve been supremely frustrating, whilst at the back, a single clean sheet in ten tells the sorry tale of what was once a defence which ranked amongst the best this term.

The Prospects

An away trip to Carrow Road and a home clash with Fulham, on paper, look attractive enough fixtures which should bring Fantasy returns. The form seems so damaged, however, there’s no getting away from the fact that Liverpool represent an investment gamble. Clearly, there’s potential for two wins – Kenny Dalglish has the talent at his disposal to score goals at Norwich, while Fulham’s away form has been inconsistent. Both Liverpool’s opponents have the weapons to cause problems, however, and both will go into the meetings with the Reds confident that they can be the latest teams to sink Dalglish in his seat.

Norwich have dipped just a little of late, with one win in four and eight goals conceded in the last two against City and Blackburn. Clearly, the visit to Carrow Road looks the best opportunity for Liverpool to profit, then, and Dalglish will be expecting his attacking players to replicate the victory at Ewood in their last away game.

Prior to the Clint Dempsey inspired win at Bolton, Fulham had scored just two goals in their previous four away trips – losing at Blackburn, City, Villa and United, whilst claiming a victory at QPR by a single goal. Undefeated in their last four, Martin Jol’s side will have their tales up and, in Dempsey and Pavel Pogrebynak, they have the players to trouble the now fragile Liverpool backline. A low scoring draw looks to be the most likely outcome here.

The Likely Lads

Luis Suarez has been an enigma all season. Reputation blighted, his season disrupted by a lengthy ban – the Uruguayan has perhaps been amongst the most disappointing Fantasy players this term. Without question, Suarez has the talent to come good and return goals but has done little to convince Fantasy managers that they should break up their established front lines to find room for him. He’ll likely provide the major threat to Norwich and Fulham – but investment would be a gamble considering the attacking riches available elsewhere.

The Liverpool midfield has also been a source of frustration. The likes of Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez have goals in their locker but have struggled for the prolonged opportunities to demonstrate it. Stewart Downing, like Suarez, has been a major disappointment.

That leaves us with the club skipper Steven Gerrard, so often the catalyst for Liverpool’s best performances. He missed the defeat to West Brom due to a precaution according to Dalglish – his return for these two games looks vital to the chances of earning victories. Fantasy managers may well sit up and take notice. Gerrard is an expensive asset but, with spot-kicks in his locker and the devastating hat-trick against Everton just about fresh in our minds, clearly he offers an explosive option that might just be worthy of a punt.

At the back, that record of one clean sheet in ten will surely keep investors away. Both Norwich and Fulham will trouble them and, while Fantasy managers will hold their Liverpool defensive assets, new investment looks a gamble.

Jose Enrique offers the cheapest route and, having been restored to the lineup for the West Brom game, he will be expected to retain his start across both games. Martin Skrtel, Dan Agger and Glen Johnson all carry that little bit more going forward but are more expensive and perhaps out of reach for most.

The Cheeky Punt

Andy Carroll joins the ranks of Liverpool’s brigade of season failures – perhaps submitting the most spectacular application for membership. The winner against Everton in the Cup semi, following another decisive strike at Blackburn has, for the time being, silenced the criticism and demonstrated Carroll’s worth. He’s started the last two and could well hold off the challenge from Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt to keep the centre-forward role against both Norwich and Fulham. Has Carroll turned the corner? Typically, if he has, he’s done it rather ponderously.