The Knee Jerk – Saturday

A pulsating Merseyside derby gives us plenty to mull over as both sides’ attacks rack up the points. Romelu Lukaku’s return to form, Philippe Coutinho’s first strike of the season and a potential toe injury for Leighton Baines come under analysis this evening:

The Game Changer

Sold on by over 100,000 Fantasy Premier League managers leading up to today’s derby clash, Romelu Lukaku delivered a stinging blow to those who had lost faith by bullying his way to a brace.

With just a single goal in his last four matches, patience with the Belgian was undeniably paper thin in a landscape that has seen the heavy-hitting forwards deliver consistently. It was ironic, then, that Lukaku should overshadow Luis Suarez, despite the Uruguayan again offering his own growing army of owners a goal and an assist.

The day belonged to Lukaku, however, who reaffirmed his status as a value proposition for our forward lines with a second double figure haul of the campaign. A record of seven goals in eight league appearances for the Toffees speaks for itself and, on a day that also saw Olivier Giroud break his recent drought, it underlined the merits of holding firm, even when form suggests that looking elsewhere should be a priority.

The Underused

Phillipe Coutinho’s first goal of the season arrived in a match where his influence was overshadowed by the likes of Suarez and Lukaku – this was a far more muted performance than his showing in the 4-0 win over Fulham in Gameweek 11.

However, it’s returns that count and with Coutinho getting off the mark for the campaign, there will now be those considering whether the classy Brazilian prospect can find a level of consistency that could possibly warrant the 8.5 FPL outlay. Currently he claims just 5% ownership.

Clearly Suarez is the most vital option in the Liverpool attack but, with fixtures in their favour and Daniel Sturridge owners switching out in their thousands, there could yet be a place for Coutinho in our seasons, with the Brazilian’s strike no doubt catching the eye of those Fantasy managers looking to double up on Rodgers’ flourishing attack.

Liverpool have now scored 19 league goals in their last seven outings; Coutinho’s presence can surely only help maintain that kind of form.

The Selection Poser

With Roberto Martinez announcing post-match that Leighton Baines will undergo an x-ray on a toe injury, the left-back’s Fantasy owners will be anxiously waiting on results, whilst perhaps pondering whether the time has come to shift out the Toffees man.

Should there be doubt over his availability for the Gameweek 13 Goodison clash with Stoke, Baines will then be set for an away double header at United and Arsenal – it seems certain that he will have to turn to attacking points to justify his 7.7 value in those two matches.

His price tag is undeniably a factor. Despite claiming over 27% ownership in the FPL, Baines sits at just 0.2 above his initial FPL valuation and therefore a trade out would not lead to a significant loss of funds, whilst offering a sure route back once Everton’s fixtures ease.

The news on Baines’ toe could have a significant impact on next week’s transfer trends.