Scout Notes – Gameweek 1 – Sunday

Raheem Sterling grabs a goal and assist as Liverpool edge past Southampton. Daniel Sturridge is also amongst the goals as Nathaniel Clyne slams home the visitors’ consolation. Elsewhere, goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero ensure champions City are off to a winning start with a 2-0 triumph at Newcastle.

Sterling the Star for Reds
A goal and assist from the youngster helped Liverpool to a narrow win over Southampton in the first game of the post-Luis Suarez era. Fielded on the left of a 4-2-3-1 formation, Sterling was second only to Aaron Ramsey for midfield ownership as the season got underway and, like the Welshman, has instantly found his form – with the maximum bonus also accrued, few will be deterred by back-to-back road trips to City and Spurs as new owners look set to come flooding in. A price rise over the week looks assured as Fantasy managers take advantage of the wide man’s current 8.5 price tag.

Sturridge the Match-Winner for Liverpool
Somewhat overshadowed by Sterling’s 13-point haul, the forward nonetheless rewarded his 30% of Fantasy Premier League owners with the Merseysiders’ second in a 2-1 triumph. While the Sterling bandwagon builds momentum, it’s debatable whether Sturridge’s non-owners will be swayed by those upcoming visits to the Etihad and White Hart Lane, with many penciling him in for Gameweek 4 as the schedule starts to smile a little more kindly.

Clyne Strike Offers Hope for Saints
The 5.0-priced right-back leapt onto Fantasy radars with the visitors’ consolation at Anfield. Many expected Ronald Koeman’s side to be on a hiding to nothing after many of last year’s key players left over the summer but Southampton’s performance certainly suggests they could be worthy of our consideration ahead of a very kind run of fixtures. New playmaker Dusan Tadic earned a smart assist for Clyne’s strike, and with midfielder James Ward-Prowse (5.0) handed a start on the right of the front three, there’s reason for Fantasy optimism amongst the St Mary’s outfit aghead of a schedule which affords six kind home games (WBA, NEW, QPR, SUN, STO, LEI) and trips to West Ham, Swansea and Hull in the next 10.

Aguero Seals it for City
Manuel Pellegrini started with Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko up front at Newcastle but both were overshadowed by the fit-again Argentine in City’s 2-0 win. Emerging from the bench on 83 minutes, Aguero needed just seven minutes to find the net and remind us just how devastating a Fantasy force he can be.

With another week until the champions’ next league match against Liverpool, there’s every chance Aguero’s match sharpness will be up to scratch, allowing Pellegrini to start the diminutive frontman. His return immediately places concerns over Jovetic’s security of pitch time, though the Montenegro international turned in an impressive shift, with five attempts on goal and a trio of chances created for his team-mates at St James’ Park. With the likes of Sturridge, Wayne Rooney and Diego Costa so highly owned, Aguero looks a deadly differential in the premium forwards category and currently sits in just 4% of teams.

Silva Off the Mark
The City playmaker underlined the strength of options in the premium midfield bracket by grabbing the opener on Tyneside. Following strikes from Ramsey and Sterling, the Spaniard’s goal also brought him onto radars and offers hope that he could finally be set to overshadow the highly priced Yaya Toure in the City midfield. Like Aguero, Silva is also something of a differential (9%) but many will be understandably cautious here – we’ve no doubts over either’s potential but, as we’ve seen on all too many occasions in the past, whether the pair can string together a run of starts without injury is a little more than questionable.