The Digest – Gameweek 28

We take a final glance back at the previous round of fixtures this evening, with Liverpool’s in-form midfielder, the Potters’ 2015 displays and the shedding of our double Gameweek assets our main points of note.

The Player

A goal and assist at home to Burnley saw Jordan Henderson net in back-to-back league encounters for the first time this season as the Reds finally broke down their visitors’ resilience to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 matches.

As the Merseysiders prepare for life without Steven Gerrard, Henderson is not just looking like a suitable replacement for the departing skipper, he is also staking a claim as a viable Fantasy option in a midfield that also contains Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho. For all the plaudits heaped on the little Brazilian, he currently sits 22 points behind Henderson in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, whilst Sterling is only ten ahead (130 points to 120) despite a number of appearances up top in recent matches.

Now up to ninth amongst midfielders – and four points behind Cesc Fabregas, for example – Henderson’s midweek tally means he has now equaled last term’s four goals, whilst his total of eight assists is his highest ever top-flight haul. Throw in 18 bonus points and, with ten league matches remaining, he is just 13 points away from matching his best ever FPL season.

At a price of just 6.3 compared to the costlier Sterling (8.5) and Coutinho (7.9), Henderson continues to look a real bargain as Brendan Rodgers’ side close in on another top four finish. Already, over 60,000 FPL managers have drafted him in since the previous Gameweek – head and shoulders above any other player – and with Swansea, Newcastle, Hull and West Brom in the next six, the stage is set for Henderson to flourish further as the Reds brace themselves for their captain’s summer exit.

The Team

It’s fair to say that, so far, this calendar year has been kind to Stoke City. A win over Everton was the Potters’ third successive league victory – the first time this term they have achieved such a feat – and means they have taken 17 points since the turn of the year, a tally bettered only by Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Now sitting in eighth position, Stoke’s recent run has been all the more impressive given that Mark Hughes has been deprived of skipper Ryan Shawcross and playmaker Bojan through injury, with their strength in depth proving crucial to the Staffordshire outfit’s success.

In spite of a number of players being sidelined, Hughes’ troops have conceded just once in the last three, with Marc Wilson (4.3) grabbing his chance to impress at the back as Phillip Wollscheid joins Shawcross on the treatment table. Whilst Peter Crouch (three goals in four) and Mame Biram Diouf (two in three) have also picked up the points, Hughes’ tendency to manage the pair’s minutes deprive us of a valid option for our three-man frontlines.

In midfield, though, Victor Moses (5.2) and Jon Walters (5.4) have chipped in with two and three goals respectively since the turn of the year and offer a greater security of pitch time that may well convince some on the lookout for a budget option in the centre of the park. Having missed nine Gameweeks through injury, Moses remains off the radar in spite of some consistent displays under Hughes – the winger has now earned points in seven of his last 15 appearances since rolling up on loan.

Next up for Stoke are showdowns with West Brom, Palace, West Ham and Sunderland in the next six Gameweeks. Having already beaten the likes of City, Arsenal and Spurs this season, Hughes’ men will hold little fear over the remaining Gameweeks and whilst their appeal may be a little limited at a time where double Gameweek targets will soon play a part, it’s clear that Stoke’s main men shouldn’t be written off completely.

The Talking Point

Harry Kane aside, the double Gameweek was something of a letdown for the most sought-after players. Snapped up by over 157,00 FPL managers, Charlie Austin found the net with just one of his 15 attempts. Christian Eriksen’s new owners (205,000) were treated to an assist, whilst Danny Rose (153,000) picked up eight points at home to Swansea before warming the bench at QPR last Saturday.

Certainly, Kane’s imperious form and outstanding value will ensure he remains very much a part of our plans but many Fantasy managers will perhaps be plotting an exit route for their double Gameweek 28 purchases.

With slots in our three-man frontlines at a premium, Austin looks the most likely candidate for a speedy departure – the R’s striker has scored ten of his 15 league goals at Loftus Road but now has just four home matches remaining now. A (yet-to-be-confirmed) blank Gameweek 33 in addition to showdowns against Chelsea, Liverpool and City between Gameweeks 32-36 will surely spark an exodus, though Austin may well be handed a double in Gameweek 34 to keep him on our radars.

There’s no denying Eriksen’s threat in midfield – he has, after all, fired more attempts than any other player in the centre of the park. With returns in only three of his last ten appearances, the Dane is struggling to convert his excellent underlying stats into Fantasy points, though with Leicester, Burnley and Villa in the next four, retaining Eriksen still looks a valid short-term option. For those looking to part company, though, the likes of Jason Puncheon, Gylfi Sigurdsson, David Silva and Eden Hazard have all been in the points of late and have the fixtures to offer a quick getaway.

Rose certainly looks the most immediately dispensable. With a single clean sheet in nine, Tottenham’s resilience is far from dependable and whilst the left-back has delivered two goals and as many assists in his previous eight, relying on attacking returns looks a risky tactic.

With Chelsea and Leicester already confirmed for double Gameweek 34 and the likes of Villa, QPR, Liverpool and United or Arsenal also in with a chance of two fixtures over that period, there’s no shortage of options to plan ahead for as we look to restructure our squads for the final few fixtures.