Spot the Differential – Gameweek 14

We turn to Liverpool’s midfield this weekend as the Reds prepare for a plum home encounter with Swansea. Bournemouth’s recent change in tactics sees us plundering their options in the centre of the park, whilst Watford’s skipper also makes the cut due to a recent upturn in form.

Adam Lallana

Liverpool’s 4-1 mauling of Manchester City rendered Philippe Coutinho (four goals and one assist in three) and Roberto Firmino (one goal and three assists in three) their prime candidates for midfield coverage, but we shouldn’t discount the possibility of Adam Lallana (7.3) being added to the melting pot. The Southampton academy product has been a regular during Jurgen Klopp’s budding reign – carding an assist in five starts – and could emerge as an option in a price bracket that’s devoid of depth.

In the last four Gameweeks, Lallana recorded eight attempts, five shots inside the box and three on target, placing him slightly ahead of Manuel Lanzini (one fewer shot in the box) in respect to goal threat. Moreover, only seven midfielders mustered more penalty-box touches (19) over that stretch – proving that he’s operating in dangerous areas. On the distribution front, Lallana (seven) ranked second behind Coutinho (nine) for key passes, underlining his dual threat from a Fantasy perspective.

The Reds’ agreeable schedule through to the New Year (SWA, new, WBA, wat, LEI, sun) furnishes their squad with a great opportunity to build some momentum off the back of the Etihad showdown. Daniel Sturridge’s fresh injury concerns places greater emphasis on Liverpool’s midfield assets to maraud forward and trouble the scoresheet, ensuring that Lallana remains on our radar as we head into the festive period..

Dan Gosling

Since being comprehensively beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 10, Bournemouth have tackled their subsequent match-ups with a renewed purpose. Although they’ve only notched two goals since that 5-1 defeat, only Spurs tallied more attempts (53 compared to 52) in the last three Gameweeks, while Liverpool just edged out the Cherries with regards to key passes (42 to 40) – illustrating their new-found attacking menace.

Joshua King – by virtue of his out-of-position potential – has inevitably surfaced as an enticing source of Bournemouth coverage, yet the underlying statistics support the notion that Dan Gosling (4.4) also fits the bill as a promising fifth midfielder. Since Gameweek 11, no midfielder has chalked up as many shots inside the box (nine) as the former Newcastle United recruit, who went stride for stride with Philippe Coutinho in terms of total attempts (12). Bestowed the license to push into advanced positions with the security of Andrew Surman at the pivot, Gosling also amassed more penalty-box touches (23) than any midfielder in the last three rounds of fixtures.

Next on the agenda for Eddie Howe’s men is a home clash against Everton. The Toffees have conceded just five goals on their travels but – despite playing one fewer road fixture than half the field – they still rank sixth for shots inside the box conceded (58) in away matches. Furthermore, for all their offensive flamboyance, Everton shipped 11 goals in their previous seven outings, earning just one clean sheet along the way.

Troy Deeney

Adapting to the unique milieu of the Premier League wasn’t an instantaneous process for Troy Deeney (5.1) – as evidenced by his nine blanks at the start of the campaign – but he’s found his comfort zone of late, netting in three of his last four starts. The Watford captain has understandably been overshadowed by his strike partner, Odion Ighalo (seven goals and three assists), but the former could yet triumph in this internal contest.

Deeney and Ighalo posted remarkably similar stats over the last four Gameweeks, with both men managing 13 strikes at goal. The Nigerian frontman registered three more shots inside the box (13 compared to 10) than Deeney, who in turn edged out his counterpart for shots on target (six to five). In appreciation of their similar production the final third, Deeney’s spot-kick duty and cheaper valuation (5.1 compared 5.7) provide us with food for thought.

Watford’s fixture list turns nasty from Gameweek 17, so the Hornets will be desperate to deliver the goods across their upcoming trio of favourable fixtures (avl, NOR, sun). The presence of two road clashes shouldn’t serve as a deterrent, either, given that Quique Sanchez Flores’ troops have drawn just one blank on the road.