The Digest – Gameweek 23

Liverpool’s summer signing from Hoffenheim makes a statement of intent with a second double-figure haul in three Gameweeks. Chelsea’s momentum continues to build under Guus Hiddink, whilst Sergio Aguero’s stunning form seems to have solved our weekly armband quandary.

The Player

Two goals and an assist in Liverpool’s stunning 5-4 comeback win at Norwich has catapulted Robert Firmino into many Fantasy managers’ plans over the last few days.

Snapped up by Brendan Rodgers over the summer, the Brazilian was afforded just three starts in the first eight Gameweeks and failed to earn any attacking returns prior to Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Anfield.

Since recovering from injury in Gameweek 10, Firmino has started 11 of the last 13 league outings and has played a part in 50% of Liverpool’s goals when on the pitch under Klopp.

The Brazilian’s 18-point haul – his highest of the season – arrives just two Gameweeks after he bagged a brace against Arsenal. Having produced a goal and two assists away to City in mid-November, he’s now served up double-figure returns in three of his previous ten starts.

With Christian Benteke failing to impress and Daniel Sturridge seemingly glued to the Anfield treatment table, Firmino looks poised to retain his spot as a “false nine” in Klopp’s 4-3-3 formation for the time being, offering us a viable out-of-position prospect in the centre of the park.

After next week’s trip to Leicester has passed, the Reds are handed four home fixtures in six, with trips to Sunderland and Palace also on their agenda.

Subject to over 98,000 transfers in so far, Firmino is the most sought-after player in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game this week. At a time where the points have dried up for popular picks such as Mesut Ozil and Kevin De Bruyne, the Liverpool midfielder – at just 7.9 and owned by only 6% of FPL managers – could prove the canniest of acquisitions.

The Team

A 1-0 win over Arsenal extended Chelsea’s unbeaten league run to seven matches since the departure of Jose Mourinho, as the champions made a dent in their hosts’ title charge.

Diego Costa’s match-winner took his tally to five goals and two assists under the Dutchman’s guidance, compared to three goals and two assists in the opening 17 Gameweeks. Providing he can shake off the minor knee problem that forced him off at the Emirates, the Spain international’s transformation has brought him into contention for our three-man frontlines for arguably the first time this term.

In midfield, Hiddink’s recent deployment of Cesc Fabregas in the central support role – as evidenced by his goal and assist at home to Everton in the previous Gameweek – could also re-ignite his flagging season, whilst Eden Hazard’s return from injury against Arsene Wenger’s outfit offers the Blues’ boss further reason for optimism. Willian has also thrived since Mourinho made his exit, serving up a goal and five assists in seven appearances.

At the back, Chelsea have now collected a clean sheet in all three away outings under Hiddink – by contrast, they kept out their opponents just once away from home whilst the Special One was at the helm. Although the Blues have conceded in all four recent home fixtures, Branislav Ivanovic continues to thrive in the final third – without any attacking returns until Mourinho left, he now has one goal and three assists, supplemented by nine bonus points, in the last seven.

With in-form options from back to front, the Blues now prepare for a kind run of fixtures that could maintain their recent renaissance. Trips to Watford and Norwich in the next six are allied with three home fixtures (MUN, NEW, STO) with sides that have struggled for a cutting edge, strengthening their case for inclusion in our Fantasy plans.

The Talking Point

Sergio Aguero’s back-to-back double-figure hauls against Palace and West Ham look to have all but settled our weekly armband conundrum, with the in-form Argentine looking back to his predatory best.

At such a lofty price of 13.4, though, Aguero’s acquisition does force us to tighten the purse strings elsewhere and with the likes of Dele Alli an obvious enabler in the centre of the park, it may well be that we’ll start to see far more template teams in the second half of the season.

With less variety, the quest for differentials could be key to a climb in overall rankings. Riyad Mahrez, the most-owned player in the FPL game has a single assist in six. As we touched on above, midfield big-hitters such as Mesut Ozil (a goal and assist in the last six Gameweeks) and Kevin De Bruyne (seven blanks in nine), who are the second and fourth most popular options in the centre of the park, are both looking shadows of their former selves. Fortunately, this arrives at a time where the likes of Firmino is flourishing and Alexis Sanchez (9% ownership) signalled his recovery by emerging from the bench against Chelsea.

Up top, the 49%-owned Romelu Lukaku has now scored in just one of Everton’s last six, with his failure to deliver against Swansea all the more galling for those who captained him over Aguero. Chelsea’s in-form Costa sits in a mere 6% of sides, whilst the 7.0-priced Charlie Austin (0.6% owned) wasted no time in reminding us of his qualities by bagging a debut winner at Old Trafford.

Given their vast ownership, taking a chance and parting company with popular picks could backfire if they rediscover their form and force us down the rankings. On the other hand, for those Fantasy managers brave enough to roll the dice in order to eke out an advantage, it may well be the best way forward.