The Scout Mission – Gameweek 26

We turn our attentions to the weekend’s 10 fixtures now and assess some of the key topics for the Gameweek ahead. Diego Costa’s chance to shake up the template, Philippe Coutinho’s Liverpool return, Alexis Sanchez against the Leicester defence and Dimitri Payet’s form in the central support role all find their way onto this evening’s menu.

Costa as the differential….
It’s six goals and two assists in seven appearances for the Chelsea striker under Guus Hiddink after Sunday’s late leveler against United. With many Fantasy managers planning to acquire Jamie Vardy from Gameweek 27 in light of Leicester’s fixtures, Costa remains very much under the radar and sits in less than 7% of FPL sides ahead of a home encounter with Newcastle. Another scoring display and Costa may well turn more heads as a viable template-breaker.

Alexis against the Foxes defence….
Aside from a goal and assist against Burnley in the FA Cup, it’s fair to say that the Arsenal winger has flattered to deceive upon his return from injury. Sanchez’ recent trio of blanks, allied with his previous displays, means he has served up a single assist in his last eight league appearances. Whilst a home clash with Leicester’s resilient rearguard is no easy task, the Chilean has form against the Foxes, with his King Power hat-trick in Gameweek 7 kick starting a run of form that produced 46 points in just three rounds of fixtures. Will he get one over Claudio Ranieri’s men again as the Gunners look for a vital win or can the Foxes defence defy him?

Coutinho’s return to the Liverpool fold….
Liverpool’s playmaker served a reminder of his threat in the final third with a finely taken free-kick against West Ham in the Reds’ midweek FA Cup loss. Hauled off after 59 minutes at Upton Park, Coutinho could well be unleashed from the start as Jurgen Klopp’s men make their way to Villa Park on Sunday. Given that Roberto Firmino has bagged three of his four double-figure hauls in the last five Gameweeks without Coutinho on the pitch, the latter’s return to the fold gives us food for thought as we assess Liverpool’s form ahead of their yet-to-be-announced double Gameweek. We’ll also be watching out for Daniel Sturridge’s minutes, though the striker seems far more likely to earn time off the bench as Klopp wraps him in cotton wool for the Capital One Cup final.

Bilic’s tactics….
The West Ham manager’s decision to move from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 at St Mary’s saw his side fall to defeat for only the second time in 12 Gameweeks. Furthermore, the 1-0 loss saw the Hammers fail to score in a match with Dimitri Payet in the first XI for only the second time this term, with the Frenchman failing to register a single attempt on goal at St Mary’s. Payet has now blanked on five of six appearances since returning from injury, though his owners will take solace in last week’s move to the central support role, given he produced points in eight of the first 10 fixtures from that position. With a trip to Norwich preceding a plum Gameweek 27 home encounter against Sunderland, his Carrow Road output will be eagerly monitored.

Khazri’s momentum against United….
The Sunderland new boy wasted little time in announcing himself to Fantasy managers on his first league start last weekend. Handed license to wreak havoc at Anfield, Khazri proved the catalyst to a late 2-2 comeback by earning the assists for both the Black Cats’ goals. With their tails up on the back of that late point, Big Sam’s boys will be looking to the winter signing to do the damage again as they welcome a United defence with a single clean sheet in their last seven on the road.

Lingard as the fifth midfielder….
Last week’s opener at the Bridge took the United winger’s tally to three goals in the last five Gameweeks. Having also netted against Newcastle and Stoke over that period, Lingard has been subject to a price hike this week, rising from 4.2 to 4.3 in the FPL game, yet with a 1% ownership, remains very much under the radar. With a trip to Sunderland kick starting a run of matches that also pits him against Watford, West Brom and Palace’s porous defences in the next five, Lingard has the chance to strengthen his claim for our consideration, starting at the Stadium of Light against a Black Cats backline that’s been breached in each of the last 11 Gameweeks.

Daniels for our defences….
The Bournemouth spot-kick taker is another cheap, in-form option that remains overlooked. Daniels has bagged a goal and two assists in the last four but despite a kind 4.6 price tag, sits in only 4% of Fantasy teams ahead of clashes with Stoke, Watford, Newcastle and Swansea in the upcoming five rounds of fixtures. With the template far more settled in midfield and up front, we’re keeping a keen eye on the left-back’s display against the Potters this weekend as we look to freshen up our five-man backlines.

Adebayor’s form as the fixtures turn kind….
Named in the first XI for the first time since joining Palace in last weekend’s draw at Swansea, the Togo international fired three attempts without success at the Liberty before making way on 85 minutes. With three goals in their last eight league outings, the Eagles are desperate for an extra cutting edge and Adebayor looks in line for his first home start against Watford as Alan Pardew goes in search of a first win since Gameweek 17. Up against a defence with a single clean sheet in eight, Adebayor then faces back-to-back clashes with West Brom and Sunderland as he attempts to force his way into contention at a price of just 5.8.

Austin’s minutes…
Passed fit for the weekend clash with West Ham, the Saints’ winter signing was afforded another bench role as Ronald Koeman opted for the fit-again Graziano Pelle up front. The Italian’s blank means he has now failed to score since Gameweek 11 and his starting place looks in doubt for this Saturday’s trip to Swansea. Having emerged from the bench to net against United on his debut, it’s surely only a matter of time before Austin barges his way to the front of the St Mary’s pecking order up top.

Koeman’s defensive set-up…
The Southampton manager has a defensive dilemma on his hands as he heads to the Liberty in search of a sixth straight clean sheet. Koeman reverted to a three-man backline for last week’s win over West Ham and with Matt Targett injured, he fielded Ryan Bertrand at left wing-back, allowing Maya Yoshida a rare start at centre-half. With Targett passed fit to face Swansea, though, will Koeman bring the 3.8-priced youngster back into contention or will Yoshida be rewarded for his winner against the Hammers and retain his place in the first XI?