The Stock Check – Gameweek 6 – Saturday

Liverpool’s midfield burst out in points yet again. Zlatan Ibrahimovic draws a blank despite United’s first half dismantling of Leicester City, while Sergio Aguero resumes normal service with a brace in another Manchester City victory. Here’s a Stock Check following Saturday’s action…

On the Rise

Marcus Rashford
Inevitably, the 19-year-old played his part in the Old Trafford first half massacre of champions Leicester City, prodding home a close-range effort from a well-worked corner.

It’s three goals in three Premier League starts for Rashford and, with Wayne Rooney benched by Jose Mourinho, his stock enjoys a significant boost.

At just 6.8, Rashford is presenting a cut-price route into United’s attack with a goal threat that can arguably challenge even Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Rashford is already attracting big investment ahead of the Gameweek 7 home meeting with Stoke City – an overnight price rise looks almost certain.

Son Heung-min
Another brace, including a sublime curling shot for his second, ensured that the South Korean inflicted further damage on Erik Lamela and the rest of the Spurs midfield to emerge as the go-to option.

Son’s starts will always be threatened by rotation but, in this form, Mauricio Pochettino surely cannot consider benching Son.

Philippe Coutinho
The debate on Liverpool’s top midfield asset rumbles on.

Coutinho undoubtedly strengthened his case in Saturday’s thrashing of Hull City, firing another spectacular strike from range and providing a pair of assists.

Back down to 8.1 after recent sales, Coutinho’s 28% ownership is firmly back on the rise.

Adam Lallana
But the Lallana option remains tempting. Another outstanding display delivered a goal and a pair of assists as the former Saint goes on pitching for a slot in our midfields via his kind 7.1 price tag. It’s now three goals and three assists in six starts for Lallana.

Jermain Defoe
When Sunderland need goals, Defoe is so often the provider, but while the striker was able to rescue the Black Cats last season, doubts are already surfacing this time around.

David Moyes’ defence conceded another three to slip to a damaging defeat against Crystal Palace, indicating that Defoe will need to increase his output to have any chance of repeating last season’s Houdini act under Sam Allardyce.

Priced at 7.1, remarkably, Defoe now sits level on points with Ibrahimovic on 46 but costs 4.6 less – he also has West Brom and Stoke City in his next two. But interest in Defoe is likely to be tempered by the Rashford option.

Sergio Aguero
Aguero eased seamlessly back into the goalscoring groove on a day which saw his big Golden Boot and FPL captaincy rival blank at Old Trafford.

Acquired by 410,000+ before Gameweek 6, he already tops the “transfers in” table with multiple price rises possible prior to the Gameweek 7 trip to Spurs.

Can any Fantasy manager afford to ignore Aguero? Dare we look beyond him with the FPL armband?

In this form and this City side, it’s difficult even to start building an argument.

Raheem Sterling
Sterling took his fourth goal of the season superbly, calmly stroking home into the corner having bewildered Kyle Naughton with a step-over.

While Kevin De Bruyne returned a pair of assists, Sterling has also provided points in five of six Gameweeks and looks to have the edge in terms of presence and goal threat in the box.

As always, the 2.3 price difference is also a key factor and with De Bruyne’s injury confirmed by Pep Guardiola, Saturday saw a big swing towards Sterling.

Alexis Sanchez
Leading the attack for Arsenal once again, the Chilean produced a third double figure return of the season and has now provided four goals and three assists in five starts.

On this form, Arsene Wenger may just keep Sanchez in a central attacking role and with Burnley, Swansea, Middlesbrough and Sunderland up next; further big returns look on the cards.

Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi
If Sanchez remains up front, then both Walcott and Iwobi look unlikely to be threatened on the flanks – at least until Aaron Ramsey makes a return.

Walcott now has three goals and two assists for a 7.5 price point, while Iwobi continues to look tempting at 5.8 as the cheapest path into the Gunners’ attack.

Hector Bellerin
Arsenal’s right-back justified his standing at the top of our Watchlist with a first assist on his way to fetching an 11-point return.

With just 23 clean sheets so far this season, compared to 39 at this point in 2015/16, investment in expensive defensive assets is not advised.

However, Arsenal’s fixtures remain very strong over the next four, suggesting that a forward-thinking Bellerin could go on rewarding his 24% ownership.

Salomon Rondon
A well-drilled set-piece routine handed the Venezuelan his third goal of the season in just five starts.

Rondon’s underlying statistics had hinted at improved returns and, in the last two Gameweeks, he has delivered.

However, faith in Tony Pulis’ attack remains low and, with Defoe and Rashford available and a hellish schedule of fixtures to come, Rondon’s ownership is unlikely to flourish.

Christian Benteke
A last minute soaring header earned the Belgian his second Palace goal but, more significantly, Benteke’s numbers demonstrated a vastly increased level of threat compared to his previous two Gameweeks. However, stiffening fixtures over the next four fixtures will provide sterner tests than Sunderland.

The Bournemouth defence
A second clean sheet of the season was one of just two in the Gameweek so far.

It meant that Artur Boruc sits top of the current keeper rankings, with right-back Adam Smith lying third amongst defenders.

With pleasing fixtures in the next five, Eddie Howe’s rearguard could prove an unlikely source of investment over the next month.

Smith is, however, an early doubt for the Gameweek 7 trip to Watford having picked up a nasty facial injury late on against the Toffees.

In Decline

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Saturday’s blank was only the second in six Premier League starts, suggesting that there is little need to panic and clear out Ibrahimovic just yet.

But the rise of Rashford and Aguero’s haul are the key factors which appear to have triggered a continued exodus.

Already top of the “transfers out” column, the Swede suffered a 0.2 price loss heading into Gameweek 6; he looks destined to endure a similar dent over the next six days.

It’s Stoke City at Old Trafford up next – that’s about as favourable as it gets but, with Rashford offering potential cover against the Potters, it remains to be seen just how many have the resolve to hold on to the big Swede.

Diego Costa
The five-goal Costa huffed and puffed against Arsenal but ultimately could not cover for what was an abject Chelsea display.

Having gathered his fourth booking of the season, Costa is now the first player to dangle on the suspension tightrope, just a single yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Jamie Vardy & Riyad Mahrez
Sacrificed at half-time with the game lost, the decision revealed just how Claudio Ranieri is prioritising Leicester’s Champions League adventure. Still owned by 16.1% and 17.2%, the act will surely lead to further sales of the Foxes pair.

Eldin Jakupovic
We knew that his start was under threat the moment that David Marshall arrived from Cardiff. Taken out of the firing line for the trip to Anfield, Jakupovic would now seem resigned to a back-up role, despite Marshall shipping five goals to Jurgen Klopp’s lively attack.

Simon Mignolet
Dropped to the bench with Loris Karius snatching the Liverpool keeper’s jersey, like Jakaupovic, the Belgian now seems resigned to cameo roles for the foreseeable future.

Karius at 4.9 is now an option although, with just a single clean sheet, our trust in Klopp’s defence remains shaky.

Roberto Firmino
With Coutinho, Lallana, Sadio Mane and James Milner, all flourishing against Hull City, Firmino was left frozen out of the points to draw his third blank in five starts.

The Brazilian’s owners will now doubtless be eyeing a trade to a Liverpool team-mate, although as his Gameweek 4 brace against Leicester City highlighted, it may be wise to make your choice and keep the faith when it comes to Klopp’s midfield assets.

Firmino’s underlying numbers were certainly encouraging enough to suggest he was unfortunate to suffer the blank.

Wiflried Bony
The Ivorian has toiled in three starts for Stoke City. Withdrawn on the hour-mark, he currently looks unlikely to exploit a batch of improving fixtures over the next month.