The Digest – Gameweek 31

Southampton’s in-form frontman spearheads a dramatic win over Liverpool. Norwich’s bid for survival takes a step in the right direction, whilst Riyad Mahrez and Harry Kane stake yet another claim to remain in our wildcards plans for the run-in, despite the lack of a double.

The Player

A goal and two assists in Southampton’s stunning comeback win over Liverpool continued Graziano Pelle’s recent return to form.

Having bagged a brace in a 2-1 win at Stoke in the previous Gameweek, the Italian served up a 15-point haul on Saturday – his highest of the season – to take his tally to nine goals and seven assists in 20 league starts.

Pelle’s weekend haul means he’s racked up 28 points in the last two Gameweeks – put into perspective, Sergio Aguero has produced 30 points in his previous seven.

Granted, the Saints’ lack of a double Gameweek is a major deterrent for any would-be investors with wildcards in hand right now. Nonetheless, Pelle’s penchant for going on scoring streaks – he racked up four goals and five assists in five outings between Gameweeks 4-8 – suggests he could still thrive as a Fantasy option over the run-in.

Sitting just four points off fourth spot, the Saints’ testing trip to Leicester is then followed by a trio of encounters with Newcastle, Everton and Villa’s dodgy defences. With a Champions League spot still in the balance, the Italian’s renewed confidence may well prove decisive as Ronald Koeman’s side look to build momentum on the back of their weekend win against the Merseysiders.

The Team

Whilst Newcastle and Sunderland had to settle for a point apiece in the Tyne-Wear derby, relegation rivals Norwich distanced themselves from the bottom three with a vital away win at West Brom.

Having ground out a goalless draw with City the previous weekend, Alex Neil’s men managed to nullify a Baggies side that had picked up ten points in four, thanks to a trio of wins over Everton, Palace and United and a draw at the King Power.

With their confidence on the up, Norwich are showing they have the stomach for a fight and the stats show they have tightened up considerably at the back, conceding just one big chance over their last four matches. For those who have already played their wildcards, the likes of Timm Klose – with five bonus points collected over the last two – is emerging as a late-season budget enabler at 4.2. Wes Hoolahan, with two goals and a pair of assists in his last four home fixtures, and weekend goal hero Robbie Brady (two goals in his last four starts) may prove influential in the absence of the injured Nathan Redmond.

Up next for the Carrow Road club is a trio of fixtures that may ultimately determined their top-flight status. The Canaries entertain both Newcastle and Sunderland in a pair of proverbial six-pointers, with a trip to Selhurst Park – where Palace have lost six on the bounce – sandwiched in between.

With a double Gameweek 37 offering back-to-back home encounters against United and Watford, Norwich may yet harbour some Fantasy appeal as Neil attempts to prevent a slide back into the Championship.

The Talking Point

Last week’s double Gameweek announcements give us plenty to plan and prepare for over the current international break.

As we look to assemble our squads to take advantage of the remaining schedule, there’s a concern that going “all in” on the double Gameweek sides, and using a bench boost chip to field 15 players with a pair of fixtures, may be a little overzealous.

This is compounded by the recent showings of Riyad Mahrez and Harry Kane, who are becoming increasingly crucial to their side’s title bids.

Whereas Jamie Vardy has scored just once in the last seven Gameweeks, Mahrez has averaged 6.7 points over the same period and netted Leicester’s winner in two of the last three. Kane 16-point return at home to Bournemouth, meanwhile, means he has delivered successive double-figure hauls for the first time this term. At a time when Sergio Aguero is struggling for form, the Spurs man has proven a very capable armband alternative.

The Gameweek 35 schedule, where six teams – including five of the sides with doubles in the previous round of fixtures – also has to be factored into our planning. Whilst the likes of West Ham, Everton and United face the weekend off, Leicester and Spurs are both handed home comforts, with Mahrez hosting Swansea and Kane welcoming West Brom to the Lane.

Given that the duo are two of the three most popular players in Fantasy Premier League, with 68% and 46% ownerships respectively, parting company won’t come without risk – Mahrez has 11 double-figure hauls to his name this season, whilst Kane is now up to seven, highlighting their explosive potential.

Whilst the allure of the double Gameweeks is irresistible, maintaining a balance to our 15-man squads – in terms of both form players and fixtures – will be key. Obviously, opting for a double Gameweek player could pay off but given their current levels of form and reliability, is parting company with one, or both, an unnecessary risk too far?