The Stock Check – Gameweek 34 – Sunday

Christian Benteke rises to the double Gameweek occasion to match his biggest haul of the season just when it mattered most. Elsewhere, Manchester United’s defence delivers, while Jose Mourinho shows caution with the talents of Marcus Rashford. Here’s the Stock Check following Sunday’s events.

Christian Benteke
The Crystal Palace striker has made his initial emphatic bid to be the star asset of Gameweek 34 with his brace at Anfield.

Signed by 148,000+ ahead of Saturday’s deadline, boosting his ownership to just over 506,000, the Belgian was backed by a mere 2.1% of FPL managers with the captaincy.

His two goals took him to five in as many matches and, having sealed the maximum bonus points, Benteke has already matched his best tally of the campaign.

Wednesday’s encounter with Spurs will be a major test of his form, but with Burnley at Selhurst Park in Gameweek 35, Benteke may have another return to come before he gives way to a tide of Wildcards.

Philippe Coutinho
A sublime free-kick handed the Brazilian his fourth goal in five Gameweeks, while his seven shots on goal bettered any other midfielder over the weekend.

However, Coutinho was the one bright spark in an otherwise faltering Liverpool performance; that will be a concern for those seeking to hold firm against the clamour for double Gameweek assets.

Jurgen Klopp’s side face four favourable opponents over the run-in but will perhaps need to get Adam Lallana fit before they can discover their rhythm and cement a top four finish.

Coutinho has shown he can carry on delivering points regardless, but there will be mounting doubts that he will struggle to maintain such form if Klopp cannot inspire an improvement on Sunday’s disappointing display.

Daley Blind, Eric Bailly
While the Middlesbrough defence faltered on Saturday, one game into their double Gameweek, Manchester United’s backline assets have already produced.

Eric Bailly and Daley Blind – as the centre-back pairing – earned plaudits at Burnley as United sealed a third successive shut-out and a fourth in five Gameweeks.

Bailly was second only to Boro’s Ben Gibson for transfers in among defenders, having collected another 102,000+ FPL owners.

By contrast, Blind – one of our three differential picks – was acquired but just over 12,000 managers. But it was the Dutchman who came out on top in the BPS, edging out Bailly having completed more passes to pick up two additional points.

Both Blind and Bailly look set to be named in Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up again come Thursday’s derby at the Etihad – Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are still struggling for fitness, limiting the United manager’s ability to rest Bailly in particular.

Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera
Given the opportunity to lead the attack with Marcus Rashford rested, the Frenchman took his chance with an impressive display.

The goal and assist delivered a 14-point return – Martial’s best tally of the campaign – to add to Jose Mourinho’s options ahead of Thursday’s derby clash.

It is expected that he will make way, with Rashford among those to earn a recall, although Sunday’s performance suggested that Martial could still be a factor and may yet provide us with a midfield differential for United’s double Gameweek 37.

Herrera is perhaps a more realistic target. His assist for Martial’s goal took him to three from his last three Gameweeks which, along with the Gameweek 33 strike against Chelsea, has suddenly elevated him as a mid-price option for our end of season Wildcard. However, like Martial, the Spaniard will surely remain vulnerable to Mourinho’s rotation policy amid their Europa League campaign.

Sergio Aguero
The Argentine’s goal in Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal means he has now struck in six successive starts in all competitions, with seven goals in his last eight appearances.

His latest – a smartly taken one-on-one with Petr Cech – offers another reminder to those pondering an exit, with 59,000 selling the striker ahead of Gameweek 34.

However, with Gabriel Jesus nearing a return and Aguero’s fitness to be assessed ahead of Thursday’s derby following his withdrawal in extra-time, the uncertainty is building. Despite his form, few Fantasy managers will be prepared to risk the hefty investment on Aguero with their Wildcard refresh.

Nacho Monreal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gabriel
While it was Alexis Sanchez who sealed Arsenal’s place in the FA Cup final, it was Arsene Wenger’s decision to retain a three-man defence that provided the most significant development from Sunday’s semi-final victory.

Monreal scored the Gunners’ equaliser, with the excellent Oxlade-Chamberlain providing the cross as his opposite number at right wing-back.

Wenger’s formation promotes both assets as options ahead of the doubles in Gameweek 36 and 37, although the pair will remain vulnerable to rest and rotation.

Gabriel is perhaps the big winner from Wenger’s recent tactical flirtation.

He would seem assured of his start as the right-sided centre-back and, at just 4.8, would certainly present a cut-price route into the Arsenal rearguard should the formation stick.

In Decline

Marcus Rashford
Signed by over 457,000 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 34, much was expected of the 19-year-old striker, only for Mourinho to limit Rashford to a cameo role from the bench at Turf Moor.

Given his 120 minutes on Thursday and with the derby clash beckoning, that decision was perhaps predictable but still hard to swallow for his recent investors.

Rashford will surely return to the fray for Thursday’s clash at the Etihad, although with Mourinho conceding post-match that he will be prioritising the Europa League over the run-in, it remains to be seen whether the starlet’s pitch time is curtailed.

Patrick van Aanholt
Returning from the bench against Leicester City, we expected the Dutchman to be reinstated in the Crystal Palace starting XI for the Sunday’s Anfield visit.

But Jeffrey Schlupp was retained at left-back and played his part in the Eagles’ 2-1 victory.

Bought by 28,000+ ahead of Saturday’s deadline, those managers will be hoping that van Aanholt gets his start against Spurs on Wednesday, although the Gameweek 35 home encounter with Burnley may well be the more profitable outing.

It remains to be seen if we can safely target him for that clash as a pre-Wildcard differential.