A funny old day, with Keane, N’Zogbia and Modric all benefiting from a good old hoof up the park. The Baggies benefiting from another dreadful City performance. And Adebayor seemingly paying the price for Arca’s x-certificate challenge at the Cottage. It all adds up to another very average gameweek as all eyes and hopes for some decent points turn to Goodison…

The Lineups

The day kicked off at the Hawthorns where Mowbray got all brave and went 4-4-2. Bednar and Moore started up front then, with Greening shifting to a deeper midfield role – a blow to those who have invested of late, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 4-5-1 away from home. Brunt dropped to the bench then, while Kim came in for Valero who had flu.

As for City, Benjani made a miracle recovery from a hamstring injury to start up front with Vassell. The striker then suffered a groin injury in the second half and was later subbed. Ball started for Garrido and left back – that’s surely the death knell for the Spaniard as a fantasy selection.

Over at St James’ Park, Martins failed his fitness test so Ameobi started with Owen up front. The likes of Duff and Viduka were on the bench but came on to construct the winner which will add further complications to Newcastle likely lineups over Christmas. More on that in a bit.

Redknapp was without Woodgate who is still struggling with a back injury but King did make a return to the defence alongside Dawson. Bent missed out with tonsillitis so Pavlyuchenko started again in the 4-5-1, with Modric playing just off him. He and Lennon recovered from knocks to start. Huddlestone started with Jenas sidelined with a groin injury.

Finally, at the Emirates, Wenger made just on change with Nasri returning for Diaby as expected. Rafa was orchestrating the game from home whilst gazing at his offending kidney stone in a jar but had already stamped his trademark rotation all over the Liverpool teamsheet. He recalled Agger and Insua to his defence for Hyypia and Dossena. Curiously, Mascherano made way for Lucas (who Rafa seems determined to crowbar into his plans one way or another). Keane earned a recall up front as Kuyt shifted to the right and Benayoun dropped to the bench.

The Form

Defensively it was an awful day for all concerned with not a single clean sheet in sight. In attacking terms, it wasn’t much better with few popular fantasy signings, Van Persie aside, amongst the scorers.

At the Hawthorns both Moore and Bednar will have done their reputation as possible budget signings no harm with a goal apiece. With Chelsea, Villa and United to come in the next 5 games, it’s doubtful whether anyone will be sniffing around just yet unless it’s purely to free up funds.

City’s form is becoming a major concern. Defeats are one thing but it’s now just 2 goals in the last 4 Premier League games. Robinho and Wright-Phillips have already been cast aside by most and it appears that only Ireland remains worth persevering with given his price. The emergence of strong mid-price options in Malbranque, Taylor and Bullard yesterday however, will have many Ireland owners twitchy. If City and Ireland fail to profit from the currently generous Hull defence on Boxing day, then you can expect more sales. Personally, I still feel he has the fixtures to come good but he needs to be shifted back into a central role rather than be employed out on the left as he has been in Robinho’s absence.

At St James’, N’Zogbia’s goal would have alerted many a fantasy manager seeing as he is classed as a defender and playing on the left wing. By the end of the game however, the issue with N’Zogbia was revealed as Duff came off the bench to score a smart winner. Duff will likely earn a recall to the starting lineup at some point, casting doubt over N’Zogbia’s potential.

Viduka’s arrival after half-an-hour will give him the opportunity to make starts over Christmas but the slot alongside Owen is very much in doubt, with Martins and Viduka going head-to-head for that role.

The goal from Modric may well put him back on the fantasy radar as another mid-price midfielder worth consideration. Spurs have good strong fixtures with some kind opponents and 3 of 5 at home. That’s not necessarily a good thing however, as Harry’s side have struggled to score goals at the Lane. Indeed, Spurs have just 5 goals in the last 6 Premier League games – that stat calls for caution if you’re considering investment in Tottenham’s attacking players.

The final game at the Emirates did a lot of damage to Arsenal’s hopes at Villa Park on Boxing day with Adebayor and Fabregas both likely to miss out through suspension and injury respectively. Bendtner and Diaby are likely to profit from their absence as Arsenal’s squad and fading title challenge begin to look flimsy again. The match against Liverpol went to script and proved a frustrating one for fantasy managers. No clean sheet and few attacking points.

Agger’s recall to the Liverpool side and his assist would have repaid those who had the patience to stick with him but Skrtel’s imminent return will still cast doubt over the Dane’s long-term position in the side. Significantly, it’s no clean sheet in the last 3 for Rafa’s side, having recorded 4 in a row before that. In attacking terms, 5 goals in the last 5 Premier League games is also hardly earth-shattering stuff for league leaders.

Personally, I don’t like Liverpool’s next few games. The home game with Bolton could be a typically tight Anfield affair and after that they face tricky trips to Newcastle and Stoke. Then it’s the Merseyside derby at Anfield. With United facing up to a double gameweek in January, it could be time to transfer your defensive cash from Liverpool to United.

Injuries and Bans

First off, Fabregas suffered a nasty-looking knee injury in a challenge with Alonso and the early thoughts are that he could be sitting out for a period of 6-8 weeks as a result.

Newcastle’s Ameobi sustained a knock and he was replaced by Viduka on 30 minutes.

The Adebayor dismissal (puts on hat of slight Arsenal bias) was a joke. Andy Gray was speculating that Howard Webb had Julio Arca’s savage challenge on Fulham’s Andrew Johnson in mind and you have to say, there could be something in that. The Arsenal striker will now miss Boxing Day’s trip to Villa Park. Bendtner will likely come in and so the chances of a Villa clean sheet increase that little bit more considering that Fabregas will also be absent.

West Brom’s Robinson faces a one match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season against City. He will be available for the trip to Chelsea on Boxing day but will miss the home game with Spurs.