Dirk Kuyt grabs the goals but Luis Suarez is the star of the show as Liverpool hand Man United their third defeat in five league games to keep the title race wide open. Jamie Carragher’s x-rated challenge on Nani sees many a Fantasy Manager await United’s verdict on the severity of their winger’s injury. Meanwhile at Molineux, Jermaine Defoe finally scores as Wolves and Spurs share the spoils in a six-goal thriller that paid fitting tribute to the late Dean Richards. Here’s the Scout Notes from yesterday’s extraordinary games.
Kenny Dalglish opted for a 4-4-2 formation for the Anfield clash, mirroring that of Man United, and it was a decision that paid off handsomely. With a hamstring injury keeping Martin Kelly sidelined, Glen Johnson started at right-back, giving Fabio Aurelio a chance at left-back. Aurelio lasted only 24 minutes before leaving the proceedings injured and Johnson moved back to the left-back berth in which he has impressed so much at late. Jamie Carragher shifted to right-back, a switch which was to have severe repercussions for United.
Steven Gerrard recovered from injury to take his place in the midfield engine room, as Luis Suarez was joined up front by Dirk Kuyt. The Dutchman enjoyed a trio of tap-ins (and subsequently picked up the maximum 3 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points) for the most straightforward of hat-tricks against Liverpool’s bitter rivals, but it was Suarez who impressed throughout, with a display of sublime skill that saw him pick up two assists and 2 Bonus Points. The hat-trick was the first of Kuyt’s Liverpool career and he paid tribute to Suarez, admitting the goals were “a bit special“.
It seems unlikely that Kuyt will continue up front much longer, however, as the game also saw Andy Carroll’s first appearance in a Liverpool jersey following his January move. Suarez admitted before the game that, although he’s only trained with the big target man on a handful of occasions, their on-pitch partnership already feels likeone to savour.
Investment in Suarez and his Liverpool team-mates could well be tempered by a fixture list that show three away trips in the next four, with a tricky Anfield clash with City thrown in. Liverpool have hardly been free-scoring away from home so things will need to improve if Suarez and Carroll are to offer potential as Fantasy investments.
Nemanja Vidic’s red card at Stamford Bridge last gameweek meant Sir Alex Ferguson travelled to Anfield without his first-choice centre half pairing, with Rio Ferdinand still sidelined. Wes Brown partnered Chris Smalling in the heart of the Red Devils’ back-four but failed to deal with a rampant performance from the home side. Rafael also earned a recall at right-back, with John O’Shea dropping to the bench. Dimitar Berbatov earned his first start in four league games but it was Javier Hernandez-dropped at the Bulgarian’s expense- who grabbed a meaningless consolation at the death.
Illness prevented Darren Fletcher from starting and United missed the Scotsman’s grit in the centre of the pitch, but of more concern to Ferguson will be the injury that forced Nani to leave the proceedings, following a poorly timed challenge by Jamie Carragher. As mentioned in an article by johnfinlay last night, the winger is expected to be examined at the club’s training ground today and hopefully they will shed some light on the situation. With a media blackout before and after yesterday’s game, it was only the twitter feed of Rio Ferdinand that offered any opinion on the result.
Wolves are continuing to show a real fighting spirit in their battle to stave off relegation; their 3-3 draw at home to Spurs leaves Wigan two points adrift at the bottom of the table and with just one defeat in their last five games, Mick McCarthy’s side have every chance of beating the drop. Big Mick was relatively happy with the result, describing it post-match as a “valuable point“
They had to do it without the services of Jamie O’Hara, who was unable to play against his parent club. Nenad Milijas started in centre midfield instead and helped himself to two assists and 1 Bonus Point. He now has four assists in his last four games. Matt Jarvis, so impressive of late, grabbed the other assist but it was Kevin Doyle who shone for the home side, with a brace and 2 Bonus Points; that’s 24 FPL points in his last 3 home games for the forward.
With a crucial Champions League tie against AC Milan on the horizon, Harry Redknapp juggled his squad for Spurs’ trip to Molineux. Luka Modric played left wing, Sandro and Jermaine Jenas started in centre midfield and Alan Hutton returned at right-back, as William Gallas shifting to the heart of the back-four.
Having played thirteen league games this season without finding the net, Jermain Defoe finally broke his duck, scoring twice and picking up 3 Bonus Points. Spurs have an enticing run of league games up next (WHM, wig, STK, mcy & ARS, WBA) and there will no doubt be investment in their squad, but Defoe’s highly erratic performances will surely deter most investors. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his second goal in two games and also grabbed an assist, but Spurs just cannot tighten up at the back, conceding 3 goals against a team near the bottom for the second game in a row.
Good news for Harry Redknapp was the return of Gareth Bale to the first-team; the Welshman came off the subs bench with just over 20 minutes left and after the match Redknapp confirmed he is confident that both Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart will start the game against Milan at White Hart Lane this upcoming week. Both will be on the minds of Fantasy Managers once the Milan tie has passed.
