Rafael Van der Vaart gets back amongst the points as Gareth Bale misses out with an ankle knock. Wayne Rooney grabs another goal, while Craig Bellamy gives Kenny Dalglish plenty to ponder with another impressive performance…
Antonio Valencia
The winger was again preferred to Ashley Young in the United first XI, lining up on the right flank with Nani out left. Valencia wasted little time in vindicating Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision, providing an assist for Wayne Rooney within the first minute of the game and adding to his trio of assists last week against Wolves. Priced at 7.8, he’ll surely be the subject of plenty investment over the next few days, with home clashes against Wigan and Blackburn on the horizon.
Wayne Rooney
His return to form continued at QPR, with an early goal allowing United to settle early at Loftus Road. Added to his brace against Wolves last time out, Rooney is threatening to start another of his scoring streaks, having previously gone eight games without a goal. With his eye for goal restored, those aforementioned home clashes with Wigan and Blackburn will see many consider him as a viable captaincy alternative to Robin Van Persie over gameweeks 18 and 19.
Craig Bellamy
The Welshman was a constant menace to the home side throughout at Villa Park. With corner kick duties also part of his repertoire, Bellamy added an assist to his early goal thanks to a Martin Skrtel header, though his temperament got the better of him again, as he picked up his third booking in a row. This was only his fourth start of the season and Bellamy has failed to score or assist in only one of those appearances.
Martin Skrtel
The centre-half is proving to be a viable alternative to Jose Enrique in the Liverpool back-four of late. With Jamie Carragher increasingly marginalised, Skrtel has developed a solid understanding with Daniel Agger at the heart of the Reds’ back-four and returned a goal and clean sheet at Villas Park yesterday. At 6.0 to Enrique’s 5.8, Skrtel is only 4 points behind the Spaniard and has now netted twice this season, more than any other member of Kenny Dalglish’s defensive unit.
Jonjo Shelvey
Back from a loan spell with Blackpool which helped him pick up the Championship Player of the Month gong, Kenny Dalglish threw Shelvey into his starting XI, deploying him in front of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, pushed up in support of Luis Suarez. Shelvey reacted with an impressive attacking display, that suggested that he may well contest starts in future weeks. Fantasy managers should be on high alert to his potential – as a 4.8 midfielder, Shelvey would be a hot property if he were to look more secure in the Liverpool lineup.
Rafael Van der Vaart
With Jermain Defoe missing out against Sunderland, the Dutchman was initially partnered alongside Emmanuel Adebayor up top but Aaron Lennon’s withdrawal halfway through the first half saw Van der Vaart moved out right, as Roman Pavlyuchenko came on. His assist for the Russian’s winner was the first time Van der Vaart has contributed to a Spurs goal since gameweek 10 and with Gareth Bale also failing to make an appearance for the first time this season, those who chose to hold onto his services were rewarded with a timely boost.
Harry Redknapp r confirmed post-match that Lennon looks to have torn a hamstring but the Spurs boss is hopeful that Bale will recover from a sprained ankle in time for Thursday’s match against Chelsea. Lennon’s injury leaves Spurs boss with something of a quandary, though. He could retain Van der Vaart wide right, though Bale has also played there this season, too. With Defoe looking likely to be fit and Niko Krancjar and Steven Pienaar available, ‘Arry certainly still has plenty options for the all-London showdown at the Lane.
David Silva
The Spaniard’s winner at the Etihad was, incredibly, his first home goal since the opening day of the season. Silva’s overall consistency, however, means he has only failed to either score or assist in 4 of the 16 gameweeks so far- two of those have been as a sub. He has now edged ahead of Nani as the top-scoring midfielder again, sitting on 100 points.
