Jonathan Walters grabs a penalty as Stoke see off Crawley Town. ‘Arry rings the changes at Stevenage, with four key players ruled out for Spurs. Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez are amongst the goals as Liverpool hammer Brighton to continue their unbeaten domestic cup run and advance to the Sixth Round:
Jonathan Walters
The Irishman had started up front alongside Peter Crouch in the midweek Europa League clash with Valencia but was shifted back into midfield against Crawley yesterday. Walters’ out-of-position status is becoming increasingly reduced as the weeks go by- a clear worry for his 12% Fantasy owners ahead of the upcoming home games with Swansea and Norwich.
With Tony Pulis ringing the changes after Thursday’s 1-0 defeat, Cameron Jerome partnered Crouch up top once again, as Walters was shuffled out to the wing. Despite missing his last spot-kick against West Brom in Gameweek 22, Walters –who has dropped from 6.7 to 6.5 in recent weeks, was still handed penalty duties yesterday, slotting home the opener in the Potters’ 2-0 win.
Peter Crouch
The former Spurs man grabbed Stoke’s second, heading home just after the break to help secure victory. The afore-mentioned home games will perhaps see Fantasy investment in Pulis’ squad and, with Crouch the only real guarantee up front right now, his goal will have turned a few heads. A look at his performances at the Britannia highlights the fact that Crouch has been far from prolific in front of his own fans, though; he has found the net in just two home games this season, with his last coming against Blackburn in Gameweek 13.
Harry Goes 3-5-2
After their 5-0 win over Newcastle, Spurs came back down to earth with a bang yesterday, as Stevenage held Harry Redknapp’s visitors to a goalless draw. The Tottenham boss opted for a 3-5-2 formation, handing Ryan Nelsen his first start for the London outfit, while Louis Saha kept his place up front, with Jermain Defoe coming into the first XI.
Redknapp fielded a much-changed lineup but, despite the likes of Gareth Bale, Scott Parker and Kyle Walker all featuring, the away side were hugely disappointing. Bale was granted a role “in the hole”, tucking in behind the front pair before Redknapp switch to a 4-4-2 on the hour mark, but Spurs rarely threatened, with just five efforts on target all match. A replay date of Wednesday March 7 at the Lane now provisionally penciled in.
Spurs Injury Worries
Post-match, Redknapp outlined the reasons for his host of first-team alterations. Ahead of next Sunday’s north London derby with Arsenal, the Spurs boss gave Fantasy managers plenty to ponder, after revealing he has concerns over four key players. Benoit Assou-Ekotto had a minor groin operation on Monday and is a doubt, Emmanuel Adebayor twisted his knee in training and missed out, Luka Modric is suffering from flu, while Rafael Van der Vaart is still recovering from a calf problem.
The absence of Assou-Ekotto is not only a worry for his 24% Fantasy owners, it may possibly have a knock-on effect on Gareth Bale. The Welshman would be the natural replacement at left-back in Assou-Ekotto’s possible absence, though given his attacking output this term, Redknapp would be more inclined to keep Bale further up the pitch for the Arsenal game, given the Gunners’ current frailties at the back.
Martin Skrtel
The centre-half underlined his increased goal threat by grabbing the opener against the Seagulls. Skrtel headed the Reds on their way within five minutes and has now bagged three goals this term; his highest haul since joining up at Anfield four seasons ago. The Slovakian is Liverpool’s top-scoring FPL defender so far, with 95 points, and with an upturn in fixtures from Gameweek 29 onwards, Skrtel’s 6% ownership –compared to Jose Enrique’s 32%, for example- could prove a handy differential in the final quarter. Elsewhere in defence, Jamie Carragher came in alongside Skrtel in the heart of the back-four, with injury ruling out Daniel Agger.
Luis Suarez
An assist for an own goal, a missed penalty and a late goal in the 6-1 rout completed an eventful day for the Uruguayan. With Craig Bellamy ruled out due to injury, Suarez started alongside Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard for the very first time and the Merseysiders looked lethal going forward. Granted, Brighton hardly helped their own cause with three own goals but the fact that this was Liverpool’s biggest win since Dalglish returned to the club last season perhaps bodes well for the attacking assets over the remainder of the campaign.
Suarez won’t be head of the queue for penalties, though. Dalglish revealed after the game that he “let sentiment get in the way” when he asked the regular spot-kick takers to step aside for the Uruguayan in the 80th minute. The likes of Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt were both on the pitch when Suarez saw his spot-kick saved by Peter Brezovan but with Dalglish going on to concede “I’ll learn my lesson”, Suarez looks likely to once again remain further back in the pecking order.
