Sunday began with a four-goal Goodison thriller and closed with a controversial win for United, as the Red Devils ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season. Many of the main protagonists all produced this afternoon – Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale, Demba Ba, Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata were all amongst the points as the Gameweek finished with just four clean sheets across the 10 fixtures:
On the Up
Robin Van Persie
Our decision to omit him from the Scout Picks came back to bite us hard. Van Persie had produced attacking returns in every league start for United prior to today – he maintained his superb consistency with a goal and assist as United closed the gap on their hosts to a single point.
Juan Mata
Drafted in by over 140,000 FPL managers ahead of this afternoon’s match with United, the Spaniard delivered yet again. Mata now has four goals and five assists in the last five and, while Eden Hazard picked up attacking points with an assist for Mata’s free-kick, the latter’s cheaper price tag will surely see more snap up his services prior to next weekend’s deadline.
Luis Suarez
A goal and assist return for the Uruguayan in a performance typically sprinkled with threat, impetuosity and frustration. Regardless, Suarez has now scored six goals and earned three assists this season to cement his ranking amongst the FPL’s top four strikers, having produced returns in three of the last four matches. He was unlucky not to have come away with more.
Raheem Sterling
While the 17-year-old returned a blank and, indeed, picked up a needless yellow card, his potential as a Fantasy acquisition was again obvious to all. Brendan Rodgers appears to be utilising Sterling’s pace and trickery playing off – and sometimes even in front of – Suarez in the Liverpool attack, a role that will surely bring returns that fully justify his budget price tag.
Marouane Fellaini
Fit and back in the side, the big Belgian immediately made an impact with the assist for Steven Naismith’s strike. He was once again deployed up in support of Nikica Jelavic and will now seemingly rival Steven Pienaar again for the affections of Fantasy managers within the Toffee’s midfield ranks.
Gareth Bale
Back in the Spurs side following the birth of his baby daughter, the Welshman took little time to reintroduce himself to the Saints public, firing Spurs in front after just 11 minutes. His third goal of the season, Bale rewarded the faith of his Fantasy owners who have kept the faith after suffering blanks in Gameweeks 7 and 8.
Clint Dempsey
A second goal in four starts for the American suggested that Dempsey is beginning to find his feet at White Hart Lane, having taken time to cement his starting role. The form of Bale and other heavy-hitting options elsewhere, however, make Dempsey little more than a differential consideration right now.
Demba Ba
Another big name to deliver. The Senegal striker continued his march on the Premier League golden boot with his seventh goal of a blossoming season. With fixtures in his favour, Ba will surely go on fetching returns with his FPL value continuing to soar. He suffered a knock late on, forcing him from the field, so caution is perhaps required until we know more on that.
Papiss Cisse
He started the day on the bench, ousted from the Newcastle attack for the second consecutive match by Shola Ameobi. He ended it by scoring his first league goal of the season to earn Newcastle a last gasp victory. Cisse has a long way to go before he can begin to rival Ba in our affections but, with confidence perhaps restored, Cisse is worth monitoring.
Going Down
Pepe Reina
Owned by under 4% of Fantasy Premier League managers, the Spaniard was surprisingly kept on the bench by Brad Jones today as Brendan Rodgers kept the faith after the clean sheet earned against Reading. We’d still expect Reina to earn a recall for the home meeting with Newcastle next time out.
Steven Taylor
The former Magpies favourite is in decline. As suspected, Taylor made way for the return of Mike Williamson as Alan Pardew kept faith with the back four that performed so admirably in the stalemate at Sunderland.
Chelsea Defence
With four clean sheets in the first five Gameweeks, plenty Fantasy managers were eager to invest in the Blues’ backline. Just four minutes into today’s match, however, and they had conceded for the fourth league match in a row; with Roberto Di Matteo’s men looking unconvincing at the back, many will be starting to look elsewhere if the situation continues. Branislav Ivanovic’s owners won’t need to worry with regards to his dismissal, however; the right-back will serve his one-match suspension in the Capital One Cup clash in midweek – also against United. The same also applies to Fernando Torres, after the Spaniard received two yellow cards today.
United Defence
The Red Devils were similarly poor at the back, with today’s result meaning they have conceded at least two goals in three of their last four league games. Of all the teams in the top 10, only Fulham have conceded more than United.
United’s Diamond
Sir Alex Ferguson ditched his recent midfield diamond for the trip to Stanford Bridge, as the visitors returned to the familiar 4-4-2 formation. Antonio Valencia’s assist vindicated his manager’s decision to give his side more width – the former Wigan man has now provided an assist in each of his last four starts.
