Steven Gerrard has a hand in three of Liverpool’s four goals as the Reds hammer Fulham at Anfield. City scrape past Reading, Stoke register yet another clean sheet, Steven Pienaar bags a goal and assist as Everton win at West Ham, Romelu Lukaku helps West Brom end Norwich’s unbeaten run, while Steven Fletcher notches again as Sunderland triumph at St Mary’s…
Gerrard a Differential
A goal and a pair of assists helped the Liverpool skipper to a 14 point, pre-bonus return in the FPL game. The return of Lucas has been pivotal in Gerrard’s recent strong showings – he has now scored or assisted in three of the last four since the Brazilian’s comeback from injury in Gameweek 15 and has moved up to 87 points; the same as Juan Mata and just one less than Gareth Bale. Despite this, he went into yesterday’s match with an ownership of less than 4% – Luis Suarez has been the main Liverpool attacker of choice, with 24% ownership, though it’s intriguing that the Uruguayan has picked up just five points more than his skipper so far. At 9.3, Gerrard has proven to be a more than useful alternative to 10.3 priced Suarez in recent weeks as he continues his climb up the standings.
Enrique’s Anfield Form
Jose Enrique’s return from a brief hamstring injury helped his owners to yet another healthy batch of home points as the Reds annihilated a dismal Fulham. The 4-0 was Liverpool’s fifth clean sheet in the last seven in front of their own fans and while their defensive resilience proved fruitful again, Enrique’s attacking form at Anfield has really caught the eye. Although he has dropped back into defence in recent matches, the Spaniard has now scored or assisted in three of his last four in front of his own fans – an average of 10 points per home match from Gameweek 10 onwards. While Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel have returned more points overall this season, Enrique has been the most consistent since fully recovering from injury; he has averaged 4.5 points per game to the duo’s 4.1 and 3.8 respectively.
Sturridge On His Way
With Raheem Sterling rested to the bench and Stewart Downing continuing to state his case for starts with a goal and assist display, the news that Daniel Sturridge is due to have a medical at Anfield today suddenly ramps up the attacking options available to the Liverpool boss. Sturridge is apparently set to be named as a Liverpool player with the club agreeing a fee with Chelsea and personal terms with the player. Priced at just 7.3 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Sturridge will suddenly be unlocked as a viable option up front given that he will surely be threatening immediate starts, most likely as a central striker with Luis Suarez playing up in the support role. The arrival of Sturridge could well have a marked affect on the potential of Suarez, Gerrard and Sterling and will be keenly monitored if it is confirmed once the January transfer window opens.
Another Clean Sheet for Stoke
Spurs had scored in all but one of their previous 17 heading into yesterday’s home clash with Stoke but Asmir Begovic produced save after save as the Potters racked up their ninth clean sheet of the campaign at the Lane yesterday. The Bosnian denied Spurs at the death, drawing specific praise from a delighted Tony Pulis…
“It was a great save. Asmir’s been fantastic since he’s walked in. He’s been a dream really. He’s a great pro and he works his socks off, but the rest of team do as well. You have to give them a lot of credit. They are very committed, very organised and they work the way that we want them to.”
With just 18 Gameweeks gone, Begovic has now bettered his previous season high of eight clean sheets back in the 2010/11 campaign and has moved 10 points clear of Jussi Jaaskelainen at the top of the FPL keeper standings. Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth now sit first and third for defenders respectively but it’s Begovic who takes the plaudits – an initial price tag of 4.5 has now climbed to 5.6, with the keeper top value FPL player so far and second only to Santi Cazorla in the Sky Sports game.
Spurs Defensive Resilience Continues
Andre Villas-Boas shuffled his backline once again, with Jan Vertonghen moving out to left-back and Steven Caulker and Michael Dawson given the nod at centre-half after both missed out last weekend. The changes didn’t affect Spurs’ recent upturn in defensive output, though; yesterday’s goalless draw was their third clean sheet in the last four. Given they had managed one in the previous 14, it’s a clear sign their defensive options are starting to pick up in performance , though the afore-mentioned rotation is an issue, with Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker seemingly the only nailed-on options, along with keeper Hugo Lloris.
City Toil against the Royals
Brian McDermott’s decision to move to 4-5-1 frustrated Roberto Mancini and Fantasy managers alike yesterday as the champions struggled to break down a stubborn Reading rearguard. Ultimately, it took a Gareth Barry effort to seal the win and while David Silva’s owners were delighted with an assist, the City forwards were a huge disappointment. Mancini handed Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez starting berths, with Edin Dzeko afforded a second-half sub appearance just before the hour mark. While Tevez was withdrawn on 74 minutes, Aguero played the full 90 – with Mario Balotelli still uncertain to play after failing to train all last week due to illness, there’d be no surprise to see one of the Argentine duo benched in favour for Dzeko for the Boxing Day trip to Sunderland, given Mancini’s admission that he feels he is forced to rotate over the festive period in Friday’s press conference.
Shorey Stock Takes a Dip
Brian McDermott’s decision to drop Nicky Shorey to the bench to recall Ian Harte at left-back could not have come at a worse time for Fantasy managers. Reading are about to start a run of three home matches in four which offered some potential for Shorey owners given his role at set-plays and raiding down the left flank. His start is now in doubt, particularly with Harte impressing and Shorey being “out jumped” by Gareth Barry for City’s winner. Harte is available at 3.8 in the FPL and could present an intriguing option given his ability from direct free-kicks, although it’s far from certain how McDermott will line up on Boxing Day against Swansea. Having employed a 4-5-1 at City, it seems likely that we’ll see him revert to 4-4-2 for the visit of the Swans. His selection at left-back will be of key interest.
Snodgrass in the Points Again
While Norwich’s 10-match unbeaten league run finally came to an end yesterday, Robert Snodgrass’ eye for goal saw him pick up the points once again. The former Leeds man grabbed the Canaries only goal in the 2-1 defeat and has now found the net in three of the last five Gameweeks; with a pair of assists over that period, he has racked up 38 points from Gameweek 14 onwards – just one less than he had managed in the first 13 matches of the season. A total of 77 points is superior to any other mid-price midfield option.
Fletcher and Sessegnon Key for Black Cats
Many Fantasy managers had transferred out Steven Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon after their double Gameweek 16 endeavours but those who chose to hold were rewarded as the duo combined for the latter’s match-winner as Martin O’Neill’s side secured a vital away win at Southampton. Fletcher’s eighth strike of the season is near-certain to be accompanied to the maximum bonus points, taking his FPL tally to 86 points for the season – only four forwards have produced more. At 7.0, he’s been superb value since moving to the Stadium of Light this summer, though patience is clearly a key with the Scot; yesterday’s strike was only his third since Gameweek 6. Sessegnon’s assist continued his upturn in consistency; he has now scored or assisted in each of his last three, though with City, Spurs and Liverpool up next, his short-term schedule looks anything but enticing.
Saints Continue to Stutter
Southampton have seemingly forgotten the art of scoring goals. Having earned victories against QPR and Newcastle, notching five strikes in the process, Nigel Adkins’ side have now scored just twice in four matches and are back in relegation trouble. They were without skipper Adam Lallana for the visit of Sunderland and rumour has it that he will be absent across the Christmas period. Adkins reacted to that loss by handing a start to Emmanuel Mayuka, shifting Gaston Ramirez into Lallana’s flank role. Sadly for Adkins, without Lallana’s influence, he witnessed his side produce a performance he simply described as “flat”…
“It can’t be about one player…Every team is going to have players that are missing so you’ve got to have a strong enough group of players so that if one is missing, then they go and contribute, so who’s to say that if Adam had been playing that it would have been any different? We can’t just turn around and go we’ve lost because of one player we’ve lost the game because of the result. We played Gaston Ramirez on that left hand side to start with and he plays there for Uruguay which he does very well, so we’ve got a talented player whose gone and played in a position that Adam would have done. We started him wide to try and get him in the pockets and get Emmanuel running in behind him on the shoulder to stretch the game. We had a couple of practice games during the week and in the one on Friday he linked up absolutely fantastically, scored a shed load of goals and looked a real top class player so that swayed my mind in opting for him today perhaps over Jay Rodriguez who had started the last game.”
Pienaar Offers Fellaini Alternative
With Marouane Fellaini sitting out the first of a three game suspension, less than 17,000 FPL managers snapped up his team mate but a goal and assist maintained Pienaar’s recent form, with attacking returns in each of his last three now. Many had anticipated a move to the role in “the hole” in light of Fellaini’s absence but Victor Anichebe was handed a berth alongside Nikica Jelavic, with Pienaar keeping his place on the left flank. He has now produced double figures in two of his last trio of fixtures and with three home games in the next four (WIG, CHE, new, SWA), he may well be poised to pick up the points again – the Toffees are one of only two sides yet to be beaten in front of their own fans so far. Fellaini’s impending return for the Gameweek 21 trip to Newcastle is likely to deter many from investing, though. Elsewhere in the Everton camp, David Moyes stated post-match that he is considering appealing the red card that will see Darron Gibson miss the next three league matches….
“I think I will (appeal)…I don’t think you could say it would be frivolous. Most people would say there is a genuine case.”
Hammers Down to Bare Bones
Sam Allardyce was unable to put out a full quota of substitutes in the 0-0 stalemate at West Brom and, while he managed to fill the bench against the Toffees, the injuries are far from cleared with Big Sam stating that neither Allou Diarra or Jack Collison were fully fit to take part, despite them being named as subs. The Hammers lost Guy Demel prior to the match due to illness, while Allardyce also stated that Gary O’Neil was struggling throughout…
“Gary O’Neil had to play even though he was not 100 per cent. He came off in training on Friday but then we lost Guy Demel with the vomiting virus on Saturday so he had to go out on the field. He [O’Neil] couldn’t hold out so we had to change him and we didn’t have any other option but to go 4-4-2 and, in the end, that wasn’t the main cause of why we lost. People should not forget that, even though they were on the bench, they [Collison and Diarra] are not fit to play football. They are not there because they are fit enough to play in our first team – they are there because of the desperate measures we have to resort to. Jack has not kicked a ball apart from 45 minutes in a Development Squad game last week and Alou DIarra has not played a competitive game since injuring his thigh three months ago.”
With Carlton Cole dismissed and facing a three-match ban, it’s no surprise to find Allardyce determined to contest the red card ahead of the trip to Reading. With no Boxing Day fixture, the Hammers boss at least has time to nurse some of his ailing squad back to fitness.
Lukaku the Difference for Baggies
Steve Clarke’s decision to drop Shane Long paid off as West Brom ended a run of four games without a win. With just a single point in their previous quartet of fixtures, Romelu Lukaku was tasked with leading the line and the Belgian vindicated his manager’s decision by notching the winner to end Norwich’s 10-match unbeaten league run. As Long struggles for form, Lukaku is certainly showing a consistency that suggest he is worthy of a more regular role in the Baggies’ first XI; he has scored in four of his five starts for the midlanders, compared to Long’s five goals in 14 starts. Indeed, Lukaku has now overtaken the Republic of Ireland international as his side’s top scorer by six strikes to five – all the more impressive given he has played 668 minutes to Long’s 1086. Interestingly, Steve Clarke reserved praise for Lukaku but still talked up Shane Long’s role in the goal as a result of his appearance from the bench…
“He’s [Lukaku] done well. He’s a big talent. He’s got a big future ahead of him in the game. The fact he couldn’t get in the team for most of the season is down to the form of Shane Long, who shouldn’t be forgotten today either. I thought Shane made a difference when he came onto the pitch. He tied up the other centre-back, which gave a little bit more space to Rom, and maybe that’s why he got the space to score the winning goal. It was a fantastic header.”
There is a chance that Lukaku will be recalled by Chelsea in January, particularly in the light of Daniel Sturridge’s seemingly pending move to Anfield. Steve Clarke was reluctant to consider the prospect when questioned post-match…
“He is on a season-long loan but there is an opportunity for the parent club to take him back in January. I can’t affect it so I don’t like to talk about it.”
