Scout Notes – Gameweek 20 – Sunday

Liverpool brush past a woeful QPR as Luis Suarez masterminds a first half dismantling of the R’s defence. Over at Goodison, Everton’s unbeaten home record is snatched by another efficient Chelsea display under Rafa Benitez as Frank Lampard fires a brace. Here’s the Notes from Sunday’s two Gameweek 20 encounters…

Suarez Torments The Hapless R’s
Two more strikes from Luis Suarez capped a performance that simply dazzled QPR’s centre-back pairing of Ryan Nelsen and Clint Hill. The R’s rearguard failed to find answers for the Uruguayan’s movement and his confidence was clear throughout – Fantasy managers without Suarez will be thankful that he failed to add to his early two goal tally as the match progressed. Before the late goal against Fulham at Anfield in Gameweek 18, Suarez had gone four league starts without a strike – his longest run without Fantasy returns this season. We’ve seen a new level of consistency from the Liverpool man, then, suggesting that forthcoming fixtures against Sunderland, United and Norwich could continue to bring profit. The schedule does stiffen, however, with Arsenal and City to follow soon after the United visit – Suarez will have to demonstrate fixture proof status if he is to keep pace with the leading forwards on show – Robin Van Persie and Demba Ba. So far in the Gameweek, interest in Suarez has been tempered with Ba enjoying twice as many new suitors off the back of his brace at the Emirates and perhaps talk of a move to Stamford Bridge in January.

Gerrard’s Quiet Resurgence Continues
While our attentions turn to the likes of Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini in the light of Gareth Bale’s one-match ban, Steven Gerrard sits out of the limelight having scored or assisted in his last five league starts. Gerrard’s consistency in December has been superb and has seen him scale the FPL midfielder rankings and has threatened to establish him as a viable transfer target once more. A punt on Gerrard as a Bale replacement with Sunderland visiting Anfield on Wednesday would seem a decent move, although this would likely only be a short-term measure; as mentioned, Liverpool’s schedule hands them a series of tough opponents that will likely dent attacking potential over the next month.

Mata Makes His Case
The Spaniard is another who has shown a frightening level of consistency to earn himself a constant stream of Fantasy suitors. His assist and two bonus points from Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Goodison means that, like Gerrard, he has returned in his last five league starts. With QPR at the Bridge on Wednesday, Mata looks well placed to earn investment with some Bale owners looking to swap their suspended asset. The concern with Mata is, of course, rotation within the Chelsea squad. Mata has started the last four league outings, with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses all rotated around him – that would suggest that Mata could be benched for the visit of Rangers. However, with Victor Moses and Mikel set to leave for the African Cup of Nations, it would seem likely that Benitez will recall that pair for Wednesday’s game, while Oscar was also only given 6 minutes of action at Goodison. That would perhaps make Eden Hazard more vulnerable, with Moses or Oscar taking his role out wide, though it remains to be seen if Benitez will gamble on facing Harry Redknapp’s side without both Hazard and Mata.

Luiz Cementing Midfield Role
Significantly, Rafa Benitez opted to leave Mikel on the bench at Everton, restoring Ramires to his midfield and keeping David Luiz in a midfield pairing with the recalled Frank Lampard. Luiz was at his combative best, earning a sixth booking of the season but there can also be no doubt that he does offer some attacking menace in this advanced role, while he’s also added himself to the pecking order at direct free-kicks. With Mikel set to depart for African Cup of Nations duty after Chelsea’s FA Cup tie, Luiz would seem well placed to retain the midfield role for fixtures against Stoke, Arsenal, Reading and Newcastle. Three of that four are away from home, but, while clean sheets could be difficult to earn, Luiz will at least offer the chance of attacking points. A full 0.5 cheaper than Branislav Ivanovic and with just 4% ownership, Luiz looks a decent January wildcard consideration.

Turnbull Set For R’s Start
We could be offered a decent budget option in the Chelsea goal for Gameweek 21, with Ross Turnbull, priced at just 4.3 in the FPL, set to start in the absence of the injured Petr Cech. Chelsea’s number one was withdrawn at half-time at Goodison after suffering “a strained adductor muscle at the top of his leg” and will be a doubt for the quick turnaround in fixtures. Rafa brought us this post-match on Cech’s situation…

“He felt something. We have to wait, but obviously we didn’t want to take any risk…We’ll have to do a scan and see…These things depend on the doctors.”

Benitez also confirmed that the QPR game would likely come too soon for John Terry.