Luis Suarez fires a hat-trick as Liverpool ease to victory at Wigan. Marouane Fellaini produces another double figure haul as Everton get the better of Reading, Juan Mata’s home form continues to concern, Shinji Kagawa scores three as United batter Norwich at Old Trafford, Adel Taarabt is dropped from the QPR starting XI, while Dimitar Berbatov and Stephane Sessegnon are amongst the goals again as Sunderland and Fulham share the points at the Stadium of Light.
Suarez Runs Riot at the DW
With Daniel Sturridge failing to recover from a knock, Luis Suarez was handed the chance to lead the line again as Liverpool moved back to a 4-3-3 for the trip to Wigan. The Uruguayan picked up from where he left off against Swansea last time out with a superbly taken hat-trick at the DW and has now moved ahead of Robin Van Persie in the race for the Golden Boot, with 21 goals so far this season – he is now just one strike away from doubling his tally for the previous campaign. With a superb run of fixtures to follow, Suarez’s owners will be confident of further hauls as he squares up to the likes of Southampton, Villa, West Ham and Reading in the next five. Factor in a lack of European football and no FA Cup fixtures to worry about and his game time looks far more assured than any other big hitting forward from here on in. Another issue to consider here in Sturridge’s fitness. There has been plenty of debate on the Suarez v Sturridge issue, with many opting for the latter due to price but he has now missed two of the last three now, with his propensity to pick up knocks a definite concern. With Rodgers clearly unwilling to take any risks, Suarez could well find himself leading the line once again if the former Chelsea man continues to be troubled with what appears to be an ongoing thigh problem.
Coutinho Impresses Again
While Suarez hogged the headlines, the performance of Philippe Coutinho offered further encouragement and will have attracted some interest from Fantasy managers. Given the freedom to wander in the 4-3-3 to link attack and midfield, the young Brazilian was hugely effective, providing two assists on the day as Wigan struggled to contain his intelligent runs and close control. Coutinho has returned in both his starts and, although he’s yet to get near to completing 90 minutes in the league, his 6.5 price tag in midfield will perhaps start to earn him interest if we get further assurance that Brendan Rodgers is putting faith in his recent acquisition.
Fellaini Returns to Form
He only had “a chance” of recovering from the foot problem that kept him out of last Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Oldham, according to David Moyes’ Friday afternoon press conference. Not only did Fellaini shrug off the injury, he racked up the Fantasy points once again as the Toffees returned to winning ways. Sold by 60,000 Fantasy managers ahead of yesterday morning’s deadline, the Belgian welcomed Reading to Goodison in poor form, having scored in just one of his previous nine appearances – a goal and assist helped him deliver a 10 point pre-bonus haul; his seventh set of double figures this season. His 32% owners now have a dilemma, though; Moyes’ men are without a league fixture next weekend and then square up to City and Spurs in the following three – despite his flourishing form, we could well see an exodus as Fantasy managers look for alternative midfield coverage for the six fixtures currently scheduled for Gameweek 29. There is no shortage of options.
Jagielka Blow for Moyes
David Moyes confirmed post-match that Phil Jagielka would be forced to undergo surgery to repair the gash suffered to his ankle in the challenge with Adam Le Fondre. Jagielka was forced off after just five minutes of the 3-1 win, with Moyes admitting that he was now unlikely to be available for the FA Cup Quarter Final with Wigan…
“[It will be] a couple of weeks maybe. Normally if you get a cut around the ankle it’s that because it’s an area where you kick the ball. It’s not something [that heals quickly]. It’s a real, real blow to us.”
Everton are next in league action on March 16 when they entertain Man City at Goodison. Having kept just four clean sheets all season, Moyes will be anxious to see the former Sheffield United man restored to his lineup with some haste. While he’s owned by under 8% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, in the Sky Sports Game, Jagielka is owned by over 23% of managers.
Mata Home Concerns
While Demba Ba saved Chelsea’s blushes with the only goal of the game against West Brom, Juan Mata once again struggled to produce in front of his own fans. The Spaniard had started just four of the previous seven home games under Rafa Benitez but returned to the first XI, having been rested for the midweek FA Cup won over Middlesbrough. His failure to pick up the points means he has now returned just one goal and a single assist in eight Stamford Bridge appearances since the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo – indeed, all six of his double figure returns have arrived on the road this term. With a blank next weekend, he then has three home fixtures (WHM, SUN, TOT) in the next four to remedy his current poor performances in front of the Chelsea faithful.
Rafa’s Defence Remains In Flux
Benitez again shuffled his pack at the back, resting both John Terry and Gary Cahill to the bench to start David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic at centre-backs, with César Azpilicueta recalled at right-back. Cahill had previously started the last six league outings, while Azpilicueta had sat out two of the last three. Clearly there is little hope of Fantasy managers getting assured consistency here, with Ashley Cole and Petr Cech looking the most certain starters, mirroring the situation at United where David De Gea and Patrice Evra are offering the security of starts. David Luiz remains a worthy punt due to his versatility – he has started two of the last three, playing in central midfield in Gameweek 26. Despite a role at centre-back, Luiz was present on direct free-kicks and justified his selection in the Scout Picks with the assist for Ba’s winner.
Van Persie Overshadowed
With many expecting major changes for United ahead of Tuesday’s game with Real Madrid, most of the focus was on Robin Van Persie after the line-ups were announced earlier in the afternoon. Instead, it was Shinji Kagawa who hogged the headlines with a match-winning performance as the league leaders moved 15 points clear at the top. The summer signing from Dortmund had failed to play a single minute in any of the previous three Gameweeks but was handed a role on the left and produced a stunning hat-trick for an 18 point, pre-bonus FPL haul – post-match, he was the main subject of Sir Alex Ferguson’s praise:
“He’s a good finisher, the lad. His second and third goals were terrific and he showed great intelligence for the first one and composure. He’s gradually getting his form back because he missed that period of football in October and November which set him back a little bit. He’s going to be a good player. Next year he’ll be far, far better too.”
Wayne Rooney also played a part, fetching a goal and pair of assists for a 12 point haul, while Van Persie had to make do with a single assist. The Dutchman has now scored just once on his last five fixtures – a real slump in Fantasy returns, considering he had notched six times in the previous five by comparison. Indeed, when starting together, Rooney has produced six sets of double figures to Van Persie’s four, a clear sign of his explosive captaincy potential.
Redknapp Drops Taarabt
A kind run of fixtures looked to have afforded Adel Taarabt a platform to produce but the Moroccan warmed the bench as QPR registered their first win in seven attempts. Taarabt started every match for the R’s from Gameweek 7 onwards and looked a pivotal figure in their quest for survival bur Harry Redknapp’s decision to field Junior Hoilett on the left instead paid off handsomely as the former Blackburn man chipped in with an assist. Loic Remy’s return to the starting XI also had an immediate effect – the Frenchman notched the opener and has now scored in two of his three starts since moving to London in January. With Sunderland, Wigan and Stoke all arriving at Loftus Road in the next six, in addition to trips to Villa and Fulham, Remy could be set for renewed investment. While Taarabt’s 5% FPL owners fret over his game time, Julio Cesar’s also have concerns after the Brazilian was subbed off with a dead leg with 15 minutes remaining.
Stoke’s Defensive Woes Continue
A home clash against a West Ham side with just eight goals to their name on the road seemed the perfect tonic for Tony Pulis’ side as they looked to address a run of nine games without a clean sheet. With Robert Huth suspended, Marc Wilson shifted to centre-half as Andy Wilkinson earned a recall at left-back and, with Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble both missing out for the visitors, hopes were high of nullifying the Hammers’ threat. Once again, though, Pulis’ side were undone as Jack Collison struck in a 1-0 win – while the upcoming Gameweek 29 schedule is likely to see us prioritise other transfers, the Stoke defence looks set to see further transfers out over the next few Gameweeks. Asmir Begovic and Shawcross, at 5.8 and 5.9 in FPL respectively, are simply a liability right now, with Pulis’ side looking unable to shake off their lethargy as they slide down the table.
Sessegnon Flourishing on the Flank
Shifted to the right wing as Martin O’Neill turns to a 4-4-2 formation in order to boost Sunderland’s goal threat, Stephane Sessegnon was again amongst the goals in yesterday’s home draw with Fulham. It’s somewhat ironic that, having struggled in the role in “the hole” behind Steven Fletcher, the Benin international is finally producing from out wide – he also grabbed a goal at West Brom last week. Certainly, our faith was obvious heading into the weekend – we’d rolled out a Watchlist piece and handed Sessegnon a place on the Scout Picks bench on Friday evening and with a trip to QPR and home clash with Norwich to follow, the 6.9 priced midfielder continues to look a decent short-term option.
Berbatov Shows Consistency
The Bulgarian stole the show in midweek as Fulham’s version of the Harlem Shake went viral but he’s proving pretty handy on the pitch once again. Surprisingly, yesterday’s strike at Sunderland meant Berbatov has found the net in back-to-back Gameweeks for the first time this season – indeed, he has now scored in three of his last five appearances and is starting to look a real mid-price option up front once again. Sascha Riether added to his assist last time out with a goal against the Black Cats and bearing in mind John Arne Riise hasn’t scored or assisted since Gameweek 8, the former is currently looking the most enticing rout into Martin Jol’s backline. With no fixture next weekend, any investment will obviously be put on hold but with QPR and Villa in their next four, Berbatov and Riether could be crucial for the Cottagers.
