A certain Uruguayan is the headline act this week as we run the rule over a trio of overlooked Fantasy alternatives. An in-form City midfielder also makes the cut after impressing in last week’s hammering of United, while Fulham’s top scorer from last term is called upon after helping ditch Everton out of the cup in midweek:
Luis Suarez
The script almost seems written for the Liverpool talisman this weekend. In his first league appearance since biting Branislav Ivanovic back in April, Suarez makes his way to basement-dwellers Sunderland, with the Black Cats licking their wounds after picking up a single point in the first five Gameweeks.
With Paolo Di Canio handed his P45 after last Saturday’s disastrous defeat at West Brom, the Wearsiders will be hoping to turn the corner but face an uphill task at the Stadium of Light this Sunday. Suarez plundered three goals and an assist in the league against Sunderland last term and having been handed a role up top alongside Daniel Sturridge as Brendan Rodgers rolled out a 3-5-2 for the midweek cup tie against United, look set to be fielded through the middle once again as the Reds look to recover from a couple of back-to-back defeats in all competitions.
A Fantasy sensation in the season gone by, Suarez has plenty to atone for as he looks to regain the form that harvested 23 goals and 10 assists in 2012/13. Already, the bandwagon has been a significant one this week – over 131,00 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have snapped up the Uruguayan since last weekend. Coming in at 10.9 in FPL, 9.9 in the Sky Sports game and 7.5 in the Sun Dream Team, he has a superb run of fixtures over the next few weeks (CPL, new, WBA, ars, FUL, eve, hul, NOR, WHM) to make the right kind of impact this time around.
Samir Nasri
Mainly overshadowed by Yaya Toure’s displays in the City midfield so far, the Frenchman has, nonetheless, offered plenty to suggest he’s stepping up in consistency after a poor previous campaign. Nasri’s goal in the Manchester derby was his second of the season – equalling his tally for 2012/13 already – and with an assist also thrown in over the first five Gameweeks, he’s been quick to pick up the points in Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring side.
With David Silva once again ruled out through injury, Nasri’s starting role looks secure as City pay visit to a Villa side with injury doubts hanging over a number of their first-team regulars. Coming in at 8.0 in FPL, 6.3 in the Sky Sports game and 4.0 in the Sun Dream Team, the former Arsenal man looks a real under-the-radar option for those eyeing up a short-term punt before Silva returns to tussle for the role on the City left.
Dimitar Berbatov
There’s no doubt it’s been an underwhelming start to the season for Fulham’s maverick Bulgarian. With 15 goals in his debut year at the Cottage, Berbatov was one of the Fantasy sensations of the previous campaign but after five rounds of fixtures he sits with just a single league assist to his name as Martin Jol’s side struggle to show any semblance of form.
A goal in the midweek Capital One Cup win over Everton brings Berbatov back into consideration as Fulham prepare for a kind run of games which begins with a home clash against Cardiff tomorrow. Following the Bluebirds clash, Jol’s men welcome Stoke to the Cottage before hitting the road to face Palace and Southampton; with confidence growing after the Toffees triumph, Berbatov – down to 7.2 in FPL and priced at 8.6 in the Sky Sports game and 4.5 in the Sun Dream Team – could be set to take advantage of such a schedule and fire Fulham back up the table.
