Luis Suarez grabs a hat-trick and assist as Liverpool annihilate Cardiff. Yaya Toure also notches three times as City hammer Fulham. Wayne Rooney bags a brace as United see off West Ham, Romelu Lukaku is amongst the scorers as Everton squeeze past Swansea, Robert Snodgrass notches again in Norwich’s win over Sunderland, whilst Chelsea humiliate Arsenal in a one-sided encounter at the Bridge.
Three and Easy for Suarez in Bluebirds Rout
Truth be told, few eyebrows will be raised by Luis Suarez’ hat-trick and assist in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over Cardiff yesterday. Such has been the Uruguayan’s impact on our Fantasy seasons, we’ve almost come to expect this – a third successive double-figure haul, his thirteenth score of 10 or more points, took Suarez to 252 points thus far, just 10 fewer than Robin van Persie managed over the entire 2012/13 campaign. A home game against a Sunderland side that has just lost away to Norwich looks set to deliver further returns as Suarez justifies the show of faith that earned him over 74% of the votes in Gameweek 31’s Captain Poll.
Rare Blank for Gerrard as Skrtel Delivers Yet Again
Whilst Daniel Sturridge’s owners will be happy with a goal and assist, Steven Gerrard drew an unexpected blank against the Bluebirds – only the fourth time in 20 starts he has faltered. Brendan Rodgers once again rotated at the tip of the midfield diamond, with Philippe Coutinho selected ahead of Raheem Sterling – the latter replaced the Brazilian with just over 20 minutes remaining and could return to the XI for the Black Cats clash. At the back, Martin Skrtel served up a 17-point return for the second time in six Gameweeks. Despite conceding three times, the big centre-half notched twice and also chipped in with an assist – six goals and an assist is now the equal of Everton’s Seamus Coleman for the season thus far.
Blues Find their Top Gear
The lure of a double Gameweek saw many Fantasy managers part company with the Blues’ main Fantasy assets last week. Over 120,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers transferred out Eden Hazard and 20,000+ offloaded John Terry as Chelsea prepared for the visit of Arsenal – Jose Mourinho’s side made many rue their decision after turning in their most emphatic performance of the season. Granted, the botched dismissal of Kieran Gibbs hardly helped Arsenal’s cause but the manner of Chelsea’s ruthless display merely highlights their current form ahead of an outstanding run-in. With Frank Lampard benched, Hazard benefitted from spot-kick duties for the third time in recent matches, whilst Oscar’s brace and Andre Schurrle’s goal and assist ensured they will be on Fantasy radars ahead of a schedule which sees them face Palace, Stoke, Swansea, Sunderland, Norwich and Cardiff in the final seven Gameweeks.
Gunners Embarrassed at the Bridge
Arsenal’s title aspirations all but ended with a brutal battering at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners’ recent rearguard performances at Bayern and Spurs had suggested their clash with Chelsea would be a closely fought encounter but the 6-0 scoreline means that, for all their impressive defensive displays over the course of the campaign, they have capitulated when it mattered most. Arsene Wenger’s side have conceded 17 goals in three road trips against the rest of the top four – all the more staggering given that they have shipped 17 in their other 27 league fixtures. Whilst a midweek home clash with Swansea looks prosperous, back-to-back clashes with City and Everton hardly bode well, though the schedule from Gameweek 34 still suggests Arsenal will bring home the Fantasy returns.
Mirallas and Lukaku Deliver as Martinez Tinkers Up Top
After hinting at rotation in the attacking areas in midweek, Roberto Martinez was true to his word for Everton’s home game with Swansea. Both Gerard Deulofeu and Leon Osman made way, with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas retaining their starting berths, as the latter moved to the right wing in order to accommodate Ross Barkley. Lukaku and Barkley grabbed a goal apiece, whilst Mirallas kept his tally ticking over with a pair of assists in the 3-2 triumph – given that the latter was the only one of the attacking quartet to play the full 90 minutes, though, his owners will perhaps be a little apprehensive ahead of the midweek trip to Newcastle, with numerous options available to the Toffees boss.
Bony in the Points Again
It’s seven goals and an assist in the last 11 for the Ivorian now after another strike for the Swans. Since the turn of the year, Bony has proven to be one of the most consistent frontmen in the league, and whilst a midweek trip to Arsenal may prove problematic, his subsequent schedule is one of the best around. Swansea play Norwich, Hull, Newcastle, Villa, Southampton and Sunderland from Gameweek 32 onwards and Bony, at just 7.1, with an ownership under 5%, could prove a real differential option for our third striker slot. If Garry Monk’s side are to avoid the drop, his contribution looks essential.
Toure Hits a Treble as City Hammer Fulham
Manuel Pellegrini continued with a 4-2-3-1 for City’s home clash with the Cottagers but fielded Samir Nasri in “the hole”, with the Ivorian dropping deeper alongside Fernandinho once more. In spite of his more withdrawn berth, Toure yet again served up the Fantasy returns, with two of his goals coming courtesy of spot-kicks in a 5-0 rout. The resulting 21-point haul is his highest of an extraordinary season which has now seen him score 16 times – 10 more than his previous best – and with two more doubles still to follow, he has a good chance of chasing down Eden Hazard at the top of the FPL midfield standings. Edin Dzeko owners were left frustrated after the Bosnian called off sick, though at the other end of the pitch, City’s backline continue to deliver – this was their fourth clean sheet in succession ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Old Trafford.
Long in the Goals as Tigers Down Baggies
While Nikica Jelavic fluffed his lines by missing a first-half spot-kick, strike partner Shane Long helped secure a vital win for Hull in the first match of their double Gameweek. The Croatian was left with just an assist for his day’s work after Liam Rosenior headed home the rebound from his saved penalty. Ahead of the midweek trip to Upton Park, both Jelavic and Long have now produced three goals and an assist apiece since arriving in the January transfer window and have Stoke, Swansea, Fulham and a double Gameweek 37 still to follow.
Rooney at the Double
With Robin van Persie sidelined due to a knee injury, the England international was handed the advanced forward role for the trip to West Ham, with Juan Mata tucking in behind. Rooney’s sublime opener was followed by a close-range tap-in, taking his tally to four goals and an assist in the last four – United have Villa and Newcastle before a Gameweek 34 blank, but with three homes fixtures over Gameweeks 36 and 37, his current ownership level of 13% is set for a rise over that run-in.
At the back, Patrice Evra’s owners were left ruing David Moyes’ decision to field Alex Buttner at left-back as United chalked up a fourth clean sheet in five. The Frenchman is suspended for the first leg of the Red Devils’ Champions League clash against Bayern and it’s clear that his manager is determined to get Buttner’s match-sharpness up to scratch for the crucial clash with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Snodgrass Steers Canaries to Vital Win
The Norwich midfielder dropped in price during the week, sacrificed by those Fantasy managers on the lookout for double Gameweek options. His strike in a 2-0 win over Sunderland took the Scot’s recent run to four goals and an assist in his last six league outings – one of the most prolific midfielders around. Owned by less than 4% of FPL managers, he now squares up to Swansea, West Brom and Fulham in the next three and looks set to maintain his current form as Chris Hughton’s side aim to pick up the points before their schedule takes a real turn for the worse in Gameweek 35.
Johnson Hauled Off Early as Black Cats Disappoint
With three doubles in the final eight Gameweeks, Sunderland are understandably on Fantasy managers’ radars. Yesterday’s display at Norwich hardly fills us with confidence, though – Ki-Sung Yeung and Jack Colback were both withdrawn before the break, whilst Adam Johnson’s owners and would-be suitors will be somewhat alarmed by Gus Poyet’s decision to replace him with 20 minutes of the game remaining. The Black Cats boss is now without Marcos Alonso (suspended) and Fabio Borini (ineligible) for Wednesday’s Anfield showdown – his post-match admission that he wanted to change “seven or eight” of his XI during yesterday’s match suggests the Uruguayan could be set to freshen things up in an attempt to avoid humiliation against the Reds.
Cisse the Magpies Hero
With Loic Remy still sidelined with a calf complaint, the Senegal striker retained his starting berth for the visit of Palace. Newcastle had failed to score in each of their last four without the Frenchman and looked set to continue that streak until Cisse struck in the dying seconds, scoring for the first time since Gameweek 18. Up next is a home clash with Everton in midweek, and bearing in mind the Toffees have conceded in seven of their last eight, Cisse could well end the double Gameweek as the unlikeliest of differentials.
