Liverpool return to the summit courtesy of a pair of converted spot-kicks from skipper Steven Gerrard. Fellow Merseysiders Everton ease past Arsenal at Goodison Park, with Romelu Lukaku racking up a goal and assist as the Toffees register a sixth successive win ahead of their double Gameweek 34:
Gerrard Keeps Cool to Fire Liverpool Top
Once again, Steven Gerrard was Liverpool’s hero, twice keeping his composure to fire the Reds in front from the spot against a resilient West Ham and take his side back to the Premier League summit. The 9.4-priced midfielder ruthlessly punished the near 10,000 Fantasy managers who’d shipped him out ahead of the game, reaffirming his premium price tag with a 15 point-haul and taking his tally to 175 points, just five fewer than team-mate Daniel Sturridge. The Liverpool skipper also managed to steer clear of the referee’s wrath, ensuring his nine yellow cards didn’t affect his availability for the crucial title showdown with City at Anfield next Sunday – if he fails to pick up a yellow card in that one, he will avoid an automatic two-match ban.
Sturridge’s Patchy Form Continues
With Chelsea also on the agenda in their next three, those who have loaded up on the likes of Gerrard and Sturridge along with Luis Suarez may be more tempted to part company with the former Chelsea man after yesterday’s match. His blank means he has now scored just twice in the last six – he had previously produced nine goals from seven games upon his return from injury. Currently sitting in 34% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) teams, Sturridge has started to see significant sales since yesterday, with 16,000 already selling him on ahead of the City showdown – with cheaper in-form options like Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko handed a pair of fixtures apiece, the exodus could be set to pick up pace before the week is out as he quickly goes from essential to expendable in the eyes of many Fantasy managers.
Lukaku Stakes Claim for Double Gameweek Captaincy
A blank at Craven Cottage in the previous Gameweek had again raised question marks over Romelu Lukaku’s consistency, but the Belgian blew away clouds of doubt with a 12-point haul at the expense of Everton’s closest rivals in the race for fourth, Arsenal. The impressive performance – despite being fielded wide right – included a goal, an assist and maximum bonus points for the second time in three games. This takes his tally to four goals, two assists and eight bonus points in six appearances since recovering from an ankle problem in Gameweek 28 and, with Sergio Aguero returning from injury to shake up the City frontline ahead of the double Gameweek, Lukaku may have just made himself favourite for the armband as the most secure route into a side that have now scored three times in each of their last four matches.
Barkley Fit to Profit From Early Osman Injury
With the game at Goodison less than 10 minutes old, a head injury forced Leon Osman to take an early bath as Ross Barkley deputised from the bench. Barkley, an injury doubt himself before the game, picked up just three FPL points – despite heavy involvement – but the appearance of Everton’s young attacking midfielder alone will be enough to make a mark on Fantasy managers’ shopping list. Priced at just 5.2, Barkley could offer strapped-for-cash managers a route into the Toffees’ attack ahead of their bumper Gameweek 34 schedule, though there’s no doubt that, as Roberto Martinez’ recent rotation policy has shown, game time for any of Everton’s attacking midfielders is far from guaranteed.
Stones Looking Settled at the Back
Clean sheets have come at a premium for Everton this season. Roberto Martinez’s adventurous approach has drawn plaudits, but with three shut-outs in their previous 17 Premier League fixtures, the odds were against the Toffees keeping Arsenal at bay. With John Stones deputising for hamstrung England international Phil Jagielka at the heart of defence once again, Everton took their tally of clean sheets to three in the six games he has played. Coming in at just 4.1 in FPL, Stones (who has earned three bonus points over that run) arrives on Fantasy radars ahead of the double against Sunderland and Crystal Palace – Martinez remains cautious with Jagielka, saying it would be “a fatal gamble” to rush him back, but there’s no doubt picking either at this point still looks a punt, with the security of Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines and the mid-price Sylvain Distin seeming safer options.
Arsenal Boosted by Ramsey’s Return
Defeat at Everton saw Arsenal surrender another three points to their rivals in the race for fourth. A place in next season’s Champions League is now looking at serious risk, and with the Gunners winning just two of their last nine games, form is hardly on their side right now. Fortunately for Arsene Wenger, the fixture list now smiles kindly on his team (WHM, hul, NEW, WBA, nor), and with Aaron Ramsey cementing his recovery from injury by climbing off the bench at Goodison, Fantasy managers will be eyeing up the Welshman for the run-in. Now down to 6.9 in FPL, Ramsey’s return could re-invigorate a Gunners side with everything still to play for as they look to clinch that fourth spot once again.
