As always, there are plenty of scenarios on our radar ahead of the weekend’s matches. The discipline of Liverpool’s captain against City, Jose Mourinho’s attacking midfield line-up, Southampton’s display without their top scorer and the return of Arsenal’s early-season hero are amongst this week’s topics:
Will Gerrard Topple off the Tightrope?
The Suspension Tightrope is extended after this Sunday, with players resultantly needing to accumulate 15 yellows to trigger a ban. The Liverpool skipper is one of five players heading into this weekend’s round of matches on nine bookings and needs to navigate Sunday’s Anfield encounter against City without picking up a yellow card, otherwise he’s set for a two-match suspension. Not to be cynical, but if Manuel Pellegrini’s team are canny enough, they may well target Gerrard in the knowledge that he’d miss the following two – against Norwich and Chelsea – thus weakening the Reds’ title bid. Such a scenario would have knock-on effects for Fantasy managers. Those with Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge who have been planning a transfer out for the latter may have to re-assess their moves, whilst Suarez owners would be hoping a suspension for his captain would place the Uruguayan first in line for spot-kick duties.
The Saints without Rodriguez
Mauricio Pochettino’s side must progress for the remainder of the campaign and part of the next, without arguably their most impressive performer this season. With striker Jay Rodriguez sidelined for six months, the onus will be on skipper Adam Lallana and World Cup hopeful Rickie Lambert to provide the goal threat from here on in. Thankfully, a St Mary’s clash with struggling Cardiff provides the perfect platform for recovery and, if Southampton can show the form and spirit that saw them outplay Man City at the Etihad for 45 minutes, you have to fear for the Bluebirds. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have conceded 12 goals in their last three outings and we’ll be looking out for Lallana and Lambert sending Rodriguez a get well soon message via a goal celebration.
Pellegrini’s approach at Anfield
Billed as an attacking manager, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have, of late, regressed to become a tighter, more conservative side – deploying a 4-5-1 and, as a result, shipping just two goals in their last seven league matches. Sunday’s crunch encounter presents the Chilean with a delicious option, however, with Sergio Aguero back in full training and straining to be unleashed on the Liverpool backline. Pellegrini could easily relieve Edin Dzeko of striking duties and maintain the five-man midfield and, in all honesty, it is expected that this will be the shape adopted. However, there is a chance he could reinforce his status as an attacking manager and go like-for-like with Liverpool, opting for a pair of strikers in his previously preferred 4-4-2. His decision at the weekend could be vital, not least to those holding Dzeko over the double Gameweek. Elsewhere, we’ll be paying close attention to Pellegrini’s choice of left-back. Gael Clichy and Aleks Kolarov have been in continued rotation in recent weeks, although Clichy was mysteriously absent from the matchday squad for the win over Southampton.
Ramsey’s return for the Gunners
Such a key Fantasy asset in the opening months of the season, Aaron Ramsey is now back on the radar as a midfield option – a timely return given the injury to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. Considering Arsenal’s current run of form, there will be a need for caution but there can be no doubt that Ramsey has the talent to re-ignite the Gunners’ season and propel them above Everton in the race for fourth spot. Priced at 6.9 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), having climbed to the heights of 7.6 in his pomp this season, Ramsey also has the fixtures to flourish. Emirates encounters with West Ham, Newcastle and West Brom appear to offer the potential for the Welshman to boost his eight-goal tally and reinstate himself as one of the season’s outstanding performers. Ramsey is a confirmed starter in the FA Cup semi with Wigan, and with the midweek Emirates clash with West Ham to come, we have the opportunity to scout his impact ahead of the run-in.
Can Eriksen maintain his form?
Across north London, there’s another name destined to attract huge interest for the remainder of this season and into the next. Christian Eriksen’s stunning display in Monday’s 5-1 win over Sunderland offers up another superb mid-price option for our midfields. Priced at just 6.6, the Dane is another tempting target for the Eden Hazard fallout and, like Ramsey, has the fixtures to end the season with a flourish. Tottenham’s opponents almost look like a duck shoot – with troubled Fulham and Villa due at the Lane alongside trips to West Brom, West Ham and Stoke. The Potters are the only one of those five sides showing form, giving Eriksen, with three goals and a trio of assists in his last three starts, the platform to go on delivering. Saturday’s trip to the Hawthorns will provide a further barometer on a player who has scored just once away from home this term.
Mourinho’s midfield shuffle
Having utilised Eden Hazard as a second-half sub in last weekend’s win over Stoke, Jose Mourinho clearly had the midweek meeting with PSG in mind. The Belgian’s early withdrawal against the French side is likely to see him sidelined for a couple of weeks and with the Blues still battling for silverware on two fronts, Mourinho will surely take no chances with Hazard’s fitness. Frustratingly, this is likely to see him miss games against Swansea and Sunderland, and bearing in mind Hazard is owned by 39% of FPL managers, a mass exodus could be on the cards. Andre Schurrle, Oscar, Willian and Mohamed Salah are all likely to vie for a starting berth in the attacking midfield roles, and with all but Oscar finding the net in Chelsea’s last two matches, Mourinho has no shortage of in-form options to turn to in his talisman’s absence. Salah, who is ineligible for European duties, is available for only 5.5 in FPL – he served up a 14-point haul in his first league start last weekend, and with an ownership of 0.2%, could well come into contention as the ultimate differential.
