Suspended for the first five matches of 2013/14 after an infamous altercation with Branislav Ivanovic, Luis Suarez was handed an 11.0 price tag in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game after serving up 23 goals, 10 assists and 34 bonus points in his first season under Brendan Rodgers:
The Statistics
In the Uruguayan’s absence, Daniel Sturridge had stepped up for the Merseysiders and scored in four of the opening five fixtures but the Reds were clearly struggling without Suarez and had averaged just one goal per game prior to his first appearance of the season.
Partnering Sturridge up front as Rodgers changed his tactics to accommodate both through the middle, Suarez set the tone for what was to follow with a 13-point return away to Sunderland, courtesy of a two goals and maximum bonus points in a 3-1 win. Three double-figure hauls in his first four matches underlined the strength of Suarez’ armband potential and saw many squads re-arranged in order to acquire his talents – with Sturridge still producing the goods, though, snapping up both became a popular tactic for our three-man frontlines.
Suarez’ exploits over December will be long-remembered by Fantasy managers. Starting off with four goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over Norwich, he delivered 77 points in only four appearances, with two goals and three assists in a 5-0 win at Spurs ultimately leading to Andre Villas-Boas’ dismissal.
Whilst Suarez’ 13 double figure returns were indicative of his explosive potential, his level of consistency was equally impressive. Serving up a goal or assist in 27 of his 33 league starts for Liverpool, he was relentless in picking up the points and did not deliver back-to-back blanks all season.
Ending the campaign with 30 goals, 25 assists and 40 bonus points, Suarez’ produced 295 points in the FPL game – his incredible average of 8.9 points per game was far superior to the previous season’s top scorer, Robin Van Persie, who managed 6.9 ppg. Owned by over 51% of FPL managers by the time the campaign drew to a close, the Uruguayan finished 54 points ahead of second placed Yaya Toure and at least 90 points ahead of any team-mate in Rodgers’ free-scoring side.
The Prospects
In terms of price, Suarez will surely be the most expensive option on offer across the Fantasy games next time around. Most anticipate a shift between 13.0 and 14.0 in FPL – in fairness, a true reflection of the quality of his Fantasy performances – though such a high cost won’t deter those who feel that owning Suarez simply affords a peace of mind and takes away the hassle of selecting a captain in any given Gameweek.
For consistency of starts, Suarez has also been second-to-none amongst premium price options. He’s been named in the first XI in every league game he has been available for under Rodgers and, unlike Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Daniel Sturridge, has only missed out through suspension. It’s a factor that is also in his favour when taking the Reds’ Champions League duties into consideration – Sturridge’s propensity for picking up knocks and niggles could potentially pose problems for his owners, given that he started only 15 of the final 27 Gameweeks due to injury last time round.
There’s a chance Suarez’ price rise may persuade others to consider more budget-friendly alternatives, though with Rodgers looking to strengthen further, Liverpool’s attack-minded style of play is always going to serve up chances aplenty. Going without the Uruguayan would be a risky tactic if he can maintain his momentum, though Suarez’ fitness will be keenly monitored over the summer after he underwent minor knee surgery yesterday, with fears it may have a knock-on effect on his pre-season sharpness.
Elsewhere in the premium bracket, whilst Aguero’s continual injuries will persuade many to steer clear, Louis Van Gaal’s arrival at United could bring Van Persie and Rooney into contention for those determined to overlook Suarez. Certainly, a lack of European action for the Old Trafford outfit suggests that there will be less requirement for rest and rotation, whilst a recent tactical change from 4-3-3 to 5-3-2 for Holland will harbour hopes that both Van Persie and Rooney will be handed central roles up top for United as the new man in charge aims for the title in his first season at the helm.
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