Sergio Aguero escapes the referee’s wrath but cannot shake the West Ham defence as City fall to the Hammers revival and the prolific Diafra Sakho. The Saints march on, Hull frustrate Liverpool at Anfield, Alexis Sanchez punishes the Black Cats and Wilfried Bony delivers as Gylfi Sigurdsson is hampered by a groin injury. Here’s the notes on all Saturday’s events…
Hammers Halt Aguero Charge
Having topped our Captain Poll with over almost 50% of managers choosing to hand him the armband against West Ham, Sergio Aguero failed to justify the support after notching his third blank of the season. Aguero saw his price rise to 12.6 on the back of his four-goal blitz against Spurs in Gameweek 8, but was ultimately hindered by Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to switch back to 4-4-2 ,as Eden Dzeko joined him up front. With neither striker managing to make the breakthrough, it was left to David Silva to offer City hope in the 2-1 loss – the Spaniard notching his first strike since Gameweek 1. The goal came following Pellegrini’s decision to switch back to a 4-5-1, pushing Silva up behind Aguero – it remains to be seen if the City boss favours this system for the Manchester derby in Gameweek 10.
Aguero owners will have mixed emotions on the display: the City man delivered seven efforts on goal, five from inside the box and was denied by the woodwork in the second-half. He was also fortunate to escape from a studs-up challenge on Mark Noble without punishment. It remains to be seen if the Argentine will face retrospective action for the “challenge” – given that it occurred right in front of referee Mark Atkinson.
Sakho Makes it Seven in Seven
Diafra Sakho has now scored seven goals in seven successive games for West Ham in all competitions as another towering header took him to fifth in the overall forward standings in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) with 47 points. Sam Allardyce’s revitalised outfit were not found wanting against one of the Premier League heavyweights and, with favourable fixtures ahead (stk, AVL, eve, NEW, wba), further investment now looks likely on the back of this result. Caution is required with Sakho, however: he was withdrawn with a shoulder injury against City, with Big Sam unsure over the extent of the problem. Elsewhere, Aaron Cresswell earned a second consecutive assist and his contribution for Sakho’s goal means the 5.4 priced defender has now averaged 5.6 points per game (ppg) across his last three Gameweeks.
Mane Stars for Saints
Having had his goal from the bench in the massacre of Sunderland wiped off by the dubious goals panel, Saido Mane was handed a start against Stoke and the Senegalese duly delivered the winning strike. At 6.9 in the FPL, Mane presents an potentially explosive alternative to the influential Dusan Tadic, or even a complimentary option for those without Graziano Pelle up front. The Saints’ next three fixtures (jul, LE, avl) certainly suggest that there are further returns for the attacking trio. Indeed, Pelle continues to pick up points after assisting Mane for the goal: the Italian is now top of the overall forward standings with a total of 59 points accrued. The Saints’ back line is also offering managers plenty of value right now, having achieved back-to-back clean sheets to take their tally to five.
Tigers Keep Sterling in Check
The Anfield stalemate with Hull saw Raheem Sterling fail to find the net for the fourth consecutive Gameweek. Interestingly, he has just one goal in five without Daniel Sturridge in the side, backing opinion that Sterling will require the striker to return from injury in order to start delivery points with regularity. Brendan Rodger’s men have five good fixtures in their next six (new, cry, STK, lei, SUN) which may see many of his 51% ownership holding Sterling, despite his recent struggles. Having said that, overnight, only Leicester’s Leondaro Ulloa had suffered more sales.
Ruthless Sanchez Punishes Black Cats
Alexis Sanchez was shifted to role in the hole against the Black Cats and capitalised on two moments of fatal defending to bag a brace for the Gunners. Those goals, coupled with maximum bonus points, take the former Barcelona man top of the midfield rankings and, though his hefty 10.3 valuation has proved a deterrent for most until now, the Chilean is beginning to look more than worthy of the extra outlay. Sanchez has collected five goals and an assist in his last five league starts and with Burnley and Swansea up next for Arsenal, he looks likely to add to those numbers over the next couple of Gameweeks.
It should be noted, however, that Jack Wilshere was suspended for Saturday’s encounter, while Aaron Ramsey was eased back into action from the bench. Both players would seem set to be in the frame for starts against Burnley and, along with Theo Walcott’s gradual re-introduction, this could see Arsene Wenger change how he deploys his midfield and potentially have an impact on Sanchez.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s clean sheet just their second of the campaign and was earned despite further injury setbacks and forced re-organisation. Kieran Gibbs was withdrawn in the second-half with a hip problem, introducing Hector Bellerin at right-back and shifting Calum Chambers alongside Per Mertesacker, as Nacho Monreal moved to his regular left-back role. Despite their troubles, a kind schedule looks set to offer them the opportunity to show their mettle and return to the form that harvested 17 shutouts last season.
Manonne Set To Make Way
Another uncertain display and a glaring error for Arsenal’s second goal seems set to seal the fate of Sunderland’s Vito Manonne. The Italian keeper appeared crestfallen as he trudged off the pitch on the whistle, seemingly resigned to the fact that he will now struggle to retain his starting role for the trip to Crystal Palace. Gus Poyet had, earlier in the week, backed Manonne but suggested that further errors could force his hand to make a change. The 4.6 priced FPL stopper could now make way for Costel Pantilimon (4.4) in Gameweek 10.
Berahino’s Spot Kick Saves Baggies
Saido Berahino notched yet another Baggies goal as his late penalty earned Alan Irvine’s men a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. That’s now six goals in five home appearances for the England Under-21 international who, at just 5.8, continues to look superb value. Short-term fixtures offer the potential of further returns with Leicester and Newcastle up next before Berahino gets to test himself against Chelsea and Arsenal from Gameweek 12. Elsewhere in the Baggies lineup, skipper Chris Brunt (5.4) produced an assist for the fourth game in his last five and, with an ownership of only 0.2%, the midfielder looks an intriguing differential pick in his current form.
Zaha Off the Leash
Neil Warnock opted to hand loanee Wilfried Zaha only his second league start at the Hawthorns, replacing Jason Puncheon who dropped to the bench. Zaha was typically influential and was only denied an assist by a dubious decision by referee Mark Clatttenburg when felled in the area by Craig Dawson. With a beleaguered Sunderland at Selhurst Park in Gameweek 10, Zaha could now warrant interest as a 5.3 option in midfield. He was, however, replaced on the hour-mark and continued rotation with Puncheon looks likely. Yannick Bolasie (5.4) looks more secure on the opposite flank – he did earn a second assist of the season as he was brought down for a Palace penalty converted by skipper Mile Jedinak.
Sigurdsson And Bony Combine to Cull Foxes
Gylfi Sigurdsson was in the points in the late kick-off against Leicester, setting up the opening goal to ensure that the 6.8 priced midfielder has now assisted six of Swansea’s eight home goals this season. However, having made his mark in the game, Sigurdsson was replaced before the hour-mark with a groin problem and has to be considered a doubt ahead of the Swans’ clash with Everton next weekend. The Icelandic international remarked post-match that he felt the problem going into yesterday’s game and was forced off as it flared up during the match. We await news from the Liberty on the prognosis. Regardless, with Arsenal and Man City to come after the Toffees encounter, Sigurdsson could well suffer sales in the next week, particularly with similarly priced Southampton duo Mane and Tadic having both form and fixtures in their favour.
After a sluggish start to the campaign, Wilfried Bony’s recent blossoming form continued with a brace against Nigel Pearson’s side. The Ivorian fired in six attempts on the Foxes’ goal in a performance that is sure to turn a few managers’ heads, even with their testing schedule. It’s now four goals in the last three for Bony and it should be noted that, last season, eight of his 17 goals came against the top eight, indicating that he has the ability to provide a “fixture proof” mid-price option up front.
