Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa offer a reminder of the benefits of consistent goal scorers, while Charlie Austin does his bit for the budget strikers union with another eye-catching display. Southampton’s resilience wins out again, while United struggle to blow down the Palace gates at Old Trafford and the Hammers are held. Here’s the notes on all Saturday’s events…
Ruthless Costa Proves Decisive
Diego Costa’s winner against Liverpool means that the Chelsea hit-man has now scored in six of his eight league starts this season. His recent injury difficulties and blank against QPR in Gameweek 10 may have led to a decline in ownership but the Anfield showing offered a reminder of his importance to the Chelsea cause. Having been rested from the Spanish squad for the international break, Costa will now go into the Stamford Bridge meeting with West Brom in Gameweek 12 refreshed, making him one of the big favourites for the armband. Those who recently sold on the striker may well be reconsidering as a result, although they may also cling to fact that Costa is now just one booking away from a ban having picked up his fourth yellow against Liverpool.
Costa now has the unlikely task of surviving until January 1st without another yellow card if he is to avoid a one-match ban. If, however, he lasts until December 13, expect a careless yellow against Hull in Gameweek 15: a booking in that match, would see him sit out the Capital One Cup tie with Derby rather than a league encounter.
Fabregas Plays Through the Pain
Despite Ramires’ return to the Jose Mourinho’s starting XI, Cesc Fabregas remained in the double pivot, shackled by defensive responsibilities. Interestingly, Mourinho revealed post-match that both Ramires and Fabregas played through the match with injuries, despite the latter lasting the entire 90 minutes. Reports suggest that Fabregas could emerge as a doubt for the home clash with West Brom with ongoing hamstring concerns, with Mourhinho stating he will play no part for Spain in their Euro Qualifiers.
At the back, the Blues have now gone four matches without a shut-out – a major frustration for owners of FPL’s highest valued defender, Branislav Ivanovic. The Serbian, who has failed to gain attacking returns since Gameweek 3, has now lost ownership in three of the last four Gameweeks, although with fixtures improving, a turnaround in fortunes may well be on the cards.
Liverpool and Sterling Toil Again
Having been sold by over 400,000 managers in the last two Gameweeks, Raheem Sterling notched his first attacking points in his last three by assisting Emre Can’s opener against Chelsea. However, even with a favourable run to come (cpl, STO, lei, SUN), it still may not be enough to convince his remaining 39% ownership to hold: the winger managed only one shot on target yesterday and now has just a single goal in his last eight appearances. Daniel Sturridge’s potential return in Gameweek 12 will be the key factor to Sterling and Liverpool’s prospects over that spell. The striker has announced that he will return to full training over the break, targeting the Palace trip for his return to contention.
Rampant Aguero Denies QPR
Having been heavily backed for the Gameweek captaincy, Sergio Aguero duly delivered a brace to save City’s blushes against QPR and return to the FPL summit on 79 points. The Argentine’s consistency has been remarkable: he’s struck goals in eight of his eleven appearances thus far – a tally that has enabled City to maintain a semblance of form in an attempt to keep pace with Chelsea. Aguero’s FPL ownership continues to rise, resulting in a further hike to 12.7 overnight. With Swansea at the Etihad next, there’s little doubt that the Argentine will go head-to-head with Diego Costa as the leading candidates for the captaincy, with Aguero’s non-owners understandably nervous on the damage he continues to inflict on defences, despite City’s struggles.
R’s Can Rely on Austin
Having seen two strikes disallowed, Charlie Austin eventually found his fourth goal in his last three outings for the Hoops and was unfortunate to be denied the assist after providing the cross that led to the Martin Demichellis own goal. Austin has now reaped returns against Southampton, Liverpool, Chelsea and City in his last six, and, at 5.7, is currently showing that he’s more than capable of producing regardless of the fixture. With spot-kicks in his locker and a blossoming schedule that brings Leicester, Burnley and West Brom to Loftus Road before Christmas, Austin has emerged as a key target when considering a budget striker to sit alongside Costa and Aguero.
Long Overshadows Saints Assets
Shane Long’s match-winning brace against Leicester saw the striker stake a strong claim for a Saints starting role and cast further doubt over the merits of Saido Mane as a Fantasy option. Mane returned to the teamsheet and had a disallowed goal before being withdrawn on the 70-minute mark for Long. It’s likely that the Senegal winger’s pitch time and even starting role, will continue to come under continued threat from Long. Meanwhile, Dusan Tadic has now blanked in each of his last three appearances, in a run that is made all the more alarming by the fact that the Saints face City, Arsenal and United after their trip to Villa in Gameweek 12. Up front, Graziano Pelle mustered an assist – his second in his last three outings – but looks set to suffer a fall in ownership over the international break as FPL managers manufacture a move for Aguero.
There are no such concerns at the back. The shutout against the Foxes ensures that it’s now four consecutive clean sheets for the Saints’ defence, and seven in total for the campaign. Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand have now moved into first and second place respectively in the FPL defender rankings. Southampton’s home record has been particularly notable, with just one home goal conceded all season, though their next five home visitors are sure to put their St Mary’s resolve to the test – City, United, Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal are next to arrive on the south coast.
Di Maria Ticks Over
While Angel di Maria failed to deliver the anticipated points haul in United’s narrow win over Palace, the assist for Juan Mata’s goal may just calm any panic amongst his owners for now. The 10.1 valued Argentine has provided two assists in his last four, although this represents a considerable drop in output after three double figure hauls in his first five starts. With the similarly-priced Alexis Sanchez having collected an outstanding 45 points over his last three matches, Di Maria’s ownership trend before Gameweek 12 may well depend on the Arsenal man’s returns at Swansea later today. Only Sterling and Pelle suffered more FPL sales overnight.
Elsewhere for United, the situation in midfield has become fuzzy by the return of Michael Carrick and Mata’s influence off the bench. Carrick’s presence on the teamsheet saw Daley Blind switch to the left centre-back role alongside Paddy McNair, leaving Carrick in the engine room. Mata meanwhile, put his case forward for a starting role with his match winner – Adnan Januzaj has started the last three league outings for United but is now under threat for the Gameweek 12 trip to Arsenal.
Trippier Delivers At Last
Having claimed attention in pre-season, Burnley’s Kieran Trippier finally delivered his first assist of the season in the 1-0 victory over Hull at Turf Moor. It was somewhat overdue: before this weekend, the right-back had provided more crossed ball attempts and more successful crosses than any other full-back in the league. With a first clean sheet since Gameweek 5 also accrued, Trippier’s prospects have taken a sudden upturn – Burnley now have four shutouts for the season, more than Chelsea, City or United, and face encouraging clashes with Stoke, Aston Villa and QPR in their next four Gameweeks.
Villains Keep West Ham At Bay
Last week’s big investment in Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho failed to pay off, as West Ham were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Villa. Sam Allardyce threw Sakho straight back into the mix following a shoulder injury and, despite the striker and Downing registering a combined total of nine attempts on goal, neither was able to produce a decisive effort. Nevertheless, owners of the Hammers pair should be happy to hold ahead of a set of great fixtures (eve, NEW, wba, SWA, sun, LEI). Such a schedule could even attract investment in West Ham’s defence after this second clean sheet of the season. Aaron Cresswell underlined his status as the standout option in their rearguard after earning maximum bonus points in yesterday’s stalemate.
