Scout Notes – Gameweek 19 – Monday

Adam Lallana scores twice as Liverpool ease past Swansea at Anfield. Alberto Moreno, Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho all serve up the points, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson prods home the visitors’ consolation.

Lallana at the Double

The summer signing threw his hat in the ring as a viable differential for our five-man midfields by bagging a brace in last night’s comprehensive 4-1 win. Fielded on the right of a front three once again, Lallana has started each of the last six Gameweeks and, with three strikes and an assist over that period, he is becoming increasingly influential in Brendan Rodgers’ 3-4-3 formation. Certainly, at a cost of 8.3, he’s far from budget friendly but the Reds upcoming fixtures (LEI, sun, avl, WHM) looks set to bring their main men onto our radars as they belatedly hit their stride.

Henderson in the Points as Rodgers Rings the Changes

Rodgers’ decision to make four alterations saw Steven Gerrard drop to the bench as the versatile Henderson moved into central midfield, allowing Javier Manquillo the right wing-back berth. Handed a share of set-pieces in his captain’s absence, Henderson laid on two of his side’s goals – taking his tally to three assists in the last trio of matches.

At 6.0, the former Sunderland man is a lot easier on the budget than the likes of Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho ahead of the kind run of matches and looks nailed on, regardless of formation. Coutinho also ticked over by picking up an assist last night, whilst Sterling, in spite of an impressive shift through the centre, delivered a frustrating blank after hitting the woodwork twice.

Rodgers’ tinkering also saw Alberto Moreno get amongst the goals. Fielded as a left wing-back, the Spaniard’s opener served notice of his possible out-of-position potential, though it remains to be seen whether he can nail down a regular role – he’d started just two of the seven league outings prior to last night. Elsewhere at the back for Rodgers’ side, Martin Skrtel earned a fifth caution of the campaign, meaning he’ll miss Thursday’s clash with the Foxes.

Siggy Remedies Travel Sickness

Whilst Wilfried Bony served up a blank before being subbed off on the hour mark, the Swansea midfielder notched for the second successive Gameweek. Sold by over 200,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers in the last 10 days, Sigurdsson’s failure to produce attacking returns in each of his previous six road trips saw him take a place on many a Fantasy manager’s bench last night – many were left ruing that decision after a close-range effort spoiled the Reds’ clean sheet and took him up to fourth in the FPL midfield standings.

With Bony set to leave imminently for the Africa Cup of Nations, there were concerns over the Icelandic international’s points potential, but judging by the last two matches, it seems he’s found his scoring touch just in time to cushion the blow of the Ivorian’s departure.