Diego Costa and Oscar put Swansea to the sword. Harry Kane fluffs his lines in his FPL Captaincy audition, while Danny Ings and Dwight Gayle do their bit for the budget strikers. Charlie Austin blanks at home again, as Louis van Gaal tinkers to find a winning United formula. Here’s all the notes from Saturday’s matches…
COSTA AND OSCAR AT THE DOUBLE
Diego Costa and Oscar both delivered outstanding performances and double-figure hauls Chelsea’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea, notching a brace apiece as the Blues swept aside their Welsh opponents. That was the first time that Costa has returned more than a single goal in a fixture since his Gameweek 4 tally, ironically, the hat-trick against the Welshman at the Bridge. Costa also gathered his second assist in five matches, on his way to securing maximum bonus points for the first time since that Gameweek 4 encounter. The Spanish international has now notched six goals in his last seven league starts, taking him top of the FPL forward rankings, just as Sergio Aguero is arriving back on our radars. Now up to 17 goals for the season, Costa is three goals ahead of the Man City man going into Sunday’s fixtures and sitting on 6.1 FPL points per game to Aguero’s 6.6. Having suffered a loss in ownership in three of the last five Gameweeks, the Liberty haul may now force a rethink for those still sitting on their January Wildcards: Costa’s ownership was back on the rise overnight with more than 10,000 new suitors acquiring his services ahead of the Gameweek 23 head-to-head with City and Aguero.
Elsewhere, Cesc Fabregas provided his fifteenth assist of the season against the Swans, and with Eden Hazard blanking, moved to just 11 points shy of the Belgian at the summit of the Blues’ midfield rankings. Fabregas has now returned points in 14 league matches, displaying the kind of consistency that many will see as irresistible. Oscar’s brace, however, again underlined the former Barcelona playmaker’s lack of explosive ability in comparison to his midfield teammates. At 8.3, Oscar has now notched three goals and two assists in his last three league appearances, averaging 10 points per game. His points-per-game tally of 5.8 over the season is also stronger than Fabregas on 5.7. With an ownership of merely 4.9%, Oscar remains an intriguing Wildcard option for those trying to claw back mini-league deficits.
Blues Backline Stand Firm
Gary Cahill returned to Jose Mourinho’s starting XI in place of Kurt Zouma as the Blues recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the fifth time this season. The Londoners have now registered eight shutouts in their last eleven league outings, and with a superb schedule on the horizon after their clash with City next weekend (avl, EVE, BUR, lei, whm), their rearguard assets continue to demand investment. Branislav Ivanovic once again justified our Watchlist faith, grabbing his third assist in as many league matches to move to the top of the FPL defender rankings.
SWANS STUTTER IN FRONT OF GOAL
Yesterday’s harrowing defeat saw the Swans fail to find a breakthrough for the first time since a Gameweek 10 stalemate with Everton. While that record sounds impressive, Garry Monk’s side have also failed to score more than one goal in a match since their 2-1 comeback win over Arsenal in Gameweek 11. Given that they are now without the firepower of Wilfried Bony, things are looking decidedly gloomy ahead of a Gameweek 23 encounter with Southampton’s rearguard. Without a single shot on target against Chelsea, Bafetimbi Gomis did little to convince that he can fill the boots of the recently departed Bony, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson blanked for a third successive appearance. After notching six assists in the first eight fixtures of the season, the Icelandic international has delivered just a single assist since Gameweek 9: Sigurdsson suffered more sales than any other FPL player overnight as he continues to be sacrificed during this Wildcard period.
INGS MAKES IT THREE IN THREE
Danny Ings’ first half goal against Palace ultimately came to nothing following the Eagles comeback but it maintained the striker’s consistent run of form. Priced at 5.7 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Ings has now returned a goal or assist in eight of his last 11 league outings; the goal ensured that he notched in three consecutive  matches for the first time in his career. With both Charlie Austin and Harry Kane drawing blanks, Ings was the star of the budget forward bracket, and with Sunderland and West Brom up next for the Clarets, he has the platform to go on delivering before the fixtures stiffen with trips to United and Chelsea in Gameweeks 25 and 26. Kieran Trippier also offered belated returns in the home defeat: the right-back grabbed his second assist of the season for Burnley’s first goal. No other full-back has put in more crossed ball attempts than the 4.8-priced Trippier this season and, with 31 chances created for team-mates, his return of just a pair of assists remains disappointing.
GAYLE AND PUNCHEON PUNISH CLARETS
Jason Puncheon continues to impress under Alan Pardew, inspiring the Eagles’ to their comeback victory with a goal and assist return. After a rough patch in the middle of this campaign, the winger looks immediately rejuvenated under the new Palace boss, scoring goal in consecutive Gameweeks following his winner against Spurs. However, Puncheon appears to have a rival for our affections amongst the Eagles’ offensive ranks: Dwight Gayle’s brace at Turf Moor added to his spot-kick goal in the London derby seven days ago and he has now scored four goals in his last three league starts. Despite the signing of Yaya Sanogo from Arsenal, Gayle appears to have the opportunity to cement a starting berth and at 5.0, the former Peterborough man is beginning to suggest that he can challenge Ings, Austin and Kane as a budget forward option. The potential of both Puncheon and Gayle is likely to be influenced by the return of Yannick Bolasie, however. The DR Congo winger is surely set to regain a starting role on his return from the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo, which could come as soon as Gameweek 24.
Sterling & Henderson Tick Along
Raheem Sterling’s assist in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa yesterday meant the 8.4-valued midfielder has produced returns in three of his last four starts, as he continues to edge his way back into our thinking. It’s also worth noting that Jordan Henderson has now earned four assists and five bonus points in his last six and, at just 6.0, remains an option for our five-man midfields. Brendan Rodgers’ defence has also improved of late, having recorded consecutive clean sheets following the Villa Park shut-out. It’s three clean sheets in the Reds’ last five since Simon Mignolet made his return in goal.
VILLA CAN’T BUY A GOAL
Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa have now managed just a single goal in seven league outings as they slip ever closer to the relegation trapdoor. Cristian Benteke’s return back in Gameweek 14 looked as if it may kickstart Villa’s season, as the Belgian notched two goals and an assist up to Gameweek 17. Benteke has since failed to find the net and his stock has plummeted into steep decline as a result. With a trip to Arsenal and clash with Chelsea next on the agenda, there’s no let off for the Villians, with Alan Hutton remaining the only real contender for our consideration once the fixture list brightens up from Gameweek 25 onwards.
Eriksen the hero as Kane Fails the Armband Audition
Harry Kane failed to return points for only the second time in seven matches in Spurs’ narrow win over Sunderland, disappointing the further 170,000 managers to acquire his services before this weekend’s deadline, plus the army of FPL managers who trusted him with the captaincy. Nonetheless, Kane was again impressive, firing in five goal attempts (as many as any other striker on show in Saturday’s fixtures), while his first half angled drive found the foot of the post.
With Kane blanking, it was left to Christian Eriksen to earn Spurs another late victory. The Dane’s superbly taken goal was his first in four Gameweeks and his eighth of the current campaign. Eriksen was struggling for returns before yesterday’s strike, allowing team-mate Nacer Chadli to emerge as Spurs’ midfield weapon of choice in recent weeks. Chadli earned almost 100,000 new FPL owners this week but, having blanked for just the second time in his last six, the pendulum may now swing back in favour of Eriksen as further Wildcards are dealt over the FA Cup break.
United Shuffle To Earn The Points
Louis van Gaal recovered from their Old Trafford reverse at the hands of Southampton with a 2-0 win at Loftus Road but were still far from convincing. Despite having to fend off 18 goal attempts from Harry Redknapp’s side, United’s defence held firm and the clean sheet was their fifth in their last 12: United have not conceded more than a single goal in a game since Gameweek 8. David De Gea’s haul put him joint top of the FPL goalkeeper rankings and with Old Trafford meetings with Leicester and Burnley in his next three, the Spaniard could boost his stock further in the coming Gameweeks.
Despite recalling Radamel Falcao to his frontline, Van Gaal’s attack was still found wanting. The Colombian, along with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria, all collected blanks, while Juan Mata was withdrawn at half-time as the United boss tweaked his tactics. Despite some impressive performances under Van Gaal, Mata’s starting role remains firmly in the balance with Van Gaal seemingly struggling to find the right mix, both at the back and in attack.
Van Gaal again started with a 3-5-2 formation, recalling Marcos Rojo and shifting Daley Blind to a left wing-back role as Luke Shaw was omitted from the squad. Jonny Evans replaced Chris Smalling as one of the three centre-backs in a late change: reports suggest that this was an admin error, with Smalling eventually named amongst the subs. As United toiled to find the breakthrough, Van Gaal shifted to a 4-4-2 in the second period, introducing James Wilson for Evans, allowing Di Maria to drop back into a more withdrawn and influential role. Di Maria’s recent output is hardly convincing as we consider our Wildcard options: the Argentine’s last league goal for United was back in Gameweek 7 – he’s made seven league starts since, returning three assists.
Austin Denied Again
Charlie Austin’s status as a home banker has run aground in recent weeks, with the striker now failing to find the net in his last three Loftus Road encounters. As a result, he’s fallen off his perch at the summit of the FPL forward standings. In fact, Austin has failed to score form open play since his hat-trick against West Brom in Gameweek 17, with spot-kicks at Arsenal and Burnley keeping his tally ticking. The R’s have now managed just three goals in their last five in the league and with showdowns against Sunderland and Hull on in their next four, turning that form around quickly will surely prove vital to their chances of staying up.
SHOCK START FOR SCHLUPP IN LEICESTER LOSS
Jeffrey Schlupp made a surprise return for Leicester in their 1-0 defeat to Stoke. The 4.5-priced defender dropped out of Ghana’s squad for the African Cup of Nations, which started today, with a knee complaint, and yet lined up in Nigel Pearson’s starting XI against the Potters. He’s now back as an option for our defences given that he appears to be Pearson’s first choice left winger. Schlepp’s out of position prospects paid dividends last time out with a goal at Anfield, and though the Foxes face a miserable impending fixture list (mun, CPL, ars, eve, CHE, mcy), his attacking endeavours could see him come onto the radar for their season run-in which is one of the kindest on show.
ALL CHANGE IN THE POTTERS’ REARGUARD
Stoke City’s defence was in flux yesterday as a number of their regular starters dropped out. Erik Pieters missed the Foxes clash with a groin injury as expected, whilst Ryan Shawcross failed a late fitness test on a similar concern sustained in training. Geoff Cameron was ousted by Phil Bardsley for the right-back role as uncertainty on Mark Hughes’ first choice defence escalated. Bardsley, Marc Muniesa and Marc Wilson were the beneficiaries and left the King Power Stadium with a clean sheet under their belts, making Hughes’ selection next weekend that little bit more difficult. The Leicester shut-out was the Potters’ third clean sheet in their last five outings, and with a kind upcoming schedule (QPR, new, MCI, avl, HUL), many had been eyeing up their backline assets. Yesterday’s shuffle does, however, complicate matters with Asmir Begovic, at 4.9 in goal, looking a more attractive option. Further forward, Bojan notched his fourth goal of the season, and his third in his last seven starts, to earn victory, with Jon Walters supplying the assist. Bearing in mind the abovementioned fixture list, investment in the pair could be a canny move for those on the hunt for differential options, as the Potters face two of the top three worst defences in the league in their next two.
ELIA STEPS UP FOR INJURY PLAGUED SAINTS
Southampton’s new signing, Eljero Elia, blinked brightly on the radar with a finely taken brace at St James’ Park. With Saido Mane out of the picture due to a calf injury, Elia could be a decent short-term punt considering the Saints’ imminent schedule (SWA, qpr, WHM) and, at just 5.5, the bandwagon is seemingly in full flow with over 16,000 managers having already snapped up the Dutchman. Indeed, as the wave of injuries in key defensive areas saw them concede for the first time in three league matches, the Saints may just need to rely on their attackers more often in order to earn points in forthcoming fixtures. James Ward-Prowse is another option to consider: the youngster started in the “number 10” role behind Graziano Pelle and has now started six of the last seven Gameweeks, registering five assists in that time; at just 4.8, he’s looking increasingly hard to overlook in that fifth midfielder slot.
