In today’s Scout Notes, a talented Saints winger receives the scorn of boss Ronald Koeman, Tottenham’s man of the moment continues his exceptional run and Everton’s record signing falls short once more. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s defence holds firm as they chase a top-four berth.
Kane the Spurs saviour
He may have left it uncomfortably late, but Harry Kane was once again on target for Tottenham as they clawed back a 2-0 deficit to secure a draw against West Ham. The 21-year-old striker has now netted 12 times in his last 11 league outings following a last-minute spot-kick at White Hart Lane, with only Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa (17 apiece) boasting a superior output than the English striker’s 14 this term.
With one eye on the Capital One Cup final and the midweek Europa League tie at Fiorentina, Mauricio Pochettino opted to rest Christian Eriksen, switching Erik Lamela to the left flank as Andros Townsend provided width on the right. Mousa Dembele – who’d piqued our interest recently with one goal and two assists in his last three matches – flattered to deceive in the first half and was replaced by the Danish playmaker at the break. Roberto Soldado’s introduction in the final 30 minutes instigated a formation change, with Kane dropping in behind the Spanish marksman in a 4-4-1-1 set-up.
The north Londoners now enter a blank Gameweek 27 before compensating with a double Gameweek in Gameweek 28 (SWA, qpr). Kane and Eriksen remain the frontrunners in terms of viable Tottenham coverage during that period, with no clear candidates emerging for that third berth. Danny Rose’s strike took his tally to two goals and three assists for the season, though, and at 4.8, he looks the value route into the Spurs backline right now. Looking beyond the double, the Lilywhites’ schedule (mun, LEI, bur, AVL, new) sees them match-up against the current bottom-three Premier League outfits, strengthening the long-term investment potential of Tottenham’s attacking contingent.
Kouyate’s scoring streak continues
With three goals in his last five league appearances against high-calibre opposition (tot, MUN, ARS), Cheikhou Kouyate is defying his modest 4.9 price tag. The rangy midfield general demonstrated his finishing prowess with a towering header in the first quarter of the Hammers’ match against Spurs, turning in a cross from full-back Aaron Cresswell. Diafra Sakho supplemented the Senegal international’s strike with one of his own, notching his second goal in four outings for Sam Allardyce’s side.
Fit-again Winston Reid partnered James Tomkins in West Ham’s central defence having returned to full fitness, while James Collins replaced substitute Carlton Cole late on. The Irons’ back line certainly has its hands full in the upcoming weeks, with another three consecutive London derbies (CRY, CHE, ars) on the horizon. With Sunderland, Leicester and Stoke also in the next six, Stewart Downing’s 28% owners will be desperate for a return to form. Fielded on the right of a 4-3-3 yesterday, his blank means he’s now managed just a goal and assist in his last nine.
Lukaku spurns his chances
In the wake of another frustrating afternoon at Goodison Park, Romelu Lukaku has now only mustered one goal in his previous 12 league outings for Everton. A hat-trick in the Toffees’ midweek Europa League tie seemed to augur an upturn in form for the physical Belgian frontman, yet he failed to force a save out of Leicester goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in any of his nine attempts at goal. The big Belgian still managed to pick up a pair of assists, however, whilst fellow forward Steven Naismith opened the scoring with his second goal in six league matches, but Everton were unable to register their first home win since Gameweek 16.
Elsewhere, Leighton Baines replaced stand-in left-back Bryan Oviedo on his return from injury, while Aaron Lennon was reinstated in the starting line-up having been cup-tied for Everton’s 4-1 victory over BSC Young Boys. Tim Howard turned in a poor display between the posts which may give Roberto Martinez food for thought – the Toffees had registered three successive clean sheets with Joel Robles in goal prior to the US international’s return to the fray in Gameweek 25.
Leicester snap run of defeats
Leicester City exhibited signs of recovery in their closely contested draw with Everton. Nigel Pearson’s side broke a run of four defeats as Serie A veteran Esteban Cambiasso and David Nugent both tallied their third goals of the league campaign. Once again, Pearson kept faith in the new 5-4-1 formation, with Matthew Upson, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth fielded at centre-half, much to the detriment of Marcin Wasilewski’s 5% ownership. With no fixture this weekend and trips to City and Spurs in the upcoming four rounds of fixtures, it’s fair to say that few will be eyeing up the Foxes’ main men for now, though the schedule does take a turn for the better around the Gameweek 31 mark in the lead up to their Gameweek 34 double.
Liverpool’s resolute defence
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Southampton in the final fixture of Gameweek 26 marked the Merseyside outfit’s fifth clean sheet in their last six outings. Furthermore, it’s the first time since 1985 that the Reds have recorded five consecutive shut-outs on the road.
Former Saints centre-back Dejan Lovren earned his first start of the year as he came in for the injured Mamadou Sakho, who needs a scan to assess the severity of his hip complaint. Jordan Ibe was fielded at right wing-back and Lazar Markovic at left wing-back in Brendan Rodgers’ 3-4-2-1 formation, leaving no room for Alberto Moreno in the starting line-up – the Spaniard was omitted from the XI for the first time since Gameweek 18.
Philippe Coutinho’s superb opener helped the Brazilian to his second double-figure return in the last four, whilst Raheem Sterling’s goal means he has now scored or assisted in five of his last seven league appearances. Elsewhere, Daniel Sturridge was only fit enough for a second-half cameo, having started both of the Reds’ previous two matches over the last eight days, with Rodgers clearly keen not to over-utilise his star forward.
Mane benched for tardiness
According to Saints boss Ronald Koeman, winger Sadio Mane was supposed to start at St Mary’s Stadium but was dropped to the bench as punishment for turning up late to the stadium. In his place, January loan-signing Filip Djuricic made his first start for the Hampshire club. Given that Graziano Pelle extended his goalless streak to nine appearances, having not scored since 20 December at home to Everton, it’s fair to expect that Mane will be reinstated to the first XI as Koeman attempts to address a run which has seen his side score once in the last four Gameweeks.
Elsewhere, the 3.9-priced Matt Targett was handed a start at left-back after recovering from a head knock, while Morgan Schneiderlin clocked 45 second-half minutes as he stepped up his return to action. With Ryan Bertrand now available again, though, after serving out his three-match suspension, Targett looks set to return to bench-warming duties.
