Sergio Agueroโs failings leaves Man City pointless from their Turf Moor trip as Manuel Pellegrini’s title tilt is derailed. It’s Arsenal who are looking more likely to challenge Chelsea, as Olivier Giroud inspires the Gunners to an eighth consecutive home win against West Ham. Villa’s strikers steal the show, however, as Tim Sherwoodโs side blitz the Black Cats to prompt an early walkout by the Stadium of Light faithful. Here are all the notes from Saturdaysโ eventsโฆ
Aguero Blanks As Cityโs Challenge Fades
Manchester City’s hopes of earning back-to-back Premier League crowns were dealt a hammer blow as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor, courtesy of an expertly struck half volley from everyoneโs favourite fifth midfielder, George Boyd.
Valued at 4.6 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, Boyd took his tally to five goals for the season with Saturdayโs sublime strike โ an excellent return given his price and circumstances in one of the Premier Leagueโs strugglers.
Fantasy managers will be more concerned by the efforts of Sergio Aguero, however. Heavily backed with the FPL captaincy going into the Gameweek, the Argentine has now blanked in five of his eight starts since his return to fitness.
Aguero is certainly getting opportunities โ he registered eight efforts on goal at Turf Moor, six from inside the box โ more than any other player in Saturdayโs matches. Having said that, Cityโs current 4-4-2 system doesnโt appear to be suiting the striker or, indeed, Cityโs attacking ploys. With both Edin Dzeko and Wilfried Bony available as options, however, it would seem likely that Manuel Pellegrini will stand by the formation.
While West Brom and Palace are up next for City and Aguero, patience with the 13.0-priced asset could depend greatly on Diego Costaโs form and Olivier Giroudโs ability to maintain his current run of goals. Costa’s performance against Southampton this afternoon could certainly cause more fidgeting amongst Aguero owners, with Chelsea’s double Gameweek 34 on the horizon.
The Turf Moor teamsheet showed some significant changes with Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy recalled by Pellegrini. Uncharacteristically, Sean Dyche also made changes, dropping Micheal Keane to the bench and recalling Michael Duff to his defence. Duff has now dipped to just 3.9 in the FPL and helped the Clarets to an unlikely clean sheet; their first since Gameweek 16.
Eagles Widemen Torment Rโs
Crystal Palace’s wingers bullied a hapless QPR defence as Alan Pardewโs side eased to a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park. Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha โ who lined up either side of the reinstated Glenn Murray in a 4-3-3 set-up โ both delivered strong attacking returns, with the former bagging two assists and the latter notching a goal and an assist. James McArthur and Joel Ward were the unlikely scorers for Palaceโs second and third goals, all of which arrived in a dominant first-half display from the hosts.
Those 43,000 managers that recruited Jason Puncheon off the back of his hat-trick of assists were left disappointed by his Fantasy output. Puncheon failed to play a part in any of Palaceโs goals and was forced off in the second half with a hamstring injury. In addition, Zaha was also substituted with a hip problem โ an injury sustained by sliding into the upright as he met Bolasieโs cross for Palace’s opener.
The Eagles have now scored 14 league goals since Alan Pardewโs arrival โ just one shy of Man Cityโs tally over the same spell. They have, however, kept just one clean sheet during Pardewโs reign to this point.
Phillipsโ Stunner Keeps Him Ticking
Matt Phillipsโ astonishing 40-yard strike not only restored a modicum of pride for Chris Ramseyโs outfit but also marked the fourth time in five matches that the 4.6-priced winger has delivered attacking returns. The Scottish international has tallied four assists and a goal in the last five, presenting a strong case to challenge George Boyd as the optimum fifth FPL midfielder.
Meanwhile, Charlie Austin failed to register once again, notching just three goal attempts throughout the course of the match. Heโs suffered more sales than any other FPL asset overnight as his 20% FPL ownership begins to diminish. A blank against Everton in Gameweek 30 will likely signal a burst of sales as QPRโs Gameweek 33 blank looms.
Giroud Masterclass Squashes Hammers
Olivier Giroud was on the scoresheet for the fourth Gameweek in succession as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory over London rivals West Ham. The striker was a pivotal figure throughout, also earning the assist for Aaron Ramsey’s third goal. Giroud has now recorded six goals in his previous eight starts, establishing himself as the current form pick amongst Premier League strikers, having scored in his last four outings.
Arsene Wenger madeย five changes to the side that turned out against Man United in Monday’s FA Cup win at Old Trafford, with Hector Bellerin, Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla among those that dropped to the bench as Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Giroud were handed starting berths.
Ramsey announced his full return to the side with a goal and an assist, while Cazorla entered the fray in the 72nd minute, assisting a rare goal from Mathieu Flamini in the latter stages.
While Giroud cements himself as a prime target, our options in the Arsenal midfield are becoming more confused by the week. Ramseyโs return to form is of note, while Alexis Sanchez was hooked on 64 minutes on his way to his third successive blank at the Emirates. The Chilean did, however, register four efforts on goal โ all from inside the West Ham area โ the most threatening display of any midfielder on show in Saturdayโs matches.
The selection of Chambers over Bellerin could have been aimed at nullifying West Ham’s threat at set-plays. Given Arsenal’s crucial Champions League trip to Monaco in midweek, it would seem more likely that Bellerin was simply rested. His owners will perhaps be hoping that the Gunners fail to pull off a great escape in Tuesday’s tie โย reducing the risk of further rotation. Certainly Chambers’ performance did little to promote his cause: he was often exposed by the pace of Matt Jarvis and looked short on confidence.
Shot-Shy Foxes On the Brink
After failing to beat 10-man Hull City at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League, three points adrift of QPR.
The 0-0 stalemate certainly suited those who leapt to invest in out-of-position prospect, Jeffrey Schlupp, although Nigel Pearsonโs teamsheet didnโt help the Ghanaian’s cause: the Foxes boss elected to drop Paul Konchesky, shifting Schlupp to the left wing-back role in the new 5-2-3 set-up.
Pearson made a point of announcing that he would stick to the defensive setup but obviously feels that, by using Schlupp at left-back and recalling Jamie Vardy in front of him, he is lending the tactic more attacking threat.
The 0-0 outcome suggested that Pearson may have to go back to the drawing board โ Schlupp owners will be hoping for their man to be deployed back in a more attacking berth for Leicesterโs remaining home fixtures.
Crucially, the Foxes still have six encounters to come at the King Power Stadium over their remaining ten ties, although they have now notched just three goals in their last nine matches on home turf.
Villa Dismantle Sorry Black Cats
Having failed to score away from home for ten hours and with just four goals in 14 trips all season, Villa unexpectedly routed Sunderland in their own backyard with an incredible first-half goal blitz.
Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor were the executioners with a brace apiece, while the rejuvenated Charles NโZogbia and Leandro Bacuna provided the pace and creativity to feed them.
Benteke recovered from a hip injury that had sidelined him for the Villainsโ FA Cup win over West Brom to net in consecutive matches for the first time this season. Agbonlahor is also on fire: heโs now scored three goals in his last two outings and hisย partnership with Benteke looks to be bristling with threat.
With Scott Sinclair, NโZogbia and full-back Bacuna buzzing around the front two, Villa suddenly appear to have the weaponry to hurt opponents. Tim Sherwoodโs tactics also appear to be promoting their attacking instincts.
Bacuna’s performance from right-back will hand Sherwood a selection headache for the Gameweek 30 visit of Swansea: Alan Hutton’s return to the teamsheet following a two-match suspension looks far from assured.
It should be noted that the encounter with the Swans begins a run of fixtures for Villa (SWA, mun, tot, mci, EVE, WHU, sou) that’s dominated by ties with teams in the upper echelons of the table, a factor which might just dampen enthusiasm in their assets.
Sunderlandโs plight is starting to look desperate. Theyโve scored just one goal in their last five league outings with Jermain Defoeโs ownership withering by the week. At the back, Patrick van Aanholt reclaimed a starting berth but gave his 3.5% ownership little to cheer. The Black Cats have kept just one clean sheet in six, as confidence in Van Aanholt and keeper Costel Pantilimon declines at pace.
Baggies’ Unmoved By Stoke Threat
Keeping pace with strike partner Saido Berahino โ Brown Ideye scored the only goal of the game in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Stoke City. The Nigerian hitman had drawn blanks in his previous three starts but rediscovered his scoring touch at The Hawthorns, heading West Brom into an early lead against Mark Hughesโ outfit.
In light of the Potters failure to reply, West Brom have now recorded six cleans sheets in their last nine fixtures, encouraging further investment in the likes of Ben Foster, Craig Dawson and Joleon Lescott.
There will be concerns about Fosterโs availability, however, with the stopper set to undergo scans on a knee injury which forced him off on 55 minutes against the Potters, robbing his owners of the shut-out. This requires careful monitoring, with Boaz Myhill, priced at just 4.0 in the FPL, providing the obvious replacement for both Tony Pulis and Foster owners alike. With a trip to the Etihad up next, there appears to be time to assess the situation. Following that, however, Pulis’s side have QPR and Leicester at the Hawthorns having recorded six clean sheets in their last seven home matches in all competitions.
There were also notable injuries in the Potters’ ranks as Erik Pieters, Victor Moses and Jonathan Walters were forced off. We’ll sum up their current situations in tomorrow’s Treatment Table.
