Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen grab a goal apiece as Liverpool recover from back-to-back losses to sweep aside Newcastle at Anfield. The Magpies, meanwhile, turn in another disappointing display and have now tasted defeat in six of the last seven Gameweeks.
Sterling on target in routine Reds win
Raheem Sterling netted his first goal in six outings as Liverpool cruised past a toothless Newcastle side. The Reds starlet shifted the ball across right-back Ryan Taylor on the left flank and guided a curling finish beyond the reach of Tim Krul. Sterling’s return to form arrives at an opportune time for his 30% ownership as the Merseysiders prepare to embark upon their first double Gameweek (wba, hull) after they sit out Gameweek 33. Joe Allen was on hand to cement the three points in the 70th minute, notching his first goal in two seasons.
Jordan Henderson (6.7) picked up the assist for Sterling’s (8.5) opener and has now delivered attacking returns in five of his previous six starts, tallying four goals and two assists in the process. Considering he sits just three points (144) behind Sterling (147) in the midfield standings, boasts superior form and costs 1.8 less, the former Sunderland man is poised for a surge in ownership once the Reds resume league action.
Prior to their Arsenal capitulation, Liverpool were unbeaten in their previous six road matches, with five wins and one draw to their name. Furthermore, both the Tigers (eight) and the Baggies (ten) have shipped plenty of goals in the past three Gameweeks, encouraging Fantasy managers to pursue multiple routes into Liverpool’s squad for Gameweek 34.
Brendan Rodgers named two changes from the XI that triumphed over Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, with Emre Can and Jordon Ibe replacing the injured Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge. Philippe Coutinho was tasked with leading the line, with Sterling lining up on the left wing as the Reds boss continued with the 4-3-3 formation rolled out at Blackburn last midweek.
Rodgers revealed after the Tyneside clash that Sturridge could be fit for the weekend, but Sakho is set to be sidelined for three to four weeks. Sturridge’s fitness is clearly a key talking point as the double approaches, yet unless he features heavily in the their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on Sunday, few managers will fancy investing in the 11.1-priced forward without the security of starts, with the midfield looking the safest option.
Last night’s clean sheet served a reminder of Liverpool’s rearguard as a source of coverage, with eight shut-outs in 12 outings illustrating their newfound resilience. Martin Skrtel’s return for Gameweek 34 either spells the end of Dejan Lovren’s run in the side or allows Rodgers to revert back to the 3-4-3 formation that served him well during their unbeaten streak.
Sissoko sees red as Magpies wilt
Newcastle plummeted to a fifth straight defeat as they struggled to carve out any meaningful chances at Anfield. The Toon have registered just one goal in four Gameweeks since Papiss Cisse picked up a lengthy ban for his involvement in a spitting altercation with Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, with the Senegalese frontman still set to serve three more matches on his suspension (TOT, SWA, lei).
The Magpies’ upcoming schedule offers hope that manager John Carver can arrest their woeful run of losses, however. Four of their remaining six matches are at St James’ Park (TOT, SWA, WBA, WHU), while the remaining two (lei, qpr) are trips to sides currently residing in the bottom three.
Moussa Sissoko was handed a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Lucas Leiva. Having received a red card earlier in the campaign, the France international will serve a two-match ban and sits out home ties against Spurs and Swansea. The fact that Sissoko is the only player to score in any of the last five Gameweeks emphasises Carver’s mounting problems for the run-in.
