Michael Dawson grabs the match-winner as Hull defeat Liverpool to move four points clear of the drop zone. The Merseysiders serve up a double Gameweek to forgot and their chances of Champions League football look all but extinguished after failing to score in either of this week’s matches.
Dawson header edges Tigers closer to safety
The adventurous minority that backed Hull to come up trumps in this double were richly rewarded as Steve Bruce’s men served up a second consecutive victory. Back-to-back clean sheets ensured that three of the highest-scoring defenders (Paul McShane, James Chester, Michael Dawson) in this round of fixtures were from the Tigers’ rearguard, with Dawson’s winning goal affording him an eye-catching 21 points. Furthermore, Steve Harper’s 19 points rendered him the choice goalkeeper, having only usurped Allan McGregor between the sticks in Gameweek 32.
Dame N’Doye failed to score with his single shot at goal, yet his 6,000+ new owners were already vindicated in their leftfield acquisition by his brace last time out against Crystal Palace. Ahmed Elmohamady, meanwhile, bagged his fourth assist of the campaign after delivering the cross for Dawson’s headed effort.
Hull now embark on a brutal run of fixtures (ARS, BUR, tot, MUN) to round of their season yet will be encouraged by the presence of three home clashes and clearly have the momentum on their side. That being said, in light of the fact that Arsenal have only failed to score once in their previous 13 fixtures while conceding just seven goals, their potential for Fantasy returns looks slim on the weekend.
Reds stumble towards finish line
Liverpool succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Hull City at the KC Stadium, meaning Brendan Rodgers’ side now have just one win in five outings. For the second match running, the visitors laboured to carve out any meaningful opportunities, mustering just six shots inside the box and not a single big chance.
Rodgers named one changed from the XI that were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion, with Joe Allen recalled in place of Steven Gerrard – who was rested in preparation for the their home tie against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Jordon Ibe lined up on the right of a 4-3-3 set-up, while Philippe Coutinho dropped back into the midfield three and Alberto Moreno missed out again with a knock.
Like the Baggies clash, Raheem Sterling offered very little goal threat, fashioning two attempts (one inside the box) throughout the encounter and managing only five penalty box touches. Furthermore, the England international engineered a solitary chance for his team-mates and fired in just one cross. Sterling was drafted in by a 260,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers for the Reds’ pair of fixtures but proved a massive letdown and many will already be looking for a way out in the lead up to Arsenal’s double Gameweek 37. The fleet-footed wide man has drawn blanks in five of his last seven matches and is posting statistics that reveal he’s struggling to impart his influence on matches. Priced at 8.6, his 36% ownership will need to witness a rapid upturn in productivity as the likes of the equally priced Aaron Ramsey (two goals, three assists in five) draw their attention.
Mario Balotelli had another forgettable night as the spearhead of the Merseysiders’ attack in his second successive start, chalking up just one penalty box touch and two attempts at goal. In response, Rodgers may well elect to afford Rickie Lambert a rare start up top in Liverpool’s next match-up or shift Sterling up front again as his side’s season stutters to a close.
Philippe Coutinho, once again, was the architect of much of Liverpool’s positive play. Ultimately, however, the Brazilian livewire has failed to net in his last seven starts, despite notching more shots (12) than any other midfielder this Gameweek. One might suggest, given that only two of this efforts arrived inside the box, that this impressive tally is also reflective of the side’s general inability to generate clear-cut chances of late.
Despite Liverpool’s disappointing displays in their double Gameweek, those managers that invested heavily in the club will likely hold fire on exit strategies until after QPR’s trip to Anfield on the weekend. A Gameweek 36 trip to Chelsea looks the ideal time to part company with the Reds’ misfiring attackers.
