Chelsea hit four past Maccabi Tel Aviv to serve up their first victory of the season. Theo Walcott nets again as Arsenal lose in Zagreb. Brendan Rodgers rest a number of regulars for Liverpool’s trip to Bordeuax, whilst Vincent Kompany is optimistic of a weekend return.
Blues Cruise at the Bridge
Willian, Oscar (penalty), Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas were on target during Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, with the latter also picking up an assist for Costa’s strike. Baba Rahman earned his debut at right-back, but John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Costa and Branislav Ivanovic were not named in the starting XI. Eden Hazard struggled to exert his influence against the Israeli champions and skied a spot-kick into orbit after five minutes – Jose Mourinho said in his post-match presser that Hazard will have to decide whether he wants to take the next penalty or not. Willian was withdrawn from the field less than 10 minutes after his goal due to a muscle problem and, like Pedro (thigh injury), has been ruled out of the Arsenal showdown by his manager.
The Scout Says: Yet another uninspiring performance from Hazard caused further consternation for a 32% ownership that’s quickly losing patience. Should the 11.3-priced midfielder choose to step back from penalty duty, his viability in the high-priced bracket would be seriously called into question regardless of an upturn in form. In light of Pedro’s and Willian’s injuries, Oscar looks on course to operate in “the hole” against the Gunners. The 8.3-priced Brazilian has scored in both appearances now this season – having found the net against Swansea in Gameweek 1 – and with the fixtures improving after the Gunners clash (new, SOU, AVL, whu), could stake a claim for our attention.
Walcott Strike Mere Consolation for Gunners
Theo Walcott netted Arsenal’s only goal – courtesy of an Alexis Sanchez assist – in a 2-1 defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb. Arsene Wenger paid the price for heavy rotation after replacing five of last weekend’s starters, as Petr Cech, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey and Walcott dropped out for David Ospina, Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud. The latter was sent off in the first half for two bookable offences, ruling him out Arsenal’s next home match-up against Olympiakos.
The Scout Says: Before his sending off in the 40th minute, Giroud had failed to convert from a host of good chances, which – coupled with Walcott’s composed run and finish – should boost the latter’s chances of earning a third straight league start against Chelsea. Sanchez’s perfectly weighted through ball for his jet-heeled team-mate underlined the Chilean’s dual threat (goals and assists) from a Fantasy viewpoint. The 11.0-priced midfielder has drawn three consecutive blanks in the league yet he’ll fancy his chances against a rearguard that ranks top for goals conceded (12) this term.
Kompany Optimistic of Weekend Return
Vincent Kompany is confident that he’ll be available for Manchester City’s meeting with West Ham on Saturday, after being withdrawn late on against Juventus with a calf complaint. The City skipper revealed:
“It was just a precaution. It is not serious, I know my body.”
The Scout Says: Kompany’s reassuring words will be music to the ears of his 37% ownership, bearing in mind he’s suffered four calf problems inside the last year. City have yet to concede a single domestic goal this term, with Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and Bacary Sagna taking up the top three defender slots in FPL. With a superb set of fixtures still to follow (WHU, tot, NEW, BOU, mun, NOR, avl), the Belgian’s return to the fold will boost the league leaders’ chances of further clean sheets, with the likes of Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi confined to bench-warming duties yet again.
Rodgers Rests a Number of Regulars
Brendan Rodgers has elected to omit James Milner, Christian Benteke, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Lucas Leiva from his squad for Liverpool’s Europa League encounter with Bordeaux this evening. Adam Lallana has recovered from injury, though, and, like Philippe Coutinho, is expected to start. Elsewhere, Jordan Henderson has returned to Liverpool after travelling to America to receive injections in his heel.
The Scout Says: All eyes will be on Coutinho when he gets a run-out against the Ligue 1 opponents. The Brazilian international’s dribbling and intelligent distribution was sorely missing in the Reds’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, so Benteke owners will be eagerly awaiting Coutinho’s league return for back-to-back home clashes against Norwich and Villa. With Henderson consigned to the treatment room for the time being, the above-mentioned pair stand as the only enticing routes into Liverpool’s forward line – at least until Roberto Firmino begins to find his feet in the Premier League and start delivering attacking returns. Given the Reds have scored just three times, though, it’s fair to say that faith in their main men is on the slide, with Benteke’s 35% ownership perhaps looking for an exit route when the schedule turns against the Reds from Gameweek 8 onwards.
Midfield Quartet Miss Out for Spurs
Mauricio Pochettino detailed the rehabilitation of four players ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League opener on Thursday night. The Spurs boss confirmed that Christian Eriksen, Ryan Mason, Mousa Dembele and Nabil Bentaleb are all unavailable for tonight’s home encounter with FK Krabakh:
“Christian is progressing well, but not available yet. Mousa is out too and we hope Ryan isn’t too long in his recovery; we need to assess him day by day. Nabil is out maybe two weeks more. We need to assess him as well, have patience and it’s the same with Ryan.”
The Scout Says: Having sold four central midfielders in the summer transfer window, Tottenham are left short in that position with Mason and Bentaleb nursing injuries. In the event that Mason sits out Spurs’ home tie against the Eagles, Delle Alli should drop back into the double pivot alongside Eric Dier, potentially vacating the number-ten berth for Erik Lamela – who tallied four key passes in a 29-minute cameo against Sunderland. Until Eriksen is phased back into the side, out-of-form duo Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane represent the only safe routes into Spurs’ front six, with new boy Heung-min Son eased into contention with a 62-minute run-out at Sunderland last weekend.
Mixed Injury News for Hammers
West Ham’s Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke provided an update on a trio of Hammers players. Mauro Zarate has returned to full training ahead of the trip to Manchester City, whilst Angelo Ogbonna is expected to be sidelined for three weeks and Enner Valencia has been pencilled in for a return at the start of November.
The Scout Says: Ogbonna’s projected three-week layoff paves the way for James Tomkins to partner Winston Reid at the heart of defence. While the Hammers’ limited clean-sheet prospects against the Sky Blues discourages immediate investment in their defensive recruits, the fact that they’ve recorded two shut-outs in succession will have many Fantasy managers eyeing up the likes of Aaron Creswell (5.5), Reid (5.0), and Carl Jenkinson (5.0) for their trio of fixtures beyond Gameweek 6 (NOR, sun, cry). The former – who’s notched two assists already this term – is the standout pick, yet Jenkinson’s raids down the right at 0.5 cheaper could loosen a few purse strings. With Andy Carroll close to making a full return and the Irons’ supporting cast (Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payer and Victor Moses) excelling behind lone striker Diafra Sakho, it will be a surprise if Zarate reclaims a starting berth at the Etihad. Unlike Carroll, the versatile Argentine also offers the Hammers an option out wide, with Diafra Sakho looking nailed-on for the lone striker role right now.
Palace Trio Remain Doubts
Damien Delaney, Connor Wickham and Joe Ledley are yet to return to training (Wednesday) but are in with a chance of being passed fit for Crystal Palace’s trip to Spurs on Sunday.
The Scout Says: In the absence of Wickham last time out, Yannick Bolasie was fielded as the lone striker in Alan Pardew’s 4-2-3-1 set-up, furnishing his 5% ownership with out-of-position potential. Pitted against a Lilywhites rearguard that’s claimed just two clean sheets in their previous 11 home ties, Bolasie could serve as a surprise differential if Wickham is unable to recuperate in time. Delaney’s return to the side in place of Brede Hangeland would boost the Eagles’ defence but doesn’t pique our Fantasy interest given that Pape Souare – who’s also priced at 4.5 – has offered far more attacking threat (one shot, four key passes compared to Delaney’s zero shots and key passes) from Gameweek 2 onwards.
Sherwood Issues Injury Update
Tim Sherwood revealed that Jose Angel Crespo, Adama Traore and Carles Gil have a chance of recovering in time for the West Midlands derby this weekend, but Tiago Ilori is unlikely to feature:
“Jose is getting closer. He is certainly going in the right direction. Carles hasn’t trained yet. He’s been a little bit sore. We will just have to assess him and hopefully he makes it. Adama hasn’t trained. He’s not been out there. Hopefully we can build him up as quickly as possible and get him on the field and taking part. Tiago is not ready. He’s a young lad who played in the U21s Championships and he’s played his first 90 minutes since then the other evening against Brighton in the U21s. It’s probably a bit early for him to start coming into the reckoning.”
The Scout Says: Although Crespo, Traore and Ilori are unlikely to displace their respective counterparts upon their return to contention, Gil would be a significant loss for the Villains against their arch rivals. In his first start of the season, the former Valencia midfielder doubled their lead at the 63-minute mark against Leicester City, caressing the ball into the top corner from just outside the box. With Jack Grealish and Scott Sinclair also getting amongst the goals in the last two Gameweeks, Villa’s cut-price midfielders could arrive on our radars if they start to show a little more consistency.
