Jamie Vardy’s “party” continues as Leicester’s remarkable start to the season rolls on, but smiles will be in short supply at Chelsea following their 1-0 defeat at Stoke. Romelu Lukaku once again enjoyed the surroundings at Upton Park, with the home side left fretting on the fitness of their star man Dimitri Payet, while Man United manage a fourth straight clean sheet in their 2-0 vicotry over West Brom. Here are the notes on Saturday’s matches…
VARDY DELIVERS ONCE AGAIN
The star of the season shows no sign of slowing down, with Jamie Vardy scoring in a ninth consecutive match in Leicester’s 2-1 victory over Watford.
The England international picked himself up having been felled by Heurelho Gomes to slot home from the penalty spot, scoring his 12th goal of the campaign. The Foxes forward, who led this week’s Captain Poll, is now likely to go on rising in price over the international beak ahead of a clash at Newcastle. The former non-league man, who currently sets us back 7.3 in FPL, already has an ownership of over 52%.
Vardy’s partner in crime so often this season has been Riyad Mahrez, but the 6.6-priced Algerian failed to pick up any attacking points against the Hornets. With Leicester’s fixtures toughening up from Gameweek 14 onwards (MUN, swa, CHE, eve, liv), some of his 57.6% ownership may even be be exploring alternative options, with a double up on Leicester attackers perhaps less likely to pay off over the coming period.
Jeffrey Schlupp’s withdrawal at half-time was the latest episode of “tinkerings” from Claudio Ranieri to concern Fantasy managers. Schlupp was restored to an attacking position with Christian Fuchs returning at left-back. Alternating with Mahrez in a left-wing position and the number ten role behind Vardy, Schlupp was sacrificed at half-time as Ranieri introduced Shinji Okazaki to pep up his attack. His impact was significant in Leicester winning the game and must now cast some doubt over Schlupp’s start away at Newcastle in Gameweek 21.
DEENEY STARTING TO FIND HIS FEET
Having had to wait until Gameweek 10 for his first Premier League goal, Troy Deeney has now found the back of the net in two of his last three outings following his penalty in the Hornets 2-1 defeat to Leicester.
The Watford captain was favoured over Odion Ighalo before the season started, but the Nigerian has outshone Deeney to this point, having scored seven goals already in the campaign. The pair have both managed the same number of goal attempts over the last three Gameweeks (10), and while Ighalo still is the favoured choice, the Hornets skipper is providing us with some food for thought given his price has fallen to 5.1 in FPL, while Ighalo’s has risen to 5.5.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ charges failed to notch a third straight shut-out, but with the schedule favourable in the short-term (MUN, avl, NOR, sun), investors in the likes of Gomes, Allan Nyom and Nathan Ake seem likely to be rewarded over the coming weeks.
YET ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET FOR UNITED
With Man United defeating West Brom 2-0 thanks to goals from Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata, the Red Devils registered their fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Chris Smalling was transferred in by over 168,000 FPL bosses before the clash against the Baggies and rewarded his new ownership with eight points, while David de Gea and Marcos Rojo (both 5.5) have also seen plenty of investment in recent weeks. United’s upcoming fixtures (wat, lei, WHM, bou, NOR, sto) remain very favourable, suggesting that we can anticipate continued returns from their backline.
Lingard has now started United’s last two matches in all competitions, and coming in at just 4.5 in FPL, is beginning to throw his hat into the ring as a viable fifth midfielder, having also assisted Wayne Rooney’s winner against CSKA Moscow.
Juan Mata slotted a stoppage time penalty after Gareth McAuley was sent off for a foul on Anthony Martial, picking up his first attacking returns since registering a 14-point haul against Sunderland in Gameweek 7. The Spaniard saw his price drop to 8.7 in FPL over the last few days, but with that kind run of fixtures on the horizon, the former Chelsea midfielder, who managed three shots from inside the box against the Baggies, should perhaps not be written off quite yet.
BAGGIES FALTER ON THE ROAD
West Brom had kept four clean sheets in five away matches before the trip to Old Trafford, but Tony Pulis’ men were unable to continue that impressive road form.
With further testing fixtures (ARS, whm, TOT, liv) to come, Fantasy managers who have reaped the benefits of the Baggies rearguard so far this season may have to prepare themselves for a leaner spell over the coming weeks.
Notably, Saido Berahino was dropped to the bench as Pulis opted for James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon for the wide berths in the 4-5-1 formation used against United, but the England U21 international will be expected to earn an instant recall, despite missing a glaring opportunity to peg United back in the second-half.
MAGPIES GRAB FIRST AWAY WIN
Newcastle moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth in the lunchtime kick-off, registering their first win on the road since the 3-0 triumph at Hull in January.
Steve McClaren named an unchanged team for the trip to the south coast, and while his side were second best for much of the first-half, Ayoze Perez rounded off some good build up play between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum to fire under Bournemouth goalkeeper Adam Federici for the only goal of the match.
Available at 5.1 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Perez has three goals and two assists from his last six appearances, and with Newcastle’s upcoming fixtures (LEI, cpl, LIV, tot, AVL, EVE) fairly favourable, with four of the next six at home, he looks a viable option as a cheap third forward. Elsewhere, Wijnaldum now has 66 points in FPL, more than the likes of the similarly priced Andre Ayew and Yohan Cabaye, and continues to stake claim for a place in our five-man midfields. The Dutchman has now scored or assisted eight of the Magpies 13 league goals this term.
Back-to-back clean sheets bring the 4.0-priced Rob Elliot onto our radars, with the keeper bringing in a 10-point haul against the Cherries thanks to a save point and full bonus. However, the fact Bournemouth managed 20 goal attempts in total perhaps suggests the Newcastle backline shouldn’t be expected to deliver too many shut-outs. In addition, whilst Elliot’s display was impressive, with Karl Darlow expected to return following the international break, his starting role will come under threat.
SWANS CONTINUE TO STUTTER
The damaging 1-0 reverse at Norwich maintained a dreadful run of form for Swansea: they have just one victory in their last eight league matches. With their upcoming schedule (BOU, liv, LEI, mci, WHM, WBA) not overly friendly, despite four home clashes, the prospects of their Fantasy assets are starting to dwindle.
Andre Ayew has only managed three shots from inside the box in his last four appearances, and with so many midfield options for Fantasy managers to choose from, the former Marseille attacker, priced at 7.1 in FPL, could be seen as surplus to requirements should he disappoint once more in the plum home fixture to Bournemouth after the international break.
Similarly, Bafe Gomis tenure in Garry Monk’s side would appear to be under real threat. The giant Frenchman is without a goal in eight league starts as Eder waits on his opportunity from the bench.
The Swans are also struggling in defence. The defeat to Norwich took them to six matches without a shut-out – their worst run since August 2104, which saw them span seven outings without a clean sheet.
SAINTS MARCH ON
Southampton built on the solid 2-0 victory against Bournemouth last week with a 1-0 victory on the road at Sunderland, thanks to Dusan Tadic’s second-half spot-kick. The Serbian stepped up from 12 yards after Ryan Bertrand was felled by Yann M’Vila.
The 7.0-rated midfielder has now scored four goals and bagged three assists so far this season, and has 63 points in FPL, compared to 55 points for the more illustrious Sadio Mane. While Tadic doesn’t hold the same explosive potential as Mane, the fact he comes in at 1.0 less in FPL could see him close the gap on Mane in terms of ownership – Tadic is currently owned by 6.7%, while Mane sits on 10.3%.
With a fifth shut-out of the season, the Saints are once again providing us with several strong options at the back, with Bertrand (5.3) picking up his second assist in as many matches, while Virgil van Dijk (5.6) earned two bonus points – he’s now gathered seven bonus points over eight starts. Surprisingly, Maya Yoshida started in place of Cedric Soares at right-back, suggesting that the Portugal international is once again a rotation risk having started the previous five outings.
HONOURS EVEN AT UPTON PARK
West Ham and Everton played out a 1-1 in east London, with Manuel Lanzini’s first-half goal cancelled out by the in-form Romelu Lukaku on the stroke of half-time.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was left doubly frustrated by the end of the afternoon, however, with both Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia forced off through ankle injuries. The Hammers’ boss remained vague on the prognosis for the pair, with scans expected before a verdict could be offered. However, his post-match statement that “latest doesn’t sound very good” gives cause for concern.
Payet’s injury will be the big worry for Fantasy managers, with the 8.3-valued France international currently sitting in 37.4% of teams. West Ham do also face a less than favourable run of fixtures (tot, WBA, mun, STO, swa, avl) over the next six Gameweeks though, so even a short lay-off could see many consider their options. Payet has already suffered more sales than any other FPL asset overnight.
Lukaku Maintains Hammers Record
Lukaku found the back of the net for the seventh successive match against West Ham, latching on to a sublime through-ball from Gerard Deulofeu to round Adrian and fire into an empty net.
The Belgian managed an impressive four goal attempts at Upton Park, although just one of those hit the target. But with Everton’s schedule (AVL, bou, CPL, nor, LEI, new) so kind over the next few months, Lukaku is continuing to mount a compelling case for inclusion in our three-man frontlines.
While Ross Barkley blanked for the sixth time over the last seven Gameweeks, Spain U21 international Deulofeu is emerging as a viable alternative option to the England man from the Toffees midfield. The 6.2-rated winger now has six assists to his name this season, and looks a real differential candidate with his ownership standing at a mere 0.5% in FPL.
STOKE SEE OFF CHAMPIONS CHELSEA
A superb Marko Arnautovic volley proved the difference at the Britannia, with the Austrian scoring the only goal as the Potters defeated Chelsea 1-0.
The former Inter Milan midfielder has shown reasonable consistency through the campaign so far, providing attacking points in five of his 12 outings, although he has only managed one double-figure haul. But with Mark Hughes’ side having only scored three goals in their last five matches, and the fixture list (sot, sun, MCI, whm, CPL, MUN) not in their favour, interest in the 6.0-valued wide man looks set to be limited.
Back-to-back clean sheets since the return of captain Ryan Shawcross has certainly boosted the prospects of the entire Stoke backline. Jack Butland has earned maximum bonus points in each of his last two appearances, and while the Potters face a testing period in their schedule, those riding with the 4.6-rated stopper will be inclined to stick with the England international, given save points appear assured.
Philipp Wollscheid has started Stoke’s last six matches, and has picked up five bonus points over that period. Available at just 4.3 in FPL, the German offers a cheaper route into the Stoke rearguard, although the fixtures will probably deter any investment at this point.
THINGS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE BLUES
While Jose Mourinho may not have been present at the Britannia due to his one-match stadium ban, the pressure on the Chelsea manager will have intensified following the 1-0 loss at Stoke.
Baba Rahman and Pedro were restored to the starting XI in place of Gary Cahill and Oscar, with Kurt Zouma shifting to centre-back, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to start at right-back. Cesc Fabregas was once again named among the substitutes.
The champions registered 19 goal attempts in total, compared to just eight for the home side, but it was the same old story for Mourinho’s men, who slumped to a seventh defeat of the campaign. With just one clean sheet in their last six matches, Chelsea’s defensive assets are repeatedly failing to deliver, and while their upcoming schedule (NOR, tot, BOU, lei, SUN, WAT) is very favourable, it is difficult to see them keeping any side at bay in this current form.
“Heavy hitters” such as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are continuing to toil with little reward, and may remain on the periphery of Fantasy manager’s thoughts until we see the champions string at least start to resemble the side that dominated the Premier League last season.
