Jamie Vardy is a record breaker on Tyneside, while Liverpool drop in at the Etihad to dismantle City and help Leicester to top spot. Arsenal slip up at the Hawthorns, as United leave it late at Watford and Romelu Lukaku hints at a level of consistency with another two goals in Everton’s rout of Aston Villa. Here are all the notes from Saturday’s encounters…
Record Breaking Vardy Sends Foxes Top
Jamie Vardy’s inexorable march into the folkore of English football saw him match Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 10-game scoring streak with the opening goal in a 3-0 win over Newcastle United.
Notwithstanding the doubts over his fitness prior to kick-off, the 7.4-priced forward tallied six attempts inside the box and three shots on target. Considering the wealth of chances Vardy’s fashioning, then, you wouldn’t put it past him to enjoy further success as Leicester prepare for a tough batch of fixtures (MUN, swa, CHE, eve, liv, MCI).
Riyad Mahrez ensured that his 60% ownership won’t be contemplating a trade any time soon, registering the assist for Leonardo Ulloa’s goal and claiming maximum bonus points. That return kept Mahrez on top of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points rankings (20). Meanwhile, Ulloa bagged an assist of his own, with Shinji Okazaki’s goalscoring cameo highlighting the depth of Leicester’s attacking talent.
Danny Simpson turned provider for the first time this season, augmenting his appeal as a budget defender. The 4.0-priced right-back has risen above Ritchie De Laet in the Foxes’ pecking order and is likely to attract those managers playing Wildcards, or scratching around for extra Aguero funds.
Stylish Pool Silence The Etihad
Liverpool banished memories of their home defeat to Crystal Palace with a stunning 4-1 victory in Manchester City’s own backyard.
Philippe Coutinho delivered the goods for his 140,000 new owners going into the Gameweek, claiming a goal and an assist. The 8.3-priced Brazilian has played with renewed energy under Jurgen Klopp’s stewardship – tallying four goals and one assist in his previous three outings.
Investment in Coutinho has inevitably continued overnight, although a hamstring injury suffered midway through the second half at City will mean that he requires monitoring ahead of the attractive Anfield meeting with Swansea in Gameweek 14.
Liverpool are now treated to a run of opponents that hand Klopp the platform to build on a promising start at Anfield. A Gameweek 15 trip to Newcastle is followed by a home encounter with West Brom and a trip to Watford.
Those fixtures are likely to inspire us to look beyond Coutinho for options in the Liverpool squad, with Roberto Firmino (8.0) another potential asset beginning to blossom under Klopp’s regime.
The Brazilian chipped in with a goal and two assists at City and would now seem set to be rewarded with a run of starts, despite the availability of both Christan Benteke and Daniel Sturridge. However, it remains to be seen how Klopp tweaks his team sheet and formation to include both his South American playmakers alongside a striker.
Aguero Strike Not Enough for City
Man City are set to undergo a messy post-mortem after shipping four goals in a home league tie for the first time in 12 years.
There was, however, one major positive from the display as Sergio Aguero marked his return from injury with a goal. However, the Argentine was notably subdued by his lofty standards, tallying just two shots (one inside the box) over his 65 minute appearance. Nonetheless, Aguero will be a major concern for non-owners over City’s next three Gameweeks (SOU, sto, SWA).
Defensively, City were shambolic as they conceded for the fifth home fixture on the trot. Nicolas Otamendi’s surprise omission, presumably due to international exertions, was compounded when Eliaquim Mangala scored an own goal in the seventh minute. Vincent Kompany’s absence through injury was again a major factor: City are yet to secure a clean sheet without their skipper.
Lukaku and Barkley Rout Villa
Everton systematically dismantled an abject Aston Villa side as they ran out 4-0 victors at Goodison Park. Romelu Lukaku scored in both halves, much to the delight of those that pinpointed him as the top captaincy pick this Gameweek.
The 8.7-priced forward has now bagged four goals and two assists in three starts and has seven goals over his last seven league outings. Lukaku looks capable of perpetuating that purple patch throughout the Toffees’ excellent schedule (bou, CRY, nor, LEI, new, STO). The Belgian topped the FPL “transfers in” table overnight, claiming almost 50,000 new owners.
Ross Barkley grabbed the assist for one of Lukaku’s strikes while also scoring a brace – putting him one goal shy of his career-best haul for Everton (six – 2013/14 season). His tally this Gameweek edges him ahead of Gerard Deulofeu – who turned out a fine performance that yielded zero attacking returns. Arouna Kone also got in on the action, chalking up his second assist in three starts.
Seamus Coleman (5.9) profited from an assist and Everton’s first shut-out since Gameweek 6. The Irishman’s valuation is likely to deter the majority of prospective investors, yet he’s undoubtedly the choice route into a defence that could and should benefit from their obliging schedule.
United Leave It Late
Manchester United extended their unbeaten run to five matches courtesy of a 2-1 over Watford at Vicarage Road. In light of Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial being ruled out with knocks, Memphis Depay started alongside Jesse Lingard in a 4-2-2-2 formation. The former went on to open the scoring with his second goal in three outings but remains too much of a rotation risk to warrant investment.
Ander Herrera supplied the inch-perfect cross for Depay’s volleyed strike but had to be substituted at the 25-minute mark due to a hamstring complaint – prompting the switch to a 3-5-2 set-up. Bastian Schweinsteiger earned an assist (his first attacking returns of the campaign) when his shot from a tight angle was inadvertently bundled in by Troy Deeney.
Meanwhile, Deeney’s spot-kick was the first goal conceded by United in five league outings. Confidence in Van Gaal’s rearguard is likely to remain, despite a tough trip to leaders Leicester up next: United follow the visit to the King Power with home ties with West Ham and Norwich, plus trips to Bournemouth and Stoke.
Targets in the United defence remain somewhat insecure, however. Matteo Darmian was again left on the bench with Ashley Young preferred at right-back, while Marcos Rojo was also benched, with Daley Blind fielded on the left. Van Gaal did, however, suggest that Rojo was rested off the back of international exertions with Argentina. Rojo could therefore return to the starting XI at Leicester, although much depends on how the United boss manages rotation over the midweek Champions League tie with PSV.
Deeney and Ighalo Combine Again
Watford mounted a late comeback against the Red Devils – equalising through a Deeney penalty in the 87th minute – assisted by Odion Ighalo.
With three goals in four starts, Deeney (5.1) is serving as the perfect foil to strike partner Odion Ighalo, who’s assist this Gameweek means he’s been directly involved (six goals, three assists) in nine of Watford’s last 10 goals. With funds being cleared for the possible acquisition of Sergio Aguero, it’s clear that both of he Hornet’s strikers look like attractive enablers as they gear up for a trio of favourable match-ups (avl, NOR, sun).
Chelsea Grind Out Vital Three Points
Chelsea brought an end to their three-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory at home to Norwich City. In a throwback to their title winning campaign, Cesc Fabregas teed up Diego Costa for the Blues’ decisive goal with his second assist in eight outings. That was Costa’s first goal in 603 minutes in all competitions. Beyond a challenging trip to Tottenham Hotspur next Gameweek, Jose Mourinho’s troops now embark on an enticing quartet of fixtures (BOU, lei, SUN, WAT), furnishing the likes of Costa with differential potential.
Many Fantasy managers who’d kept faith in Chelsea’s defence fell foul of rotation, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill demoted to the bench. However, Kurt Zouma’s 3% ownership were rewarded as the hosts recorded their second clean sheet in seven matches – only their third in 16 league outings.
Zouma (5.4) remains a rotation risk with Cahill waiting in the wings, but the France international has started all but one league tie since Gameweek 3. He appears to represent the cheapest route into Chelsea’s back line, with keeper Asmir Begovic likely to come under threat from Thibaut Courtois in a matter of weeks.
Defiant Potters Continue Away Form
Bojan inspired Stoke City to a 1-0 win at Southampton, marking the third goal he’s netted in eight starts. The former Barcelona starlet is attractively priced at 5.2 but is hampered by a number ten role, limiting his potential for regular goals.
At the back, Jack Butland’s 11% ownership continue to revel in the Potters’ incredible run of defensive form. This was their third consecutive clean sheet and fifth in six matches. Moreover, Mark Hughes’ men earned a shut-out for the fourth road clash on the bounce, which is their best defensive run away from the Britannia Stadium since 1970. Extending that spell to five away matches is well within the realms of possibility when they make the trip to Sunderland in Gameweek 14.
Saints Draw A Blank
Southampton fell to just their second defeat in 11 league ties, having won four of their previous six. Sadio Mane sustained a slight ankle knock on international duty with Senegal which saw him omitted from the starting XI. Meanwhile, Graziano Pelle drew his fourth blank in five starts and managed just one attempt all afternoon. To compound matters, the Italy international accrued his fifth yellow card of the season so will be sidelined for a road match-up against Man City.
Pelle has been sold by over 75,000 FPL managers overnight – more than any other player. A victim of form, suspension and the clamour for Aguero, the Southampton striker would seem destined for a series of price drops in the coming weeks unless he can rediscover his form upon returning to contention in Gameweek 15.
Ayew Inspires Swans Comeback
Swansea City rallied from two goals down to rescue a point at the Liberty Stadium. Andre Ayew and Jonjo Shelvey shared the honours with a goal and an assist apiece; the former kicked off the comeback with a back-heel from close range, while the latter converted from the penalty spot to restore parity for the hosts.
Ayew shed a fair chunk of his ownership in the last seven Gameweeks, yet Riyad Mahrez (seven goals) is the only midfielder to outscore him (six goals) this term. Given that the Swans enjoy a trio of agreeable home ties (LEI, WHU, WBA) in the next five Gameweeks, there’s certainly scope for the Ghanaian winger to re-establish himself as a top pick in the mid-price bracket.
There were some significant changes on the Swansea teamsheet, as Garry Monk moved to snap their recent poor form (one win in eight). Notably, the Swans boss dropped mainstays Bafetimbi Gomis and Gylfi Sigurdsson, although both saw action from the bench, along with Jefferson Montero.
Kyle Bartley’s (4.3 in the FPL) inclusion in the back four ahead of Federico Fernandez is worth monitoring if he can cement a starting role and present a cheap route into the Swans rearguard. However, that potential will need to go hand-in-hand with improved defensive displays – the Swans have gathered just one clean sheet in their last 11.
King Delivers on Cherries Promise
Pegged back by Swansea in the first half, Bournemouth squandered a golden opportunity to record their first win in seven outings.
Joshua King – one of our three differentials this Gameweek – came up trumps with his first goal for the south-coast club. Pitched as a 4.6-priced midfielder by FPL but deployed as a lone frontman in Eddie Howe’s current set-up, King could represent a fine budget pick-up.
Dan Gosling doubled Bournemouth’s advantage with his second goal in seven starts, while Matt Ritchie and Junior Stanislas produced the assists. With King and Stanislas (4.2 in FPL) beginning to emerge as a viable options in attacking areas, Ritchie is now in danger of becoming a peripheral Fantasy figure, despite promising recent form.
Gunners Suffer Damaging Reverse
Arsenal’s defeat at the hands of West Brom brought an end to their six-match unbeaten streak.
Olivier Giroud got the Gunners off to a positive start, netting his fourth goal in five starts. Although Theo Walcott’s expected return at the end of the month renders the Frenchman a rotation risk, Arsene Wenger will be loath to tinker if Giroud sustains such form. With match-ups against Norwich, Sunderland and Villa on the horizon, Giroud would seem likely to remain a handy differential option up front.
Mesut Ozil notched an assist for the seventh successive league outing, setting a new record in the top flight. In appreciation of Ozil’s and Sanchez’s conflicting form, many of the Chilean’s owners will be toying with the idea of ‘downgrading’ to the German, freeing up considerable funds for re-investment. Sanchez ranked third for FPL sales overnight.
On the injury front, Francis Coquelin and his replacement, Mikel Arteta, were both withdrawn due to knocks. Any term of absence for Coquelin could have ramifications in terms of Arsenal’s clean sheet-prospects over the forthcoming schedule (nor, SUN, avl, MCI).
