Our attentions turn to the weekendβs 10 matches now as we look for any pertinent lessons learned. Sunderland and West Hamβs playmakers produce the goods, Liverpoolβs attack may need reassessing as the injuries ease, whilst Chelsea and Tottenhamβs form men strengthen their differential appeal by picking up the points once again.
The cat is out of the bag with Khazriβ¦
After earning both assists in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool, Sunderlandβs new playmaker needed just two minutes in his first home start to get amongst the goals in a vital win over United. Khazriβs set-piece prowess also led to the Black Catsβ second as Big Samβs side moved to just a single point from safety last weekend. With their momentum on the up, the 6.0-priced Tunisian already looks the catalyst as Sunderland attempt to pull off yet another great escape.
Evertonβs inconsistency will prompt a Lukaku exodusβ¦
Itβs one goal in seven now for the big Belgian after the Toffees failed to find a way past a West Brom defence that rolled up to Goodison with just two clean sheets in 15. Certainly, Roberto Martinezβ men canβt be faulted for trying β they fired 33 efforts without success against the Baggies but with a blank Gameweek 27 looming large, itβs no real surprise to see that Lukaku has earned over 40,000 transfers out β almost double the number of any forward. A trip to Villa in Gameweek 28 may be tempting but the move to Jamie Vardy is becoming obvious, given the Foxesβ upcoming fixtures.
Payetβs end product is worth the waitβ¦
The West Ham playmaker served a reminder of his Fantasy talents in a 2-2 comeback draw at Norwich. Payetβs output had been underwhelming since returning from injury β with five blanks in six prior to Carrow Road β but a 13-point haul, courtesy of a goal, assist and maximum bonus, took his average to 5.7 points per game β fourth amongst midfielders and on a par with the likes of Sergio Aguero. The cut-price Michail Antonio has offered value for money as a Hammers alternative but with Manuel Lanzini edging towards a comeback and Victor Moses also in contention, Payet remains the Hammersβ jewel in the crown.
Despite Costaβs form, itβs a case of just Willianβ¦
A goal and assist in Saturdayβs 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle continued the Chelsea strikerβs fine recent showings. Itβs seven goals and three assists in eight appearances under Guus Hiddink now for Costa, who, despite moving to just six points behind Sergio Aguero, remains in just 7% of Fantasy Premier League sides. With Aguero and Harry Kane nailed on for many, and with Jamie Vardy looking the obvious replacement for Romelu Lukaku, Costaβs propensity for picking up injuries and suspensions seems set to keep him off most Fantasy managers’ radars. Meanwhile, the 7.0-priced Willian moved to a single point behind the Hammersβ Payet after bagging his third double-figure haul since the departure of Jose Mourinho and continues to offer an excellent Blues alternative in the centre of the park.
Targett is back in the frameβ¦
Having recovered from injury, the Southampton youngster was immediately reinstalled to the starting XI for the trip to Swansea. Despite netting the winner against West Ham, Maya Yoshida dropped back down to the bench as Targett returned to left wing-back in a 3-5-2, with Ronald Koeman preferring Ryan Bertrand in the back-three. After helping his side to a sixth straight clean sheet, the 3.9-priced Targett β who has now produced 35 points in his last four starts β looks back on the radar as a route into the leagueβs in-form defence.
Ranieri will sacrifice Mahrez flairβ¦
Whilst Jamie Vardy benefitted from his role as Leicesterβs new number one spot-kick taker, the Algerianβs owners were left with no more than a one-point haul after he was subbed off just before the hour-mark at the Emirates. For the second successive Gameweek, Mahrez was withdrawn early as Claudio Ranieri looked to tighten up defensively and protect a lead β this time as a result of Danny Simpsonβs dismissal just minutes into the second half. As alluded to in last weekβs Say What article, although Mahrez remains one of the first names on Ranieriβs team sheet, his minutes may well be somewhat restricted late on in matches depending on the circumstances in any given Gameweek.
Weβre still unsure on Mertesackerβ¦.
A minor injury to Gabriel saw the German return to Arsene Wengerβs first XI for yesterdayβs home clash with Leicester. Mertesacker had started 13 straight league outings before being sent off early on against Chelsea in Gameweek 24 and, in his absence, Gabriel certainly took his chance, helping the Gunners to successive clean sheets against Southampton and Bournemouth to suggest he could be a bargain buy at 4.3. One look at Arsenalβs remaining home matches (SWA, WBA, WAT, CPL, NOR, AVL) indicates that investment in their rearguard could reap reward, though for now, there still seems too much uncertainty over Laurent Koscielnyβs central defensive partner to take the plunge.
Wengerβs attacking options might just be the title clincherβ¦
Arsenalβs strength in depth paid off decisively against Leicester after subs Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck emerged from the bench to grab a goal apiece in the 2-1 comeback win. Whilst thatβs good news for the Gunners’ title hopes, it merely adds to Wengerβs options in the final third – both are able to play out wide or up top and are starting to threaten Olivier Giroudβs security of starts, given that the Frenchman has netted in just one of his last seven. With Alexis Sanchez still firing blanks, the appeal of Mesut Ozil was again underlined by his last-minute assist for Welbeckβs winner β the German has played a part in 53.8% of his sideβs goals when on the pitch this season, more than any midfielder in the top flight.
Sturridge and Coutinho could put Firmino back in his boxβ¦.
With the Anfield treatment room finally emptying, the summer signingβs Fantasy potential took a turn for the worse despite a 6-0 rout over Villa. Moved away from his βfalse nineβ berth as Jurgen Klopp shifted to 4-2-3-1 to accommodate Daniel Sturridge up top, Firminoβs single assist was overshadowed by a trio of assists from Philippe Coutinho at Villa Park. Given that he scored or assisted seven of his sideβs previous 10 league goals, yesterdayβs downturn in output suggests the summer signing may struggle to remain the best route into Jurgen Kloppβs attack.
Alli is distracting us from Eriksen’s appeal….
The Tottenham playmaker continues to remain under the radar as a result of Deli Alliβs far kinder price tag. At 8.5 to the youngsterβs 6.0, Eriksen has been largely overlooked in what is turning out to be his most influential season at the Lane β yesterdayβs winner at the Etihad helped him serve up a third double-figure haul in the last five Gameweeks. Both Alli and Eriksen have been in involved in 31% of Spurs’ goals when on the pitch, indicating that if price is no object, the Dane may well be worth the extra outlay.
Villa are barely playing for prideβ¦
Steamrollered by Liverpool in a dire home display and with their only form player sparking a twitter storm and angering fans on the back of that 6-0 rout, Villa look down and out. With their morale on the downturn, Remi Gardeβs side β who now find themselves eight points adrift of safety – are in danger of becoming whipping boys in any given Gameweek, with a trip to Stoke looking tailor-made for the Potters to take advantage.
