Sunderland’s bid to beat the drop gains momentum thanks to their new playmaker. Liverpool look a different side as the treatment room starts to finally empty, whilst we ponder whether a temporary transfer out for Sergio Aguero could prove beneficial to our three-man frontlines.
The Player
If Sam Allardyce is to retain his proud record of having never tasted top-flight relegation, it’s fair to say that the performances of Sunderland new boy Wahbi Khazri are already looking crucial to his chances.
The Tunisian arrived from Bordeaux last month with five goals and seven assists in just 20 Ligue 1 appearances – only PSG’s Angel di Maria had teed up his team-mates more often in the French top division.
In his first start for the Wearsiders, Khazri earned both assists in a 2-2 comeback draw at Liverpool before maintaining momentum in Saturday lunchtime’s 2-1 home win over United. After firing a free-kick opener just two minutes into the match, Khazri’s dead-ball delivery again proved the undoing of United’s defence and led to the Black Cats’ vital second strike as they moved to just one point from safety.
Khazri tormented the Red Devils last weekend, producing five attempts on goal and creating as many chances as he wastes no time in bringing his Ligue 1 form to Wearside. At a price of 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), he’s racked up 20 points in his two appearances in Allardyce’s starting XI – serving a reminder that at this time of year, there’s value to be had near the basement as the battle to beat the drop intensifies.
They may be an unlikely pairing but, as already evidenced, Big Sam’s love of set-pieces and Khazri’s dead-ball ability looks the perfect combination.
Given that they’ve just taken four points off Liverpool and United, Sunderland seem full of confidence right now. With West Ham, Palace, Everton, Newcastle and West Brom in the next six Gameweeks, Khazri has the platform to wreak further havoc as his manager looks set to plot yet another great escape.
The Team
Despite turning in some stellar showings since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp back in October, Liverpool’s on-pitch performances have failed to match their remarkable consistency for picking up injuries.
Indeed, the former Dortmund manager has had to wait until the eighteenth league match of his tenure – away to Villa on Sunday – before he could unleash Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in the same starting XI.
The 6-0 annihilation of Remi Garde’s charges showcased the capabilities of an injury-free Klopp side. Whilst Sturridge bagged a goal and Coutinho created three assists on his way to 15 points, though, Firmino’s single assist indicates that he may suffer from the tactical reshuffle – having been fielded as a “false nine”, the weekend switch to 4-2-3-1 may not be to his liking.
Sunday’s result also points to a better balance. Although they’d registered big away wins at Chelsea, City and Norwich, Liverpool had never managed to score more than one goal in the league without conceding under Klopp. With Sturridge playing on the shoulder and the two Brazilians prompting proceedings in support roles, the Reds finally racked up the points at both ends of the pitch.
Granted, Villa are anything but a litmus test for Liverpool’s Fantasy potential but Sunday’s showing will only breed confidence ahead of a run that hands them four home matches in six (MCI, cpl, CHE, sou, TOT, STO) once their blank Gameweek 27 has passed. Given they have already put four past City and scored three times at the Bridge, Liverpool will hold little fear heading into those encounters – all the more so if they can take advantage of the former’s leaky defence in the upcoming Capital One Cup final prior to the resumption of league duties.
The Talking Point
Having notched four times at home to Spurs in the corresponding fixture last season, Sergio Aguero was the standout armband candidate for many Fantasy managers heading into the weekend deadline.
This time around, though, the Argentine failed to register a single attempt on target as City suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat that may well have killed their title ambitions. Damningly, the Etihad outfit have earned just six points in 10 matches against the top eight sides so far, scoring 11 times and conceding 20.
With City now set for a blank Gameweek 27 due to their Capital One Cup final duties, many are considering their short-term options and the idea of a temporary move out for Aguero is starting to gather pace. As discussed in Jonty’s Hot Topic yesterday, there’s method to this train of thought. City then face a trip to Liverpool in Gameweek 28 and also entertain United in Gameweek 31.
Such a scenario would leave them with just two favourable fixtures – a home clash with Villa in Gameweek 29 and trip to Norwich the following weekend – in the next five rounds of matches. Furthermore, if they defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup this weekend, that clash with the Canaries will need to be postponed, too, lessening Aguero’s appeal further.
A transfer out for Aguero would, of course, be a temporary affair and merely a means of playing the fixtures at such a tricky time of year. Aside from his blank against Spurs, the Argentine has seemed close to his best again – banging in four goals in as many matches. Looking at the form forwards in FPL, though, both Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane have bettered Aguero in the last four Gameweeks, whilst Diego Costa has equalled his output.
Vardy, along with United pair Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial (who both outscored Aguero in the last three Gameweeks), now has three home fixtures in the next four. Kane, meanwhile, has two home fixtures and a trip to whipping boys Villa over that same period.
Providing your squad is in shape to deal with the upcoming blanks, saying cheerio to Sergio for the short-term and plotting a course to draft him back in may not be as crazy as it seems.
