Michail Antonio grabs the only goal of the match as West Ham see off Spurs at Upton Park. Roberto Firmino racks up the points as Liverpool sweep aside City, Juan Mata notches United’s late winner over Watford, whilst Ashley Williams guides Swansea to victory at the Emirates.
Injury concerns for beaten Gunners
Arsenal lost ground in the title race following a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Swansea City. Despite mustering the second-most attempts (18) of any team in Gameweek 28, the Gunners converted their territorial dominance into just four accurate attempts.
Arsene Wenger named three changes for the Swans visit, with Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Laurent Koscielny dropping out for Joel Campbell, Olivier Giroud and Per Mertesacker. Koscielny missed out with a calf injury that’s set to sideline him for the North London derby on Saturday, while the 37%-owned Petr Cech sustained a similar complaint and will join the Frenchman in the stands at White Hart Lane.
With regards to Arsenal’s Fantasy output, Alexis Sanchez supplied the assist for Campbell’s opener – his first attacking returns in seven starts. The Chilean is now without a goal in 11 outings yet mustered four more shots inside the box (12) than any midfielder across the previous four Gameweeks, offering hope to his restless 13% ownership.
Williams wins it for Swans
Swansea moved six points clear of the relegation berths by virtue of their first win in five matches. In the absence of Francesco Guidolin – who was admitted to hospital with a chest infection – the Welsh outfit rested six players, with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi gracing the bench.
Sigurdsson was introduced at the break and went on to card his second assist of the campaign. Looking at Swansea’s schedule for the next four Gameweeks (NOR, bou, AVL, sto), they embark on two mouth-watering home clashes and a promising trip to Bournemouth, encouraging investment in the Iceland international.
Wayne Routledge drew the visitors level (Jack Cork assist) in the 32nd minute, before Ashley Williams illustrated his attacking potential with his second goal in seven starts. Averaging 0.6 more points per game than any of his defensive team-mates, Williams – who places joint-top among all defenders for bonus points (17) – remains the choice route into Swansea’s rearguard ahead of their agreeable run.
Shaqiri strike sees off Magpies
Xherdan Shaqiri steered Stoke City to their third consecutive win with a late strike in a tightly contested affair. The 6.4-priced midfielder has produced attacking returns (one goal, two assists) in three out of four starts since returning from injury, elevating his stature in the mid-priced bracket.
Given that Mame Biram Diouf earned the assist for Shaqiri’s strike, Marko Arnautovic’s 84,000 new owners were left disappointed with the Austrian’s blank. Nonetheless, he’s certainly capable of punishing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next time out, considering that the Blues rank joint-fourth for goals conceded in home matches (21).
Speaking in his-post-match press conference, Mark Hughes confirmed that Phil Bardsley is likely to miss the Chelsea encounter with a recurrence of his calf injury, while Geoff Cameron is “very sore” and a concern. Allied with the fact that Ryan Shawcross is not ready to re-join the matchday squad, Jack Butland’s 23% ownership might doubt the Potters’ capacity to register successive clean sheets.
Antonio nets again
In the wake of a 2-1 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United rest just one point off the Champions League spots. The Irons now face a challenging trip to Everton, before Slaven Bilic’s men resume FA Cup duties in Gameweek 30.
In response to Sam Byram’s injury and West Ham’s subsequent lack of senior right-backs, Bilic adopted a 3-4-2-1 set-up for Spurs’ visit, fielding Michail Antonio as a right wing-back. The former Nottingham Forest winger popped up with the match’s solitary goal in the seventh minute, marking the third time he’s scored in five starts. Intriguingly, all five of the 5.3-priced midfielder’s goals have come at the Boleyn Ground, perhaps diminishing his appeal prior to a pair of road ties (eve, blank, che).
Dimitri Payet whipped in the cross for Antonio’s header, satisfying a 27% ownership that might’ve otherwise had their head turned by the latter’s budget price tag. In appreciation of the fact that Payet’s value has risen by 0.6 since Gameweek 22, early uptakers will be more inclined to bench the Irons’ star man for the upcoming blank.
Spurs stumble at Upton Park
Spurs turned out one of their worst performances of the campaign as they spurned a golden opportunity to leapfrog Leicester City at the summit. Mauricio Pochettino made four alterations to the starting XI, with Dele’s Alli’s omission being the most notable talking point. The teenage prodigy would later enter the fray at the 61st minute, having struggled with a minor knock during the week.
Without Mousa Dembele’s supreme ball-retention skills in the centre of the park, Spurs were overrun in midfield and couldn’t fashion a solitary attempt in the opening period. The silky Belgian has a chance of being passed fit for the Arsenal match-up, though, which would serve as a huge boost for Pochettino’s squad.
Reds avenge final loss
Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester City was the perfect antidote to their Capital One Cup disappointment. The Reds’ offense has clicked into gear of late – tallying 16 goals in five outings – which should invite an upsurge of interest beyond their Gameweek 30 blank.
Roberto Firmino reaffirmed his status as the Merseysiders’ premier asset, notching a goal and assist at the number-ten berth. The Brazilian midfielder boasts four goals and as many assists across his past five starts and doesn’t appear to be suffering from his vacation of the lone-striker berth.
Adam Lallana and James Milner also grabbed a goal and assist each. Both men have notched three goals in their previous five starts, underlining their differential potential for Liverpool’s future double Gameweeks.
Jon Flanagan (4.4) was afforded his first start of the season and helped Liverpool to record back-to-back shut-outs, alerting us to his prospects as a budget pick-up. On the flip side, Alberto Moreno no longer enjoys the security of starts, forcing his 4% ownership to cut ties.
City suffer Wembley hangover
Man City are in the midst of a three-match losing streak following an abysmal performance at Anfield. The Sky Blues’ posed minimal threat on the attacking front, racking up the fewest attempts (four) and shots on target (one) of any team this Gameweek.
Although Sergio Aguero could only muster one attempt in Liverpool’s backyard, his 28% ownership will fancy the Argentine marksman’s chances of repaying their faith over the next two Gameweeks, considering that a visit from Aston Villa and a trip to Norwich City are next on the agenda.
Despite the return of their talismanic captain, Vincent Kompany, Man City still surrendered five goals in their last two head-to-heads. As such, Fantasy managers might be more wary of exploring their rearguard options before a seemingly favourable stretch (AVL, nor, MUN, bou, WBA).
Mata leaves it late
Juan Mata’s first goal since Gameweek 12 was enough to send Manchester United level on points with their local rivals. The ex-Chelsea recruit remains on the periphery of our thinking, given his lack of consistent returns.
Marcus Rashford retained his lone-striker berth, while Jesse Lingard was demoted to accommodate a fit-again Anthony Martial on the right flank. Rashford’s paucity of threat up top (zero attempts) prompted Van Gaal to swap him with Martial at the hour mark, casting doubt on the youngster’s forward slot at The Hawthorns this Sunday.
Michael Carrick was rested for the Hornets’ visit, meaning Timothy Fosu-Mensah was tasked with partnering Daley Blind in central defence. Due to the numerous defensive injuries Man United are contending with, David De Gea acts as their safest source of coverage.
