We now take time out to assess the weekend’s ten matches this Monday lunchtime. Arsene Wenger’s tinkering up top, Aaron Lennon’s goal-getting form, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Salomon Rondon’s talismanic showings and Liverpool’s lack of double Gameweek options are all on today’s menu.
Siggy is single-handedly driving Swansea to safety…
A goal against Norwich on Saturday took the Icelandic international’s tally to eight strikes for the season – his highest haul in any Premier League campaign. Since Francesco Guidolin’s first full match in charge away to Everton back in Gameweek 23, Sigurdsson has played a part in five of his side’s eight efforts, courtesy of four goals and an assist, and has also earned ten bonus points over that period. With Bournemouth, Villa and Newcastle in the next five, he’s looking primed for further points as the Welsh club look to seal their safety before the fixtures turn for the worse in Gameweek 35.
… and Rondon is the Baggies’ new talisman…
It’s four goals and an assist in six Gameweeks now for the Venezuelan as he belatedly justifies his lofty summer price tag. With Saido Berahino back in the mix in recent matches, Rondon’s contribution has helped Tony Pulis’ side to wins over United, Palace and Everton and a draw against Leicester in the last four, with the Hawthorns outfit now sitting within touching distance of the 40-point mark. With two of the bottom three in the next three Gameweeks, Rondon has the form and fixtures to maintain momentum in the mid-price bracket.
The Gunners’ lone striker role is up for grabs…
After fielding Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud up front against United and Swansea over the last week or so, Arsene Wenger handed the lone striker role to Danny Welbeck for the weekend north London derby. Whilst Welbeck failed to find the net at White Hart Lane, the reshuffle saw Aaron Ramsey score for the first time since Gameweek 21 after being shifted to the right flank, underlining the Welshman’s attacking potential when fielded further up the pitch. With Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez nailed on, a role on the right for Ramsey could result in a straight fight between Giroud, Walcott and Welbeck for the spot up front in Wenger’s default 4-2-3-1.
Hiddink has faith in Traore…
Devoid of Diego Costa through a last-minute injury, Guus Hiddink chose to start with the likes of Loic Remy and Alexandre Pato on the Chelsea bench and handed Bertrand Traore a second straight start instead. Having provided an assist from the right wing away to Norwich, the youngster led the line against the Potters and vindicated his manager’s decision by opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge. Bearing in mind he also scored at home to Newcastle in Gameweek 27, Traore – who was afforded just eight minutes by Jose Mourinho – is starting to emerge as a capable back-up option should Hiddink look to rest his star striker over the run-in.
It’s Lennon’s place to lose …
The Everton winger has now netted in four of the last five league matches after finding the net in the weekend home loss to West Ham. Lennon has now racked up 41 points over those fixtures and, despite the fine on-pitch understanding between Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu, looks nailed on down the right for Roberto Martinez. At a price of just 5.6 and owned by less than 1% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Lennon is shaping up to be a fine differential for our five-man midfields, bearing in mind that the Toffees still have two double Gameweeks to follow.
Payet will keep Antonio under the radar…
It’s six goals and five assists in 15 straight starts now for Michail Antonio, after he found the net for the third successive league match at Goodison on Saturday. Despite a very favourable price of 5.4, the former Forest flier continues to remain overlooked (3% ownership) due to Dimitri Payet’s displays – the Frenchman last-gasp winner, allied with an assist, ensured he hogged the headlines once again. Antonio, though, has averaged 5.5 points per game this season – that’s joint-fourth amongst midfielders, with Payet’s 5.8 placing him third – and could well be worth a double-up for our double Gameweek planning further down the line.
Silva and Toure are on the rise…
A home clash against Villa allowed Manuel Pellegrini to roll out a 4-4-2 last weekend as City went on the offensive. Whilst Wilfried Bony fluffed his lines against the basement-dwellers, David Silva and Yaya Toure both returned to form ahead of a Gameweek 30 trip to Norwich, with nine and ten-point hauls respectively. Given that the Canaries have shipped 12 goals in four at Carrow Road, Pellegrini may well look to continue with a two-man frontline as he attempts to bolster City’s title credentials. With a double also to follow at some point, Silva and Toure look the main supplements to Sergio Aguero as we look to navigate the tricky schedule.
King could be the Cherries’ prime pick…
A tactical tweak by Eddie Howe has brought the Norwegian back into the frame. The Bournemouth manager’s decision to switch from 4-1-4-1 to 4-4-1-1 has allowed King to flourish once again – tucking in behind Benik Afobe, he racked up 13 points as the in-form Cherries swept aside lacklustre Newcastle at St James’. Although Matt Ritchie has stepped up in recent weeks and fit-again Max Gradel boasts some decent underlying numbers, King – at just 4.3 – could be back on our radars as Howe’s men square up to Swansea at Dean Court this weekend.
Daniels just keeps on giving…
A goal in the weekend win over Newcastle continued the left-back’s extraordinary Fantasy turnaround. After 13 Gameweeks of the season, Daniels was sitting on 25 points – that’s an average of 1.9 points per appearance. Since then, Daniels has embarked on an outstanding run of form that’s served up three goals, four assists, six clean sheets and 14 bonus points in the subsequent 16 fixtures, at an average of 5.8 points per game. Now up to second in the defender standings, there’s no real surprise to see nearly 50,000 FPL managers draft him in since the weekend as Daniels is finally afforded a much-merited bandwagon.
Targett’s time in the sun looks over…
Having changed to 4-2-3-1 in the first half of the Gameweek 28 loss at Bournemouth, Ronald Koeman ditched his 3-5-2 completely for a home encounter against Sunderland. After racking up 29 points in three straight starts between Gameweek 21-23, Matt Targett has now started just two of the subsequent six as his manager chops and changes his tactics in an attempt to get the Saints back to winning ways. With Jose Fonte now suspended for the weekend, though, Koeman looks unlikely to revert to three-at-the-back away to Stoke and, at a time where so many teams are without a fixture, Targett’s owners may well be set to reassess their weekend options.
Firmino remains the Reds’ prime pick…
Many expected Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge to return to the Liverpool starting line-up yesterday after both dropped out for the midweek win over City. Perhaps Klopp has one eye on Thursday’s Europa League clash with United as he looks for a last chance of silverware in his first season, or maybe he’s just desperate to avoid further injury setbacks with the duo. Either way, Roberto Firmino’s Fantasy stock continues to rise – afforded a twelfth straight start by his manager, the Brazilian’s strike took his tally to seven goals and four assists in eight and with a pair of doubles still to be scheduled, he remains the stand-out Anfield option right now.
Flanagan’s return muddies the waters…
After benching Alberto Moreno for the midweek win over City, Jurgen Klopp rested Nathaniel Clyne for the first time in a league match this season as the Reds travelled to Selhurst Park. With the fit-again Jon Flanagan excluded from Liverpool’s Europa League squad, Klopp is clearly determined to utilise the depth of his squad to cope with the busy schedule. Flanagan’s return, however, merely adds to the mix in defence ahead of their two double Gameweeks and with Klopp afforded plenty of options at centre-half, it may well be that Simon Mignolet is the only safe starter for those eyeing up their defence.
