Dimitri Payet and Sergio Aguero deliver on their captaincy potential, while Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi firm up their claims for a place in Wildcard squads. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s matches….
Payet Steals The Show Again
West Ham United faltered in their quest for a Champions League place as they succumbed to a 75-minute equaliser against Crystal Palace.
Dimitri Payet netted his second free-kick of the week: he’s now delivered attacking returns (three goals and four assists) in four of his last five outings.
While Payet is unquestionably West Ham’s star Fantasy asset, the Hammers midfield continues to offer options. With two goals in as many starts, Manuel Lanzini (4.9) has to be a consideration. Interestingly, the pint-sized Argentine boasts a better shot frequency than Payet (one every 42.9 minutes compare to 44 minutes) and a similar conversion rate (18.2% to 18.4%), highlighting his potential to deliver over the Hammers’ two Gameweek 34 fixtures (lei, WAT).
Michail Antonio (three goals in five) would be Payet’s biggest rival for our attentions but Slaven Bilic again chose to deploy the winger at right-back, despite the fact that James Tomkins was fit enough to return to the bench.
Cheikhou Kouyate received a straight red card for serious foul play, which rules him out of two league ties (ARS, lei) and the Hammers’ FA Cup quarter-final against Man United. Given the dubious nature of the decision, chairman David Gold confirmed that the Londoners intend to lodge an appeal to the FA.
Palace Rescue A Point
Crystal Palace stretched out their winless streak to 14 matches after failing to fully capitalise on their one-man advantage at the Boelyn Ground.
Dwight Gayle and Damien Delaney notched the goals, while Bakary Sako recorded an assist from a dead-ball delivery. Pitched at 4.3, Delaney – who’s tallied one goal and two assists in seven starts – could enjoy a smattering of new owners in anticipation of Crystal Palace’s double Gameweek 33 (NOR, EVE) and 34 (ars, mun) although Scott Dann remains the “star turn” in the Eagles rearguard having claimed five goals this term.
Since his return to fitness in Gameweek 27, Yannick Bolasie (6.0 in the FPL) is yet to score and has registered just a single assist. However, with eight efforts on goal, Dann is the only Palace player to match Bolasie’s goal threat over that five-match spell, while only Yohan Cabaye betters Bolasie eight chances created.
Sanchez & Iwobi Combine In Gunners Rout
Arsenal breathed new life into their fading title challenge with a thumping 4-0 home win over Watford. Considering that the Gunners have now chalked up six unanswered goals across their previous two outings, their attacking assets will be in high demand prior to an enticing double Gameweek 34 (CRY, WBA).
Having carded a brace of assists for Chile during the international break, Alexis Sanchez maintained his fine form (two goals and three assists in four league starts) with a goal and assist at the Emirates – the first time he’s found that goal/assist combination since April 2015. His upturn in productivity has coincided with Mezut Ozil’s slump in form (four successive blanks), which will likely convince significant proportion of the German’s 44% ownership to make the straight swap.
Fresh from his debut league goal against Everton, Alex Iwobi doubled his tally against the Hornets. The 4.5-priced midfielder looks set for an extended spell in the starting XI, making him a prime “enabler” for those FPL managers constructing Gameweek 33 Wildcard squads.
Reaffirming his status the prime source of Arsenal defensive coverage, Hector Bellerin (one goal and three assists in three outings) scored his first goal of the season. Elsewhere, Gabriel Paulista has now started the Gunners’ last five league matches but remains a rotation risk for Arsenal’s double fixtures, with Per Mertesacker waiting in the wings.
De Bruyne Return Sparks City
Buoyed by the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the starting line-up, Manchester City defied their poor road form (zero goals in last two) with a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth.
De Bruyne – who featured among our differentials – announced his comeback with a goal at the 12-minute mark. With Wildcard’s active ahead of Man City’s double Gameweek 34 (che, new), the Belgian schemer represents a tantalising differential (5% ownership) as the Sky Blues’ premier midfield target. De Bruyne ranks third behind Everton’s double Gameweek assets – Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley – in the FPL transfers in table overnight.
Having claimed 30% of votes in this week’s Captain Poll, Sergio Aguero delivered returns, scoring for just the second time in six outings. With De Bruyne’s proven supply line restored to the City attack, the Argentine’s 33% ownership would seem likely to hand captaincy duties to Aguero during the upcoming double.
Training our focus back on the Sky Blues’ midfield, Fernando opened the scoring, while Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and David Silva turned provider for one goal apiece. Silva now has three assists in four outings, but his paucity of goal threat (one in 1735 minutes) ensures that he is likely to remain dwarfed by De Bruyne when FPL managers consider City midfield acquisitions.
Aleksandar Kolarov applied gloss to the scoreline with a howitzer of a strike in the final minute, complementing the goal he notched on international duty. Nonetheless, the Serbian has undoubtedly played second fiddle to Gael Clichy (six consecutive starts) since the turn of the year. While Nicolas Otamendi (6.5 in FPL) appears to be City’s most secure option at the back, Clichy has so far proved a more popular Gameweek target in Manuel Pellegrini’s defence due to his kinder 5.3 price tag.
Chelsea Ease Past Abject Villa
Chelsea’s resounding 4-0 victory at Villa Park extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches – besting Tottenham Hotspur’s streak (14) earlier in the campaign.
In the absence of the suspended Diego Costa, Loic Remy was chosen to spearhead the Blues’ attack. However, the Frenchman lasted just 23 minutes before succumbing to a groin injury, paving the way for Alexandre Pato to earn his Premier League debut. The Brazilian would go on to convert from the penalty spot and claim an assist, strengthening his case for further playing time during the run-in.
Following a long-haul flight back from Paraguay after their World Cup qualifier, Willian was omitted from the squad, whilst Oscar started on the bench. The latter replaced Kenedy after the break and notched his second assist in the last two appearances. Elsewhere in Chelsea’s midfield, Pedro enjoyed his second brace in four outings, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek registered a first Premier League goal for the London club.
Chelsea posted their first clean sheet in seven matches, yet Branislav Ivanovic’s 3,000 new owners will perhaps be disappointed that the Serbian was asked to fill in at centre-back because of injuries to John Terry (Achilles) and Gary Cahill (tendon), starving him of an opportunity to raid down the right flank; Cesar Azpilicueta didn’t pass up that opportunity, grabbing his second assist in six matches.
Ultimately, Guus Hiddink’s intention to “experiment” in the final stages renders them a risky source of investment ahead of their double Gameweek 37 (sun, liv), while their lack of a double Gameweek 34 diminishes short-term Fantasy prospects.
Canaries Snatch A Precious Three Points
Courtesy of their first home win in six attempts, Norwich City moved four points clear of the relegation berths.
The Canaries’ back line came up trumps, with Timm Klose (4.2) and Martin Olsson (4.4) etching their names onto the scoresheet. In appreciation of their budget price tags and the fact that Norwich conceded just three goals in their previous quartet of ties, both men could serve as handy enablers when the Canaries welcome Manchester United and Watford in Gameweek 37.
Dieumerci Mbokani ended an eight-match drought with his fifth goal of the campaign. Prior to Norwich’s head-to-head against the league’s second-worst defence (58 goals conceded), they drew four blanks in seven fixtures, tempering our enthusiasm for their attacking potential.
On the creative front, Robbie Brady (assist) and Jonny Howson (brace of assists) supplied the ammunition. Brady has carded one goal and assist in two starts since being pushed up into a midfield slot, which bodes well for his budget prospects ahead of the double Gameweek 37.
Mitrovic Efforts In Vain
Newcastle slipped further into the abyss by way of their eighth away defeat on the bounce.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s surprising omission from the starting XI became all that more questionable when the Serbian frontman entered the fray at the 62-minute mark and went on to record a brace. The 6.2-priced forward – who’s netted three goals in two outings – has surely earned the right to spearhead Newcastle’s attack next time out at Southampton. Mitrovic clearly stands out as the most potent recruit in the lead up to Newcastle’s double Gameweek 34 (SWA, MCY).
Andros Townsend and Ayoze Perez registered the Magpies’ assists. Intriguingly, only six midfielders mustered more key passes than Townsend (11) across their last four matches, which encourages us to keep tabs on the former Spurs winger. Georginio Wijnaldum was back in a more attacking role, positioned behind the lone striker but registered another blank – the Dutchman heads into the Magpies double fixture period having gone nine league appearances without a goal.
Sigurdsson Goes On Scoring
Gylfi Sigurdsson kick-started an unlikely Swansea recovery with his eighth goal of 2016, as the visitors came back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Stoke.
Owned by just 9% of FPL managers the Icelandic playmaker has now claimed eight goals in his last 13 league outings. Despite this, Sigurdsson’s stock is likely to take a knock given Swansea’s final six fixtures (CHE, new, lei, LIV, whu, MCI) and the absence of double Gameweek.
Spurs Held At Anfield
Tottenham spurned an opportunity to pile pressure on league leaders Leicester City as their trip to Anfield ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Harry Kane surpassed his tally from the previous season (21 goals) with his sixth goal in four starts. Kane and Spurs are without a double Gameweek over the remainder of the season, although the strikers’ form continues to cast doubt over the merits of omitting him from our squads. Kane’s fixtures (MUN, sto, WBA). and Tottenham’s motivation in their bid to keep pace with Leicester will be a concern for those considering an exit plan ahead of Gameweek 34.
Coutinho Sparkles for Pool
Liverpool rebounded from their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Southampton with an impressive performance against the title challengers Spurs.
Philippe Coutinho struck first with his second goal in as many outings and racked up more attempts (five) than any midfielder over Saturday’s matches. With Roberto Firmino sitting out this match-up with prolonged hamstring concerns, Gameweek 33 Wildcarders are now leaning towards recruiting Coutinho as their source of Reds attacking coverage for their double Gameweek 34 (bou, EVE) and 37 (WAT CHE).
Daniel Sturridge also remains in our thinking; he scooped the assist, before being replaced at the 71-minute mark due to visible fatigue. The Man City academy product served up attacking returns (two goals and one assist) in his previous trio of starts but is likely to be rotated heavily as the Merseysiders gear up for their two-legged Europa League tie against Borussia Dortmund.
Having been issued his tenth yellow of the season, Emre Can will miss Liverpool’s next two league matches (STO, bou).
