Daniel Sturridge grabs a goal and assist as a much-changed Liverpool get the better of Bournemouth. Alexis Sanchez and Yannick Bolasie both find the net in a 1-1 stalemate at the Emirates, whilst Jamie Vardy is sent off as Leicester and West Ham share the spoils at the King Power.
Sturridge wins it for Reds
A much-changed Liverpool side recorded a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth to cap off a sensational week.
Promoting a veritable meltdown within the Fantasy community, Roberto Firmino was the only survivor from the Reds’ team that vanquished Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, ensuring that Philippe Coutinho, James Milner and the first-choice defenders and Simon Mignolet were absent from the starting XI.
The 32,000 managers that invested faith in Firmino were richly rewarded as the Brazilian midfielder popped up with his fourth goal in six starts. Daniel Sturridge registered a goal (Jordon Ibe) and assist, validating 50,000 managers that took a calculated risk recruiting a frontman that’s tallied four goals and two assists in five outings. The fit-again Sturridge has now started Liverpool’s last four league outings and with Divock Origi a minor doubt for the midweek Merseyside derby, may well retain his role in Klopp’s XI.
Notwithstanding the form of the above-mentioned duo, Liverpool’s progress in the Europa League makes it nigh-on impossible to accurately predict their line-ups. With the upcoming clashes against Villarreal taking place on April 28 and May 5, yesterday’s ten alterations are perhaps indicative of what we may come to expect as Klopp looks to end the season with silverware.
In-form King bags another
Bournemouth fell to their third defeat in four outings and have now shipped eight goals in their previous trio of home clashes.
Despite his side’s problems in defence, the 4.3-priced midfielder Joshua King continues to impress. Fielded up front once again, his late consolation (Andrew Surman assist) means he has now found the net in four of the last six Gameweeks, highlighting his out-of-position budget potential. Although the Cherries’ embark on a perilous run-in (CHE, eve, WBA, mun), the Norwegian marksman’s latent value is hard to ignore.
Sanchez strike not enough for Gunners
Arsenal failed to capitalise on their territorial dominance at the Emirates as they recorded a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
To the relief of managers that were burned in the early fixtures, Arsene Wenger rejected the opportunity to rotate the likes of Gabriel and enacted a solitary change, recalling Petr Cech for David Ospina.
The runaway winner in our Captain Poll, Alexis Sanchez, came up trumps with his fourth goal in five starts. Looking at the remaining schedule, match-ups against Sunderland (away), Norwich City (home) and Aston Villa (home) could help maintain his explosive run of form to cap of the Chilean’s topsy-turvy season.
Mesut Ozil posted his fifth blank in six appearances, prompting the German’s 43% ownership to weigh up their options. Given Sanchez’s clinical finishing of late and Alex Iwobi’s emergence as a cut-price route into Arsenal’s offense, Ozil’s stock has diminished slightly on the Fantasy market.
Danny Welbeck laid on the assist for Sanchez’s header but has now failed to score in five of his last six outings, increasing his risk of rotation and Olivier Giroud’s case for a starting berth ahead of Thursday night’s home match with West Brom.
Bolasie earns Eagles a point
Palace are unbeaten in four matches and seemingly safe from relegation following their stalemate in North London.
Sold by over 20,000 FPL managers after failing to earn any points in last week’s pair of home matches against Norwich and Everton, Yannick Bolasie rewarded his patient owners by scoring the equaliser (Emmanuel Adebayor assist) nine minutes from time. The DR Congo international will do well to further his tally in this round of fixtures, considering that the Eagles are next pitted against a Man United side that’s surrendered just seven goals at home all term. With a blank Gameweek 35 up next, though, an imminent exodus looks on the cards.
Vardy dismissed as Foxes salvage point
Leicester City shared the spoils with West Ham United in an incident-laden 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy’s resurgence continued with his third goal – courtesy of an assist from N’Golo Kante – in two outings, but the Foxes lone striker was later sent off for earning a second yellow card. Owned by 47% of FPL managers, he now sits out the promising home encounter against Swansea City next time out, whilst reports suggest that the manner in which he reacted to the dismissal could potentially land him an extended ban.
Elsewhere in the Foxes camp, Leonardo Ulloa bagged from the penalty spot, with Jeffrey Schlupp grabbing the assist. Riyad Mahrez registered his third consecutive blank, yet his 64% ownership will remain optimistic as Leicester prepare to host a Swansea outfit that ranks joint-bottom for clean sheets on the road (one).
Carroll in the goals again
West Ham United succumbed to a late equaliser in the East Midlands but nevertheless extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
In response to his team’s midweek cup exertions against Man United, Slaven Bilic opted to rotate against the league leaders, demoting Andy Carroll (50,000 new owners) and Manuel Lanzini (35,000 new owners) to the bench. Michail Antonio’s 10,000 new backers were also left frustrated by the manager’s decision not to relinquish him of his defensive duties – despite the fact that the Hammers had James Tomkins and Sam Byram on the bench.
With regards to the Irons’ Fantasy output, Carroll lays claim to five goals in four outings after converting a spot-kick (Winston Reid assist) and looks poised to return to the starting line-up for the midweek visit of Watford.
Aaron Cresswell reaffirmed his status at the prime route into West Ham’s rearguard, notching his second goal of the campaign. With trips to West Brom and Stoke bookending a double Gameweek 37, the raiding left-back could be poised for further returns over the run-in.
