The Zlatan Ibrahimovic exodus is set to pick up pace after another blank at home to Stoke City. Dele Alli is in the goals as Spurs end Pep’s unbeaten run and Laurent Koscielny climbs the defender standings after a fortuitous clincher at Turf Moor.
On the Rise
Heung-Min Son
After notching a midweek Champions League winner in Moscow, the South Korean caught the eye yet again as Spurs ended City’s 100% Premier League record under Pep Guardiola.
Deployed as the lone striker, Son laid on the assist for Tottenham’s second and now has four goals and two assists in just four appearances – that’s already more than his output (four goals, one assist) for 2015/16.
Notably, Son also challenged Erik Lamela for Spurs second half spot-kick, missed by the Argentine.
Subject to over 56,000 transfers in already in the Gameweek – more than any player – he continues to look Spurs’ main threat in the ongoing absence of Harry Kane.
Dele Alli
Overshadowed by Son’s recent displays, the Spurs starlet has stepped up his consistency over the last few Gameweeks. After dropping from 8.5 to 8.2, Alli’s goal means he has scored or assisted in three of the last four, offering FPL managers yet another in-form option in the centre of the park.
Laurent Koscielny
The Frenchman may have been fortunate with Sunday’s winner at Turf Moor, but his 15-point Fantasy Premier League haul has now catapulted him to the top of the defender rankings, 10 ahead of team-mate Hector Bellerin.
Koscielny has now netted twice in the last four, and with home encounters against Swansea City, Middlesbrough and Bournemouth, allied with a trip to Sunderland in the next six, additional clean sheets look on the cards.
Theo Walcott
While Alexis Sanchez suffered a rare blank, Walcott earned the assist for Koscielny’s last-gasp winner to maintain his recent output.
Walcott has now scored or assisted in five of the opening seven Gameweeks and, at a price of 7.6, is just seven points behind the 11.2-priced Chilean.
Having also netted both goals in the midweek Champions League win over FC Basel, the Gunners winger is becoming increasingly influential.
Virgil Van Dijk
Overshadowed by full-back pair Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand in the previous two fixtures, the Dutchman served a reminder of his potential by grabbing the maximum bonus points away to Leicester.
Van Dijk has produced almost twice the number of clearances, blocks and interceptions than any defensive team-mate and also leads the way at the back for efforts on goal.
Claude Puel’s side now have six successive shut-outs in all competitions, though with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the next five, the short-term schedule is somewhat taxing.
Joe Allen
The summer signing netted for the second successive Gameweek after bagging Stoke’s leveller at Old Trafford. Allen also scored at home to West Brom last weekend and, at a price of just 4.8 in FPL, is shaping up to be a viable value option as the fixtures turn in the Potters’ favour.
Daley Blind
Stationed at left-back once again, the Dutchman managed to pick up two bonus points at home to the Potters thanks to his all-round contribution. Blind has now produced 14 points in his two outings as a full-back, suggesting that a fit Luke Shaw will face a battle to regain a starting role.
In Decline
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
It’s one goal and a single assist in five for the United striker after Sunday’s blank in the stalemate with Stoke.
Ibrahimovic has dropped 0.4 in price in the last two Gameweeks and with the international break now upon us; the exodus is already picking up speed ahead of back-to-back trips to Liverpool and Chelsea.
Over 56,000 FPL managers have parted company since the passing of yesterday’s deadline as the clamour for in-form midfield assets intensfies.
Aleksandar Kolarov
The Serbian retained his starting role despite an abject midweek display against Celtic. Sunday’s early own goal perhaps sums up Kolarov’s current lack of self-belief – with one clean sheet in seven now for City, Pep Guardiola will surely be considering a recall for Gael Clichy as he looks to bounce back from his first Premier League defeat.
Vincent Janssen
Dropped to the bench against City, it’s clear that Mauricio Pochettino has identified Heung-Min Son as the central striker in the absence of the injured Harry Kane. We may have been gifted an excellent new value option in midfield, but, in Janssen, we appear to have missed out on a new option up front.
Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy
While the goalless draw means that the Foxes have conceded just once in four home league fixtures, the Leicester City pair yet again failed to serve up the points.
Mahrez now has one assist in six and Vardy has netted twice in the first seven – both are still found in 14% of FPL squads, but we can surely expect extended sales over the break.
