Sergio Aguero halts the exit plans with two goals, Philippe Coutinho prompts a shift in strategy with a cruel injury blow. Saturday’s events could be hugely significant on our festive plans and prospects. Here’s the Stock Check…
On the Rise
Sergio Aguero
For many, Aguero was teetering on the edge of a wave of sales following his Gameweek 12 blank at Selhurst Park. But a Gameweek on, the striker’s stock has turned once more.
A brace at Turf Moor, albeit via two scrappy goals as part of a laboured Manchester City performance, offered another reminder of Aguero’s peerless poaching abilities.
It’s now 33 goals in his last 34 Premier League outings.
Can we go without such firepower? Perhaps. But in the light of Philippe Coutinho’s injury, suddenly there are potential funds available that will likely allow many to hold fire on the Aguero exit plans.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
As we witnessed last season, Sigurdsson is a player so central to the Swansea City cause, he can go on delivering consistent and relentless returns.
And so it has transpired in the current campaign, despite the Swans’ troubles.
Crucial to Swansea’s dramatic 5-4 victory over Crystal Palace, Sigurdsson started in a false nine role before shifting behind Fernando Llorente. He first converted a trademark free-kick and then the assist for the Spanish striker’s first effort.
Sigurdsson has now returned in five of his last six Gameweeks, contributing three goals and three assists.
A run perfectly timed to act as the obvious replacement to a potentially stricken Coutinho, ahead of promising festive fixtures. Sigurdsson was the top transfer target in the Fantasy Premier League overnight.
Fernando Llorente
Let’s not get too excited at the Spaniard’s prospects but, it must be said, even before his two goals in the dramatic win over Palace, Llorente had caught our eye.
On arrival at the Liberty Stadium, he was producing some strong numbers without return. Now, perhaps settled in his new surrounds and in a side seemingly driven to score goals to cover for defensive frailty, Llorente could yet arrive on the radar.
Leroy Fer
Another of Bob Bradley’s charges to revive his fortunes, Fer returned to the scoresheet with his first goals since Gameweek 7, reminding us of his value as a midfield acquisition.
Priced at 5.0 and owned by 7.6%, Fer could yet go on profiting from Sigurdsson’s service and Swansea’s need for goals to compensate for a shaky rearguard.
Gareth McAuley
Once again we saw McAuley’s appeal, his prowess in the box from set-plays delivering a third goal of the season.
Owned by 26% but still priced at just 4.8, McAuley was top of our Watchlist rankings going heading West Brom’s obliging run of opponents and remains their go-to option.
Even with a toughening schedule approaching, McAuley’s goal threat arguably justifies his continued selection.
Pedro, Victor Moses and Nemanja Matic
Distracted by the brilliance of Eden Hazard, the Spaniard remains largely under the radar but has now been elevated by the potential midfield slot freed up by Coutinho’s injury.
Pedro continues to hold off the claims of Willian on the Chelsea right flank and his superbly taken goal against Spurs boosted his stock further.
He’s now returned three goals and four assists in his last six Gameweeks.
Moses and Matic also contributed to a 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Bridge. Moses fired his third goal of the season to underline his blossoming form and prospects as a 5.6 candidate. Meanwhile, Matic (5.1) chipped in with an improbable seventh assist of the campaign.
However, given the appeal offered by Hazard, Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso in our three Chelsea slots, the midfield trio may still struggle to earn owners.
Christian Eriksen
Those avoiding the Harry Kane option would have been intrigued by Eriksen’s belated first goal of the campaign.
With Swansea City, Hull City and Burnley all due at White Hart Lane over the next four Gameweeks, cover of the Spurs attack looks desirable.
Dele Alli is an option, while Son Heung-min’s stock continues to tumble with inconsistent pitch time and returns.
Eriksen could yet present a viable alternative and is a left-field option for those currently shopping for a Coutinho replacement.
Wilfried Zaha
Picked out in this week’s Differentials, the Palace winger has now returned in each of his last five Gameweeks, totalling five assists and a goal in that spell.
Here’s been the shining light for Alan Pardew’s side this season and, while the Eagles abhorrent form will doubtless deter many, at 5.4 and with just 3.4% ownership, Zaha is certainly alive and well as a budget midfield differential.
Christian Benteke
Like Llorente, the Palace striker has been producing numbers to suggest that an upturn in form was imminent.
The Belgian’s goal at Swansea was his fifth of the season, all of which have arrived away from home.
Given Palace’s form and with the Zaha option in midfield, it’s unlikely that Benteke has the momentum to displace the likes of Jermain Defoe and Charlie Austin as our choice of third striker. However, Benteke’s output warrants monitoring as Alan Pardew’s men become more desperate to seek out goals and stop the rot that has lead to six straight defeats.
Dejan Lovren
A third clean sheet for Lovren and Liverpool issued a reminder of his potential value at a time when, suddenly, Jurgen Klopp’s side may be forced to change shape and tactics.
Should Coutinho be sidelined, and with Adam Lallana also still absent, the onus could be on Klopp’s defence to continue a run that has brought back-to-back shut-outs. The fixture list certainly remains in their favour.
Alvaro Negredo
Yet another striker attempting to revive his fortunes, the Spaniard returned to the scoresheet for the first time since Gameweek 1 with his brace at Leicester City.
Like Llorente, it’s perhaps unrealistic to consider Negredo a factor just yet. However, Boro’s fixtures are set to improve and he currently looks assured of starts in Aitor Karanka’s line-up, having started the last six Premier League outings.
In Decline
Philippe Coutinho
The obvious casualty of Gameweek 13, the sickening sight of Philippe Coutinho’s injury could be a turning point for Liverpool and Fantasy managers alike.
Klopp has moved to offer re-assurance but only scans, expected in the next 24-hours, can offer a genuine prognosis.
There’s a pessimistic mood amongst local press and, already, as the top owned asset, Coutinho has suffered heavy Fantasy Premier League sales overnight.
Kevin De Bruyne
Benched by Pep Guardiola at Burnley, De Bruyne has now provided 90 minutes in just three of his last seven Gameweeks.
A reminder that, regardless of quality and form, nobody is safe from Pep’s rotation plans, confidence in De Bruyne has to remain shaky given his price tag and the hectic Christmas schedule to come. It’s another factor that bolsters faith in Aguero, given that some were looking to De Bruyne as possible City cover.
Raheem Sterling
The winger last returned a goal or an assist back in Gameweek 6 – marking a disastrous slump in output for those who invested and have held following his encouraging start to the campaign.
Limping off having been clattered by Ben Mee at Turf Moor, Sterling again ranks in the top echelons of the “transfers out” column as confidence in the City man dwindles further.
Tom Heaton
Arguably an essential component of our seasons to this point, Heaton was ruled out of the early kick-off with City with a tight calf.
Sean Dyche seems uncertain on a prognosis, offering little clue as to Heaton’s chances of a return at Stoke in Gameweek 14.
We remain optimistic about an early return, but Heaton’s injury record and weakness in the calf area is far from re-assuring.
