A red card for Kyle Walker stifles Manchester City who once again struggle for goals at the Etihad Stadium, as Wayne Rooney hits back-to-back strikes to reach another Premier League milestone. Here’s the notes from Monday’s contest.
City assets suffer from Walker’s dismissal
While City reacted positively to Walker’s first half dismissal – dominating the second period – the wing-back’s absence had a marked influence on their key assets.
The prospects or Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were severely dented. The latter gave way for Raheem Sterling at half-time, consigning him to a second successive blank.
Meanwhile, De Bruyne retreated to become a deep-lying playmaker, dictating matters for City and rarely – if at all – threatening to raid the penalty area.
Punishing the pair for their failings is perhaps harsh with a trip to Bournemouth to come. However, in a volatile Fantasy Premier League market, it would seem inevitable. Both suffered losses heading into tonight’s contest following Gameweek 1 disappointment – those sales will now continue and likely accelerate.
As for Sergio Aguero, he also blanked and, after scoring just five of his 20 goals in 2016/17 at home, this may raise the concern on his suitability as a captain option. Two shots, missing the target with both, is not the expected level for an 11.5 forward but, again, Walker’s dismissal can be blamed.
Owned by 543,000+, some 39% of those owners handed him the armband for Monday’s game; their confidence in City’s ability to deliver goals at the Etihad will have suffered another blow.
Surprisingly, Pep Guardiola’s side scored just 37 goals at home last season – 18 fewer than Chelsea, 10 less than Spurs and only two more than Bournemouth.
Sane adds to City wing-back puzzle
Walker’s red card will see him miss the Gameweek 3 trip to Bournemouth, but when he and Benjamin Mendy are available to Pep Guardiola, the City options at wing-back look bewildering.
The decision to deploy Leroy Sane on the left, dropping Danilo to the bench, confused matters further.
Clearly there is a chance that Sane will get his opportunities in home matches. That could see Mendy suffer rotation in the current formation, with Walker perhaps vulnerable on occasion with Danilo available to switch to the right.
In a nutshell, should we consider investment in the improving City defence, we seem to be restricted to the centre-backs with John Stones arguably the most favourable option.
Rooney revels in Manchester return
Of the four top ten Gameweek 2 captain picks on show tonight, Rooney was surely the most unlikely to deliver. But, perhaps typically on his return to Manchester, it was the former United man who gatecrashed the points to claim his 200th Premier League goal.
Owned by 743,000+ (16.9%), Rooney has delivered successive goals to raise his Fantasy stock as a third striker option.
However, he was deployed in a deeper role in Everton’s 3-4-2-1 – joining Tom Davies in support Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the lone striker. With Gylfi Sigurdsson arriving to snatch set-pieces, investment in Rooney clearly comes packaged with a caveat.
Calvert-Lewin is intriguing. He boosted his prospects with a hugely encouraging display and, while Everton will perhaps be expected to enter the market for a striker, the 20-year-old could certainly be a prospect as a 5.0 FPL enabler. He has returned back-to-back assists and should be monitored if it appears that Ronald Koeman continues to put faith in the starlet.
