Two new managers go head-to-head, and it is Claude Puel’s Leicester City who emerge victorious in strangely familiar Foxes fashion. Meanwhile, Pascal Gross continues to build on his growing Fantasy reputation as Brighton and Southampton share the spoils at the Amex Stadium.
Here are the notes from Sunday’s matches…
Puel sweeps in with a new-ish broom
Claude Puel’s reign at Leicester City brought change and familiarity in equal measure.
The Frenchman handed Demarai Gray (5.3) a rare start on the right and the winger responded with his first league goal of the season in an eye-catching performance.
Defender Ben Chilwell (4.3) was an even more surprise inclusion. He was handed an advanced role on the opposite flank in the 4-2-3-1 to offer the potential for out-of-position returns should Puel persist with that particular experiment.
Regular left-back, Christian Fuchs, provided the assist for Gray’s goal.
The inclusion of Gray meant that Riyad Mahrez was handed the freedom of a new central support role. An assist for Jamie Vardy’s opening goal of the Puel era means the Algerian has a goal and three assists in three, and he also scored in the midweek EFL Cup win over Leeds.
For Vardy, it was his first strike since Gameweek 6, although he has netted in three of his last four home matches.
Sold by more than 106,000 Fantasy Premier League managers last week, the England international still resides in 14.4% of squads, but form is not particularly backed up by fixtures.
The Foxes travel to Stoke City and West Ham while entertaining Man City and Spurs over the next four Gameweeks, although the schedule (BUR new sot CRY) eases after that.
Vardy’s 8.6 price tag could also be an issue given the potential value on offer by Swansea’s Tammy Abraham over the next three Gameweeks. However, if he can build on Sunday’s strike, Vardy remains a solution for those who are shying away from three premium strikers.
Gray and Chilwell – particularly if the latter continues to be played out of position – will also need reassessing if Puel keeps faith in today’s line-up. His tactics and formation at Stoke will be fascinating in that respect.
In defence, Harry Maguire (5.1) rewarded a 7.3% ownership that has remained relatively loyal throughout a lean season with his third clean sheet of the campaign.
Puel is noted for the defensive solidity of his sides, so that could prompt further interest in the big centre-half and also the cheaper alternative that is right-back Danny Simpson (4.5) should Chillwell fail to cement his new midfield berth.
Everton treading water
David Unsworth’s first league match in charge meant changes in personnel, but another toothless performance ensued.
The caretaker manager’s biggest call was leaving Gylfi Sigurdsson on the bench as the 2.4% owned midfielder continued his fall from Fantasy royalty to bit-part player.
Sigurdsson had played 90 minutes in every match from Gameweek 3 onwards under Ronald Koeman but, ignored at the break when Unsworth made two changes and switched from 4-2-3-1 to a midfield diamond, he was limited to just 16 minutes as the visitors’ final substitute today.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line, with Wayne Rooney behind him, but the young striker could not repeat his EFL Cup scoring exploits from midweek as the Toffees huffed and puffed to little effect.
Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas were given a second run-out in a week under Unsworth, only to be subbed off at half-time, while the 4.3-priced full-back Jonjoe Kenny was afforded a second successive Gameweek start. Meanwhile, centre-half Michael Keane failed to make the squad having suffered an infection in his foot. Nikola Vlasic also missed out, with the winger thought to be still struggling with his own foot injury.
A new regime hasn’t altered the dire situation for Everton.
They still have a great run of fixtures, but a painful lack of form and confidence continues to ward off Fantasy interest.
Managers enjoy Gross profit
Another Pascal Gross assist – his third in as many matches – helped Brighton to a point against Southampton.
The midfielder now has five assists for the season, together with two goals, and he currently tops the chart for points per million value among FPL midfielders. He’s been involved in seven of Brighton’s ten goals this campaign.
Gross’ 16.2% ownership took home seven points from the Saints match-up courtesy of two bonus points – taking that particular tally to six.
Glenn Murray scored his third goal in two matches to continue his claims for a budget striker spot.
The veteran’s lack of minutes had been a considerable deterrent, but he’s leapt on the chance given him by the three-match ban for Tomer Hemed. However, Abraham is again a factor that will likely deflect interest in Murray as a cut-price striker solution for now.
Gross aside, Brighton assets are not heavily owned and their schedule offers a mixed bag to tempt investment.
The Seagulls do have a trip to Swansea City and visits from Stoke City and Crystal Palace to come over the next four Gameweeks, but Man United away comes in the middle of all that, and Liverpool and Spurs also await before Gameweek 17 is done.
Yoshida the fall guy
Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino left 5.4% of FPL managers in the lurch by benching Maya Yoshida at the Amex, with Wesley Hoedt partnering Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence for the first time.
Investment is concentrated in the Saints backline – their four most-owned players are defenders and goalkeeper Fraser Forster – but the side have kept just four clean sheets thus far, and strong home matches with Burnley and Everton are offset by trips to Liverpool and Man City over the next four Gameweeks.
After that, the schedule continues to present a mix of the attractive and the tough through to New Year’s Eve, suggesting sales are on the way for many of their assets.
That could start with Yoshida. He’d played eight of nine matches before today and was joint-top for efforts inside the box among defenders, prompting 80,000+ to buy into him for the Brighton trip.
That was clearly not enough for Pellegrino to keep faith in the Japanese international and Fantasy managers will surely take a similar line now that his security of starts is in question once more.
Scoring goals remains Southampton’s issue – they have nine in ten matches – and two differentials combined to find the net against Brighton.
The 4.3%-owned Steven Davis finished from a James Ward-Prowse (0.6%) rebound.
It was the Northern Irishman’s second goal of the season – only Manolo Gabbiadini (three) has more.
