Glorious wins for Man City and Spurs guarantee their progress in the Champions League, as Harry Kane’s return provides a major boost for Fantasy managers.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also victorious though lose Georginio Wijnaldum to injury to add to Jurgen Klopp’s mounting midfield dilemmas.
Here are the notes from a record-breaking night of European action…
Alli at the double as Kane returns
Harry Kane’s return from a hamstring issue dominated the pre-match talk, but it was Dele Alli who had grabbed the headlines by the end of a glorious 3-1 win over Real Madrid.
The midfielder scored twice as Spurs qualified from a tough Champions League group with two matches still to play.
Alli poked home a Kieran Trippier cross to open the scoring before doubling the home side’s advantage with a deflected shot following a break instigated by Eric Dier’s pass.
Kane then set up Christian Eriksen for a fine third goal, his first strike in four matches in all competitions.
The England striker has been bought by close to 100,000 and sold by more than 61,000 this week; a confusing state of affairs brought on by doubts as to his fitness.
On the evidence of a muscular display last night, Kane could well be the first name on the teamsheet for Spurs’ home match with Crystal Palace on Sunday. That, in turn, would make him Gameweek 11’s most obvious captaincy pick, what with many of the other prime candidates involved in big-match clashes.
Alli’s form seems to be on the turn. After a five-match league run without a goal, the midfielder returned to the scoresheet in the Gameweek 9 win over Liverpool and he made the most of his role as Kane’s primary attacking support against a hesitant Real backline.
Palace’s defence might well be equally generous, particularly if Mamadou Sakho fails to recover from a calf injury.
Eriksen, meanwhile, has struggled for returns since being employed in a slightly deeper role by Mauricio Pochettino. He was allowed a touch more freedom last night, as Dier and Harry Winks took on the bulk of the holding responsibilities, and his goal rounded off a well-balanced individual performance.
But it wasn’t all wine and roses for Spurs.
Toby Alderweireld came off with a hamstring problem which required Dier to drop into the back three.
The Belgian’s post-match verdict on his issue was not positive.
“It doesn’t feel very good. We’ll have to see in the next couple of days how it feels. Something happened, there’s no chance I could have played on. In the next couple of days, I’ll have a scan and we’ll take it from there.”
His manager was equally downbeat, describing the defender’s likely presence on Sunday as ‘difficult’.
Ben Davies also had to run off a knock that, for a time, looked like Danny Rose might have to replace him, while Trippier’s start suggests Serge Aurier might well be given the nod at full-back/wing-back for the Palace match.
What seems beyond doubt is that Pochettino will have to shuffle his defensive pack at the weekend, with a back four perhaps the most likely solution should Alderweireld miss out as expected.
Further forward Mousa Dembele and Son Heung-min are also set to be factors against the Eagles, perhaps in a 4-2-3-1 with the South Korean deployed in front of Rose on the left.
Rotation will certainly be a factor as Spurs conclude their Champions League group stage matches, although, having qualified, we can perhaps expect the big guns – Kane, Alli and Eriksen – to step down.
A victory in Dortmund later this month would win them the group. That tie is sandwiched between the north London derby and a visit from West Brom, while early December’s final European fixture follows a trip to Watford and comes just three days before a home match with Stoke City.
Records and rotation risks for City
Sergio Aguero finally broke Man City’s all-time goal scoring record as Pep Guardiola’s side came from behind to win 4-2 at Napoli.
The Argentinian striker finished off a fast break involving Leroy Sane to notch his 187th goal for the club on a night of breathtaking football from both sides.
But from a Fantasy perspective, the quality was just a pleasant distraction – it was all about minutes played and what that might tell us about the likely starters when Arsenal visit on Sunday.
Aguero got his goal and was replaced by Bernardo Silva with 14 minutes to go, while Sane played almost the full match before making way for Gabriel Jesus in time added on.
The German winger, who also set up John Stones’ goal that put City 2-1 up on the night, was outstanding in Naples.
Such rich form – he’s also produced four double-digit returns in his last five league starts – has prompted nearly 200,000 managers to make him Gameweek 11’s most popular acquisition.
But Sane has now started nine of City’s last 10 in all competitions. That either makes him near undroppable in Guardiola’s eyes or closer to a rest than his Fantasy owners would want.
Having sat out the Gameweek 10 win at West Brom, Aguero – whose last start was against Wolves in the Carabao Cup nine days ago – will have essentially played 76 minutes in 11 days by the time Sunday’s clash with the Gunners comes around.
Raheem Sterling, who finished the scoring from a Kevin De Bruyne pass, had played just 29 minutes across the last two league fixtures before putting in a full shift in Naples.
The 24.9% who own David Silva would have been rather more reassured to see their man benched last night, with the playmaker only introduced after 71 minutes.
He and Gabriel Jesus are in the top three for transfers-out this week. Based on the evidence of their limited involvement against Napoli, those sales could be premature.
Silva replaced Ilkay Gundogan, who set up Nicolas Otamendi for City’s equalising goal.
That was the second strike in three matches for the centre-half who, with 20.8% ownership, is City’s most popular Fantasy Premier League defender.
His closest rival for that particular crown, Kyle Walker (14.6%), was given the night off in Italy, with Danilo handed a rare start at right-back, which suggests that the Englishman will return at the weekend.
City’s victory means that they’ve now qualified for next year’s knockout stages with two matches to spare.
Those European ties fall between trips to Leicester City and Huddersfield in November and early December matches at home to West Ham and then away for Gameweek 16’s Manchester derby.
Guardiola will undoubtedly mix and match his squad for the European nights still to come. But then again, he always does. Like Spurs, we could see the big names – De Bruyne and Silva in particular – relieved of European duty.
Penalty plot thickens for victorious Liverpool
Liverpool had to wait for their win over a stubborn NK Maribor, with second-half goals sealing a 3-0 result that edged them closer to the knockout stages.
Mohamed Salah continued his fine recent run with the opening goal – he has either scored or assisted in his last three matches in all competitions – from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
Emre Can then doubled the advantage following a neat one-two with James Milner before substitute Daniel Sturridge fired home from an Alberto Moreno cross late on.
The Reds could even afford to miss a penalty, awarded when Roberto Firmino was fouled in the area.
Salah missed a spot-kick in Gameweek 10’s win over Huddersfield, so last season’s taker Milner was handed the chance against the Slovenians, only for his effort to be tipped onto the post.
That could well mean Firmino is on penalty-taking duties next, adding another string to the Brazilian’s bow after he broke a six-match goal drought in the league with a strike against the Terriers last weekend.
Liverpool sit top of their Champions League group, but qualification is still far from assured. And an ankle injury to Georginio Wijnaldum, who limped off in the first half last night, has complicated midfield matters for coach Jurgen Klopp.
The German was already without Philippe Coutinho (groin) for the Maribor fixture and spoke post-match about both issues as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to West Ham.
“At half-time I asked immediately, and the ankle was already swollen. It’s probably not a good sign. Gini is out, so maybe there will be a wonder or something like this and Phil (Coutinho) is in. But I don’t think in the moment that he can play.”
Should both miss the Hammers trip as expected, FPL defender Milner (2.6%) may well be handed his fourth straight start in midfield, with Sturridge a strong possibility to join Firmino and Salah in Liverpool’s front three.
At the back, the rested pair of Simon Mignolet and Joe Gomez would be expected to return at the weekend, with Jordan Henderson, who replaced Wijnaldum last night, another in the frame for a start.
Liverpool still have crucial matches with Sevilla and Spartak Moscow to secure Champions League football into the New Year.
They travel to Spain next, the tie bookended by visits from Southampton and Chelsea, and finish the group stages at home to the Russians, with a trip to Brighton and a Merseyside derby at Anfield either side of that encounter.
