A high-octane but low quality Merseyside derby ends even, with goals coming from Fantasy Premier League’s most popular player and a considerably more overlooked Everton asset.
Mohamed Salah continued his breathtaking run of form with the opener for Liverpool on Sunday – the eighth successive Gameweek in which he’s either scored or assisted.
Only Spurs’ Harry Kane was captained by more managers than the 15.8% who handed the Egyptian the Gameweek 16 armband, and he duly obliged with his 13th goal of the season.
Salah was handed a central role behind Dominic Solanke as Jurgen Klopp continued with the 4-4-1-1 formation that served the Reds so well in the midweek Champions League destruction of Spartak Moscow.
And it’s fair to say he flourished – he was joint-top for shots (seven) and key passes (six) in the Gameweek despite his 67th minute withdrawal.
That bodes well for a Salah start at home to West Brom on Wednesday night, particularly as Liverpool’s Gameweek 18 fixture isn’t until the Sunday.
Rotation ruffles Fantasy feathers
If Salah is almost immune to rotation, the same cannot be said for some of his big-ticket team-mates.
Klopp is clearly in tinkering mode this term – he’s made 59 changes to his starting line-up this year after making only 54 across the entirety of last season.
Liverpool’s flexibility of personnel is mirrored in their various formations. Having also played 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-2-2, plus the old default 4-3-3, this season, they are becoming far more adaptable and, alas for us, their teamsheet a lot less predictable.
That was reflected by Klopp’s decision to rest in-form pair Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Coutinho (293,000+) was the most bought player for Gameweek 16, with Firmino (220,000+) also in the top four.
Both were introduced in the second half as Liverpool strove for a winner and they will surely start in midweek, but the threat of future rotation is likely to slow further acquisitions for now.
Liverpool’s defence, meanwhile, has temporarily lost its allure at Anfield.
Wayne Rooney’s penalty today meant no Anfield clean sheet for a second successive match, although much of that was down to Dejan Lovren’s clumsiness.
But December does offer the distinct prospect of a return to more parsimonious ways at home, with West Brom, Swansea City and Leicester City still to visit before the year is out.
Calvert-Lewin prospers
Sam Allardyce looked to contain Liverpool for the most part, although he did opt for both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Oumar Niasse up front in a classic 4-4-2.
And it was the former who proved his worth, both for his club and Fantasy managers.
More than 157,000+ bought Calvert-Lewin for Gameweek 16 and his stock as a budget buy continues to rise with his assist for Rooney’s penalty.
He is now the top value forward in FPL and the second most popular buy going into Gameweek 17, while Niasse was subbed off at half-time and slips back down the pecking order as a result.
As it stands, Calvert-Lewin’s ownership is set to soar once again – he is second only to Kane for acquisitions ahead of Tuesday’s Gameweek 17 deadline, with a price rise to 5.3 appearing imminent.
Elsewhere, Rooney scored his eighth goal of the campaign – and fourth in three Gameweeks – despite being used in a variety of roles as the derby unfolded.
He started on the right wing before settling into a more familiar central role as Allardyce switched to 4-2-3-1.
Penalty duties, his form – he also produced an assist in Gameweek 15’s win over Huddersfield – and the fact he’s now above both Firmino and Alexandre Lacazette in the current forward standings are all boosting his case for consideration.
Managers are certainly returning to the fold – Rooney has put on close to 160,000 new owners in the past two weeks and is now owned by 11.2%.
And Everton’s schedule (new SWA CHE wba bou) is unlikely to stem that positive tide.
The Toffees’ fixtures could also pique our interest in a defence that’s conceded just one goal in the last three Gameweeks and restricted a previously rampant Liverpool to just a single effort.
They are only the third team – along with Spurs and Chelsea – to limit Liverpool to fewer than three goals in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
