A superb Paul Pogba display drove Manchester United to three points against struggling Stoke City at Old Trafford, as Jesse Lingard failed to live up to the pre-match hype.
Lingard went into Gameweek 23 as the most signed player, with over 567,000 managers swooping in a bid to capitalise on an obliging home fixture against the Potters. Some 103,000 owners also trusted him with the captaincy.
Now priced at 6.4, Lingard had produced seven goals in nine Gameweeks prior to last night. But he suffered a frustrating evening, notable only for a single shot on goal and a second booking of the season to supply just two points for his expectant new owners.
He was eventually hooked on 79 minutes and has now returned points in just one of his last five home matches in the Premier League – the brace against Burnley in Gameweek 20 when introduced from the bench at half-time.
While Lingard struggled, he was surrounded by team-mates and notable Fantasy rivals that flourished.
Pogba, in particular, was outstanding.
With Ander Herrera dropping to the bench, it appeared that Pogba was to take up a deeper role alongside Nemanja Matic. However, he was given the license to roam forward and put on an imperious display, littered with accurate cross-field passes and punctuated with two more assists for United’s opening goals.
That followed his brace of assists in the Gameweek 22 victory at Everton, taking Pogba to 11 for the season, level with Kevin De Bruyne.
The player himself brought us this, post-match, on his role on the night…
“I have been more forward, so I have more freedom to go forward and have a positive influence.
I can use more of my ability, my attributes to go forward, use my power, to shoot and to get assists, so it suits me more I would say.”
Pogba did, however, muster just two shots on goal – one of those a late free-kick from range. Indeed, it seems dangerous to judge him in that role based on a home fixture with Stoke. The next two matches at Burnley and, in particular, Spurs, will tell us more on Pogba’s attacking impact should he continue alongside Matic.
Nonetheless, last night’s double-digit return took the Frenchman to 6.6 points per match (ppm), third among FPL midfielders.
Antony Martial offered more in terms of goal threat on Monday night, recording six shots in total. He converted one of those efforts to produce a second successive double-digit score.
An injury doubt heading into the contest, it was notable that Jose Mourinho elected to turn to Martial over Marcus Rashford once again. He repaid that faith with an eighth goal of the season, although he remains more of a risk as an investment having started just three of the last six Gameweeks.
Romelu Lukaku also made a return to the starting line-up to make his mark.
A strong all-round display was rewarded with a third goal in his last five starts or fourth in six in all competitions.
The Belgian has lost over 613,000 owners in the last four Gameweeks – a decline accelerated by a head injury which saw him miss the Goodison Park win. However, he is now beginning to hint at a level of consistency which could yet see his Fantasy stock revived.
Valencia thrives in United shut-out
United claimed a third successive clean sheet to move to 13 for the season, more than any other side.
Mourinho was able to welcome back skipper Antonio Valencia from a hamstring injury for the first time in five Gameweeks, as Victor Lindelof gave way at right-back. The Ecuadorian had lost over 531,000 owners since his previous Premier League appearance back in Gameweek 18.
But Valencia made an instant impact on his return, firing a third goal of the season. It marked the first time that he has scored more than two goals in a season since the 2011/12 campaign.
With maximum bonus also accrued, he delivered a second 15-point haul of the season to move to two points behind Nicolas Otamendi among FPL defenders.
Elsewhere, Chris Smalling also earned a recall having seemingly slipped behind Marcos Rojo in the pecking order to partner Phil Jones. But Rojo also dropped to the bench as Mourinho made two changes to his back four. Luke Shaw retained his start, though with Ashley Young serving out his suspension, his berth at Burnley will come under threat.
In truth, United were fortunate to escape with the clean sheet: they handed Stoke three big chances on the night. But a combination of the visitors’ profligacy and David De Gea’s brilliance, kept them out.
De Gea went into Monday’s contest with the Premier League’s highest save percentage (83%) but with just one save point from his last four outings. However, when the Potters did get an effort on target, they found De Gea a more than capable last line of defence. He is now 22 points ahead of his nearest goalkeeping rival in the FPL standings.
Sanchez deal imminent?
Off the pitch, United’s pursuit of Alexis Sanchez may just have taken a new twist.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was omitted from the United squad, this despite Mourinho’s statement in his pre-match press conference.
”He is our player. He’s a very good player. Saturday he is training, Sunday selected and Monday play.”
Intriguingly, the manager was to reveal that the decision to omit the Armenia was down to renewed speculation surrounding the player’s future.
“I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision….I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him”
That inevitably led to increased speculation that Mkhitaryan could possibly be included as part of a package that brings Sanchez to Old Trafford.
Further fuel was added to the fire with the news that Manchester City had withdrawn from the race for the Chilean.
