Scout Notes – Prolific Reds Deliver

All of Liverpool’s much-vaunted front three find the net in a 4-1 win over West Ham, while Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri impresses again as Leicester City’s in demand assets falter.

More than 1.6 million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers made Mohamed Salah Gameweek 28’s most-captained player and he responded with a third straight double-digit haul – the first time that even he has been so consistent this season.

The Egyptian scored and set up Emre Can’s opener to produce ten points, although he was denied any bonus after missing a big chance and being tackled four times.

Maximum bonus instead went to Can, who also provided an assist for Roberto Firmino’s goal. The Brazilian brought in two bonus points himself, while an assist for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain helped him to an extra point.

Firmino, who was the second most bought player of the Gameweek (161,000+), has now earned bonus in ten of the 11 matches in which he has scored.

But he’s only produced one double-figure haul in eight Gameweeks, which shows that he’s best seen as an accompaniment to captain Salah, rather than a rival for the armband.

Sadio Mane followed up his Champions League hat-trick with a first domestic strike since Gameweek 23 and he also out-shot Salah six to five to strengthen his claims as a third Liverpool option for the reduced Gameweek 31 schedule.

Some 93,000 new managers had instead opted for Virgil van Dijk, but the Liverpool defence again failed to keep a clean sheet – they’ve managed just two in eight Gameweeks. That includes a run of four Anfield matches without a shut-out, with seven goals conceded in that run.

But left-back Andrew Robertson came out with points thanks to his attacking contribution – he supplied three chances on the day and the assist for Mane’s goal to pick up a bonus point.

The Scotland international also seems to have put any fears of rotation to bed, with coach Jurgen Klopp giving Alberto Moreno just three minutes from the bench.

Since being named on the teamsheet against Brighton in Gameweek 15, Robertson has started 15 of Liverpool’s last 18 matches in all competitions – and two of those non-starts were cup matches.

On the opposite flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold has now started the last four domestic and European fixtures, but the fit-again Joe Gomez is likely to end that run at some point.

With Newcastle and Watford at home in the next three Gameweeks, investment in Liverpool assets is sure to remain high.

And as the Reds have scored at least twice in ten of their last 11 league matches, most of the interest will stay focused on their prodigious attacking talent.

West Ham appeal fading

Chicharito was perhaps unlucky to make only the bench at Anfield after producing three goals and an assist over the last four matches.

The striker made way for the returning Manuel Lanzini as Marko Arnautovic moved back up front.

The Austrian had been bought by 110,000+ for Gameweek 28, but he made it just two goals in five matches despite one of his three attempts hitting the bar today.

Arnautovic, with 5.2% ownership, remains a good differential option ahead of huge matches with Swansea City and Burnley.

But a blank Gameweek 31 and a run-in involving both Manchester sides, Chelsea and Arsenal will dampen his appeal in the longer term.

Substitute Michail Antonio found the net at Anfield, with Cheikhou Kouyate providing the assist.

Shaqiri on target

Stoke City assets aren’t exactly forming an orderly queue to be considered for our Gameweek 31 sides, but Xherdan Shaqiri continues to be the in-form exception.

The midfielder’s opener, from a Joe Allen assist, in the 1-1 draw at Leicester City was his third goal in as many matches, much to the delight of his 112,000+ new owners.

Shaqiri has blossomed under Paul Lambert, producing three goals and an assist in the five league matches the manager has been in charge.

And with a trip to Southampton and a home clash with Everton to come, there’s scope for more of the same from the Swiss international.

But back-to-back matches with Arsenal and Spurs after Gameweek 31 mean that Shaqiri’s place in most squads won’t survive the Wildcards played either in Gameweek 32 or 33.

Elsewhere for the Potters, Jack Butland’s nine saves against should have earned him hero status to go with his maximum bonus award, only for a dreadful error to ruin all that.

The keeper allowed Marc Albrighton’s cross to bounce off him and into the net for an own goal, denying Lambert a third clean sheet of his tenure.

Stoke remain the most porous defence in the league, with 54 goals conceded, but they’ve definitely tightened up under the new manager, allowing more than one goal in a match just once since he took charge.

Their schedule, however, means few managers will look past Shaqiri, who is currently the most signed player following today’s action.

Leicester pair struggle

The Potters’ new-found resilience went some of the way to explaining the blanks endured by the Foxes’ big-name players, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.

The pair were brought in by 132,000 and 148,000 respectively for the Gameweek, but Vardy, in particular, endured a frustrating afternoon, managing just one shot on goal.

Mahrez had a match-high six attempts – Leicester fired in 19 overall – while Vardy perhaps surprisingly led the way for chances created, with three.

Claude Puel’s side miss Gameweek 31 as they’ll be in FA Cup action, but have a favourable next two (BOU wba) and a decent run-in that could persuade many to hold their assets ahead of a likely double Gameweek 34 and perhaps even 37.

They’ll have to start delivering more consistently, though – the Foxes have drawn two and lost two of their last four matches, keeping no clean sheets and scoring just four goals.