A Romelu Lukaku brace for Belgium looks well-timed, as does a goal for the fit-again Gabriel Jesus, while the majority of Liverpool’s much-vaunted attacking trio get the night off.
Lukaku continued to put himself front and centre of many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers’ plans with a record-equalling performance last night.
The Man United striker scored two goals and set up another in Belgium’s 4-0 dismissal of Saudi Arabia.
He is now his country’s joint-top goalscorer, with 30 – an achievement he had been incorrectly handed previously, before a hat-trick he scored during a match in which Belgium fielded too many substitutes was subsequently scrubbed from the records.
Last night’s opposition might not have been of the very highest calibre, but Lukaku clearly has the form – three goals and two assists from his last five league starts and five strikes in as many cup matches – to go with some fine fixtures.
United do have to face Man City in a fortnight’s time and blank in Gameweek 35, but West Brom at home and a trip to Bournemouth is an enticing Double Gameweek 34. Meanwhile, their run-in (ARS bha WAT) looks set fair for Lukaku to maintain his prolific form, with a trip to West Ham expected to drop alongside their visit to Brighton in Double Gameweek 37.
A visit from Swansea City this Saturday has prompted 172,000+ managers to make him the most bought player for Gameweek 32.
He is also likely to be a key component in the squads of many who have chosen to Wildcard over the international break due to the current lack of big-ticket strikers, with Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero injury doubts, Alvaro Morata struggling for form and starts and Roberto Firmino without a Double Gameweek to come.
As a result, Lukaku’s performance last night would have been a welcome confirmation of his appeal, and he was not the only one of Belgium’s sizeable Premier League contingent to enjoy the match.
Kevin De Bruyne scored one goal and set up two more, having endured three straight Gameweek blanks for Man City, while Eden Hazard was another among the assists and was unlucky not to score himself when a shot came off the underside of the bar.
The midfielders played 84 and 59 minutes respectively, Lukaku 79, and Simon Mignolet, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld the full match. Vincent Kompany was handed a first-half run-out and Marouane Fellaini was an unused sub.
Jesus to the fore
Aguero’s knee injury kept him in the stands for the international break, but his Brazilian club-mate Gabriel Jesus was rather busier.
The 6.2%-owned striker followed up a 65-minute outing in Friday’s 3-0 triumph in Russia with a full 90 and the winning goal in last night’s 1-0 victory over Germany.
Much depends on the timescale of Aguero’s return, though a prolonged period on the sidelines could bring Jesus into consideration for City’s run-in, which doesn’t involve a Double Gameweek 34, but is very attractive (SWA whu HUD sot) from Gameweek 35 onwards. A home clash with Brighton is expected to drop into Gameweek 37.
The Brazilian’s goal last night was set up by Willian – the Chelsea midfielder’s second assist of the international break.
Other City players in action included Fernandinho, who played the full match for Brazil, and Ilkay Gundogan (81 minutes) and Leroy Sane (61) for the Germans, who also handed Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger 90 minutes.
City goalkeeper Ederson was an unused sub for the South Americans.
Mostly quiet on the Liverpool front
Another Brazilian to watch the match from the bench was Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino.
That kept him to just 25 minutes of action across the two international friendlies – good news for his 48.4% FPL ownership; a figure that has risen by 79,000+ heading into Gameweek 32, which puts him in the top five for transfers-in.
His fellow members in Liverpool’s prodigious front three, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, had busier international breaks – but only marginally.
Salah followed up his 79 minutes for Egypt on Friday with a night on the bench in a 0-1 loss at home to Greece.
Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny played the full match for the hosts and Stoke City’s Ramadan Sobhi 79 minutes, while West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi kept Salah company on the sidelines – a fate that befell Greece and Watford goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis as well.
Mane, meanwhile, was back in action having sat out Senegal’s first match of the break, playing 87 minutes of their 0-0 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, a friendly held in France.
That should leave Liverpool’s front three as fresh as could be hoped for going into Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate withdrew from the Senegal squad with illness ahead of the Bosnia match, returning to his club as they prepare for a huge clash at home to Southampton.
Stoke City striker Mame Diouf confirmed his return to fitness with 68 minutes for the Africans, who kept Pape Souare and Oumar Niasse on the bench.
Arsenal wing-back Sead Kolasinac made his second start of the break for the Bosnians but limped off after 74 minutes after signalling to the bench, having picked up a knee problem.
Argentina thrashed, Chile held
The night’s most eye-popping result was Spain’s 6-1 drubbing of Argentina.
It was, however, of minimal Fantasy relevance, with only David De Gea featuring fully for the Spanish, and Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Rojo doing likewise for the visitors.
The Man City defender did at least score Argentina’s goal, while Spain’s opener from Diego Costa led to an injury to Man United back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who had to be replaced by Chelsea’s Willy Caballero in the 24th minute. That setback could, once and for all, remove any doubt over De Gea’s starts over the remaining eight fixtures.
The latter’s club-mates, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, were given 18 and 11 minutes from the bench respectively for Spain.
Things weren’t much busier in Denmark’s goalless draw with Chile.
Kasper Schmeichel played the full match, Christian Eriksen managed 64 minutes and Huddersfield duo Jonas Lossl and Zanka were unused subs for the Danes, while Alexis Sanchez was given 75 minutes for Chile.
We will follow with a further set of notes from last night’s matches, covering among others England’s draw with Italy, later today.
