Scout Notes – Kane Denied On His Return

An early return to the starting line-up for Harry Kane ends in a goal, and then doesn’t, while wholesale changes to the Liverpool line-up contribute to one of the most forgettable Merseyside derbies of recent seasons.

Spurs striker Kane was the most signed player of Gameweek 33, with 327,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers returning him to the fold after his Gameweek 30 injury.

Another 933,000 early adopters, including 21 of the top 100 managers, also handed him the captaincy, weighing up the risk that he might not start with the reward that a match against Stoke City generally promises.

The risk proved unfounded, but so, eventually, did the reward.

Kane was initially awarded a goal, from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick, before the Premier League Match Centre adjudged the striker failed to make a touch the ball on its way past Jack Butland. This despite the striker’s own post-match claims that it had brushed his shoulder.

That meant that Eriksen ended with a brace and maximum bonus for a season-high 15 points, a haul that a modest 64,000+ new owners enjoyed. As a result, the Dane is currently second only to Kane for Gameweek 34 transfers-in.

Eriksen now has a goal or an assist in four of his last five matches – fine form heading into a Double Gameweek 34 involving matches at home to Man City and away at Brighton. As Spurs midfield assets go, Eriksen would seem the most protected from rotation over those two outings.

Kane Subdued Ahead of Double

The woe for Kane’s burgeoning ownership increased further with a late yellow card that meant he returned just a single point from his team’s 2-1 win.

The striker resisted a price rise overnight but is still the top transfer target, attracting 23,000 new owners so far.

However, his performance at the bet365 was somewhat subdued as he mustered just two off-target shots and four touches in the penalty area.

If those previously contemplating Romelu Lukaku for Double Gameweek 34 were looking to be convinced, Kane failed to present too much evidence to persuade a change in tack. That said, Lukaku’s own 1-point display at Manchester City was perhaps even more disappointing.

Indeed, United’s result at City could reflect on Kane’s prospects given that Pep Guardiola’s side now visit Wembley Stadium with the title still not confirmed.

Fantasy managers can point to City’s recent obliging defensive performances – six goals in the last two in all competitions – or the fact that they will now perhaps provide more stubborn and determined opponents for Kane and Spurs.

Regardless, the script has changed and now we must consider Kane’s prospects against a very different backdrop.

Son returns to the flank

Kane’s inclusion also had an impact on Son Heung-min (18.4%), the second most bought midfielder of the Gameweek, who returned to his berth on the left flank after deputising as Spurs’ lone striker at Bournemouth.

Erik Lamela went back to the bench as a result, only to replace the South Korean late on as he blanked for the first time in four Gameweeks.

Son’s two-points prompted an immediate reaction from FPL managers, he is currently placed sixth for transfers-out so far.

With his minutes now threatened by Lamela, we must question whether Son is assured in both the Gameweek 34 fixtures. A Lamela start at Brighton four days before the FA Cup semi-final with Man United looks a very possible scenario.

There has been rather more positivity regarding Dele Alli, who followed up his double against Chelsea with an assist at Stoke for his 141,186 new owners.

The England international now has three goals and as many assists from the last four Gameweeks, and he’s second only to Kevin De Bruyne for assists, with 13 to the Belgian’s 17, this season.

At the back, having kept three straight clean sheets from Gameweeks 27-29, Spurs are now three without a shut-out.

Then again, Ben Davies – the second most popular defender in the game with 23% ownership – wasn’t even on the pitch as he and Kieran Tripper were rotated out at full-back by coach Mauricio Pochettino, with the Welshman’s replacement, Danny Rose, providing an assist.

That rotation will surely continue over the two Gameweek 34 matches, with Jan Vertonghen the most likely member of the back four assured of both starts.

For Stoke, Xherdan Shaqiri punished the 80,000 managers who made him the sixth most sold player of Gameweek 33 by picking up his seventh assist of the season.

It could have been even worse for those sellers as the Swiss international also hit the post as Stoke strove in vain for an equaliser.

Mame Diouf earned the Potters’ consolation, capitalising on a Hugo Lloris error following Shaqiri’s through-ball.

Derby day dullness

The lack of key Liverpool assets led to a lack of major incident in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, with the resultant 0-0 draw producing the only clean sheet points of the day.

The Reds’ Champions League quarter-final second leg with Man City on Tuesday prompted coach Jurgen Klopp to rest, or not risk, his main attacking weapons.

Roberto Firmino was benched and Mohamed Salah given the day off, which was no great surprise for FPL managers, with 210,000+ selling the former and 302,000+ the latter, making FPL’s top two owned players also the top two most sold of Gameweek 33.

The third member of Liverpool’s exalted attacking trio, Sadio Mane, did start but failed to return for the first time in five Gameweeks, having produced three goals and three assists over that period.

Robertson Misses Out

The derby stalemate made it five clean sheets in nine for Liverpool, but Virgil van Dijk was the only first-choice member of the back four to start and take advantage as Klopp made five changes in all, with Andrew Robertson another to miss out.

A calf problem put paid to the left-back who, like Salah, goes into Tuesday’s Champions League tie as an early doubt.

Robertson was brought in by 61,000+ managers ahead of Gameweek 32, making him the third-most bought defender last time out. He was also Liverpool’s most popular signing before this weekend’s deadline, with a further 51,000 bringing him in.

Ragnar Klavan replaced Robertson, with Alberto Moreno dropping out of the squad late on with a thigh problem.

It was only Everton’s second clean sheet in 13 Gamweeks as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford claimed his third set of maximum bonus points this season.

He had gained 11 bonus points in seven matches between Gameweeks 14 and 20, making his derby day haul his first extra award in 13 starts.