Romelu Lukaku calms the anxiety of almost a million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers by springing from the Manchester United bench to play his part in Double Gameweek 34.
Over 934,000 handed Lukaku the captaincy for Wednesday night’s encounter, along with Sunday’s ill-fated clash with West Bromwich Albion.
Of the 26,000+ Triple Captains chips in play, 35.4% of them were also trusted on Lukaku.
That shock defeat left the striker with just two points heading into the Vitality Stadium contest, with Jose Mourinho’s teamsheet causing panic when it was revealed that the Belgian would be benched for the first time in his United career.
But a 30-minute appearance was enough for Lukaku to contribute, firing home smartly from a Paul Pogba through-ball as United countered swiftly and decisively in the second period.
It meant that Lukaku ended the Gameweek on a modest eight points, level with Mohamed Salah and trailing Harry Kane (ten). After the news that arrived at 6.45, his owners will be thankful for those returns.
Sanchez No Show
Alexis Sanchez also suffered from the cull, as Mourinho made seven changes in all, either out of punishment for Sunday’s defeat to the Baggies or, more likely, with Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Spurs in mind.
The Chilean failed to see action, ending the Gameweek on just two points having been signed by 78,000 for his two fixtures.
With United’s two principal attackers frustrating their managers, it was left to the most signed defender of Gameweek 34 to deliver big.
Smalling on target again
Snapped up by 175,000+ for the double-header, Chris Smalling crowned his twelfth successive start with another goal, his third in six Gameweek appearances.
All three of those recent strikes have arrived away from Old Trafford and, while many of Smalling’s 325,000 managers back in Gameweek 33 may have missed his goal at rivals Man City, his boosted ownership of 523,000+ will surely have benefited from Wednesday’s tap in.
It took Smalling to four goals for the season, trailing only Marcos Alonso (six) among FPL defenders.
More significantly, it meant that, combined with United’s 17th clean sheet of the campaign, Smalling picked up his first maximum bonus to amass 14 points. That took him to 16 for the Gameweek to make him the leading individual points scorer among those with two fixtures.
Smalling owed his opener to the pass and movement of Jesse Lingard, who claimed his second assist in four Gameweeks and sixth of the season. Starting on the right of a lively front three, Lingard was picked up by 98,000 ahead of United’s double-header but was owned by a modest 668,000+ (10.9%) ahead of Gameweek 34.
It was the playmaker who made way for Lukaku on the hour-mark, indicating that he will be a starter in Saturday’s cup-tie.
Jose shuffles the pack
Mourinho made seven changes in all, as Ashley Young, Victor Lindelof, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata joined Lukaku and Sanchez in making way.
That meant starts for Lingard, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini and the lesser-spotted Matteo Darmian.
As a result, Eric Bailly – owned by 5.9% of managers – failed to start in either of the Gameweek fixtures and has figured in just two of the last five outings.
The Ivorian is understandably suffering sales, though that also applies to United’s leading assets ahead of their blank in Gameweek 35.
United exodus underway
Even Lukaku, with five goals and two assists in his last seven Gameweek appearances, is currently the most sold player, with Pogba and Lingard also shedding ownership at pace.
United have two fixtures to come in Gameweek 37, though they are away at Brighton and West Ham United. Much will also depend on their fate on Saturday, with progress to the FA Cup final no doubt heightening the risk of rotation over those fixtures.
Both Spurs (wba NEW) and, in particular, Manchester City (HUD BHA), have a stronger double-header, so FPL managers appear to be clearing the decks to make way for their assets. Again with Spurs, any progress to the FA Cup showpiece could hinder our recruitment, particularly with such as Son Heung-min.
