Olivier Giroud and Roberto Firmino both score twice as Liverpool and Arsenal share the Anfield spoils. Jermain Defoe grabs a hat-trick as Sunderland hammer ten-man Swansea in a night where the likes of Sergio Aguero, Jamie Vardy, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane all fail to get amongst the goals.
Giroud and Ramsey in the points
For the second away fixture in a row, Arsenal were exposed defensively and paid the price. Olivier Giroud held up his end of the bargain, netting his first brace of the season. The 9.2-priced striker has been quietly efficient since his reinstatement back in Gameweek 10, chalking up eight goals and two assists across 12 outings. Moreover, the France international has notched 11 goals in as many away match-ups in all competitions, which bodes well for a trip to Stoke next Gameweek.
Aaron Ramsey came back to haunt the 30,000 managers shipped him out prior to this clash, recording a goal and an assist. On the other hand, Mesut Ozil was conspicuously absent from the scoreboard after posting his third blank in four starts. Reaffirming Arsenal’s depth on the flanks, Joel Campbell snagged his first assist of the season.
Firmino bags a brace
Courtesy of a brace from Roberto Firmino and Joe Allen’s last-gasp equaliser, Liverpool shared the spoils with Arsenal in a 3-3 draw. Fielded as a false nine, Firmino turned out a man-of-the-match performance against the Gunners as Christian Benteke dropped back down to the bench after leading the line in the FA Cup clash with Exeter. Nonetheless, the Brazilian failed to build upon his 15-point haul at Manchester City earlier in the campaign, raising doubts over his capacity to deliver consistent returns in spite of Liverpool’s strong run from Gameweek 23 (nor, lei, SUN, avl).
Emre Can, James Milner and Benteke were on hand for the assists. The latter has two goals and one assist to his name in Liverpool’s last four encounters, yet – even as the Reds’ only fit forward – is struggling to stamp his authority on a starting berth, negating his appeal on the Fantasy market.
Willian form continues
Chelsea had to settle for a 2-2 draw against West Brom at Stamford Bridge after being pinned back on two occasions. Cezar Azpilicueta granted the Blues their first lead of the encounter by way of an assist from fellow full-back Branislav Ivanovic. The former represents the most popular route (12% ownership) into the Londoners’ rearguard and their cheapest (5.7) secure starter, while the latter has notched one goal and two assists since Jose Mourinho vacated his post, portending a return to the attacking form that saw him accrue four goals and six assists last term.
Looking beyond the hosts’ defensive assets, Willian (7.1) picked up the assist for Gareth McAuley’s own goal. The Brazil international now lays claim to one goal and five assists in five match-ups, rendering him an alluring pick-up in the mid-priced bracket ahead of a tough run of fixtures (EVE, ars, wat, MUN).
McClean earns Baggies a share of the spoils
West Bromwich Albion extended their unbeaten streak to three matches with a spirited comeback at Stamford Bridge. Craig Gardener struck first (Darren Fletcher assist) with his maiden goal of the season, before James McClean carded his second goal in four outings to rescue a point – at 4.7, the Ireland international could emerge as a budget differential in light of the Baggies’ agreeable schedule (sou, AVL, SWA).
Rare home blank for City
Despite dominating Everton with regards to attempts (22 compared to seven), Manchester City were unable to breach the visitors’ defences, ultimately posting their second blank in three match-ups. On the flip side, Bacary Sagna’s 20% ownership profited from the Sky Blues’ first clean sheet at home since Gameweek 4. Nonetheless, with Pablo Zabaleta waiting in the wings and Aleksandar Kolarov losing his starting berth this time around, Nicolas Otamendi (6.5) is their safest source of defensive coverage.
On the attacking front, Sergio Aguero failed to perpetuate his scoring momentum, drawing a blank for the fourth Gameweek in five as City failed to score at the Etihad for the first time this term. That being said, his 120,000 new owners will remain optimistic as Manuel Pellegrini’s troops prepare to host Crystal Palace next time out. David Silva was a surprise omission from the starting line-up but is likely to slot back in for the Eagles clash, given that Pellegrini plans to rotate his team.
Jagielka return helps resolute Toffees
The Toffees maintained their exceptional away record (six wins, three draws, one loss) with a second successive clean sheet on the road. Although they’ve mustered just three shut-outs since Gameweek 7, there’s scope for Everton’s mid-priced defenders to flourish during their upcoming trio of favourable home match-ups (SWA, NEW, WBA), with the fit-again Phil Jagielka, at just 5.1, back in the starting XI last night as John Stone move to right-back in Seamus Coleman’s absence. By that same token, Romelu Lukaku – who ranked second among forwards for shots inside the box (four) this Gameweek – will fancy his chances of rebounding from consecutive blanks.
Long nets in Saints stroll
Southampton banished the memories of back-to-back away defeats with a 2-0 home victory over Watford. Shane Long opened the scoring with his third goal in four starts, bolstering his chances of keeping Graziano Pelle – who returned from injury to record a second-half cameo – rooted to the bench. Dusan Tadic doubled Saints’ advantage two minutes after his introduction in the second period, with Steven Davis supplying the ammunition.
In a fascinating turn of events, the 3.7-priced Matt Targett – who served as the prime budget defender at the start of the campaign but lost his starting spot in Gameweek 6 – was deployed as a left wing-back in a 3-5-2 by Ronald Koeman and went on to bag an assist and three bonus points, alerting us to his short-term out-of-position potential. Elsewhere on the defensive end, Fraser Forster made a welcome return between the sticks following his lengthy injury layoff.
Another blank for Hornets
Having fallen to their third defeat on the trot, Watford are winless in four matches. Southampton did a fine job of stifling the Hornets’ formidable strike duo, restricting Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney to one (off-target) shot apiece. Quique Sanchez Flores’ unit are afforded a good opportunity to get their season back on track, with a trip to Swansea City and home tie against Newcastle United next on the agenda.
Potter fringe men see off Canaries
Stoke City capitalised on their one-man advantage following Gary O’Neil’s red card in the 31st minute, recording a 3-1 victory over Norwich City. Jonathan Walters was the first man on the scoresheet, netting his second goal in as many league appearances. Joselu – who was fielded as the lone striker, with Bojan Krkic dropping back to the number-ten berth – then registered the Potters’ second, meaning he’s delivered attacking returns (one goal, two assists) in each of his previous three starts.
Marko Arnautovic came up trumps for his 130,000 new owners with an assist, before leaving the field at the 78-minute mark as a precautionary measure because of hamstring tightness. The 6.7-priced midfielder is in great form (two goals and as many assists in four matches), but Stoke’s unforgiving schedule (ARS, lei, mun) could act as a deterrent for his legion of admirers. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Afellay earned his first attacking returns of the season, grabbing a brace of assists. Xherdan Shaqiri missed this league tie with a hamstring strain that Mark Hughes said could sideline him for the weekend visit of Arsenal.
Howson wonder strike not enough for Neil’s men
Norwich succumbed to their sixth defeat in seven road matches and will point towards O’Neil’s reckless challenge on Afellay as the crucial turning point. As a consequence of his violent conduct, the former West Ham recruit will sit out the Canaries’ next three match-ups (bou, LIV, TOT).
Jonny Howson offered hope of a result in the 55th minute, rifling in a superb long-range effort – his second goal in three outings. The 4.9-priced midfielder chalked up eight goals in 34 appearances last term, so there’s potential for him to evolve into an enticing fifth midfielder. Pitched at the same price point, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe turned provider for his second assist in as many appearances.
Defoe treble gives Black Cats hope
Jermain Defoe put 10-man Swansea City to the sword with a hat-trick at the Liberty Stadium. With five goals in two outings, the 5.1-priced marksman has propelled himself onto our radar as a viable cut-price forward. However, prospective investors will be wary that he punished two of the bottom-four clubs but faces much sterner opposition across the next five Gameweeks (tot, BOU, MCI, liv, MUN). For that same reason, our interest in Adam Johnson (two assists) and Fabio Borini (one assist) is also tempered.
Patrick van Aanholt underlined his marauding instincts with his second goal in quick succession and an assist. At 4.6, the Dutchman is priced attractively for a defender that ranks joint-top for goals scored (three), yet he’s part of a backline that charts top for goals conceded (41) and hasn’t notched a clean sheet since Gameweek 14.
Siggy and Ayew in the points
The Swans were ill-equipped to cope with Kyle Naughton’s dismissal in the 37th minute, resulting in their worst defensive display of the campaign. As it stands, the right-back will miss a home clash against Watford and back-to-back trips to Everton and West Bromwich Albion, but manager Alan Curtis intends to appeal the questionable sending off.
There were reasons for cheer in the final third, with Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring for the second match in succession through a first-half penalty. The Iceland international places joint-second among midfielders for shots on target (six) over the last four Gameweeks, highlighting his laudable attacking output.
Andrew Ayew carded a goal and an assist, ending a spell of blanks that stretches back to Gameweek 13 – despite his recent drought, the Ghana international sits sixth amongst midfielders on 98 points. Lukasz Fabianski had a dismal evening between the posts but did manage to record a rare assist.
Huth wins it for Foxes
In the wake of Leicester City’s three straight blanks, Robert Huth steered the Foxes to a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur with an arrowed header (Christian Fuchs assist) at the 83-minute mark. Valued at just 4.3, the ex-Chelsea man furnishes us with a budget route into a defence that’s conceded the fewest goals (one) over the last four Gameweeks while claiming three shut-outs. Given that they’re pitted against Villa – who rank bottom for goals scored (17) this term – next Gameweek, that trend could be set to continue.
Jamie Vardy returned to action following his minor groin injury but proved ineffectual during his 71-minute stint, mustering a solitary shot at goal. Riyad Mahrez was similarly subdued, registering one errant shot en route to his fourth successive blank.
Spurs home toils continue
Spurs amassed more than double Leicester’s volume of attempts (22 to 10) and shots on target (five to two) but were limited to just one big chance by the visitors’ regimented defence. Although Harry Kane’s 35% ownership were left frustrated by the Englishman’s sixth blank in eight outings, few will be willing to part with the explosive frontman ahead of a home clash against Sunderland. Indeed, with Palace, Norwich and Watford then to follow, those hosting Spurs assets across the pitch will be confident of a return to form sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, Mauricio Pochettino will be frustrated by last night’s display, with Spurs winning just one of their last four at White Hart Lane.
