Harry Kane plays a part in all three of Tottenham’s goals in a home stroll against Bournemouth. Marcus Rashford earns United a derby win at the Etihad, Sadio Mane climbs off the bench to fire Southampton to victory against Liverpool, whilst Jermain Defoe and Aleksandar Mitrovic grab a goal apiece as the Tyne-Wear derby ends all square.
Kane runs riot against the Cherries
Tottenham Hotspur kept the pressure on league leaders Leicester City with a professional 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Harry Kane maintained his sublime form with a brace and an assist, bringing his tally to five goals across the previous three Gameweeks. A tough pair of fixtures (liv, MUN) now awaits the Lilywhites, yet Kane will doubtless remain a prime captaincy candidate, considering that he’s flourished against the more illustrious sides this term. Moreover, the fact he’s chalked up seven double-figure hauls may well deter many pre-Gameweek 34 wildcarders from shipping out the league’s top scorer.
Dele Alli kept his points ticking over with his fourth assist in three starts, while Christian Eriksen proved a tasty differential with his second goal in six outings. On that note, no midfielder mustered more shots on target (10) than Eriksen in their previous six appearances, underlining the Denmark international’s potency in the final third.
Owing to his second assist in four starts, Kyle Walker was the pick of the Spurs defenders as they registered their second straight clean sheet. In light of the fact that the north Londoners are now fighting on one front, it’s likely that Mauricio Pochettino will stick with their first-choice full-backs, ensuring that Walker and Danny Rose are less prone to rotation.
Bournemouth form falters
The Cherries succumbed to their first defeat in five match-ups after failing to match Spurs’ intensity at White Hart Lane.
The south-coast club were comprehensively outclassed in the capital and barely posed a threat while in possession, managing a paltry two attempts and zero shots on target. Although Bournemouth’s lacklustre display can certainly be written off as an aberration rather than a trend, their perilous run-in – which includes meetings with Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Man United – diminishes their Fantasy prospects.
Mitrovic earns Magpies a draw
Newcastle United salvaged a point in the Tyne-Wear derby but remain rooted in the bottom three after extending their winless streak to five matches.
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his second goal in six starts to bring the hosts level seven minutes from time. The Serbian forward didn’t last the distance, however, as he was chaperoned off the pitch because of a head injury.
Georginio Wijnaldum scooped the assist and three bonus points, reaffirming his preference for home outings – all of the Dutchman’s nine goals and all but two of his five assists have arrived at St James’ Park.
Although Wijnaldum harbours decent differential potential ahead of the Magpies’ double Gameweek 34 (SWA, MCI), prospective investors will be concerned that Rafa Benitez deployed him alongside Jonjo Shelvey in the double pivot against Sunderland, forcing him to launch his penetrative runs from a deeper-lying position.
Jack Colback toppled off the Suspension Tightrope after receiving his tenth yellow of the season. Consequently, the former Black Cats midfielder will sit out Newcastle’s next two league ties (nor, sou), leaving the Toon desperately short at left-back. The Magpies have further worries in defence after Daryl Janmaat withdrew from Holland duties with a knee injury sustained against Sunderland.
Defoe strikes again
Sunderland’s inability to close out a match was once again brought to the fore as they conceded for the 16th successive outing.
Reinstated in the wake of his goalscoring cameo against Southampton, Jermain Defoe (5.1) fired the visitors into the lead just before the break with his twelfth strike of the season. With back-to-back home clashes (WBA, LEI) and a trip to Norwich next on the Black Cats’ schedule, there’s certainly scope for the pint-sized poacher to deliver returns on a shoestring budget.
On the injury front, Younes Kaboul was withdrawn at the 73-minute mark due to a calf complaint, rendering him a doubt for West Bromwich Albion’s visit.
Mane double wins it for Saints
Southampton rallied from two goals down to secure a stunning 3-2 home victory over Liverpool.
Despite not entering the fray until the second period, Sadio Mane had an eventful afternoon: the Senegal international missed from the penalty spot shortly after the break, before making amends with a well-taken brace. Looking beyond Southampton’s trip to Leicester next Gameweek, their match-ups against a trio of leaky defences (NEW, eve, avl) could re-establish Mane (7.3) in the mid-priced bracket.
Handed another start up front in a 4-2-3-1 set-up, Graziano Pelle netted his third goal (Shane Long assist) in two outings and turned provider for both of Mane’s strikes. The Italian frontman’s resurgence is laudable, yet the form of Harry Kane and the clamour for forwards with upcoming double Gameweeks (Romelu Lukaku, Sergio Aguero, etc.) limits his appeal on the Fantasy market.
Klopp’s men capitulate
Liverpool’s three-match winning spell came to an end in a farcical fashion at St Mary’s Stadium.
In the absence of Roberto Firmino – whose hamstring problem is set to be assessed over the international break – Jurgen Klopp fielded Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi as the strike pairing in a 4-4-2 set-up. The latter teed up the former for the Reds’ second goal, meaning that Sturridge has scored in his last two league outings. Nonetheless, his pockmarked injury record and rotation risk during the Reds’ double Gameweek 34 (bou, eve) persist as salient shortcomings.
Philippe Coutinho found the back of the net for the third time in five starts across all competitions, while Adam Lallana’s assist marked the fourth time in six appearances that he’s produced attacking returns (three goals and a trio of assists). Given the uncertainty surrounding the length of Firmino’s layoff, the form of the above-mentioned duo will be under greater scrutiny ahead of their first of two doubles.
Having entered the referee’s notebook in the first half, Dejan Lovren was hooked during the interval, with Martin Skrtel earning his first pitch time since 20 December. The Slovakian centre-back committed the foul that led to Saints’ penalty and generally endured a torrid 45 minutes, casting doubt over his capacity to regain a regular starting berth.
Rashford the United hero
Manchester United rebounded from their Europa League exit with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.
Marcus Rashford was the hero of the piece, bagging his third goal (Juan Mata assist) in four league starts. Pitched at 4.5, the 18-year-old forward could be a handy facilitator for Man United’s double Gameweek 34 (AVL, CRY). However, with Wayne Rooney closing in on a return to action after the internationals, Rashford’s minutes still look at risk.
The Red Devils’ second clean sheet in three outings shines a spotlight on a defence that charts top for shut-outs (14) this term. Chris Smalling (6.5) and David De Gea act as safe routes into their rearguard, while Marcos Rojo (5.0) – who’s carded four consecutive starts – is gaining traction as a viable selection.
City stutter again
Man City’s title hopes are in tatters following their fourth defeat in six outings.
Despite mustering five attempts and four shots on target, Sergio Aguero produced his fourth blank in five appearances. Although his 34% ownership will fancy the Argentine’s chances of getting back on track at Bournemouth after the international break, it’s worth noting that the Sky Blues – who chart joint-fourth-bottom for away goals (13) – face three road trips in their next quartet of match-ups (bou, WBA, che, new).
Raheem Sterling (groin) and Joe Hart (calf) suffered injuries either side of the half and are likely to be ruled out for “three to four weeks”, according to Manuel Pellegrini. Allied with Vincent Kompany’s fresh setback, Hart’s likely absence decreases our faith in a defence that recorded successive clean sheets prior to the Manchester derby.
