The Coutinho crossroads, the easy Sigurdsson option, the ongoing contest between Hazard and Sanchez and back peddling on Aguero. This and more form the key issues in and around Gameweek 13.
Coutinho blow could be a turning point…
With unconfirmed reports this evening stating that Philippe Coutinho will be sidelined until January, it’s likely that were on the verge of witnessing of a significant wave of change for both Liverpool and our Fantasy squads.
Jurgen Klopp’s side must learn to adapt without their principal architect. They have the talent to absorb losses, but having struggled to overcome the recent absence of Adam Lallana; this latest setback will be a huge concern to Klopp and Reds supporters alike.
Coutinho could dictate a match, prompting attacks with incisive runs and passing, as well as providing a significant threat from range and, this season, raiding the box. He’s a huge loss.
We can’t yet be clear on Klopp’s likely “Plan B”.
Lallana’s return could be a key factor and, from the noises today, that appears imminent – maybe even for Gameweek 14’s trip to Bournemouth.
Fantasy managers will clearly ship out Coutinho and be forced to study the impact on what remains of Liverpool’s attack.
The potential of Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could be damaged by his absence, or even enhanced if Klopp builds a new system and distributes Coutinho’s duties.
It could even bring a new asset to light with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can perhaps cementing a starting role and handed greater responsibility in providing and scoring goals.
Sigurdsson is tailor-made….
Coutinho’s absence appears almost syncronised with the ascent of Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson who, having performed well above his mid-price valuation in recent weeks, now appears to enter an irresistible spell, where form perfectly overlaps with fixtures.
Already earmarked as the obvious replacement for Liverpool’s Brazilian, Fantasy managers have been handed a clear route to follow; one that liberates funds for further spend elsewhere, increasing the transfer traffic heading in the direction of Spurs’ Harry Kane.
But Pedro has us thinking…
While Sigurdsson is the path of least resistance, Chelsea’s Pedro is performing at a level which ensures we perhaps need to carefully consider our options for filling the Coutinho void.
The threat from Willian over the busy schedule will always loom over the Spaniard. However, given his current form and the pivotal role he’s played in Chelsea’s stunning run of results, Pedro appears cemented as Antonio Conte’s first choice on the right of his front three.
Currently priced at just 7.3 in the Fantasy Premier League, he screams out as a potential bargain differential – particularly for those missing one or both of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
The Sanchez vs Hazard argument isn’t over yet…
And that brings us to a contest that seems destined to rage on.
Indeed, Pedro plays his part in this, undermining Hazard’s appeal somewhat by offering that cheaper and in-form cover of Conte’s attack.
Pedro’s sublime goal against Spurs was the first blow to Hazard in Gameweek 13; Sanchez’ brace on Sunday the second and most damaging.
We saw cries of frustration from those who, following Hazard’s haul against Everton, sacrificed Sanchez in the trade.
We knew that the Chilean was always capable of burning us as a result of such a move and yet, the tables could easily be turned week on week.
Hazard’s fixtures from Gameweek 15 remain vastly superior and, if the trade enabled Fantasy managers also to swoop for Marcos Alonso, Sanchez will surely be required to go on delivering consistent double figure hauls over the Christmas period.
An explosive asset, Sanchez is not renowned for his propensity to deliver goals over four consecutive matches as Hazard has achieved already this season.
However, equally, we have seen Hazard lapse into prolonged dips that provide a series of blanks and, after failing to return over his last two Gameweeks and with a trip to the Etihad next, this is a debate that seems destined to run and run.
Walcott may yet have a say…
Just as Pedro is a factor in Hazard’s stock, so Theo Walcott influences our thinking on Sanchez.
While the gap between the Chelsea men is 2.9, Walcott can be acquired for 3.5 less than his team-mate Sanchez.
Can he possibly provide compensation for Sanchez’ future hauls?
That’s a key question. We know that, as it stands, Walcott appears destined for his best season in Fantasy terms. His starting role seems more secure than ever, his output and underlying stats re-assuring.
He may get benched at least once in the coming month but, as we have seen in past seasons, like Giroud, Walcott can be a more than capable impact sub.
Sanchez is surely peerless as cover of Arsenal’s attack, but 3.5 is a significant slice of funds that can be used to augment the squad for a vital and unpredictable Christmas spell.
Shut-outs are just gravy for McAuley…
Tony Pulis will not be content with West Brom’s clean sheet tally.
Three shut-outs is a humble collection for a side so disciplined and drilled to restrict their opponent.
But while that casts some doubt on Baggies’ defenders as Fantasy assets, Gareth McAuley seems immune to such concerns due to his undeniable and seemingly unstoppable threat at set-pieces.
Pulis sets his team up to win points from dead-ball scenarios, and McAuley is clearly his key weapon.
Defences know this but seem unable to prevent him from being a factor.
The Aguero jitters are over….for now…
We were prepared to carry out the unthinkable and evacuate Sergio Aguero. But, typically, the Argentine was never going to make it an easy decision.
His two-goal return at Burnley was somehow conjured from a disjointed Manchester City display; Aguero converted scraps into goals and points without the class of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva as a supply.
That was enough to force some to reconsider, the injury to Coutinho only compounded matters, freeing up funds that enabled a move for Kane or Costa without sacrificing the City striker.
We might be settled on Aguero for now, but the jitters remain and will likely return in a few Gameweeks time.
Such is the price gap between Aguero and a chasing pack of strikers, we will likely always feel the need to check that he justifies selection.
A run of blanks, a minor injury or even indication that he’s part of Pep Guardiola’s rotation plans could trigger more doubt. It appears to be a unwanted feature of our season.
Lukaku has regressed to old ways…
While Aguero is cause for debate, there is perhaps little argument on Romelu Lukaku.
Many of us always felt that his early season form and consistency may have a shelf life.
Admittedly, I was more positive – convinced that he may be on course for a 25-goal campaign. Sadly, I appear to have been proved wrong: regression has set in and, as is so often is the case, Lukaku has been unable to overcome Everton’s slump in form to keep his tally ticking.
Sales were underway weeks ago; Sunday’s third successive blank which saw the Belgian muster just a single dead-ball effort on goal ensured they would accelerate.
With Kane’s tempting fixtures dangled before us and Coutinho’s plight making funds available, the case to retain Lukaku appears flimsy.
Austin won’t let us settle on Defoe…
In opposition to Lukaku and Everton on Sunday, Charlie Austin took less than a minute to heighten the alert on his potential.
It appears to be a straight fight between Austin and Jermain Defoe, two experienced marksmen gagging for international recognition, for our third striker slot in a 3-4-3.
Defore deserves more time having toiled in a defensive display at Anfield and, with the obliging Leicester City rearguard next to the Stadium of Light, there’s every reason for optimism.
But Austin could yet operate at a higher level – Southampton have the potential to raise their game once their Europa League schedule is disposed of, while the fixture list suggests that Austin could thrive and out pace Defoe.
We’re already convinced on lucky charm Cedric…
There’s perhaps less debate surrounding the appeal of Cedric Soares as a Southampton asset.
Re-installed in Gameweek 12, Claude Puel’s defence has already kept back-to-back clean sheets on his return and, rather spookily, they are yet to keep a shut-out without the Portuguese named on the teamsheet.
That’s likely to be a convenient coincidence rather than a solid theory but, regardless, we’re already convinced of Cedric’s potential.
The pair of bonus points in Southampton’s win over Everton, surpassing Virgil van Dijk in the Bonus Points System (BPS), offered another reminder of the value that the 4.9 option can offer.
