Roberto Firmino draws a blank as Sadio Mane and Emre Can plunder the points prior to Liverpool’s late collapse at the Vitality. Later in the day, Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues his improved form as Romelu Lukaku’s stock plummets further…
On The Rise
Sadio Mane
Liverpool’s top scorer took his tally to seven goals for the season after slotting home the opener at the Vitality Stadium.
The second most transferred in player for Gameweek 14 due to team-mate Philippe Coutinho’s injury, Mane netted away from Anfield for the first time since the season opener at Arsenal and also chipped in with an assist against the Cherries.
Although he’s set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next month, the packed hectic schedule could still see Mane rack up the points.
Between Gameweek 15-20, which takes us all the way up to January 2, he faces West Ham, Middlesbrough, Everton, Stoke and Sunderland, in addition to hosting Man City’s porous defence on Boxing Day.
However, having limped off this afternoon, though, his fitness will need to be monitored ahead of a busy December.
Emre Can
Handed a place in our Spot the Differentials article, the German continued his impressive form with a goal and assist this afternoon.
Can has now served up three strikes and an assist in the last five Gameweeks, yet, despite coming in at a mere 4.9 in FPL, sat in less than 2% of squads prior to the weekend.
Although Adam Lallana returned to action off the bench, Can’s contribution suggests that he’s likely to retain his starting berth ahead of Georginio Wijnaldum – the German has now started each of the last seven Gameweeks.
Divock Origi
It’s three goals in as many matches for the Liverpool frontman after a superbly taken strike in the Reds’ surprise loss at Bournemouth.
After emerging from the bench to notch against Sunderland last week, Origi has been rewarded with back-to-back starts in all competitions and also netted in the midweek cup win over Leeds United.
With Coutinho sidelined for a number of weeks, the Belgian’s form may well have cemented him a place in Jurgen Klopp’s XI for the time being.
Given that Mane is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next month, Origi – at just 6.5 in FPL – will be pushing to retain that starting place over the next couple of months, although Daniel Sturridge, once fit, will clearly be a factor.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Capitalising on an error by Maarten Stekelenburg, the United frontman took his tally to six goals in as many matches across all competitions.
Having netted four times in the first 10 Gameweeks, Ibrahimovic has finally started to translate the underlying numbers into Fantasy returns, firing four goals in his subsequent three league outings.
With the need for a Sergio Aguero replacement a priority, United’s schedule from Gameweek 16 hands them seven very favourable fixtures (cpl, wba, SUN, MID, whu, sto, HUL) in the following eight to promote the Swede’s appeal.
Considering that Juan Mata dropped to the bench despite the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney, Ibra looks the safest bet for those backing Jose Mourinho’s men to flourish.
Nathan Ake
A late winner against Liverpool made it two goals in three appearances since being handed a first start in Gameweek 12.
Ake’s recent displays hand Eddie Howe a real headache once he has a full quota of defenders to choose from – with Charlie Daniels ruled out again today, Adam Smith and Simon Francis were fielded as the full-backs.
Should Ake continue in the first XI, a price of 4.2 in FPL would certainly boost his appeal as one of the cheapest active defenders available.
Ryan Fraser
A 15-point return from a 36 minute appearance from the bench, Fraser turned today’s game for Bournemouth. Priced at 4.9 in the FPL, it remains to be seen if the young scot can now cement a starting role for Eddie Howe’s men to become a factor in our season.
Fraser replaced former Fantasy target Junior Stanislas who hobbled off with a knee injury, labelled as “serious” by the Cherries boss according to early reports.
In Decline
Roberto Firmino
Having recovered from a calf complaint, the Brazilian was shifted onto the left flank to accommodate Origi through the middle.
Firmino’s failure to play a part in any of Liverpool’s three goals proved hugely frustrating for his 18% FPL owners – a run of three successive blanks is his longest of the season.
With cash freed up by the Sergio Aguero suspension, many are looking for a way to own both Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard in the centre of the park and Firmino could well be earmarked as a potential fall guy.
Nonetheless, Liverpool’s upcoming schedule suggests that getting rid at this point still has the potential to backfire.
Liverpool’s Defence
Back-to-back clean sheets against Southampton and Sunderland had suggested that Liverpool’s rearguard may finally be worth considering.
The loss of Joel Matip proved costly, though, as Klopp’s side fell apart in the final half-hour against the Cherries.
Incredibly, Liverpool have conceded nine times in the three matches that the Cameroon international has missed – they’ve shipped the same number of goals in the 11 league matches with Matip on board.
If our faith in the likes of Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren is to be rewarded, the Reds’ summer signing needs to shrug off his ankle injury as soon as possible.
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian’s alarming slump in form shows little sign of abating – he failed to produce a single attempt against United earlier today.
Adding injury to insult, he now looks to have falling down the penalty pecking order after Leighton Baines stepped up to slot home a spot-kick and seal a 1-1 stalemate.
Second only to Philippe Coutinho for transfers out last week, Lukaku, with one goal in six now, has continued to shed owners since the weekend deadline – he faces clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool in the next three.
Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley
The pair dropped to the bench as Ronald Koeman attempted to address a dire run of form that had harvested one win in Everton’s previous eight matches.
After starting each of the first nine, Jagielka has omitted from the starting XI in two of the last five, with his role as a regular now looking in question under the Dutchman.
Barkley had started all but one of the first 13 Gameweeks but failed to earn pitch time off the bench as the Toffees looked to chase the match, with Koeman instead turning to Gerard Deulofeu and Enner Valencia as substitutes.
With the upcoming Christmas period all about ensuring our benches are well-stocked, the Toffees exodus looks set to expand beyond just Lukaku.
Owners of Seamus Coleman and Yannick Bolasie will also be mulling over their options after both picked up knocks and were forced off.
