Chelsea showing FPL consistency as Brighton boss clarifies penalty takers

Eden Hazard (£10.6m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.7m) added to their Fantasy Premier League goal involvement tallies again on Saturday as the pair continue to show consistency.

Both players should earn further backing over the international break as Fantasy managers hope to buy into them while they are still returning with reliability.

In another Scout Notes article, we’ve also got an update on who the designated penalty taker is at Brighton after Pascal Groß (£6.9m) missed one and Glenn Murray (£6.5m) dispatched his in a 2-2 draw with Fulham.

READ NEXT: The FPL lessons learned from Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Leicester City

CHELSEA 2-0 BOURNEMOUTH

• Goals: Pedro (£6.7m), Eden Hazard (£10.6m)
• Assists: Olivier Giroud (£7.9m), Marcos Alonso (£6.7m)

Marcos Alonso (£6.7m) has rightfully earned his place in the so-called FPL triumvirate of premium full-backs with a fourth consecutive of points haul. The extra money required to purchase the Chelsea man has put some managers off, but his consistency continues to be remarkable. Crucially, he has been present in the penalty box in the first four Gameweeks more often than his average time spent there last season. His assist tally is now up to five and his collection of bonus points has increased to nine. Alonso was also unlucky not to score against Bournemouth, hitting the post in the first-half. Now that Alonso’s ownership is over 35 percent and counting, those without him in their squads may have their hands forced with him facing a meeting with Cardiff in Gameweek 5. Given that he helped shutout a lively Bournemouth side at Stamford Bridge to record a second clean sheet of the campaign, he just looks the complete package. Manager Maurizio Sarri largely agrees as he sung his praises post-match, but he would like to see Alonso make some improvements.

“Alonso, at the moment, this position at left-back is maybe the best in Europe. Physical qualities at a top level, I think. He’s doing very well in the offensive phase. But I also think he can improve in the defensive phase. If he improves that, he could be the best left-back in the world.” – Maurizio Sarri

There was some instant gratification for the 150,000+ managers who jumped aboard the Eden Hazard (£10.6m) train for Gameweek 4, as he scored in the 85th minute. It took some time for the Belgian to deliver, but that has been a hallmark of his season so far. His two goals and two assists have all come after 76 minutes. Of encouragement for his owners was that no Chelsea player registered more touches in the penalty box than Hazard but there were some aspects of his game to cause slight concern. Three of his colleagues registered more shots on goal than him against Bournemouth including full-back Alonso. Furthermore, it looks as if Hazard may not feature in set pieces quite as much in 2018/19. For a first-half free-kick he was not even considered as a potential taker, with Willian (£7.4m), David Luiz (£5.5m) and Alonso vying for it; it was the latter who eventually took it. Willian also remains the corner taker, with Hazard firing in just one on Saturday.

We should probably draw attention to the fact that the results of our Richarlison Replacements article have proved successful so far, even if things looked bleak initially. Chelsea midfielder Pedro (£6.7m) came out on top of the comparison we ran of potential candidates so we were disappointed to see Willian taking his starting berth when the team sheets came out at 2pm. However, the Spaniard went on to net his third goal of the season. Furthermore, he managed more shots on target than any of his colleagues despite playing just 25 minutes.

For now, Alonso, Hazard and Pedro appear the best options at Chelsea going forward, especially considering that the forward line at Stamford Bridge appears a little unsettled. Olivier Giroud (£7.9m) has replaced Alvaro Morata (£9.0m) for the final half an hour in the last two matches and there have been calls for the Frenchman to start next week against Cardiff. Sarri added further confusion to that situation by talking up the strengths of both his centre-forwards.

“It depends upon the situation on the pitch. At the moment, we crossed three, four, five times in three minutes, so I thought Giroud, in that moment, was better. Only for this. It depends upon the situation. Alvaro is improving. Maybe Alvaro needs more space, but I am lucky because, in this situation, Giroud is very useful.” – Maurizio Sarri

Although the result will largely dominate any cursory assessment of the visitors, Bournemouth were very good in large spells of the match. Not only were they equal to Chelsea’s offensive assets for 72 minutes, they caused them problems on the counter-attack. Despite losing 2-0, Bournemouth did not give up any chances that were considered to be ‘big’ by Opta, meaning they have allowed the same number as Liverpool have done after four matches. That suggests there may well be potential for clean sheets later in the campaign, home matches against Leicester, Crystal Palace and Southampton between now and Gameweek 9 of particular interest.

“We did well for large parts. Chelsea are a completely different team this year. Two key moments in the game. Maurizio has a very distinct way of playing. We tried to nullify their threats and up until the first goal it was right in the balance. There is individual talent but we doubled up well and restricted the space, the two goals might be where we didn’t quite get it right.” – Eddie Howe

Howe made changes to his usual 4-4-2 formation to roll out a 3-4-3 in this particular match, with Ryan Fraser (£5.6m) deployed on the left flank of the front three. It may be two matches in a row without an FPL return for the Scottish winger but it was him who spent the most time in Chelsea’s penalty area and played more successful passes in the final third compared to his team-mates. His 5.5 percent ownership certainly shouldn’t get cold feet about his Fantasy capabilities.

However, the Charlie Daniels (£4.5m) era at Bournemouth seems to be well and truly over now that, as expected, Diego Rico (£4.5m) came into the side with his suspension served over the first three Gameweeks. The new signing seemed to fit right in, especially playing as an advanced wing-back in the 3-4-3 system, and his taking of four corners produced more key passes than any other Cherries option at Stamford Bridge.

CHELSEA XI (4-3-2-1): Kepa; Alonso, Rudiger, David Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kovacic (Loftus-Cheek 79’), Kante, Jorginho; Hazard, Willian (Pedro 65’); Morata (Giroud 61’).

BOURNEMOUTH XI (3-4-3): Begovic; S Cook, Ake, Francis; Rico, Lerma (L Cook 88’), Gosling, A Smith (Ibe 80’); Fraser, Wilson, King (Mousset (80’).

BRIGHTON 2-2 FULHAM

Goals: Glenn Murray x2 (£6.5m) | Andre Schürrle (£5.9m), Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m)

Assists: Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m) | Jean Michael Seri (£5.4m)

According to Chris Hughton, Pascal Groß (£6.9m) remains the Brighton penalty taker even after Glenn Murray (£6.5m) secured a point from the spot on Saturday afternoon. The German saw his first-half effort, rewarded after a foul on Murray, saved by David Bettinelli (£4.5m). When Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m) was penalised for handball in the second-half, it was Murray, already one goal to the good at this point, who found the net from the spot, with Groß now off the pitch. Whether he can lay claim to the next penalty remains to be seen, as the Seagulls boss reiterated after the match that Groß was unlucky not to score.

“It was a very good save. We have a penalty taker, at the moment Pascal is our penalty taker. It’s a little bit in the lap of the gods. You hope he strikes it well enough; he did. The goalkeeper guessed the right way and when I see it again I’m sure I will think of it more as a good save than a bad miss.” – Chris Hughton

One thing that is still in Murray’s favour is that Groß’s minutes continue to be managed. He was substituted on the 60 minute mark at the Amex on Saturday, having managed just a 10-minute cameo at Anfield in Gameweek 3. Conversely, 34-year-old Murray has played every single second of the 2018/19 campaign thus far, meaning he is bound to take some penalties in the future with the amount of time Groß is spending off the pitch. Hughton did explain the decision to bring Groß off at 2-0 down was a tactical one, but it is discouraging to hear that the German is not considered capable of helping inspire a comeback.

“You have to try and do it in a controlled way, because if you go gung-ho at that stage, with the system they were playing and the players they’ve got, they’ll go on to get a third goal. But you’ve got to be positive. We decided to go 4-4-2 with [Alireza] Jahanbakhsh on the right-hand side and we dropped [Yves] Bissouma in. In a structured way, we went for it.” – Chris Hughton

Lewis Dunk (£4.4m) returned to the side after missing out on the trip to Anfield, with Leon Balogun (£4.4m) dropping to the bench. While Brighton are yet to keep a clean sheet and have conceded seven goals in four matches, Dunk’s fall in price may make him an attractive proposition between Gameweek 8 and 16 when they face no sides from last season’s top six. Martín Montoya (£4.5m) made his second start in a row at right-back while Gaetan Bong (£4.5m) played at left-back in the place of new signing Bernardo (£4.4m) once again.

The goals scored by Fulham took their inspiration from the goal threat section of the FFS Members Area in this particular match. Coming into Gameweek 4, only Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) had fired off more shots among forwards than Mitrovic, and he followed that up by netting a fourth goal in his last three matches. Likewise, Andre Schürrle (£5.9m) was second only to Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) for efforts on goal among midfielders; the German duly delivering his second strike in as many appearances. While Mitrovic’s value has been apparent for some time, Schürrle’s second successive goal makes him a more established fixture on FPL radars, although it is a trip to Manchester City up next. There had been some rotation fears over his place in Fulham’s front three, amid competition for places with Ryan Sessegnon (£6.4m), Luciano Vietto (£5.5m) and Aboubakar Kamara (£4.5m), but he played those down with a second start in a row, as well as the goal. Another benching for Sessegnon should see his stock continue to plummet.

Defensively, Fulham still look like a side to avoid. Only Huddersfield have allowed more shots than the Cottagers after four matches and that has translated to nine goals conceded. That hasn’t been helped by regular changes in personnel, although Bettinelli has now started the last two in a row adding some consistency.

Finally, manager Slavisa Jokanovic played down any suggestions that Mitrovic’s confidence would take a hit after he conceded the penalty late in the game, effectively costing his side two points.

“He didn’t need to ask for any apologies. Bad luck, mistake, he knows I don’t need to explain to him that he does not need to make this kind of touch in this situation. In the end, he is enough strong to keep going. He made one mistake okay, and for another side he scored the goal, he fighting really well, he is playing the level like he started the Premier League and I don’t want to complain and put my finger to any player. I cannot find any sense.” – Slavisa Jokanovic

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION XI (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bong, Dunk, Duffy, Montoya; March, Propper (Locadia 74’), Stephens, Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 74’); Groß (Bissouma 60’); Murray.

FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Le Marchand, Odoi, Mawson, Fosu-Mensah; Zambo Anguissa (Johansen 74’), McDonald, Seri; Vietto (R Sessegnon 74’), Mitrovic, Schurrle (Chambers 87’)

READ NEXT: The FPL lessons learned from Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Leicester City

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