Liverpool returned to the summit of the Premier League with their impressive 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
While the usual suspects had little Fantasy involvement against the Red Devils, there were still plenty of lessons to be learned.
Meanwhile, there was finally defensive returns for Wolves after a long few months as the problems at Bournemouth worsen.
We’ve got all the Fantasy talking points from both matches in this Scout Notes article.
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United
Goals: Sadio Mané (£9.6m), Xherdan Shaqiri x2 (£7.1m) | Jesse Lingard (£6.7m)
Assists: Fabinho (£5.5m)
Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.1m) showed once again just how much he loves playing at Anfield after he emerged from the bench to beat Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. After starting the five matches prior to Gameweek 17, he was named among the substitutes for the first time since Gameweek 11, but that didn’t stop him from producing an impressive display. Such was the quality of his contribution, Shaqiri was able to secure all three bonus points despite being on the pitch for just 20 minutes. Four of his five Premier League goals this season (and two of his four assists) have now come in front of the Anfield faithful, making him a serious prospect for Liverpool home matches. His recent involvement has set him up as a potential alternative to the more expensive options around him in the Liverpool squad, and the fact that he can even produce 14-point hauls off the bench is massively in his favour too.
Unfortunately for those expecting an instant follow-up to Mohamed Salah‘s (£13.1m) hat-trick against Bournemouth, he had a quiet game compared to many of his team-mates. Despite playing as the centre-forward once again, the Egyptian did not have a single shot inside the Manchester United penalty area and two of his team-mates registered more total goal attempts. Furthermore, he ranked third among Liverpool players for chances created too. It was a performance that might have helped some managers make the decision to move him on with options such as Eden Hazard (£11.0m) or Leroy Sané (£9.6m) offering better captain potential over Christmas.
Generally, though, Liverpool looked more like their former attacking selves against their arch-rivals, especially in the opening 30 minutes. Across the whole game, they made a mockery of Manchester United’s shot count, besting them by a total of 36 to six.
“The brilliant start was one of the best performances we had since I’m in Liverpool, to be honest, not only this season. The first half an hour was outstanding, outstanding.” – Jurgen Klopp
Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) was in an inspired mood, firing off no fewer than seven efforts in the penalty area. He was unfortunate not to come away with any attacking returns. His pass to Salah late in the second-half was diverted away from the Egyptian by Nemanja Matić (£5.0m) into the path of Shaqiri for his second goal, meaning he did not get the assist for it.
There was another excellent display from Andrew Robertson (£6.5m), even if he only emerged with two points. He was unfortunate not to register any attacking returns as he created four chances in the match, afforded plenty of space on Liverpool’s left-flank. As we know, his delivery was once again very consistent. He also proved how capable he is at both ends of the pitch too, making a crucial second-half interception to keep the score level when Romelu Lukaku (£10.7m) was lurking at the back-post for Manchester United.
“If you want, yes (when asked if Robertson symbolises the growth of Liverpool’s team under Klopp). So what we did today was change it a little bit. We brought Sadio on the right side and Naby was in the half-space, so that’s how we opened [the game]. Man United was playing rather man-orientated, and that’s why Robbo had space and he obviously used that really well. He’s in a good moment, honestly, and that helps as well.” – Jurgen Klopp
Also impressing was right-back Nathaniel Clyne (£4.5m) who came into the side for his first Premier League appearance since May 2017. It was exactly the kind of performance Jurgen Klopp could have asked for with recent defensive injuries. Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.3m) is highly unlikely to be involved in the next few matches while Joe Gomez (£5.0m) and Joel Matip (£4.9m) are also out. That actually means that for a portion of Christmas, Clyne could prove an excellent budget route into the Liverpool defence at just £4.5m. Klopp was full of praise for him, claiming that he has trained as a true professional in his time out of the side, despite not having much of a look-in. It is worth saying that the cross for Manchester United’s goal, only the second conceded in the Premier League at Anfield this year, came down Clyne’s side of the pitch, although the fault was more that of goalkeeper Alisson (£5.7m) than anyone else. That mistake aside, there was nothing major to suggest that Liverpool won’t continue to deliver defensive returns in the coming weeks.
“Nathaniel Clyne: his first [Premier League] game of the season in mid-December and he plays with that performance. We were not one second sure that he can play the 90 minutes, [but] obviously it was no problem and he could do it. It was brilliant the way he adapted to the style and stuff like this after not being involved at all. Since I am in, he played [close to] 100 or something games or so, then he got a bad injury and then he was out. It doesn’t help. In this moment, Trent came out, Joe got injured and stuff like that. Life and the situation changed. You can train at the highest level and you have still to wait. Is that nice? No. Is it a job? Yes. Because Clyney did that and trained at a really high level, he could perform like he performed tonight, which was just amazing.” – Jurgen Klopp
James Milner (£5.6m) missed out on the big match due to a muscle problem.
“(Milner) felt his muscle a little bit so we cannot take the risk.” – Jurgen Klopp
Manchester United rarely looked like causing Liverpool much trouble at Anfield and it truly felt inevitable that they would be beaten. That says a lot about the state Jose Mourinho’s men are in. Paul Pogba (£7.8m) was benched for the fourth time in six matches as the Red Devils’ boss preferred to use Matic, Jesse Lingard (£6.7m) and Ander Herrera (£5.0m) in central midfield.
“I am happy with Matic, Lingard and Herrera. I think the team lately with Herrera, Matic and Lingard, the team lost some qualities but at the same time we became more aggressive, more simple and more intense without the ball and that is what I think we need to play a fast team like Liverpool is.” – Jose Mourinho
It says a lot about Mourinho’s relationship with the media, and his consideration for Fantasy managers that so many of the players he named in the side to face Liverpool were either yellow or red-flagged before kick-off. In fact, every member of the back-four he initially went with fitted that description. Chris Smalling (£5.6m) and the previously unavailable Victor Lindelöf (£4.8m) were chosen at centre-back although the former was forced to withdraw following an injury in the warm-up, replaced by Eric Bailly (£5.0m). Matteo Darmian (£4.6m) was used at left-back again with Ashley Young (£5.7m) on the right, while Diogo Dalot (£5.3m) spent the first 45 minutes operating on the right of midfield, before being replaced by Marouane Fellaini (£4.9m). That was when Mourinho shifted to a more traditional 4-3-3.
“They gave absolutely everything. Honest people, they gave absolutely everything. Eric Bailly knows he is playing one minute before the game. [Victor] Lindelof trained one day to play, [Diogo] Dalot trained one day to play, [Matteo] Darmian trained one day to play, Ashley Young played with a sore ankle, I could go on and on and on. I repeat I am really, really happy with the players I had on the pitch with their attitude, with their effort, I am more than happy. Because I am more than happy I assume the responsibilities of the defeat and I want them to be hidden behind me.” – Jose Mourinho
Liverpool XI (4-4-1-1): Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Lovren, Clyne; Keïta (Shaqiri 70′), Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Mané (Henderson 84′); Firmino; Salah.
Manchester United XI (4-1-4-1): De Gea; Young, Lindelöf, Bailly, Darmian; Rashford, Matić, Herrera (Martial 79′), Dalot (Fellaini 45′); Lingard (Mata 85′); Lukaku.
Wolves 2-0 Bournemouth
Goals: Raúl Jiménez (£6.2m), Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.2m)
Assists: Diogo Jota (£5.9m), Helder Costa (£4.8m)
Wolves appear to be very much back on track in terms of both Premier League results but also FPL appeal, as they strung together their third successive win. Bournemouth were the latest side to be defeated by Nuno Espirito Santo’s newly-promoted outfit, the Molineux hosts completely deserved winners according to the expected data that can be found in the Fantasy Football Scout members area.
Raúl Jiménez (£6.2m) continued as Wolves’ main goal threat, offering great value in the mid-price striker bracket. His first-half goal was a fifth of the season for the Mexican and his sixth goal involvement since Gameweek 11. It will be interesting to see what he can deliver against Liverpool (home), Tottenham (away) and Manchester City (away) between now and Gameweek 22, after he scored points against both Spurs and Arsenal last month. Gameweek 19 and 21 matches against Fulham (away) and Crystal Palace (home) look like excellent opportunities for more attacking returns for Jiménez, who only grows in popularity week by week.
“This season we have scored more goals in the second half, so it was important for us to manage the game after scoring in the first half. I saw Diogo was going to shoot/cross and that’s the reason I was waiting there in the perfect moment to be there and to score.” – Raúl Jiménez
Of particular interest for those invested in Wolves was the fact that they picked up their first clean sheet since Gameweek 8. There were three factors which contributed to this. The first was a surprise, but welcome, return for left-back Jonny (£4.3m) who came back earlier than expected from what was believed to be a fairly serious injury. Secondly, Bournemouth started a second match in a row without Callum Wilson (£6.9m) in the starting line-up and suffered for it. The striker did come on for a 32-minute cameo but offered little. In fact, Bournemouth sit bottom for shots inside the box and efforts on target across the last four Gameweeks. Finally, Nuno revealed after the game that securing a clean sheet had been a specific aim set before his team for Gameweek 17, so everything they did against Bournemouth was done with that in mind.
“We want to build a shape which is versatile and adaptable enough to any opposition required. There were moments when we had good possession of the ball and counter-attacked, but all the game we defended well. The first principle is a clean sheet which is very important. Everyone was working together as a team because the only solution is to defend and attack as a team.” – Nuno Espirito Santo.
New owners of Matt Doherty (£5.1m) were rewarded at the first time of asking with that clean sheet, although the marauding right-back did not offer as much attacking threat as usual. He did not record any efforts on goal and played no key passes either. That was very much in keeping with the aims that Nuno had set for the game, Wolves opting to stay tight and organised rather than stretch their shape.
Nuno actually diverted from his usual 3-4-3 formation to go with a 3-4-1-2 for the match. Youngster Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.3m) came in for Helder Costa (£4.8m) to play in a number 10 role and proved a key part of the Wolves attack. Although Costa came on at half-time and created more chances in 45 minutes than any other player in the entire game, putting up the assist for Ivan Cavaleiro‘s (£5.2m) stoppage-time strike.
Diogo Jota (£5.9m) continued his impressive form and delivered on the faith shown by Adam in our latest Scoutcast. On the back of him being tipped both on the show and in our Spot the Differential article for Gameweek 17, Jota chalked up a second assist in two matches, the fourth goal he has been involved in since Gameweek 15. The 22-year-old FPL midfielder has now started the last three in a row, although he was pulled off at half-time with an injury.
“We have to check. He was not able to continue the game. We have received the immediate information but now we have to assess him and the doctor has to assess him. We hope it’s not too serious.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Bournemouth’s aforementioned problems in front of goal ensured they went back-to-back games without finding the net for the first time in the Premier League this season. It is almost certainly no coincidence that such a feat was achieved when Wilson was absent from the starting line-up for two matches in a row.
If the England striker can recover his full fitness to start at home against Brighton in Gameweek 18, he is probably worth holding onto, as is Ryan Fraser (£6.3m). The Seagulls remain the worst side for defending set pieces in away matches this season, where both Wilson and Fraser excel for goal threat and creativity respectively. It will be the perfect opportunity for Eddie Howe and his struggling Cherries to get out of a two-game winless streak.
The injury problems worsened for Bournemouth this weekend though. Simon Francis (£4.4m) was ruled out with a hip injury while Tyrone Mings (£4.3m) picked up a back injury at Molineux. With so many fitness problems either in defence or central midfield, it is no surprise that only Burnley have allowed more goal attempts in the penalty box as Bournemouth in the last four Gameweeks. Furthermore, no team has conceded more goals in that time either.
“We’re in a difficult spell with injuries, we lost Simon Francis this week and Tyrone Mings during the game. He was in a lot of pain, I haven’t spoken to him before this press conference but it’s a knock in his back but it left him in a lot of pain. Hopefully, he’ll be OK. The last thing he wanted to do was to come off, there was no way he could continue. It’s a difficult spell for us, we’ve lost key players and we’re stretched defensively but it’s a challenge for us to rise to.” – Eddie Howe
Wolves XI (3-4-1-2): Patrício; Boly, Coady, Bennett; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; Gibbs-White (Saïss 75′); Jota (Costa 45′), Jiménez (Cavaleiro 89′).
Bournemouth XI (3-4-2-1): Begović; Mings (Rico 36′), Aké, Cook; Daniels, Lerma, Surman, Ibe (Wilson 58′); Fraser, Stanislas (Mousset 80′); King.
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