Scout Notes

Lampard provides Mount injury update as Salah completes 90 minutes

Chelsea and Liverpool were both in UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday night and we round up the key headlines for Fantasy managers in our Scout Notes article below.

Chelsea 4-4 Ajax

  • Goals: Jorginho (£5.1m) x2, Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m), Reece James (£5.0m)
  • Assists: Christian Pulisic (£7.3m), Tammy Abraham (£7.9m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.9m), Kurt Zouma (£4.7m)

The 37.2% of Fantasy Premier League managers who own Mason Mount (£6.9m) face a nervy wait over the next few days after the Chelsea midfielder picked up an ankle injury in the Blues’ 4-4 draw with nine-man Ajax on Tuesday.

Mount hobbled from the field of play after an hour of last night’s game, having taken a hit to the same ankle he injured ahead of Gameweek 6.

Speaking after full-time, Frank Lampard said of his player:

His ankle is strapped, we hope it’s relatively minor, but that’s one for the morning.

Mount has risen in price (£0.9m) more than any other FPL midfielder this season and many Fantasy managers will have value tied up in the popular mid-price asset, so ditching him – should it come to that – won’t be an easy decision.

We await further prognosis from Lampard in his pre-Gameweek 12 press conference on Friday but should Mount be unavailable for the visit of Crystal Palace (and there is no suggestion yet that he will be), then he at least has a further fortnight to recover over the international break.

Mount had endured a fairly difficult evening before that, being unable to influence the game in his 60-minute showing and failing to register a single shot or key pass.

The midfielder’s passing accuracy was also the worst of all the Chelsea players on show.

In truth, the Blues looked better for when Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) moved into the number ten role after Mount’s withdrawal – although Ajax being reduced to nine men after a double-dismissal at 4-1 obviously aided the Blues’ cause.

The USA international had, for the third game running in a Premier League or UEFA Champions League match, been given the nod to start ahead of Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.9m) down the Chelsea left.

It was from Pulisic’s darting run into the Ajax box that Lampard’s side scored their first goal, with Jorginho (£5.1m) – now firmly established as the Blues’ first-choice penalty taker – converting from the spot after the American had been felled.

Chelsea had gone behind after just two minutes of Wednesday’s encounter and were trailing 4-1 before the game had reached the hour-mark, with some sloppy defending and the trademark fallibility from set plays in evidence.

Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) had put through his own net from an inswinging free-kick to give Ajax the lead, while Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) also scored a comical own-goal after being caught out by Hakim Ziyech’s curling dead-ball delivery.

The Chelsea backline were also found wanting as Quincy Promes and Donny van de Beek were left unmarked to add to the visitors’ tally.

The slack defensive display may be the final nail in Marcos Alonso‘s (£6.3m) coffin from a Fantasy perspective.

The full-back had already lost his place to the fit-again Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) in Gameweek 11 and this latest performance will surely have made Lampard’s selection decision easier this Saturday, with Alonso poor at either end of the field.

The Chelsea head coach’s decision to switch Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) over to left-back at half-time spoke volumes, although ‘Dave’ himself might be nervously looking over his shoulder following the second-half display of substitute Reece James (£5.0m) at right-back and Lampard’s post-game words.

The Chelsea boss said:

Reece is a fantastic young player. He gives what you saw, and he will get much better because he’s 19.

I felt we needed to change to get a bit more for us on the right-hand side. Reece can deliver crosses with great quality. He’s powerful and joins in. He knows we have Azpi there, our captain, but there are things we can do to change sometimes.

He’s going to be a top player for the club. He’s got great quality. When you look at the modern full-back, the requirement to go forward and be a threat, hopefully, Reece can do that for us.

Azpilicueta and James were both on the scoresheet as Chelsea’s full-backs were given license to get forward, with Azpilicueta tapping in Abraham’s goalbound shot from close range and James completing the famous comeback with a 74th-minute leveller.

Azpilicueta thought he had a second goal to his name, too, only for his ‘winner’ to be chalked off for a handball after VAR intervention.

Jorginho had stroked in his second penalty of the match in between those two goals and again caught the eye alongside Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m), although that partnership will be broken up in Gameweek 12 as the Italian serves a suspension.

Mount wasn’t the only attacking asset to have an off-day as Chelsea fell 4-1 behind, with Willian (£7.1m) perhaps below his usual standards and Abraham wasteful in front of goal.

The fact that Abraham was still getting plenty of chances – eight in all – would have been of encouragement to his owners, and there were some clear-cut ones within that.

FPL’s most-owned player did finish expertly when clean through on goal in the first half but saw that effort wiped out for offside.

Hailing his side’s comeback and the contribution of several senior players, Lampard said afterwards:

For a performance like today, you need characters, personalities. It would have been easy to turn it in at 4-1 down and give it up, but we never did. The experienced players drove the team: Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Azpilicueta. Those players really pushed tonight and I loved it.

The moments we conceded in the first half were a mixture of sloppiness, and also some bad fortune. I felt we were in the game because of our pressing off the ball. We just needed a bit more in the final third, and we needed to lift the spirit of the stadium.

I’m delighted with that part of it. We are a probably a bit disappointed in the end not to win it, but in the cold light of day we were 4-1 down, so it was a good result on those terms.

Elsewhere on the injury front, N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Andreas Christensen (£4.9m) made their comebacks but were both unused substitutes as Lampard threw on more attack-minded options with the Blues trailing.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso (James 46′); Kovacic (Batshuayi 87′), Jorginho; Willian, Mount (Hudson-Odoi 60′), Pulisic; Abraham.

Liverpool 2-1 Genk

  • Goals: Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.4m), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.2m)
  • Assists: Mohamed Salah (£12.3m)

There were welcome breathers for three key FPL assets as Liverpool made hard work of defeating Genk at Anfield.

Sadio Mane (£12.0m), Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) were rested to the bench on Tuesday night, with all three players emerging as second-half substitutes to see their team over the line.

Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) lasted the full 90 minutes but that in itself may be a positive for the Egyptian’s ever-dwindling owners in FPL, with the run-out at least suggesting that he can last a full game; Jurgen Klopp had said after the Aston Villa match on Saturday that Salah was only able to feature for 65 minutes following his recent ankle injury.

The Egypt international’s sharpness was also encouraging and in many ways, this could have been a Salah performance from at any point over the last year: dangerous, full of running, plenty of shots and ultimately a bit wasteful.

Underlying stats have never been Salah’s problem and there were another five goal attempts last night, along with four key passes.

The Egyptian often needs plenty of chances to get on the scoresheet, though, and his goal conversion rate has been down at a relatively poor 16.1% and 13.5% in 2018/19 and 2019/20 (for context, Mane’s rates are 25.3% and 22.2% in the last two seasons).

He was again profligate against the Belgian side, either firing wide from good positions or opting to dribble down cul-de-sacs, but all in all this was a more positive outing for Salah after his concerning, fitness-affected display at Villa Park.

The premium FPL midfielder certainly seemed to benefit from playing more centrally on Tuesday, with the Egyptian and Divock Origi (£5.3m) profiting from a fine display by Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (£6.2m) in the ‘false nine’ position.

Explaining his tactical tweak after full-time, Klopp said:

We could have scored goals already in the first half. It was clear it will be a bit tricky in some departments because the front three never played together in these positions and in a formation like this.

But we wanted to have Ox between the lines, to give him the space to turn and run and face the last line, giving us options right and left. That worked out pretty well sometimes. We could have scored more often and that would have completely changed the game.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is in form in front of goal at present, adding to his brace in the reverse fixture with a well-taken winner on Tuesday – Salah claiming the assist for that strike.

Naby Keita (£5.8m) was bright, too, before tiring in the second half, and Klopp has plenty of midfield options available to him going into the visit of Manchester City on Sunday.

One of those options is Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.4m), who hooked Liverpool in front after deputy left-back James Milner‘s (£5.3m) cross hadn’t been dealt with.

Missing out on this latest victory was Jordan Henderson (£5.4m), with Klopp saying afterwards of his ill captain:

Jordan was in bed the whole day, I hope he is better now but I didn’t speak to him afterwards.

Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up a knock in the second half but both player and manager downplayed any issue, with Klopp saying afterwards that “nobody is injured” and the former Arsenal midfielder adding:

It’s just a kick. He caught me nicely, it’s a bit of a sore one but I’m all good.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) again caught the eye with his distribution but it was another game without a clean sheet for Liverpool’s defence as a collective, with the Reds again conceding from a set-piece situation.

While Liverpool dominated possession and chances, Alisson (£5.9m) was called on to make a couple of smart saves and there were moments of alarm in the hosts’ backline – encouragement for owners of Manchester City’s attacking assets ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Milner; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita (Robertson 73′); Oxlade-Chamberlain (Mane 74′), Salah, Origi (Firmino 88′).

Lessons learned from Gameweek 11

380 Comments Post a Comment
  1. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mount to Pulisic, Maddison or Tielemans? Selling price is 6.8 as I got him late so taking the plunge immediately.

    1. nims076
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Depends on the rest of the mid and attack you have but I'd go Pulisic

      1. yer old da
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Got Vardy and Tammy up top, and Sterling/Mane/KDB in midfield.

      2. yer old da
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I have exactly 0.5 for the Mount > Pulisic swap.

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Straight swap to Pulisic

  2. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy gng up today??

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Probably.

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks..

  3. Fordy40
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What would you change?

    Pope-Button
    Lunds-VVD-TAA-Pieters-Chilwell
    Sterling-KDB-Salah-CHO-Doncke
    Barnes-Abraham-Connolly

    0.1m ITB

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      FTs?
      Looks lie you might get lucky with CHO this week.
      Assuming one FT then lose a City mid and Barnes to Vardy and pretty much anyone who takes your fancy in midfield. Maybe Madds or Martial?

  4. nims076
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Current team:

    Button, Roberto
    Lund, Rico, Soy, Tomori, Dunk
    Mane, KdB, Sterling, Mount, Cantwell
    Tammy, Vardy, Rashford

    In what order would you make these changes?

    1. Rashford to Jimi
    2. Dunk/Tomori to Janmaat
    3. Dunk/Tomori to TAA
    4. Roberto to Schmeichel

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I’d do 3
      Wouldn’t do the others

    2. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Dunk to TAA

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        and I wouldn't worry about the others

  5. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What would you do here?
    My thought is to do David Silva > Richarlison for a 2 GW punt
    I could also do Silva to Maddison, but I'm wary of having enough money to bring Son in at some point so Perez could be an option. Want to see how he gets on in the next week or so.
    1 FT, £0.5 itb

    GKP: Henderson (Martin)
    DEF: Alexander-Arnold, Lundstram, Rico (Lascelles) (Cancelo)
    MID: David Silva*, Mané, Mount*, Sterling, Martial
    FWD: Vardy, Abraham (Connolly)

    1. Noé Pamarot
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Decent shout, Richarlison will be a good differential amongst the more highly ranked players this year. However, would find it hard to ignore Tielemans...just personal preference over Maddison for me.

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Tielemans is a great player and certainly passes the eye test but I notice that he is down on Maddison for everything stats-wise. They both lack a bit of threat for me which is why I am interested in Perez

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      who’s captain lol

  6. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    fpl writing up Alli is laughable.

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      +1

  7. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What r u doing with Mount fellas if he's out for Palace game ?

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      nothing

    2. nims076
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      If its likely 1 game then I'll hold and wait until after the IB.
      If its likely to be more, then I'm going to Pulisic

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        yeah, but they play vs City away after IB

    3. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Learning from my mistake selling KDB earlier this season and keeping him

    4. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping

    5. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Too much value tied up for me to sell.. Ib coming up + decent fixtures after City

    6. Hughes the Daddy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping

    7. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Probably do next week's planned transfers a week early for a hit. Keep Mount if just out 1 game.

    8. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Swapping for Pulisic I think as I bought him at 6.7 and get 6.8 if I sell. I’d rather Pulisic anyway all things being equal. Looks quality.

      1. TLF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I'd be wary, Pulisic is in Cuba on 20th for a match that i believe kicks off early hours of the morning GMT. Not sure Frank will start him against City on the 23rd having travelled so far, bit like the Son situation recently. I reckon CHO may get that game, and this weekend if Mount is out.

    9. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Sold

    10. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping obv

  8. zeddyzeddy
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    martial if possible?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      ?

  9. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    (RP)

    Best combo going forward?

    A) Jim, Son, Robertson, Soy/Tomori
    B) Firmino. Son, Soy, Tomori
    C) Kane/Auba, Martial, Soy, Tomori
    D) Laca, Martial, Robertson, Soy/Tomori
    E) Sterling, Jim, Soy, Tomori

    Salah or Mane + KDB + TAA part of all options

    Leaning towards C right now. Reassure me or convince me to do pick another option.

    TA

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      D, but not hugely keen on Laca

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Me neither.. More keen on Firmino... Actually think I could get Son instead and play a 3-5-2 in that option as well. But still prefer C my self rn.

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Lundy over Tomori
      C with Auba...not a big fan of Martial.
      Where is Vardy?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Mane KdB Mount Maddi
        Tammy Auba Vardy

      2. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Obviously got Lundy.. Had him single gw1
        Got Vardy as well

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          nice.

        2. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Since*

          With option C mine would be

          Salah KDB Martial Mount
          Auba Vardy Tammy

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            nice.

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Thanks Christina

  10. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Didn't Mount injure his ankle before the game against Liverpool earlier in the season and he was back to play 90 mins for that game? Or was it a different kind of injury?

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      this one looked worse initiallly, but franks response has been similar. strap it up and hopefully not too bad

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yes I heard this one was worse. Lamps is really doing his utmost to play Mount in every game

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          He is their playmaker.. Pretty essential to the team

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Im the front third*. Obviously Jorginho is the deeplying playmaker

          2. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I’m a Mount owner, but they would be better off resting him this weekend and giving him the international break to recover.

            I may get Pullisic instead.

            1. Harper (No more Penandes)
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              He needs rest for sure. Though of course I would have liked him to play this game and get his rest in the IB but he will probably play in that

  11. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best pick for defender maximum 4.4m?

    A) Fernández
    B) Lascelles
    C) Saiss
    D) Adam Smith
    E) Janmaat

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      D or E

    2. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      CBE

    3. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      c

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Saiss

    5. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      E

  12. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    GTG? (0FT, 1.7ITB)

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA / Lascelles/ Lundstram (Rico,Digne)
    KDB/ Sterling / Maddison / Mount (Dendocker)
    Vardy /Abraham / Jimenez (c)

  13. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Start 3:

    A) Ota (liv)
    B) Soyuncu (ARS)
    C) Rico (new)
    D) Lunds (tot)
    E) Cantwell (WAT)

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      BCD

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Bcd

  14. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Which should be first on the bench?
    A) Diop
    B) Connolly
    C) Guilbert

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      C

  15. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Is this worth -4?

    King Ota ➡ Vardy Saiss

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yep

    2. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I think so

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I think if you captain Vardy it’s worth it

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      100%

  16. No Kane No Gain
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    is otamendi really permanently out of favour or will he come back into the fold in the coming weeks?!

    They conceded without him against southampton and 2 years ago he was a regular starter and they won the title, so surely he has some pedigree?!

    Or is he dead to pep...

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      No idea.

      Getting rid on WC over IB though.

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He has been awful this season. Stones hasn't been great either though and there is a death of CB options so he is certainly not out of the fold. Still, get rid.