A second-half revival at Anfield finds Liverpool turning the tables on Tottenham, who lose their grip on a thrilling encounter, despite two Jan Vertonghen strikes. Both Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale fetch returns again, while in the North East, Newcastle leave it late but grab the points from Stoke via a Papiss Cisse goal. Here’s the Stock Check on Sunday’s action…
On the Up
Luis Suarez
With Daniel Sturridge back in the lineup, we wondered if the Uruguayan’s contribution would be reduced somewhat – today’s goal and assist indicates that Suarez’s relentless form is set to continue. He has now struck five goals in three assists in his last three league outings and bonus points from today’s game would give him three consecutive double figure hauls.
Stewart Downing
Back-to-back goals for the former Middlesbrough man means that he has now returned a goal or assist in the last three Gameweeks. Significantly, he has started the last 14 league matches and with Joe Allen set to undergo a shoulder operation in the coming weeks, it could now be that Brendan Rodgers settles on today’s 4-4-2 formation, with Downing continuing as a fixture. His 5.7 price tag is beginning to look appealing for those seeking a low-to-mid price differential.
Steven Gerrard
Those holding the Liverpool skipper earned further goal returns as Gerrard converted from the spot once again. He has now scored four goals in his last seven starts, bizarrely, alternating a blank and a goal over the course of those seven matches. While today’s strike keeps him simmering, Gerrard’s owners will perhaps be concerned at his recent reliance of penalties as a result of a deeper midfield role.
Jose Enrique
Once again the Spaniard got the upper hand on team-mate Glen Johnson by providing the assist for Suarez’s opening goal – his sixth of the campaign. That’s three assists and a goal in the last five for Enrique, while Johnson has lagged behind with just a single assist in the same spell. While Johnson goes on showing greater attacking threat, it’s the Spaniard who is providing the reliable end product, right now. Johnson needs to start delivering on his potential to justify our faith and the more expensive price tag.
Jan Vertonghen
In a weekend when both Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku delivered, Tottenham’s own Belgian import stepped up with an unlikely double to, at one point, turn the Anfield encounter in Spurs’ favour. Vertonghen has been in strong form alongside Michael Dawson in recent weeks but has still sat out three of the last ten league games. It’s that lack of security, plus the cut-price appeal of Dawson, that has tempered any investment in the classy defender, despite his undoubted ability to contribute attacking returns.
Gareth Bale
While Bale failed to score for a sixth successive league match, his owners will take some consolation from two assists as the Welshman’s delivery allowed Vertonghen to covert his goals. The bandwagaon rolls on.
Papiss Cisse
The Senegal striker shrugged off a midweek illness to start against the Potters and tuck home an at the death winner to send St James’ Park into raptures. Cisse continues to show a spark of form, having now scored five goals in his last 11 league starts. His Fantasy stock is, however, dented somewhat by the continued success of Newcastle’s mid-price midfield assets.
Yohan Cabaye & Moussa Sissoko
The two Frenchman go on delivering from the Magpies midfield. Priced almost identically after Sissoko’s recent dramatic climb in ownership, the pair have provided seven goals and three assists between them since Gameweek 23 and the start of the Newcastle revival. Sissoko remains the favoured option: he has now scored or assisted in five of his six starts for Alan Pardew and with short-term fixtures strong and the run-in also favourable, his claim for a place in our five man midfield goes on gathering pace.
Going Down
Daniel Sturridge
Re-installed in the Liverpool lineup after his recent thigh injury, Sturridge played up with Suarez in a conventional looking 4-4-2 but, when his owners needed him to stand up to the charge of the Uruguayan, Sturridge fell short. Suarez looks on course for a double figure haul, while Sturridge drew his first blank in a Liverpool shirt in the league and was eventually replaced late on. With goal threat on show today, there won’t be alarm bells ringing just yet, but Suarez’s showing offered little encouragement to those who presumed that Sturridge presence would see the balance of power shift a little.
Pepe Reina
An unexpected absentee from the Liverpool team-sheet, the calf injury that kept him out was untimely for those banking on his presence in a Gameweek that found many Fantasy managers scratching around for numbers. Post-match comments indicate that Reina should be fit to return to contention for the trip to Southampton next weekend, however.
Davide Santon
The Santon versus Mathieu Debuchy debate rumbles on in Fantasy quarters but meanwhile, there are signs that Alan Pardew is beginning to look at his options at left-back, with Santon’s defensive work coming under scrutiny. While he has impressed going forward, today Pardew hauled him off and replaced him with a natural left-footer in Massadio Haïdara on 73 minutes. It would hint that Santon’s security of start could yet come under threat over Newcastle’s remaining matches. Perhaps the most important consideration, however, is that Newcastle have now gone seven without a clean sheet.
