Glen Johnson expects to return to training next week for Liverpool, while the Reds coach Mike Marsh elaborates more on the recent switch to 3-5-2. Oscar finds the net for Brazil but has picked up a calf knock. Jozy Altidore nets as the US ease past Jamaica and Phil Bardsley could be set for a surprise return to the Sunderland fold under new boss Gus Poyet.
Johnson Close to Return
Liverpool’s right-back revealed via twitter he was edging towards a first-team comeback somewhat sooner than expected. Johnson took to twitter to announce:
“Six weeks of hard work as paid off. Back with the team on Tuesday. Finally.”
The Scout Says: A potential return for Johnson in time for the Gameweek 8 trip to Newcastle would bring him immediately onto Fantasy radars. Liverpool registered a clean sheet in each of the first three fixtures with Johnson in the XI but have conceded in all of the subsequent four after he was sidelined following a clash with Patrice Evra in the Gameweek 3 win over United. Now down to 5.8 in FPL with an ownership under 5%, he looks an enticing differential – all the more so if the Reds decide to retain their recent 3-5-2 formation, affording him an out of position berth on the right of midfield.
Marsh Discusses Reds 3-5-2
Liverpool coach Mike Marsh hinted that the new 3-5-2 system may not be Brendan Rodgers’ default formation, however, after shifting from 4-2-3-1 in the last couple of league matches. Speaking to the club’s official website, Marsh stressed:
“We have had to adapt. It’s not natural to certain players on the pitch, but it’s not massively different from where we are. It’s a 3-5-2 when we start, but it’s fluid throughout the game. A lot of the stuff that we do in the game are things that we work on anyway, so training hasn’t been radically different. It’s an opportunity to try something different. You need different formations to play against different opposition. We’ve played in that formation now on a couple of occasions, which shows that we can do it and so if we need to flip to it we can do it in the game”.
The Scout Says: Despite the undoubted success of the new system, the picture is likely to become a little clearer when the treatment room empties. At present, Glen Johnson’s absence has had a significant say in the decision to switch to a three-man defence, allowing Jordan Henderson or Raheem Sterling to take the right flank berth instead. In addition, Philippe Coutinho – once fit – also looks tailor-made for such a system with the Brazilian able to slot into the role in “the hole” behind the front two. Given that Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have scored five goals between them in two league games since the Uruguayans’ return from suspension, Rodgers certainly has little reason to change the system right now.
Aspas Struggling to Settle
Liverpool’s summer signing has conceded his lack of game time over the last few matches is becoming an issue after a slow start to his career on Merseyside.
“I’m finding it hard to be a sub at Liverpool having started games in the past few years. When I left Celta Vigo I was aware that to start for Liverpool wasn’t going to be easy. And now the team is winning and we are among the leaders in the Premier League, it’s very hard to get a game. I hope to carry on working hard and little by little to get more game time with Liverpool. I want to change the current situation”.
The Scout Says: Having grabbed 12 goals in 33 La Liga appearances for Celta Vigo last term, Aspas arrived at Anfield with a decent scoring record. So far, though, he’s done little to justify a regular role – handed a start in each of the first three Gameweeks, he failed to find the net and has since been utilised as a sub, with just three minutes of game time over the last two league games. Suarez’s return, allied with a change in system has hardly helped his cause, with the Spaniard looking set for further time on the periphery unless injuries hit hard.
Oscar in the Goals Again
The Chelsea midfielder maintained his recent scoring form by grabbing the second in a 2-0 win over South Korea courtesy of a Paulinho assist. The pair were two of three Premier League starters along with David Luiz, whilst Ramires and Lucas also featured as second-half subs. After the game, Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed Oscar is a doubt for Tuesday’s clash with Zambia, going on to say:
“He had a knock on the calf, and felt a little dizzy. I haven’t decided yet whether he will start.”
The Scout Says: With a long-haul flight back from the friendly (which takes place in China), Oscar’s growing band of Fantasy owners will perhaps be keen for the Blues playmaker to be rested ahead of Saturday’s home game against Cardiff. The 8.8 priced midfielder has been particularly consistent at Stamford Bridge and has racked up double figures in two of his three appearances in front of the Chelsea faithful – over 44,000 FPL managers have already snapped him up on the back of last week’s strike at Norwich. Luiz’ owners will also be hoping Scolari takes it easy on the centre-half – he was the only one of the Premier League-based quintet to play the full 90 minutes last night. Jose Mourinho does, of course, have the option on calling on Gary Cahill as a potential partner for John Terry for the meeting with Cardiff. Cahill has made way in the last two league encounters.
Bardsley In the Black Cats Frame
Gus Poyet’s arrival on Wearside looks good news for Sunderland’s out-of-favour Phil Bardsley. The right-back was frozen out under Paolo Di Canio for disciplinary reasons but has recently recovered from a foot injury and has returned to full training for the Black Cats – reports in the local press suggest he could return to the first-team squad for the trip to Swansea as Poyet looks to bring more Premier League experience to his first XI.
The Scout Says: With his new side sitting six points from safety already, Poyet’s arrival could hand a few faces a lifeline after many were overlooked by Di Canio. The likes of Lee Cattermole has already made a return under the Black Cats’ brief interim boss Kevin Ball and with Di Canio’s raft of summer signings failing to gel or acclimatise quickly, Bardsley may well oust Ondrej Celustka from the right-back berth. Aside from upcoming trips to Hull and Stoke, the schedule remains rough on Sunderland, with the fixtures looking a little kinder from Gameweek 16 onwards – few will be looking to invest right now until the Uruguayan can prove his side are worth our consideration.
Altidore Ends Goal Drought
Poyet was afforded a boost up front after the US international returned to scoring ways in a match against Jamaica that finished in the early hours of yesterday morning. Altidore grabbed the second in a 2-0 win and is starting to find his feet again before a trip to Panama, with the game kicking off at 2.30am Wednesday morning.
The Scout Says: Having arrived on the back of a season which saw him score 23 league goals for AZ Alkmaar, it’s something of an understatement to suggest Altidore has failed to live up to expectations. While the likes of Craig Gardner and Emanuele Giaccherini have chipped in with a couple of goals apiece, the US international has yet to find the net in six league appearances but with Steven Fletcher still sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, Altidore – who is now down to 6.5 in FPL from an initial price of 7.0 – will be handed plenty opportunity to prosper by his manager over the next few weeks. Given the above-mentioned schedule, though, his acquisition is a risk few will be willing to take.
