Sergio Aguero emerges from the bench to grab a goal and assist in City’s win over Cardiff. Santi Cazorla bags a brace against Fulham, Yohan Cabaye strikes twice as Newcastle win at West Ham, Adam Johnson helps Sunderland scramble a point at home to Southampton, whilst Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard grab the goals as Liverpool are held at home by Villa.
Aguero Shows His Class
Utilised as a sub midway through the second-half of yesterday’s home clash with Cardiff, the Argentine still found time to end the afternoon as City’s highest scoring forward. After recovering from a calf complaint to feature in the midweek FA Cup win over Blackburn, Aguero vindicated the decision of the 201,000 Fantasy managers who snapped up his services by bagging a goal and assist in the 4-2 triumph. Furthermore, it arrived on a day where Alvaro Negredo’s scoring streak at the Etihad came to an end – the Spaniard had netted in each of the last six home games but was sacrificed just after the hour mark as Edin Dzeko was given the full 90 minutes instead. Having risen 0.2 last week, Aguero looks set to increase by 0.3 before City roll up to White Hart Lane a week on Wednesday – Fantasy managers with little cash to spare may need to reassess their plans before the Argentine’s price spirals beyond their budgetary means.
Toure at the Midfield Summit
The Ivorian was transferred out by over 88,000 Fantasy managers last week after he missed the cup win over Blackburn due to a back problem. Immediately reinstalled to the City starting XI, Toure plundered the points yet again as a goal and assist continued his outstanding consistency under Pellegrini – he has now produced attacking returns in 13 of 21 appearances this term and, impressively, has only stuttered to back-to-back blanks once. Yesterday’s display helped Toure up to 136 points in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game – three ahead of Eden Hazard at the top of the midfield standings and second only to Luis Suarez overall.
Johnson Sparks Sunderland Revival
The Black Cats wide-man continued the form that saw him tear apart the Fulham defence in the previous Gameweek. With Sunderland 2-0 down midway through the first period, Johnson proved the catalyst for a comeback that helped salvage a draw against Southampton by grabbing a goal and assist in yesterday’s lunchtime opener. Having also secured the maximum bonus, he has now returned 36 points in the last two matches – with Stoke and Hull paying visit to the Stadium of Light in the next three Gameweeks, interest in the 6.4-priced midfielder looks set to intensify as he becomes increasingly crucial to the Wearsiders’ battle to beat the drop.
Injury Concerns for Saints
Mauricio Pochettino watched Jay Rodriguez end a three-match scoring drought at the Stadium of Light yesterday. The former Burnley man overtook City’s Alvaro Negredo in the FPL forward standings after notching his ninth league goal of the season but the 2-2 draw came at a price after team-mates Dejan Lovren and Gaston Ramirez were both stretchered off. Post-match, their manager revealed he is “quite worried” after the duo were taken to hospital for assessment.
Cabaye at the Double
The Newcastle midfielder helped his side end a run of three straight losses by scoring twice in a 3-1 win at Upton Park. There’s no question Cabaye is a different proposition altogether this season since Alan Pardew moved him to the role in “the hole” behind Loic Remy in a 4-2-3-1. Yesterday’s double means he has now scored seven for the season, better than his best ever tally in the Premier League with 16 games to go. Coming in at 7.1, he has now scored or assisted in 10 of 17 starts and, with Norwich, Sunderland Villa in the next five, he’s likely to have earned himself a place in many a winter wildcard midfield after serving up his highest haul of the season.
Cazorla Brace Keeps Ozil in the Shade
The Spaniard finally delivered the Fantasy returns his recent displays have been hinting at. Prior to yesterday’s home clash with Fulham, Cazorla had been a bitter disappointment, producing a single goal and two assists in 15 league appearances – his two goal-haul against the Cottagers kept Arsenal at the summit and served a reminder of his differential potential. Priced at 9.5 in FPL, Cazorla is cheaper than Mesut Ozil (10.1) and currently sits in just 2.5% of Fantasy teams, though with Aaron Ramsey expected back in time for the next Gameweek, he is likely to be overlooked once again. Ozil’s owners will be concerned by his recent form – the German has now drawn blanks over each of his last four and has now played a part in just one of the last 10 goals his side have scored when he has been on the pitch.
Palace Backline Helped Pulis Defeat Potters
A solitary Jason Puncheon effort was enough for the Eagles boss to get one over his former employers as his new side climbed out of the drop-zone. The 1-0 win over Stoke continued Palace’s run of resilient displays at Selhurst Park since Ian Holloway’s departure – it’s four clean sheets in six in front of their own supporters now, with the likes of Joel Ward and Danny Gabbidon continuing to offer outstanding value at home. With Hull and West Brom the next two visitors, further defensive returns look on the cards.
Chester Worry for Tigers
The 4.0-priced Hull centre-half has proven a popular pick around these parts but his early withdrawal during yesterday’s defeat at Norwich will have Fantasy managers worried. Chester lasted just 15 minutes of the 1-0 loss before being replaced by Maynor Figueroa in the Tigers’ back-three – early reports suggest he has picked up another hamstring problem. His owners will be sweating on the prognosis, given that he missed eight Gameweeks earlier in the season with a similar complaint.
Benteke on the Up
Having ended his long scoring drought against Arsenal last Monday evening, the Belgian continued his return to form by grabbing the second of Villa’s goals at Anfield. Benteke’s pair of strikes over the last week was the first time since his double Gameweek 1 that he has netted in back-to-back league matches and a sign, potentially, that he is set to offer us a legitimate option for our three-man frontlines. With three favourable home games in the next six (WBA, WHM, NOR) supplemented by trips to Cardiff and Newcastle, the 8.7-priced Villa striker certainly has the schedule to bolster his chances of further attacking returns.
Gerrard and Sturridge in the Goals as Suarez Draws Rare Anfield Blank
The Uruguayan failed to score in a home game for the first time this term and delivered just an assist as Brendan Rodgers switched formations to accommodate Daniel Sturridge. The Reds boss started the game with a 4-4-2 before switching to 4-3-3 as his side struggled to match the midlands outfit in the centre of the park. Sturridge’s strike was his eleventh set of attacking returns in 14 appearances, whilst Gerrard once again delivered the goods for the Merseysiders. Owned by a mere 7% of FPL sides, the Reds’ skipper slotted home a converted spot-kick to take his recent run to 11 sets of returns in his last 12 starts – like Toure, he may not be the “flair” option but is providing a consistency that few midfielders are able to approach.
