Gylfi Sigurdsson emerges from the bench to score twice in Swansea’s win over Plymouth. Stevan Jovetic bags a brace as City hammer AC Milan, Diego Costa nets on his Chelsea debut, Raheem Sterling grabs Liverpool’s winner against Olympiakos, whilst a Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike earns Leicester victory over Everton:
Sigurdsson at the Double
The Icelandic international needed just seven minutes of his second debut for the Swans to serve notice of his Fantasy potential for the season ahead. Emerging from the bench on 65 minutes, Sigurdsson was immediately handed dead-ball duties for the Welsh side and his deflected corner was forced home by Jordi Amat before he struck twice – the second courtesy of a superb long-range free-kick – in a convincing 4-0 win.
After the match, Garry Monk (who will be without Leon Britton and Marvin Emnes for the start of the season due to knee injuries) lavished praise on the Icelandic international after a sparkling display. Priced at 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Sigurdsson now looks set to pick up in ownership ahead of a schedule which hands Swansea four strong home fixtures and a trip to Sunderland in the opening seven Gameweeks:
“From the start of the summer, he was a player I really wanted to bring in straight away. He’s a top player – actually a better player than when he was first here. He’s come in and contributed straight away today. He adds quality to our squad, which is what we want. It helps that he already knows how this club works. He knows me well, as well as a few of the boys, so in terms of settling in, that will help him.”
Costa Opens Blues Account
Chelsea’s summer signing from Atletico Madrid netted on his debut as Jose Mourinho’s side came from behind to defeat Slovenian outfit NK Olimpija Ljubljana 2-1. Chelsea started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Cesc Fabregas fielded in the double-pivot alongside Nemanja Matic, before a change in tactics saw them shift to 4-3-3, with the former Arsenal skipper afforded more license to break forward. As a result, Fabregas – who took most of his side’s corners when on the pitch – supplied the pass for Costa’s first goal for the club before Kurt Zouma notched the winner from close-range just after the hour mark. In defence, Mourinho started with Cesar Azpilicueta and Filipe Luis as his full-backs but the Blues boss fielded eight defenders over the course of the 90 minutes, meaning Fantasy managers are no closer to ascertaining his preferred backline ahead of the new campaign.
Jovetic Bags a Brace in City Rout
The Premier League champions look to have quickly found their form after demolishing AC Milan 5-1 last night. Manuel Pellegrini utilised his non-World Cup players for the showdown and forgotten man Stevan Jovetic caught the eye with a two-goal haul against the Italians to suggest he’s finally put his injury woes behind him and offer a valid option to City for the start of the season, with Alvaro Negredo set for months on the sidelines. Elsewhere, Jesus Navas maintained his impressive pre-season form with a goal and assist to stake a claim for inclusion, whilst fellow wide man Scott Sinclair was afforded the full 90 minutes and also managed to get amongst the goals.
After the match, Pellegrini talked up Jovetic’s prospects for the season ahead – prior to last night, the former Fiorentina forward was far off the Fantasy radar after mustering a mere just two league starts in his debut campaign:
“Well Stevan had a very bad luck last year, he had a lot of injuries the whole year, so it’s very difficult for a player to have an important performance when he cannot play three games in a row. In this year he starts the pre-season – well he finished last as well – playing well and I think that now he works continually every day he will demonstrate why he’s here in Manchester City because I think he’s a very good player.”
Sterling Fires Reds to Victory
Brendan Rodgers fielded a number of his key players as Liverpool narrowly beat Greek side Olympiakos 1-0. Regulars such as Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling all started the match – the latter two combined for the Merseysiders’ match-winner with just over five minutes on the clock, as Sterling vindicated the decision of the 16% FPL managers who already have him on board. New boys Emre Can and Lazar Markovic were also named in the XI – intriguingly, the former (at 5.5 in FPL) was fielded as the most advanced central midfielder in a 4-3-3 and looks one to monitor if Rodgers views him as a regular starter.
After the game, though, the Reds boss was admitted he was particularly pleased with the display of his front three as he looks ahead to the first season of the post-Luis Suarez era:
“I’ve seen a difference in Daniel since he came back. He has obviously got confidence from the World Cup and his season last year. I think he’s ready to take on the mantle. He got 20-odd goals last season so he’s a striker of great value. Markovic will only get better and better. He showed great strength when he burst through and hopefully later on when he picks up that speed and sharpness in his game, he’ll go on and finish that. We’ve got good speed. Raheem Sterling is always a threat – he’s a joy to watch. I thought those three were really exciting.”
Taylor-Fletcher Gives Foxes the Edge
A Gary Taylor-Fletcher goal was enough to give Leicester victory over Everton in a rehearsal for both clubs’ Gameweek 1 showdown. Nigel Pearson named a strong starting line-up, fielding new signing Leonardo Ulloa alongside David Nugent in a 4-4-2, with Marc Albrighton fielded on the flank, whilst Liam Moore (4.0 in FPL) was handed the full 90 minutes alongside skipper Wes Morgan at centre-half. The Foxes boss made numerous changes at the break and switched to a 4-2-3-1 as the Championship winners held on to clinch victory.
After the game, Pearson explained his decision to field both Moore and Morgan for the entire match, after he handed 18 others 45 minutes apiece:
“It’s a numbers game. We’ve come with a group of players and we’re doubled up in some areas but not others. Centre-backs won’t run as far as central midfield players or wide players, so there is some thought that goes into it, but they’re both very fit lads capable of playing 90 minutes. It’s valuable time to re-sharpen their own games.”
For Everton, Roberto Martinez afforded 20 players game time in their second friendly of the summer. With the club’s World Cup players still yet to feature, and Seamus Coleman omitted from the clash due to a hamstring concern, the Toffees boss fielded a mixture of first-teamers, fringe players and youngsters. The likes of Sylvain Distin, Aiden McGeady, Gareth Barry and Steven Pienaar were all handed game time as Martinez switched from 4-2-3-1 (with Steven Naismith as the lone striker) to an experimental 3-4-3 after the break but the Merseysiders were unable to find a way past Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal.
