Scout Notes – Gameweek 8 – Sunday

Liverpool require two own goals to get the better of QPR, as Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard bag an assist apiece. Eduardo Vargas scores twice for the R’s, Wilfried Bony and Charlie Adam both notch for the second consecutive Gameweek, whilst Victor Moses produces an assist for the fourth league match in succession for Stoke.

Balotelli Fails to Convince
Brendan Rodgers recalled Mario Balotelli to the starting XI in the lone striker role for the QPR clash, but witnessed another wasteful display as his side needed two own goals to beat the basement-dwellers. With frustration amongst the Reds’ faithful now palpable, the situation up front is a far cry from Liverpool’s fluid and threatening forward line of 12 months ago. To compound matters, Rodgers confirmed post-match that Daniel Sturridge is set be sidelined for the next two to four weeks with a calf injury, putting the onus on Balotelli to produce if the Reds are to take full advantage of a kind schedule which see them face Hull, Newcastle, Palace, Stoke and Leicester in the next six.

Sterling’s Still Ticking Over
Despite a multitude of concerns surrounding Raheem Sterling’s fitness after his recent international duties, Liverpool’s starlet played the full 90 minutes at Loftus Road and earned an assist and two bonus points. Whilst the Reds’ forwards may be toiling, the winger has now scored or assisted in five of his last seven starts and sits just two points off the top of the FPL midfield standings. Though Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard threw their hats into the ring with attacking returns yesterday, Sterling still looks the likeliest source of points across those aforementioned fixtures.

Super Sub Vargas Bags A Brace
The Chilean climbed off the bench to score twice for Harry Redknapp’s side in a 12-minute cameo that should see him press for a starting role for QPR’s home encounter with Aston Villa in Gameweek 9. Vargas has now produced two goals, an assist and three bonus points across his last couple of appearances, though at 6.4 still looks too big a punt in a side who have lost four of their last five league outings. The Hoops have five strong fixtures in their next seven (AVL, new, LEI, swa, BUR) that could help turnaround their fortunes, though despite making changes at the back and between the posts, Harry Redknapp’s defence continues to look there for the taking– yesterday’s loss means they have now conceded two or more goals in six of their last seven league matches.

Bony’s Form Looking Up
Yesterday’s penalty strike means the Ivorian now has back-to-back goals to his name, and is finally starting to find his form ahead of an enticing home clash with Leicester next weekend. Available for 8.3 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Bony struggled in the early stages of this season, but his starting spot now looks secure, and with Swansea not having won since Gameweek 3, his rediscovered eye for goal could prove key if they are to turn their fortunes around. However, the Swans’ following three fixtures after the Foxes meeting (eve, ARS, mci) may well deter investors until Gameweek 13.

Sigurdsson On The Slide
His performance against the Potters saw the playmaker leave the field early after serving up a fourth blank in the last five Gameweeks, as his early-season consistency certainly shows signs of waning. Sigurdsson’s recent international displays, allied with his 10-point haul in Gameweek 7, had many hoping he would be able to produce against Mark Hughes’ men, but a total of just nine successful passes in the final third and no shots registered was indicative of his minimal impact. With his form floundering and so many other midfield options flourishing right now, some may consider looking elsewhere once the Leicester game is out of the way.

Stoke Midfield Hit Their Stride
Victor Moses was again in the points yesterday after controversially winning his side’s first-half penalty. That’s now four assists in the Nigerian’s last four appearances, though, despite a favourable 5.5 price tag, he continues to bubble under with an ownership of just 0.4%. It was Charlie Adam who stepped up to take the spot kick and, though he had dropped deeper to cover for the absence of Glen Whelan, the Scot’s penalty-taking duties have ensured he has now netted in each of his last two outings. With Oussama Assaidi and Jon Walters also in the points for the Potters yesterday, their midfield is starting to show some appeal, though managers should be wary that they face a dire upcoming schedule (sou, WHM, tot, BUR , liv, mun, ARS) with those two home encounters looking the only attractive fixtures right now.