As the top of the head-to-head tables continues to be extremely tight in a dramatic finale for the money positions, I think we may have a winner, but I will calculate everything when I have completed this blog. I needed to get this done as soon as possible so I can go back to celebrating...because Liverpool are champions, you may not have known, so just letting you know just in case.
The penultimate week in the season was here, and I made no changes to give myself two transfers on the last day. With Liverpool unlikely to field a strong team on the last day at Newcastle, this would leave me with a lot of money at my disposal if I took any 'Pool players out of my side. I was up against Kieran who despite his position in the table, had been quite rampant since the restart.
The first match of the gameweek between Burnley and Norwich did not feature any of my fantasy starting XI, so we go to Sunday. The proceedings began with the Derby between Bournemouth and Southampton. Just before halftime; Danny Ings continued his great form, with another lovely finish into the bottom corner, which is slowly becoming his trademark. He then had a chance to double the Saints' lead and push nearer to getting the Golden Boot, when they were awarded a penalty. James Ward-Prowse allowed him to take it, and I was beginning to think that i had made an error by not giving him the captaincy this week, but Aaron Ramsdale saved his tame effort. So Ings lost me two points, but they went on to win 2-0, and Alex McCarthy saves covered the points that he lost me luckily. The Cherries were a little unlucky to have a late equaliser ruled out for offside, and they just may be confined to the drop now. The only negative from this game, was that I feared doubling up on Southampton players so Jack Stephens was on my bench and he got two bonus points for his solid performance.
The second game was between Tottenham and Leicester. Son thought that he had given Spurs the lead, and Harry Kane would have been credited with the assist after his lovely pass, but the goal was then rightfully given as an own goal. Kane scored two very good goals to end the first half, one on his left foot, and then a sweet right footed curling shot, and I was left thinking that that I had made a huge mistake not captaining him. Kieran had used his 'Free Hit' bonus chip and had given the captaincy to Kane, so I was already staring defeat right in the face. I really needed a Jamie Vardy consolation here, but it did not come, he had earlier missed a decent headed opportunity.
Monday's first game that had implications for me was at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United met Everton. I had doubled up on United men at the back, only to find out that John Lundstram was on the bench, so I hoped that he would not come on so that I could get Jack Stephens' points. All seemed well at halftime with the game goalless as the Blades survived Dominic Calvert-Lewin hitting the post, but before I had even started watching the second half Everton took the lead through Richarlison, man I was disappointed. To add insult to injury, Lundstram came on in the second half to no avail as Everton got a 1-0 win. Later on Wolves had a straightforward 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace. Unfortunately on a rare occasion that I had Wolves' Leander Dendoncker in my starting lineup, he was not able to score, as he played as part of the back three, rather then his recent midfield berth when he bagged two goals.
Tuesday began with Watford being trounced by Manchester City at Vicarage Road, I had expected this to happen, hence naming McCarthy as my keeper instead of Ben Foster. The plot twist however was that Foster saved a Raheem Sterling penalty, so along with the plethora of other saves he made, he ended up getting nine points overall which was two more than McCarthy's total despite Sunday's clean sheet. In the latter game at Villa Park, Aston Villa showed that the way to beat Arsenal is to let them have the ball. Despite the Gunners having 67% possession, they hit the woodwork but they never had a shot on target and Villa won 1-0. This was stark contrast to not having more than 31% of the ball against Liverpool and Man City in the FA Cup and winning both games. Egyptian international Trezeguet got the goal, with a brilliant volley from a corner that David Trezeguet would have been proud of. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was distracted on the corner having a chinwag with Tyrone Mings, probably trying to recruit him for next season, Mings was alert and his leap to head the ball caught everyone out before Trezeguet smashed it in. John McGinn came ever so close to scoring, but Emiliano Martinez saved well from his powerful effort.
So last stop was on Wednesday at Anfield, as Manchester United and West Ham's 1-1 draw did not involve any of my team. In what for a neutral was box office entertainment; Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-3 in a humdinger before they finally lifted their 19th league title. My captain Mo Salah assisted but was woeful in front of goal, driving a chance he normally gobbles up well wide, the corner flag was more at threat than the back of the net! Unbelievably Sadio Mane did not get on the scoresheet either, but thankfully Roberto Firmino ended his long goal drought at Anfield, and despite it having absolutely no effect on my team whatsoever I was still pleased for him. Mane did at least get a 'fantasy' assist as he won the free kick for Trent Alexander-Arnold's sublime goal. In fact all of my three Liverpool players assisted as Andy Robertson's lovely cross was put in by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Liverpool's lack of concentration almost cost them but they hung on. So despite his team Chelsea losing, Kieran got scant consolation in a win over me. I now play Jermaine who has led the table for a large majority of the campaign, but it may be too late for him as I believe Andrew has bagged the title, as Khurram looks like he lost too. But I will confirm everything shortly, so make sure you are here for the final instalment of the season after Sunday's games.
@DubulDee
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