This week my opponent was Khurram (K). K lives and breathes FPL, he is always plotting a way to defeat his next head-to-head opposition. We communicate quite frequently, but that was not to be the case this time around, we were arch-enemies. He finished in the money positions last season, and despite a slow start to this season, he is always a major threat. I was eager to return to winning ways after my defeat to Rian, but this was a stern test.
I had taken Harry Kane out last week unsuccessfully as Gabriel Jesus drew a blank against West Brom, so my only change was to bring Kane back in for Jesus. Just before the deadline Khurram told me that he had taken an 8-point hit. Usually you would think that if you started well then that would be a wrap for your opponent from them taking a deduction, but last time he took a major points hit he crushed Aasim, so I was taking nothing for granted. The big danger was that he had captained Bruno Fernandes who was a points-machine, Fernandes blanked last time against Sheffield United, so it was more than likely he would have a big game now.
The action started at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace and Liverpool met. There had been rumours floating around the day before that Mo Salah would be rested, so I decided to not give him the captaincy this time around. Liverpool produced a destructive display, in a performance as clinical as you will see to win 7-0. Salah coming off the bench made absolutely no difference as he scored twice and got an assist. Sometimes knowing too much can hurt you, it was unlikely my choice of captain Harry Kane would tally more points than that against Leicester. Andy Robertson got an assist to add to his clean sheet points and that gave me an early 18-point lead. Next up Manchester City won 1-0 at Southampton. K had Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne in his side, so this result really did not help me at all. De Bruyne assisted the winning goal for Raheem Sterling and Dias walked away with all three bonus points, 'damn', my lead had been cut into here. The third match gave K more points as Everton beat Arsenal 2-1. Dominic Calvert-Lewin got a 'fantasy' assist for the opening goal as his header went in off of Rob Holding.
Sunday began with Brighton at home to Sheffield United, and there was no Tariq Lamptey, which meant I would be getting points off the bench from Kyle Walker-Peters. The game was to finish 1-1. Next up was a huge game between Spurs and Leicester at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, and I had no less than three men playing. Leicester were to run out victors 2-0. Jamie Vardy scored the first from the penalty spot after Serge Aurier produced an idiotic challenge. He's been so good recently, but he just could not help himself and referred to type. Vardy was to get a 'fantasy' assist too, as his header went in off Toby Alderweireld for the second goal. Kane obviously drew a blank after me giving him the captaincy for the first time this season and Heung-min Son should have scored in the second half. Things had set themselves up for K to take the lead. My thoughts were to be compounded as Manchester United ran riot against Leeds in a 6-2 win. Not even two minutes had gone and Fernandes already had himself an assist. He went on to score twice too, including a penalty and suddenly Khurram had flown into the lead. I was so livid after Fernandes' first half goal that I actually stopped watching the game. So in the last game on Sunday I needed West Brom to score so Aston Villa did not get a clean sheet and I needed at least one good contribution from Ollie Watkins...I was to get neither. Villa won 3-0 in a game that was mostly one-sided. Watkins had a goal ruled out for a tight offside in the second half, and the Baggies did not trouble that much as they had ten men for a large portion of the game. 'Big' Sam Allardyce has never been relegated, but unless there is somewhat of a miracle, the buck will probably stop here. I will not say anymore as they play Liverpool next. Emiliano Martinez' clean sheet had basically killed me. I could only make things competitive if Pedro Neto and Jarrod Bowen had the games of their lives on Monday, and added to that if West Ham somehow got a clean sheet.
When Monday did come, things worsened. Burnley took the lead against Wolves and Ashley Barnes' goal was assisted by Charlie Taylor, another one of the men that Khurram had got in. It ended 2-1 to Burnley; but Pedro Neto drew a blank, his performance was not as lively as expected. Last up Chelsea won 3-0 against West Ham at Stamford Bridge. It was not a 3-0 game but that is how it goes. Jarrod Bowen was denied a goal at 1-0 for a tame push on Thiago Silva. The replay then showed Bowen did not even push him, Silva tripped himself up. I would have lost anyway, but that pretty much sums things up. So K destroyed me, despite taking an 8-point hit, back-to-back defeats now in the head-to-head league is not good enough I must respond. In the traditional scoring leagues I have lost the lead in two more leagues, not good times at all. After getting 26 points from the first game between Andy Robertson and Mo Salah, 30 points between nine other players is just not acceptable in the slightest.
@DubulDee
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