Arguably the most important week of the season was upon us. It was the massive double gameweek that many had been waiting for. My previous transfers and my use of the ‘Wildcard’ had been with this week in mind, and I intentionally did not make any transfers last week so I would have two free transfers this week. Andrew my friend from secondary school was my gameweek 26 opposition as I was looking for my third win-a-row.
As usual I deliberated over what to do, but as I procrastinated more and more I had to make my changes during the recording of the radio show. With Diogo Jota injured I had thought about getting new Liverpool man Luis Diaz in, I had also thought about getting Wilfried Zaha in as Crystal Palace had two games. This season to an extent had been like no other as there were numerous options, and the best thing to do this year had been to load up in midfield as forwards had not consistently done much damage this campaign. However I eventually decided to double up on Liverpool men at the back, as they played Norwich and Leeds and I could not resist. To get Trent Alexander-Arnold back in my team I had to reluctantly take a 4-point hit, but a double gameweek is obviously the most feasible time to do it I suppose. In midfield I sold the injured Jota for Burnley's Maxwel Cornet as they had a double gameweek, and I also sold Raphinha as I would have benched him anyway as Leeds played Liverpool in their double gameweek and I brought in Wolves' Joao Moutinho. Wolves had two games and I hoped the Portuguese international could deliver as he returned from injury. This freed the cash up to sell Joao Cancelo and get Alexander-Arnold in.
When the deadline had passed I saw that Andrew had just made one change and sold Bernardo Silva to bring in Bukayo Saka for Arsenal's games against Brentford and Wolves. We both captained Mo Salah as literally everyone had but I used my 'Triple Captain' bonus chip as I viewed this as the perfect time. Triple captain had rarely worked for me in the past but I was very hopeful. I had more players involved in double gameweeks than Andrew so I was hoping they all started both games. It was reported that over a million players used their triple captain chip in Salah.
The action started at the London Stadium on Saturday. Andrew had Allan Saint-Maximin but he picked up an injury not long before the game so did not play. Craig Dawson gave West Ham the lead as he scored in consecutive games, but it was cancelled out before half-time by Joe Willock's first of the season. Willock only costs £5.7m could he now go on a scoring-run like he did last season? In the 3pm games; Arsenal eventually got past Brentford 2-1 at the Emirates. Two fine finishes got them the points, the second unfortunately for me came from Bukayo Saka who Andrew had. Outside of the head-to-head battle I was pleased Brentford scored late on as many rivals have Arsenal players in their backline. Watford grabbed a 1-0 win away at Aston Villa and the honeymoon period is over for Steven Gerrard with one win in their last five games. Emmanuel Dennis who I ignored getting in for the Hornets' double gameweek scored the only goal and again Andrew had him in his side. Dennis' goal was assisted by Ismaila Sarr who is another man on my radar. Two Villa men blanked for my opponent however as he had Phillippe Coutinho and Ollie Watkins. We both had Ben Foster in goal so it was good times with his shutout.
Neither of us had anyone playing as Burnley won 3-0 away at Brighton but check this. When I was doing my drafts if I was to get Alexander-Arnold in without selling Cancelo I would have needed an enabler in midfield because of the lack of the funds. Therefore I looked at Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and then I laughed to myself and thought surely not, so trust him to get the Clarets' second goal. I laughed again and then I cried inside while the gif of Sean Dyche laughing played over and over again in my head. At Selhurst Park it was a case of so near but yet so far. To start off the bad news Odsonne Eduoard who had been specifically recruited with this gameweek in mind was on the bench. The Eagles survived a second half disallowed Hakim Ziyech goal, only for the Moroccan to get the winner in the 89th minute. Tyrick Mitchell was so close to clean sheet points that I was literally smelling Lenor...'sheet loads of freshness!', but it was not to be. Liverpool had a scare but came back to beat Norwich at Anfield. I went all out to get Alexander-Arnold into my team, and in true FPL fashion he did not even start as Jurgen Klopp rested him and Andy Robertson with Sunday's League Cup final in mind. Sometimes FPL is not as hard as we make it. My original idea was to sell Jota for Diaz I overlooked it and Diaz started and scored Liverpool's third as they won 3-1. Before that Sadio Mane had levelled and that man Salah made it 2-1. It is a beautiful thing when your triple captain scores I must say, the Egyptian also got maximum bonus points. Salah had the ball cleared off the line too otherwise you may have seen me running through south London topless and believe me no one wants to see that.
As always there are setbacks however. With my 3-man defence picked with full focus on the double gameweek I left Tino Livramento on the bench so trust him to not only get clean sheet points but to also assist as Southampton triumphed 2-0 over Everton. Livramento's high cross to the back post was met by substitute Shane Long, not only was he on my bench he was the bloody last sub...’Ti-nooo!‘. In the evening kick-off; Tottenham somehow won 3-2 at Manchester City to put my beloved Reds back into the title race. City's high line was exploited early on as Heung-min Son found new man Dejan Kulusevski to give Spurs the lead. Pep Guardiola's men levelled as Hugo Lloris gave away another gift before Spurs regained the lead in the second half. Harry Kane produced a brilliant first time finish from Son's ball in putting the ball top bins, 'lovely!'. Kane should have then added to his tally as he was denied low by Ederson’s legs when played in by Son again. England's captain was then to have a goal chalked off for offside. Riyad Mahrez looked like he had salvaged a point for the league leaders with an injury time penalty, but there was still time for Kane to head in the winning goal in the 95th minute...'SCENES!!'. Kulusevski provided the cross and he may be a steal at £6m. Two goal contributions from both my Spurs men I could not ask for more really as this put me ahead at Saturday's conclusion.
Sunday saw Manchester United win 4-2 away at Leeds and Raphinha made me partially rue selling him as he came off the bench to score the equaliser as they fought back from 2-0 down before losing. Wolves got a 2-1 home win over Leicester in the second game. I went with Moutinho over Ruben Neves so you know it was Neves who gave Bruno Lage's men the lead. Ademola Lookman levelled to deny Andrew of clean sheet points for Conor Coady, but I was to get nothing from Moutinho who came off to my annoyance before the hour-mark.
Midweek saw Burnley win again this time 1-0 against Tottenham. Trust Spurs to win the harder of their two games and then lose, very Spusy indeed. With what they did against City you have to take it I suppose. The inspiration behind my team name Ben Mee got the goal as he had a gameweek haul of 21...'F**k Mee!'. Brownhill assisted the goal as I was left with egg on my face as the enabler bagged 16 points in the week. Crystal Palace beat their old boss Roy Hodgson as they won 4-1 at Watford. Conor Gallagher justified Andrew's faith in him despite him only being able to play in one game of the Eagles' double week with a goal and a 'fantasy' assist. The aforementioned Zaha bagged a late brace another man I overlooked.
Liverpool demolished Leeds 6-0 at Anfield. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold started (thank you Jurgen!). Robertson assisted and got a fantasy assist as his ball in produced the handball for Liverpool's first penalty. Salah scored two penalties and played an incisive pass to Joel Matip for the Reds' second goal. It was about time Matip found the net on one of his marauding runs forward. 84 points then if you triple captained Salah as the most transferred in man and the most captained man delivered for his ‘army‘ of managers, ‘Salahvation!’. His teammate Mane scored twice too so if you triple captained him you would have got a similar total this week. Kudos to any of you who had them both. Thursday saw Arsenal stage a late comeback to beat Wolves 2-1. Moutinho blanked again so I could not get to 150 points outside of the points-hit as I wished. There was nothing from Saka but my win had been wrapped up on Wednesday anyway.
So not quite the Ronnie O'Sullivan as I was one away with 146 points which was amazing nonetheless, and that was the highest score in the 'Justice League' this season meaning I am on course for £25 out of the seasons' pot. Unbelievably that is not my highest ever FPL score as I got 147 in the 2018/19 season when I used my bench boost. I remain 7th in the head-to-head league but I am level on points with 5th and 6th place on 48 points. I have gone back on top of another classic league also, so now top four of them. Mo Salah god bless you Sir!
@DubulDee
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