After putting Muji away in gameweek 20, I was rewarded with playing his best mate Khurram (K). Muji was of course fuming about my one-point victory over him, and he was hoping his buddy could put an end to my winning streak. Khurram was Mr FPL. He lives it and breathes it, he was always checking statistics and plotting for his next opponent. Our battles were usually entertaining but this one had added incentive...well for Muji it did anyway!
In terms of team selection, I had been very impressed with Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma (£5m), so I drafted him in at the expense of Andreas Pereira. Pereira's ability always made him a threat, but I did not want to sell Miguel Almiron just yet, so I sold the Fulham man. Saying that however Almiron's time in my time may be soon coming to an end as I think his hot streak has well and truly concluded. I do not want the Paraguayan's value to decline too much so I have really got a big decision to make. With Mitoma having such low ownership I was excited about the differential he would be, only to see after the deadline that Khurram had him too, 'rage!'. My opponent sold Mason Mount to get the Japanese international into his team, and we both of course captained Erling Haaland.
The action began early on Saturday, as Liverpool hosted Chelsea. This game is usually a top of the table/top 4 clash, but both teams were languishing in mid-table. The game had been described as 'El Crapico' by some. In the end it played out like the teams' positions in the table, as there was not much quality on display and it finished goalless. If any of the teams had looked more likely to win however than it was the away side. Kai Havertz had a first half goal ruled out for an offside and new signing Benoit Badiashile was denied by Alisson. Liverpool best chances fell to Cody Gakpo, the first he blazed over as he auditioned for the NFL. His second chance, he kicked the ground and the ball went straight to Kepa Arrizabalaga. Liverpool kept a clean sheet, can you believe it?! Whilst Andy Robertson got me a much needed return, it was neutralised as Khurram had Kepa in goal and he picked up 9 points.
In the 3pm contests; Leicester and Brighton met at the King Power Stadium. Not even half an hour had gone and that man Mitoma showed why I brought him in, as he curled a great effort into the top corner. Leicester levelled through Marc Albrighton before Harvey Barnes put them in front. The Seagulls were to salvage a point through a header by teenager Evan Ferguson. Ferguson and Mitoma's prices have both gone up now. West Ham and Everton met as the weekends' themed games continued, this one was garnered the 'El Sackico', with both teams struggling so badly. Jarrod Bowen had been such a great fantasy asset for the last two seasons that his price was set at £8.5m to start this campaign. Bowen had only been at £6.5m to begin the 2021/22 season. His price drastically fell to £8m as he had not been able to deliver, but Everton were to be the unlucky ones, as he picked them to turn up against. He bagged a brace in a 2-0 triumph, and both goals were from close range as the Toffees defending showed why they are currently where they are. Emerson had a shot pushed onto the bar by Jordan Pickford or it really would have been 'party time' for me. But I was more than grateful for the clean sheet points anyway as he does not always start. At £4m Emerson can really be a strong asset if he continues to bomb forward if given the desired minutes. Frank Lampard was duly fired after this defeat as El Sackico came to fruition. At least Lampard still has the fact he shouted at Jurgen Klopp on his résumé.
In the late game my local team Crystal Palace welcomed Newcastle. But there were to be no goals. Fabian Schar went on a run and found Joelinton but he only shot tamely at Vicente Guaita. Tripper was booked early in the second period, but as always he somehow still walked away with maximum bonus points to Khurram and many others' pleasure. Having a defender who takes set pieces is so vital as they can clock up points for chances created and this can make a massive difference in the bonus points system. I now for only the second time this season had a sweep of returns across my defence. All my three defenders getting a six did feel kind of weird however, if you catch my drift. Saturday ended with me ahead 34-27.
Sunday saw two 2pm kick offs. Sky Sports will be ruing their choice of game as they picked the goalless draw out of the two. Leeds and Brentford could not be separated at Elland Road in a game that many thought would be littered with goals. David Raya was easily the busier of the two keepers and he made decent stops from Rodrigo Moreno and Wilfried Gnoto. Raya was to get the maximum bonus much to my delight after a tense finish where Jesse Marsch's men piled on the pressure. Simultaneously, Manchester City took 40 minutes to break the deadlock at home to Wolves, but went on to win 3-0. Erling Haaland scored with a header from Kevin De Bruyne's cross before doubling the lead with a second half penalty. Khurram had De Bruyne in his team, but he needed more from him. Haaland then before the hour completely his 4th hat-trick of the campaign after a ridiculous pass from Jose Sa was intercepted, Jose, City do not need any help scoring goals mate. It could have been much worse for Wolves if it was not for goal-line clearances and poor finishing. Mahrez laid the third goal on for Haaland, and had a goal disallowed. As I have not had Haaland much this season, it was the first time that he had scored a hat-trick when I had him as captain.
So to the big one. In stark contrast to Saturdays's Liverpool and Chelsea fixture, Arsenal and Manchester United now had some relevance again. Were Arsenal going to prove themselves in a challenging affair again? Were United going to put themselves in a position to maybe make a title push? With Joao Cancelo not playing earlier it meant Khurram would get the first defender off of his bench and that was Luke Shaw. With him having William Saliba too, he would not have minded a goalless draw in this case. Arsenal had the better start but Marcus Rashford put United ahead with a great individual goal. One of Rashford's pseudonyms is 'Meek Meals' and he sent Thomas Partey for a 'hotdog' before 'serving' Aaron Ramsdale. I applauded the goal but my eye twitched as Khurram had him. Arsenal bounced back through an Eddie Nketiah header, meaning both Khurram's defenders in this game could not return unless it was an attacking one. Bukayo Saka scored a fine strike to put the Gunners in front, before Lisandro Martinez levelled it up again. Ramsdale made a superb stop from Rashford before Martinez's equaliser. A thrilling finish saw Arsenal take the spoils as Nketiah was in the right place to flick the ball in. At £6.6m Nketiah is proving to be of great value in the absence of Gabriel Jesus. Jesus...United you had one job...and you failed! With Luke Shaw getting booked I got off lightly in this match despite Rashford's goal as Gabriel Martinelli blanked. I now headed into Monday with an eight point lead, 86-78.
Fulham and Tottenham on Monday at Craven Cottage, which meant it was Alexsandar Mitrovic versus Harry Kane to decide things. I was also keeping an eye on Andreas hoping he was not making me regret selling him. Fulham were the much more threatening team in the first half, but Spurs took the lead right on the stroke of half-time. Heung-min Son is actually alive believe it or not, and he played the ball into Kane who turned and curled a top draw finish into the corner from just outside the box. England's captain is now joint with the late Jimmy Greaves as Spurs' all-time leading scorer on 266 goals. Kane almost added a second but Bernd Leno tipped his header over and it was to end 1-0 to the away side.
So with Mitrovic's blank I prevailed with my 4th straight win. 92 points was my highest score of the season thus far and in any other week I would not have had to sweat about a victory until the last game, but Khurram knows what he is doing. The break for the 4th round of the FA Cup has bad timing as I am rating to go but I must wait until February.
@DubulDee
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