After an international break that seemed to take forever, it was back to regular Premier League action. I had taken a solid break from looking at my team, hoping it would inspire me, but as soon as I looked at it again the panic came back. Looking at how many points I was already adrift left me in a ponderous state. My opponent was one of my closest friends Rian (Milito). We usually have weekly FPL chats, but this week we were bitter enemies.
We did have a brief conversation on Thursday, and I used it to flood varying ideas to see if he would bite on anything. During it I even insinuated that I was going to take a points-hit despite having no real ambitions to do so. I had two free transfers as I only made one last week. Mo Salah had not started the season anywhere as prolifically as usual, but that did not stop me from getting him back into my team. To accommodate this however I had to sell Harry Kane up front. I got in Ivan Toney for Kane which saved the necessary amount to get Salah in for his teammate Luis Diaz. To my annoyance when the deadline had passed, I saw that Rian had too got the Egyptian into his team as he surprisingly let go of Kevin De Bruyne. Not only did he get Salah in, he captained him too. Rian clearly did not want to benefit from the Belgian stacking points against the team he supports in the Manchester Derby.
It was another Derby that began the gameweek action; as Arsenal and Tottenham clashed. Antonio Conte's men sat back and tried to hit the Gunners on the break as expected. Arsenal took the lead through Thomas Partey's speculative effort. Spurs levelled through a penalty as Kane let me know I was premature in selling him. Mikel Arteta's men went on to obtain a deserved three points thanks to a fumble by Hugo Lloris and Emerson taking a Royal dump on his teammates. The latter's poor challenge on Gabriel Martinelli had him see red just after Gabriel Jesus had given Arsenal a 2-1 lead which gave Rian points. My opponent was further boosted by Martinelli assisting the third goal for Granit Xhaka despite also having Ivan Perisic in his team who blanked. Heung-min Son's blank meant that I should have let him go to get Salah back in. I thought he would still be on point after his recent goalscoring exploits for club and country but he did not even have a shot on target.
To the 3pm kick offs. Despite Erling Haaland scoring goals like there's no tomorrow, I made a risqué captain choice in Ivan Toney, as Brentford travelled to Bournemouth. It was a move to try and trump Milito. As I had David Raya in goal and Rico Henry in my defence, it was important that the Bees did not concede and luckily they did not. But they were not to score either as it ended in a stalemate. Toney had a volley at the end that he put just wide, 'damn!', but ironically I have to thank him for keeping the Brentford clean sheet intact as he headed the ball off the line from Jefferson Lerma's header. Forwards can help in more ways than goals you know. Crystal Palace took the lead at home to Chelsea which was nice as Milito had Reece James, but the Blues fought back to give Graham Potter his first league win at his new club. The winner was scored by Conor Gallagher, I mean how could he do this, against the team he was on loan at last season. Wilfried Zaha was to blank too which was massive for me.
Newcastle's results had not matched their performances thus far, but they were to get a much needed win at Fulham. Nathaniel Chalobah was dismissed after just 8 minutes and Eddie Howe's men never looked back as they won 4-1. Alexsandar Mitrovic had been a doubt for the game and he did not even last the first half. He did somehow manage to get booked in his cameo meaning he got me a big fat 0! 'Thanks mate!' Miguel Almiron bagged a brace including a sumptuous volley for his first as the Magpies flew into a 4-0 lead, see what I did there? I was watching Liverpool and Brighton (which I will come to shortly) so when I saw Fulham had a consolation goal I thought that my Fabian Schar clean sheet points had gone. Once I browsed the timeline for the game however, I was to see that he had been substituted in the 83rd minute, 'thank you Jesus!'. Jamaal Lascelles came on for Schar and the 10-man Cottagers scored within five minutes of his arrival, maybe Lascelles had a bet on for both teams to score or something. Nick Pope was Milito's keeper so ironically the goal was immensely vital as he also had Kieran Trippier and he was also substituted with Schar so his clean sheet points were intact too.
Now to Anfield; Liverpool have turned into draw specialists after last seasons heroics, and they were to be held again at home by Brighton. The Seagulls now under Roberto De Zerbi are now on a three game unbeaten run at Anfield as they salvaged a 3-3 draw. Leandro Trossard fired them into a 2-goal lead. Trossard almost took Alisson's head off with his second, but without the Brazilian's saves Brighton would have won this easily as Liverpool's defence repeatedly parted like the Red Sea. A Roberto Firmino brace drew the Reds level as he continues his great start to the campaign. And despite him not participating in the Justice League this season shoutout Chad (Goliath) who gave the Brazilian the captaincy this gameweek. An own goal by Adam Webster put the home side ahead only for Trossard to complete his hat-trick after more questionable defending. Salah assisted Firmino's first, but Luis Diaz who started on the bench made Firmino's second. This meant I actually would have had more points without making the changes I made, but I did not want to lose two free transfers, this is the FPL life we chose guys!
The other two games on Saturday, Everton's win at Southampton, and West Ham's home win against Wolves did not affect the head-to-head, so to Sunday we head. The Manchester Derby was the early kick-off, and it did not disappoint. Again it was a case of me overthinking, in my quest to oust Rian it saw me completely overlook giving Erling Haaland the captaincy, as I overrated what United could do a only for Manchester City to win 6-3. Do not let the 3-goal difference fool you, this was a battering! It was only because of two late goals by Anthony Martial that the scoreline looked slightly more respectable. Haaland scored a hat-trick and if he stays injury-free there is a good chance that he will get at least 40 league goals. This is all just ridiculous, the man has to be stopped! The Premier League is looking like a farmers league right now. Phil Foden also helped himself to a Derby day triple as Pep Guardiola's men showed that they are levels above anyone. Joao Cancelo's blank meant that I was only behind Rian by 10 points as Sunday concluded 62-52. This was as the last contest on Sunday a goalless draw between Leeds and Aston Villa neither of us had a player participating.
So Monday saw me needing a masterclass from James Maddison as Rian did not have any players left. The other player I had at the King Power Stadium was Neco Williams, but if Maddison was to prosper it would be at the expense of Williams' points so I was not expecting anything there. Nottingham Forest began shakily but actually should have taken the lead when Taiwo Awoniyi hit the spot when clean through, but then after that it was the Maddison show. Leicester took the lead as Maddison's shot was deflected in. Harvey Barnes made it 2-0 before Maddison was at it again. Clearly Gareth Southgate has an agenda against the man. He said in an interview at a stage that Maddison must get his goals and assists up, Maddison has been scoring and assisting freely ever since and he still cannot get a look-in. The Foxes got a free-kick just outside the box and Maddison sublimely curled it in off the far post for 3-0. With Williams getting booked and Brendan Rodgers' men scoring 3 that left him at minus-1 and he was subsequently taken off at half-time by Steve Cooper. Maddison added to his points-haul in the second half as he assisted the fourth and final goal for substitute Patson Daka as he gained maximum points despite receiving a kate booking. Trust Danny Ward to keep his first clean sheet when he was on my bench, but with David Raya getting one too it was neutralised.
So I had my third win of the head-to-head campaign thanks to Maddison. I still have a lot of work to do, but this was nice nonetheless. The highest points scorer in the Justice League this week was Ash with 105 and incidentally I play him next. To think if I had captained Haaland I would have been in the 90-point region myself. Any no time for dwelling.
@DubulDee
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