This week I was up against Khurram (K). He was an FPL-mad individual and a former ‘Justice League’ champion, who was the life of any group chat he was in. I had not even checked who I was up against when he was already calling me out in the FPL group chat, and then I knew. I really had to win this, only his best mate Muji was superior to him when it came to trolling. I needed a plan, and I decided to use my ‘free hit’ bonus chip.
I did not want to let go of Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland just yet but as Manchester City were travelling to Liverpool, I would have benched them both regardless. Therefore, the free hit to me made sense as I could replace both players with men I really expected to deliver and this got me pumped up, ‘finish him!’ was running through my head. Khurram took a points-hit as he sold Dwight McNeil and Haaland for my nemesis Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak, I also got in the latter for my free hit team. Cole Palmer was my opponent’s captain, but I went with Mo Salah who has a solid record against Pep Guardiola’s men. In the end Salah was the most-captained man anyway this week. As we owned both players whichever captain came out on top was going to be quite interesting.
The action started at the Amex Stadium on Friday as Brighton hosted Southampton. I brought in Kaoru Mitoma, and he should have given the Seagulls the lead. Mitoma fired wide with keeper Joe Lumley off his line after the ball was given away. Thankfully, Mitoma was to justify my selection as he did well to head in a great ball by Tariq Lamptey, Despite Flynn Downes getting a second half equaliser for the Saints, Mitoma was still able to get maximum bonus points as things started well for me as Russell Martin’s men were unlucky not to walk away with all three points. A lot of FPL content creators had encouraged people to get the in-form Joao Pedro, but he did not return as he was withdrawn after 72 minutes.
Saturday, saw another of my selections scored as Yoane Wissa levelled things up for Brentford at home to Leicester, before the Bees went on to win 4-1. I let go of Bryan Mbeumo to get in James Maddison, so I was delighted that he blanked as Khurram had the Cameroonian. He had an assist taken away from him as Kevin Schade who scored the goal was not who Mbeumo was trying to pass to, he was trying to find Wissa when the ball touch a touch before Schade found the net. Wout Faes was also in my opponent’s team, and he got him a big fat zero. In true FPL fashion, Isak picked up a knock and was withdrawn after just 22 minutes as we both were to suffer. The game was to end 1-1 at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace scored with virtually the last kick.
Nottingham Forest beat Ipswich 1-0 and although none of us had any players in this fixture, it annoyed me as I strongly considered having Matz Sels, Ola Aina or Chris Wood, and they all returned as Wood scored from the penalty spot. Matheus Cunha was the most transferred in player and I said to my co-host Darren B. (D-Man) that as I let go of Jorgen Strand Larsen this week for Cunha that Larsen would score. And he did just that as he bagged not only once but twice, nevertheless Wolves still lost 4-2 at home to Bournemouth as Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick of penalties. Kluivert (£5.4m) scored four times in November and could be a good enabler as the Cherries have a decent run of fixtures until facing Liverpool in February. Evanilson (£6m) is another Bournemouth man who could help your team as I have said previously, he did not score this week but won all three penalties and returned double figures.
In the late kick-off, Arsenal thumped West Ham 5-2 at the London Stadium. Things could not have got off to a worse start for me as Saka made the first two goals and then won a penalty for the third. As he had David Raya, West Ham helped me by pulling back two goals both by defenders, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) and Emerson (£4.4m) and they have reasonable games coming up so keep your eye on them. Saka was to add a goal to his points tally as the Gunners got another penalty that Lukasz Fabianski should have saved to complete a crazy first half. After a great start Khurram had now completely eradicated my lead as Saturday concluded 23-23 and I was livid, ‘damn you Saka!’. He messaged the group taunting me that he had made a comeback.
Sunday was always going to be huge as all my backline was still to play. It got off to a bad start. Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0, and the second goal was setup by Palmer for a man in-form in Enzo Fernandez (£4.8m). I thought I had got away with Khurram’s captain pick when Palmer produced a great strike for 3-0 in the 83rd minute. Whilst that was happening Tottenham got my hopes up for absolutely no reason. I had Pedro Porro back in my side only for them to concede a 67th minute goal and draw 1-1 with Fulham, therefore there was nothing from Maddison either. With these results I had fallen further behind and needed to be saved by the team I support Liverpool, as I had tripled up on them.
The Reds got off to a good start against Manchester City and made it count as they took the lead through Cody Gakpo after a great ball by Salah. They should have scored more in the first half, and then Salah missed a guilt-edged chance in the second period. I was extremely nervous as City started to have more possession and I had doubled up in defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold was then taken off for Jarrell Quansah and his clean sheet points were secured. Arne Slot’s men then hit City on the break and Luis Diaz won a penalty. Salah tucked away the spot-kick and that was a wrap for Khurram’s brave effort as Liverpool held on to their clean sheet winning 2-0.
I always when possible try to do what I believe others will not seem feasible. Adding Virgil van Dijk to Alexander-Arnold was a calculated risk as Pep Guardiola’s men are out-of-form and low in confidence whilst Liverpool are defending well. A corner by Alexander-Arnold was headed just wide by van Dijk so I could have accumulated even more points. The score ended up 81-68, which is incredible as K’s defence did not produce any points amazingly. The gameweeks come thick and fast now, so no time to settle on this week I need to keep the momentum going.
@DubulDee
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