Another huge gameweek was at hand as I battled Delvin. He was five points behind me in third place in the Justice League. Eman in first place was rubbing his hands as the two people closest to him were meeting, so at least one of them had to drop points, meaning if he won his game things would be slightly easier for him at the top.
It was easy to overthink given the importance of the clash, but with a look to some manic gameweeks ahead I decided not to make a change to my side. This would give me more options in the weeks to follow. For instance, in gameweek 29, it will be the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, therefore there will only be four Premier League games. I have used my 'free hit' already so that week is going to be a tricky one. My main issue this week was deciding who my captain should be. I originally had it with Ollie Watkins as he was in-form, and as it stood Delvin did not have him, but that could easily change, but there was no way of knowing until the deadline. Phil Foden, was another option I strongly considered as again Delvin did not have him. Amazingly, he did not have Kevin De Bruyne either, as it was the first time in a while that my opponent did not have at least one of those three players, I was confused. With the deadline being 1.30pm on Saturday, as there was no early kick-off, I lost composure at around 1.20pm. I duly took the captaincy off Watkins, and gave it to Erling Haaland (boring, I know!), as I feared that Delvin may give it to him after he scored five goals in the FA Cup, and he would think that I would captain him. In the end, all my overthinking on the captaincy was irrelevant as Delvin captained Bukayo Saka. He said he was searching for a differential as he knew I did not have him. He made two transfers, meaning a four point-hit. He sold Andy Robertson and Alejandro Garnacho for Gabriel Magalhaes and Luis Diaz. This was going to be interesting.
The action started in Saturday's 3pm's. Brentford came from behind against Chelsea to lead 2-1 late on, thanks to an acrobatic volley from Yoane Wissa. I thought I had gotten away with a blank from Cole Palmer as my opponent had him, but his ball to the back-post was headed in by Axel Disasi to salvage the Blues a point. Everton took the lead at home to West Ham, only to fall to a 3-1 defeat. Before Beto headed in the opener, there was a great start for me as Alphonse Areola saved a penalty from Beto in the first half. Delvin had left Areola on his bench and was cursing his luck. It was not to be the only thing I got from this game as Jarrod Bowen laid on the third goal for Edson Alvarez, who finished his chance like a centre forward in his prime.
Pervis Estupinan has gone from an FPL asset to just just ass...pause! He finally got a start for Brighton after mainly being on the bench in recent weeks and they conceded 3 as Fulham put them away at Craven Cottage. The Ecuadorian had the temerity to also get booked, so he returned absolutely nothing. Unlike Areola, this was a player that Delvin was lucky he left on his bench. Rodrigo Muniz (£4.5m), scored yet again and assisted, I really need to find a way to get him into my team as he continues to shine in Raul Jimenez's absence. I had high hopes of Wolves doing something at Newcastle the way the Magpies have defended recently, but it was to finish 3-0 to the home side. A bit of luck was on my side in this encounter. I was up against Kieran Trippier, and he picked up an injury and departed the match after only 51 minutes meaning he did not get any clean sheet points. Alternatively, my Newcastle defender Fabian Schar, played the whole game including assisting the last goal for Tino Livramento. Schar's double-figure haul was crucial. Pablo Sarabia had a second half effort saved at the near post by Martin Dubravka, but I was contempt as it contributed to Schar's points. Pedro Neto was owned by Delvin and I, but he also departed the game early due to injury like Trippier. I was intimidated by the fact one of the players from the team I support in Diaz could cause me issues in the head-to-head. However, despite going close on a couple of occasions he did not return for Delvin. Jurgen Klopp's men won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, thanks to an injury time winner from substitute Darwin Nunez, after some quick thinking by Alexis MacAllister. This was a rare gameweek where I did not have any Liverpool players in my team.
In the teatime fixture, Luton were at home to Aston Villa. I realised I should have gone with my gut in terms of the captaincy as Watkins scored not just one, but two first half goals, 'Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, Oi, Oi, Oi!'. The first was an unmarked header from a corner. The second was a clinical finish after a quickly taken free-kick by Douglas Luiz, Delvin had Luiz in his team. The Hatters do not know when they are beaten and fought back to 2-2, but Lucas Digne won the game late on for Unai Emery's men with a header. Luton's goals were very useful as the opposition's keeper was Emiliano Martinez. Despite not being my captain, Watkins' points were more than valuable as Saturday saw me have a massive lead, 46-11.
I was hoping to extend my lead in the first match on Sunday, as Burnley were at home to Bournemouth, but it was not to be as the Cherries won 2-0. Charlie Taylor, could still have had the opportunity to return,but when he was brought down when the score was at 1-0, the claims for a penalty were waved away. Justin Kluivert (£4.6m), opened the scoring with a fine goal, and with a double gameweek looming he could be a differential in midfield as he is owned by less than 1%. The second came from a deflected shot by Antoine Semenyo (4.5m), and he is another who could bring points in during gameweek 28. In the big match on Sunday, Manchester United, took the lead in the Derby through a wondergoal by Marcus Rashford. With Delvin having Kyle Walker, this further aided me. As expected, Manchester City fought back in the second half and went on to win 3-1. This was thanks largely to a brilliant brace by Phil Foden. Foden just like Watkins showed that I would have reaped the benefits from giving him the captaincy. Nonetheless, as Delvin did not have him this was even more great news. The first goal was a cracker into the top corner from outside the box. The second was a finish steered into the corner after he exchanged passes with Julian Alvarez. Alvarez's assist went against me, but I still had a massive lead. After missing a ridiculously easy chance in the first period, Haaland got the third goal, but regarding to my rank I really need to be braver with my captain picks. Sunday, concluded with me ahead by a whopping 76-23.
It sounds crazy, but though Delvin needed a miracle, I was not settling until at least the hour mark as Arsenal travelled to Sheffield United. Mikel Arteta's men had scored the most goals from set pieces in the Premier League, and the Blades conceded the most chances from set pieces. I was up against Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka. Gabriel had been causing havoc from set pieces and Saka was taking them with Declan Rice. So, though this looked very much over, I imagined I would have numerous moments when I had to hide behind the couch despite the 'gargantuan' lead as Saka was of course his captain. Chris Wilder's team had conceded 5 in their previous two home games and Saka struck the bar in literally the Gunners' first attack. They then raced into a two-goal lead, and the second was an own goal from a ball in by Saka. It went on to be 5-0 after just 39 minutes, and Saka setup the fifth for Rice. I had a slight cringe as he had also had a shot blocked, but then thought surely Arteta will take Saka off as the lead was so big. Arteta duly acted accordingly and withdrew Saka at half-time, so despite it ending 6-0 in the end, Magalhaes and Saka combined for 20 points and the victory was easily secured.
Four straight wins leaves me in second place, I am still six points behind the ruthless Eman, but with me beating the man closest to me in Delvin, and Muji who was underneath him losing too, I now had an eight-point cushion. My rank shot up after so many double-figure hauls on Sunday, but after Arsenal's demolition job on Monday, I dropped down to 670k. The main thing is the Justice League regardless and I am trying my best to make this race for 1st place go on as long as possible. The stresses of a double gameweek await.
@DubulDee
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