What a whirlwind Gameweek 14 was. The Premier League served up seven-goal, six-goal, and five-goal thrillers, as well as another five-goal thrashing. It was one of the more exciting match days we’ve seen in a while.
Here’s what you need to be across, as we build up to FPL Gameweek 15.
When does FPL Gameweek 15 start?
Wednesday 6 December, 10:00pm AEDT
A midweek round of Premier League fixtures sees FPL Gameweek 15 kick off in the morning of Wednesday 6 December. Burnley, fresh of thrashing five past fellow relegation threatened strugglers, Sheffield United, travel to Molineux to face Wolves.
Gary O’Neill’s side were beaten fairly by table-topping Arsenal last time round, but that result shouldn’t lure Burnley into a false sense of security. Wolves have been excellent to start the season. Each week their confidence as a side grows. Expect this to continue in FPL Gameweek 15.
Matheus Cunha (£5.5 I 1.9%) has been dazzling, as too has Hwang Hee Chan (£5.6 I 6.0), whose seven goals is among the best returns of any Premier League player this season.
This match shapes to be an exciting opening to FPL Gameweek 15, with neither side contesting any European competitions meaning they’re more likely to play full strength sides, a factor which will increase this game’s spectacle.
FPL Gameweek 15 notes
Could Solanke be the move?
Just five players have scored more goals Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke’s (£6.5 I 5.8%) seven this season. His most recent strike, a tidy finish following a sublime spin, against Aston Villa will be hard to beat.
His strengths are not tied purely to his goal scoring, with the former Chelsea and Liverpool also an adept and highly skilled link-up player capable of finding runners with deft touches and sublime flicks.
Bournemouth’s position near the relegation zone is far from ideal. But in Andoni Iraola they have a capable, skilled manager, and in Dominic Solanke they have a capable and skilled goalscorer who could be a great point of difference moving in FPL Gameweek 15 and beyond.
Is Manchester really United?
No matter what lense you view it through, Manchester United’s 1-0 loss away at Newcastle was embarrassing. It capped a week where Ten Hag’s men looked no better than a David Moyes-coached United side.
Clueless would be one word to describe United in and out of possession. Disconnected would be another. Youngster Kobbie Mainoo (£4.4 I 0.1%) was United’s only disciplined midfielder in just his second Premier League start.
Anthony Martial (£6.4 I 0.4%) looked like, well, Anthony Martial. Marcus Rashford (£8.5 I 12.2%) looked disinterested, a shadow of the player he was last season, every touch he had about as threatening as a goldfish. Club captain, Bruno Fernandes (£8.3 I 14.4%), wore his frustration on his face throughout the 90 minutes but looked helpless to fixing United’s cause.
Credit where credit is due though. In a sea of incompetence, Harry Maguire (£4.3 I 2.7%) and Luke Shaw (£5.2 I 3.2%) were rocks at the back. Maguire had eight blocks, six clearances, three tackles, and two interceptions. Without him, and his centre-back partner Shaw, this scoreline would’ve been more embarrassing for United.
Ahead of FPL Gameweek 15, those managers who, for some reason, own any of United’s dishevlled and underwhelming stars should offload them as soon as possible and reinvest their money into players with higher ceilings and stronger returns.
Kudus continues shining
The Ghanaian’s arrival in the Premier League has come. Mohammed Kudus’ (£6.6 I 2.8%) nicely placed opener in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace wasn’t his finest strike of the season, but it did show there is more to Kudus’ game than the flashy tricks and brilliant curlers.
There’s an intelligence there. Which you’d expect from a player who’s footballing educating came at famed Amsterdam outfit, Ajax. His strike capped of a four game run that’s included two goals and three assists.
Just exactly how Moyes fits Kudus and Jarrod Bowen (£7.6 I 18%) in the same side, given both player’s preference to play on the right-wing, remains to be seen. What cannot be argued is how crucial the pair will be to West Ham’s prospects this season.
Nervy Chelsea record crucial win
It wasn’t easy for Chelsea. In fact, they tried as hard as they could to not clinch the three points. Conor Gallagher (£5.4 I 0.6%) received a silly sending off, their defence at times looked shaky, Moises Caicedo (£4.6 I 1.4%) showed his inexperience, and Mykhailo Mudryk’s (£67.3 I 0.9%) wasteful run continued.
But, they got over the line eventually, courtesy of a rare brace from Enzo Fernandez (£4.8 I 2.6%), who calmly converted a controversially won penalty for what would become the matchwinner. Since arriving in January, the Argentine’s perception is England has been mixed.
Chelsea fans love him; everyone else doesn’t. He’s equal parts feisty and skilful, an elegant, erratic footballer with a sublime passing range and propensity for loose challenge and fiery exchange.
FPL players shouldn’t be fooled by the Argentine’s goals, he’s not bombing into the box like peak Frank Lampard or rifling them in from distance like Steven Gerrard. In fact, had Cole Palmer (£5.3 I 13.6%) been on the pitch when the penalty was awarded it’s likely Enzo’s tally would’ve stayed at one. Still, that would’ve been enough to delight the home fans.
For Chelsea, his brace couldn’t come at a better time. With vulnerable United looming likely for the taking in midweek, victory over brighten will give Poch’s side a spring in their step as they aim to continue their ascent to a more resectable ladder position.
For Roberto De Zerbi, the returns of Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5 I 23.4%) and Pascal Gross (£6.3 I 1.8%) provide a much needed boost to an injury depleted Brighton side. While neither failed to directly influence the scoresheet, their experience and skillset will be crucial over the next few weeks when fixture congestion increases before Christmas.
The Valentino show
Let’s start with it; Valentino Livramento (£4.3 I 0.8%) pocketed Marcus Rashford (£8.5 I 12.2%) . There is no two ways to put it.
At times, the match-up looked like Paolo Maldini versus a park footballer. On the rare occasion the United winger had a touch with attacking potential, Rashford was a non-threat to Livramento.
When the shoe was on the other foot and Rashford was tasked with tracking and nullifying the former Southampton fullback, playing out of position at left-back in this match, Livramento breezed past him like a Ferrari blaring around a push bike.
Livramento was far from Newcastle’s only standout performer in their 1-0, dominant, boys against men victory over Manchester United. Kieran Trippier (£7.0 I 49.7%) was excellent from right-back, creating the eventual match winner for Anthony Gordon (£6.0 I 17.8%). Alexander Isak was exceptional, so too was Fabian Schar (£5.2 I 7.6%) and Bruno Guimarães (£5.8 I 2.0%).
But Newcastle’s most eye catching performance was reserved for their left-back, who provided the spark and energy necessary for their attacking play to flourish, and flourish, and flourish, until it proved too much for United. Defensively, he was as assured as a 200-game player, sending Rashford for an early shower with his fine display.
With Dan Burn absent until the New Year, Livramento could lock the Newcastle left back role down. At such a low price and with minimal ownership, the Chelsea youth product could be a brilliant trade option into the build up to FPL Gameweek 15.
Trent time rescues Liverpool
He could’ve had two. In the end, he got one. Denied a brilliant free-kick to open the scoring against Fulham by Bernd Leno’s back, the strike registering as an own goal from the German. Nonetheless, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.9 I 9.6%) is in a rich vein of form.
Named at right-back, playing central midfield, and popping up everywhere. His 88th minute winner coming from a position you’d most likely find a left central midfielder, and yet he was there when his team needed him most.
Defensively, his frailties are evident. Offensively he is close to peerless in the Premier League.
Elsewhere in this match, it was a rare Mohamed Salah (£13.1 I 49.7%) blank. Despite not scoring, the Egyptian did lay a late assist off for Wataru Endo’s (£5.4 I 0.1%) wonderful strike from beyond the edge of the area, his first in the Premier League.
Truly though, the standout strike of this game’s seven came from Alexis Mac Allister (£5.8 I 3.1%). Had Alejandro Garnacho (£4.7 I 1.8%) not scored one of the 15 greatest Premier League goals last weekend, the Argentine’s rifling strike from practically the carpark would be in the goal of the season conversation.
That it isn’t won’t be a knock for Mac Allister, who is finally finding his feet in an unfamiliar holding midfield role for Jurgen Klopp. Though this wonderful strike indicates his threat extends into the attacking third of the pitch.
Now might be the perfect time to bring the England right-back in. Liverpool play Sheffield United in FPL Gameweek 15, before facing Crystal Palace and Manchester United in the two ensuing match days.
Is Angeball back?
Many wondered if Angeball could continue in the face of key absences. Manchester City is a tough opponent at any time, let alone when you’re injury and suspension riddled side is coming off three consecutive losses.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs put the last few weeks behind them, and stole a crucial point off Manchester City. At the heart of it all was Heung-Min Son (£9.6 I 36.1%) who scored the opener from a fine counter attack, unfortunately put the ball in the back of his own net, and set Giovani Lo Celso (£4.8 I 0.1%) up for his side’s second.
Much can be said about this result and whether Spurs deserved the point. Had the referee played advantage right on full time Jack Grealish (£7.2 I 1.6%) might’ve made it 4-3. But he didn’t and Spurs can relish in a hopefully form resetting point against a champion side.
Certain managers around the league *couch* Erik Ten Hag *cough* can learn from how quickly Ange has indoctrinated his side in his style and how persistent, and effective, his tactics remain even with significant absentees.
Transfer targets under 15% ownership
DEFENDER: Valentino Livramento (£4.3 I 0.8%)
MIDFIELDER: Martin Odegaard (£8.3 I 13.7%)
FORWARD: Dominic Solanke (£6.5 I 5.8%)