Liverpool are in red-hot form and their main man up front is ready to return. Is he worth a shot?
Gameweek 23 review
There’s a bit of barbershop quartet feel about the Dream Team such is the prevalence of red and white jerseys in there this week.
Seven out of the 11 Dream Team representatives play for clubs with those colours and we’re glad to say that our own Jonathan Walters was top of the pile with 19 points after becoming only the third Irishman to score a hat-trick in the history of the Premier League.
Our captain’s recommendation for the weekend, Santi Cazorla, was next best on 17 points and he was joined by Arsenal teammates Mesut Ozil (13) and Hector Bellerin (12).
Spurs’ Harry Kane continued his memorable season with a 13-point haul against West Brom, with Sunderland defenders Patrick van Aanholt and Anthony Reveillere both featuring after 12 and 11 points respectively.
Newcastle ‘keeper Tim Krul was between the sticks with nine points, while teammate Massadio Haidara, Daley Blind and Jonjo Shelvey all got a spot after registering 11 points apiece.
J-League
Margins are ridiculously tight at the top of the J-League this week, with only one point separating new leaders, Sean Kelly’s The Honey Badgers, from Joe O’Neill’s Dr. Neo Cortex in second.
Those two have a bit of breathing space from the rest of the chasing pack, but there’s little to separate the Mario Gotze aficionados, Michael Ward’s I Gotze No Idea in third and Garry Doran’s What’s Love Gotze Do, in fifth.
Acting as the gooseberry in between those two Gotze-lovers is Mark ‘tinkerman’ Elliott’s Gylfi Pleasures in fourth place, 13 points off the top spot.
J-League Top 5:
- The Honey Badgers – Sean Kelly: 1,415 points
- Neo Cortex – Joe O’Neill: 1,414 points
- I Gotze No Idea – Michael Ward: 1,403 points
- Gylfi Pleasures – Mark ‘tinkerman’ Elliott: 1,402 points
- What’s Love Gotze Do – Garry Doran: 1,400 points
Worth stirring on Sturridge?
All season long, Liverpool fans have been crying out for the presence of a top-class striker in their team as the likes of Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have struggled to replace the huge void left by Luis Suarez.
It hasn’t helped that arguably the only top-class striker in their squad, Daniel Sturridge, has missed most of the season through injury.
It should be said, mind, that have enjoyed their best form of the campaign while he has been out of the team in recent weeks.
There are a number of factors behind Liverpool’s recent resurgence, of course and the exciting thing for Reds fans is that they have the potential to get even better with Sturridge back in the mix.
Little can be read into Sturridge’s stats from this season – he’s played in four games and scored in two – but since he moved to Anfield, he has hit the net regularly when he’s been fit to do so.
Last season, he struck 22 goals in the league and the season before, he managed 10 in half a season after moving from Chelsea.
Let’s just say he’s made the most of the last chance Brendan Rodgers talked about when welcoming him to Anfield.
Liverpool have momentum behind them at the moment and while not quite at last season’s pitch – that’s not possible without Suarez – with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling in great form, there’s potential for Sturridge to score a lot of goals when he does become a fixture in the team again.
The fixture list isn’t exactly kind to Rodgers’ men over the next few weeks – they play Everton, Spurs, Southampton and Manchester City in their next four league games – but if Sturridge hits top form he can score against anyone.
Whether he’s worth a punt at £11.2 million is a decision you’re going to have to make.
N.B. Managers should remember that if they have not used their January wildcard yet, this is the last gameweek they can do so.
Bear in mind that if you have not used any wildcard yet, you can still use your January wildcard this weekend and still be able to avail of another wildcard between now and the end of the season.
JOE’s Fantasy Football Picks
Top Dollar: Eden Hazard (£10.8 million). Chelsea don’t have a great record at Villa Park under Jose Mourinho, but Villa are a shambles at the moment and Hazard has been in magnificent form all season.
Mid-Range: Raheem Sterling (£8.4 million). One of a number of Liverpool players in excellent form at the moment, Sterling has two goals and two assists in his last five games heading into the Merseyside derby on Saturday evening.
Bargain Basement: Hector Bellerin (£4.4 million). One of a few Arsenal players who have become regulars in the team yet are still available on the cheap, Bellerin has started the last three games, scoring 23 points.
Irish Pick: Jonathan Walters (£5.2 million). He’s always a solid Fantasy Football performer but after his hat-trick last weekend, we couldn’t really pick anyone else.
Captain’s Pick: Sergio Aguero (£12.7 million). Aguero has yet to score since making his comeback, but he’ll be going up against a Hull defence that have conceded six goals in the last two games.
City are at home too, so we’d be very surprised if he doesn’t get on the scoresheet.
