Darwin injury latest, Liverpool’s Gameweek 25 audition
We assess the key talking points of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Newcastle United v Liverpool in our first matchweek 24 scout notes.
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DARWIN INJURY AT THE LATEST
Darwin Nunez (£8.7m) scored his first Premier League goal since November but the good news ended there for the Uruguayan striker when a shoulder injury ended his evening in Tyneside.
Darwin’s current and potential owners in the FPL will have to wait nervously to see how serious the problem is ahead of Double Gameweek 25, but we may at least find out sooner than Friday’s pre-game press conference, as Jurgen Klopp is both ahead of as well as will occur after the media Tuesday’s Champions League game against Real Madrid.
“The bad news [is] Darwin has something on his shoulder. We will see. In this situation I do not know what he [the referee] whistled against him there, to be honest.
“In the end he had to come out with a shoulder problem. We need another review; I don’t know at the moment. It hurts right now, but hopefully it just hurts and nothing more.” – Jürgen Klopp on Darwin Nunez
Even with Darwin out, the competition for playing time in the top three has intensified with the return to fitness Diogo Jota (£8.8m) and Roberto Firmin (£8.0m), both of whom have had over half an hour to work on their match sharpness here.
LIVERPOOL’S GAME WEEK 25 AUDITION
We’ll revisit Liverpool in the midweek clash against Madrid Mohammed Salah (£12.6m) take center stage in Double Gameweek 25 as they meet Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The trip to Newcastle was also an audition of sorts ahead of Friday’s FPL date.
A 2-0 win over a side unbeaten at home all season previously, with offensive returns for all front three and Trent Alexander Arnold (£7.3m), sounds pretty good on paper.
But there are still a question mark or two about this Liverpool side, particularly in defence, where they gave the Newcastle 10-man several chances. The magpies then hit the woodwork twice Nick Pope‘s (£5.5m) sacking while replacement Callum Wilson (£7.0m) missed a great opportunity Fabian Schar (£5.2m) nodded wide from six yards and Alexander Isak (£6.6m) overshot when positioned well. Miguel Almiron (£5.6m) had previously spurned a clear opening before Pope was sent off.
Liverpool themselves didn’t create much for an hour after the red card (a barrage of chances came late) but perhaps an eye was on maintaining energy ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game.
But on the positives and the goals themselves scored by Darwin and Cody Gakpo (£7.7m), were well dressed and had excellent support from Alexander-Arnold and Salah.
However, the prospects for Liverpool’s clean sheet still look in doubt from week to week Andrew Robertson (£6.8m) and Alexander-Arnold in particular are beginning to rediscover their offensive swagger, with seven chances opening up on Tyneside.
Salah is the big question for many FPL managers ahead of Double Gameweek 25, and he’ll have plenty of columns dedicated to him in the coming days. He didn’t have a single shot in the penalty area against Newcastle, although that ignores the fact that he would have had a gold-rim chance had Pope not been handled outside his area.
WHAT GAME WILL POPE MISS?
Newcastle take a backseat in the FPL through week 26 as they are without a Premier League game due to their participation in next Sunday’s EFL Cup final.
The good news for Pope’s owners in the FPL is that the goalkeeper is set to return to Manchester City for this match week 26 as his one-game suspension for refusing a scoring chance in the cup final is being served – hence the absence of a red flag.
The Magpies were unusually slightly open to Liverpool’s two goals but the good news is they’re getting it now Bruno Guimaraes (£5.5million) back from suspension as his presence at both ends of the pitch was sorely missed.
They have also made a splendid recovery after Pope’s sacking, a sign of the progress made under Howe.
“I thought the team’s reaction to being sent off was great. I thought we stayed in the game and we were competitive, we created chances and I felt like if we could score the next goal we would have a way back into the game but that never happened. – Eddie Howe
Newcastle move up in the season ticker from Gameweek 27, with a guaranteed game in Blank Gameweek 28 and a very likely Double Gameweek 29 also in their favor.
Allan Saint Maximin (£6.1m) is one to watch for difference seekers as he absolutely electrified and pushed against Liverpool Alison (£5.4m) to tip an effort over the bar and provide the huge opportunity Almiron spurned. After a rusty return to the starting XI in Gameweek 22, he’s quickly improved.
