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Gameweek 8 was looking decidedly dodgy for many FPL managers with Spurs struggling to break down West Brom and the two biggest hitters of FPL this season, Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Heung-Min Son (£9.6m) both set for ‘blanks’. However, blanking is something Kane appears incapable of this campaign and he reliably popped up with a couple of minutes remaining to seal a 0-1 win for Jose Mourinho’s side and pick up nine FPL points for his adoring owners. Also registering an attacking return to satisfy a high ownership was Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m), although it came only in the shape on an assist in the Toffees’ 1-3 loss over Man Utd. The star of the show at Goodison Park was Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) with the United midfielder netting twice (neither from the penalty spot) along with an assist, picking up a 17-point haul.
The rest of Gameweek 8 was largely uneventful from a scores perspective with the big match of the weekend between Man City and Liverpool ending in a 1-1 draw. Mo Salah (£12.4m) gave Liverpool the lead from the spot and finishing the game with nine FPL points. However, the goal was cancelled out by Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m) on his return to the side. Owners of Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) will be gutted despite his assist for Jesus' goal, as the Belgian missed a penalty later in the first half which would have led to a big FPL points haul. The biggest surprise came at the Emirates Stadium as Aston Villa shocked Arsenal with a comprehensive 0-3 win. Forward Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) was the star of the show with two goals and 13 FPL points. Finally, it would be remiss of us not to mention the drama that unfolded in the 98th minute at the London Stadium. With West Ham 1-0 up, Fulham had been awarded a penalty to rescue what would have been a hard earned point. Up stepped Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) and the rest is history!
GAMEWEEK 9 FIXTURES
Saturday 1st February
Newcastle v Chelsea (12:30)
Aston Villa v Brighton (15:00)
Burnley v Crystal Palace (15:00)
Fulham v Everton (15:00)
Liverpool v Leicester (15:00)
Man Utd v West Brom (15:00)
Wolves v Southampton (15:00)
Spurs v Man City (17:30)
Sunday 2nd February
Sheffield Utd v West Ham (14:00)
Leeds v Arsenal (16:30)
OLE GUNNAR LET LOOSE ON WEST BROM?
It's no secret that Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finds himself under huge pressure with his side having made a poor start to this season's Premier League campaign. However, United's 1-3 win over Everton at Goodison Park in Gameweek 8 could be just the tonic the Red Devils to really kickstart their domestic season with the likes of Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m), Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) and Edinson Cavani (£8.0m) all registering attacking returns.
Man Utd meet lowly West Brom (H) in their next Premier League game with the Baggies currently sat 18th in the table, having conceded the joint most amount of goals in the league so far this season (17). Following that they face trips to Southampton (a) and Newcastle (a) respectively. Now could be an ideal time to jump on attacking assets such as Fernandes, Rashford and even Anthony Martial (£8.7m) who has suffered a very poor start to this season's Premier League having not opened his account in the league as of yet. A fixture such as West Brom at Old Trafford could prove the ideal tonic for the Frenchman to kickstart his season.
OH JESUS WE'VE MISSED YOU!
It seemed that Man City forward Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m) would play a key role for his side this season after getting on the scoresheet in Gameweek 2 against Wolves. However, injury saw that prove to be his only Premier League appearance all the way up until Gameweek 8, when Jesus finally returned to the starting line-up. The Brazilian returned with a bang, scoring the equaliser in Man City's 1-1 draw with Liverpool and picking up 9 FPL points.
Man City travel to North London in Gameweek 9 where they face Spurs (a), before two very enticing fixtures against Burnley (H) and Fulham (H). With Jesus having scored in the only two Premier League games he has featured in for City this season, now could well be the perfect time to get him into your teams. Of course he won't be the only attractive Man City attacking option out there, with Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) both proven FPL heavy hitters.
ZIYECH CAN HAK IT FOR CHELSEA!
Whilst injury has seen him make his Premier League bow later than he would have wanted, it has only taken two gameweeks for us all to see that Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) is going to be an outstanding asset not only for the Blues, but also for anyone who drafts him into their FPL team. The Moroccan has recorded three assists and goal in his first two starts for Frank Lampard's side in Gameweeks 7 and 8 respectively. This has seen him accrue a total of 25 FPL points over the course of those two gameweeks.
Ziyech's introduction to the starting lineup has not just seen himself in the thick of the attacking returns, but also his teammates with the likes of forwards Timo Werner (£9.4m) and Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) both benefitting from his service out wide. With seven goals in the last two gameweeks, Chelsea assets look rich in FPL points potential going forward with Newcastle (a), Spurs (H) and Leeds (H) next up for the Blues. It would also be remiss of us not to mention the defenders, with left-back Ben Chilwell (£6.0m) providing an attacking threat from out wide to go with his obvious clean sheet potential, plus you also have centre-back Thiago Silva (£5.5m) and his aerial power from set pieces. From an FPL perspective, this are ideal purchases.
