We entered gameweek 5 with a mouth-watering clash in Chelsea vs Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. We weren’t disappointed, and Saturday produced goals in abundance as we begin to forget the Premier League was ever away. FPL managers found themselves at somewhat of a crossroads this week, as the dilemma regarding Sergio Aguero continues to be a talking point. One may suspect that next week will mean the use of many wildcards to squeeze the Argentine back into gaffers’ sides. We also had a Super Sunday packed with matches, with four being played. These included Manchester United travelling to Watford as favourites, with Spurs taking on lowly Sunderland at White Hart Lane. So, we take a look at who the week-end’s top performers were, in gameweek 5 of this Premier League season. Here’s our FPL Gameweek 5 review.
Goalkeeper
Eldin Jakupovic – The Swiss stopper has had a fine return to life in the Premier League, a standout man in Hull City’s resilient performances so far. He has also yielded a decent return for those FPL managers who were actually brave enough to field him. Despite conceding four goals to Arsenal at the KC stadium on Saturday, he was able to keep out a weak Alexis Sanchez penalty, which was able to propel him into the gameweek 5 dream team. The keeper will face pressure from new-signing David Marshall for his place, but his performances so far suggest that he’s up for the fight.
Defenders
Juan Zuñiga – The Columbian wing-back has yet to play 45 minutes of football for the hornets, but he definitely made an impact as he came on with Watford and Manchester United deadlocked at 1-1. Roberto Peryera’s pull-back was met by Zuñiga, who bent a curling shot out of reach of the despairing David De Gea, to send the Hornet’s fans wild. He wasn’t finished though, because deep into injury-time the wideman rolled his defender after receiving a pull-back from Nigerian youngster Isaac Success. Troy Deeney smashed home the penalty to mark a famous win for Watford, who find themselves 9th in the Premier League, having already faced a host of top sides this season.
Christian Fuchs – The bonus point magnet did it yet again this week, as Leicester eased past a Burnley side that didn’t offer much in attack. Fuchs had his usual reliable game, quietly going about his business, rarely putting a foot wrong as his side ran out 3-0 winners. He was also able to pick up a superb assist, putting the ball in for new £29 million signing Islam Slimani to mark his Premier League debut in style. There’s not a lot to be said about Fuchs, who turns in strong performances on a consistent basis, while acting as a constant threat with his dangerous crosses into the box.
Seamus Coleman – The Irishman has been a popular player over the years in FPL, and showed why when the Toffees took on Middlesbrough at Goodison on Saturday evening. Coleman was able to find the net when he was rewarded for a gut-busting run down the right hand side. His one-two with Romelu Lukaku put Coleman in to finish, marking his first goal of the season. Everton continue their superb start of the season, having yet to lose a Premier League match this season with four wins and a draw from their opening five. Ronald Koeman seems to be building a solid side that will be looking towards a top eight place come the end of the season, after a disappointing campaign under Roberto Martinez last time out.
Midfielders
Nacer Chadli – The Belgian became West Brom’s record signing after joining from Spurs during the summer, and he’s beginning to pay that £12 million fee off already. He bagged a brace as West Brom seemed to have hammered West Ham, before late pressure from the Irons made things tense later on. Chadli opened the scoring from the spot, after Arthur Masuaku needlessly handled in the penalty area from a Matt Phillips cross. Chadli added a second when he was unselfishly squared the ball by Venezuelan Salomon Rondon, only for the Belgian to prod home under Adrian in the West Ham goal. A player who always showed immense potential, Chadli may just have found a home with the Baggies, who will be looking for more performances like this.
Andros Townsend – Another player who came in for a hefty fee this summer was Andros Townsend to Crystal Palace from relegated Newcastle United. Townsend curled a free-kick to the back post for James Tomkins to scramble in, when Shay Given really should have come and taken the cross. Nonetheless, there was more to come from Townsend, who caused a poor Stoke side massive problems all afternoon. Having had several crosses test the Stoke back four, he would finally get the goal he so richly deserved after cutting inside past Geoff Cameron to whip a low effort into the bottom right corner to put the Eagles 4-0 to the good. Stoke grabbed a late consolation, but there’s little to smile about for Mark Hughes so far, as his side sit bottom, with a solitary point from five matches.
Kevin De Bruyne – After his brilliance in the Manchester Derby, all eyes are on Pep Guardiola’s City side at the moment, after they took Bournemouth apart 4-0 at the Etihad on Saturday. The star man was undoubtedly Kevin De Bruyne, who scored a goal before laying one on for his new signing Ilkay Gundogan. The Belgian carried the ball before sliding in the on rushing Gundogan to slot past Artur Boruc on his first Premier League start for City. This came after De Bruyne fired a low free-kick under the Bournemouth wall to great effect, catching out the Pole in goal and giving City the lead after just 15 minutes.
Theo Walcott – As someone who is yet to really live up to the potential they had as a youngster, this could be a massive season for Theo Walcott. After being left out of the England squad for Euro 2016, the winger will feel like he has a point to prove, as he tries to prove that he’s good enough for a place in both the England and even Arsenal sides. He began to do just that this week-end, picking up a goal and assist against newly-promoted Hull City. The Tigers had been very solid at the back before gameweek 5, having conceded just 3 goals prior to the 4-1 beating they took at the hands of the Gunners this weekend. Arsenal have begun the season in decent form, having taken 10 points from a possible 15 so far this season. Few dispute the ability in Arsenal’s ranks, but it will take a lot more results like this to mount a serious title challenge.
Raheem Sterling – One of the stories of the season so far is the re-emergence of wonder kid Raheem Sterling. After being frozen out of the City side towards the back end of last season, Sterling has started the new season in fine form, looking a totally different player under new manager Pep Guardiola. Sterling netted his third goal of the season at the weekend, along with his 3rd assist as he unselfishly rolled the ball across to teammate Kelechi Iheanacho when through on goal. Sterling’s direct style and superb technical ability are really starting to shine through, and alongside the tremendous quality in the Man City squad he is sure to have a great season. City will also be looking to go far in the Champions League this season, and with the depth at Pep’s disposal they will certainly make a go of it in Europe this season, and it remains to be seen whether the club’s primary ambition is to win the Premier League or Europe’s most elite competition.
Forwards
Islam Slimani – Eyebrows were raised when defending champions Leicester City forked out a whopping £29 million to sign former Sporting Lisbon forward and Algerian international, Islam Slimani. He would have to wait until Saturday to make his Premier League debut, and did so in style, netting two goals, both with his head. He couldn’t have wished for a better start, and immediately endeared himself to the Foxes faithful. When Christian Fuchs curled a superb cross into the penalty area it was the Algerian who rose highest to power Leicester in front, and from there they were comfortable. Slimani grabbed his second when Riyad Mahrez’s right-wing cross was diverted by Jamie Vardy onto the head of Slimani, who glanced in to make it 2-0. Ben Mee compiled Burnley’s misery, when he put through his own net with 10 minutes remaining. Having struggled at the start of this season, the Foxes needed what was a big three points.
Romelu Lukaku – Having not scored for 13 hours prior to his hat-trick against Sunderland, Lukaku has seen a massive upturn in form, picking up a goal and an assist as Everton eased past a disappointing ‘Boro side. Lukaku was there to tee up Seamus Coleman, before the Belgian picked up a goal for himself, getting the slightest of touches of a Yannick Bolasie cross that looked to be goal-bound anyway. Everton are one of the form sides so far and will be looking to continue the form that has seen them second in the Premier League table with a superb 13 points from 15. Ronald Koeman seems to have changed their fortunes after a poor campaign last time and, however it remains to be seen for how long they can keep it up.
Written by Ryan Nevin (@RNevin7)
