Man U’s Offense Comes Alive - Without Wayne Rooney

Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool

Saturday, September 12^th @ Old Trafford

With the skipper on the bench, United’s offense finally woke up, scoring three goals in their defeat of Liverpool. The Red Devils were the better team from the opening whistle. In a goalless first half, United dominated possession over the seemingly disinterested Merseysiders. Despite their repeated turnovers and shaky moments at the back, the Phillipp Coutinho-less Reds went into the locker room, at halftime, at nil all.

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Daly Blind celebrates his first goal of the season

However, the game would open up  after the break. Ashley Young was brought on as a halftime sub, replacing Memphis Depay, who has struggled in the first month of his inaugural Premier League season. With Young on the pitch, United’s offense began to take shape. The scoring got rolling in minute 49, when Daly Blind laced a strike into the top corner on a cleverly designed free-kick play. 21 minutes later Ander Herrera earned, and successfully converted, a penalty kick to double the lead. Countering the effort, Christian Benteke executed a jaw dropping bicycle kick, giving fans an early candidate for goal of the season. Just minutes later, the moment the Old Trafford faithful were waiting for, finally came.

Coming on for Juan Mata in the 65^th minute, record-signing Anthony Martial made his Red Devil debut. Just twenty minutes later, after Benteke’s stunning scissor kick, Martial sent the stadium into raptures. Proving why he is the world’s most expensive teenager, Martial cleverly, with a dollop of luck, weaved the ball through the defiant Liverpool backline, angling the ball past the outstretched Simon Mignolet, securing the points for United.

Fantasy Focus: Anthony Martial – Forward

Can Martial be everything Memphis hasn’t been? Through five weeks, the latter marquee signing has proved that he is not quite ready for the bigtime. Looking lost during offensive build-ups, Memphis may be more poised to be Ryan Giggs’ star winger than that of Louis Van Gaal. Martial, however, was able to accomplish in twenty minutes what Wayne Rooney has failed to do in 11 games - score a goal. It is doubtful, however, that the young Frenchman will be a regular starter anytime soon, at least in league matches. With that said, however, it is now worth questioning if Wayne Rooney is deserving of this team’s role of offensive catalyst.

The Nightmare Continues - Chelsea Lose Again

Everton 3-1 Chelsea

Saturday, September 12^th @ Goodison Park

What is happening in West London? On paper, Chelsea have one of the most talented rosters in the world, led by who many consider the game’s most accomplished active manager. With this in mind, it makes absolutely no sense why Chelsea continue to drop games. If not for a Thibault Courtois penalty save against West Brom, Chelsea would currently be winless. On Saturday, the Blues’ blunder of a season continued its downward spiral.

There was controversy early on when the referee seemingly missed Steve Naismith kicking of Branislav Ivanovic in the groin while fighting for a stray ball. There can’t possibly be a better image that represents the start of Chelsea’s season than that right there - an unapologetic kick in the balls. Just two minutes after escaping the referee’s wrath, Naismith scored the game's opening goal. Ten minutes later, Naismith would find the net yet again. Despite a Nemanja Matic golazo to cut the lead in half, the second 45 minutes was dominated by Everton. After failing to put the game away earlier in the half, Steve Naismith scored the deciding goal of his first career hat trick to ice the game for the Toffees. Through five games, Chelsea has the worst goal differential in the league. If the woes continue, Jose Mourinho may very well find himself searching for a job before Boxing Day.

Fantasy Focus: Brendan Galloway – Defender

Steven Naismith was far and away the star of the game and very well may be the league’s player of the week. Hat trick notwithstanding, Naismith is still best suited coming off of the bench and will not be guaranteed a starting position going forward. Galloway, however, has proven very capable filling in for the injured Leighton Baines. His defensive awareness still needs work, but the youngster was more than adequate in bottling up Pedro and Eden Hazard all day. Much like his injured senior counterpart, Galloway has been effective going forward, opening the scoring against Chelsea with a precise cross to Naismith.

Gunner Forwards In Fine Form

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City Saturday,

September 12^th @ Emirates Stadium

Arsenal was purely dominant against Stoke. The 2-0 scoreline didn’t even do the Gunner's effort justice. By owning the ball all day with nearly 70% possession and outshooting their opponents 29 to 8, Arsenal were more than deserving of the three points. Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez were simply too hot to handle for Stoke. The two strikers combined for 16 total shots, seven on goal, with Walcott scoring the game's first goal. Mesut Ozil looked superb in his return from injury. He and Francis Coquelin were a great pairing in the midfield, continually providing the forwards with space and opportunity to test Jack Butland. Oliver Giroud entered the game in the second half and doubled the Gunner’s lead just before the full ninety minutes elapsed.

Fantasy Focus: Alexis Sanchez – Forward

The Chilean forward is the engine driving this Arsenal attack. It seems like every week Sanchez is a pestering nuisance for opposing keepers. If not for a pair of Jack Butland fingertip saves, Sanchez would have doubled the margin of victory for the Gunners. If Sanchez, Walcott, and fellow winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, remain in this prime-form with Olivier Giroud excelling in his new role as super-sub there should be no doubt that the Gunners will finish in the top four once again.

The Run Continues – Teen’s 90^th Minute Strike Wins Game For The Sky Blues

Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace

Saturday, September 12^th @ Selhurst Park

Even without David Silva, Raheem Sterling and mostly without Kun Aguero, the Citizens earned another shutout win with a last-minute 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Seemingly made of glass, Sergio Aguero limped off the field yet again early in the contest. Replacing the striker, Wilfried Bony proved his worth. Operating as the target forward, the Coite d’Ivoire international played strong with his back to the net, connecting well with his midfielders. Kevin De Bruyne, making his club debut, looked sensational playing next to Yaya Toure. Both of the center midfielders had ample opportunity to put the Sky Blues on the board in the first hour, but failed to do so.

Palace, however, looked confident all day, unmoved and unimpressed by City’s perfect start. Led by the stellar efforts of Papa Soure, Palace pressed Joe Hart regularly but failed to beat him. Before limping off in the final 15 minutes, Jared Puncheon got the Eagles as close as they would come all day, when his winding free kick dipped just a yard too late.

The best opportunity of the match came early in the second half. After receiving a precise through-ball from De Bruyne, Jesus Navas fund himself one-on-one with Alex McCarthy but, embarrassingly, missed the net wide right after initially beating the keeper. The Spanish winger hasn’t scored a goal since last January. After 89 minutes, City squandered every available opportunity and looked to earn its first blemish of the season. However, not to be outdone by the cross-town teen-sensation, Nigerian-born 19 year old Kelechi Iheanacho put the ball past Alex McCarthy in the 90th minute to give City the victory.

Fantasy Focus: Wilfried Bony – Forward

If Sergio Aguero’s knee injury proves to be serious, Bony will be the first man called up. As the lone striker in Pellegrini’s preferred 4-5-1 formation, Bony looked solid against Palace. Using his strength, Bony repeatedly boxed out his opposing centerbacks, crisply teeing the ball to his running midfielders at striking distance. Against Palace the aforementioned unit couldn’t find the net but  moving forward that shouldn't t be the case. Bony has the potential to be a fantasy points machine with Kun on the bench.

Mason’s Late Heroics Give Tottenham Its First Win Of The Season

Sunderland 0-1 Tottenham

Sunday, September 13^th @ The Stadium of Light

Jermaine Defoe very nearly got revenge on the team that sold him just two years ago. Facing  Spurs for the first time after spending nine years with the club, Defoe was almost the hero for the Black Cats. In the 26^th minute, after receiving a beautiful pass from Jermaine Lens, Defoe snuck a ball past the outstretched arms of Hugo Lloris but his effort hit the far post.

With debutant Son Heung-min manning the central midfield in place of the still-injured Christian Eriksen, Spurs' offense stagnated. The Korean international performed admirably but will need several more games to establish chemistry with his midfield partners. Harry Kane, coming off of a two goal international break continues his goalless streak after whiffing on a clear early second half opportunity just feet from the goal.

Ryan Mason has been the saving grace for Spurs and playing higher than his accustomed holding position, Mason found himself on the receiving end of a Harry Kane driven combination play, sneaking the ball past Costel Pantillimon for the game’s only goal in the 85th minute.

Fantasy Focus: Ryan Mason – Midfielder

With no Christian Eriksen or Mousa Dembele and with Harry Kane struggling to find the net, Ryan Mason has been Spurs' best outfield player. After being loaned out repeatedly during the Villas-Boas era, Mason has finally found a home in Mauricio Pochettino’s system. Mason will continue to be the offensive stalwart as long as Eriksen and Dembele remain on the shelf. His increased fantasy value comes with his inherited role of free kick and corner specialist. Look for Mason to continue to be involved with Spurs’ goal opportunities as long as the aforementioned duo remained sidelined.

Simply Magic – Dyer’s Late Goal Caps Off Fox’s Comeback Victory

Leicester City 3-2 Aston Villa

Sunday, September 13^th @ King Power Stadium

If this is all a dream, let nobody wake up Claudio Ranieri. After allowing two early goals in the first hour to the visiting Villans, the Foxes gave the constituency at King Power Stadium an afternoon to remember. Led by the superlative efforts of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, Leicester stormed back and equalized the match with goals from Richie De Laet and Vardy himself.

Leicester, not content with the draw, sent King Power Stadium into near hysteria with an 89^th minute equalizer. Staying true to his status as fantasy juggernaut, Riyad Mahrez lobbed a gorgeous ball to new loanee Nathan Dyer. Just six yards out from net, Dyer beat Brad Guzan to the ball and with the flick of his neck, redirected the ball into the far corner of the net. After the first five games of the season, only Leicester and Man City are the league’s unbeaten teams.

Fantasy Focus: Riyad Mahrez - Midfielder

This guy has certainly found a home in Claudio Ranieri’s system. In the infancy of the new campaign, one would be hard-pressed to argue that Mahrez is not the current front-runner for Player of the Year. Still bafflingly undervalued in many fantasy formats, the Algerian winger has certainly proved that he is far more than a flash in the pan. Mahrez should be owned and routinely used in all fantasy formats.

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