This week’s fixtures provided a rare choice of numerous attractive captaincy options, perhaps allowing the opportunity to pull clear of mini-league rivals or gain some vital improvement in the overall rankings. Hazard, Kane and Aguero would be popular picks as usual, but thinking outside the box and selecting a captain from Leicester, Villa or even Hull could be the way to go as those clubs fight for their lives near the bottom.

The action started with Leicester taking on Newcastle on the back of four wins in the last five, with the only blip being a narrow loss to the current Champions, Manchester City.

LEI v NEW

Nigel Pearson’s men took just 38 seconds to take the lead as Newcastle continued their “stupid” and “daft” recent defensive displays where they play like “ostriches with their heads buried in the sand”. Leonardo Ulloa managed to get in front of Sissoko to head home a corner whipped in by Marc Albrighton. It was 2-0 after 17 minutes when Wes Morgan prodded home a ball that looked like it had grazed the head of Ulloa, but the FPL Gods awarded the assist to Albrighton.

In the second half, Leicester continued to run rings around Newcastle, with Jamie Vardy in particular looking to be in the mood to continue his recent good form. Shortly after the break it was 3-0 to the Foxes. Riviere fouled Wasilewski in the box and the penalty was duly despatched by Ulloa for his tenth goal in his debut season. There were no more goals, but Newcastle still found time to go down to ten men. Mike Williamson was accused later by his manager of getting sent off deliberately when he clattered Jamie Vardy into a TV camera. Daryl Janmaat managed to get booked for the second time just at the death; Vardy the unlucky recipient of the foul again. Bonus points were awarded as follows:

Ulloa – 3pts                                                                                                                   

Albrighton – 2pts                                                                                                        

Wasilewski – 1pt

AVL v EVE

It was the “Battle of the Belgians” at Villa Park as Benteke and Lukaku went head-to-head in a precursor to Mayweather v Pacquaio. It was Benteke who got off the mark first, holding off John Stones and Phil Jagielka to power home a header from Fabian Delph’s looping cross. Ron Vlaar had a chance to make it two, but headed just wide, but it was “Concrete” Ron who did provide the assist for Benteke’s second (and tenth goal in his last eight games) on the stroke of half time.

Lukaku decided to get in on the action just before the hour mark when Vlaar fouled Naismith in the box. It was Shay Given and not Brad Guzan who was facing the spot kick, having been rewarded by Tim Sherwood for his FA Cup performances with his first league start since 2012. The penalty was scored, but Villa restored their two goal cushion when Tom Cleverley scored for the second game in succession, clipping a lovely ball from Bacuna past Tim Howard in the Everton goal. There was time just before the end for Phil Jagielka to score his fourth of the season when the ball rebounded off the bar for him to head home. No assist was awarded. 3-2 the final score, the Villa momentum continues and Benteke looks to be the “must-own” FPL player for the final few games.

Benteke – 3pts                                                                                                                                         

Cleverley – 2pts                                                                                                                  

Jagielka – 1pt

LIV v QPR

With many peoples teams still overloaded with Liverpool players following their disappointing returns following the double gameweek, big things were demanded from the likes of Sterling, Henderson, Coutinho, Skrtel and Mignolet. Leroy Fer was back for QPR following injury. Rickie Lambert was given a rare start for Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard coming back in to the starting line-up.

It was Coutinho who opened the scoring with a beautifully taken goal following a ball from Rickie Lambert. As a Coutinho owner myself, he frustrates and dazzles in equal measure. On a day like today he is unplayable and a bonus point magnet but unfortunately he then has four gameweeks with underwhelming returns. Sterling had a goal disallowed for offside just after the half hour before posting a late entry for miss of the season when he missed an absolute sitter early in the second half.

Liverpool looked to be coasting to a certain victory, before Leroy Fer volleyed home a ball from Joey Barton wiping out the clean sheet in an instant. There was still time for a flurry of late action as first Steven Gerrard had a penalty saved by Rob Green, before Nedun Onuoha saw red for two yellow cards. Gerrard had chance to make amends in his last but one game at Anfield, when he headed home a corner from Coutinho on 87 minutes. 2-1 the final score with QPR now just one defeat away from relegation.

Coutinho – 3pts                                                                                                                   

Green – 2pts                                                                                                                          

Fer – 1pt

SUN v SOU

Back in GW8 Southampton inflicted an 8-0 defeat on Sunderland that arguably they never really recovered from. This was an opportunity for revenge as they fight to avoid the drop, while Saints appear to have lost their mojo in recent weeks. Having watched Leicester win again earlier in the day, Dick Advocaat’s men knew what needed to be done. Jose Fonte fouled Danny Graham in the box midway through the first half, and Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez made no mistake from the spot. With Sunderland players and fans still celebrating, Sadio Mane took full advantage of a goalkeeping howler from Pantilimon and put Saints back on terms just over a minute later (no assist). Gomez netted his second penalty of the afternoon on 55 minutes when Jermaine Defoe was brought down in the area after colliding with James Ward-Prowse. The referee saw fit to issue a straight red card to JWP, a decision that looked a little harsh. Graziano Pelle had a good chance to equalise near the end, but couldn’t manage to convert his shot. Sunderland with a useful 2-1 win and who would bet against them staying up at the expense of arch-rivals Newcastle now?

Gomez – 3pts                                                                                                                     

Mane – 2pts                                                                                                                              

Vergini – 1pt

SWA v STO

This was one of those games that crop up from time to time that allow me to save some time on a match review. In the first half nothing happened. Both clubs are aiming to achieve their highest Premier League finishes, but they should have just not bothered to play the first 45 minutes. Luckily, things improved after the break with Sigurdsson going close on two occasions – smacking the bar first before missing a great opportunity to put Swansea ahead.

The breakthrough finally came in the 76^th minute, the ever impressive (as I say every week!) Jefferson Montero scoring his first goal of the season as he dived to head home at the far post following a cross from Jonjo Shelvey. Montero was also involved in the sending off of Stoke defender Marc Wilson who got his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a foul on the Swansea midfielder. Shelvey got his second assist of the day as he set up Ki Sung-yeung to tap in his eighth goal of the season after his introduction as a late substitute.

Shelvey – 3pts                                                                                                               

Montero – 2pts                                                                                                                           

Fernandez – 1pt

WHU v BUR

With West Ham coasting towards the end of the season, and with Burnley holding on to a slim chance of escaping the drop, you would have hoped for more grit and determination from a Sean Dyche team. However, having fielded the same 12 or 13 players for the entire season, there doesn’t seem to be anything left in the tank. Any chance Burnley did have of securing a priceless away victory was snatched off them by the referee as he sent defender Michael Duff off for a challenge on Kouyate. Burnley had plenty of cover, so although there was no doubt that Duff had made contact, a red card seemed harsh.

Mark Noble scored past Tom Heaton from the resulting penalty kick, and from that moment you knew the stuffing had been knocked out of Burnley. Ings looked lively as usual with no end product (he last scored way back on 11 Feb in GW25) but Burnley will now slip back to the Championship, licking their wounds and no doubt wishing they had spent just a little bit more cash on their squad as with some fresh legs or opportunity to rest players they could easily have survived this season. 1-0 the final score, with the Hammers collecting an easy 3 points.

Noble – 3pts                                                                                                                 

Cresswell – 2pts                                                                                                                             

Jenkinson – 1pt

MUN v WBA

Following his 3 minute cameo last time out, Robin Van Persie was straight back into the starting line-up at Old Trafford as United looked to put some distance between themselves and Liverpool following two defeats on the bounce to Chelsea and Everton. West Brom meanwhile looked to employ the same tactics that saw them frustrate Liverpool last time out.

United’s dominance was total. They spent the entire match in the West Brom half, unleashing wave after wave of attack. But something wasn’t right. With RVP back in the team, Rooney was back to playing deeper. For large portions of the match Marouane Fellaini was the furthest man forward, as West Brom dealt with everything that was thrown at them.

And then it happened. In a rare foray into United territory West Brom were awarded a free kick. Chris Brunt took it, on the way towards the goal it took a deflection off Jonas Olsson and West Brom were ahead. Shortly after United were handed a golden opportunity to spare their blushes when Berahino handled the ball in the area and the referee blew for a penalty. Van Persie stepped up, but Boaz Myhill in the Baggies goal dived to his left and made the save. As United got more and more desperate they regressed to the tactics employed under David Moyes, slinging cross after aimless cross into the box, but West Brom held firm and secured another year of Premier League football.

Myhill – 3pts

Olsson – 2pts                                                                                                                       

McAuley – 1pt

What did we learn then? Benteke a “must-own” certainly. Time to load up on West Brom defenders? Well, a word of caution; yes, they face Newcastle next, but they finish up at home to Chelsea and away to Arsenal, so be cautious. Leicester still providing great value at both ends of the pitch. It was a day that will be remembered for penalties (6) and red cards (6). Join me on Monday evening for Part 2 of the Suffix.