The first fantasy football half term reports of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign saw a resurgent West Brom under Tony Pulis and a Bournemouth side defying second season syndrome to sit in the top half. Meanwhile, Leicester’s title defence was floundering, Walter Mazzarri’s Hornets were sinking after a bright start and Palace had sent an SOS to former England manager Sam Allardyce.
We are now over half term report way through a club-by-club rundown of who bagged the goals and notched up the assists during the first half of the season. Which players are worth following for the rest of the season? Which of the big names have failed to set the league alight this term?
For this third part, we take a look at the Half-fime report about Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Middlesbrough
On Sportito, the Point per games (PPG) is the main metrics to analyze their previous performances, and in our previous article, fantasy football guide, you can read more about how points are calculated, for every position and providing specific tips for this fantasy football game.
Liverpool
Star Player: Adam Lallana
Adam Lallana comes out on top of many star performers for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool during the first half of the season. The former Southampton midfielder has arguably been the stand out player for both club and country, having scored in his last three England appearances after failing to score in his first 26. In the Premier League, he had seven goals and seven assists for a Sportito point per games score of 8.97. From last season, Lallana has improved his goal frequency from 527 to 185 minutes.
Biggest disappointment: Daniel Sturridge
You don’t have to be a football expert to be aware of Daniel Sturridge’s injury troubles since a barnstorming 2013/14 campaign. The England striker hit 22 league goals at a goal every 103 minutes, as Brendan Rodgers’ side missed out on the title by just two points. However, Sturridge has recorded just two goals and an assist this term. His goal frequency of 243 minutes across 12 matches contributes to a Sportito point per games score of 3.52. When everyone is fit, Sturridge is probably behind both Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi in the pecking order at Anfield.
Manchester City
Star Player: Sergio Aguero
This probably comes as no surprise, given the diminutive Argentine has racked up 113 goals in just 164 Premier League appearances since joining City in 2011. Despite missing six league matches through suspension during the first half of the season, he still managed 11 goals in 14 appearances at a goal frequency of 104 minutes. Aguero also recorded an assist during his side’s 4-0 victory at West Brom for a Sportito point per games score of 9.65. Pep Guardiola will be relying on more goals from ‘Kun’ if City are to catch league leaders Chelsea by May.
Biggest disappointment: Vincent Kompany
After missing just eight games across the 2010/11 and 2011/12 campaigns, Vincent Kompany was widely regarded as one of the best centre backs in the world. Despite picking up a series of hamstring and groin injuries over the next three seasons, he still appeared in almost 65% of his side’s matches. However, the last two have been a nightmare for the Belgian, with a trio of calf injuries restricting him to just 1179 minutes in 2015/16. This season, City’s club captain has made just three appearances for a total of 115 minutes of action. He also picked up a yellow card during that time for a Sportito point per games score of 1.46.
Manchester United
Star Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a superstar of world football, having won the league title in 13 of his last 15 seasons at Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint Germain. However, some still doubted his ability to score regularly in the Premier League during the latter stages of his career. Zlatan has responded in spectacular fashion, by racking up 13 goals and four assists during the first half of the season. The former Sweden captain recorded an average of 0.68 goals per match for a Sportito point per games score of 9.96.
Biggest disappointment: Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini is often derided for his efforts in a Manchester United shirt, with the Belgian unable to shake off his association with the ill-fated David Moyes era at Old Trafford. During his final season at Everton, Fellaini recorded 11 goals and seven assists to convince United to pay almost £28 million for his services. Despite scoring six goals in Louis Van Gaal’s first season in charge, he has since become a bit part player under Jose Mourinho. He played only 779 minutes across the first half of this season, collecting six yellow cards for a Sportito point per games score of just 1.50.
Middlesbrough
Star Player: Ben Gibson
Ben Gibson, the nephew of Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, isn’t like some of the other star men in our club-by-club rundown. However, his status at the top of the Sportito charts is reflective of the defensive strength that ‘Boro’ have displayed on their return to the top flight. Gibson didn’t miss a minute during the first half of the season, and collected just two yellow cards for a point per games score of 5.15. He also contributed to six clean sheets in 20 matches, and scored his first ever Premier League goal at home to Spurs in September.
Biggest disappointment: Jordan Rhodes
The 26-year-old Scottish striker is set for a move away from the Riverside Stadium this month after failing to transfer his lower league form into the Premier League. He hit 91 goals in 179 appearances at Championship level after scoring 71 times in just 122 matches for Huddersfield in League One. A deadline-day signing for Boro from Blackburn in January 2016, Rhodes only played 208 minutes across six matches during the first half of this season. He failed to score a goal, or record an assist, for a Sportito point per games score of 1.58.
