Tag Archives: Aymeric Laporte

Will Liverpool defend Premier League title in 2020-21?

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Liverpool won the 2019-20 Premier League title by a record margin of victory – 18 points ahead of runners-up Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp’s side all but had the title wrapped up in early 2019 and would have sealed it as early as March but for a shock defeat at the hands of Watford just before the disruption.

The Reds were efficient if not dominant on occasions, winning 26 of their first 27 Premier League games. This included late winning goals versus Leicester City (95′), Aston Villa (87′), Crystal Palace (85′), Wolverhampton Wanderers (84′) and West Ham United (81′).

Whilst Liverpool were putting win after win together, pre-season favourites Manchester City were dropping unexpected points – held 2-2 at home by Tottenham Hotspur, beaten 3-2 at Norwich City, in both matches versus Wolves, and held 2-2 at Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola’s side were poor at the back, clearly missing the departure of Vincent Kompany last summer as John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi certainly weren’t capable replacements, especially when Aymeric Laporte was lost for several months through injury.

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FA Cup 4th Round Predictions

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It’s the FA Cup 4th round at the weekend in England as the Premier League takes a break. Whilst possible points can’t be gained in cup games, it is still interesting to look into the teams in the Premier League that are still left in the competition and who we think could qualify for the 5th round. Or will there be shocks, and who can emerge as cup heroes at the weekend?

Brentford v Leicester

Brentford will be very determined in this match but look at how well Leicester have performed this season in the league. The Foxes will be strong and have reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup too. Manager Brendan Rodgers will be determined for his side to reach the 5th round. Leicester to beat Brentford

Southampton v Tottenham

Southampton have been in good form in the league and they have a chance to knock out Tottenham in this game. The club look solid. As for Tottenham their form has been average, and they could well be relying on Heung-Min Son to get them out of trouble. This is a massive game for Tottenham, they need trophies. Tottenham to beat Southampton

Millwall v Sheffield United

Sheffield United are having a strong season in the Premier League but manager Chris Wilder played a second string side in the last round. They got away with it then but if he chooses to play them again Millwall away could be a step too far, and we fancy the Championship side here. Millwall to beat Sheffield United

West Ham v West Bromwich Albion

It has not been a good start for West Ham manager David Moyes, whose side lost 4-1 at Leicester in the league a few days ago. They have the quality to win this game, and it will be interesting to see if Moyes picks Sebastian Haller who could be a danger if used in this game. West Ham to beat West Bromwich Albion

Burnley v Norwich

This all Premier League tie should see Burnley prevail. Norwich have bigger problems at the foot of the table and look like they could go down. Burnley have a lot of confidence and they have just beaten Manchester United away. Burnley to beat Norwich

Newcastle v Oxford United

Andy Carroll could return for this game and the centre forward getting a run out for a cup game could be the perfect tonic. Newcastle should have little problems in winning this game given that they are at home and we fancy a comfortable win. Newcastle to beat Oxford United

Hull v Chelsea

Chelsea will start as favourites but this could be a very close game and they will give the Blues some troubles. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard isn’t afraid to play a strong team and promising youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi could make all of the difference here. Chelsea to beat Hull

Manchester City v Fulham

Fulham just need to enjoy this game, try and defend and try to counter. The problem they have is that Pep Guardiola will most likely play a very strong team- he’s in need of trophies given that the league looks over. Ayermic Laporte is set to make his long awaited comeback in this game too. Manchester City to beat Fulham.

Watford/Tranmere v Manchester United

Watford and Tranmere will play a replay before this game, although we think Watford should make it through. The Hornets have already beaten Manchester United a few weeks ago, and we think they can force a draw here, and play in another replay. Watford and Manchester United to draw

Shrewsbury v Liverpool

On paper you would say Liverpool will win and will score many goals. But Jurgen Klopp will probably stick with the same youthful side that beat rivals Everton 1-0 in the last round. This won’t be an easy game, and Klopp’s ace card will be having some quality on the bench. Expect Sadio Mane to come on if everything is a stalemate late in the game. Liverpool to beat Shrewsbury

Bournemouth v Arsenal

This is a big game for Arsenal who have struggled in the league and not played well away from home. But Mikel Arteta has stated how important the cup is to Arsenal and having a deep run in it will be important. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is suspended and a lot of the responsibilty could fall on Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal to beat Bournemouth

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Will January additions ease Man City’s defensive crisis?

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As soon as Aymeric Laporte hobbled off injured during Manchester City’s 4-0 home win over Brighton in late August projections were made over how it would affect the defending Premier League champions. Amid all the doom and gloom, nobody expected that Laporte’s absence would be so costly.

Only eight games of the 2019/20 Premier League season have been played, but Liverpool already hold an eight point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side. City have suffered collapses against Norwich City and Wolves with their defence especially vulnerable following the injury to John Stones.

Guardiola has so far failed to find a suitable solution to ease Man City’s problems at the back. The Catalan has used Fernandinho as a centre back in Laporte and Stones’ absence. This is designed to keep the link between City’s defence and midfield intact, with the Brazilian key to bringing the ball out from the back.

However, Fernandinho isn’t a defender and that has been obvious in the games he has played at centre back. And so talk has started over who City could target in the January transfer window. The Etihad Stadium outfit might spend their way out of trouble.

Ruben Dias has most recently been linked with a move to the Premier League champions. This isn’t the first time that the Benfica defender has been linked with a move to England, with Manchester United also reported to be interested in the Portuguese international. He would be a shrewd addition for either team.

Guardiola does have a centre back that he has only used off the bench during this injury crisis. Eric Garcia is highly rated as a young defender, but the Man City boss has so far been overlooked in favour of square pegs in round holes. Another expensive signing like Dias would only underline how Guardiola hasn’t yet held up his end of the bargain as an advocate of youth.

However, it’s true that City needed a new centre back before the injuries to Laporte and Stones even hit. Vincent Kompany left them short of options in defence, leaving the Etihad Stadium for Anderlecht. Nicolas Otamendi isn’t a player Man City can depend on, as has been demonstrated over the past few weeks. Rather than fixing new problems, the signing of someone like Dias would patch things up that date back to the summer.

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Aymeric Laporte injury presents City with early season test

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Manchester City’s 4-0 home win over Brighton in their final game before the first international break of the season could hardly have gone any smoother. Indeed, the Premier League champions were in control for the majority of the match, barely moving out of second gear as they struck four past the visiting Seagulls.

However, this could turn out to be a match that has a big bearing on City’s Premier League title defence. It was only 37 minutes into the game when Aymeric Laporte crumpled to the ground after injuring himself in a tackle. At first, it didn’t appear so serious, but the Frenchman was soon stretchered off.

Now, it seems that Laporte will be spend a not-so-significant amount of time on the sidelines. This leaves Pep Guardiola short of options at the back. City were already somewhat short of options before Laporte’s injury following the surprise exit of Vincent Kompany at the end of last season. Now, they are down to bare bones.

Nicolas Otamendi has been playing as City’s first choice centre back pairing with Laporte, but doubts over the Argentine’s concentration persist. John Stones has also spent the first part of the season injured and so Guardiola could be forced into using Fernadinho as a centre back for the next few weeks, at least until Stones returns to full fitness.

This will put huge pressure on a Man City defence which has already looked vulnerable at times early on this season. Tottenham exposed this in coming away from the Etihad Stadium with a point and it could be the case that more opposition teams more emboldened when faced with a weakened City side.

With the Premier League title race as tight as it already is, Laporte’s injury presents Man City with an early test in their season. They can’t afford to let Liverpool build a commanding lead at the top of the table. There is next to nothing between the two sides and so an injury to a key player, like Laporte, could prove pivotal, even if he is missing for just a few weeks.

Of course, if there’s one team that can absorb the loss of a defender like Laporte, it’s Man City. Their passing game makes it very difficult for opponents to expose them at the back. But nonetheless, the margins at the top of the Premier League table right now are so thin it could prove significant.

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Top Premier League Defenders in 2018/19 – Kyle Walker

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Kyle Walker

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker picked up another Premier League winner’s medal when his side held off the challenge of Liverpool to win the title by one point back in May.

Walker was also the fourth-highest scoring defender in EPL fantasy football for the season with 89 points from his 33 appearances (30 starts).

Aymeric Laporte was the only City defender ahead of Walker. Laporte earned 100 points in 2018/19.

Liverpool’s trio of Virgil van Dijk (119 points), Andrew Robertson (118) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (102) were first, second, and third respectively. Continue reading →

Top Premier League Defenders in 2018/19 – Aymeric Laporte

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Aymeric Laporte

Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte was the highest-scoring non-Liverpool defender in fantasy EPL last season.

The 25-year-old French centre-back joined Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team in January 2018 for €65 million from LaLiga’s Athletic Bilbao.

Since then, he has gone on to be recognised as one of the best defenders in the English Premier League with his consistent performances at the heart of the City backline.

At just 6.5 million, Laporte was a bargain for EPL fantasy managers last season. After impressing so well, his price is likely to increase before the 2019/20 campaign gets underway. Continue reading →

EPL Weekend Picks – Round 13

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David Silva

The 13th week of the 2018-19 Premier League season sees Manchester City travel to West Ham, while Tottenham host Chelsea in one of the biggest games of the campaign so far. Let’s take a look at 11 players who you should consider for your EPL Fantasy team this weekend…

GK – Rui Patricio (Wolves)
Wolves play two of the Premier League’s lowest-scoring sides — Huddersfield and Cardiff — over the next week, so Rui Patricio is well worth considering. The Portuguese goalkeeper has 18 points so far this season.

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EPL Weekend Picks – Round 10

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aubameyang lacazette

The 10th week of the 2018-19 Premier League season sees Liverpool face Cardiff, Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace and Tottenham host Manchester City. Let’s take a look at some of the players who you should consider adding to your EPL Fantasy team before the weekend.

GK – Alisson (Liverpool)
With six clean sheets from nine matches, Alisson’s points total of 42 has only been bettered this season by Manchester City’s Ederson. The Liverpool goalkeeper, valued at 10.00m, is likely to add to his tally against Cardiff on Saturday.

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Pass master Laporte now an integral part of Guardiola’s Manchester City

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Much has been written about Virgil van Dijk’s impact at Liverpool since his move from Southampton in the January transfer window. The Dutchman’s mid-season arrival at Anfield coincided with a vast improvement in Jurgen Klopp’s side defensive record; pre-Van Dijk’s debut they conceded an average of 1.22 goals per Premier League game, compared to just 0.64 per match in the 14 top-fight encounters the £75m centre-back featured in before the end of the 2017/18 campaign. Continue reading →