It was the penultimate gameweek of the season and my opponent was my long-time friend Gary. Gary was a solid FPL manager who usually had a surprise selection in his team that made you think 'why didn't I think of that?'. I had mixed feelings about the way in which things would go here as I just wanted my mediocre season to come to an end.
Again, I had to take a points-hit. With it being the last double gameweek of the season, I wanted three Brighton players, despite only having two last week when they also doubled. Manchester City also doubled this week, so I kept the three men I had from them. As Liverpool were playing Aston Villa, I sold Tyrone Mings to get in my third Brighton player as I got Pervis Estupinan back in defence. Also, with the injury Joe Willock picked up last week I got another man back in midfield in Eberechi Eze. Gary made no transfers as I presume he wanted two free ones for the last day of the season. The last day can be an anomaly so best to have as much room for change as possible. Gary gave his captaincy to Erling Haaland, whilst I captained Riyad Mahrez as I didn't expect Haaland to start both games hoping for a major differential.
The action began at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Tottenham hosted Brentford in the early kick off on Saturday. Harry Kane's excellent free-kick gave Spurs an early lead, this increased Gary's lead over me as I had no one playing in this game. The Bees fired back however to inflict more misery on the home side as they won 3-1, including two goals from well taken goals from Bryan Mbeumo. David Raya was my opponent's keeper sad he still racked up four points despite conceding as he made six saves.
In the 3pm's, Fulham and Crystal Palace drew 2-2 in the London Derby. Getting Eze in was looking good as he provided the opening goal for Odsonne Edouard from a swift counter attack. Fulham went ahead with two goals from Alexsandar Mitrovic, but a late Joel Ward goal squared things up. I had three Liverpool players and Gary had two, so the Reds' home game against Aston Villa was extremely important. Unai Emery's men started better and took the lead through Jacob Ramsey. Jurgen Klopp's men had a goal some would say harshly ruled out from Cody Gakpo who Gary and I both had. My opposition also had Trent Alexander-Arnold and he went close. A late equaliser came from Roberto Firmino in his last home game for the club as it ended 1-1, all but putting an end to Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Mo Salah provided the goal with a brilliant outside of the foot pass and Firmino's finish complimented the ball in.
In the late match, Gary had Ben White so was hoping for an Arsenal clean sheet away at Nottingham Forest only for them to fall to a 1-0 defeat. Taiwo Awoniyi's goal meant that Manchester City won the league without having to kick a ball on Saturday. It was another goal on the break as the day seemed to be full of them. Morgan Gibbs-White assisted the goal and showed next season he will be a good budget pick with him being on set pieces too. A shoutout to anyone who has had him and started him a good amount this campaign.
Sunday, saw Brighton win 3-1 at home to Southampton. Evan Ferguson bagged a brace, and the second was assisted by Kaoru Mitoma, who Gary and I both had. No return from Jason Steele and Estupinan as it looked like I was too late to the party with the latter. Manchester City beat Chelsea with a much-changed line-up, thanks to an early goal from Julian Alvarez, after good work by Cole Palmer, who cooked Cesar Azpilicueta. Gary had all the same City players as me, and we thought points had come from a Mahrez assist, only for Alvarez's second to be chalked because of a handball by Mahrez. It hurt me more as he was of course my captain.
Monday oversaw an underwhelming goalless draw between Newcastle and Leicester. The Foxes needed the win in their fight for survival but did not attack anywhere near as much as expected. They did however almost nick a goal at the end through Timothy Castagne. I was thankful that Gary was a rare opponent who did not have any defenders from the Magpies. The irony was with Brighton having another double gameweek, though I had a random thought triggered by my gut, I was never putting Daniel Iversen in goal. But with the saves he made he accumulated 9 points. A Callum Wilson blank for me, and Gary had Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak. So, the score was not harmed as much as I feared.
Wednesday was the last day that effected the head-to-head as neither of us had anyone playing in the Thursday contest between Manchester United and Chelsea. The evenings' game was Manchester City's trip to Brighton. Phil Foden gave City the lead before Julio Enciso levelled. I had a narrow two-point lead so needed something from Estupinan, Mahrez or even Steele but nothing came. Haaland scored a second for City, only for it to be disallowed...'phew!'. If it had stood, I would have lost with the Norwegian being Gary's captain, but I held on for a low scoring 47-45 triumph.
With one gameweek left I have climbed away from 'relegation' and now lay 12th in the Justice League. If things go my way I can finish as high as 10th, which could be my only shining light at the end of this disappointing season.
@DubulDee