Ryan Fraser ruins 623,617 people’s days: the winners and losers from the 3pm kick-offs

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This season’s Premier League is bubbling along nicely.

Already we’ve had plenty of drama and gameweek six has seen the football gods bless us with three of the ‘big six’ – Liverpool (at home to Southampton), Manchester City (away to Cardiff City) and Manchester United (at home to Wolves) – simultaneously kicking-off on Saturday at 3pm.

So, with some of Europe’s best players on show we expect nothing less than a day to remember, but they are not alone – three other fixtures also took place: Burnley v Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Newcastle United and Leicester v Huddersfield.

As always there winners and losers and here some of them from this afternoon’s game.

Winner: Leicester old and new

It might seem a lifetime ago but it been just over two years since Leicester City defied the odds to become Premier League champions. Since then Claudio Ranieri’s winning squad has broken up though a number remain at the King Power Stadium.

Three players in particular defined that 2015/16 season: Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kanté.

Of those Vardy is still committed to the Foxes cause; he picked up a goal and assists in their 3-1 victory over winless Huddersfield Town, which Kelechi Iheanacho matched.

Further away in Cardiff saw that season’s player of the year Mahrez bag his first goal for Manchester City, whom he finally joined in the summer, before making it a double on the stroke of full-time.

Loser: Alexis Sanchez

He couldn’t have imagined this after swapping north London for Manchester earlier this year. Alexis Sanchez’s time at United, even if it’s in its infancy, cannot be deemed a success.

Sure the combative Chilean forward has had his moments, but they have been few and far between and one wonders if the tide will turn. His cameo against Wolves was another let down hooked off with less than half an hour of the game to go with the scores level at 1-1.

To put things into some perspective the former Arsenal darling has now gone 831 minutes without registering a Premier League goal.

That is equivalent to 13 hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds.

Winner: Bernardo Silva

In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne a lot has been resting on the likes of Bernardo Silva who can gave the defending Premier League champions something extra.

His season began well, so much so manager Pep Guardiola suggested the makeup of City is now “Bernardo and 10 other players”, but it’s fair to say the Portuguese international hasn’t grabbed the bull by the horns.

But this Saturday was different. Following their humbling Champions League 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon, in which Bernardo bagged the consolation goal, he was a man on a mission.

Not content with setting up Sergio Aguero for the opener he went and registered his second league goal of this season. He’d contribute with six last season, his first campaign in England, and the Lisbon-born midfielder will fancy his chances of surpassing that figure.

Loser: Cardiff City

No one says facing the champions will be easy. Better teams than Cardiff City have squared up against Manchester City and been systematically brushed aside but this result further adds to manager Neil Warnock’s misery.

Anything from this fixture is nothing but a bonus, impressive the achievement may be, Cardiff’s battles are against those around them though it’s now four defeats from their opening six fixtures.

Next up is a visit from Burnley before travelling to Wembley and taking on Tottenham Hotspur.

Winner: Sean Dyche and company

Speaking of Burnley, last season’s surprise package, what a tough start to 2018/19 it has been for Sean Dyche’s charges.

Going into this weekend they were one of four winless clubs in England’s top division (along with Cardiff City, Huddersfield and Newcastle United).

The malaise, which included four defeats, ended at the expense of high-flying Bournemouth who suffered a 4-0 loss at Turf Moor, a scoreline they last managed in the Championship against Bristol City in December 2015.

Among the goals was evergreen Aaron Lennon, who bagged his first Premier League since March 2016, given what he’s since gone through it was a moment that was met with great happiness.

Loser: 623,617 people

Fantasy football is serious business. We know that due to the sheer numbers of folks who participate every other weekend.

This season’s competition is hotting up and among the usual suspects are new faces – or current darlings.

The flavour of this month seems to be Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Fraser and to his credit it’s deserving given his recent exploits: three goals and two assists in his opening five league outings.

So, with this weekend’s opponents being hapless Burnley, it was no surprise to see many back him. Just over 620,000 transferred the Scottish international in only to get egg on their face.

The post Ryan Fraser ruins 623,617 people’s days: the winners and losers from the 3pm kick-offs appeared first on Squawka News.



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