Fantasy Premier League

Coutinho's lack of bonus points explained

By The Scout 31 Oct 2016
Crystal Palace v Liverpool

The Scout reveals why Reds midfielder was out of the bonus points despite providing two assists against Palace

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The Bonus Points

Philippe Coutinho (£8.5m) inspired Liverpool's victory at Selhurst Park, although a pair of assists was not enough to earn him Fantasy Premier League bonus points.

Despite suffering a 4-2 defeat, it was Crystal Palace's James McArthur (£4.9m) who picked up the maximum three points after scoring both of the Eagles' goals.

The midfielder also chipped in with four recoveries and won three tackles, helping him accumulate a score of 41 in the Bonus Point System (BPS).

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (£6.4m) produced a perfectly weighted through-ball for Roberto Firmino’s (£8.6m) goal, securing him two bonus points.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
James McArthur has returned a value of 9.2 points per million - only Watford's Etienne Capoue has provided better midfield value

He posted a BPS tally of 39, winning six tackles and making seven recoveries in addition to his assist.

Alberto Moreno (£4.6m) returned to the Liverpool line-up at left-back with James Milner (£6.7m) absent through illness, to claim the final bonus point with a BPS tally of 31.

The Spaniard made seven clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) and won four tackles, while also providing the assist for Emre Can's (£4.8m) opener.

Coutinho's two assists from corner deliveries helped him score 30 BPS, narrowly missing out on the bonus points. The playmaker's BPS total was dented as he was tackled on nine occasions. 

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Despite two assists, Philippe Coutinho missed out on FPL bonus points as he was dispossessed on nine occasions

The ICT Index

Despite a lack of bonus points, Coutinho stood alone at the top of the ICT Index, scoring 18.0.

The Brazilian registered a Threat tally of 65, the highest of any player on the pitch, after producing nine touches and four goal attempts from within the Palace penalty box.

He also claimed the highest Creativity total on show, with 62, supplying seven crosses and creating four chances. 

While he failed to score for a third successive Gameweek, Palace striker Christian Benteke (£7.7m) again demonstrated plenty of intent, recording three goal attempts from inside the box to earn a Threat tally of 61 and 7.4 in the Index overall.

The Belgian has now had 12 goal attempts in the box over his last three Gameweeks without finding the net.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Christian Benteke has fired 12 goal attempts inside the box over the last three Gameweeks without scoring

The Scout Notes

Coutinho's eight points followed a 10-point return against West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 9, maintaining his rich run of form.

He now sits second in the FPL midfield standings on 64 points, six behind Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez (£11.4m).

Having been the most popular transfer target ahead of the weekend, Coutinho already sits second for transfers in this week - more than 74,000 FPL managers have swooped for his services since the passing of the Gameweek 10 deadline and he now sits in 41% of squads.

Elsewhere, Firmino's composed finish for Liverpool's fourth means that he has now returned a goal or assist in three of his last four Gameweeks. 

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Roberto Firmino has returned a goal or assist in three of his last four Gameweeks

For Palace, Alan Pardew handed a recall to Scott Dann (£5.4m) at the back and took the decision to drop Andros Townsend (£6.2m) to the bench for the first time this season, with Lee Chung-yong (£4.4m) earning a start.

Townsend will hope for a recall at Turf Moor on Saturday, as will Jason Puncheon (£5.4) who entered the fray on 74 minutes having returned from a calf injury.

McArthur moved to 45 points for the season with his two goals, with Watford's Etienne Capoue (£5.1m) the only FPL midfielder to offer better value for money to this point.

However, McArthur's four goals have been his only efforts on target, suggesting he will struggle to maintain his current scoring rate.

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