It’s just after Christmas, you’ve gotten rid of all the family that have been lingering around. The New Year is dawning and you’re watching the absolute feast of football at pretty much makes the festive period.
You’re short of a few quid, and lining your pockets with a quarter-of-a-million pounds sounds like the ideal introduction to 2017. You’ve made your eight Hotshot Jackpot selections and have had a decent start, correctly predicting 5/8 anytime goalscorers already.
Now, step forward Manchester City. Step forward Kevin De Bruyne, and step forward Pep Guardiola. They headed to Anfield in what should have been the most exciting game of the festive period. But just like New Year’s Eve, was a predictable let down.
Most assists in the Premier League so far this season:
Kevin De Bruyne (9)
Adam Lallana (7)
Alexis Sanchez (7) pic.twitter.com/MhgHwDjcUi— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 1, 2017
Now, Sergio Aguero made his return to the team-sheet. And whilst Liverpool have been on frightening form, it makes for shocking reading when one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers fails to touch the ball in the opposition box all game. So I suppose De Bruyne isn’t all to blame.
And, as Georginio Wijnaldum found the net after just eight minutes with a belting header, there was still a whole 82+ minutes left for De Bruyne to oblige. However, as the game laboured on, that looked less and less feasible.
In actual fact, it seemed Liverpool’s style of play essentially cancelled the Belgian out. His name was rarely heard and he made little impact on the game. So thanks, Kevin, for letting us all down and failing to find the net.
2016 – Most @PremierLeague chances created in 2016:
Dimitri Payet: 144
Christian Eriksen: 116
Mesut Özil: 111
Kevin De Bruyne: 86
Creators.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2017
In what could have been our first female winner, she had already correctly predicted Jermain Defoe, Paul Pogba, Islam Slimani, Benik Afobe and Hal Robson-Kanu. After the disappointment at Anfield, she went onto nail her predictions of Olivier Giroud and Harry Kane to score anytime for the London teams.
So this week, the finger is firmly pointed at KDB. He has three goals in all competitions this season so far, but failed to make it a fourth for £250k.