Yahoo! Fantasy Football: Manchester United’s record-breaking star to shine again
In keeping with the festive spirit, we have another fantastic Christmas offer available to you on Yahoo! Fantasy Football. After giving away a guaranteed cash prize to 100 entrants last weekend, Yahoo! Fantasy Football will now give any user that finishes above the WhoScored Expert in our own special contest an extra £5 credit. What’s more, there will be additional cash prizes to those that finish in the top-6. Think you have what it takes to beat the WhoScored Expert? Enter our FREE contest this weekend!
For first time users, why not maximise your chances of winning this weekend. When you sign-up, use the promo code 'Fantasy50' when you deposit £5 and get £50 in return to use in any cash games on Yahoo! Fantasy Football! Now, here's our XI for the weekend's fixtures.
Goalkeeper – DAVID DE GEA (MANCHESTER UNITED)
As voted for by 47% of our Twitter audience, Manchester United star David De Gea makes our Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI following his heroic performance against Arsenal last weekend. The Spaniard made a Premier League record 14 saves to deny the Gunners any points and Jose Mourinho will need a similar performance this time around if United are to get the better of league leaders Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side have scored at least 11 more goals than any other side in the Premier League this season, but there has been a notable dip in their performances in recent weeks, which should encourage the home side on Sunday.
With 47% of the vote, David De Gea makes our @YahooFantasy_UK XI ahead of the weekend
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 7, 2017
See the rest of our picks later today https://t.co/Y8Shi0Eq6J
Defender – SEAD KOLASINAC (ARSENAL)
Arsenal were left dumbfounded not to get at least a point from their clash with United last weekend and will look to return to winning ways when they face Southampton on Sunday. Saed Kolasinac has already proven a threat in attack for Arsenal this season and the Bosnia-Herzegovina international should always come into contention when picking your Yahoo! Fantasy Football XIs.
In fact, only Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta (6) has registered more assists of Premier League defenders than Kolasinac (4) this season.
Defender – AHMED HEGAZI (WEST BROM)
Alan Pardew drew his opening game as West Brom manager and will look to go one better when his side face Swansea on Saturday. The Swans are bottom of the Premier League and have failed to score in four of their last five. Without a win since October, they should prove the perfect opponents for West Brom to get back to winning ways.
Where will the points come from this game, then? In Ahmed Hegazi you have a defender that has won the WhoScored Man of the Match on two occasions this season, no Premier League defender has managed it more times.
Defender – ADRIAN MARIAPPA (WATFORD)
After holding Tottenham to a draw in their last outing, Marco Silva’s Watford side will look to make it three wins from five at the expense of Burnley this weekend. Watford have kept clean sheets in two of their last four matches and will be confident of beating Burnley, despite the Clarets’ impressive campaign.
Only 11 of Burnley’s 25 points have come at Turf Moor this season, while 13 of Watford’s 22 have come on the road. Adrian Mariappa has established himself at the back for the Hornets of late and could represent a savvy, cost-effective option this weekend.
Midfielder – DEMARAI GRAY (LEICESTER)
Claude Puel’s appointment as Leicester manager has benefited nobody more at the club than Demarai Gray. The England U21 international is now a first-team regular for the Foxes after struggling for game time during his first 20 months at the club.
Gray scored the winner against Burnley last weekend and will look to extend his streak away to a hapless Newcastle on Saturday. The Magpies have lost five of their last six in the league, conceding 12 times in their last four outings.
Midfielder – RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK (CRYSTAL PALACE)
21-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been one of few positives for Crystal Palace this season, but the Eagles are now finally moving in the right direction. Roy Hodgson’s side are now only three points adrift of safety and most of their good moments tend to revolve around their Chelsea loanee.
Midfielder – MESUT OZIL (ARSENAL)
It might be unfair to suggest Mesut Ozil’s performances have improved with the January transfer window nearing, but the 29-year-old has started to play his best football in recent weeks. The Germany international has played a direct hand in seven Premier League goals this season and they have all come in his last six appearances for Arsenal. You’d expect Ozil to finish the year strongly, which is unfortunate for Southampton this weekend.
Midfielder – EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA)
Injury over the summer has proved a blessing in disguise for Eden Hazard, which he himself has admitted. The Chelsea star has been immense over the last month and that does not bode well for West Ham on Saturday.
The Belgium international has been named the WhoScored Man of the Match five times in his last seven league appearances, scoring five times in the process. Hazard has also scored in each of his last two league meetings with the Hammers.
Utility – ANTHONY MARTIAL (MANCHESTER UNITED)
After it looked certain that Anthony Martial would not make the grade under Jose Mourinho, the France international has flourished for Manchester United this season and is now ahead of Marcus Rashford in the pecking order.
Martial played a vital part in United’s ruthless attacking performance against Arsenal last weekend and Mourinho will need a similar display if they are to edge Sunday’s Manchester Derby. Martial has played a direct hand in nine goals in 14 league appearances this season (six goals, three assists). It’s safe to say he is ready…
Forward – ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIVERPOOL)
After destroying Spartak Moscow 7-0 in midweek, Liverpool fans are understandably excited about Sunday’s Merseyside Derby. Roberto Firmino has rediscovered his shooting boots in recent weeks, finding the back of the net five times in his last four matches.
Sam Allardyce’s arrival may have improved things at Everton, but it’s hard to see a side that has shipped the third most goals in the Premier League this season (28) stopping Liverpool’s rampant attack.
Forward – MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL)
By selecting Mohamed Salah, you can tell we are confident that Liverpool will do a number on Everton. The Egypt international has scored more competitive goals than any other Premier League player (including Champions League qualifiers) this season (18) and more than any Liverpool player since the 13/14 campaign and it’s not even Christmas.
The 25-year-old has only failed to score in three of his last 10 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, which suggests the Premier League’s top scorer will add to his tally in the first Merseyside Derby of the season.
