Yahoo! Fantasy Football: Rampant Manchester United set to slay Crystal Palace
WhoScored.com have partnered up with Yahoo! Fantasy Football this weekend to provide users with the ultimate tipping guide ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures before the dreaded international break. The WhoScored tipster flourished again last weekend and we are back to deliver you with more top advice in a bid to win cash prizes with Yahoo!
Unfortunately for Crystal Palace supporters, there is more misery ahead. However, before running through our XI for Saturday’s matches starting from 3pm, we have to bring to your attention some an promotional offer available on Yahoo! this weekend.
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Make sure you head to team and preview pages to find out which players are a Yahoo! Top-20 form player! Now, here’s our XI:
Goalkeeper: LUKASZ FABIANSKI (SWANSEA)
Swansea are one point above the bottom three but it could have been a whole lot worse had it not been for the performances of Fabianski between the sticks. He has made the most saves in the Premier League this season (26), while only David de Gea (7.12) has earned a higher WhoScored rating than the Swansea ace (7.04) of goalkeepers that have made at least three appearances.
Defender: WESLEY HOEDT (SOUTHAMPTON)
Southampton’s performances haven’t been particularly inspiring this season but they’ve also been unlucky at times. They shouldn’t have lost against Manchester United but have a good chance to put that right against Stoke on Saturday. The Potters are winless in five matches, while the home side has failed to score in each of Southampton’s last five outings. With Virgil van Dijk set to return, Wesley Hoedt, his defensive partner, is set to benefit.
Defender: CHRIS SMALLING (MANCHESTER UNITED)
With Phil Jones set to miss Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace, Chris Smalling will have the chance to stake a claim for a regular run in the team. Palace still haven’t scored in the league this season and things aren’t expected to change when they travel to Old Trafford this weekend - United have kept clean sheets in four of their five home games this season.
Defender: RYAN BERTRAND (SOUTHAMPTON)
Southampton’s six league matches have overseen the fewest amount of goals in the Premier League this season, so it’s always a safe bet to go with one of their defenders. Bertrand will provide an attacking threat for the Saints against a Stoke side that continue to blow hot and cold under Mark Hughes. He will also save you money to spend in attack.
Midfielder: ASHLEY YOUNG (MANCHTESER UNITED)
Ashley Young has been a revelation for Jose Mourinho’s side this season and he should continue to threaten against an abysmal Crystal Palace side that travel to Old Trafford without a recognised striker. One assist in four matches this term also proves he can provide you points in the final third, particularly with Romelu Lukaku spearheading the attack.
Midfielder: N'GOLO KANTE (CHELSEA)
Chelsea will need N’Golo Kante to be at his best to stop a rampant Manchester City attack and that should see the France international rack up points thanks to his defensive skills. Given Kante is a Yahoo! Top-20 form player, it suggests he is coming into Saturday’s contest in the right form to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side.
Midfielder: EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA)
Antonio Conte has eased Eden Hazard back into first-team action this season, but he looked close to his best against Atletico Madrid in midweek and should be unleashed against City on Saturday evening. Only against two English teams has Hazard scored more goals against in his career than City (four goals).
Midfielder: NATHAN REDMOND (SOUTHAMPTON)
Tasked with carrying Southampton’s attacking threat, Nathan Redmond should be chomping at the bit to get at a Stoke defence that shipped four goals in their last match. The 23-year-old has fired off the most shots from outside of the box in the Premier League this season (13), illustrating his desire to test the goalkeeper, which will be former England U21 team-mate Jack Butland.
Utility: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
You really have to make the most of the fact United are playing Palace this weekend. With defenders covered, now it’s time to pick some of United’s attacking talent. Anthony Martial deserves to start, but he will probably rotate with Marcus Rashford once again this weekend, who has also started the season well. Four of the five goals he has scored this season have come at Old Trafford.
Striker: GABRIEL JESUS (MANCHESTER CITY)
With Sergio Aguero set to miss Manchester City's trip to Chelsea this weekend, Gabriel Jesus will now be tasked with leading the line on his own. Given the Brazil international has the best minutes-per-goal ratio in Premier League history (10+ goals), this should not be too much of a concern for Pep Guardiola this weekend. Jesus has made a fantastic start to life at City and that looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Striker: ROMELU LUKAKU (MANCHESTER UNITED)
Romelu Lukaku brought up his 10th Manchester United goal in nine matches in midweek and it now means he has only failed to scored in one game for his new club this season. Up against the joint-worst defence in the league, Lukaku should have a field day against a Palace side that are going from bad to worse.