Fantasy football round the table - Gameweek 13's burning questions

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Each week we will assemble three of the best and brightest from the FPL community to answer the burning questions of the Gameweek.

Our expert panel will give quick fire answers to the burning questions all fantasy managers will be pondering going into the start of Gameweek 13, to help make those agonising decisions easier.

We have assembled a strong three on the panel where the hot topic heading into Gameweek 13 is whether Mohamed Salah can continue his fantastic form against a stubborn Chelsea side.

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Can Mohammed Salah maintain his outstanding recent form and register another goal when Liverpool entertain Chelsea?

Salah has been arguably the most consistent player this season, scoring nine and assisting a further three. This includes a goal and assist against Arsenal and a goal against Spurs. He drew blanks against Manchester United during the 0-0 tie, and was withdrawn at half-time against Manchester City. N’Golo Kante has made an immediate impact for Chelsea but Salah can easily test Chelsea’s left flank, which Manchester City and Raheem Sterling exposed in September.

It would be brave to back against Salah scoring in any game based on current form. But given that Chelsea seems to have rediscovered their defensive stability of last season with three clean sheets on the bounce, I expect Salah to blank this week.

I think having been part of the UCL team that capitulated so badly on Tuesday night will affect him. As a Chelsea old boy I think he’s going to be in “try hard” mode. I expect this to be a very low scoring affair with ‘Chicken Tikka’ not involved from a fantasy point of view.

READ MORE: The Chief’s Gameweek 13 picks

Will Harry Kane bounce back from two blank weeks in a row and score in a plum looking home fixture to the manager less Baggies?

Tony Pulis was sacked too early for Harry Kane. The ‘new manager effect’, Kane’s fatigue and Spurs’ inability to break down defensive teams at Wembley are all reasons why I’m not keen on Kane this Gameweek.

Logically, the answer has to be yes. The best striker in the league faces a side who haven’t won in 10 games. It’s also worth noting he scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season and a repeat could be on the cards unless caretaker manager Gary Megson can reorganise the West Brom defence.

In a word, no. Again, action in the UCL when he is still obviously carrying an injury could affect him. Poch may even give him a rest and go with Son/Llorente. I also don’t trust Gary Megson; he could galvanise the Baggies and they could be tighter than under Pulis.

In form budget option Wilfred Zaha has an attractive home fixture to Stoke while premium priced Eden Hazard travels to Anfield: which player will score the most fantasy points ?

Hazard looked spectacular against West Brom and he is more explosive than Zaha. Hazard also has teammates able to help him in attack, whereas Zaha is the only real bright spark in the Palace lineup. Goals, assists and a capable supporting cast makes Hazard the better option, even away at Liverpool.

For me, form normally outweighs fixtures. Liverpool didn’t exactly provide an advert for good defending midweek against Sevilla. With that in mind alongside Hazard’s return to form, I expect him to outscore the more budget option in Zaha.

Zaha if Benteke is still on the bench. Stoke will struggle to contain him I think. As I said before, I expect a low scoring affair at Anfield so for me Hazard could be a 2 pointer…

READ MORE: How to win money playing fantasy football with Yahoo Daily Fantasy

Which teams are nailed on for clean sheets this week if any?

United, City, Spurs and Bournemouth all look capable of clean sheets this Gameweek. I would also throw Burnley at home to Arsenal down as a possible clean sheet.

As boring as it seems, the Manchester clubs against Brighton and Huddersfield respectively appear very safe for clean sheets this week.

Man Utd (Newcastle were fortunate to get the beating of De Gea last weekend). Spurs (I can honestly see this finishing 0-0). Bournemouth (much better of late, Swansea are absolutely dire and even if Abraham is fit, I can’t see them getting past Begovic)

Who is this weeks must have fantasy player?

I’m going to stray away from the more obvious picks and put forward Richarlison as a must-have this week. He’s been involved in seven goals in seven games. Home or away, top-six or not, he finds a way to return points. Newcastle have struggled to keep clean sheet although they rarely get blown away. I think Richarlison will be involved in one of Watford’s two goals this Gameweek.

A must have should be nailed-on, in-form and based on one week alone, have a favourable fixture. Having been rested in the Champions League midweek, Leroy Sané looks an ideal choice not just to own but potentially captain against a Huddersfield side who conceded four times at Bournemouth last week.

Romelu Lukaku. As has been the case for years, he has his regular blank patches before he reengages Beast Mode and goes rampant. The return of Zlatan will have rattled him and he knows he has to raise his game. I expect him to destroy Brighton.

Which defender is capable of registering an attack return this Gameweek?

Spurs should see at least 70% possession at Wembley and the fullbacks will be involved heavily providing width. Yahoo fantasy allows you to change your lineup all the way until kickoff so I will wait to see whether Danny Rose or Ben Davies starts and then pop them in my team.

He definitely isn’t a player I would look to transfer in but given his attacking returns at the start of the season, a rest midweek and a fixture against managerless West Brom, Ben Davies could well provide attacking returns.

Kyle Walker. With Man City now you expect the win, the only question is by how many goals. I don’t think Huddersfield will be able to cope with the flying wing-backs and I expect Walker to grab at least an assist or two to go along with the inevitable clean sheet.

Which premium priced player will deliver a flop performance?

Sergio Aguero is unlikely to start and the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic means Lukaku will get rested at some point during this Christmas period. United play Arsenal on December 2 and City on December 12, with a Champions League tie in between. Aguero and Lukaku may be rested this Gameweek.

Having previously said Mohamed Salah would struggle to score against Chelsea, I will stick by that claim.

Aguero by virtue of the fact he won’t start, but if you want another option I also think Morata won’t be amongst the points at Anfield.

Which player will have the surprise performance of the week and deliver an unexpected fantasy points haul?

Callum Wilson had his breakout in Gameweek 12. This week it’s Josh King’s turn to score. He got an assist last week in his second consecutive start after missing two weeks through illness.

Jamie Vardy. West Ham’s susceptibility from conceding to counter attacks was highlighted in their last home game against Liverpool. This could easily play into Vardy’s hands on Friday night and see him score a brace.

Lanzini for West Ham. I thought he was the Hammers best player by a long chalk in the defeat against Watford. Leicester have gone off the boil and I think Lanzini could punish them at the Taxpayers Stadium in Moyes’s first Home game.

Which of Man City’s high profile assets, if any, will be rested by Pep?

Aguero and Sterling the full game pretty much in midweek. Jesus got a runout for 30 mins and Sane didn’t even travel. De Bruyne played for an hour and David Silva didn’t get a chance to take his bib off on the sidelines. Even Fernandinho got a rest before this busy Christmas time.

Pep will start Silva, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Sane and Jesus for sure. Sterling got hooked after 89 minutes and those extra few minutes could mean he starts.

Since Mendy’s injury in GW6, Guardiola has preferred a 4-3-3 system with Sané, Sterling, Aguero, Jesus and Bernardo Silva rotating for three positions. Sterling, Aguero and Bernardo all started on Tuesday night in the Champions League so I expect two of those three to be dropped to the bench against Huddersfield.

Aguero and Sterling without a shadow of a doubt.

Yahoo Daily Fantasy rewards players by scoring points for tackles, shots on target, tackles won and shots on target: which player will deliver an all action performance right across the pitch?

Mohamed Salah is averaging 15.4 Yahoo fantasy points per game currently. His goals and assisted help his total but he scored most of his points because he has the most shots on target (26) in the league. Yahoo rewards shots on target with two points and your player gets an additional 0.5 points for a shot. It all adds up!

All of those indicators lend themselves to an all-action goal scoring box-to-box midfielder. Having returned from injury last weekend with a goal and assist against Newcastle, I expect Paul Pogba to perform well again against Brighton.

Alexis Sanchez. He’s looking better and better over recent weeks and an explosion is a certainty. Despite Burnley’s rock solid defence, I expect the Chilean to demolish it on Sunday.