Yahoo! Fantasy Football: Liverpool star backed to be league’s top scorer

The Premier League is back in the spotlight following last weekend’s FA Cup fifth round action. Most of the big matches around Europe are on Sunday but we are tasked with creating an XI from Saturday’s Premier League fixtures, starting from the 3pm kick offs.

We have entered Saturday’s main contest on Yahoo! Fantasy Football and hope to win a share of £2,500 this weekend! Think you have what it takes to beat us and win big this weekend? For new users, enter the promocode ‘Fantasy50’ when you deposit £5 and benefit from a £50 reward to use in any cash games. Now, here is our XI:

Goalkeeper – NICK POPE (BURNLEY)

Tom Heaton is closing in on a return to first-team action after six months out with a dislocated shoulder, but there is no reason why Nick Pope should drop out of the team following his tremendous form for the Clarets in the absence of their No.1 goalkeeper.

In fact, only David de Gea (80.6%) has a better save success rate than Pope in the Premier League this season and the 25-year-old should be confident of another fine showing against Southampton on Saturday.

Defender – TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool have unearthed a gem in 19-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold, who averages a WhoScored rating of 7.31 across league and European competition this season.

The teenager has flourished at right-back this season, with only Paris Saint-Germain veteran Dani Alves (7.66) averaging a higher rating of all players in his position in the Champions League this term (Alexander Arnold – 7.41).

With Joe Gomez only just recovering from injury, expect the youngster to feature again when Liverpool host West Ham with an eye on moving into second in the Premier League.

Defender – SHANE DUFFY (BRIGHTON)

Brighton will see this weekend as an ideal opportunity to move even further away from the bottom three. They are currently two points clear, but a home game against Swansea represents an excellent opportunity to strengthen their position.

The Seagulls will need to be at their best to see off a resurgent Swansea, who start the weekend unbeaten in their last 10 in all competitions. Brighton aren’t in bad shape, either. Chris Hughton’s side are unbeaten in their last five and have scored three goals in each of their last two at home, as many as their previous seven combined.

In order to win they will need to be strong at the back, so why not select one of their Yahoo! Top-20 in form defenders, Shane Duffy.

Defender – NATHAN AKE (BOURNEMOUTH)

Bournemouth are five points clear of the bottom three in 10th but will want to bounce back at home to Newcastle after losing 4-1 to Huddersfield in their last match.

The Cherries are unbeaten in their last four home matches and are currently on a three-match winning streak at Dean Court. In fact, only Manchester City (13) can claim to better that streak in the Premier League at the moment.

Nathan Ake has struggled for consistency this season, but is currently a Yahoo! Top-20 form player, suggesting this is the right time to back the former Chelsea defender.

Midfielder – PASCAL GROß (BRIGHTON)

At the cost of just £3m, Pascal Groß has proved an inspired signing by Brighton this season. While he hasn’t been at his creative best on a regular basis of late, you cannot undermine his importance to the Seagulls.

The 26-year-old has played a direct hand in 11 Premier League goals this season, at least three more than any other teammate. He will have to produce some more magic for Brighton to beat Swansea this weekend.

Midfielder – MARIO LEMINA (SOUTHAMPTON)

Another Yahoo! Top-20 form player, Mario Lemina is starting to turn in some really impressive performances for Southampton, as he finally appears to have overcome an ankle injury.

While Lemina has thrived defensively, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, the 24-year-old is also capable of driving the ball forward, as highlighted by 2.2 dribbles per game.

These assets to Lemina’s game will be key if Southampton are to enjoy any success against a stubborn Burnley side on Saturday.

Midfielder – ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (WATFORD)

Watford supporters may have to cherish Abdoulaye Doucoure in their final 11 Premier League matches, as it’s hard to see the Hornets holding on to their star midfielder with some of the league’s big boys circling. A solid showing against Everton on Saturday evening would only heighten speculation!

Doucoure has already revealed interest from the likes of Chelsea and it’s no surprise why they are interested, as the midfielder has arguably performed to a level that Antonio Conte expected from former Rennes teammate Tiemoue Bakayoko this season.

The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and provided two assists, and has won possession in the midfield third more times (138) than any other Premier League player this season, which is a huge return for a central midfield plying his trade at a club battling for their top-flight status.

Midfielder – JUNIOR STANILAS (BOURNEMOUTH)

It’s a pity that Junior Stanislas has not been fit more often for Bournemouth, as the 28-year-old has turned in some really good displays for Eddie Howe’s side in the last two years.

Stanislas is expected to line up against Newcastle on Saturday and will be looking to score or assist for the fourth time in his last five appearances.

Utility – THEO WALCOTT (EVERTON)

Theo Walcott has scored two goals and provided one assist in his first four Premier League appearances for Everton since joining from Arsenal in January. He has also been named the WhoScored Man of the Match in half of those appearances.

Everton haven’t kicked on as many thought they might under Allardyce, but Walcott has still managed to impress for the Toffees and should be capable of another good performance this weekend when they face a Watford side that have shipped the second most goals in the division this season (47).

Forward – MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL)

One of the signings of the season, Mohamed Salah will have his eye on overtaking Harry Kane as the league’s top goalscorer this weekend.

The Egypt international has scored 22 goals in 26 Premier League appearances, one less than Kane, who has played the same number of games.

Salah would arguably be the frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Year award had it not been for Manchester City’s startling campaign, but there is no reason why he cannot break the 30-goal barrier this season.

Forward – JURGEN LOCADIA (BRIGHTON)

Brighton fans were forced to wait a several weeks before being able to get a glimpse of January signing Jurgen Locadia, but he did not disappoint on his debut, netting in Brighton’s 3-1 win over Coventry in the FA Cup last weekend.

Chris Hughton will almost certainly hand the former PSV Eindhoven forward his Premier League debut this weekend and Locadia will add a new dimension to Brighton’s attack line.