Yahoo! Fantasy Football: Goals expected when Manchester City face Bournemouth

It’s the final round of Premier League fixtures before Christmas so why not have a flutter on Yahoo! Fantasy Football and try to win some big money ahead of the big day. First time users will get a £50 bonus to use when depositing at least £5 but make sure you include the ‘Fantasy50’ promocode! Use that bonus on any cash games to maximise your chances of winning big over the festive period. 

We asked out Twitter audience to help us pick a goalkeeper for our XI and you responded. Burnley’s Nick Pope edged proceedings, taking home 38% of the votes ahead of Adrian, Heurelho Gomes and Lukasz Fabianski. We are entering the main prize draw this weekend, which does not include Friday’s clash between Arsenal and Liverpool and Saturday’s early kick off between Everton and Chelsea. Now, here is our XI. 

Goalkeeper - NICK POPE (BURNLEY)

Many thought Tom Heaton’s dislocated shoulder would prove costly to Burnley, but up stepped Nick Pope. The unknown 25-year-old has flourished for the Clarets in Heaton’s absence and the England international will face a real challenge on his hand to regain his starting spot when he returns to full fitness.

Pope, who is the highest WhoScored rated goalkeeper in the Premier League this season (7.19), will have his hands full again on Saturday when Burnley welcome Tottenham. However, Sean Dyche’s side have already taken points off a number of the traditional top six this season and their home form is to be admired. 

In fact, Burnley have conceded just three home league goals all season  - no team has let in fewer - and Pope has been an important factor behind that incredible defensive record. 

Defender - VINCENT KOMPANY (MANCHESTER CITY)

The Manchester City captain is expected to end a three-game absence when Pep Guardiola’s side face Bournemouth on Saturday to provide the Premier League leaders with a timely boost. City have defended well this season, but look even better when Kompany has been fit for them. 

Bournemouth are coming to the end of a gruelling run of fixtures and will be counting down the days to Christmas day more than most. They have failed to score in three of their last four matches against City, so look for Kompany to make a happy return to first-team football here. 

Defender - PHIL JONES (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Like Kompany, Phil Jones’ impact on the Manchester United defence cannot be underestimated. Jose Mourinho’s side look much more compact when Jones has been fit to play and he will return to the starting XI this weekend after being given the night off in midweek. 

United concede on average 0.65 goals per game when Jones has started in the league under Mourinho, illustrating his influence in defence. Leicester have failed to score in their last two against United and come into Saturday’s game off the back of a tiresome match against Manchester City on Tuesday that went all the way to penalties, which they lost. 

Defender - ANGELO OGBONNA (WEST HAM)

Angelo Ogbonna hasn’t always looked good for West Ham, but the former Juventus defender is certainly enjoying a good run of form at the moment, perhaps his best since joining the club. He is a Yahoo! Top-20 form player and that should continue when the Hammers welcome a poor Newcastle side on Saturday. 

West Ham have kept clean sheets in each of their last three league games and they include Chelsea and Arsenal, highlighting how well they have defended in recent matches. Newcastle, meanwhile, are without a win in nine matches and have lost eight of those. They have failed to score in their last two, just to strengthen Ogbonna’s case further. 

Midfielder - WILFRIED ZAHA (CRYSTAL PALACE)

The Ivory Coast international may not have too many more games left at Crystal Palace if rumours are to be believed that Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham will all fight for his signature in January. Wilfried Zaha has been in startling form since returning for injury midway through October and it’s no coincidence that Palace have started playing well with Zaha back in action. 

The 25-year-old’s four goals have earned Palace four points in the league this season and he will be eyeing further success when the Eagles travel to managerless Swansea this weekend. Swansea have lost nine of their last 11 matches and this should be another opportunity for Palace to move clear of the bottom three. 

Midfielder - JESSE LINGARD (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s demise at United has only benefited Jesse Lingard, who is now starting to thrive for Mourinho’s side. Lingard is now considered one of the first names of the team sheet, backed up by the fact he has scored or assisted five goals in his last five matches (four goals, one assist). 

In fact, the 25-year-old has played a direct hand in 10 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions for United this season and has previous against Leicester, having scored a wonderful goal in their Community Shield triumph last year. 

Midfielder - ILKAY GUNDOGAN (MANCHESTER CITY)

Things haven’t been easy for Ilkay Gunodgan since moving to Manchester City over 12 months ago, but he is poised for another go in the starting XI this weekend with David Silva still absent from proceedings due to personal reasons. Gundogan has played a direct hand in three goals in City’s last two matches and there will be further opportunities for goals and assists against Bournemouth this weekend. 

Pep Guardiola’s side have scored nine goals in their two previous home meetings with the Cherries and things are shaping up perfectly for another big City win this weekend. Bournemouth have played Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in their last three matches and will finish things off before Christmas with a game against runaway leaders City. Good luck with that. 

Utility - JEREMY PIED (SOUTHAMPTON)

After splashing the cash on some big hitters in attack, we have turned to Southampton defender Jeremy Pied as a cost-effective option in our Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI. Like Gundogan, Pied has endured a nightmare with injuries since moving to England, but the 28-year-old is fit again and expected to start at home to Huddersfield on Saturday with Cedric Soares sidelined. 

Huddersfield scored four goals away from home last weekend, which was more than they had managed on the road all season (3) prior to that. However, that is not expected to continue here against a Southampton side that are usually difficult to break down. Pied turned in a solid performance on his first league appearance of the season earlier this month, expect more of the same here. 

Midfielder - LEROY SANE (MANCHESTER CITY)

Given that you already know City like to score lots of goals against Bournemouth, it’s not surprise that we have included another City attacker. Leroy Sane has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, playing a direct hand in 14 goals in 16 appearances thus far. 

Only Neymar and Philipp Max (both 9) have more assists than Sane (8) in Europe’s top five leagues this season and he will be looking to carry on the form he showed against Tottenham last weekend against the Cherries this time around.

Striker - RAHEEM STERLING (MANCHESTER CITY)

Leroy Sane wasn’t enough for us so we’ve included Raheem Sterling in our Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI for good measure. The England international has scored at least four more Premier League goals against Bournemouth than any other team in his career, now imagine the damage he will do given he is playing the best football of his career. 

Sterling is already enjoying his most prolific season in front of goal (11 league goals) and we still have half of the season left to play. A well rested 23-year-old will be chomping at the bit to get at a tired Bournemouth defence. 

Striker - ROMELU LUKAKU (MANCHESTER UNITED)

The Manchester United No.9 has had his critics this season, but he has still scored or assisted 14 goals in 18 league games for his new club. He came off the bench against Bristol City in midweek and had an immediate impact, unfortunate not to score twice after incredible stops from City goalkeeper Luke Steele. 

Against Leicester, the 24-year-old have scored five goals in eight appearances, including three in his last three in the Premier League. Leicester went all the way to penalties in midweek only to lose to Manchester City and Lukaku will be looking to take advantage of any tired legs in the team.