Yahoo Fantasy Football: Manchester United superstar to continue mesmeric form

While there are some astronomical sums being thrown about in the January transfer window, there is also some big money involved on Yahoo! Fantasy Football this weekend. The WhoScored Expert will be entering Saturday’s main contest with a view to winning a share of £3,000.

Think you can beat us and winning big this weekend? For new users, use the promocode ‘Fantasy50’ when you deposit £5 and be rewarded with a £50 bonus to use on any cash games. Now, here is our XI.

Goalkeeper - KASPER SCHMEICHEL (LEICESTER)

Leicester are unbeaten in four matches and have not conceded a single goal in that run. In fact, the Foxes have gone more than six hours without letting in a goal and Claude Puel’s side will be confident of continuing that run at home to Watford on Saturday.

The Hornets have lost seven of their last 10 in the Premier League and their season has unravelled ever since Everton tried to coax Marco Silva away from Vicarage Road back in November. With that in mind, the inclusion of Kasper Schmeichel in your Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI is a no brainer.

Defender - ANTONIO VALENCIA (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Antonio Valencia left football supporters stunned after he scored his third Premier League goal of the season in Monday’s 3-0 win over Stoke, not just because he has now found the back of the net as many times this term as he managed in his previous four league campaigns combined, but because his wonder strike was with his left foot.

It was the first left-footed Premier League goal Valencia has scored since February 2008 during his Wigan days and one to savour for the 32-year-old. The Ecuador international is a key man for Manchester United and will be again when they look to cut Manchester City’s lead at the top to nine points this weekend.

Defender - HARRY MAGUIRE (LEICESTER)

Harry Maguire has been a real success story for Leicester this season and the £17m the Foxes shelled out for his signature in the summer looks a real bargain. The 24-year-old has not only been a rock at the back, but he has also proved influential in the offensive third.

In fact, only Chelsea duo Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta (both 7) have played a direct hand in more Premier League goals than Maguire (6) of Premier League defenders this season. When you consider only Brighton (15) have conceded more goals from set pieces than Watford (12) in the Premier League this season, Maguire should be looking to add to that tally.

Defender - DANILO (MANCHESTER CITY)

Injury to Fabian Delph has presented Danilo with an opportunity to play regularly for Manchester City over the next few matches. The Brazilian has been a real disappointment since joining from Real Madrid over the summer and is poised to make just his eighth league start of the season when City host Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Newcastle have failed to score in three of their last five trips to the Etihad and are not expected to trouble City on Saturday, particularly if they deploy the same tactic from the reverse fixture earlier this season. It should be a comfortable game for Danilo with Yahoo! Fantasy Football points to follow.

Midfielder - RIYAD MAHREZ (LEICESTER)

As picked by our followers on Twitter, Riyad Mahrez earns a place in our Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI after fending off competition from David Silva, Jesse Lingard and Jack Wilshere. Despite failing to secure a summer move away, Mahrez has been in top form for Leicester this season and his performances have even led manager Claude Puel to claim he is a £100m player.

The Algeria international has already scored and assisted (14) more league goals than he managed last season (9) and that should continue when Leicester face a Watford side that haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league since November.

Midfielder - PAUL POGBA (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Manchester United’s No.6 has been in sublime form for Jose Mourinho’s side this season, it’s just a shame that injury and suspension has limited Paul Pogba to just 13 Premier League appearances thus far. Despite a disrupted schedule, Pogba has played direct hand in 12 league goals thus far, while no player in Europe’s top five leagues has registered more assists (Pogba - 9).

In fact, the France international is playing a decisive part in a league goal every 94.5 minutes of action this season, which is impressive when you consider his position. He will look to run the game again when United play Burnley this weekend and it’s no surprise he is a Yahoo! Top-20 form player at the moment.

Midfielder - MANUEL LANZINI (WEST HAM)

After missing the start of the season through injury, West Ham supporters are finally starting to see the best of Manuel Lanzini. The West Ham No.10 has scored or assisted six goals in his last seven league appearances for the Hammers (two goals, four assists) and has struck up a good understanding with summer signing Marko Arnautovic.

The Hammers host Bournemouth on Saturday and these matches are usually very entertaining. In fact, four of the last five meetings have seen at least four goals scored, while there were seven in this same fixture back in 2015. If there are goals, expect Lanzini to be at the heart of it all.

Midfielder - LEROY SANE (MANCHESTER CITY)

Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season and have no better opponent to do so than Newcastle. Pep Guardiola’s side have scored 22 goals over their last five home league matches against the Magpies, which does not bode well for Rafa Benitez.

Only Kevin De Bruyne (8.29) has a higher WhoScored rating in home league matches than Sane (8.08) this season and the Germany international will be looking to add to the seven goals and nine assists to his name this weekend.

Utility - WILFIRED ZAHA (CRYSTAL PALACE)

As Arsenal look for replacement for Alexis Sanchez, there might be one closer than they think when they face off against Crystal Palace this weekend. Wilfried Zaha has been in sublime form for the Eagles since returning from injury in October and will be the man to watch for Roy Hodgson’s side at the Emirates.

In fact, all six of Palace’s league wins have come with Zaha in the starting XI, while his four league goals have earned Hodgson’s side four additional points. It’s also worth mentioning that the Ivory Coast has three assists in his last two matches against the Gunners.

Striker - THEO WALCOTT (EVERTON)

Sam Allardyce is expected to unleash his new £20m signing when Everton host a struggling West Brom side on Saturday. The Baggies managed to put an end to their winless run of 20 league matches last weekend, but Alan Pardew’s side haven’t won a Premier League away game since August.

With that in mind, West Brom should prove the ideal opponents for Everton to get back to winning ways after enduring a slump of their own under Allardyce. Walcott already has a hat-trick to his name against West Brom and will look to hit the ground running on Saturday following his transfer from Arsenal in midweek.

Striker - MARKO ARNAUTOVIC (WEST HAM)

Arguably the biggest beneficiary from David Moyes’ arrival at West Ham has been Marko Arnautovic. The Austria international endured a nightmare start to his time at the London Stadium, but has exploded into life in recent weeks.

Arnautovic has played a direct hand in nine league goals this season and they have all come in his last seven outings (six goals, three assists). Unsurprisingly, that makes him a Yahoo! Top-20 form player and he will be chomping at the bit to get at Bournemouth this weekend having already scored a brace against them as recently as Boxing Day.