Yahoo! Fantasy Football: Manchester City’s record to continue at Tottenham’s expense
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Before running through our tips for Gameweek 18 in the Premier League, we have to point you in the direction of a fantastic sign-up offer on Yahoo! Fantasy Football.
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GOALKEEPER – ADRIAN (WEST HAM)
David Moyes decision to drop Joe Hart and reinstate Adrian as West Ham’s No.1 man between the sticks has unsurprisingly coincided with an upturn in form for the Hammers.
Adrian put in a heroic display in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City before keeping successive clean sheets at home to Chelsea and Arsenal. West Ham looked doomed at the start of that daunting run, but have come out the other side with four points.
The Spanish goalkeeper has made 11 saves over those three appearances and is now a Yahoo! form player. West Ham travel to strugglers Stoke on Saturday and there will be another opportunity for Adrian to score more Yahoo! Fantasy Football points.
DEFENDER – KYLE WALKER (MANCHESTER CITY)
Kyle Walker will line up against Tottenham for the first time since swapping Mauricio Pochettino’s side for Manchester City in the summer. Walker is now almost guaranteed to win his first Premier League title and will want to put in a strong performance against his former club to silence any critics.
The 27-year-old has registered four assists in 15 Premier League appearances this season, illustrating his worth in attacking areas. With that in mind, it’s always beneficial to sound out defensive options that can score or assist at the other end when picking your Yahoo! Fantasy Football XIs.
DEFENDER – CESAR AZPILICUETA (CHELSEA)
There is only one defender that has provided more Premier League assists than Walker this season and that is Cesar Azpilicueta, with five. The Spain international hasn’t been as impressive in defence as he was last season, but he has come on leaps and bounds as an offensive option for Antonio Conte this time around.
Chelsea have won their last four home league matches and kept a clean sheet in two of their last three at Stamford Bridge. Conte’s side welcome a Southampton side devoid of confidence after their 4-1 pummelling at the hands of Leicester in midweek and Conte’s side should have no trouble dispatching the Saints on Saturday.
DEFENDER – MARCOS ALONSO (CHELSEA)
If it’s a goalscoring defender you are looking for, then Azpilicueta’s Chelsea teammate, Marcos Alonso, is the player you want. The 26-year-old has scored more Premier League goals than any other defender since the start of last season (9) and has also registered four assists in that time.
MIDFIELDER - WILLIAN (CHELSEA)
Our third and final Chelsea representative is Willian. The Brazil international is set to retain his spot in the Chelsea XI with Alvaro Morata still struggling with injury.
Willian played a direct hand in all three goals Chelsea scored against Huddersfield in midweek, which was the first time in Willian’s 151 Premier League appearances that he has managed the feat.
Chelsea scored four goals against Southampton the last time they welcomed them to Stamford Bridge and you can’t rule out this weekend following their dire midweek performance.
MIDFIELDER – DAVID SILVA (MANCHESTER CITY)
David Silva is arguably the new frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Year award after turning on the style for Manchester City in recent weeks. His contributions have been invaluable for City during their Premier League record run of 15 straight wins.
The 31-year-old has scored in each of his last three appearances for Manchester City, netting a two-goal salvo in their 4-0 win over Swansea in midweek. Not only that, but the Yahoo! form player has registered the joint most assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season (8).
City face a difficult match against Tottenham this weekend, which is bound to be entertaining, and it’s hard to look past Silva given his mesmerising recent form.
MIDFIELDER – JACK WILSHERE (ARSENAL)
Injury to Aaron Ramsey has finally given Jack Wilshere playing time in the Premier League. Arsenal failed to beat West Ham in midweek, but Wilshere did finish as the WhoScored Man of the Match.
Wilshere will be looking to build on that performance when Arsenal welcome relegation strugglers Newcastle on Saturday. The Magpies have now lost seven of their last eight and are sliding dangerously close to the bottom three.
Arsenal have not been efficient in front of goal of late, but that should all change this weekend, with Wilshere at the heart of it all.
MIDFIELDER – KEVIN DE BRUYNE (MANCHESTER CITY)
As voted for by our Twitter fans, Kevin De Bruyne earns a spot in our Yahoo! Fantasy Football XI. The Belgium international has scored or assisted seven goals in his last nine appearances for Manchester City (four goals, three assists).
De Bruyne has scored twice and registered one assist in two previous appearances against Tottenham and Pep Guardiola will look to the 26-year-old to inspire City to a record 17 Premier League wins in a row.
He is the highest WhoScored rated player in the Premier League this season for a reason, and he should always come into consideration for your Fantasy Football teams.
UTLITY – DELE ALLI (TOTTENHAM)
In order for Tottenham to enjoy any success in their meeting with Manchester City on Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino will need a formidable performance from Dele Alli. The 21-year-old hasn't quite hit the heights of last season, but has still registered five assists in his last six starts.
The England international has also scored in each of Tottenham’s last two competitive matches against City.
STRIKER – ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (ARSENAL)
Not fit enough to start against West Ham on Wednesday, Alexandre Lacazette will slot straight back into the starting XI on Saturday as Arsenal bid to dispatch a poor Newcastle side.
Lacazette has scored eight Premier League goals since joining Arsenal over the summer and six of those have come at the Emirates – a league high this season.
Newcastle have conceded 16 goals in their last six matches and you’d have to back Lacazette to score if Arsenal do find a way past a meek Newcastle defence.
STRIKER – MARKO ARNAUTOVIC (WEST HAM)
Marko Arnautovic has endured a very difficult start to life at West Ham since becoming their club record signing back in the summer, but there have been signs in their last two games that he is starting to turn it around.
The Austria international has played important roles in matches against Chelsea and Arsenal where David Moyes’ side have picked up four points. He got his first West Ham goal against Chelsea before putting in another great display against Arsenal in midweek.
Now, Arnautovic will be determined to continue his fine form when he faces Stoke for the first time since leaving the Potters.