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25th Dec 2016

The three players you need in your Fantasy Football team this Christmas

Conor Heneghan

How about Zlat?

J-League

Derek Wynne’s Sweeper System ensured that they would be top of the J-League table at Christmas time after some fairly average scoring in Gameweek 17, with only two teams in the top five breaking the 50-points barrier.

All of the top five have, however, exceeded the 1,000 points barrier, with Michael Quirke’s 3 Weeks & get bored (obviously not) and Sam Osborne’s ABCDE FC posing the biggest threat to the leaders in second and third respectively.

Derek Dickinson’s 2 Girls, 1 Schlupp and Barry Conway’s Atletico Long Ball ^^, meanwhile, are just two points adrift of third spot ahead of a very busy festive period.

J-League Top 5

  1. Sweeper System? – Declan Rynne: 1,022 points
  2. 3 Weeks & get bored – Michael Quirke: 1,013 points
  3. ABCDE FC – Sam Osborne: 1,011 points
  4. 2 Girls, 1 Schlupp – Derek Dickinson: 1,009 points
  5. Atletico Long Ball ^^ – Barry Conway: 1,009 points

This week’s leaders Sweeper System – Declan Rynne?

ffgw17

Gameweeks 18, 19 and 20

The meeting of Liverpool and Manchester City on New Year’s Eve is easily the standout tie of the Christmas, but that game aside, the fixture Gods have been relatively kind to the leading teams over the Christmas period.

Leaders Chelsea, for example, have two home ties against Bournemouth and Stoke before a tricky trip to Spurs on the first Monday of 2017.

Liverpool’s clash with City is sandwiched between games against Stoke and Sunderland and City themselves face bottom club Hull and Burnley before and after their trip to Anfield.

of Liverpool in action with of Manchester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on March 2, 2016 in Liverpool, England.

Successive fixtures against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth look like a decent way to recover from a difficult recent spell for Arsenal, while a revitalised Manchester United entertain Sunderland and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford before a visit to West Ham.

The big teams, of course, have big squads, so it’s worth paying attention to all the team news before the various deadlines (26 December 11:30, 30 December 19:00 and 2 January 11:30) for any hint of squad rotation and players being given a rest; Diego Costa, for example, will miss Chelsea’s game with Bournemouth on St. Stephen’s Day due to suspension.

Christmas picks

Safe bet: Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7 million). The Belgian hasn’t scored in the Premier League since the middle of September, but there are clear signs of a return to form in recent weeks.

The best player on the pitch in City’s win over Arsenal, he’s picked up two assists and 13 points in his last two games.

during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Manchester, England.

Dark horse: Divock Origi (£6.8 million). Liverpool’s main source of goals is their attacking midfield trio, but Origi has justified his extended run in the starting line-up with a prolific spell of late.

In his last five starts, he’s scored four goals, providing 35 points in the process.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Divock Origi of Liverpool celebrates as he scores their second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Captain’s choice: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£11.5 million). After going six games without scoring, the Swede has sprung into life of late with seven goals in six games, a spree which has delivered 53 points in that time.

The festive period has been kind to Manchester United on the fixture list and if Zlatan maintains his current form, he should be the first choice for the armband.