Sport360's fantasy football tips

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  • Sport360 expects Jermain Defoe to capitalise in the next few weeks for new club Sunderland.

    Each week, Sport360 will bring you tips for the English Premier League's official fantasy football game. Fancy pitting your wits against us? Join the newly established "Sport360 Fans'" league using the code 476463-715903.

    One of the most tactical but effective approaches in fantasy football is selecting players based on fixtures. This weekend sees the top two teams, Chelsea and Manchester City, face each other. Although this is the standout match, fantasy football managers should be concerned with any overpriced player  in your selected XI that will be involved. A clean sheet for either side is highly doubtful and a hat-trick from lethal frontmen Sergio Aguero or Diego Costa appears implausible. 

    Diego Costa (l) and Sergio Aguero (r).

    However there's no need to be concerned. Two sides that will benefit from easy fixtures in the next three weeks are Manchester United and Sunderland.

    Manchester United fixtures: Leicester (h), West Ham (a), Burnley (h)

    Sunderland fixtures: Burnley (h), Swansea (a), QPR (h).

    You expect key players from both these sides to score highly in the next three weeks.

    So who should you transfer in?

    Manchester United:

    DF – Phil Jones – 5.3m
    Phil Jones (l).

    The English defender has been one of Louis van Gaal’s most conistent defenders this season. He looks like one of the only players that truly suit his 3-5-2 formation. He is Man Utd’s highest scoring defender on 44 points and has a great chance to add to that tally in the next few weeks. You never know, he might take another corner this week and get a cheeky assist. Nobody expected that.

    MF – Angel Di Maria –  9.5m
    Angel Di Maria.

    Although he didn’t set the stage alight last week against QPR, he will have got sharper with the game time which should benefit all fantasy football managers that own the Argentine. Don’t panic if you are disappointed with signing him, he will undoubtedly start delivering again.

    Sunderland:

    FWD – Jermain Defoe – 6.0m
    Jermain Defoe.

    You will struggle to find a better finisher in the league, even if he is now 32-years-old. Gus Poyet knows his quality, hence why he signed him on a three-and-a-half-year deal on £70,000 a week. He is bound to start firing for his new side without delay so get him before the majority of other players have even considered the idea.

    #360Fact: Jermain Defoe is the 14th highest all-time goalscorer in the league’s history with 124 goals.

    DF – John O’Shea – 4.5m

    John O'Shea.

    The former-Manchester United defender has been involved in every minute of Sunderland’s campaign this year. Poyet will be once again relying on his experienced captain to keep his side tight when they face teams in a similar position to themselves.

    Who should you avoid though?

    GK – David de Gea – 5.8m
    David de Gea.

    There isn’t a better goalkeeper in the league at the moment. Nevertheless after the recent signing of Victor Valdes, you can see Louis van Gaal giving his No1 a rest in one of these games. After all, he hasn’t missed a minute of Premier League action yet this season so this would be the perfect opportunity to give his new shot-stopper a chance. 

    Dream Team: If you fancy using your wildcard…

    The fact that Costa could be facing a three-match ban for his stamp against Liverpool could mean it's the right time to exchange the league's top scorer. Your free wildcard is only available for one more gameweek so don't forget to take advantage of it.

    Let us know your view on these selections by commenting below or by using #360Fans on Twitter

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