Boxing Day’s Premier League programme should see the majority of our players back in action after we suffered a Gameweek ravaged by the weather. The snow and ice may have receded, but how will teams and players fare after their rest and Christmas dinners? Let’s take a look at Paddy Power’s take on the festive fallout…

Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?

• Man United 1.72 (SUN)
• Everton 1.90 (BIR)
• Fulham 2.30 (WHM)
• Wolves 2.50 (WIG)
• Liverpool 2.60 (blp)
• Blackburn 2.80 (STK)
• Man City 2.87 (new)
• Bolton 2.87 (WBA)

Manchester United’s recent form has granted them the coveted Christmas number one spot and it’s no surprise to see that Paddy has priced them as favourites to keep a clean sheet against Sunderland. The Black Cats visit Old Trafford with an impressive goal haul, 17 of which have come from three in-form strikers, but, with Danny Welbeck ruled out, Paddy favours United with defensive form showing three clean sheets in five.

Everton welcome Birmingham to Goodison Park on Sunday, with Paddy ranking them just behind United in the clean sheet stakes. The Toffees have only managed a single shutout in their last eight outings, and that was against Wigan so, despite Birmingham’s impotent attack, this one looks a risk. Attacking full-backs Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman do more than enough to balance that risk but their owners may have to rely on assists or goals to fetch returns.

Fulham and Wolves rarely feature so high in this market. Inconsistent results have marred their respective campaigns so far, but faltering opposition on Sunday provide them with the opportunity to record clean sheets. West Ham visit the Cottage and Wolves face misfiring Wigan – decent prospects then, but hardly nailed on certs for defensive returns.

Outside of these four, things look even more shaky. Liverpool’s defence will surely be tested at Bloomfield road, while Blackburn’s rearguard could be without skipper Chris Samba and will face a Stoke outfit that’s had little trouble finding the net of late. As for City, they remain strong defensively but will be sternly tested by Andy Carroll and his Newcaslte team-mates in front of the St James’ Park faithful.

Overall Paddy hints at little clean sheet security outside of United and Everton and it’s difficult to argue with that viewpoint.

Anytime Goalscorer

• Rooney 1.66 (SUN)
• Berbatov 1.83 (SUN)
• Torres 1.83 (blp)
• Tevez 2.10 (new)
• Defoe 2.40 (avl)
• Elmander 2.40 (WBA)
• Nani 2.40 (SUN)
• N’Gog 2.50 (blp)
• Van der Vaart 2.62 (avl)
• Drogba 2.62 (ars)
• Cahill 2.62 (BIR)
• Saha 2.62 (BIR)
• KDavies 2.60 (WBA)
• K Doyle 2.62 (WIG)
• Balotelli 2.70 (new)
• Gerrard 2.70 (blp)
• Carroll 2.70 (MCY)
• Kuyt 2.87 (blp)
• Dempsey 2.87 (WHM)
• Doyle 2.87 (WIG)
• Chamakh 2.87 (CHE)
• Van Persie 2.87 (CHE)

Once again Wayne Rooney is highly fancied by Paddy to find the scoresheet despite his continued goal drought. Rooney is the favourite to find the net in the Gameweek against Sunderland, with team-mate Dimitar Berbatov and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres tied in second.

City’s Carlos Tevez tails that pack, with Tottenham’s Jermaine Defoe ranked alongside the likes of Johan Elmander and Nani. Paddy clearly has faith that Bolton’s Swedish striker will rediscover some goalscoring form, while Nani is the top ranked midfielder, with Rafael Van der Vaart and Tim Cahill left trailing and sharing similar Paddy odds; Steven Gerrard and Clint Dempsey follow next amongst the midfielders on Paddy’s list.

With strong defences in opposition, both Newcastle’s Andy Carroll and Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh given unfamiliar long odds to notch; it will be interesting to see if that impacts on a few Fantasy lineups on Sunday.

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