For the final time this season, we turn our attentions to PlayON, the weekly Fantasy Football game. Avoiding those clubs where rest and rotation seems most likely looks the key to success this week – Man City and Liverpool will be looking to turn on the style in their final home fixtures, with the Reds clinging to the hope that West Ham can upset the odds and win at the Etihad to hand them the title:
Tottenham also have something to play for – Tim Sherwood’s side need a draw to clinch Europa League qualification. Unsurprisingly, then, those three teams are the focal point of this week’s PlayON picks.
This week PlayON has a £1,000 GUARANTEED POT on offer – you can enter the game on the multiplayer page here. PlayON is also giving away FREE ENTRY into the £1,000 GUARANTEED game for all new sign-ups between now and 13.00 on Sunday afternoon – no deposit needed.
PlayON’s new desktop and mobile sites for World Cup 2014 are three weeks away from going live – more details on them over the next few weeks.
If you’re new to PlayON, it is weekly Fantasy Football so you can dip in and out of playing throughout the season. Once your starting XI is built, you can compete for cash. You can challenge other players to one-on-one games, selecting the amount at stake. The likes of Robbie Fowler, Les Ferdinand and OptaJoe are all playing the game and are there to be challenged for free or for £1. The Fantasy Football Scout team is also available to be challenged and has a 51% win rate up to this point. You can also create an open challenge against anyone else on the site – just click the amount you want to play for and the number of slots (number of people who can accept your challenge) on the one-on-one page .
For a more in-depth introduction to PlayON, take a look at this season’s introduction article.
Goalkeeper – Joe Hart
The Man City number one comes in at 8.9m for a home clash against West Ham. In all likelihood, Manuel Pellegrini’s side need just a point to clinch the Premier League crown and look odds-on to prevail – Hart has two clean sheets in his last three matches, and with West Ham scoring just twice in their last trio of league fixtures, a home shut-out seems a likely outcome. Simon Mignolet sets you back a mere 7.0m for the Anfield clash with Newcastle. Granted, the Reds haven’t been the most resilient in recent matches, but bearing in mind the Magpies have failed to score in any of their last four road trips, a clean sheet could well be on the cards for Brendan Rodgers’ side. Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris is available for 8.7m and welcomes an Aston Villa side that have scored once in their last three away games.
Defender – Martin Skrtel
Priced at 9.6m, Skrtel is comfortably the most expensive option amongst Liverpool’s backline. As we’ve already seen on seven occasions this season, however, the Slovakian’s eye for goal has made him the most reliable defender for the Merseyside outfit and his aerial threat in the Newcastle box could be key once again as the Reds look to finish the season strongly. Tottenham’s Michael Dawson comes in at just 8.4m, and with Younes Kaboul suspended for the visit of Aston Villa, is sure to retain his start. Looking elsewhere, Chelsea’s Gary Cahill is priced at 9.6m for the Blues’ trip to relegated Cardiff. One of Jose Mourinho’s new batch of “Untouchables”, the centre-half will be hoping to help his side to a nineteenth clean sheet of the season.
Midfielder – Christian Eriksen
Available for 10.1m in the PlayON Player Price List, the Tottenham playmaker looks a canny acquisition this weekend. Eriksen has played a part in eight of his side’s 11 goals over the last trio of home fixtures – netting three times and providing five assists – and with visitors Aston Villa conceding four times in three of their last four on the road, the White Hart Lane outfit could be poised for a prosperous finale. David Silva comes in at a reasonable 9.3m for Man City’s game with West Ham and is likely to tuck in behind a lone striker once again if Sergio Aguero is ruled out, whilst Jordan Henderson is set to return to the Liverpool XI after serving a three-match suspension and, priced at 6.8m, could prove great value.
Forward – Daniel Sturridge
The Liverpool forward returned to the starting XI for Monday’s draw at Crystal Palace and was immediately back amongst the goals. Available for just 10.5m, Sturridge looks a sure starter at a time when a number of big-name strikers are either injury or rotation doubts, and with the Reds desperate to give their fans something to cheer about after their Selhurst Park capitulation all but ended their title hopes, the England international looks great value this Sunday. Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor is also easy on the budget at 10.8m for their favourable home encounter with Villa, whilst Edin Dzeko seems the safest bet as a route into Manchester City’ frontline. The Bosnian doesn’t come cheap at 12.2m, but he’s more than justified that valuation, having notched five times in his last three appearances to take the Etihad club to the brink of the league crown.
The Fantasy Football Scout Game
We have a £2 multiplayer game, dedicated to our community, which is now open and the prize pot is building.
Challenge Your Mates
You can also set up your own multiplayer games with your mates to play for bragging rights only or for cash. Create your own game at www.playon.co.uk.
Finally, a reminder that we have published a strategy guide, offering some tips for getting the most from your PlayON lineup, right here.
You have to be over 18 to enter cash games at PlayON. If you do wager some cash, please remember to gamble responsibly. PlayON is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
