Saturday afternoon goes easy on our New Year’s Day hangovers by throwing us just three afternoon kick-offs.
All the attention was due to be focused on Turf Moor with Liverpool – sporting their fab four – the visitors. But the injury to Mohamed Salah, coupled with the return of Jurgen Klopp’s rotation policy, has markedly reduced interest in this game.
With Philippe Coutinho out of the squad – also through injury according to Klopp – and Roberto Firmino starting on the bench, it’s only Sadio Mane from the elite attacking four who makes the starting line-up.
That could find many Fantasy managers willing for a clean sheet for the home side, with Burnley defender Ben Mee and goalkeeper Nick Pope part of 15.3% and 7.2% of squads respectively.
Elsewhere Leicester City will take on Huddersfield Town at the King Power Stadium without Jamie Vardy. The striker misses out with a groin problem, while Riyad Mahrez bids to maintain form that has supplied a goal or an assist in seven of his previous eight Gameweeks.
Finally, Stoke City host Newcastle United in a low-impact encounter in Fantasy terms. Shaqiri – with 6.7% ownership – is the most popular active player on show.
