Yahoo Focus – Gameweek 29

We bring news of another big-money contest offered by our partner game Yahoo Fantasy managers this weekend.

They are rolling out Premier League £2.5k Saturday contest which takes in all six matches from 3pm onwards tomorrow, finishing with the 5.30pm encounter between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield.

The contest is guaranteed to run, costs £5 to enter and is a multi-entry game, which means you can select up to five teams. The top 125 places pay out – there’s a minimum win-back of £10, with £250 going to the first place.

Driven by Opta data, the Yahoo game has a unique scoring system tailor-made for members of our community seeking out a Daily Fantasy Sports game.

If you’re new to Yahoo, you can sign up and claim a free £50 in credit to your account when you deposit just £5. Promo code: Fantasy50.

It’s worth checking in with our Strategy Guide before picking your Yahoo XI, as this gives an indication of the types of players who profit from the rule set.

FFS Strongest XI

Loris Karius –£15
Jose Holebas –£14
Ben Chilwell –£12
Serge Aurier –£15
Christian Eriksen –£25
Manuel Lanzini –£17
James Ward-Prowse –£15
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain –£18
Mohamed Salah –£27
Harry Kane –£27
Troy Deeney –£15

Liverpool’s Loris Karius is our preferred keeper for a home encounter with relegation candidates Newcastle. The Yahoo scoring system plays a part in our thinking, as goalkeepers earn points for wins or draws and pick up double the number of points as defenders for a clean sheet. Yet to lose at Anfield this season, Jurgen Klopp’s side boast the league’s third best home defence, with just ten goals against.

A home encounter with West Brom brings Jose Holebas into our starting line-up. Watford have impressed under new manager Javi Gracia, beating Chelsea and Everton in their two home matches and conceding just once. Meanwhile, the Baggies arrive on the back of three goals in their last seven road trips. Holebas, meanwhile, is joint-top defender for crosses (22) and is second only to Kyle Walker for key passes (six to seven) in the four Gameweeks since the Spaniard was appointed.

Leicester’s Ben Chilwell looks a handy budget enabler at just £12 for the visit of Bournemouth. The Foxes have conceded just two goals in their last four at the King Power Stadium, suggesting a clean sheet could be on the cards. Over those fixtures, Chilwell is placed among their top five for both crosses (ten) and successful tackles (six), showcasing his suitability to the Yahoo scoring system.

Suspended for next week’s Champions League clash with Juventus, Serge Aurier looks set to get the nod for Tottenham’s home match with a Huddersfield side that’s failed to score in ten of their 14 road trips. Over his last four appearances at Wembley, the Ivory Coast international has supplied a goal, assist and two clean sheets and has made 15 successful tackles, more than any team-mate.

Like Aurier, Christian Eriksen was rested for the midweek FA Cup win over Rochdale and look set to return against the Terriers. Over the last four Gameweeks, the Dane is one of only three players to register double-digits for both shots (11) and key passes (14), supplying a goal and assist. He is also ranked top for successful crosses (11) and big chances created (five) during that stretch.

Back on the teamsheet last weekend, West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini makes his way to fellow strugglers Swansea. The Argentine bagged two goals and an assist in four Gameweeks prior to being ruled out by injury and the underlying numbers during those matches highlight his potential. Compared with team-mates, Lanzini was the Hammers’ number one player for successful passes (145), crosses (13), shots (nine) and efforts in the box (five).

Placed third for crosses (29) and successful crosses (seven) over the last four Gameweeks, James Ward-Prowse entertains a Stoke side with a single clean sheet away from home all season. The Southampton midfielder fares well when assessed against team-mates over that period, too – he’s placed top for key passes (ten), while no Saints player has bettered him for shots (seven) or efforts on target (three).

If he’s named on the teamsheet at home to Newcastle, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could again prove a strong value route into the Liverpool attack. The summer signing has produced two goals and a pair of assists in his last three starts at Anfield and played a pivotal role in last week’s win over West Ham – Oxlade-Chamberlain created more chances (four) than any team-mate and won all three of his tackles.

Golden Boot contenders Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane find a place in our Yahoo plans this weekend. Both are up against defences with just one clean sheet in their previous 12 away matches, suggesting that goals will once again be on the agenda.

Salah has now been involved in two goals in each of his last five at Anfield, totalling six goals and four assists over that run. Kane, meanwhile, has netted six times in as many league outings and has already claimed two goals against weekend visitors Huddersfield back in Gameweek 7.

Having splashed the cash on the two most expensive players on offer, we turn to Watford’s budget frontman Troy Deeney for the head-to-head against West Brom. The Hornets’ striker delivered a goal and assist in a 2-0 home win over the Baggies last term and seems to prefer home comforts this time around. All four of his goals have arrived at Vicarage Road in 2017/18, including last weekend’s winner over Everton.

As Yahoo allows late swaps up until each kick-off, our listed line-up may well be subject to change.

The Weekend Contests

As well as the Premier League £2.5k Saturday contest, Yahoo are also offering a Premier League £1k Sunday contest.

This contains both matches that day, as well as the Monday evening clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United. It gets underway at 1.30pm on Sunday, when Brighton and Arsenal square up at the Amex Stadium.

This is also guaranteed to run, costs £5 to enter and is a multi-entry game, which means you can select up to two teams. The top 50 places pay out – there’s a minimum win-back of £10, with £100 going to the first place.

You can open an account and get started immediately.

If you register and deposit £5 or more, Yahoo will also give you a £50 bonus to be used as cash to enter paid contests.

Register here to claim the bonus.

You must be over 18 years of age, resident in the UK, and of legal capacity to register with Yahoo Daily Sports and open an Account. If you sign up, please always play responsibly.