Yahoo Focus – Gameweek 35

Our partner game Yahoo are offering yet another big-money contest for Fantasy managers this weekend.

They have a Premier League £1k Sunday contest which takes in all three of that day’s matches, as well as the Monday night encounter between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park

The contest is 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.

Driven by Opta data, the Yahoo game has a unique scoring system which is ideal for those members of our community on the lookout for 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.

Before getting started on your lineup, it’s worth digesting our Strategy Guide, which assesses the types of players who profit from the rule set.

FFS Strongest XI

Ederson – £15
Nicolas Otamendi – £16
Leighton Baines – £14
Shkodran Mustafi – £15
Alex Iwobi – £15
Xherdan Shaqiri – £15
Johan Berg Gudmundsson – £15
Kevin De Bruyne – £25
Raheem Sterling – £22
Gabriel Jesus – £25
Alexandre Lacazette – £23

The Yahoo scoring system – which awards goalkeepers points for wins or draws and double the number of points as defenders for a clean sheet – helps Man City’s Ederson earn a spot in our starting XI for the visit of Swansea. Pep Guardiola’s men have dropped just four points at home all season and with the title now wrapped up, will be heavily fancied against an attack that’s netted twice in their last four road trips.

Rested to the bench in last week’s win at Spurs, Nicolas Otamendi is set to return to the teamsheet to face Swansea. The Argentine’s distribution profits from the Yahoo scoring system – he has made more successful passes (1,354) at home than any defender – while only Marcos Alonso betters him for goals (six to four) and attempts on goal (59 to 31) at the back.

With an assist and two clean sheets in his last three at Goodison, Leighton Baines is another defender to offer points potential at both ends of the pitch as Everton entertain Newcastle on Monday night. Since returning from injury in Gameweek 30, he’s ranked sixth among defenders for successful crosses (six) and has supplied five scoring chances for team-mates.

Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi has been similarly productive in recent home matches, bagging a goal and two clean sheets in the last three in front of his own fans. In light of Arsene Wenger confirming his departure, we expect a strong showing from the Gunners against West Ham ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final with Atletico Madrid. The German international is placed among the top three for Arsenal when it comes to successful tackles (62), interceptions (49) and blocks (14).

Alex Iwobi joins his team-mate in our XI for the Hammers’ encounter. The Nigerian has benefitted from his managers’ recent rotation policy, starting in four of the last five league fixtures. Priced at a mere £15 in Yahoo, he’s served up a goal and three assists in his last four at the Emirates. West Ham, meanwhile, have conceded more goals (38) and shots (302) than any other team away from home.

Xherdan Shaqiri is also very reasonably priced at home to a Burnley defence with a single clean sheet in 13 attempts. With an 86% goal involvement since Paul Lambert was appointed (thanks to three goals and a trio of assists) the playmaker will be vital to his side’s chances of claiming a victory in their bid to beat the drop. Shaqiri sits among the top seven players in the league for both big chances created (14) and key passes (68) this season.

We’re also backing Johan Berg Gudmundsson in the same fixture. The Icelandic international has now supplied an assist in each of his last four league outings, having teed up Ashley Barnes for the Clarets’ consolation at home to Chelsea last night. One of only three Yahoo midfielders to register double-figures for both key passes and successful crosses (ten apiece) in his last four, Gudmundsson’s all-round game also saw him fire eight efforts on goal and make five successful tackles in that period.

Kevin De Bruyne is one of three Man City attackers to make the cut at home to Swansea. The Belgian has supplied four goals and 14 assists in front of his own fans this season and the underlying numbers strengthen his case for inclusion. At home, he is ranked among the top two players for key passes (61) and successful crosses (32), while among team-mates, De Bruyne sits second only to the injured Sergio Aguero for shots (41 to 53) and efforts on target (23 to 25).

Two goals and three assists in the last four Gameweeks ensures that Raheem Sterling is also listed on our Yahoo teamsheet. The City winger supplied two assists in a 4-0 win at the Liberty earlier in the season, while Swansea roll up in dire defensive form on the road, with just one clean sheet in their last 14 attempts.

With Aguero still sidelined, Gabriel Jesus is set to lead the line again for the champions. The Brazilian has two goals and a pair of assists in three starts since returning from injury and, encouragingly, netted both City’s goals in a 2-1 win over the Welsh outfit last season.

Alexandre Lacazette earns the final spot for the visit of West Ham. With Wenger suggesting that his starting XI will be very similar to the one that faces Atletico Madrid, the Frenchman could continue in the lone striker role. Since returning from injury, Lacazette has netted in two of three league appearances, while eight of his 11 league goals this season have been scored at the Emirates.

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 £1k Sunday contest, Yahoo are also offering a pair of Premier League £200 Saturday contests.

Comprising of the two matches that day – West Brom vs Liverpool and Watford vs Crystal Palaces – both are guaranteed to run, with one costing just £1 to enter and the other £5.

The £1 iteration is a multi-entry game, which means you can select up to two teams. The top 53 places pay out – there’s a minimum win-back of £2, with £20 going to the first place.

The £5 offering is a single-entry game and pays out to the top 11 places – there’s a minimum win-back of £10, with £50 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.