Fantasy Football: Wayne Rooney and Petr Cech have to be in your team this week
The Independent have teamed up with fantasy football game www.oulala.com to reveal ten players we're confident will hit big fantasy points this year
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Your support makes all the difference.Wondering which players you should be looking to draft into your fantasy football team this weekend? The Independent have teamed up with daily fantasy football game www.oulala.com to reveal four stars that deserve your attention. Whether recent form warrants their inclusion into your side or their upcoming opponents are just too difficult to ignore, these players simply must be on your radar this week.
Oulala's extensive database of statistics, which comprises 70 different criteria sourced straight from Opta, is the perfect tool to identify which players you should select in your fantasy football side.
Here, we reveal four players that must feature in your fantasy football team this weekend based on a mixture of form, opponents and an impressive array of detailed stats. The must-haves.
Jürgen Klopp's decision to push Roberto Firmino further forward appears to have brought out the best in the Brazilian. A focus on the 24-year-old's form over his last six games reveals improvements in a host of key areas. Firmino has averaged 2.3 shots per game in his last six matches, compared to 1.3 shots per game in his opening 13 matches. He has netted two goals in his last six games, however in contrast, he managed just one goal in his first 13 league matches. Firmino's shot conversion rate has therefore risen from six per cent to 14 per cent. His pass accuracy is up from 75 per cent to 79 per cent, while he is also creating more chances per game too (0.8 to 2.8). Liverpool go to Norwich in Saturday's early Premier League kick-off, a side that has conceded nine goals in their last three matches in all competitions.
Despite missing three good chances in Tottenham's 4-1 win over Sunderland last weekend, Dele Alli is still showing all the right signs to be considered an excellent fantasy football pick. Since being moved further forward by Mauricio Pochettino, the 19-year-old's attacking stats have risen dramatically. Alli (5) currently sits second behind Harry Kane (12) as Spurs top scorers in the Premier League. He has registered the third most shots at the club (42). The midfielder's shot accuracy sits at a respectable 58 per cent, while his shot conversion rate is 12 per cent. He ranks fourth for chances created (24) and joint second for assists (3). Tottenham go to Crystal Palace on Saturday, a side without a win in five league matches, having conceded eight goals in their last three.
Wayne Rooney appears to have finally found some form in recent weeks, having experienced an unexpected dip during the first half of the season. The 30-year-old managed just two goals in his first 14 league games. In contrast, Rooney has found the net four times in his last four Premier League matches. Analysing the Manchester United captain's last six games in comparison to his first 12 reveals the overall improvement Rooney has made. He is having more shots, averaging 2.6 per game previously, to 3.2 per game in recent weeks. While his shot conversion rate has risen from six per cent to 21 per cent. The striker's pass completion is up from 82 per cent to 84 per cent. Rooney's creativity has also improved, from an average of one chance created per game to two per game in his last six matches. The assists have followed, Rooney has made two goals in his last half dozen games after failing to make any previously. Manchester United play host to Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday, a side he has scored five goals against in 12 appearances.
Petr Cech was in fine form once again as he picked up the man-of-the-match award after Arsenal's hard fought 0-0 draw against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium last weekend. It was the Czech's tenth clean sheet in 22 appearances, the equal highest by any Premier League keeper, alongside Manchester City's Joe Hart. Cech has been one of the more active goalkeepers this term as highlighted by his impressive array of stats. The 33-year-old has made a total of 72 saves this season (an average of 3.3 per game), the third most by any keeper. He has also made 41 successful claims and 14 punches. Cech also boasts a distribution accuracy of 65 per cent. The Arsenal shot stopper has helped his new club to the top of the league table and this weekend faces former side Chelsea as the Blues visit the Emirates on Sunday, a side still without back-to-back Premier League wins this season.
Stats supplied by daily fantasy football game www.oulala.com
Follow Oulala on Twitter @OulalaGames
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