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Fantasy Football advice: Week 22

Sports Mole takes a look at the 22nd week of the Premier League from a fantasy football point of view.

If you followed our Fantasy Football advice for last week's Premier League action, you wouldn't have found yourselves scoring too many points, but at the same time we came up trumps with our selections on who not to select in your team.

Both Wojciech Szczesny and Mario Balotelli were dropped from their respective sides, while Phil Jagielka failed to help Everton to a clean sheet against Manchester City. We suggested that you should consider selecting goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who had made the move to Leicester City, but unfortunately, as the Foxes shut out Aston Villa, the Australian stopper found himself on the substitutes' bench. You win some, you lose some...

Below, Sports Mole have made six more selections for this week's action in the top flight.

Who to pick

1. Radamel Falcao

He may have found himself dumped out of the Manchester United squad for their defeat to Southampton last weekend, but all is not lost for Radamel Falcao as he attempts to stay in favour at Old Trafford. An injury to Robin van Persie may have opened the door for the Colombian to return to action against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon, and with United supporters having seen the best of him on the road over the past few weeks when scoring at Aston Villa and Stoke City, it would come as no surprise if he made it an away-day treble. There's a possibility that Louis van Gaal could opt for James Wilson, but at a time where he needs to show faith in Falcao, expect him to feature at Loftus Road.

2. Adrian

Adrian in action for West Ham on January 1, 2014© Getty Images

Ever since he replaced Jussi Jaaskelainen in the West Ham United goal, Spanish stopper Adrian has never provided the club's supporters with overwhelming confidence, despite making 49 appearances in all competitions. However, after the 28-year-old contributed to the Hammers' dramatic win over Everton in midweek, the former Real Betis goalkeeper is flavour of the week at Upton Park and with a Hull City side deprived of Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez, he should be well set to register just his fifth clean sheet of the season on Sunday afternoon.

3. Martin Skrtel

A couple of months ago, selecting a Liverpool defender would have been seen as a sure-fire way for you to lose points in the fantasy football league, but after they kept a clean sheet away at Sunderland last weekend, we are backing the Merseyside club to repeat the feat at Aston Villa. It could be considered somewhat risky - especially with the pressure on Liverpool to make inroads up the Premier League table - but with Villa having scored just 11 times this season, you have to back the Reds to record a second successive shutout. We've gone with Martin Skrtel over the remainder of Liverpool's defence because of his threat from set pieces, but don't let that stop you going for the likes of Simon Mignolet or Mamadou Sahko.

Who to avoid

1. Charlie Austin

If it wasn't for the goalscoring exploits of Charlie Austin, Queens Park Rangers would have been cut adrift at the bottom of the standings. The former Burnley frontman has netted 13 times in 19 appearances for Harry Redknapp's side to give the club a chance of survival come the end of the season, but over the past few weeks, the goals have started to dry up for the 25-year-old in open play. Austin has scored from the penalty spot on a couple of occasions but his last goal from open play came on December 20 against West Bromwich Albion. He has the ability to bring a halt to that streak, but with Manchester United in town, he could endure a difficult 90 minutes at Loftus Road.

2. Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny heads the opening goal past Stoke City's Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 11, 2015© Getty Images

Injuries have meant that Laurent Koscielny has found himself in and out of the Arsenal side this season, but when he has played, the Gunners have won a larger percentage of their games than when he has been absent. The French defender has also found the back of the net on a fairly regular basis during his time at the Emirates Stadium with 13 goals coming in 180 games. However, despite the advantages of having Koscielny in your team, he should be avoided as Arsenal make the trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City. After slipping up at Everton, the Premier League champions, buoyed by the return of Sergio Aguero, will be keen to make amends and their confidence will be high after scoring six against the North London outfit last season.

3. Steven Caulker

Throughout this season, Queens Park Rangers have been reliant on their form at Loftus Road, with all of their 19 points coming from their performances at their home ground. That return has come from just 11 games and with an inconsistent Manchester United team making the trip to England's capital on Saturday afternoon, the Hoops have a realistic chance of recording a positive result. However, Van Gaal's team will be hurting after their loss to Southampton last weekend and if they are to have any chance of remaining in the title race, three points against QPR are a must. That could lead to an offensive display from United that has every chance of bringing a few goals.

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Wojciech Szczesny of Arsenal celebrates after Olivier Giroud of Arsenal scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2013
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Fantasy Football advice: Week 21
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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