After indulging in our very own winter break during the Christmas period, we are back with our weekly fantasy football advice as the Premier League season continues past the halfway point.
The success and failure of our selections are based on both lists, so on that basis, the fact that we wrongly advised you to avoid picking Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne cancelled out Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane continuing his fine goalscoring form against Burnley. Still, after a three-week break, we are revitalised and ready to help you win some points during the second weekend of the year.
Who to pick
1. David Silva
He may have spent the whole of November on the sidelines because of injury, but David Silva's return to the Manchester City side couldn't have come at a better time, with the Spaniard helping City progress in the Champions League as well as netting a number of important goals in domestic action. Silva has scored four times and provided assists for several other goals during City's hot streak during December and the first week of 2015, and with a leaky Everton side providing the opposition on Saturday, it's hard to back against the former Valencia man playing a pivotal role in another three points for an in-form City team who will be looking to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the table.
2. Eden Hazard
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Despite strong challenges from Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, winger Eden Hazard has emerged as Chelsea's star of the season so far with the Belgian's trickery on the left wing helping the Blues to the top of the Premier League standings. The 24-year-old has also added goals to his game in recent weeks, with five strikes coming in his last seven outings. He has been as prolific at Stamford Bridge during the past two months, with four goals in five matches being netted in West London. After being rested last weekend, Hazard should be fully prepared for the visit of Newcastle United, who have shown during the past week that they are still attempting to cope with the departure of Alan Pardew.
3. Mark Schwarzer
After a couple of pretty straightforward selections, our third and final pick is slightly random, but nevertheless, we have complete faith that it will pay off. Ever since their remarkable 5-3 triumph over Manchester United in September, it's fair to say that Leicester City have been abysmal, but two 1-0 wins over Hull City and Newcastle United and a comeback draw at Liverpool has effectively saved Nigel Pearson's job at the King Power Stadium and after signing veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from Chelsea as a replacement for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, the Foxes have every chance of registering a third shutout in four games when hosting goal-shy Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Who to avoid
1. Phil Jagielka
At the start of the season, it would have been the standard thing to ensure that you included an Everton goalkeeper or defender in your fantasy team, but five months later and it's all about staying clear of the Toffees backline. Roberto Martinez's side haven't kept a clean sheet in 10 games in all competitions, with a shutout in the Premier League last occurring all the way back at the start of November. Even with Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero absent from their squad, that's not the kind of form that you want to be in when welcoming Manchester City to Goodison Park, and Everton defenders should be avoided at all costs this weekend.
2. Wojciech Szczesny
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After clean sheets deserted him during the final weeks of 2014, Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Sczcesny began 2015 in the worst possible fashion as two errors gifted Southampton a 2-0 victory at St Mary's. Reports followed that the Polish stopper had received a significant fine from the club after being caught smoking in the showers, leading to doubts emerging about his place in the starting lineup. With second-choice David Ospina keeping out Hull City in the FA Cup last weekend, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has a decision to make regarding his goalkeepers, and although Sczcesny will reportedly be recalled, a Stoke City outfit that will throw balls into the box at any given opportunity are not the opposition that you want to play against when under pressure.
3. Mario Balotelli
You might be thinking that we are being rather harsh on not-so-super Mario, but the fact that this isn't the first time that we have told you to avoid him makes it fully justified. An injury to Adam Lallana has potentially opened the door for Balotelli to return to Liverpool's starting lineup for the trip to Sunderland, but even if he does begin the fixture at the Stadium of Light, he's odds against to net his first Premier League goal for the Merseyside giants. Aside from two defeats to Manchester City, the Black Cats haven't conceded more than one goal in a game since the end of October and they will fancy their chances of extending that record at the weekend.
Darren Plant
