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Fantasy Football advice: Week 22

Sports Mole picks out which players are worth selecting and avoiding ahead of the 22nd round of Premier League fantasy football.

So, it appears that the winter break didn't do us much good in terms of handing out fantasy football advice.

Last time out, quite frankly, we had a bit of a shocker. Despite encouraging you to pick him, David Stockdale let in four goals, while Wilfried Bony, Fraizer Campbell and Santi Cazorla all failed to find the net. In fact, our only solace was provided by Eden Hazard, who scored for Chelsea.

What's more, we told you to avoid selecting Christian Benteke and he duly scored.

Stick with us, though, because a change of fortune is just around the corner, surely? Below we have highlighted five players worth selecting and another five that are best being dodged for the 22nd round of Premier League fixtures.

Who to pick

1. Luis Suarez: Twenty-two goals in 16 appearances this season - do you need any other reason to select Liverpool's Uruguayan frontman? Okay, how about in half of his last eight outings for the Reds, he has scored two goals per game. At the weekend he will come up against an Aston Villa defence that has shipped 27 goals in 21 matches. What's more, with Daniel Sturridge now fit, Suarez will have his partner in crime back by his side.

Liverpool's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Stoke during their Premier League match on January 12, 2014© Getty Images

2. Christian Benteke: Aston Villa's Belgian international did us no favours last week, so let's hope that he does this time around. He hadn't scored in 11 games, but his goal against Arsenal should do wonders for his confidence. Indeed, during the remaining minutes against the Gunners, Benteke looked a totally different player to the one that trudged around for the last couple of months. Liverpool may have only conceded six goals this season, but they don't like playing against against the 23-year-old, who scored three goals against them last season.

3. Nikica Jelavic: Quite often, a debutant so eager to impress will score on his first outing for his new club. That is the theory behind picking Jelavic, who barring a major mishap will be a Hull City player by then. The Croatian will come up against Norwich City at the weekend, with the Norfolk-based outfit having conceded a hefty 35 goals.

4. John Terry: Many believe that Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge has coincided with Terry rediscovering his best form at the heart of the Chelsea defence. Manchester United are the visitors to West London this weekend and David Moyes's side do not have the best of records against the sides in and around them in the standings. Also, United could well be without Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie again, which eradicates a big goal threat.

John Terry of Chelsea celebrates as he scores their second goal with a header during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

5. Jesus Navas: With Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure injured, Spanish winger Navas will almost certainly start for Manchester City against Cardiff City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. He has the pace to cause numerous problems to the Cardiff rearguard, highlighted by the fact that he has scored three goals and laid on six assists this term.

Who to avoid

1. David Stockdale: This is what you get for letting in four goals when we big you up, Mr Stockdale! There is some method behind the goalkeeper's inclusion on this list as well, honest! No team has conceded more goals this season than Fulham (46), so the last place that you would want to visit is the league leaders. Unfortunately for the West Londoners, that is exactly what they will be doing when they make the short trip to Arsenal.

2. Ricky van Wolfswinkel: He may have recently had a spell on the sidelines with an injury, but it would be fair to say that Van Wolfswinkel's move to Norwich has not exactly worked out. In the Dutchman's defence, some supporters on message boards believe that he has been a victim of the team's struggles, with no real tactic in place to get the best out of him. Whether things can come good for the striker before Hull's journey to Carrow Road, it seems unlikely.

Norwich striker Ricky Van Wolfswinkel in action against Real Sociedad on August 6, 2013© Getty Images

3. David Marshall: Man City have scored 38 goals from their 10 home matches this season, which is just shy of an average of four goals each game. To make matters even more ominous for visiting Cardiff and their goalkeeper Marshall, Sergio Aguero is back from injury. The Argentine has scored 13 goals and set up four for his teammates from his 15 Premier League appearances.

4. Ron Vlaar: Villa's Dutch defender returned from injury against Arsenal on Monday and it will not get any easier for him on Saturday. To be honest, it will probably be tougher. He will be charged with the task of trying to keep Suarez quiet - something that most defences have found to be an impossible task.

5. Jonathan Walters: There is a fair chance that Stoke City's Republic of Ireland international won't score this weekend, mainly because he isn't playing against Liverpool. For whatever reason, Walters tends to find it easier to score against the Merseysiders than any other opposition. On Saturday he will come up against a Crystal Palace side that are much more organised ever since Stoke's former manager Tony Pulis took charge at Selhurst Park. Chances for the away team could be at a premium.

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Liam Apicella
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Swansea's Wilfried Bony celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal against Stoke on November 10, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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