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Fantasy Football advice: Week 28

Ahead of the 28th week of Premier League action, Sports Mole looks at the matches from a fantasy football perspective.

Okay, we hold our hands up, Sports Mole was the David Moyes of fantasy football advice last week.

We boldly suggested that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was worth picking and the Slovakian duly went out, gave away a penalty and was part of a defensive unit that shipped three goals.

There were also no goals or assists for Christian Benteke, although Hull City centre-back Curtis Davies did keep a clean sheet.

To make matters worse, our gamble to avoid Wayne Rooney returned to bite us on the backside as the striker fired a powerful shot into the roof of the Crystal Palace net.

So, just as Moyes has vowed to put things right at Manchester United, we are aiming to do the same with this week's advice. Here are three players that we believe are worth putting in your team and a further three that should be avoided.

Who to pick

1. Nikica Jelavic: As Everton struggle to score goals, how they may be ruing the January sale of Jelavic to Hull. The Croatian has scored three goals for his new club, including two last time out against Cardiff City. Along with fellow recent arrival Shane Long, Jelavic has caused problems to every rearguard that he has come up against in recent weeks. On Saturday Newcastle United will be the opponents at the KC Stadium. They may have kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa, but in their three matches before that, they shipped a total of 10 goals. On current form, Jelavic should fancy his chances of adding to his Hull tally.

Nikica Jelavic of Hull City scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Hull City at Stadium of Light on February 8, 2014© Getty Images

2. Rickie Lambert: Last week we advised you to stay clear of Lambert, who was up against West Ham United. As predicted, he didn't have much of an impact, but that can change this weekend. Liverpool may be fourth, but they travel to Southampton having conceded 23 goals away from Anfield this season - only four clubs have let in a greater number. What's more, Skrtel showed when presented with a strong centre-forward like Wilfried Bony that he can be ruffled. Lambert hasn't scored in his last three outings, but with a shaky Skrtel he has a real chance of ending that drought against the Merseysiders.

3. Branislav Ivanovic: If the truth be told, there are few defenders that have been more consistent than Ivanovic in recent seasons. Out of Chelsea's last 11 Premier League matches, they've kept eight clean sheets. With such stubbornness in mind, it's hard to see Fulham breaking that resistance, having not scored in three of their previous six outings. As for Ivanovic, he's also liable to weigh in with a goal on occasions.

Who to avoid

1. Jonathan Walters: He may have made 29 appearances this season, but Walters has contributed just two goals to the Stoke City cause. With Peter Crouch now functioning as a lone frontman, Walters has often been shunted out wide, where he has sometimes cut a forlorn figure. This weekend the Potters play host to Arsenal, who are likely to dominate possession. Walters also has a tendency to pick up a booking, having been cautioned seven times. With Arsenal's slick passing football, a yellow card for the Irishman isn't out of the question.

Jonathan Walters of Stoke City is challenged by Adlene Guedioura of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match on January 18, 2014© Getty Images

2. Ricky van Wolfswinkel: It's fair to say that Norwich City would have been expecting more than one goal from club-record signing Van Wolfswinkel when he arrived at Carrow Road. However, that's the return that the Dutchman has provided ahead of his side's trip to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. Such a figure makes it difficult to argue that he will discover a clinical touch at Villa Park, particularly because Norwich have scored just eight goals away from home this season. Only Palace, on five, have scored less.

3. Brede Hangeland: Fulham have leaked a hefty 59 goals from their 27 games this season, which is 11 more than any other team. So, the last outfit that you would want to face is one that contains the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Frank Lampard. Unfortunately for Fulham, Chelsea are likely to include all of those players at Craven Cottage. Centre-back Hangeland is likely to be in for a long afternoon's work.

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Frank Lampard of Chelsea celebrates with John Terry as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd35166135255-354
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace361110154957-843
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
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