Just days after producing another mixed bag for you over the weekend, the Premier League returns on Tuesday and Wednesday evening to give us a chance to once again aim for perfection with our Fantasy Football advice.
In all fairness, we performed solidly last week. Yaya Toure and Charlie Austin netted important goals for their respective clubs while we advised you to stay clear of Allan McGregor and Graziano Pelle. However, the John O'Shea selection let us down, but we are not feeling too guilty for deciding, albeit incorrectly, to back Chelsea to net a few goals against Sunderland.
Below, Sports Mole has compiled lists for week 14 as clubs in the top flight begin the hectic fixture schedule that will continue through until the first couple of weeks in 2015.
Who to pick
1. Sergio Aguero
He may not have scored at the weekend but it's impossible to leave Sergio Aguero out of your lineup right now. After failing to net in five of his last eight games in all competitions, that shouldn't be the case but the Argentine has scored 17 goals in 19 games this year and has already shown that he has the ability to decimate a defence if he is in the mood. After his hat-trick against Bayern Munich last Tuesday, the 26-year-old displayed a different side to his game on Sunday when turning provider against Southampton but he will be eager to get back on the goal trail against Sunderland on Wednesday night. The Black Cats managed to prevent Chelsea from finding the back of the net but it might be asking a bit much for them to produce a similar performance against another of the Premier League's best sides within the space of four days.
2. Wilfried Bony
When Wilfried Bony failed to score in his first seven games of the campaign, questions were asked about whether the Ivorian was suffering from "second-season syndrome" after netting 25 times during his first year in England, but since the start of October, Bony has shown that he is still one of the best strikers in the top flight. His goal at Manchester City two weeks ago made it five in seven for the 25-year-old before he bettered that record with another effort against Crystal Palace at the weekend. On Tuesday night, Swansea City face a Queens Park Rangers team that have improved in recent weeks but they continue to ship goals and Bony should have opportunities to score for the third successive game.
3. Steven Gerrard
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After he was dropped from the starting lineup against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, this selection may appear somewhat bold, but it's difficult to see Steven Gerrard spending too much time on the Liverpool substitutes' bench, even if he has been below his best during this campaign. The former England captain has only scored three goals in 18 appearances this season, none of which have come from open play, which will only make our pick look more questionable, but after making an impact in his 15 minutes against the Potters, Gerrard could be in line for an immediate recall and the desire will be there to prove a point to Brendan Rodgers. Given Leicester City's recent form, a trip to the King Power Stadium could be ideal for the 34-year-old and he may relish the chance to cash in against the Foxes.
Who to avoid
1. Ryan Bertrand
After stringing together four clean sheets through October and November, advising you to avoid a Southampton defender would have seemed a poor decision before last weekend, but one result can be enough to change your mindset, and we believe that came against Manchester City on Sunday. We aren't going as far as suggesting that the wheels are going to come off an impressive Saints unit, but after suffering your heaviest defeat of the season, one of the places that you don't want to be heading is the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal sit six points behind Southampton in sixth place, but goals haven't been a problem for the Gunners and the only time that they have failed to score in 13 games has been away at Chelsea at the start of October.
2. Michael Dawson
For many Fantasy Football managers up and down the country, selecting a Hull City defender is one way of saving a bit of cash for players further forward but given their recent slump, it's a decision that would have cost you points throughout November and with a visit to Everton next up for the Tigers on Wednesday night, it seems unlikely that keeping one of Steve Bruce's backline in your team is going to benefit your chances of moving up your respective league tables. Persisting with Curtis Davies may provide a bit of value but the likes of Michael Dawson, who has only scored 10 goals in nearly a decade, should be left out and the money spent elsewhere.
3. Graziano Pelle
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It may seem that we have got it in for Graziano Pelle, but we promise that we haven't. The Italian has been a revelation since his arrival from Feyenoord in the summer, with his performances being enough to earn a call-up for his national team, but over the past few weeks, the 29-year-old has failed to hit the heights of his previous displays. After failing to net against Hull City, Leicester City and Aston Villa - the league's three out-of-form sides - Pelle squandered more chances against Manchester City on Sunday to extend his run without scoring to four games. Pelle's fortunes could change at Arsenal on Wednesday night, but with Arsenal keeping consecutive clean sheets against Borussia Dortmund and West Bromwich Albion, he may not have the easiest of tasks.
