Telegraph Fantasy Football 16/17 tips: Week 27 preview

We're already one match into Week 27 as Leicester beat Derby 3-1 in their FA Cup replay. 

Now, there are 10 Premier League matches to look forward to with the pick of the bunch coming from Anfield as Liverpool entertain Spurs.

Elsewhere, Chelsea will be looking to extend the gap at the top when they visit Burnley, although Sean Dyche's side are no easy feat at home. 

Arsenal should get back to winning ways at home to Hull, while Man City are tipped to continue their rise up the table when they face Bournemouth on Monday night.

As always, we preview all 10 matches and indicate who we think will be the star player in each. 


Betting tips

  1. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City all have winnable fixtures this weekend. A £10 bet on all four to pick up maximum points currently returns £31.80. Bet now >>

  2. Arsenal should pick up all three points as they look to get back to winning ways at home to Hull. Coral have enhanced the offer to 33/1 for the Gunners to win. Bet now >>

  3. Think Chelsea are a safer bet than Arsenal? Get 7/1 that the Blues will pick up yet another win here >>


Saturday

Arsenal v Hull (12:30)

Arsenal get the weekend's action underway with the lunchtime kick-off at home to Hull.

Marco Silva's Tigers are in impressive form, holding Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford and then following that up with a 2-0 win against Liverpool. If they can get a third positive result at the Emirates, fans will really start believing they could be beating the drop.

As for the hosts, they've lost back-to-back matches and are now 12 points behind Chelsea. Their title race is all but over and fans will now just be desperate win finish in the top four and, more importantly, above their fierce rivals Spurs.

One to watch: Alexis Sanchez (£6.0m)

Whenever you see Arsenal at home, thoughts immediately turn to Sanchez. He's the man that makes things happen for Arsene Wenger's side and is still the top point-scorer this season with 162 TFF points to his name.


Manchester United v Watford (15:00)

Manchester United haven't been beaten in the league since they were thumped 4-0 by Chelsea, and that was all the way back in October. Despite that, they're still sat outside the European places, just two points behind Arsenal who are fourth.

Watford have ascended in recent weeks too, having beaten both Arsenal and Burnley 2-1. They're unbeaten in four and look to have picked up a real gem in January, £4.3m rated M'Baye Niang.

One to watch: Antonio Valencia (£3.8m)

Valencia earned 20 TFF points in Week 26; seven against Hull and 13 against Leicester. Those two key contributions against the Foxes show the Ecuadorian's propensity for churning out points at both ends of the pitch.


Middlesbrough v Everton (15:00)

Middlesbrough fans must be getting nervous. A run of seven league games without a win has seen them plummet to 15th, and what's worse all the teams below them have kept picking up points. Because of that, they're now just a single point above the relegation zone, with 15th-20th only two points apart.

As for the Toffees, they're now seventh and their form of late has been that of champions. Five wins and two draws in their last seven matches means they're just six points behind European pace, but their 6-3 win against Bournemouth proved they can find a way to win when their defence isn't at their best.

One to watch: Romelu Lukaku (£6.4m)

It's impossible not to pick Lukaku for this one. He scored four times against Bournemouth in Week 26 and already has 141 TFF points to his name.


Stoke City v Crystal Palace (15:00)

What a job Sam Allardyce has on his hands. The England manager probably walked into the Eagles hotseat thinking he had the squad capable of avoiding the drop, but a 4-0 defeat at home to Sunderland last time out sent out massive alarm bells across the club.

Stoke isn't an easy place to go either. The Potters may not be in the best of form but have proved time and time again this season that they can turn the heat up when necessary, and Mark Hughes' side will relish the opportunity to face a team that has already conceded 45 times this season.

One to watch: Lee Grant (£2.5m)

A budget option in goal, Grant should pick up maximum points at home to a side that offers little in attack.


Sunderland v Southampton (15:00)

The battle of the red and white stripes sees Southampton make the long trip north to face Sunderland.

The hosts are now just two points away from safety, having held Tottenham to a 0-0 draw in their last match at home before beating Crystal Palace 4-0 on their travels.

Southampton have lost six of their last seven including a 3-1 defeat at home to West Ham. Is this the perfect opportunity for the Black Cats to claw their way out of the relegation zone?

One to watch: Jermain Defoe (£5.2m)

Simply put, Defoe is Sunderland's main man and his 14 goals so far this season have kept Moyes' side in contention.


West Ham v West Brom (15:00)

Ninth host eighth as West Ham and West Brom go head-to-head at the London Stadium.

The Hammers have flown up the day following six wins in nine, all the more impressive as they've done it without Dimitri Payet.

As for the Baggies, they've been in the top half for the majority of the season but most of their points have been picked up at home. They were beaten 4-0 at Spurs in their most recent visit to London but will hope to avoid a repeat in what has already been a fantastic season for Tony Pulis' men.

One to watch: Andy Carroll (£5.2m)

A physical presence who is unplayable in the air, West Ham's striker has four goals in his last four outings.


Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (17:30)

This game is massive. Liverpool haven't won a league match in their last five attempts, while Spurs' run of eight out of ten has seen them move up to second.

Jurgen Klopp's side are in crisis mode and a defeat at home to Spurs could see them sixth by the end of the weekend. Pochettino's men have only lost twice this season - away at Chelsea and Manchester United, both edged out by just a single goal.

One to watch: Dele Alli (£5.0m)

Tottenham's big game player scored twice against Chelsea and if Spurs are to win they'll need him at his best.


Sunday

Burnley v Chelsea (13:30)

Chelsea are flying and already look like they'll ease their way to the title. But, a trip to Burnley has proved to be one of those fixtures that you can really come unstuck.

The Clarets have picked up pretty much all of their points at home and will be bang up for Sunday's match with their Premier League status looking safe.

The Blues have felt no pressure and even though they lost 2-0 at Spurs, they've been unbeaten in their last four matches.

One to watch: Eden Hazard (£5.8m)

Hazard was devastating against Arsenal and his solo goal will be one for the memoirs.


Swansea v Leicester (16:00)

A relegation six-pointer at the Liberty as the two sides just a point above the drop get ready for a war.

The hosts are in better form, winning three of their last five, but surely the champions couldn't be playing low-tier football next season.

Having said that, Ranieri's side have already had to play once this week and will be back in Champions League football against Sevilla very soon. Where will the Foxes be once Week 27 is over?

One to watch: Kyle Naughton (£3.1m)

Naughton may have only totted up 23 TFF points this season, but the versatile defender could pick up a rare clean sheet against a side that haven't scored in their last five matches.


Monday

Bournemouth v Manchester City (20:00)

Manchester City have been going about their business quietly in recent weeks but find themselves third and just a point behind Spurs.

Gabriel Jesus has been fantastic since arriving in January and the 19-year old striker now has three in his last two starts - keeping the game's most expensive player Sergio Aguero out of the team.

As for Bournemouth, they've been horrible in defence this season and conceded six at Everton last time. The question is, how many will Pep Guardiola's side put past the Cherries?

One to watch: Leroy Sane (£4.2m)

A shrewd pick for Week 27, Sane is in just 1% of all teams but has formed a fantastic partnership with Jesus and Sterling in City's front three.
 

Weekly wildcard

Jason Denayer (£2.8m)

Denayer chalked up 14 TFF points in Week 26 via two clean cheets against Spurs and Palace. Bring him in at just £2.8m to make it three in a row against Southampton.

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