Did you enjoy the week off? Yes after seven and half game weeks inside a month, last weekend's FA Cup action was a welcome break for Fantasy managers.
But it is time to get back in the zone as Game week 22 is fast on the horizon. Let's remind ourselves who is sitting in the top three of the Advertiser Tribal League in association with Monroe's Tavern.
Top three
1 Declan Ryan - Decs Villains - 1,317
The team who managed the hectic festive period the best were Decs Villains. Top of the table by nine points, Declan Ryan's men have a brilliant creative spine running through the side. Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back, James Maddison, Kevin De Bruyne, and Sadio Mané in midfield, and Danny Ings and Tammy Abraham up top, sees the Villains scoring goals galore. Can the Villains blast their way to the title?
2 Cian de Lamport - Chris Woodbines - 1,308
Sitting in second place is Cian de Lamport's Chris Woodbines. The Woodbines had a good Christmas period but such is the competitive nature of the Tribal League, good performances may see you slip down the table. Kevin De Bruyne, James Maddison, Sadio Mané, and Richarlison are the fab four for de Lamport who have been scoring goals and making assists. Without Jamie Vardy struggling with injury, The Woodbines are struggling for goals from their strikers. De Lamport needs to get the cheque book out and sign a marquee striker if he wishes to see his charges challenge come the end of business in May.
3 Chris O'Connor - CalmAsYouLikeHe'sVVD - 1,277
As cool as you like, Chris O'Connor's CalmAsYouLikeHe'sVVD has climbed into third spot. Mohamed Salah, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, and Danny Ings are the main men for O'Connor as they look to eat up the ground on the top two. A reliable goalkeeper is what is needed for this team to make an assault on top spot.
Top picks
With injuries starting to pile up due the very busy schedule, who are the men who will get the job done and bring home lots of points this weekend?
Sadio Mané (Liverpool - £12.3 million ) v Spurs
Fresh from being named as African Player of the Year, the Senegalese attacking midfielder is the leading contender for Premier League Player of Year thanks to 11 goals and eight assists. With explosive speed and a non-stop all action style, the Senegalese is in good form with two goals and two assists in recent games. On Saturday evening, the champions elect travel to north London to face the man who derailed their title hopes in 2014; José Mourinho. The self-proclaimed Special One's impact has probably not had the major positive effect that was expected when he took over with Spurs' form patchy to say the least. The last four games have seen a battering by Chelsea, a difficult victory over Brighton, a draw against bottom placed side Norwich City, and a dreadful defeat to Southampton. Most unlike Mourinho teams, Spurs have been porous at the back with only one clean sheet in nine league matches. Liverpool will expose this with Mané getting his name on the scoresheet. Get him in your team.
Danny Ings (Southampton - £6.7 million ) v Leicester City
In terms of form, there is no better striker in the Premiership than Danny Ings. With nine goals in 10 league appearances, the Saints' number nine has fired the St Mary's outfit up the table and away from the relegation zone for the time being. On Saturday afternoon, Ings and co travel to the east midlands, looking to banish the nightmares of the 9-0 humiliation dished out to them by the Foxes in the corresponding clash earlier this season. Leicester are sitting pretty in second and are the only team who look likely to make any dent into Liverpool's massive lead. However, the defence which has been the cornerstone of their success to date, has started leaking goals with only one clean sheet in six matches, conceding 10 goals. I am going with a Leicester victory but Ings to find the net for Southampton.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton - £5.8 million ) v Everton
It has been a roller coaster few weeks for Brighton's Iranian winger. Having only played 22 minutes all season, manager Graham Potter decided to give Jahanbakhsh is first start of the season against Bournemouth and 26-year-old repaid his manager by scoring an absolute rocket; his first goal in 18 months for the club. Having broken his duck, Jahanbakhsh followed up in the next game by scoring a overhead kick against Chelsea to earn The Seagulls a deserved point. On Saturday afternoon, Brighton travel north to Merseyside where they take on Everton who have only lost once in their last six league outings; a 2-1 defeat away to the champions, Man City. I think this game will have goals and will end up 2-2. Jahanbakhsh will no doubt influence the scoreline.
Don't miss a minute of action with Monroe's Tavern
Remember you can catch all of game week 22's action live at Monroe's Tavern where punters can enjoy wings and a pint or burger and a pint for €10 during the matches.
Friday:
Sheffield United v West Ham (8pm ) SKY Sports.
Saturday:
Crystal Palace v Arsenal (12.30pm ) BT Sport.
Man United v Norwich City (3pm ) Premier Sports.
Spurs v Liverpool (5.30pm ) SKY Sports.
Sunday:
Bournemouth v Watford (2pm ) SKY Sports.
Aston Villa v Man City (4.30pm ) SKY Sports.
