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Fantasy Football advice: Week 12

Sports Mole looks at who is on course to deliver points for Fantasy Football owners this weekend.

After another international break, the Premier League returns this weekend, and that means supporters everywhere will be sweating over the performance of their fantasy team.

Our three selections of Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling and Enner Valencia struggled to fire in week 11, so let's hope we can be more successful with this week's picks.

Below, Sports Mole singles out who to pick and who to avoid in week 12.

Who to pick

1. Eden Hazard

It will come as little surprise to anyone that Hazard has played a key role in Chelsea's impressive form this season. The Belgian appears to just get better and better at Stamford Bridge, and very few players can terrorise defenders in the same way the 23-year-old has done in recent weeks. There is no reason to suggest that his excellent campaign will hit a stumbling block anytime soon, so it's a safe bet to assume that he will pick up plenty of points again on Saturday. Chelsea are firm favourites to collect all three points when West Bromwich Albion arrive in West London, and with doubts remaining over the fitness of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, Hazard should lead the charge for the hosts.

Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge on November 1, 2014© Getty Images

2. Fraser Forster

Less than a week after making a rare appearance in goal for England, Forster will be back in action for Southampton against Aston Villa on Monday night. The likes of Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Morgan Schneiderlin have stolen the headlines for the Saints this season, but Forster has played a vital role for Ronald Koeman's side. Southampton head into the match at Villa Park having conceded just five times in 11 games, and Forster will be confident of keeping another clean sheet against a goal-shy attack.

3. Romelu Lukaku

It's not been the easiest start to the season for Lukaku, but he has still managed to score four goals in 11 Premier League appearances since becoming Everton's record signing in the summer. In the past we've seen that Lukaku can go through periods where he struggles for confidence in front of goal, and we've also seen him quickly return to form with one dominant display. After spending the international break watching Divock Origi and Christian Benteke given minutes for Belgium ahead of him, the 21-year-old will be desperate to prove a point against West Ham United at Goodison Park.


Who to avoid

1. Hugo Lloris

Some may scratch their heads looking at this selection, but the French goalkeeper's inclusion on this list is certainly not a criticism of his recent performances for Tottenham Hotspur. However, Lloris has not been done many favours by the players in front of him this season. Spurs have already conceded 16 goals in their 11 matches, and they looked a mess at the back in the 2-1 defeat to Stoke City before the international break. Mauricio Pochettino takes his team to the KC Stadium this Sunday to face a Hull City side who are desperate to find their own best form. In the past few seasons they've made life difficult for visiting teams, so Lloris could be on the back foot for long spells of the afternoon.

2. Ashley Williams

Williams is another player who has impressed in the early stages of the season thanks to Swansea City's best ever start to a Premier League campaign. However, the central defender could be in for a difficult afternoon when he lines up against Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Aguero has already scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season and he will be eager to continue that form as City look to start a big week with an emphatic win. If Swansea pull off a shock win, Williams will have to be at his best. If Aguero produces a trademark display, fantasy owners of Williams will be hiding behind the sofa.

Ashley Williams of Swansea looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City at The Hawthorns on September 01, 2013© Getty Images

3. Saido Berahino

We're tipping fantasy owners to steer clear of one of the Premier League's in-form strikers. Why? Well, even the best attacking players have struggled to enjoy success against Chelsea's defence this season. Jose Mourinho's stubborn back four have been in fantastic form over the past couple of months. Only Southampton have conceded fewer goals than the league leaders, while John Terry and Gary Cahill already look certain to be named in the team of the season. All of that means Saturday's task is a tough one for Berahino, who returns to West Brom looking to impress again after failing to get on the pitch for England. Berahino will win plenty of supporters over the course of the season, but he could be kept quiet at Stamford Bridge by Terry, Cahill and Chelsea's unforgiving defenders.


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Shane Long #9 of West Brom scores to level the scores at 1-1- during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on November 9, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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