Headliner - Riyad Mahrez (CRY)

The last time Mahrez (8.6) featured as part of our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) top five picks Prince Harry was a single man who enjoyed dancing naked at parties. It has certainly been a while our Algerian friend. Mahrez has been directly involved in 12 league goals this season, scoring five times as well as providing seven assists. Over the last four gameweeks the Leicester City midfielder has scored three goals, which puts him level with Kane (12.8) and Salah (10.0). Only David Silva and Wayne Rooney who have scored four and five respectively are in front of the Leicester man. During the same period Mahrez has had seven shots on target which is level with Hazard (10.8) and Lacazette (10.4) - only De Bruyne (10.2) and Kane have managed more with eight and nine. Gameweek 18 sees the rejuvenated Leicester face an equally rejuvenated Crystal Palace side. Mahrez is currently in the form of his life and with Leicester winning their last four games scoring 10 goals in the process the Eagles will find it tough to stop them right now. Our Fix algorithm predicts a point score of 4.6 points and we do not see why he cannot get close to 10 points.

Alexandre Lacazette (NEW)

Lacazette (10.3) has not exactly flown out of the Premier League blocks like most would have expected after his move from Lyon. However he still boasts an impressive home record this season with seven of his nine FPL involvements (six goals and one assist) coming at the Emirates. He has also scored in each of his previous two home games in the league against Huddersfield and Man. Utd. Over the last four gameweeks only Morata (10.7), Agüero (11.4) with 12 and Kane with 13 have taken more shots from inside the box than the Arsenal forward. The Frenchman’s seven shots on target put him level with Hazard and Mahrez and only De Bruyne and Kane have taken more over that period. Arsenal will be hosting Newcastle in gameweek 18 and will have a tough task fending off the Gunners at the Emirates. Arsenal desperately need to bounce back after failing to score away to West Ham. However, Arsenal have scored 10 goals in their last four home games while Newcastle have conceded 10 goals in their last four away ties. The outcome looks bleak for the Magpies and Lacazette is rightly tipped to score 5.3 points via our Fix algorithm in gameweek 18.

Mohamed Salah (bou)

Salah (9.9) is a mainstay in our top five picks this season and is likely to attract many captain suitors across the FPL board this weekend. The Liverpool midfielder failed to register FPL points midweek for the first time in nine league games after a run which saw him contribute a whopping nine goals and two assists for the reds. During the last three gameweeks no midfielder has taken more than Salah’s 11 shots from inside the box, while only Morata, Agüero and Kane who have 12, 12 and 13 have taken more. The Egypt international has created three big chances over the last four gameweeks which is on par with De Bruyne and Son (8.0), while only the injured Ramsey (7.1) has produced more with four. Liverpool travel to Bournemouth for gameweek 18 off the back of a goalless draw against West Brom last week. In their previous four games Liverpool have scored 10 goals with Salah contributing to 50% of them. Our Fix algorithm predicts Liverpool will score 1.56 goals and Salah 4.5 points.

Wayne Rooney (SWA)

Rooney (7.5) has burst back onto the scene since being recalled to the Everton starting line-up in gameweek 14. His Premier League pedigree is unquestionable having scored an almighty 207 goals in 475 appearances and with his personal life under less scrutiny there is no reason why he cannot get close to 20 goals this season – even in a deep-lying role. After his match-winning goal against Newcastle in gameweek 17 Rooney has now scored an impressive total of nine league goals this season which is on par with Lukaku (11.3) and Morata. Only Agüero, Kane and Salah have scored more. Over the last four gameweeks Rooney’s five goals is the most any player has managed and only Defoe (7.6), Lacazette and Kane have taken more shots on target with seven, seven and eight versus Rooney’s six. Everton host Swansea in gameweek 18 which on paper looks very mouth-watering for the Toffees. The Swans have not won any of their last six away games in the league and have conceded eight goals in that time. When we take a look at our Fix algorithm, Everton are predicted to score 1.70 goals and with Rooney contributing to 75% of Everton’s goals in the last four gameweeks things look promising for the scouser.

Christian Kabasele (HUD)

Kabasele (4.6) looks to be the most nailed on defender within a Watford backline that has seen Janmaat (4.8), Femenia (4.6), Zeegalaar (4.4) and Holebas (4.9) all sharing the full-back positions in recent weeks. Kabasele has also shown an eye for goal getting into great positions on set-pieces notching two goals in the last seven gameweeks. Watford have kept a total of five clean sheets this season which ranks them joint 10^th amongst Premier League teams. Despite failing to keep a clean sheet during the last four gameweeks Marco Silva’s side have given up just four big chances in games against Man. Utd, Tottenham, Burnley and Crystal Palace. Chelsea are the only club to have conceded fewer big chances during that period with two. Kabasele has been an important figure during this period winning more duels, 21, and making more clearances, 23, than any other Watford defender. For gameweek 18, Watford host a Huddersfield side that have shipped in 16 goals in their last six gameweeks. The Terriers have scored just four goals in that same time period, so the prospects look good for a Kabasele clean sheet. Looking forward, Watford play Brighton away and both Leicester and Southampton at home in the subsequent gameweeks – so expectations are high.