JOE’s Fantasy Football Tips – week 15

Just the two injuries for JOE selections last week, then.

Both Sergio Aguero and Seb Larsson failed to complete 90 minutes, leaving us with just five points for the week.

You lot did a little better, and have extended your lead.

Shane Long – Forward – £5.7m

Southampton’s defence might have looked suspect of late, but their home match against Aston Villa ought to be a case of ‘we’ll just score more than you’.

Long found the net in the 3-1 defeat at Man City having stepped in for the suspended Graziano Pelle, and there is every chance Ronald Koeman will start both up front against one of the league’s worst defences.

Even if he doesn’t get the full 90, the former Hull man has shown he can make an impact from the bench.

https://twitter.com/shelley_ozzy/status/672754119539613696

Dejan Lovren – Defender – £4.9m

Suggesting Lovren would have sounded improbable earlier in the season, but that’s just the Klopp factor in full effect.

The Croatian has been recalled out of necessity with Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez injured, and – whisper it – the Reds haven’t been all that bad defensively.

Admittedly, knowing the way these things work, he’ll probably struggle to deal with a Newcastle attack that has only scored in seven of the club’s 14 games, but we like to be optimistic here.

@LFC tbf, Lovren had a good game, I'm not a big fan, but he won a lot of challenges and looked solid today

— Joe Mawdsley Jnr* (@JoeMawdsley) November 29, 2015

Ross Barkley – Midfielder – £7.2m

Everton’s draw at Bournemouth might be overshadowed by the Cherries’ 98th-minute equaliser, but it also saw another impressive attacking display from Barkley.

The England man has been frustrating at times, but has shown a greater consistency this season than in the past.

Another strong display against Crystal Palace and it will begin to look inconceivable that he won’t play a big part for England at Euro 2016.

24 of Everton’s 27 goals this season have involved Barkley, Deulofeu or Lukaku. Outside tip for top four? #EFC #EPL

— Jamie Loftus-Hinks (@JamieRHinks) December 2, 2015

Readers’ Picks

@JOE_co_uk deulofeu

— Scott Parker (@ScottParker_efc) December 4, 2015

https://twitter.com/F1ashPoint/status/672709349341569024

There’s a new Gerard on Merseyside.

 Ox in the box?

@JOE_co_uk origi

— deep dev (@deepak_deepak96) December 4, 2015

Asked and answered. Maybe.