Jim Knight has put his faith in Liverpool’s goalkeeper for Totel Football this weekend as well as including two of Newcastle’s new French arrivals
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Goalkeeper
Pepe Reina
It’s fair to say that the Spain international didn’t have a good game against Manchester City but at home Brendan Rodgers’ men have been in fine defensive form. Four clean sheets in their last five matches at Anfield and the visit of a West Brom side struggling to find the net means Reina gets the nod in goal this week.
Defenders
Patrice Evra
Evra has scored points in Totel Football consistently over the last few weeks. In fact, the two points he scored against Tottenham was the only occasion in his last seven that he hasn’t scored at least eight, with four goals to his name this season too, he is well worth including.
Mathieu Debuchy
Debuchy was the first of January’s French arrivals at Newcastle, Alan Pardew’s January transfer business was a definite statement of intent and it’s paid dividends so far. Saturday’s early game against a Tottenham side struggling for options up front he could record a clean sheet at White Hart Lane.
Ben Davies
The Swansea defender is a good candidate for inclusion this week because the visit of QPR to the Liberty Stadium could be another close, low-scoring game and Swansea should have the lion’s share of possession, limiting QPR’s chances in the final third. Davies also managed to find the net against Stoke so he poses a threat from set pieces.
Nacho Monreal
Arsenal’s new arrival has settled in well and scored nine points in his first game against Stoke last weekend. The visit of Sunderland means he has the chance to record another clean sheet for his new side and during his time at Malaga he frequently contributed plenty of assists so he could contribute going forward as well as at the back.
Midfielders
Jack Wilshere
Although Wilshere has been plagued by injuries over the last 18 months or so he finally looks back to full fitness and his performance for England against Brazil will have been very encouraging for Arsenal fans. He’s well worth including in Totel Football this week considering his recent good form.
Juan Mata
Stats of 10 goals, nine assists and a points average of just under eight per game are great for anyone in football, let alone a team like Chelsea who are in need of a result and who face Wigan this weekend. Mata excelled against Reading a couple of weeks back and he should be able to pull the strings in the Blues midfield again.
Gareth Bale
The Wales international continued to impress in midweek, scoring the opening goal for his country and if Spurs are to get a result against Newcaslte in the absence of several of their attacking players. Bale showed he can score the vital goals when he struck the winner against West Brom and he will need to be at his best again here.
Moussa Sissoko
Eight points against Aston Villa and 15 against Chelsea courtesy of two goals was the perfect way for Moussa Sissoko to introduce himself to the Newcastle faithful. The 23-year-old wasn’t prolific in his time at Toulouse but with plenty of pace and power he could worry the Tottenham defence.
Strikers
Wayne Rooney
The England international has overshadowed his Manchester United strike partner in recent weeks. and. although his average is still lower than Robin van Persie, a clash with Everton could see him score plenty of Totel Football points so he gets the first striker position in this week’s team.
Daniel Strurridge
Although he’s carrying a slight injury, Daniel Strurridge will hopefully be fit to face West Brom on Monday and he’s been in great form since he moved to Merseyside from Chelsea. He outshone Luiz Suarez against Manchester City and carries plenty of attacking threat for the Reds.
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Jim’s starting XI
Pepe Reina; Ben Davies, Patrice Evra, Mathieu Debuchy, Nacho Monreal; Juan Mata, Jack Wilshere, Gareth Bale, Moussa Sissoko; Daniel Strurridge, Wayne Rooney.
Substitutes
David de Gea (Manchester United), Andre Wisdom (Liverpool), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Fernando Torres (Chelsea)