Fantasy Premier League tips gameweek 24: Raheem Sterling, Nick Pope, Edinson Cavani and more

How many of our picks are in your squad?

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope (Getty Images)

This week is a small double gameweek, with four teams - Manchester City, Everton, Burnley and Fulham - all playing twice as the Premier League catches up on postponed fixtures from the festive period.

The appeal has been diminished slightly by a freak raft of injuries to promising fantasy picks during the midweek FA Cup fifth round ties. Managers have been left sweating on the fitness of Michail Antonio, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ruben Dias among others.

Pay attention to Friday’s press conferences and gather as much information as you can before making your transfers. Also, it’s worth remembering this is only the start of a streak of double gameweeks, with a big one expected in gameweek 26.

Watchlist

Raheem Sterling

City play Tottenham and Everton - who conceded nine goals between them in midweek - while Sterling has four in his last five league outings. Still relatively low-owned at around 14%, jumping on him at the right time could move you quickly up the ranks.

Nick Pope

Burnley have the most appealing pair of fixtures, with a trip to Crystal Palace followed by a visit from Fulham. The defence will be backed well. Pope not only has clean sheet potential in both games but often hoovers up bonus points from low-scoring affairs.

Joao Cancelo

If Dias is passed fit, he is the most likely City defender to play both games and the best pick of the lot. If not, go Cancelo. The full-back may be rested or rotated for one of the two but he has the biggest upside and is beginning to deliver on his attacking promise.

Edinson Cavani

Having only played the extra time period in the midweek FA Cup clash with West Ham, Cavani should start against what is beginning to look like a historically bad West Bromwich Albion. The Uruguayan is getting on the end of some excellent chances, too.

Bukayo Saka

Any time Leeds are away from home against big six opponents, it’s a potentially fruitful fixture. Whether Arsenal still qualify as ‘big six’ is up for debate, but Saka has looked dangerous since Christmas and is a decent differential.

Captaincy

It makes sense to captain a double gameweek player, so either Raheem Sterling or Ilkay Gundogan are solid choices from City’s attack, though watch out for Gundogan playing a deeper role if Rodri and Fernandinho are unavailable through injury.

Otherwise, you might be tempted to back Nick Pope or a Burnley defender, though that’s not a lot of fun. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes could outscore those with two games in just one outing at the Hawthorns.

Clean sheets

As mentioned, Burnley’s two games look like good value for defensive points. A double-up with Pope and one of James Tarkowski or Ben Mee for set-piece threat is not out of the question.

Manchester United have an excellent fixture. Manchester City don’t, but they have two of them, and remain the best backline in the league by some distance.

Best XI

Pope; Tarkowski, Cancelo, Shaw; Fernandes, Sterling, Gundogan, Saka, Soucek; Cavani, Lacazette.