The festive fixtures and the risk of rotation among Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur stars are enough to give all Fantasy Premier League managers a shiver.
But there is one big-name player that FPL expert Mark Sutherns believes is nailed on to be a regular over the 12 days of Christmas, Harry Kane (£12.6m).
“I think Kane will be good over the period,” Sutherns said on the latest FPL Show.
Spurs' fixtures
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“We've got to look at him getting all the starts, but it'll be players like Son [Heung-min], [Lucas] Moura, [Erik] Lamela, they're the ones that will rotate, and I think in defence.”
As for Man City, FPL expert Az Phillips sees Leroy Sane as the safest option in the absence of the injured Benjamin Mendy.
"Sane offers the City team something that no one else really can,” Phillips said. “With Mendy out, he's the pace injection down the left side, which is really nice.
"Sometimes, [Raheem] Sterling plays there with [Riyad] Mahrez but we've seen recently that Sane's playing pretty much every game, and he missed out mid-week as well.
"So, I think he's pretty safe.”
Sutherns is worried over Jurgen Klopp’s plans for Mohamed Salah (£13.1m). The Egyptian’s presence on the teamsheet for the Boxing Day fixture at home to Newcastle United is especially concerning, with matches against Arsenal and Man City to follow.
Liverpool & Man City fixtures
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“I just think that Salah is vital to them, but he [Klopp] is going to want to protect him for Arsenal and certainly City,” Sutherns said.
Overall, Sutherns and Phillips say manager must not forget to look at their bench, being prepared to use all three substitutes.
“Often, we go through the season just relying on that first sub and think that's enough,” he said.
“You've got to worry about that if that's what you're going into the Christmas period with, because there's going to be rotation and if you get an injury, it could knock a player out for two or three games because they come so thick and fast.
Phillips says having players on your bench who get on the pitch is important and advises managers to keep up-to-date with all the team news.
“Keeping your finger on the pulse, just making sure that if there are injury doubts, moving those players on, because any injury concerns and they're probably not going to play,” he said.
