For Round 31 we will now concentrate on the high-performing players from the top half clubs in the Premier League table in order to gain the best possible outcome in terms of picking up Fantasy points where they may have otherwise have been missed.

As the race heats up for the league title along with clubs jostling for European spots, these players could be pivotal in their respective clubs’ finishing positions this season.

And, for the first time in this Fantasy season, we have opted for two strikers from the same club for this round.

Round 31 starts on Friday night as Bournemouth play take on Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium.

So, without further ado then, let’s take a look at our proposed XI for Round 31…

Formation: 3-5-2

Robert Sánchez  (Everton v CHELSEA) – €6.3M

Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sánchez sits in 6th place in the goalkeeping points rankings in the Sofascore Fantasy table and with a few keepers who are just above him in the rankings out injured, Sánchez has a great opportunity to close the gap with a solid performance between the sticks against Everton on Saturday evening.

Sánchez possesses an overall Sofascore rating of 6.96 so far this season along with a total of 144 Fantasy points while keeping 4 clean sheets in Chelsea’s 15 outings to date this term. 

In addition, Sánchez has kept 4 clean sheets in 8 previous appearances against Everton.

Virgil van Dijk(Brighton v LIVERPOOL) – €9.0M

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk continues to produce solid performances at the back for The Reds despite a generally perceived decline in form, but an excellent overall Sofascore rating of 7.29 places the Dutch stopper at the top of Liverpool’s player ratings.

van Dijk currently sits in 3rd place in the Sofascore Fantasy defenders’ points table with a total of 198 points to his name along with chipping in with 3 goals so far in this Premier League campaign.

Interestingly, van Dijk has never lost to Brighton in the Premier League.

James Tarkowski  (EVERTON v Chelsea) – €8.3M

England and Everton defender, James Tarkowski, is one of only two defenders currently in the 200-point club in the Fantasy points rankings for defenders, the other being Arsenal’s Gabriel, but The Toffees’ stopper has enjoyed a very solid campaign for the merseyside club this season under manager David Moyes.

Indeed, along with 200 Fantasy points to his name, Tarkowski not only holds a Sofascore rating of 7.18 but has also scored 1 goal and 1 assist so far this season as well as an impressive Form rating of 6.7 this term.

In summary, a solid addition to anyone’s Fantasy team for Round 31.

Marcos Senesi  (BOURNEMOUTH v Man Utd) – €6.8M

Bournemouth’s Argentinian defender, Marcos Senesi, wraps up our Sofascore defensive line for Round 31 and what a bargain this player looks as he not only tops The Cherries’ player ratings with a score of 7.21, but he has also racked up a total of 184 Fantasy points so far this season as well.

At a value of just €6.8M, Senesi is expected to be snapped up by Fantasy managers for Round 31 as the Bournemouth centre-back has also produced 4 assists so far this term along with 1 goal and 2 assists in previous appearances against Manchester United.

Bruno Fernandes  (Bournemouth v MANCHESTER UTD) – €11.5M

Manchester United and Portuguese midfield general, Bruno Fernandes, have positively thrived under the guidance of manager Michael Carrick and it’s no coincidence that the Red Devils now occupy 3rd place in the Premier League table when looking at Fernandes’ statistics so far this season.

Fernandes is way ahead of the Fantasy points table for Midfielders with a total of 228 points under his belt along with an outstanding Form rating of 11.7, while for Manchester United, Fernandes tops the club’s player ratings with a score of 7.54.

In addition, Bruno Fernandes has scored 7 goals along with producing a staggering 16 assists to date, and although he’s now valued at the high end of the scale at €11.5M, he looks to be worth every penny!

James Garner  (EVERTON v Chelsea) – €7.0M

Everton midfielder, James Garner, joins fellow Toffees team-mate James Tarkowski on our Sofascore team sheet for Round 31 and why wouldn’t he? – the former England U21 defensive midfielder leads Everton’s Sofascore player ratings with a score of 7.26 along with a Fantasy total of 173 points to date.

Garner has also contributed to Everton’s cause this season with 2 goals and 5 assists and with a Form rating of 7.0 in the Fantasy Midfielder ratings so far, the 25 year-old looks a solid addition to your Round 31 team this weekend.

Enzo Fernández  (Everton v CHELSEA) – €8.6M

Chelsea’s Argentinian midfielder, Enzo Fernández, has also enjoyed a successful and solid campaign for The Blues this season and his statistics speak for themselves this season.

An overall Fantasy haul of 163 points so far this season is complemented by an overall Sofascore rating of 7.14 in the Premier League, as well as contributing 8 goals and 3 assists to date.

As Chelsea seek to secure a European place in the latter stages of this season, Fernández is expected to be in the thick of it all, especially as he has achieved a Sofascore rating of 7.0 or over in 9 of the past 12 months.

Dominik Szoboszlai  (Brighton v LIVERPOOL) – €8.5M

Dominik Szoboszlai is the second Liverpool player chosen for our Sofascore team for Round 31 and his inclusion is fully deserved when looking at the numbers that the Hungarian midfielder has achieved so far in this season’s Premier League campaign.

Szoboszlai has racked up a Fantasy total of 158 points so far this term while also achieving an overall Sofascore rating of 7.19 for his club side, Liverpool. Having also produced 5 goals along with 3 assists in the domestic top flight to date, early comparisons are being made to Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard.

Szoboszlai has also scored 1 goal and 1 assist in previous games against Brighton.

Casemiro  (Bournemouth v MANCHESTER UTD) – €6.9M

Brazilian midfielder, Casemiro, is another Manchester United player currently flourishing under the management of Michael Carrick as he possesses an overall Sofascore rating of 7.15, behind only to the midfield magician, Bruno Fernandes.

In addition, Casemiro has a total of 137 Fantasy points to his name so far this season for United which has been helped by the fact that the Brazilian has chipped in with 7 goals and 2 assists so far this season.

With a current Sofascore Form rating of 7.0, Casemiro is amongst one of the best performing midfielders right now at a relatively low price of €6.9M.

Igor Thiago  (Leeds Utd v BRENTFORD) – €7.2M

Another Brazilian features up front for our Sofascore XI for Round 31 in the shape of Brentford’s Igor Thiago who celebrated a call-up to the Brazilian World Cup squad by notching his 19th goal this season for The Bees in their recent 2-2 draw with Wolves.

Thiago sits second only to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the Premier League goalscoring charts and his performances in the domestic top flight have seen him achieve 141 Fantasy points to date this term.

An overall Sofascore rating of 6.99 should increase into the 7.0’s when Brentford travel to Leeds United on Saturday night.

Dango Ouattara  (Leeds Utd v BRENTFORD) – €7.2M

Burkina Faso international, Dango Ouattara, joins fellow Bee Igor Thiago up front on our Sofascore team sheet for Round 31 as the two forwards have forged a highly successful strike partnership for Keith Andrews’ side in this season’s Premier League campaign.

Indeed, Thiago and Ouattara have contributed over 50% of Brentford’s total of 46 goals this term (24 goals) with Ouattara chipping in with 5 goals along with 3 assists while possessing a current Sofascore Form rating of 6.7 as well.

Another high-energy performance is expected at Elland Road on Saturday night.

Total Budget: €87.3M