Time is ticking down on the 2021-22 Premier League campaign – and indeed on your chances of making up those valuable points in your fantasy football league.

While certain players are a must for any manager with serious prospects of finishing top of the pile (hello, Mohammed Salah), others often go under the radar.

And with a real rarity of all 10 gameweek 28 fixtures taking place across the same weekend – at the time of writing, at least! – it is important you get your selection spot on.

So why not let Stats Perform, led by Opta data, pick out four players – one for each position – that can help propel you up the standings. Come on, trust us.

FRASER FORSTER (Aston Villa v Southampton)

Five games without defeat, including back-to-back vic…

The disgraced former president of the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] Luis Rubiales was not worthy of representing his country, according to Sevilla vice president Jose Maria del Nido.

Rubiales was widely condemned for his behaviour as Spain celebrated their victory over England in last month s Women s World Cup final, having grabbed forward Jenni Hermoso before kissing her on the lips.

Hermoso repeatedly stated the kiss was not consensual and has since filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales, accusing him of sexual assault.

Though Rubiales initially refused to resign, the pressure eventually told as he announced his departure ahead of an interview with Piers Morgan, which aired last week.

Sevilla became one of the first clubs to demand Rubiales re…

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker:

Desperate to try and find an immediate boost when they open their Champions League knockout stage run on Wednesday night, Bayern Munich will make the trip to Salzburg for their first-leg showdown.

Salzburg

Starting with the hosts, last seen mounting a second-half comeback away at Rapid Vienna, some in Salzburg s camp should be smelling the chance to cause a real European upset here. Eventually securing a late 2-1 win on the road last week, Head Coach Matthias Jaissle finds his side enjoying another domestic purple patch. Cruising their way to another Austrian Bundesliga crown this season, the Red Bulls hold a commanding 14-point buffer over the chasing pack. In fact, Wednesday s hosts have remarkably won each of their last eight straig…

Everton, Liverpool and Sunderland had been linked with domestic interest in England s number one, but Torino have emerged as front-runners a switch that should guarantee first-team football but will leave Hart without the chance to impress in Europe, as he has done in Champions League action for City previously.

Isco Real Madrid to Tottenham

Shunted down the pecking order in favour of new midfield starlet, Marco Asensio, Isco could revive his career in the Premier League with Tottenham, who are keen to add a creative partner for Christian Eriksen.

Wilfried Zaha is another reported option for Mauricio Pochettino, although any deal hinges on Son Heung-min completing a £24million move to Wolfsburg, which could spark another big-money move

Julian Draxler Wolfsbur…

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is confident of causing a UEFA Champions League upset by beating Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti s men head into the last-16 first-leg tie in Gelsenkirchen in great form, and sit top of the Spanish top flight with 63 points following a 15-match unbeaten league run.

Real are undoubted favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals with victory over Jens Keller s charges.

Yet Schalke have enjoyed a recent resurgence of their own in the Bundesliga, with a seven-match unbeaten run helping the side into the top four.

And Huntelaar who had a brief spell at Real in 2009 is confident of upsetting the odds.

I think that Real Madrid is the favourite but we play the first leg at home and we are going to come out fighting…

France failed to round off their Euro 2024 preparations with a victory as they were held to a goalless draw by Jesse Marsch s impressive Canada side in Bordeaux.

With captain Kylian Mbappe starting on the bench after picking up a knock against Luxembourg on Wednesday, Didier Deschamps team were unable to find a way through and were arguably fortunate to avoid an upset.

Antoine Griezmann saw a low drive tipped wide by Maxime Crepeau in the first half, but Canada went closer shortly after the restart as Liam Millar curled a shot against Mike Maignan s crossbar.

Olivier Giroud – playing his final home international before he calls time on his France career after the Euros – miscued on the volley before substitute Randal Kolo Muani somehow headed wide when totall…

Lionel Messi scored for the first time against Chelsea as Barcelona came from behind to take a vital away goal into the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

Willian hit the post twice but finally found the net with what looked to be the winning goal, only for Messi to score for the first time in six games to earn a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, leaving the clash finely balanced.

Chelsea and Barca were facing each other for the 13th time in the Champions League, renewing their rivalry after a classic semi-final clash in 2012, and for much of the contest there was nothing between the sides despite Barca s inevitable dominance of the ball.

Barcelona had 75 per cent possession in the first half but the Catalans were perhaps fortunate to …

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is pleased Luis Suarez s loyalty to the club has been rewarded with UEFA Champions League football.

Suarez was subject of interest from Arsenal in the close-season, but agreed a new deal at Anfield in December after previously publicly stating his desire to leave the club.

The Uruguayan has duly enjoyed a stunning campaign at Liverpool, scoring 30 Premier League goals to guide Rodgers side to the top of the table and winning the PFA Player of the Year award for his efforts.

Liverpool are already assured of a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2009-10 next term and Rodgers is thrilled Suarez will have the opportunity to shine at the highest level.

A player of Luis Suarez s ability has to be playing at th…

Former France international Patrick Vieira has continued to criticise the French Football Federation, ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Didier Deschamps men are preparing for a Group E campaign, in which they will face Ecuador, Honduras and Switzerland.

Vieira, who was critical of the omission of Manchester City attacker Samir Nasri in France s preliminary squad in May, continued to lash out at the French FA for their poor structure .

In France you are talking about Samir Nasri and some of the other players having personal issues, Vieira said at ITV s World Cup launch.

But Samir never had a problem with Manchester City. They talk about Karim Benzema but he never had a problem with Real Madrid. Franck Ribery never had a problem at Bayern Munich.

So I th…

Marcus Rashford has described not playing for Manchester United great Alex Ferguson as his only regret in football.

Rashford made his United debut as an 18-year-old in 2016, just under three years after Ferguson had retired as the manager at Old Trafford.

The England international had been in the United academy since the age of seven, overlapping with Ferguson s hugely successful tenure, but would never work directly with the Scot.

Rashford discussed Ferguson after receiving the Football Writers Association s Tribute award for his work campaigning to end child poverty in the United Kingdom.

Ferguson has backed the United striker and spoken to him personally, and Rashford told the FWA: For me, it was an unbelievable experience.

For me, that s prob…