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 victories over Everton and Norwich City at St Mary's, have helped propel Southampton back into the top half of the division.
What makes those successive home wins all the more impressive is that Saints kept two clean sheets, having failed to record a single shutout in their previous 13 league matches.
Forster was in goal for both games and, while he only had to make one save across the 180 minutes, he has prevented the fourth-most goals in the Premier League this term.
Having conceded only 10 times, excluding own goals, from shots worth 13.5 expected goals on target, he has limited opponents to 3.5 goals fewer than expected.
Only Aaron Ramsdale (4.0 goals prevented), David de Gea (7.5) and Jose Sa (7.8) have fared better in that regard in the English top flight this term.
MATT DOHERTY (Tottenham v Everton)
Tottenham may be struggling for consistency, but right wing-back Doherty finally appears to be finding his feet under Antonio Conte – in the league, at least.
The former Wolves defender scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time in Tottenham's most recent outing in the competition against Leeds United.
Doherty now has three goal involvements in his past five league games, also supplying an assist at Leicester City, where he created four chances.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO (Aston Villa v Southampton)
Okay, okay – we know we have already selected Southampton goalkeeper Forster, but hear us out here.
By putting Aston Villa midfielder Coutinho in your side, you are hedging your bets, because if the Villans are to score then they need their Brazilian playmaker on top form.
He has four direct goal involvements in six games since returning to the Premier League in January – only Harry Kane (six) and Bruno Fernandes (seven) can better that return.
That should be of particular concern to Southampton as Coutinho has been involved in as many Premier League goals against them (five – four goals, one assist) as against any other side.
EMMANUEL DENNIS (Watford v Arsenal)
Long gone are the days of Watford being unable to keep a clean sheet for love nor money – the Hornets are now shutout kings under that up-and-coming boss Roy Hodgson.
Well, not quite, but Watford's three Premier League blanks since Hodgson's first game is the joint-most of any side, along with Liverpool, Manchester City and, eh, Burnley.
Now they just need to work on becoming more prolific at the other end of the field, and in Dennis they have a player potentially capable of firing them to safety.
The Nigeria international has scored nine goals and assisted five more in the Premier League this term – only five other players have been directly involved in more.
Murray's likely French Open swansong ended by wonderful Wawrinka
Andy Murray bowed out in the opening round of what is likely to be his final French Open appearance, following a straight-sets defeat by Stan Wawrinka.
The Swiss ran out a commanding 6-4 6-4 6-2 victor in two hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and could play Murray's compatriot Cameron Norrie in round two.
Murray was facing Wawrinka for a third successive match at Roland Garros, having lost out to the latter in the 2020 first round and 2017 semi-finals.
The 2015 champion stole an early advantage this time around, too, breaking in the opening game and subsequently holding to win the first set.
A single break was also enough in the second set as Wawrinka doubled his lead.
Murray has repeatedly said he is approaching the end of his career, revealing in February that he does not "plan on playing much past this summer".
However, the 2016 runner-up's chances of extending what is potentially his French Open swansong were all but ended as Wawrinka broke twice in the third set for a 4-0 lead, before the 39-year-old rounded off a dominant win.
Data Debrief
Wawrinka (39) and Murray (37) locked horns in the second-oldest match-up at Roland Garros this century, behind the 2019 first-round showdown between Ivo Karlovic (40) and Feliciano Lopez (37).
And the Swiss was not to be denied, as he became the oldest man to win a match at the French Open since compatriot Roger Federer three years ago.
'Sometimes, it's not meant to be' - Farke magnanimous after Leeds miss out on promotion
Daniel Farke conceded "it wasn't meant to be" for Leeds United, following their Championship play-off final defeat by Southampton.
Farke's side missed out on an immediate return to the Premier League, as Adam Armstrong's first-half strike was enough to settle the contest at Wembley.
Leeds controlled large periods of the final and went agonisingly close to equalising later on when Daniel James rattled the crossbar, but they must now prepare for another season back in the Championship.
Nevertheless Farke, who missed out on becoming the third manager to win three promotions to the Premier League, was gracious in defeat.
"It's football. Congratulations to Southampton, they were able to be effective today," he told Sky Sports. "We had more possession, more shots and dominated the game in many spells, but they defended very well.
"It's always important to be good in both boxes. We started the game totally on the front foot and had many good situations but, in the final third, we weren't always precise with the final pass.
"We tried everything in the second half. Daniel [James] hit the crossbar. Sometimes, it's not meant to be. It's hard today because we are all suffering and are so disappointed. It's a difficult day for us.
"Sometimes, after such setbacks, you learn a lot and develop your personality. The lads have played a fantastic season, 90 points, we were great in the semi-finals [beating Norwich City 4-0 on aggregate].
"I was proud of the performance in many ways. In the final third, we could have been more effective but, apart from this, there is nothing to dwell on. We'll suffer for a few days, but use the break to recover and go again.
The German also paid tribute to Leeds' fans, who were in fine voice throughout the day, despite seeing their side fall in an EFL play-off final for a record-breaking fourth time.
"It's obviously a big disappointment for us because we were so close," he added.
"The support for this club is second to none - not just in the Championship, but even in this country. They carried us through difficult times, and were always there for us today. For them, we have to go again."
Martin 'overwhelmed' after guiding Saints back into Premier League
Russell Martin admitted he was "overwhelmed by the love and support" from Southampton, after guiding the Saints back into the Premier League.
Martin's side sealed their return to the top flight at the first attempt, with Adam Armstrong's strike enough to seal a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The former Swansea City boss, who replaced Ruben Selles at St Mary's last June, secured his first promotion as a manager, having also done so five times as a player.
And Martin fought back tears as he reflected on his achievement.
"I feel really emotional, I feel overwhelmed by the love and support I've had over the past nine or 10 months - especially in the tougher times," he told Sky Sports. "The team have been so brave, and I'm really proud of them.
"I've enjoyed watching the team grow, and watching the players grow. I absolutely love that group of players. I'm so pleased for them because what we've asked them to do is not easy."
Meanwhile, Southampton skipper Jack Stephens paid tribute to his team-mates, who gave him his "best feeling in football".
"I'm so proud to be captain of this club. I'm so proud of the boys today, I think they've been unbelievable," the defender told Sky Sports. "I think we probably didn't play our best game today, but we showed a different side.
"A few people have doubted us over this season. Can we defend? Can we dig in? I think we really showed that today. The feeling I've got now is the best feeling I've ever had in football. Honestly, I'm just so emotional."
Matchwinner Armstrong added: "I don't know what to say. It's what we've been working for all year, we know how good the Championship has been this year.
"What a way to go up! I saw the space in behind [for the goal] and I knew if I put it across goal it was going to go in, so it was a nice one.
"It means everything. The gaffer and his staff came in in pre-season and put a marker down of what they wanted to see, and look at this. This is why we're footballers, we want to be involved in the biggest games, what a way to win."
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