The Fantasy League opens 2024 with some interesting selection headaches, especially given several key players have gone on international duty, either to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in the case of Mo Salah or Mohamed Kudus or Asia Cup (Son Heung Min, Hwang Hee Chan or Kaoru Mitoma).

Keep in mind that this gameweek covers the next fortnight with games spread out to allow Premier League teams some form of mini-break.

Congratulations to December winner Terence Corday, whose team Saka Potato’s amassed 447 points in December. Jaylen Martin and his Haven’t Got a Kalou team lead the overall standings with 1,226 points.

Friday

Burnley v Luton Town (3.45pm)

Burnley have lost nine of their first ten home league matches this campaign, a top-flight record. Hjalmar Ekdal and Luka Koleosho are out through injury, while Jordan Beyer, Lyle Foster and Charlie Taylor are doubtful.

Luton were narrowly beaten at home by Chelsea in their last league match. Tom Lockyer remains out, Issa Kabore is on international duty with Ivory Coast, Marvelous Nakamba has a knee injury, while Reece Burke and Dan Potts are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Saturday

Chelsea v Fulham (8.30am)

Chelsea are on the brink of elimination from the EFL Cup after the midweek defeat at Middlesbrough. Mauricio Pochettino must do without Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson, while Nathaniel Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana and Reece James are out through injury. Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Christopher Nkunku are doubtful.

Fulham picked just their fourth win in their last 11 league games with a surprise win over Arsenal. Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo-Toure and Alex Iwobi are on international duty, Adama Traore is out with a hamstring injury, while Matthew Dibley-Dias and Tim Ream are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-0

Newcastle United v Manchester City (1.30pm)

Newcastle have lost five of their last seven matches in all competitions. Nick Pope, Javier Manquillo, Matt Targett, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson are out through injury, while Joelinton is doubtful.

Manchester City have rediscovered their form and are unbeaten in their last seven matches. John Stones is out with an ankle injury, while Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday

Everton v Aston Villa (10am)

Everton are on a three-match league losing streak and are without Idrissa Gueye, who is on international duty. Dele Alli has a hip injury; while Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil are doubtful.

Aston Villa are enjoying their best season since the Premier league started. Bertrand Traore is in Africa with Ivory Coast, while Robin Olsen, Lucas Digne, Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are out to injury. Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (12.30pm)

Manchester United have lost Sofyan Amrabat and Andre Onana to the African Cup of Nations. Victor Lindelof is out with a groin injury with Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Casemiro and Anthony Martial all doubtful.

Spurs have won four of their last five league games and scored at least twice in all those victories.

Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Son Heung Min are on international duty, with Alfie Whiteman, Ivan Perisic, Cristian Romero, James Maddison, Manor Solomon and Alejo Veliz are out through various injuries. Ben Davies, Eric Dier and Giovanni Lo Celso are doubtful this match.

Prediction: 3-2

Saturday, January 20

Arsenal v Crystal Palace (8.30am)

Arsenal were top at Christmas, but a three-match winless run has resulted in them falling to fourth.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are on international duty with Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey out to injury. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are doubtful.

Crystal Palace have won just one of their last five in the league. Jordan Ayew is in Africa with Ghana and Joel Ward, Cheick Doucoure and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are out to injury. Sam Johnstone, Rob Holding and Michael Olise are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Brentford v Nottingham Forest (1.30pm)

Brentford have lost seven of their last eight to drop within four points of the bottom three and are without Frank Onyeka, Samman Ghoddos, Yoann Wissa and Kim-Ji Soo who are all competing internationally.

Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade are out injured, while Kristoffer Ajer and Christian Norgaard are doubtful.

Forest edged Manchester United to leap ahead of their hosts by a single point. They have six players - Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Moussa Niakhate, Ola Aina, Cheikhou Kouyate and Ibrahim Sangare - at the African Cup of Nations. Felipe, Anthony Elanga, Taiwo Awoniyi and Divock Origi are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday, January 21

Sheffield United v West Ham United (10am)

Sheffield United have won just twice in 20 games to sit seven points from safety. Yassine Larouci and Anis Ben Slimane are on international duty, while Chris Basham, John Egan and Daniel Jebbison are out to injury or illness. Tom Davies is doubtful with a thigh injury.

West Ham are unbeaten in four to climb to their highest position under David Moyes. Nayef Aguerd and Kudus are at AFCON, while Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, Vladimir Coufal and Konstantinos Mavropanos are out through injury.

Prediction: 0-2

Bournemouth v Liverpool (12.30pm)

Bournemouth’s impressive four-match winning streak was halted at Tottenham on New Year’s Eve.

Marcos Senesi is suspended, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo are in Africa, while Ryan Fredericks, Lloyd Kelly, Milos Kerkez, Hamed Traore and Tyler Adams are out to injury or illness.

Liverpool are top of the league by three points but Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are involved in international competition this month.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Andy Robertson, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara and Ben Doak are out, while Dominik Szoboszlai is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday, January 22

Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers (3.45pm)

Brighton have lost just once in their last six games. Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma are on international duty with Tariq Lamptey, Joel Veltman, Julio Enciso, Solly March and Ansu Fati out to injury. Igor Julio is doubtful with a minor knock.

Wolves have won three in a row and host Brentford in an FA Cup third-round replay next midweek. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Justin Hubner, and Hwang Hee Chan are on international duty, while Joao Gomes is suspended.

Prediction: 3-1