The festive season is here once more and that means a full round of Premier League action in the days following Christmas.

There are distractions aplenty, with presents to wrap and food to prepare, but do not let your fantasy team fall by the way side.

Our Opta-powered picks should see you safe once more this weekend.


EMILIANO MARTINEZ

Aston Villa are at home to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and looking for a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet for the first time since February 2010.

Martinez is the obvious pick to make the most of this hot streak in a chilly December, having kept more clean sheets (seven) than any other top-flight goalkeeper this season.

That tally has already matched Villa's total for the 2019-20 campaign.


TYRONE MINGS

Why stick to one Villa man when you can have two? Mings has been just as important as Martinez to their defensive form.

Indeed, the England centre-back has played the full 90 minutes in all seven of those clean sheets.

Mings, who also has two goals and an assist this season, only had six clean sheets in the entirety of the previous campaign.


ANDY ROBERTSON

Capable of delivering the goods all year round, back Robertson to perform again this Christmas.

Robertson leads all Premier League defenders in assists (five), chances created (26) and touches in the opposition box (44) this season.

Any fantasy player who has so far resisted the urge to call up the Scotland captain might consider struggling West Brom's trip to Anfield on Sunday.


BRUNO FERNANDES

The curtain is coming down on a year that has belonged to Fernandes, signed by Manchester United in January.

Since his debut the following month, the Portugal playmaker has been involved in 29 goals (17 scored, 12 assisted) in the Premier League, more than any other player.

In fact, Fernandes has either netted or created half of United's 58 goals and should be heavily involved again in Saturday's Christmas cracker at Leicester City.


JAMES WARD-PROWSE

Southampton visit Fulham on Boxing Day, with Ward-Prowse again set to be at the heart of their midfield as they aim to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Manchester City.

With four goals and three assists this season, his seven involvements are already the third-most he has managed across a campaign in his Premier League career.

The set-piece expert has played just 14 matches but could match his best ever tally with another goal or assist this festive season.


KEVIN DE BRUYNE

It is a little late for last-minute shopping, but City's De Bruyne still has time to get his wish this year.

The midfielder has 15 Premier League assists in 2020, three short of his record for a calendar year (18 in 2017).

He will welcome the visit of Newcastle United then, having provided five assists in seven league games against the Magpies, along with a pair of goals - including one of the strikes of the season at St James' Park in 2019-20.


JAMIE VARDY

Like Santa and Rudolph, Vardy and Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers make quite the team.

The striker has scored more goals (43) than any other Premier League player since Rodgers took charge, while only Luis Suarez (54) has netted more times under the former Liverpool boss in the competition.

Do not bet against Vardy ruining United's Christmas; he remains an obvious choice.