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Ben Pearce's fantasy picks for the Premier League weekend

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ESPN's new fantasy game is underway, but don't worry if you have yet to sign up. You can start whenever you want -- and that applies not only to our Premier League game but to the Champions League and La Liga, too.

As soon as you join and fill your league, your competition starts.

To help you make up your mind about your eight-man team, we've enlisted the help of ESPN FC's Tottenham Hotspur correspondent, Ben Pearce to pick out a player from each of the tiers.

Check out our detailed breakdown of the scoring system to make sure you're picking your team with this in mind. Get your mates involved ahead of this weekend's round of games and play each other each week in a head-to-head match.

Every week, you'll submit a new team, or you can stick with the same eight but only if they are still in the same tiers. So make sure you're always checking and selecting the best team to beat your rival each week.

Let's take a look at who Ben has picked for this weekend. And, just as importantly, why.

This is what Ben had to say:

Tier 1 forward -- Harry Kane: The Tottenham striker has scored eight goals in his past 12 games for club and country, while he has also provided assists in his past two starts against Southampton and Barcelona. Kane and co. now hosts a Burnley side who have conceded 32 top-flight goals this season -- the second-worst defensive record in the league. While rotation can be a risk at this time of year, Kane was rested at Leicester last weekend, so he should start.

Tier 2 forward -- Raul Jimenez: The Mexican has averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game and has an attractive home fixture against a Bournemouth side who are vulnerable at the back, as they showed in last weekend's 4-0 home defeat to Liverpool. There are other enticing options here but Callum Wilson's availability is uncertain, Aleksandar Mitrovic's Fulham are in poor form and I have gone for Felipe Anderson in midfield so will overlook his West Ham teammate, Javier Hernandez.

Tier 1 midfielder -- Raheem Sterling (captain): The 24-year-old is deadly at home, like Manchester City in general. He has scored six goals and set up another three in his six appearances at the Etihad Stadium this season and now entertains Everton.

Tier 2 midfielder -- Felipe Anderson: The Brazilian has scored five times in his last six Premier League matches and added an assist to his strike against Crystal Palace last weekend. Averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game, he now faces bottom side Fulham, who have the worst defensive record in the league with 40 goals conceded.

Tier 3 midfielder -- Andros Townsend: Crystal Palace have struggled for goals but Townsend has threatened more than most of his teammates, scoring twice in his past six games while also producing an assist. He now has a home fixture against Leicester and gets the nod ahead of Bournemouth's David Brooks and Huddersfield's Aaron Mooy, who is now injured for two months.

Tier 1 defender -- Marcos Alonso: Given defenders don't get points for clean sheets, it's worth picking attacking full-backs. Alonso, who largely operates as a winger for Chelsea rather than an orthodox left-back, should cause Brighton problems on Sunday. Andrew Robertson and Kieran Trippier are also options but the former has a tricky fixture against Manchester United and the latter is an injury doubt.

Tier 2 defender -- Matt Doherty: Wolves have won their last three matches and Doherty has been instrumental, scoring two goals and producing an assist in that run. An attacking wing-back, Doherty has averaged 11.1 fantasy points per game this season and has a good home fixture against Bournemouth.

Goalkeeper -- Hugo Lloris: The Frenchman hosts a Burnley side who have only managed three goals in their last five matches. Having kept a clean sheet away at Leicester last weekend, he can now deliver that 10-point bonus against the Clarets at Wembley too.