Fantasy game back in action

With the small matter of the Euro 2008 qualifiers now out of the way, the Premier League comes back to life this weekend.

The return to action means there are points to be scored for our Fantasy Football players.

More than 4,000 people have already registered to play this season's game, organised in association with Wickes.

The top prize is £2,000 in cash, provided by Wickes.

Anne Washbrook, 48, of Willenhall, had never played a fantasy football game before but decided to have a go with the Express & Star's competition and won our £100 manager of the month prize.

She came top of the table for August with her team CJ's Allstars, which amassed 36 points in just two matches – two points more than her nearest rival.

Fulham's American midfielder Clint Dempsey was the top scorer in the last Game Week with seven points.

Dempsey scored a goal and laid on two assists as Fulham came from behind to draw with Tottenham.

Liverpool's Spanish contingent shared the Fantasy League points as Derby were thrashed 6-0 at Anfield.

Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso scored two goals and six points each and full-back Alvaro Arbeloa earned five points for his clean sheet and assist.

Matthew Etherington's two goals in West Ham's 3-0 win at Reading were worth six points, while defenders Zat Knight (Aston Villa) and David Wheater (Middlesbrough) also collected six points each after scoring and keeping clean sheets.

So if you fancy yourself as a rival to Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho or Rafael Benitez, this is your chance to prove it.

HOW TO PLAY:

• Go to www.expressandstar.com/fantasyfootball

• Enter the registration password: Wembley

• Choose your team, from a budget of £55 million. It must contain no more than two players from any one Barclays Premier League club and conform to a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 formation.

• You'll receive a weekly e-mail telling you how your side performed and looking ahead to the coming games.

• It's easy to switch players in and out, with a maximum of 25 transfers allowed in total once the scoring has begun.

• The only way you will be able to make changes is by using the transfer password, which will be printed in the Express & Star every Wednesday