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Manchester United stars are battling it out in their own fantasy football league
Chris Smalling tops 'The MUFC Tiki-Taka Fantasy' after two rounds of matches
Some players have included Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in their teams
Joel Pereira and Daniel James are the only stars to exclude Man City players
James is also the only Red Devils player to include himself in his fantasy team

Published: 11:51 EDT, 21 August 2019 | Updated: 15:47 EDT, 21 August 2019

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Nine Manchester United stars have celebrated the beginning of the new Premier League season by starting their own fantasy football competition.

The league, named 'The MUFC Tiki-Taka Fantasy', contains teams led by Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Joel Pereira, Harry Maguire, Ashley Young, Lee Grant, Dan James and mystery manager 'Tiki Taka Legend' - believed to be Andreas Pereira.

Smalling tops the table so far with 138 points and has Manchester rivals Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne to thank for his lofty league position.

Chris Smalling is standing proud at the top of The MUFC Tiki-Taka Fantasy league at present

The City stars accumulated an impressive 18 points between them last week, while David de Gea, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood are the only United players to be included in Smalling's 15-man squad.

Fellow defender Phil Jones is hot on his heels in second place though. His team 'PJ'19' boasts Liverpool players Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the only Red Devil to feature in the starting line-up.

Third-placed Luke Shaw is another player who will be secretly thankful for Sterling's fine start to the season. The England winger partners United forward Martial in the 'LS23' midfield with Greenwood earning a spot on the bench.

Cult hero Lee Grant hasn't had such a positive start to the fantasy football campaign.

His team are lingering in seventh and are in desperate need of points so captain Anthony Martial's goal against Chelsea gave 'BlackCat FC' a welcome boost last week. Ashley Young, sixth in the table, hasn't picked any United players at all.

Daniel James goes berserk after securing some much-needed points for fantasy team DJtalent

Ashley Young hasn't picked any United players - instead calling on Liverpool and City for points

WHO THEY'VE ALL PICKED...

Chris Smalling: De Gea; Kelly, Van Dijk, Zinchenko, Robertson; Sterling, Martial, De Bruyne, Salah; Adams, King.

Phil Jones: Patricio; Keane, Wan-Bissaka, Robertson, Lascelles; Salah, Sterling, Mane, Neves; Barnes, Kean

Luke Shaw: Pickford; Hanley, Smith, Wan-Bissaka; Sterling, De Bruyne, Fraser, Maddison, Martial; Aguero, King.

Joel Pereira: Leno; Alexander-Arnold, Maitland-Niles, Van Dijk; Richarlison, Martial, Salah, A. Pereira; Rashford, Aubameyang, King.

Harry Maguire: Adrian; Robertson, Keane, Dunk, A. Smith; Salah, Bernardo, Richarlison, Martial; Rashford, Kane.

Ashley Young: Ederson; Azpilicueta, Walker, Van Dijk, Matip; Lanzini, Neves, Moutinho, Townsend; Aubameyang, Aguero.

Lee Grant: Ryan; Chilwell, Wan-Bissaka, Soyuncu; Bernardo, Tielemans, Martial, Mane; Rashford, Kane, Deulofeu.

Andreas Pereira: Pickford; Ake, Laporte, Wan-Bissaka; Martial, Zaha, Bernardo, Maddison; Jesus, Aubameyang, Kean.

Daniel James: Ederson; Ake, Robertson, Maguire, Walker-Peters; Fraser, James, Pulisic, Zaha; Kane, Rashford.

New signing Harry Maguire has settled in well. His 'Champs' sit in a comfortable fifth spot with deadly duo Rashford and Martial raking in the points while Greenwood provides firepower from the bench.

Meanwhile, it's been a sorry start for James whose 'DJtalent' outfit are currently rock bottom of the league on 24 points.

The modest Welshman has included himself in his own team, perhaps explaining why he celebrated with so much passion after his debut goal against Chelsea.