Do you play Fantasy Football, and if so, have you ever wondered what it takes to be successful?

A new study by a team of researchers at the University of Limerick has identified the underlying tactics used by the top-ranked competitors among Fantasy Premier League's seven million players.

The research found that, despite managers being able to choose combinations from over 600 unique footballers, there were multiple stages in the season when the teams from the top ranked managers converged to appear highly similar.

Using machine learning tools the researchers were then able to identify those players that were crucial in the make-up of successful teams.

Joseph O'Brien, a PhD student based at MACSI in UL, is the lead author of the study. He spoke to Matt on The Last Word about the secrets of Fantasy Football success.