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    Transfer recommendations for Gameweek 12: Liverpool and Manchester United double headers ripe with potential

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    DREAM TEAM managers should be aware that seven teams are set to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 12.After a full round of Premier League games, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea will be in European action across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Gaffers intent on a points-laden return from the international break should have these double headers in mind when making their transfers ahead of Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.As usual, we’ve collated some recommendations outside the blindingly obvious names.Target the European fixtures for bumper returnsCredit: Dream TeamLuis Diaz (£4.6m)Arne Slot’s side are set to face 20th-placed Southampton this weekend before they welcome Real Madrid to Anfield in midweek.Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) is best placed to take advantage but it’s probably worth doubling up on attacking Liverpool assets, with the Colombia winger a shining light.In fact, only Erling Haaland (£8.6m) and Salah have scored more goals than Diaz in all competitions this season.There may be some concerns about the 27-year-old after a long flight back from South America but he should get his fair share of minutes across the two fixtures.Diaz ranks second among Dream Team midfielders having amassed 112 points across the first 11 Gameweeks.Most read in FootballGaffers worldwide will have one eye on Amorim’s first game in charge of Man UnitedCredit: GettyNoussair Mazraoui (£3.8m)Nobody would put Man United in the same bracket as Liverpool at present but the former’s double header looks mightily appealing on paper.The Red Devils visit Ipswich this weekend and host Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night – a relatively favourable start for Ruben Amorim as Old Trafford boss.Mazraoui has racked up 91 points to date, thanks in no small part to 55 tackles (an unmatched tally among defenders) and a healthy return of 13 bonus points.There’s every chance the Morocco international will be deployed as a wing-back if Amorim implements his preferred 3-4-3 formation, as expected, which would mean more time in the final third.Mazraoui is already well placed to take points off the Tractor Boys and Norwegian Europa League opposition; a more advanced role would only increase his viability.Ahead of Gameweek 11 we recommended Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) and the in-form midfielder repaid our faith with a 17-point return so he’s probably worth repeating this week – it’s not too late!Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWLucas Digne (£3.6m)This suggestion comes with risk as Aston Villa have lost four games on the spin but Saturday’s meeting with Crystal Palace has to be considered a favourable one.Only Southampton have scored fewer league goals than the Eagles this season.That being said, one doesn’t pick Digne for clean sheets, it’s his attacking threat that makes him a tempting option.The Frenchman has provided three assists and created eight big chances this term – no defender has registered more at this juncture.He was in great form for Les Bleus during the international break too, if that carries any weight.The Villains’ additional fixture is a home game against Juventus in the Champions League, a tougher test, but Unai Emery’s side have already seen off Bayern Munich in the midlands this term.A creative force from defenceCredit: EPAAlexander Isak (£5.1m)We always finish with an alternative recommendation of sorts.Newcastle’s No14 is hardly a hidden gem but he’s certainly not an obvious option for Gameweek 12 because the Magpies only have one fixture.However, that fixture happens to be against a beleaguered West Ham outfit at St James’ Park.Isak has scored in four consecutive games (for a return of 42 points) in a run that has seen Eddie Howe’s mob knock off Chelsea, Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest – he will fancy his chances of extending his streak against the Hammers on current form.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt’s worth noting that our last wildcard suggestions, Rayan Ait-Nouri (£3.4m) and Matheus Cunha (£4.5m), combined for 22 points in Gameweek 11.Sometimes it pays to think outside the box.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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      Isak denied goal by ‘worst offside decision ever seen’ after VAR blunder as fans ‘can’t work out how it was ruled out’

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      ALEXANDER ISAK was bizarrely denied a goal for Sweden after a shocking error from VAR.The Newcastle ace was in action for his nation against Azerbaijan during a 6-0 mauling in the Uefa Nations League.Alexander Isak at the top of the screen was judged to be offside and had a goal ruled out for SwedenCredit: ViaplayVAR drew offside lines from Isak despite Viktor Gyokeres being the recipient of the passCredit: ViaplayIsak revealed there had been an argument between players and officials in the tunnel about the decisionCredit: RexTottenham star Dejan Kulusevski had opened the scoring after 10 minutes before Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres netted a brace before the break to make it 3-0.The ex-Coventry player soon turned provider as he picked up the ball in injury time and slipped a pass to Isak, who carried the ball down the left wing before cutting inside to shoot into the bottom left corner. However, despite no original suggestion of offside, VAR bizarrely ruled out the goal.The judgement was clearly incorrect when viewing a replay as Isak, 25, was well onside when Gyokeres played him the ball.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut it turned out that VAR had drawn the lines to Isak at the wrong time.Instead, VAR had strangely drawn the lines from Isak when Gyokeres, 26, had originally picked up the move inside his OWN HALF.The decision left fans and even reporters confused, with Siavoush Fallahi writing on social media: “I’m crying they gave an offside on Isak when the ball went to Gyokeres in the middle.”A fan said: “Possibly the worst offside decision I’ve ever seen I still can’t work out how Isak’s goal has been ruled out.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA second added: “They drew the line on Isak for the pass to Gyokeres.”Another said: “We need a VAR check for VAR.”VAR footage of William Saliba red card released by PGMOL as Arsenal fans rage at Liverpool fan’s inputSweden went on to win the match 6-0, with Gyokeres scoring two more and Kulusevski bagging another while Isak also missed a penalty shortly after half-time.Speaking after the game, Isak revealed he and his team-mates had been engaged in an argument with the VAR officials over the decision in the player tunnel at half-time.According to the Sweden Herald, he said: “How is that possible? Seriously. It’s almost the worst I’ve seen.”I’m happy, of course, that we win, but I score a goal that should be allowed, then it’s clear that you get annoyed.”I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this at this level when I’ve been involved. “You’ve seen a lot of mistakes, but this one was pretty rough. The VAR referees stood in the player tunnel at halftime. “We argued with them, but they stuck to their decision that they had made the right call.”National team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson was just as angry, adding: “I was furious, the whole team was furious. I don’t understand it. For me, it was a goal, but we can’t change it.”The game ensured Sweden won their Nations League C Group 1 with five wins and one draw, while Azerbaijan finished bottom of the group without a win.Sweden are the only nation inside the top 30 ranked leagues in Europe who do not use VAR.Having been written into IFAB rules in 2018, the Allsvenskan remains an exception by refusing to implement it.Ola Thews, vice-chairman of Swedish giant AIK’s largest supporter organization, ASK, said of VAR in August: “VAR is a symbol of modern, commercialised-to-the-point-of-destruction football.”Thews also believes VAR “ruins the euphoria” of scoring a goal.In England, Premier League chiefs fear they have to go without semi-automated offside technology until next season.Howard Webb had claimed last month that assistant VAR errors were down 80 per cent before Michael Oliver had a high-profile blunder during Manchester United’s clash at West Ham.READ MORE SUN STORIESOn-field referee David Coote had originally waved play on before being called back with Matthijs de Ligt accused of fouling Danny Ings following a coming together in the penalty area.The decision to then award a penalty with the off-field recommendation was maligned at the time before Webb admitted it was “on balance, probably not a penalty”.VAR: Imagine the future…Martin Lipton’s pro VAR viewFAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.But it’s OK. Every  one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the  Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you. More