More stories

  • in

    3 in-form Dream Team players who could pick up plenty of points in Game Week 18

    GAME WEEK 18 promises to be another intriguing one in the Dream Team calendar.Seven teams are set to pull double duty which creates the possibilities of some imbalances that smart gaffers could harness in their favour.
    We’ve identified three players with every chance of producing plentiful points in the coming days.
    Mohamed Salah (£8.8m)
    Business as usual
    Okay, so this suggestion is about as mainstream as it gets but with so many viable forward options right now it’s worth serious consideration.
    Liverpool’s No11 hasn’t been the subject of as many headlines as usual this season, partly because the Reds’ form as a whole has been inconsistent, but you’d be a fool to underestimate him.
    His goal against Wolves in Game Week 17 was his 16th of the campaign in all competitions and runaway leader Erling Haaland (£8.8m) is the only player in his position with more points – the Egyptian has 149 to his name.
    This coming Game Week, Salah faces Brighton, who are just one point behind Jurgen Klopp’s side, and while the Seagulls are no mugs they’ve kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 games, one of which was against Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
    Roberto De Zerbi’s side give up their fair share of chances and so if Salah has his shooting boots on then he could be in for an enjoyable afternoon on Saturday – these two sides played out a 3-3 at Anfield.
    The 30-year-old should also feature against Julen Lopetegui’s side in the FA Cup replay on Tuesday – given their league position, the competition looks to be Liverpool’s best chance of a trophy this season and so Klopp is expected to name a strong XI.
    Most read in Dream Team
    It’s probably best to stay clear of Liverpool defenders right now but Salah remains a strong option.
    Rodrigo (£4m)
    One of five players into double figures for Premier League goals this seasonCredit: getty
    A niche recommendation here as the Spaniard currently features in just 1.8% of teams.
    Having previously been a Dream Team asset to ignore, the Leeds forward has forced himself into contention with 11 goals in 16 outings this season.
    The Whites travel to Villa Park this evening before hosting Cardiff for an FA Cup replay on Wednesday night.
    It’s entirely possible Jesse Marsch will rotate his squad in midweek but Rodrigo had to come off the bench to help force a draw in Wales so he may be deployed to guard against an embarrassing upset.
    The ex-Valencia man averages more points-per-game than Gabriel Martinelli (£3.6m) and Darwin Nunez (£5.5m) this term and he will feel confident of extending his good form in the coming weeks given Leeds’ relatively favourable fixtures.
    A goal and a Star Man award in a few hours’ time would propel him up to seventh in the Dream Team rankings among forwards.
    Marcus Rashford (£5.4m)
    Ready for the Manchester derbyCredit: getty
    Dream Team’s most in-form player also pulls double duty in Game Week 18.
    Granted, a meeting with Man City Saturday lunchtime represents a testing match-up but Erik ten Hag’s side are in better shape to face their local rivals now than when they lost 6-3 at the Etihad at the start of October.
    Plus, Pep Guardiola has promised to do something weird tactically which should encourage the Red Devils’ No10.
    Rashford averages a goal involvement every 169.4 minutes against City which is a decent record given how strong the Citizens have been in recent years.
    The England international has added a whopping 61 points to his total since returning from the World Cup, scoring in six consecutive matches.

    Then in midweek, Rashford will be unleashed upon Crystal Palace, who have lost three of their four games since the restart.
    Bruno Fernandes (£5.3m) may also be worth whirl, he’s quietly accumulated 36 points over the last five Game Weeks. More

  • in

    Antony and Riyad Mahrez feature in the best Dream Team XI of Game Week 17

    IT’S a strong start for Dream Team gaffer Toby Hemming in his quest to win a PlayStation 5 via January’s Monthly competition.His XI ‘Last Minute’ racked up 122 points in Game Week 17, more than any other active team.
    There’s still a way to go before the PS5 is claimed but let’s take a closer look at Toby put himself in pole position in the last week.
    An eclectic bunch!
    As you can see, Toby thought outside the box and that all started with Fulham’s second-choice goalkeeper Marek Rodak (£1.4m), who returned eight points from a rare run out against Hull in the FA Cup.
    Tailoring your XI to a specific Game Week in hope of earning mega gains is a perfectly viable tactic and Toby has pulled it off superbly here.
    Although there’s nothing funky about an all-Newcastle defence given the Magpies boast the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.
    Saying that, Eddie Howe’s men suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the cup but normal service was resumed when the first-choice XI was reunited for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester in midweek.
    Toby actually missed out on Dan Burn’s (£4.3m) goal against the Foxes but his other Toon defenders combined for 18 points in Game Week 17.
    Rarely spotted in the wildCredit: getty
    Bruno Guimaraes (£3.6m) enjoyed his third-best Game Week of the campaign, registering 11 points.
    The Brazilian midfielder scored Newcastle’s consolation goal against the Owls and made it back-to-back 7+ ratings with an assured display against the Foxes.
    Most read in Dream Team
    Backing the right Man City midfielders is no simple task due to Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy but Toby got it spot on this past week as Riyad Mahrez (£5.5m) and Phil Foden (£5m) combined for 28 points.
    The Algerian winger scored a brace in his side’s 4-0 win over Chelsea, an effort that earned him the Star Man award, while the England youngster scored one of his own and was credited with an assist for winning one of the converted penalties.
    Toby would have expected further returns from the Citizens but they were upset by Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
    It has to be said that Antony’s (£3.8m) inclusion proved to be a masterstroke.
    The Brazilian has blown hot and cold in Man United colours since his big-money move from Ajax but he scored the opening goal in both the Red Devils’s cup games (Everton, Charlton) in Game Week 17 for a 16-point return.
    Antony’s best week in a Man United short yetCredit: getty
    Up top, it was a rare fallow week for Erling Haaland (£8.8m) but his ownership is so high (74.1%) that it almost doesn’t matter how many points he gets as pretty much every gaffer chasing glory has him in their team.
    In contrast, Marcus Rashford (£5.4m) filled his boots with three goals and an assist across his two fixtures for a 28-point haul.
    Old Trafford’s No10 has banked a whopping 61 points since returning from the World Cup – he’s Dream Team’s most in-form asset!
    Last but not least, Mohamed Salah (£8.8m) scored his 16th goal of the season in Liverpool’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Wolves for a eight-point return.

    There have been fewer headlines written about the Egyptian this term but he’s amassed 149 points to date – a legendary Dream Team asset.
    Excellent work, Toby, good luck to you and all gaffers ahead of Game Week 18. More

  • in

    Joao Felix’s starting Dream Team price revealed – is he the man to solve Chelsea’s problems?

    TODD BOEHLY hasn’t been slow to open his chequebook since becoming co-owner of Chelsea.Having forked out significant fees for the likes of Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulbaly and others, the American businessman has now authorised a £9million outlay to acquire Joao Felix’s services for just five months.
    The Blues’ confirmed the arrival of the Portugal international on loan from Atletico Madrid yesterday and Dream Team gaffers can now recruit him for £4million if they so desire.
    Felix’s natural talent is undeniable but the move has prompted those who were already sceptical of Boehly’s transfer strategy to double their concerns.
    New blueCredit: getty
    At present, it’s a dysfunctional midfield and the absence of a sharp No9 that seem to be hindering Graham Potter’s side.
    Felix, while an exciting addition, doesn’t really address either of those problems.
    The 23-year-old plays best as a second striker where he can work off a dynamic No9 and exhibit his playmaking as well as his eye for goal.
    This was evidenced recently on the grandest stage of them when he was one of Portugal’s better players in Qatar, particularly when he combined with Goncalo Ramos.
    With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looking lethargic, Chelsea don’t have a specialist in-form striker for Felix to bounce off from the get-go.
    In fact, the Portuguese forward likes to operate in the same areas as those preferred by Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic – granted the latter pair are nursing injuries but the point is Felix is not somebody who can come in and plug a hole.
    Most read in Dream Team
    While we’re on the subject, it’s worth noting that Christopher Nkunku, bound for Stamford Bridge in the summer, is also more of a second striker than an out-and-out front man.
    Of course, the nature of Felix’s profile and role is a separate conversation to one regarding his potential to have a positive impact.
    If he comes in and proves to be more inventive and creative than his positional arrivals then he will surely improve the Blues’ performances.
    Felix played well in Qatar before Portugal’s surprise defeat to Morocco
    Truth be told, Felix’s play style jars with Diego Simeone’s approach and four years on from his big-money transfer from Benfica it’s probably fair to say that Atletico has been a bad fit for him – half his La Liga appearances this term have come as a substitute.
    He’s a forward who values freedom, expressionism and unpredictability while Atleti’s grizzled coach believes in hard work, identifiable structures, and plenty of dark arts.
    Simeone’s approach has been justified many times over – he delivered a league title as recently as 2020/21 – but there can’t have been many attack-minded players who have enjoyed their football under his watch and there’s a sense that Felix hasn’t been utilised to his full potential..
    In theory, Potter’s tactics should be more compatible with how the youngster sees the game, at least those we saw during his Brighton tenure.
    The English tactician hasn’t yet implemented the same easy-on-the-eye approach in west London but he’s surely working towards a more aesthetic brand of possession – Felix will try unlock defences and won’t settle for many slow sideways passes.
    Felix trained with Chelsea for the first time on WednesdayCredit: getty
    Still, the Stamford Bridge faithful should be aware that their new recruit operates in the space between their two problem areas, though that’s not to say he’s an unnecessary luxury.
    It will be interesting to see how Potter uses Felix, with Sterling sidelined it may be that the youngster is deployed from the left wing though he is not inclined to provide constant width.
    Read More on The Sun
    Or Felix may be thrust straight in as a centre-forward, a role he’s occupied plenty of times in the past, but he’s not a traditional penalty box poacher so Chelsea may run into similar issues they’ve experienced when Havertz has led the line.
    Either way, Dream Team bosses would probably be wise to wait and see how Felix is integrated before making a decision but he’s one to monitor at the very least. More

  • in

    Your football knowledge could win you a share of £25,000+ with Dream Team Survivor

    FOR some fans, it’s been a not-so-happy start to the new year – specifically those who follow Everton – but that could all change thanks to Dream Team Survivor.You have the chance to win a share of £25,000+ in our first Survivor game of 2023 that starts this Saturday (January 14th) at 3pm.
    For those who haven’t played Survivor before, it’s really very simple:
    – Pick a different Premier League team to win each week
    – If that team wins, you survive
    – If they lose or draw, you are out!
    – You can only pick each team once
    The best bit? You’re guaranteed a cash prize if you make just four correct picks, so enter now to get your name in the frame! 

    CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM SURVIVOR – YOU COULD WIN A SHARE OF £25,000+

    Play now!Credit: dream team
    To help you get to the promised land of round five, we’ve enlisted the help of one of our tipsters, Incognito Pro.
    Most read in Dream Team
    Here are his recommended picks for each round:
    Round 1 pick: Newcastle (vs Fulham)
    Newcastle are undefeated at home and have let in just five goals all season at St James Park.
    Round 2 pick: Man City (vs Wolves)
    A certain Norwegian frontman has almost double the number of goals than Wolves’ entire team!
    Round 3 pick: Man United (vs Crystal Palace)
    The Red Devils have the best home defensive record in the league, Palace have the fourth-worst xG (expected goals) away.
    Round 4 pick: Arsenal (vs Brentford)
    The Bees are considerably worse on the road while the Gunners’ confidence is sky high.
    That’s all you’d need to guarantee yourself a cash prize but the game doesn’t stop at Round 5 and you’ll need to keep going to outlast if you want to claim the jackpot.
    And we’ve got some more tricks and tools to help you do that…
    Tipsters
    Incognito Pro will be on hand every round with his pick to win, one potential pick, and a team to avoid.
    He’ll be joined by two other tipping titans, The Mailman and The Teacher, who will be sharing their nuggets of wisdom at every turn.
    Will you trust a tipster, or – in the words of Fleetwood Mac – go your own way?
    The Predictor
    Our Predictor engine has been known to predict a whopping 70% of fixtures correctly in some gameweeks, so it’s worth giving it a glance prior to making your picks.
    Here’s how it works:

    Finally, and just before you take on the masses, here’s why the thousands that have already played love our games:

    WIN BIG Players actually win in our games! We’ve handed out over £1 million in cash and the Prize Pool for our new game is £25k+ and growing!
    EASY TO PLAY In Survivor, just pick one team to win each week – simple!
    BEAT THE REST Join (and beat!) a community of thousands already enjoying Survivor. Our new Survivor game already has 2000+ entries, with each one swelling the Prize Pool.
    BUY BACK Lose in week 1? No bother, because you can Buy Back in for week 2*. And with up to 3 entries available you’ll always be in the action!
    SHOW OFF Who doesn’t love flexing their football knowledge? Laugh at your mates as they crumble when Bournemouth cause a shock, all while you avoid the chaos.

    *Buy Back only available in week 2.
    Good Luck!

    CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM SURVIVOR – YOU COULD WIN A SHARE OF £25,000+

    ****************************
    You can register for Dream Team Games Survivor here.
    Entries for Survivor Game 4 close on Saturday 14 January at 3pm.
    Read More on The Sun
    Competition rules and terms & conditions apply. Read more here.
    18+ | Please Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org More

  • in

    Marcus Rashford has produced twice as many points as Erling Haaland since the restart

    HAVING looked totally bereft of confidence for almost the entirety of last season, Marcus Rashford (£5.1m) has rediscovered his best form with aplomb this campaign.In 2021/22, Manchester United’s No10 mustered just five goals in all competitions and a measly 38 Dream Team points.
    This term, he’s already on 15 club goals and 143 Dream Team points.
    Rashford is the third-best forward in Dream TeamCredit: getty
    Game Week 17 was Rashford’s best of 2022/23 so far as he took Everton and Charlton for a combined 28 points.
    He scored one and assisted another as the Red Devils swept aside the Toffees in the FA Cup third round on Friday night, claiming the Star Man award in the process, before he came off the bench to seal his side’s win over the Addicks in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with a late brace on Tuesday night.
    The 25-year-old has scored in six consecutive games since the resumption of the domestic season following the World Cup in Qatar.
    In fact, he’s scored seven goals and provided two assists in his last 426 minutes of action.
    Since the restart, Rashford has plundered a mighty 61 Dream Team points, more than double that of Erling Haaland (£9m) in the same time frame.
    Man of the moment
    Manchester City’s prolific No9 has scored four goals in five outings since for a return of 30 points, a great effort, but it just goes to show how rampant Rashford has been over the festive period and into the new year.
    There are plenty of enticing options up front for Dream Team gaffers to shuffle between right now.
    Most read in Dream Team
    Haaland remains a mainstay while Harry Kane (£7.4m) continues on his merry way but Arsenal pair Gabriel Martinelli (£3.5m) and Eddie Nketiah (£2.6m) offer incredible value for money.
    In-form goalscorers Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.4m) and Rodrigo (£3.8m) are more than viable too, but despite this stiff competition, Rashford has quickly become a must-have asset.
    The remainder January brings two tough tests for Man United in the form of neighbours Man City and league leaders Arsenal (plus two more favourable match-ups against Crystal Palace and Reading) but the England international is too hot to ignore, whatever the schedule.
    Rashford appears in 25% of teams
    Erik ten Hag’s side have won eight games in a row in all competitions and have rallied to the point where they will feel confident of competing against the Premier League’s current top two – they beat the Gunners in September but were comprehensively outplayed in the last Manchester derby.
    Both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will be wary of Rashford’s threat but whether they can nullify him is another matter entirely.
    Dream Team bosses should be asking themselves if they can afford to go without Old Trafford’s homegrown hero – three quarters of gaffers are missing out at the time of writing. More

  • in

    Newcastle players dominate list of assets who have increased in price the most since Game Week 1

    SOMETIMES it’s beneficial to view Dream Team as a stock market.Gaffers who buy low and sell high are eventually able to afford to an XI worth well over the initial £50million limit.
    Player price changes are determined by an algorithm that measures total points against current price. If an asset is deemed to be under-performing against expectations then their price will drop.
    But if a player punches above their weight then they become more costly.
    With that in mind, let’s take a look at which players have increased in value the most since the start of the season.
    Sven Botman £2.5m to £4.3m (+£1.8m)
    Botman has proved to be a smart signing
    There are a number of factors that have contributed to Newcastle conceding the fewest Premier League goals so far this season, not least the addition of a highly-rated 6ft 4in centre-back.
    Botman played a huge role in Lille’s title triumph in 2020/21 (it takes something special to stop PSG winning Ligue 1 these days) and the Magpies edged out several other wealthy suitors to sign the Dutchman last summer.
    The 22-year-old has bedded in seamlessly at St James’ Park and has formed a physically imposing partnership with Fabian Schar at the heart of defence.
    Clean sheets are a regularly occurrence and with 78 points to his name, Botman is the ninth-best defender Dream Team has to offer right now.
    Most read in Dream Team
    His starting price of £2.5m looks very generous with the power of hindsight.
    Miguel Almiron £1.5m to £3.3m (+£1.8m)
    A turn up for the booksCredit: getty
    Anyone who says they predicted the Paraguayan’s uplift this season is a liar.
    A hardworking, likeable player, it’s fair to say that frustrations in the final third undermined his first three and a half seasons at Newcastle.
    Between 2018/19 and 2021/22 he mustered nine league goals in total – a desperately underwhelming return for a player in his position, hence his lowly starting price this term.
    But something has clicked for Almiron in 2022/23 (perhaps it was Jack Grealish’s throwaway taunt that turned the tide) and he’s scored nine goals in 18 league outings.
    Only five Premier League players have scored more at this stage.
    No wonder his price has more than doubled!
    Rodrigo £2m to £3.8m (+£1.8m)
    Rodrigo has unlocked another level this seasonCredit: getty
    Expectations were high when Leeds broke their transfer record to sign Spain’s first-choice No9 from Valencia in 2020.
    While the technically-sound forward showed flashes of ability in his first two seasons with the Whites, it’s only this campaign that fans are seeing an extended period of quality in front of goal.
    Rodrigo has scored 11 goals in all competitions already this term and is one of just five players in double figures in the Premier League.
    Having previously played as more of a second striker, he’s done a great job leading the line during Patrick Bamford’s injury troubles.
    With 79 points, the 31-year-old is among Dream Team’s top ten forwards at this juncture.
    Aleksandar Mitrovic £3.5m to £5.3m (+£1.9m)
    Who said he couldn’t do it in the Premier League?
    It’s rare that a newly promoted player is assigned a starting price as high as £3.5m in Dream Team but we felt the Serbian target man’s record-breaking Championship campaign (in which he scored 43 goals) deserved recognition.
    As it turns out, Fulham’s No9 warranted an even higher starting price as he’s increased by almost £2m since Game Week 1.
    Dominant in the air and a nightmare for centre-backs to contain, Mitrovic has proved his doubters wrong with 11 goals in just 15 top flight appearances this season.
    He’s actually averaging more points-per-game (6.3) than Harry Kane, Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Salah.
    Erling Haaland £7m to £9m (+£2m)
    Changing the game
    Generally, players to have forced the greatest price increases are those who previously struggled but have unlocked another level in recent months (Almiron, Rodrigo, etc).
    This example is something else entirely.
    When Man City confirmed the signing of the prolific Norwegian, we anticipated him to hit the ground running and so we slapped a £7million price tag on him from the off, instantly making him one of the most-expensive players in the game.
    What we didn’t expect was for Haaland to make a mockery of the English game by scoring 21 goals in his first 16 Premier League appearances.
    Add in a further six goals in other competitions and it’s no wonder the intimidating No9 boasts a ridiculous points tally of 220 points.
    Dream Team bosses aren’t accustomed to a player costing £9million but Haaland has redefined the boundaries of the game with his relentless hunger for goals.
    Nick Pope £2.5m to £4.6m (+£2.1m)
    Pope has kept ten clean sheets in the league already this term
    Having been relegated with Burnley, the England international started at a very reasonable £2.5m upon his switch to St James’ Park.
    By far the best option in his price range, Pope was a popular man prior to Game Week 1 and those gaffers who have backed him from the get-go could not have been rewarded with more returns in their wildest dreams.
    The Toon’s custodian has 96 points to his name, 17 more than the next-best goalkeeper.
    Clean sheets have been his bread and butter but he’s also earned four Star Man awards with some excellent shot-stopping rearguards.
    One of the standout performers of the Dream Team season so far.
    Fabian Schar £2m to £4.2m (+£2.2m)
    The Newcastle defenders keep on coming…Credit: getty
    Yet another defensive asset from Eddie Howe’s thriving squad.
    The Switzerland international made his statement with an 18-point haul in Game Week 1 following his long-distance wonderstrike against Nottingham Forest and he’s continued to punch above his weight ever since.
    Most fans expected Newcastle to be an improved force this term but few would have tipped them for Champions League qualification, which they’re certainly in contention for at the halfway mark.
    Currently the third-best defender in Dream Team (95 points), Schar simply has to be considered one of the smartest bargain picks by the tiny minority who backed him from the off.
    Kieran Trippier £3m to £6m (+£3m)
    Best of the lotCredit: getty
    Fittingly, we finish with the crowning jewel of Newcastle’s defence and a man who has taken Dream Team by storm since his return to the game.
    The reason Trippier has doubled in price from £3m to £6m is that not only has he benefited from his side’s miserly defensive effort, he’s earned 17 7+ ratings and six Star Man awards because of his contributions in attack.
    Five assists in all competitions, while impressive, doesn’t do justice to the volume of chances he’s created.
    Read More on The Sun
    An unerringly consistent performer, he’s amassed 147 points to date, a whopping 46 more than Joao Cancelo, the games’ second-best defender at this stage.
    And Trippier has achieved this total without European fixtures to bolster to his schedule! More

  • in

    In-form Rodrigo possibly worth a Dream Team punt given Leeds’ favourable fixtures

    ANY Dream Team manager worth their salt should be able to distinguish between any given player’s form and the fortunes of the club they represent.While it’s true that individuals contracted to the top clubs tend to produce more points over the course of a season, only a fool would disregard all assets in the bottom half of the Premier League entirely.
    Take Rodrigo (£3.8m) for example.
    Goals have flowed freely for Rodrigo this seasonCredit: getty
    Jesse Marsch has had about as much luck solving Leeds’ defensive problems as Marcelo Bielsa did during his final weeks in Yorkshire.
    However, the American head coach has unquestionably got the best out of the Whites’ second-most expensive signing, as evidenced by the Dream Team rankings.
    In his first two seasons at Elland Road, Rodrigo mustered 13 goals in all competitions from 62 appearances.
    This campaign, he’s scored 11 goals in 18 outings.
    In Dream Team money, he’s got 79 points which is currently enough to grant him a place among the top ten assets in his position.
    One of the reasons for this uplift is that he has generally been deployed as a genuine striker this term where before he was utilised as a No10, particularly under El Loco.
    But the role change alone does not account for such a dramatic improvement in attacking output.
    Most read in Dream Team
    Leeds are leaky at the back but they average 1.5 goals per game themselvesCredit: getty
    Marsch quickly decided to install the Spain international as a dressing room leader upon his appointment following Bielsa’s exit and the show of faith has likely been a contributing factor to Rodrigo’s increased confidence in front of goal.
    Where before he tended to snatch at chances, he now hits the target more regularly while still striking the ball with plenty of power.
    The ex-Valencia forward’s form was so poor during the final days of the old regime that it would have been understandable had Marsch decided to make him a periphery figure or push for a sale.
    The Red Bull Salzburg tactician still has much to work on if he’s to last on these shores but he can count the rise of Rodrigo as one of his big wins.
    Dream Team bosses shouldn’t touch Leeds defenders with a barge pole but they would do well to consider Rodrigo’s viability at the very least.
    After coming off the bench to score against Cardiff in the FA Cup on Sunday, the 31-year-old has registered 25 points in his last five appearances – a run that includes fixtures against Spurs, Man City and Newcastle.
    The less said about his penalty miss in Wales the better.
    The Spaniard will feel confident on adding to his tally given his upcoming fixturesCredit: getty
    Looking forward, there could be more points to come as Leeds have a relatively favourable run until the end of February.
    They take on Aston Villa this Friday before hosting Cardiff in a FA Cup replay, making Game Week 18 a double.
    Rodrigo then faces Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Everton and Southampton before the start of March.
    The Red Devils aside, that’s a tempting string of fixtures – three of those teams are currently below Leeds in the table.
    Erling Haaland (£9m), Harry Kane (£7.4m), Ivan Toney (£5.3m) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.4m) are the only players to have scored more Premier League goals than Rodrigo’s ten in 2022/23.
    Read More on The Sun
    And at the time of writing he appears in just 1.8% of teams, meaning it’s unlikely your mini-league rivals are backing him.
    Those searching for some short-term gains that may escape the attention of their mates would do well to consider taking a punt on Rodrigo during his favourable run of fixtures. More

  • in

    7 players have 100+ Dream Team points at this stage of the season… and one has over 200

    THE 100 Club™ remains an exclusive clique at this stage of the season.Just seven players have celebrated a century of Dream Team points and only one of the septet has doubled it up since.
    Let’s take a closer look at each of 2022/23’s centurions before highlighting which assets are next in line to reach three figures.
    Ivan Toney (£5.3m)
    Brentford’s top scorer is rubbing shoulders with the top clubs’ biggest namesCredit: getty

    Forward
    111 points
    7.3% ownership

    With 12 goals to his name, Brentford’s No17 is the Premier League’s third-top scorer this term.
    Faultless from the penalty spot and a nightmare for centre-backs to contend with over 90 minutes, Toney averages 6.2 points-per-game and is living proof that not all Dream Team assets need European fixtures to consistently hover near the top of the rankings.
    However, the 26-year-old’s current viability is threatened by off-field issues and, more pressingly, an injury setback.
    Plenty of gaffers will be using one of their five January transfers to find a replacement before Game Week 17 gets underway.
    Marcus Rashford (£5.1m)
    Most read in Dream Team

    Forward
    115 points
    20.3% ownership

    Back in the zone
    Man United’s boy wonder has recaptured his best form in recent months and is flourishing under Erik ten Hag’s stewardship.
    Rashford has 12 goals and four assists in all competitions for the Red Devils already this season.
    Last term he mustered a pitiful 38 points in total so for him to be beyond a century at the midpoint of 2022/23 represents a massive uplift – no wonder he’s back in the good books of gaffers everywhere.
    Kevin De Bruyne (£7.8m)

    Midfielder
    128 points
    47.6% ownership

    There’s a good reason the Belgian playmaker appears in almost half of all teams.
    With nine league assists he’s in a bracket of his own among Premier League creators (nobody else has more than six) and he’s provided a further five in other competitions as well.
    Add in three goals, frequent Star Man awards and a host of 7+ ratings and it’s no wonder De Bruyne is the only midfielder in the 100 Club™ at the time of writing.
    Harry Kane (£7.4m)
    A reliable performerCredit: getty

    Forward
    129 points
    30.1% ownership

    Another proven performer here and one who is succeeding individually despite some stodgy team performances from Spurs.
    Under normal circumstances his tally of 15 goals from 18 league games would put him in pole position to win the Golden Boot but he’s got stiff competition in that department this season, more on that later…
    Mohamed Salah (£8.8m)

    Forward
    141 points
    34.7% ownership

    The prolific Egyptian has impressed most in the Champions League this term with seven goals in just 444 minutes of playing time.
    Add in seven goals (and four assists) in the league plus another in the Carabao Cup and it’s already another fruitful campaign for the man who has earned more Dream Team points than anyone else since he signed for Liverpool.
    The Reds have issues to solve if they’re to compete for trophies but Dream Team bosses would be wise to focus on Salah’s individual returns – he banked a 20-point haul as recently as Game Week 15.
    Always there or thereaboutsCredit: getty
    Kieran Trippier (£6m)

    Defender
    148 points
    47.7% ownership

    Newcastle’s vice captain is the second-best player overall and the only defender on this list.
    Our ratings providers WhoScored reckon Trippier has been the Premier League’s next-best player after you know who so far – he has an average rating of 7.7!
    Leader of the league’s best defence and a chance-creating machine, the England international has been an utter revelation and he looks nailed on for a double century so long as he avoids injury setbacks.
    Erling Haaland (£9m)

    Forward
    220 points
    74.2% ownership

    Here he is, the free-scoring elephant in the room.
    Man City’s No9 is averaging 10.5 points-per-game this season, a frankly ludicrous statistic, and the Premier League Golden Boot is probably already on his mantelpiece – he’s on 21 league goals for crying out loud.
    Haaland pocketed 51 points in Game Week 4 at the expense of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest but his biggest single-game haul came against Man United when he earned 32 points in one fell swoop.
    Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time season record of 477 points is under threat – at the very least the Norwegian looks set to become only the second-ever quadruple centurion.
    Records are tumblingCredit: getty
    Which players are close to 100 points?
    Joao Cancelo (£6.5m) needs just three more points but the Portuguese full-back’s form has dipped in recent weeks and he’s been used sparingly be Pep Guardiola since returning from the World Cup.
    Just one more clear sheet should do the job for Nick Pope (£4.6m).
    Newcastle boast the best defensive record in the league this term and the England international has an impressive 96 points as a result – no other goalkeeper is particularly close to three figures.
    Read More on The Sun
    It’s a similar story for Fabian Schar (£4.2m), who is one point behind his team-mate.
    Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.4m), Martin Odegaard (£3.4m), Bukayo Saka (£4.3m) and Gabriel (£4.2m) are the other assets in the nervous nineties at this stage. More