Dream Team

ALL 20 Premier League clubs will be in action TWICE in double Gameweek 25!As a result, Dream Team managers are spoiled for choice when deciding upon their transfers before Friday’s 6:30pm deadline.Cole Palmer faces Aston Villa and Southampton in Gameweek 25Credit: GettyBefore we rattle off some specific transfer recommendations, a quick word for top-tier midfielders Cole Palmer (£5.9m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m).We wouldn’t usually insult your intelligence by including such obvious players in our transfer recommendations but the pair are worth a mention as they remain strong selections despite Chelsea and Manchester United’s faltering form.Jean-Philippe Mateta (£4.4m)A man in formCredit: ReutersThe beautiful thing about a full double Gameweek is that it opens up a host of options from clubs that are usually overlooked.Crystal Palace are a great example as they have improved dramatically in the last two months, producing plenty of Dream Team points in the process.The Eagles’ lack of European fixtures would usually be a hindrance but that’s irrelevant in Gameweek 25 and so Mateta has to be considered a strong differential given his form of late.The French forward, who features in just 3.4% of teams, has scored seven goals in his last seven games in a fruitful spell that has yielded 72 points.Palace are due to face Fulham and Aston Villa this coming Gameweek.Daniel Munoz (£5.2m) is a super viable option too as Dream Team’s most in-form defender.Most read in FootballLooking further ahead, Oliver Glasner’s side have an FA Cup fifth round tie with Millwall in Gameweek 26 – they’re one of only three top-flight teams due to face lower-league opposition.Bryan Mbeumo (£4.7m)A popular transfer this weekCredit: GettyYou probably don’t need a second invitation to back Brentford’s talisman.Only the aforementioned Palmer and Fernandes have outscored the Cameroon international among midfielders to this point, a remarkable statistic given the Bees have no European commitments.Not only does Mbeumo have the luxury of a rare double Gameweek, he’ll kick things off against Leicester on Friday night – only Southampton have conceded more league goals than the Foxes in 2024/25.Yoane Wissa (£3m) and Kevin Schade (£3.1m) will also be licking their lips but Mbeumo is surely the most likely man to take advantage at the King Power – he’s scored 14 league goals this term.Kaoru Mitoma (£3.6m)Fresh off a Goal of the Season contenderCredit: GettyLike Mbeumo, Brighton’s No22 will be unleashed upon relegation-bound opposition in the first of his two fixtures this Gameweek.The Seagulls travel to St Mary’s to face a Southampton side still in need of some points to scrape past Derby’s record-low total of 11 from 2007/08.Mitoma has scored four goals in his last six games and will fancy his chances of extending his good form when he meets the top flight’s worst defence on Saturday.Bournemouth will provide a tougher test in midweek.See also: Yankuba Minteh (£2.5m) and Georginio Rutter (£3.2m)Matheus Cunha (£5m)Talent to burnCredit: PAArne Slot recently claimed Wolves’ No10 was good enough to play for any of the Premier League’s top five teams and the Dutchman has a point.Cunha ranks in the top three forwards for big chances created, tackles and bonus points.And that’s just the additional extras he has provided on top of his 17 goal involvements.Without over complicating it, the Brazilian is Dream Team’s most in-form player ahead of Gameweek 25 and that alone makes him a strong option.READ MORE SUN STORIESGranted, a double header against Bournemouth and Fulham is a tricky proposition this season but Cunha took 12 points off Liverpool last time out, proof he has the ability to cash in against any opponent.Amazingly, the 25-year-old appears in just 3.4% of teams at the time of writing.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 NOW More

MANCHESTER CITY v Liverpool headlines Matchweek 23 but Score Predictor users have four other fixtures to decipher before Sunday’s main event.Once again, we’re putting up £250 as the weekly prize for our free-to-play game that takes just seconds to enter. Play now!Credit: Dream TeamSimply enter your predictions for the five selected Premier League games and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the action unfolds.If you amass the most points then you’ll claim the cash prize!Allow us to present some key stats and facts for each relevant fixture to help inform your decisions…Arsenal v West HamThe Hammers won at the Emirates last season but the likelihood of a repeat this time around is slim to none.The Gunners haven’t lost in the league since November 2nd and their last two meetings with West Ham (at the London Stadium) yielded emphatic wins: 6-0 and 5-2.Even accounting for injured absentees in the forward line, Mikel Arteta’s side should have enough to overpower Graham Potter’s troops, who have lost to Chelsea and Brentford this month.Arsenal are the only top-flight team yet to taste defeat on home soil this campaign.Our Prediction: 2-0 to ArsenalMost read in FootballEthan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino stepped up for Arsenal at Leicester last weekendCredit: GettyIpswich v TottenhamThe Tractors Boys’ 2-1 victory in North London back in November is arguably the high point of their entire season.However, Kieran McKenna’s boys look increasingly resigned to relegation having mustered just 17 points from 25 games to date.Only Southampton have allowed their opponents more xG than Ipswich this term.As for Spurs, this month’s low-scoring wins and clean sheets against Brentford and Manchester United were uncharacteristic of the Ange Postecoglou era but warmly received by fans.Their injury list isn’t as lengthy as it was a fortnight ago and while there’s still plenty of room for improvement, Saturday’s trip to Portman Road represents a golden chance to register three consecutive league wins for the first time in 2024/25.Ipswich average just nine shots per 90 minutes this season, the lowest rate in the league.Our Prediction: 2-1 to SpursMaddison scored the game’s only goal when Spurs beat Man United last time outCredit: GettyAston Villa v ChelseaThe Villains have made good progress in the Champions League and FA Cup but Wednesday night’s draw against Liverpool means they’ve now gone five leagues games without a win.In that time they’ve lost to Wolves and drawn to West Ham and Ipswich – three of the current bottom five in the table.It’s a similar story for Cole Palmer and company, who have celebrated just two wins in their last nine league games in a run that stretches back before Christmas.Saturday’s 5:30pm kick-off is very much a meeting of two teams in search of better domestic form.Clean sheets have been few and far between for both sides of late.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawChelsea are heading in the wrong directionCredit: GettyNewcastle v Nottingham ForestLast season’s game at St James’ Park was notable for the fact it featured a Chris Wood hat-trick.And that was before the big New Zealander tapped into the clinical form he’s displayed throughout the current campaign.Defeat to Fulham last time out brought Nuno Espirito Santo’s side back down to Earth after their 7-0 triumph over Brighton but Forest are still very much in Dreamland, nestled between Arsenal and Manchester City in third.The Magpies are making waves in the domestic cups this season but defeat at the Etihad last weekend was their third loss in their last four league fixtures.Newcastle away is usually a daunting prospect but only Liverpool and Arsenal have earned more points than Forest on the road this season.A tough one to call.Our Prediction: 1-1 drawWood returned to haunt his old club upon his last visit to St James’ ParkCredit: PAManchester City v LiverpoolThis match-up has produced some of the most entertaining games of the modern era but rarely have Pep Guardiola’s side looked as vulnerable as they do at present.City produced a meek display in Madrid on Wednesday night and were soundly beaten by Arsenal at the start of the month, an indication that they are not equipped to resist top teams at this moment in time.Arne Slot’s side may have dropped points to Everton and Villa – not forgetting a shock elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Plymouth – but they remain clear favourites to lift the Premier League trophy come May.Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the win at Anfield back in early December and in the Egyptian superstar, Sunday’s visitors have a cheat code.Salah is five goals clear of Erling Haaland (an availability doubt for this weekend) and five assists ahead of Antonee Robinson and Bukayo Saka as the outright leader in both metrics.The 32-year-old is on course for his best ever season in terms of pure goal involvements – and that’s a high bar to clear.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 3-1 to LiverpoolVirtually unstoppableCredit: ReutersProve you know better by entering your predictions for Matchweek 23 now!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 NOW More

COLE PALMER (£5.9m) is the second-most popular player in Dream Team right now.Only Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) currently appears in more teams than Chelsea’s talisman, who is experiencing a popularity spike this week despite the Blues’ faltering form.Palmer features in 55.8% of teamsCredit: Dream TeamEnzo Maresca’s side find themselves in the bottom half of the form table having won just two of their last nine games in the Premier League.Despite this downturn in form, Palmer’s ownership is increasing ahead of double Gameweek 25, when he will take on Aston Villa and Southampton.Having not been included in Chelsea’s initial Conference League squad and frequently rested in the domestic cups, the England international has pulled double duty just twice in 2024/25 to date.In Gameweek 16, he notched 19 points across outings versus Everton and Fulham.And in Gameweek 13, he produced a combined haul of 28 points against the Villains and Saints – the exact reverse fixtures of those coming up in Gameweek 25.Palmer can’t do it all on his own at ChelseaCredit: PANot only is Palmer set for a rare double header, his recent record against said opponents is hugely encouraging.It’s no wonder Dream Team managers are backing him for a sizeable haul this coming Gameweek but there’s no doubt Chelsea’s downturn is a limiting factor to consider.Palmer has averaged 5.4 points-per-game across his last five appearances, way down on his overall season average of 9.5.Most read in FootballThe 22-year-old has provided two assists in that time, not to mention six bonus points, but it’s now over a month since his last goal.Palmer’s record is impressive but his numbers are heading in the wrong directionCredit: ReutersThis is not to say Palmer should be criticised for his tangible output as he has been an absolute superstar in that department ever since his move to Stamford Bridge.He has scored 14 goals and registered nine assists in 26 outings this season – remarkable figures.But recent data suggests that even Palmer has been hindered by the broader issues dogging Chelsea of late.Earlier in the campaign, he dovetailed with Nicolas Jackson (£3.7m) to great effect but the Senegalese striker went off the boil and then picked up an injury.More importantly, Maresca has struggled to replicate the dynamic football that caught the eye in the first half of the campaign.Palmer scored against both Aston Villa ad Southampton back in Gameweek 13Credit: AlamyPalmer owners may have a decision to make in the near future if his returns continue to stagnate but hopes are high for Gameweek 25 – he could feast at home to relegation-bound Southampton next Tuesday.It’s also worth noting that while Chelsea won’t have an FA Cup fifth round fixture in Gameweek 26, the first leg of their Conference League round of 16 tie will be added to Match Centre once the draw has taken place later this week.Palmer did not participate in the league phase due to “load management” but he has been added to the squad for the knockout stage.READ MORE SUN STORIESWith all due to respect to Uefa’s tertiary club competition, the prospect of mismatches against the likes of Heidenheim, Jagiellonia Bialystok and Celje would be hugely appealing to Dream Team gaffers.If only Chelsea would sort themselves out…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 NOW More

MATHEUS CUNHA (£5m) is Dream Team’s Swiss Army Knife; he does it all.The Wolves forward is statistically the most in-form player in the game right now having amassed 41 points in his last three outings.Oozes qualityCredit: Dream TeamThe 25-year-old has scored against Aston Villa, Blackburn and Liverpool in consecutive fixtures but his goal threat is only one aspect of his game.Cunha has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season and ranks fifth for shots on target among assets in his position.Furthermore, he ranks third for bonus points, third for big chances created, and second for tackles among strikers – a gargantuan effort without European fixtures to bolster his schedule.And it’s the fact Cunha offers multiple routes to points that makes him such an appealing Dream Team option ahead of double Gameweek 25.Cunha has reached top form in recent weeksCredit: ReutersWith all 20 Premier League clubs set to play twice, Wolves will not be on the wrong side of a fixture deficit, which is the main reason gaffers have resisted Cunha this season.Vitor Pereira’s side are due to face Bournemouth and Fulham, two of the league’s best-coached sides both pushing for European qualification.While that’s far from a favourable double header, Cunha has proven himself capable of success against tough opposition, as evidenced by his 12-point haul against Liverpool last time out.Arne Slot was first in line to praise the former Atletico Madrid forward, saying: “Matheus Cunha is a quality player and has the quality to play for one of the top five teams in England.”Most read in FootballCunha took 12 points off Liverpool last time outCredit: GettyThe Dream Team Stats Centre paints the Brazil international in a very flattering light.He averages 8.4 points-per-game this season, a rate only bettered by the absolute cream of the crop: Mohamed Salah (£8.3m), Cole Palmer (£5.9m), Bukayo Saka (£6.6m), Erling Haaland (£8.1m).Even accounting for two deceptively difficult opponents, it would be reasonable to expect a healthy double-digit haul from Cunha in Gameweek 25.Hence why he’s currently the fifth-most popular recruit ahead of Friday’s 6:30pm deadline.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 NOW More

MANY Dream Team managers use the fixture list as a guide when making their transfers.It’s simply true that certain teams tend to give up more points than others and there’s no more favourable opponent in the Premier League this season than Southampton.Southampton are destined for relegationCredit: ReutersSaints have mustered just nine points since their promotion to the top flight.They have also scored the fewest league goals (19) and conceded the most (57) with the campaign now two thirds complete.It’s therefore logical that Dream Team bosses in search of plentiful points should always consider which players are most likely to take advantage of Ivan Juric’s beleaguered troops in any given Gameweek.Looking forward to Gameweek 25, Southampton are due to host Brighton at the weekend before travelling to Chelsea three days later.Cole Palmer’s (£5.9m) owners will be expecting big things from that match-up at Stamford Bridge but might there be healthy returns on offer from the Seagulls this coming Gameweek?Mitoma produced a moment of pure magic against ChelseaCredit: APFabian Hurzeler’s side have bounced back from their 7-0 trouncing at the hands of Nottingham Forest with back-to-back wins over Chelsea, first in the FA Cup then in the league.Kaoru Mitoma (£3.6m) scored in both victories over the Blues, his latest strike being a Goal of the Season contender because of a magnificent first touch that brought Bart Verbruggen’s (£2m) long ball forward under control.The Japan international is probably the best option for gaffers tempted by the prospect of backing a Brighton asset against Southampton; he boasts the highest points tally (154) and points-per-game average (5.5) among his team-mates.Most read in FootballHowever, it’s Georginio Rutter (£3.2m) who leads the way for goal involvements with seven goals and five assists to his name.The 22-year-old features in just 0.2% of teams at the time of writing and has to be considered an appealing ultra differential ahead of Gameweek 25.Rutter has added another dimension to Brighton’s attackCredit: ReutersAlternatively, Yankuba Minteh (£2.5m) has tapped into some fine form of late.The former Newcastle winger banked 19 points via a brace on Friday night – only Manchester City’s hat-trick hero Omar Marmoush (£4.4m) has earned more points in Gameweek 24 as it stands.More broadly, Minteh has gained 45 points across five outings since the start of Gameweek 20.All evidence suggests he is perfectly capable of bagging a double-digit haul at St Mary’s this coming Saturday.Minteh took Chelsea for 19 points on Friday nightCredit: GettyBrighton’s second fixture in double Gameweek 25 is a home game against high-flying Bournemouth, a tough test at this point in time.However, the Seagulls did beat the Cherries in the reverse fixture back in November and, besides, their midweek commitment could be seen as something of a free hit if Mitoma and company milk Southampton for plentiful returns at the weekend.Gaffers really are spoiled for choice in Gameweek 25!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 NOW More

DREAM TEAM managers are spoiled for choice this week.Gameweek 24 is not done yet with Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa in action on Wednesday night but thoughts have already turned to double Gameweek 25, when all 20 Premier League clubs will have two fixtures to fulfil.Mbeumo will be unleashed upon Leicester and Everton in Gameweek 25Credit: Dream TeamThis opens up all manner of options as players previously limited to one point-scoring opportunity per Gameweek will have two chances to strut their stuff.One individual who is already attracting plenty of new admirers is Bryan Mbeumo (£4.7m).Brentford’s talisman is currently the second-most popular recruit ahead of Friday’s 6:30pm deadline ahead of his double header against Leicester and Everton.The Toffees have improved immeasurably since David Moyes’ return having won four of their last five league games.While the Bees may have a fight on their hands when Everton visit West London, their Friday night trip to the King Power represents one of the most favourable fixtures on offer in the top flight this season.Leicester are seemingly destined for relegationCredit: PARuud van Nistelrooy’s side are languishing in 19th having lost nine of their last ten league games, conceding 25 goals in the process.Thomas Frank will expect his troops, who have scored more goals than the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Aston Villa this campaign, to capitalise on the Foxes’ vulnerable defence.And the stats suggest Mbeumo is the man most likely to take advantage.Most read in FootballThe Cameroon international has scored 14 goals and provided four assists in all competitions this term.Mohamed Salah (£8.3m), Erling Haaland (£8.1m), Chris Wood (£4.1m) and Alexander Isak (£6.3m) are the only players ahead of Mbeumo in the Premier League Golden Boot race.Crucially, those four rivals are all strikers whereas Brentford’s No19 is categorised as a midfielder in Dream Team.Mbeumo ranks third among Dream Team midfieldersCredit: RexMbeumo has racked up 228 points this season at an average of 7.9 per appearance – a rate only bettered by Cole Palmer (£5.9m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.6m) among assets in his position.While only Chelsea’s main man and Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) have amassed a higher points total at this stage – a phenomenal effort given Mbeumo’s schedule has not featured European fixtures.Even accounting for a potentially tricky meeting with a resurgent Everton, it would be reasonable to expect a juicy double-digit haul in Gameweek 25.Yoane Wissa (£3m), Mikkel Damsgaard (£3.8m) and Kevin Schade (£3.1m) are all viable options but Mbeumo’s record makes him the optimum selection for gaffers keen on a Brentford player at this juncture.Dream Team bosses should be aware that such a move would be a short-term ploy as Brentford do not have a fixture scheduled for Gameweek 26, when focus will switch to the FA Cup fifth round.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 NOW More

ETHAN NWANERI (£1.9m) rose to the occasion for Arsenal on Saturday.Mikel Merino (£3.3m) scored a brace off the bench and deserves plenty of credit for his effective showing as emergency striker but it was the Gunners’ 17 year-old starlet who inspired the visitors to victory over Leicester at the King Power.Nwaneri banked 14 points at LeicesterCredit: Dream TeamIn the absence of Bukayo Saka (£6.6m), Gabriel Martinelli (£4.1m), Gabriel Jesus (£3.7m) and Kai Havertz (£4.7m), Mikel Arteta named a front three of Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling (£1.7m) and Leandro Trossard (£3.9m).While the experienced 30-year-olds failed to provide much threat, the promising teenager dragged his side along with flashes of individual brilliance.However, after Nwaneri hit the woodwork twice, it seemed as if Arsenal were going to drop points against relegation-threatened opponents, something that may have all but ended their title challenge.But the Hale End graduate did not relent and it was his picture-perfect cross that presented Merino with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 81st minute – the Spain international obliged with a close-range header to keep spirits high in North London.Merino and Nwaneri delivered for ArsenalCredit: GettyAn assist was the least Nwaneri deserved and, thanks to Dream Team’s bonus point system, he was duly rewarded for his talismanic performance.When all was said and done he banked 14 points in total, including the maximum of FIVE bonus points – a relatively rare feat.ETHAN NWANERI’S PLAYER PERFORMANCE MARKS AGAINST LEICESTER (5 BONUS POINTS):91% pass completion rate (+3)7 successful dribbles (+7)3 successful crosses (+3)1 interception (+1)1 foul won (+1)Most read in FootballLast week, we published an article detailing Nwaneri’s potential and Dream Team managers who took a punt on the youngster were handsomely rewarded.Looking ahead to Gameweek 25, he will surely start against both West Ham and Nottingham Forest and must therefore be considered a savvy option, especially at the low, low price of £1.9m.Arteta must rely on Nwaneri while other attackers are sidelinedCredit: EPAThe Hammers are languishing in 16th and while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are pushing for Champions League qualification, they did lose 3-0 to Arsenal back in November.And who scored the hosts’ third goal at the Emirates that day? Yep, Nwaneri.Despite a surge in popularity over the weekend, he currently features in 2.2% of teams at the time of writing.At the very least he’s worthy of due consideration.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 NOW More

ANY Dream Team managers unfamiliar with Omar Marmoush (£4.4m) now understand why Manchester City forked out just shy of £60million for his services in January.The Egypt international scored a sensational hat-trick in the space of 14 minutes against Newcastle on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side recorded one of their most impressive wins of the season.Statement madeCredit: Dream TeamMarmoush exhibited a range of finishes in a destructive first-half blitz against in-form opposition.The Magpies had won 12 of their last 14 games in all competitions prior to their 4-0 defeat at the Etihad.The ex-Frankfurt forward was substituted midway through the second half but the damage had already been done by that stage as the earned 26 points in one fell swoop.Marmoush’s hat-trick is clearly the headline but it shouldn’t go unnoticed that he also notched three bonus points for his efforts in other aspects of the game.For much of the campaign, Man City have been overly reliant on Erling Haaland (£8.1m) to score the goals and so fans will be thrilled that one of their new recruits has proven himself capable of clinical finishes.Marmoush is Gameweek 24’s top performer right nowCredit: PAAs is often the case, a sizeable chunk of Dream Team bosses have been enamoured by a hat-trick hero.The deadline is still a few days away but Marmoush is by far and away the most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 25 at this stage after a tidal wave of transfers over the weekend.Man City will be in action again before the deadline as they’re due to face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday night.Most read in FootballNeedless to say, if Marmoush picks up an injury in the Spanish capital then many gaffers will be reversing their transfers and switching to Plan B.More broadly, the result in Madrid will impact the viability of all Man City players going forward as they will be without European fixtures for the remainder of the season if they are unable to overturn their 3-2 loss from the first leg.Marmoush appears in 3.5% of teamsCredit: GettyDouble Gameweek 25 will feature 20 fixtures in total with every Premier League side set to play twice.This opens up all manner of options for Dream Team managers.Marmoush’s hat-trick makes him an appealing differential as he currently features in just 3.5% of teams but City’s double header is far from favourable.The defending champions welcome Liverpool to the Etihad next Sunday before a trip to Tottenham the following Wednesday.Ange Postecoglou’s side have underwhelmed this season and victory over Manchester United has only lifted them up to 12th in the table but Spurs have long been a bogey team for Guardiola.James Maddison inspired his side to a 4-0 win in Manchester back in November.READ MORE SUN STORIESMan City host Liverpool next SundayCredit: RexAll things considered, Liverpool and Spurs represents a tough challenge for City in Gameweek 25.It’s not inconceivable that Marmoush will provide plentiful returns but gaffers who take a fixture-first approach will be reluctant to recruit the 26-year-old at this point in time.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 NOW More