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    Captaincy options for Gameweek 3: Will any brave gaffers take on Erling Haaland?

    THE captaincy debate is an open-and-shut case for many Dream Team managers ahead of Gameweek 3.Erling Haaland (£8.5m) is the default selection and given the prolific poacher bagged a hat-trick against Ipswich last time out, there’s seemingly no need to deviate from the norm.InevitableCredit: Dream TeamManchester City travel to West Ham on Saturday with Haaland hoping to extend his record of three goals in two visits to the London Stadium.However, it’s worth noting that the Norwegian striker did not top score in Gameweek 2 – that accolade went to Noni Madueke (£3m) after his hat-trick at Wolves.Although selecting the Chelsea winger as captain would have required superhuman foresight.The point is that it’s worth discussing the alternatives to Haaland, if only as a courtesy. Cole Palmer (£6m)Fancy a cold one?Credit: GettyMadueke grabbed the spotlight at Molineux but Palmer was equally effective with a goal and three assists.The Blues’ talisman pocketed 19 points by the final whistle and he has to be considered a decent captaincy option this weekend.Enzo Maresca’s side are due to host Crystal Palace on Sunday with the Eagles still seeking their first point of the new campaign.Most read in Dream TeamChelsea remain somewhat unpredictable as their emphatic 6-2 win over Wolves was countered by a 2-1 defeat to Servette in the Conference League play-off second leg on Thursday night, though they won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.But Palmer has been one of the most reliably brilliant Dream Team assets for almost a year now.Mohamed Salah (£7.2m)New manager, same resultsCredit: GettyThe much-discussed transition from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot hasn’t bucked the trend of Liverpool’s No11 flying out the blocks at the start of a new season.Salah has notched two goals and an assist in his first two outings for a return of 26 points – only the aforementioned Haaland is above him in the rankings.The Reds travel to Manchester United on Sunday for the first blockbuster match-up of the campaign and while their recent record in this fixture isn’t all that good, Salah has been the scourge of the Red Devils for years.In fact, no visiting player has scored more Premier League goals at Old Trafford.More broadly, the 32-year-old has contributed to 18 goals in his last 11 appearances against Man United.Bryan Mbeumo (£3.8m)An underrated gemCredit: ReutersHere’s a left-field suggestion for gaffers who love to play Dream Team their own way.Brentford’s No19 is an underrated asset and it may surprise some to learn that he averaged a goal or assist every 130.7 minutes in the league last season.He scored against Palace on the opening weekend and will be relishing the prospect of taking on Southampton in West London this Saturday having been limited at Anfield last time out.Saints conceded a whopping 23 shots at home to Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 2.Plus, Mbeumo should be the Bees’ first-choice penalty-taker with Ivan Toney expected to leave the club today.READ MORE SUN STORIESScore 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 NOWFamiliar names such as Bukayo Saka (£6.3m), Son Heung-min (£5m) and Ollie Watkins (£6m) deserve mentions too but, let’s be clear, Haaland is the most-popular choice for a reason.Lock in your captain (and vice-captain) before Saturday’s 11am deadline.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 3: Bargain option Morgan Rogers passes eye test

    GAMEWEEK 2 was a high-scoring affair across the board but Dream Team managers must resist complacency.Gameweek 3 features a full round of Premier League games but gaffers should have one eye on the other side of the international break when the European fixtures will commence, starting with the Champions League in Gameweek 4, not to mention another batch of Carabao Cup match-ups.Swap shopCredit: Dream TeamAs usual, we won’t waste anyone’s time tipping the likes of Erling Haaland (£8.5m), Cole Palmer (£6m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.2m) when putting forward transfer recommendations – such stars don’t require justification.But here are some other suggestions worthy of consideration…Morgan Rogers (£2.5m)The Aston Villa midfielder has mustered just eight points across the first two Gameweeks but those who have watched him in action will know he has deserved more.The 22-year-old caught the eye at home to Arsenal last Saturday as he danced through the league’s best defence on a couple of occasions.Rogers would have registered a well-deserved assist against the Gunners had Ollie Watkins (£5.8m) remembered his shooting boots.Rogers looked lively against ArsenalCredit: GettyThe Villains’ fixtures appear relatively favourable from now until October with European commitments ensuring some juicy double Gameweeks.If Rogers continues to start and get plenty of minutes, he has to be considered one of the best bargain options in the game.Most read in FootballAll he needs is some points to match his lively performances – this weekend’s trip to Leicester would be a good place to start.Noni Madueke (£3m)A hat-trick away at Molineux earns the Chelsea winger a mention ahead of Gameweek 3.In combination with Cole Palmer (£6m), Madueke ripped Wolves apart on the counterattack to bank 26 points by the final whistle – no player posted more points in Gameweek 2.Madueke has been called up for England this weekCredit: GettyEnzo Maresca has an abundance of options but he’s made it clear certain players are surplus to requirements with Madueke now firmly among the viable selections.The 22-year-old also scored against Servette in the first leg of the Blues’ Conference League play-off and has since been called up to the England squad by Lee Carsley – his stock has never been higher!Madueke’s minutes are not guaranteed but four goals in as many days has surely propelled him up the pecking order.This weekend, Chelsea host a Crystal Palace side yet to register a point this season.Gaffers who like to dabble in the Dream Team stock market will realise that Madueke can be recruited now and sold after the deadline for a tidy profit.Andy Robertson (£4.6m)Robertson has raced to 17 pointsCredit: AlamyMany Dream Team bosses will view Liverpool’s left-back as a blindingly obvious recommendation but his current ownership of 4.8% suggests he’s worth highlighting.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) remains the defender of choice – he’s the only player to have created three big chances across the first two Gameweeks – but his quality comes at an eye-watering cost.Robertson is hardly cheap but he ticks a lot of the same boxes at a more affordable price.The Scotland captain bagged ten points at Brentford’s expense last time out via a clean sheet, bonus point and two shots on target.Manchester United away has been a bogey fixture for Liverpool in recent times but their schedule looks relatively friendly beyond the international break.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 NOWAntonee Robinson (£3.1m)We promise this is the last time we suggest Fulham’s left-back for a while.Without wanting to repeat ourselves, the USA international really is a solid selection – only Everton’s Tim Iroegbunam (£1.8m) has made more tackles so far.Robinson provided an assist against Leicester last weekend on his way to a nine-point return.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe’s set to take on Ipswich in Gameweek 3 which has to be considered a favourable match-up for a defender right now – the Tractor Boys have registered the fewest shots in the top flight after two games.Confirm your transfers for Gameweek 3 before Saturday’s 11am deadline!BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Score Predictor tips for Matchweek 3 – play for free and compete for £250 top prize this weekend!

    WE’RE giving away another £250 to the Score Predictor user who earns the most points in Matchweek 3.Remember, you don’t have to get all five scores exactly correct – that only happened once all of last season – you just have to outperform everyone else.It takes just a few seconds to submit your predictions for the five selected Premier League fixtures if you opt for sheer gut instinct – a strategy employed by many of our previous winners.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR FREE AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – £250 UP FOR GRABS!Play Score Predictor now!Credit: Dream TeamFor those who would like some stats and context for each match-up, look no further…Leicester v Aston VillaThe Foxes have mustered one point from their first two outings upon their return to the top flight and their underlying numbers aren’t all that encouraging either.Only Everton and Ipswich have generated fewer expected goals (xG) with the Tractor Boys being the only team to have registered fewer shots.And so we’re inclined to back a comfortable away win under the assumption Ollie Watkins has sharpened his finishing – he squandered two golden chances against Arsenal last weekend.Our Prediction: 2-0 to Aston VillaMost read in FootballWatkins should have buried one of his chances against the Gunners last weekendCredit: ReutersWest Ham v Manchester CityThe Hammers are without a league win against Pep Guardiola’s side in their last 17 meetings and it’s almost a decade since they took three points off City on home soil.It’s early days but the defending champions have already made their way to the top of the table, thanks to a 4-1 win over Ipswich last time out.Ominously, Erling Haaland already has four goals to his name and looks well refreshed after a Euros-less summer.West Ham’s first-choice XI is bursting with talent but it takes a brave Score Predictor user to bet against City.Our Prediction: 3-1 to Man CityHaaland has burst out of the blocksCredit: GettyChelsea v Crystal PalaceThe Blues notched an impressive 6-2 win at Molineux last weekend in what was an exhibition of ruthless counterattacking, with Cole Palmer and hat-trick hero Noni Madueke in particularly fine form.That being said, Enzo Maresca’s side conceded their fair share of chances too so both teams to score seems a likely outcome at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.The Eagles boosted morale with a straightforward 4-0 victory over Norwich in the Carabao Cup but they’re one of just five Premier League teams yet to register a point in 2024/25.Is it too early to say how much they miss Michael Olise?Our Prediction: 3-2 to ChelseaScore 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 NOWNewcastle v TottenhamThis has been a proper bogey fixture for Spurs in recent times.They lost 4-0 at St James’ Park back in April and 6-1 the visit before just short of a year previous.Recent history may be against the visitors but Ange Postecoglou’s have looked the better of the two sides this term.Fabian Schar’s red card meant the Magpies endured a backs-to-the-wall opener against Southampton before their draw at Bournemouth – a relatively strong side didn’t look all that effective against Nottingham Forest in the cup either, although they did progress via a penalty shootout.It’s a difficult match-up to judge this early in the campaign.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawSon took advantage of Everton’s injury-hit defence last time outCredit: PAManchester United v LiverpoolEnglish football’s answer to El Clasico headlines the Matchweek 3 fixtures.The Merseyside giants have been a level above their rivals in recent times but their record at Old Trafford has remained modest.Liverpool have won away to the Red Devils just twice in their last 13 visits with both those results coming in 2021 when the gulf between the two clubs was particularly wide.Perhaps more relevantly, Arne Slot’s troops lead the way for total shots and xG in the top flight after two rounds of fixtures – they’re one of four sides with a 100% record intact at this early stage.As for Man United, defeat at the death to Brighton last time out dampened the mood but they have looked more solid and organised than they did at the back end of last season.That being said, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have all started the campaign in lively form…READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 2-1 to LiverpoolEnter your predictions before Saturday’s 3pm deadline!BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Undercooked Ollie Watkins yet to deliver for Dream Team bosses but Aston Villa’s fixtures strongly appeal

    EVEN the most partisan Aston Villa fan would admit Ollie Watkins (£5.8m) has looked undercooked during the opening exchanges this season.And there’s a good reason for that.The England international didn’t feature at all for the Villains in pre-season after being granted an extended summer break to compensate for the Three Lions’ lengthy Euro 2024 campaign.Stick or twist?Credit: Dream TeamWatkins has started both Premier League games so far but Unai Emery has replaced him just after the hour-mark on both occasions – another indication he’s not yet up to speed.As a result, the 28-year-old has mustered just five points in Dream Team to date – a bitterly disappointing return for one of the most-selected strikers in the game.Watkins was among the most transferred-out players prior to Gameweek 2 but even now his ownership remains a very healthy 18.2%.Erling Haaland (£8.5m), Alexander Isak (£5m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.2m) are the only forwards who appear in more teams at the time of writing.Raya produced an excellent save to deny Watkins his first goal of 2024/25Credit: ReutersGaffers who stuck by Watkins after Gameweek 1 would have been frustrated by his showing against Arsenal on Saturday.He fluffed a golden chance in the first half and was denied by a superb David Raya (£4.7m) save in the second when it looked for all the world he would head the hosts’ into the lead.Watkins’ wasteful finishing ultimately proved costly as the Gunners won 2-0 at Villa Park to exorcise some demons from last season.Most read in FootballAlmost a fifth of Dream Team bosses now have a big decision to make ahead of Gameweek 3.On the one hand, Watkins is yet to rediscover his best form while having his minutes managed but on the other hand, Villa’s fixtures appear to be massively favourable for the foreseeable future.Emery’s side travel to newly-promoted Leicester this Saturday and resume after the international break with a home game against Everton, who are bottom of the table after two fixtures.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 NOWGameweek 4 also brings the return of the Champions League and while that may pit Watkins and company against a difficult opponent (the draw is schedule for this week) it’s generally a wise idea for gaffers to target double Gameweeks in all guises.Gameweek 5 sees Wolves visit Villa Park while Gameweek 6 features a trip to Ipswich and the club’s second European fixture of 2024/25.In simple terms, Villa’s schedule from now until October appears ripe with potential.The question is: can Watkins take advantage?Villa’s fixture appear favourable until OctoberCredit: GettyIf he’s able to get up to speed either this week or after the international break then he should provide plenty of points – he’s been one of Dream Team’s top performers since Emery took charge.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut there’s no doubt his backers are having their patience tested at the start of this season.Stick or twist?BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Eberechi Eze and company remind gaffers there’s more to Dream Team than just the Premier League

    EVERY season the Carabao Cup second round serves as a reminder to Dream Team managers that there’s so much more to this game than just the Premier League.All five Premier League teams won their respective cup fixtures on Tuesday night, scoring 17 unanswered goals between them.A further eight top flight sides will be in action tonight and many gaffers will be hoping for bumper returns of a similar volume.For the second season in succession, Eze and Mateta enjoyed themselves in the Carabao Cup second roundCredit: Dream TeamCrystal Palace beat Norwich 4-0 to secure their spot in the next round with Jean-Philippe Mateta (£3.2m), Eberechi Eze (£4.5m) and Daichi Kamada (£1.8m) cashing in with double-digit hauls.The former scored a hat-trick at the same stage last season and while he wasn’t quite able to replicate that feat, a brace and an assist earned him 20 points when all was said and done.Eze took the Canaries for 14 points via a goal and assist to take his tally for the season to 24, a total only bettered by Mohamed Salah (£7.2m), Noni Madueke (£3m) and Erling Haaland (£8.5m).That’s how quickly things can change at this embryonic stage of the campaign.Suddenly Eze is floating around the top of the rankingsCredit: RexDream Team bosses who own the Eagles’ No10 may have been frustrated prior to Tuesday night’s game as the England international had looked lively for minimal reward.Eze had a direct free-kick goal cruelly disallowed in Gameweek 1 by a premature referee’s whistle and he rattled the crossbar with a similarly ferocious effort against West Ham at the weekend.Suddenly, easy pickings in the Carabao Cup have evened things out and the 26-year-old is now second among Dream Team midfielders overall.Most read in Dream TeamScore 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 NOWElsewhere, Brighton fielded a second-string XI against Crawley and registered a comfortable 4-0 win with Adam Webster (£2.3m) emerging as the primary beneficiary with a 16-point return.The likes of Jordan Pickford (£3.2m), Vitaliy Mykolenko (£2.7m) and Tim Iroegbunam (£1.8m) boosted their points as Everton beat Doncaster 3-0 at Goodison Park.In fact, the latter is now level with Cole Palmer (£6m) on 24 points – Iroegbunam has racked up 21 tackles already in 2024/25!Leicester’s new signing Jordan Ayew (£2.2m) and Fulham’s new recruit Joachim Andersen (£2.7m) posted impressive double-digit scores in their respective Carabao Cup victories too.With Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Bournemouth, Southampton, Brentford, Ipswich and Wolves in action tonight, many Dream Team bosses will be expecting similar results from the likes of Alexander Isak (£5m), Anthony Gordon (£4.4m), Mohammed Kudus (£5m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£3.3m).That being said, the risk of rotation is high in the early rounds of the cups – Eze owners can count themselves rather fortunate he was given the full 90 minutes against Norwich.Iroegbunam has been a busy boy across the first two GameweeksCredit: GETTYThis Gameweek should remind gaffers of the value attached to the additional competitions.The Premier League is the bread and butter of Dream Team but the domestic cups and the European competitions are the delicious sundries.Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa are set to commence their Champions League campaigns after the international break in Gameweek 4 while Tottenham and Manchester United will get underway in the Europa League a week later.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf Chelsea get past Servette in the second leg of their Conference League play-off (they lead 2-0 on aggregate) they will start earning points in the league stage in Gameweek 6.The revamped formats of the European competitions mean it’s more important than ever that Dream Team managers target the midweek fixtures once they start coming thick and fast.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    No defender has scored more Premier League goals than Cristian Romero since the start of 2023/24

    TOTTENHAM registered their first win of the season in fine style on Saturday.Having been frustrated by Leicester last weekend, Ange Postecoglou’s side converted their dominance against Everton into an emphatic 4-0 victory on home soil.Son Heung-min (£5m) bagged 18 Dream Team points via a brace but the South Korean superstar didn’t finish as the game’s top performer.That accolade went to Cristian Romero (£3.4m).Romero was a class above against EvertonCredit: Dream TeamSpurs’ combative centre-back excelled in every aspect of the game to pocket 19 points in one fell swoop!He was integral to the hosts’ clean sheet, making a whopping six tackles to keep the Toffees at bay.But his coup de grace came in the 71st minute when he outmuscled everyone else in the vicinity to head home an in-swinging corner from close range.Romero’s goal was his sixth in the Premier League since the start of last season – a record high among defenders.Romero leapt highest to make it 3-0 against EvertonCredit: GettyThe Argentina international is a persistent aerial threat at set-pieces but he’ll also attempt to take the game by the scruff of the neck from open play late on if Spurs need a goal.This attacking edge sets him apart from most centre-backs in the top flight and certainly makes him more viable in Dream Team.Most read in FootballRomero’s 19-point haul has propelled him up the rankings to the very top among assets in his position – he’s now two points clear of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) though of course it’s still early days.Truth be told, Pedro Porro (£4.2m) is probably the Spurs defender of choice for gaffers as he’s encouraged to get forward from the get-go – he too has already scored a goal this campaign.But the Spanish full-back is more expensive than Romero, who is available ahead of Gameweek 3 for just £3.4m.Dream Team bosses can expect his price to rise after Saturday’s deadline following his 19-point haul and so it’s no wonder he’s currently among the most-popular recruits this week.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 NOWSpurs are set to face Newcastle at St James’ Park before the international break, a fixture that has not been kind to them in recent seasons.However, Eddie Howe’s side don’t appear quite up to speed just yet so it may not be a bad time to face the Magpies on Tyneside.Gameweek 4 brings a North London derby and so it has to be said that Romero’s clean sheet hopes aren’t all that high for his next two outings.Romero scored five league goals last seasonCredit: ReutersLooking further ahead, Gameweek 5 appears to be an excellent time to back Spurs to the hilt.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat’s when they begin their Europa League campaign with the first fixture coming a few days after a home game against Brentford – an appealing double Gameweek.It will be interesting to see where Romero ranks among defenders by the time Gameweek 5 rolls around.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Noni Madueke hat-trick cuts through Chelsea chaos to prompt tidal wave of Dream Team transfers

    IT takes a special effort to upstage an Erling Haaland (£8.5m) hat-trick in the world of Dream Team.And that’s exactly what Noni Madueke (£3m) did when he claimed a match ball of his own on Sunday.Hat-trick heroCredit: Dream TeamChelsea’s No11 benefited from his side’s ruthless counterattacking to take Wolves for 26 points (two more than Manchester City’s No9 notched against Ipswich) via five shots on target, one big chance created, and three goals.In combination with the brilliant Cole Palmer (£6m), Madueke ripped the hosts apart in transition and found the net three times from his position on the right flank.The 22-year-old didn’t feature against Pep Guardiola’s side in Gameweek 1 but a goal against Servette in the Blues’ Conference League play-off earned him a start at Molineux.To say Madueke capitalised on his opportunity is an understatement – he’s the top performer in Gameweek 2 at the time of writing.Chelsea thrashed Wolves on SundayCredit: GettyWith a senior squad in excess of 40 individuals, Chelsea have left many onlookers scratching their heads in recent times.Enzo Maresca has made it clear that almost half of the squad are working separately from those deemed surplus to requirements for the season ahead.The Blues’ off-field management has prompted much discussion but a 6-2 win on the road has reminded everyone that, for all the chaos, this team has more than enough talent to make waves on the pitch.Naturally, Madueke’s hat-trick has prompted a tidal wave of early transfers in the realm of Dream Team.Most read in FootballHis ownership has already risen to 7.1% having been the subject of twice as many transfers as the aforementioned Palmer, who is currently the second-most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 3.It wouldn’t be a surprise if Madueke features in over 10% of teams by the time Saturday’s 11am deadline rolls around, especially with Chelsea set to face a Crystal Palace side that have lost their first two games of the campaign.It may take Maresca a while to determine his primary approach but a hat-trick has surely propelled Madueke well up the pecking order – his minutes should be relatively secure for the foreseeable future.Palmer banked 19 points via a goal and three assistsCredit: GettyNoni Madueke says ‘I’m sure Wolverhampton is a lovely town’ after Chelsea star’s accidental X-rated postChelsea travel to Switzerland for the second leg of their Conference League play-off on Thursday night and, assuming they convert their aggregate lead into qualification for the league stage, they will have European fixtures from early October.Needless to say, Dream Team managers should be aware of this potential avenue to points.In previous seasons, Leicester, West Ham and Aston Villa assets have provided healthy returns in Europe’s tertiary competition.If Madueke is still in form and assured of minutes once Chelsea’s European campaign begins in earnest, he could be a very smart option indeed.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 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 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 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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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 2: Latest on Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke and others

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 2 in one easily digestible dose.Tottenham will be without Dominic Solanke when they host Everton on Saturday.The 13.5%-owned striker featured in all 38 of Bournemouth’s league games last season but a knock to the ankle in his competitive debut for Spurs has sidelined him.Solanke is out but Porro has been passed fitCredit: Dream TeamIn more positive news for Ange Postecoglou, Pedro Porro has been passed fit.The Spanish right-back looked uncomfortable late on against Leicester and was eventually substituted but he’s expected to play against the Toffees.As for Sean Dyche’s side, their availability issues in defence have worsened as James Tarkowski is deemed a doubt while Ashley Young is suspended.Cole Palmer was seen clutching his hamstring at the end of Chelsea’s win over Servette in the Conference League play-offs but Enzo Maresca is hopeful the Blues’ star man will be available for their trip to Molineux.”He felt something but he looks fine.” The Italian coach told journalists after the final whistle. “They already checked him, he looks fine and okay.”Pedro Neto is unlikely to start two games in quick succession and may have to be content with a substitute cameo against his former club.Robert Sanchez is expected to retain his place between the sticks in the league while new signing Joao Felix could be involved in some capacity having joined from Atletico Madrid on Thursday.Palmer should be fine for Chelsea’s trip to Wolves on SundayCredit: GettyPep Guardiola revealed that Rodri is “getting better” but the midfielder is yet to resume full team training and is therefore unlikely to be among Manchester City’s squad on Saturday.Winger Savinho is a minor doubt having been replaced at half time last weekend.Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah, who was hooked at half time against Ipswich last time out, missed a training session in midweek and is considered a doubt for Brentford’s appointment at Anfield.Ivan Toney is among the most transferred-out players this week having missed Brentford’s opening fixture amid transfer speculation.Speaking about the target man ahead of Gameweek 2, Thomas Frank told reporters: “He could be involved, he could not be involved.”Toney is being linked with a move away from BrentfordCredit: GettyNewcastle will have the same squad available for their trip to Bournemouth minus Fabian Schar, who starts his three-game suspension following his dismissal against Southampton.Nottingham Forest will be without Danilo for a long while after the Brazilian suffered a broken ankle against Bournemouth – the 23-year-old is due to have surgery next week.Nuno Espirito Santo gave no updates regarding Ola Aina or Anthony Elanga, who both came off prematurely against the Cherries.Yankuba Minteh is available for Brighton despite his precautionary concussion withdrawal on debut.Fulham have a clean bill of health but new signing Sander Berge is not available to face Leicester.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 NOWARSENALInjuries: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Fabio Vieira (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Robin Olsen (doubt), Tyrone Mings, Boubacar KamaraSuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Enes Unal, Tyler Adams, David BrooksSuspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Igor ThiagoSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Pervis Estupinan (doubt), Evan Ferguson (doubt), Tariq Lamptey (doubt), Bart Verbruggen, Julio Enciso, Solly MarchSuspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: Reece JamesCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Will Hughes (doubt)Suspensions: EVERTONInjuries: Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner, James Tarkowski (doubt), Youssef ChermitiSuspensions: Ashley YoungFULHAMInjuries: NoneSuspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: Arijanet Muric (doubt), Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead, Harry Clarke, George HirstSuspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Patson Daka, Conor Coady, Jakub StolarczykSuspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Jarrell Quansah (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Savinho (doubt), Rodri, Oscar BobbSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Rasmus HojlundSuspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson, Lewis Miley, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven BotmanSuspensions: Sandro Tonali, Fabian ScharNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Anthony Elanga (doubt), Ola Aina (doubt)Suspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Adam Lallana, Juan Larios, Ross Stewart, Kamaldeen SulemanaSuspensions: NoneTOTTENHAMInjuries: Rodrigo Bentancur, Dominic SolankeSuspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Edson Alvarez (doubt)Suspensions: NoneWOLVESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Leon Chiwome, Enso GonzalezSuspensions: 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