Dream Team

IT’S a later deadline than usual for Gameweek 15 with Dream Team managers having until 1:30pm to decide their approach.And gaffers may need those extra hours to select a captain as it’s a close debate this time around with strong cases to be made for both Mohamed Salah (£7.6m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.7m).Saka added 29 points to his total in Gameweek 14Credit: Dream TeamBoth Liverpool and Arsenal have an additional midweek fixture in the form of a Carabao Cup quarter-final, though it’s not all that easy to predict to what extent their respective star players will be involved.Salah has played just 50 minutes in the competition so far while Saka fulfilled 99 minutes across the Gunners’ two previous fixtures.However, with a place in the semi-finals at stake, it may be that Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta decide to start their big guns against Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively.Before then, Salah has a home league game against Fulham at the same time Saka welcomes Everton to the Emirates on Saturday.Marco Silva’s side are well organised and have lost just four of their 15 league games this campaign but a trip to Anfield is as daunting a prospect the Premier League offers right now – the Cottagers are also missing some first-choice defenders.The Reds’ Egyptian superstar is Dream Team’s outright top performer having registered 16 goals and 12 assists in 22 games this season.A popular captain for a reasonCredit: GETTYEven if Fulham prove to be stubborn opposition, as they were against Arsenal last time out, Salah could feast against Saints if given enough minutes on Wednesday night.However, Saka is coming off the back of an emphatic 29-point haul in Gameweek 14.Most read in FootballDream Team bosses who captained the England winger as a reaction to the Merseyside derby being postponed were handsomely rewarded and the temptation to keep the armband on him ahead of two home games against bottom-half opposition is very strong indeed.Salah v Saka is set to divide gaffers this Gameweek – both are entirely justified captains.We would probably edge it to the Arsenal man as he has the luxury of two home fixtures and has played more minutes in the Carabao Cup to date but it’s always scary going against Salah.Haaland isn’t a good captaincy choice for Gameweek 15 on paperCredit: GettyErling Haaland (£8.5m) has just one fixture in Gameweek 15, Sunday’s Manchester derby, and with Pep Guardiola’s side having won just one of their last ten games in all competitions, the Norwegian poacher is nowhere near Salah and Saka in terms of the captaincy conversation at this point in time.Elsewhere, Alexander Isak (£5.2m) is a tempting alternative.Newcastle’s No14 has scored six goals in his last eight games in a run that has yielded 68 points.The Magpies have a rare double Gameweek and a favourable one at that with Leicester and Brentford due at St James’ Park in the coming days – the Bees are far weaker away from home.Without European commitments to worry about, Eddie Howe is able to field a relatively strong side in the Carabao Cup in pursuit of a trophy and so Isak should get plenty of minutes in midweek – he scored against Chelsea in the last round of the competition.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 NOWIsak has been among the goals latelyCredit: ReutersCole Palmer (£6m) won’t be involved against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night but he deserves a mention in the captaincy debate because he boasts an incredible average of 11.1 points-per-game this season.Chelsea’s talisman took 25 points off Tottenham last weekend and will be unleashed upon Brentford on Sunday night.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

DREAM TEAM managers have until 1:30pm on Saturday to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 15.Nine teams are set to pull double duty thanks to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with Chelsea being the odd side out on account of their Conference League meeting with Shamrock Rovers (expect heavy rotation).Transfer tips for Gameweek 15Credit: Dream TeamLIVERPOOL STARSThe decision to postpone an eagerly-anticipated Merseyside derby sent Dream Team bosses into meltdown on Saturday morning.As gaffers scrambled for alternative strategies, both Luis Diaz (£4.1m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.6m) ended up among the five most transferred-out players come the Gameweek 14 deadline.Those who ditched Liverpool players in a hurry should strongly consider bringing them back in ahead of a double header that will see the Reds play Fulham and Southampton.A reminder, as if it’s needed, that Anfield’s Egyptian hero is the game’s outright top performer having amassed 229 points in total.Alisson (£5.1m) returned from injury against Girona in midweek and marked his comeback with a ten-point haul – Caoimhin Kelleher’s (£2.8m) minutes are about to nosedive.Premium defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) come at a cost but they’re the leading assets in their position.Joe Gomez (£3.3m) and Andy Robertson (£4.2m) are cheaper variations on a theme.Most read in FootballAlisson impressed upon his return from injuryCredit: GettyALEXANDER ISAK (£5.2m)Now that the European competitions have essentially been put on hold for the festive period, Dream Team managers have many more viable options to consider.Newcastle’s No14 is a prime example having scored six goals in his last eight outings.If he can stay fit, Isak is an excellent option from now until mid-January but Gameweek 15 is particularly appealing with the Magpies set to host both Leicester and Brentford at St James’ Park.That has to be regarded as a favourable double header given the Bees’ struggles on the road this season.Isak averages just shy of seven points-per-game this term and is therefore well placed to provide healthy returns this coming Gameweek – fingers crossed Eddie Howe doesn’t rotate too much in midweek.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 NOWWILLIAM SALIBA (£5.2m)It may sound counterintuitive to target Arsenal clean sheets at a time when several defenders are sidelined with injury but Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Monaco showed they can get the job done without Gabriel (£5.3m), Riccardo Calafiori (£3.7m), Ben White (£4.1m) and others.Saliba is still standing strong and a 17-point haul in Gameweek 14 has propelled him up to third in the rankings among assets in his position.The France international has even stepped up to replace Gabriel’s threat at set-pieces – he’s scored in each of his last two league games.Clean sheets, goals… Saliba is a dual threat right nowCredit: ReutersEven accounting for missing personnel, the Gunners have strong hopes of at least one clean sheet this coming Gameweek with Everton and Crystal Palace due to visit the Emirates.READ MORE SUN STORIESBoth the Toffees and the Eagles are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and so it’s perfectly reasonable to expect Saliba to extend his fine form.There were question marks over Jurrien Timber’s (£4.3m) availability in the week but he came off the bench against Monaco and looked sprightly enough so he should be set for his fair share of minutes in Gameweek 15 too.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

NEED a little spending money this Christmas?Your football instincts could bank you £250 with Score Predictor this weekend.Play now!Credit: Dream TeamSimply submit 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!Here we’ve collected some key stats and facts for each relevant fixture this Matchweek to help inform your decisions, as well as our own predictions.Nottingham Forest v Aston VillaA meeting of former European champions promises to be a competitive affair on Saturday afternoon.There was a huge gulf in class between these two sides last season when Forest finished 17th while Villa qualified for the Champions League but it’s a different story this time around.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently fifth in the table, level with the Villains on 25 points.Forest have actually earned more points on the road this campaign but Murillo and company have conceded just six goals at the City Ground – only Liverpool have shipped fewer league goals at home.Most read in FootballOne important factor to consider here is that Unai Emery’s men have only won one of their five league games immediately after a Champions League fixture and that was back in September.With Villa having won an energy-sapping game against RB Leipzig in midweek, it feels all set up for Forest to claim another big scalp.Our Prediction: 2-1 to Nottingham ForestChris Wood has scored ten league goals this seasonCredit: EPABrighton v Crystal PalaceA heated rivalry not based on geography here.The Eagles haven’t claimed bragging rights in this fixture since 2021 although four of the six meetings since have finished 1-1.The Seagulls thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the corresponding game last season with a 4-1 win and Fabian Hurzeler’s side are one of just three top-flight teams still undefeated on home soil this campaign, which bodes well for this Sunday.That being said, Palace have solidified in recent weeks with their defeat to Fulham last month being their only loss in their last eight games in all competitions.43% of Score Predictor users have opted for a 2-1 home win at this stage and we’re inclined to agree.Our Prediction: 2-1 to BrightonBrighton are just three points off fourth after 15 league gamesCredit: GettyManchester City v Manchester UnitedA proper local derby stands out as the headline match-up this weekend.Pep Guardiola’s side used to be a guaranteed source of points for Score Predictor users and it was usually just a question of how many goals they would score but they’ve fallen off a cliff lately.A 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League means City’s 3-0 result against Forest remains the only win in their last ten games – an unprecedented rough patch for a side that have hoovered up trophies in recent years.Although it’s not as if the Red Devils are in the best shape to take advantage of their neighbours’ poor form.The Ruben Amorim era started with three games undefeated but losses to Arsenal and Forest have come as a reality check this month.Man United are due to face Viktoria Plzen in Czechia later today which will limit their preparation time for Sunday’s game at the Etihad.This one is massively dividing Score Predictor users.Our Prediction: 3-2 to Man CityScore 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 NOWCity’s slump continuesCredit: ReutersSouthampton v TottenhamIt’s hard to avoid repetition when discussing Spurs; they pack a punch going forward but a soft underbelly makes them far more vulnerable than Ange Postecoglou would like.The North Londoners are yet to win a game since they thrashed Man City 4-0 at the Etihad with recent defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea prompting waves of criticism from the fans.But Son Heung-min and friends couldn’t have asked for a more favourable opponent this weekend as Saints are rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points to show for their efforts since promotion.Russell Martin’s side have conceded 31 league goals this term, the same number Spurs have scored.The visitors have serious defensive problems of their own with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all sidelined with injury meaning we might see a centre-back partnership of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin.Spurs have the small matter of a trip to Ibrox to negotiate first but surely they won’t slip up at St Mary’s.Our Prediction: 4-2 to SpursVan de Ven has been ruled out with another hamstring injuryCredit: ReutersBournemouth v West HamIt’s the Monday night slot again for the Hammers and while victory over Wolves last time out relieved the pressure on Julen Lopetegui to some degree, fans will need to see a spell of sustained improvement before they are convinced. The Spanish head coach will have his work out on the south coast as the Cherries are currently third in the form table having seen off Man City, Wolves, Spurs and Ipswich since the start of November.Only the current top four of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and City have won more league games than Bournemouth this season – a superb effort.Arne Slot’s league leaders are the only team to have generated more xG than Andoni Iraola’s side while Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester are the only teams to have conceded more xG than West Ham.If Bournemouth bring their shooting boots it could get very messy for the visitors.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 3-1 to BournemouthProve you know better by entering your predictions now – there’s £250 up for grabs!BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. 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DREAM TEAM managers should always be on the lookout for savvy differential options.The likes of Erling Haaland (£8.5m), Cole Palmer (£6m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.6m) are heavy hitters but their immense popularity means most gaffers also benefit from their substantial returns.Hence why it pays to search out the hidden gems.A man in formCredit: Dream TeamOne such player that fits the bill is Enzo Fernandez (£4.3m) given he features in just 1.3% of teams at the time of writing, despite his sharp upturn in form.The Chelsea midfielder has amassed a mammoth 64 points across his last six games, making him one of the most in-form players in the game right now!It wasn’t that long ago the World Cup winner appeared surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge with Romeo Lavia (£2.5m) and Moises Caicedo (£3.4m) gelling at the heart of midfield.However, Fernandez has worked his way back into Enzo Maresca’s plans with some talismanic performances.It all started when he assisted three of the Blues’ eight goals against Noah in the Conference League in Gameweek 10.That sparked a streak of three goals and six assists in the space of six outings – remarkable output for a player in his position.Very few Dream Team bosses have received Fernandez’s pointsCredit: AlamyIt’s unrealistic to expect Fernandez to maintain a rate of one goal involvement every 48.7 minutes (as he has done since the start of November) but a quick look at the fixture list suggests there’s a good chance of him providing enough points to satisfy Dream Team bosses keen on such a ploy.Most read in FootballCHELSEA FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 15 TO GAMEWEEK 19:Brentford (h) – Premier LeagueShamrock Rovers (h) – Conference LeagueEverton (a) – Premier LeagueFulham (h) – Premier LeagueIpswich (a) – Premier LeagueCrystal Palace (a) – Premier LeagueMorecambe (h) – FA CupBournemouth (h) – Premier LeagueMaresca has opted to rotate virtually his whole team in the additional competitions so every Chelsea asset is a minutes risk to some degree but Fernandez should see his fair share of action given his current form.Maresca’s rotation policy is sensible but it’s caused Dream Team bosses headachesCredit: GettyScore 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 NOWThe West Londoners look much improved this season and currently find themselves second in the Premier League, four points shy of Liverpool – albeit the Reds have a game in hand.Considering their next six opponents all reside either in mid-table or the bottom half, Chelsea seem well set for a prosperous festive period, one heavy in Dream Team points.It should go without saying that Palmer is best placed to capitalise as he averages 11.1 points-per-game this season but it may be that there’s room for a second Chelsea midfielder in the next month or so, with Fernandez seemingly the leading candidate at this stage.Nicolas Jackson (£4.4m) is a viable option up front too having registered eight goals and four assists in 14 league games this term.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

DREAM TEAM managers are spoiled for choice at this time of year.Come Friday morning, there will only be one relevant European fixture (Chelsea v Shamrock Rovers in Gameweek 15) to consider until mid-January.A pause to the continental competitions evens out Dream Team’s fixture list, boosting the viability of dozens of players from clubs not active in Europe this season.Take Eberechi Eze (£5m) for example.Eze does itCredit: Dream TeamIt’s difficult for gaffers to justify selecting Crystal Palace’s No10 when he’s got just one game a week in which to strut his stuff while midfielders from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United are regularly in action twice because of European commitments.We haven’t included Chelsea in that list because Enzo Maresca has tended to rotate almost his entire team for Conference League match-ups, minimising double headers for his players.However, no team has more fixtures to fulfil than the Eagles between Gameweeks 15 and 19 as it stands.For that to still be the case after Gameweek 15, Oliver Glasner will have to mastermind an unlikely upset against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals but the point is that Eze is not hindered by the same fixture deficit as he has been lately.Player like Eze increase in popularity when the European competitions are put on holdCredit: GettyThe England international’s return of four goals and four assists might look modest compared to the numbers posted by the likes of Cole Palmer (£6m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) but the key stat to focus on is his average of 7.6 points-per-game.Only three midfielders boast superior averages at the time of writing and the long list of those below Eze in the metric includes Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m), Brennan Johnson (£3.9m), Luis Diaz (£4.1m) and many other popular selections.Most read in FootballDespite being limited to 15 appearances in 2024/25, Eze has earned 19 bonus points, a tally bettered by only seven other players in his position – he racked up plenty last season too.His play style virtually guarantees successful dribbles, accurate crosses and fouls won, a reliable recipe for bonus points.Average points-per-game is an important statistic in Dream TeamCredit: RexThe 26-year-old mustered just two points against Manchester City last time out but he notched 13 points in Gameweek 13 upon his return from injury.Looking ahead, it would be a stretch to say Palace’s fixtures are favourable, especially with a double header against the Gunners coming up, but Eze should at least be considered among the potential options for the next month or so.CRYSTAL PALACE FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 15 TO GAMEWEEK 19:Brighton (a) – Premier LeagueArsenal (a) – Carabao CupArsenal (h) – Premier LeagueBournemouth (a) – Premier LeagueSouthampton (h) – Premier LeagueChelsea (h) – Premier LeagueStoke (h) – FA CupLeicester (a) – Premier LeaguePalace have become harder to beat in recent weeksCredit: REXEncouragingly, Glasner has started his star man in the domestic cup competitions this season, whereas many of the top-tier midfielders are rested, so minutes should not be an issue.Even if Eze doesn’t appeal, Dream Team bosses should note the schedule pivot and how it opens up other avenues to points across the festive period.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

RIGHT-MINDED Dream Team managers don’t need much of an excuse to back Alexander Isak (£5.2m).Despite a handful of injury setbacks, Newcastle’s No14 has proven himself to be one of the Premier League’s best strikers since his arrival on English shores in the summer of 2022.Isak has been among the goals recentlyCredit: Dream TeamThe Sweden international has scored 37 goals in 65 league appearances for the Magpies at an impressive strike rate of one every 131 minutes.More relevantly, he’s in great form right now having scored six goals in his last eight outings; and that includes when he was forced off with a knock midway through the first half against Crystal Palace at the end of November.Isak’s prolific spell in front of goal has yielded 68 points since the start of Gameweek 9, making him one of Dream Team’s most in-form players.Aside from a concerning availability record, the main reason gaffers have been reluctant to select the 25 year-old forward is his comparatively relaxed schedule.Only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer scored more league goals than Isak last seasonCredit: ReutersEddie Howe’s side narrowly missed out on European qualification last season meaning Isak simply doesn’t have as many point-scoring opportunities as the likes of Kai Havertz (£4.7m), Dominic Solanke (£4.1m), Ollie Watkins (£5.5m), etc.However, the fixture list is about to pivot.From the start of Gameweek 15 (which gets underway this Saturday) until the end of Gameweek 19 in mid-January, no team will play more games than Newcastle.And it will stay that way if the Toon get past Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at St James’ Park.Most read in FootballNewcastle assets will become more viable from Gameweek 15Credit: GettyWith the fixture count now in Isak’s favour, he is a super viable option for Dream Team bosses throughout the festive period.NEWCASTLE FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 15 TO GAMEWEEK 19:Leicester (h) – Premier LeagueBrentford (h) – Carabao CupIpswich (a) – Premier LeagueAston Villa (h) – Premier LeagueManchester United (a) – Premier LeagueTottenham (a) – Premier LeagueBromley (h) – FA CupWolves (h) – Premier LeagueIf Isak is able to maintain his current form there will be plenty of points up for grabs in the coming weeks.The next two Gameweeks looks particularly appealing as three of his four fixtures are due to take place at St James’ Park.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 NOWAdditionally, both the Foxes and Tractor Boys are currently in the bottom five while the Bees have a dismal record on the road this campaign, in contrast to their amazingly strong home form.Granted, Newcastle haven’t been at their best so far this season but in Isak they have striker capable of special things.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

WHO needs Gabriel (£5.3m) when you’ve got William Saliba (£5.2m)?With Arsenal’s Brazilian centre-back currently sidelined with injury, his French counterpart has stepped up to provide a potent threat at set-pieces.Essential for Dream Team gaffers this festive season?Credit: Dream TeamThe Gunners’ corners are feared across the land, with no respite for Manchester United and Fulham this month despite Gabriel’s absence.Saliba wrapped up the win against the Red Devils before rescuing a point at Craven Cottage as Arsenal built upon their mountainous tally of set-piece goals.Add in a clean sheet against Ruben Amorim’s side and the 23-year-old has produced 24 points from his last two outings.This influx has propelled Saliba up to third in the rankings among defenders.He’s now just two points adrift of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) and seven shy of leader Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) – although it’s worth noting that Storm Darragh prevented Liverpool from playing at the weekend.Between them, Gabriel and Saliba have scored in four consecutive gamesCredit: ReutersMikel Arteta’s side were perhaps a tad unlucky not keep a clean sheet in West London on Sunday as Fulham only registered two shots come full time for a combined xG of 0.11 – credit to Raul Jimenez (£3.3m) for a clinical finish.The Spanish tactician will be very hopeful of clean sheets for the remainder of the year given the schedule and Dream Team managers would be wise to consider a corresponding strategy.Saliba and company are due to take on Everton, Crystal Palace (x2) and Ipswich across the next two Gameweeks the double header with the Eagles facilitated by the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw.Most read in Dream TeamAll three opponents are among the lowest scorers in the top flight at present.FEWEST PREMIER LEAGUE GOALS THIS SEASON:11 – Southampton14 – Everton14 – Crystal Palace14 – Ipswich19 – Manchester United19 – Nottingham Forest19 – Newcastle20 – West HamOliver Glasner won’t be relishing the prospect of a double header against ArsenalCredit: REXCombine these numbers with the fact only Liverpool have conceded less xG than Arsenal this season and Dream Team bosses are within their rights to expect plentiful points from Arteta’s defenders from now until 2025.Their favourable run ends on New Year’s Day when they travel to Brentford – the Bees boast the best home record in the league and only Chelsea have scored more goals.Injuries hinder the viability of this plan slightly with Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori (£3.7m), Ben White (£4.1m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.1m) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (£3m) all either flagged as doubtful or ruled out for the foreseeable future.However, one or more defenders may return against Monaco on Wednesday night.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 NOWFor now, Saliba, David Raya (£4.7m) and Jurrien Timber (£4.3m) are seemingly the most logical selections.One thing’s for sure, it’s brave Dream Team manager who traverses the next two Gameweeks without at least one Arsenal defender.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

MANY Dream Team managers were forced to rip up their best-laid plans on Saturday morning.Everton v Liverpool was due to get Gameweek 14 underway in fine style but the game at Goodison Park was called off on safety grounds with Storm Darragh wreaking havoc.Fans were instructed to stay away from Goodison Park on SaturdayCredit: AFPFrom a Dream Team perspective, the postponement of the Merseyside derby came as a huge spanner in the works a few hours before the deadline as many of Arne Slot’s regulars are among the most popular players in the game.The Reds have a Champions League game against Girona in midweek so this Gameweek is not a total wipeout for the likes of Mohamed Salah (£7.6m), Luis Diaz (£4.1m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m).But with Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea all set to fulfil two fixtures this week, Liverpool missing out on a double header will probably harm gaffers heavy on Anfield assets.Gaffers who captained Salah will be hoping for a massive rescue job against GironaCredit: GETTYDream Team bosses with their wits about them on Saturday morning had time to rethink their approach for Gameweek 14 – both Salah and Diaz were among the most transferred out players come the deadline.Those who took such drastic action should be thinking very strongly about bringing the Egyptian superstar back in ahead of Gameweek 15 as he remains Dream Team’s top point scorer despite taking the weekend off.More importantly, what was a problem this weekend can be manipulated into an opportunity for sharp-minded gaffers later in the campaign.It’s unclear when the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park will take place at this stage but it’s likely to create a juicy double Gameweek for both clubs.Keep an eye on Liverpool’s fixture listCredit: AFPWith all due respect to the Toffees, it’s Slot’s troops who make the biggest waves in Dream Team, as is to be expected from the side currently leading both the Premier League and Champions League.Most read in FootballThere’s a chance that Liverpool and Everton will be the only two teams to fulfil a double Gameweek when they meet sometime in 2025.The prospect of stocking up on Liverpool players (and perhaps the impressive Dwight McNeil) to coincide with this event could bear sizeable fruit.There are other factors to consider – injuries, variable form, other match-ups – but gaffers should have one keen eye on the rearranged Merseyside derby when it’s announced.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More