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      Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 27: target European home legs for plentiful points

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      DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 27.All six Premier League clubs still active in Europe will play the second legs of their respective round of 16 ties at home this coming Gameweek and so it’s all eyes on Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.With this in mind, some transfer recommendations to mull over…Proving to be a smart loan recruitCredit: Dream TeamMarco Asensio (£3.5m)Dream Team bosses who took a punt on the Spain international in Gameweek 26 were handsomely rewarded with 26 points.Asensio bagged a brace against Cardiff in the FA Cup before coming off the bench to convert a late penalty at Club Brugge in the Champions League.Chasing lost points is a futile endeavour but the former Real Madrid midfielder has to be considered a decent option for Gameweek 27 too – the Villians will face Brentford on Saturday before welcoming the Belgian outfit to Villa Park in midweek.Asensio averages a goal every 67.6 minutes since his loan switch from PSG in January.That being said, this suggestion comes with the caveat that Unai Emery’s side will BLANK in Gameweek 28.This means if you bring Asensio into your XI this week, you will have to replace him next week or accept a goose egg.The same goes for Ollie Watkins (£5.2m), Morgan Rogers (£3.9m), Marcus Rashford (£3.5m), etc.Most read in FootballDeja vu?Credit: RexDominik Szoboszlai (£4.6m)We listed Liverpool’s No8 in last week’s transfer recommendations and while a two-point return in Gameweek 26 hardly suggests he’s worthy of a repeat mention, we feel he should be underlined.The reason for this is that the Reds are due to face relegation-bound Southampton at Anfield this weekend.There’s an outside chance Arne Slot will rest some key players against the hapless Saints, prioritising the second leg against PSG, who were very impressive despite defeat in the French capital on Wednesday night.However, Dream Team bosses will have to take that minor risk as the potential of plentiful points is too great to ignore.Mohamed Salah (£8.3m), Luis Diaz (£3.5m), Virgil van Dijk (£4.7m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) are all among the most popular players in the game but Szoboszlai features in just 8.5% of teams at the time of writing.The Hungary captain could be a point of difference in Gameweek 27.Alisson (£4.3m) also deserves a mention after his superhuman performance in Paris.Keep the faithCredit: GettyCole Palmer (£5.8m)Chelsea’s talisman would usually fall under the umbrella of: too obvious to mention.But we’ve decided to include him this week as he was the third-most transferred-out player for Gameweek 26.Palmer hasn’t been at his best recently but only Salah averages more points-per-game in 2024/25.The Blues’ double header of Leicester and Copenhagen (both at Stamford Bridge) is hugely inviting on paper.How Enzo Maresca uses his star player in Denmark later today may give gaffers an indication of what they can expect from Palmer minutes-wise in Gameweek 27.PSV again? Bring it onCredit: GettyMartin Odegaard (£4.8m)Having failed to score against West Ham and Nottingham Forest, Arsenal made a big statement against PSV in midweek with an emphatic 7-1 victory to all but seal their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.That one-sided result makes the Dutch side’s upcoming trip to the Emirates an enticing proposition.Injuries mean Mikel Arteta doesn’t really have the option to rotate his attack-minded assets and so there’s a strong chance Odegaard will be given the opportunity to strut his stuff again – the Norwegian midfielder banked 21 points in Eindhoven via two goals and an assist.READ MORE SUN STORIESBefore the Gunners complete their Champions League rout, they have the small matter of an away day to Old Trafford to fulfil – which is almost a favourable fixture itself these days.Ethan Nwaneri (£2.2m) and emergency striker Mikel Merino (£3.6m) are also viable options.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

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      Score Predictor tips for Matchweek 24: Stats and facts ahead of Manchester United v Arsenal

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      AFTER a feast of FA Cup and European football, the Premier League returns in all its glory this weekend.And that means the resumption of Score Predictor, with another £250 up for grabs in Matchweek 24.Play Score Predictor for free before Saturday’s 5:30pm deadlineCredit: 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…Brentford v Aston Villa11th v 10th makes this the very definition of a mid-table clash.Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash all scored in a first-half blitz against the Bees at Villa Park back in December but the Villains have struggled with European hangovers this season.Unai Emery’s men have failed to win seven of their eight league games immediately following a Champions League fixture in 2024/25, losing four times.And so Saturday’s trip to the Gtech has to be considered a potential banana skin with Villa having played against Club Brugge in Belgium on Tuesday night.Thomas Frank’s side have scored the most home goals in the top flight this campaign while only four teams have earned fewer points on the road than Villa.Most read in FootballOur Prediction: 3-1 to BrentfordVilla have struggled to balance European and league commitments this seasonCredit: GettyWolves v EvertonVitor Pereira will be without talisman Matheus Cunha on Saturday afternoon after the Brazilian saw red in the FA Cup fifth round.The absence of their No10 is likely to hinder the hosts significantly as he is essentially a one-man army in attack.The Toffees are just one place higher in the table but the gap is now ten points after a run of seven games unbeaten in the league.Such has been the dramatic improvement since David Moyes’ return to Merseyside, only league-leaders Liverpool have earned more points than Everton from their last six outings. Our Prediction: 2-0 to EvertonCunha is a huge miss for WolvesCredit: AlamyTottenham v BournemouthSpurs will be fully focused on tonight’s game against AZ Alkmaar as the Europa League represents their last hope for a trophy this season.And with an injury list still too long for Ange Postecoglou’s liking, the North Londoners may not be adequately prepared for the visit of the Cherries on Sunday.Andoni Iraola’s troops suffered defeats to Wolves and Brighton at the end of February but they still have their sights firmly set on European qualification.Bournemouth pack a punch going forward with Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo full of confidence of late.They’ve also earned five more points on the road than Spurs have gained on home soil.Our Prediction: 3-2 to BournemouthBournemouth rank fourth for total shots this seasonCredit: ReutersManchester United v ArsenalWith several first-choice attackers sidelined, the Gunners failed to score against West Ham or Nottingham Forest in their last two league outings but a seven-goal demolition of PSV in the Champions League has changed the outlook in that regard.And it’s not as if the Red Devils are impervious in their current state; the only clean sheet in their last 14 league games came against Fulham in late January.The jury remains out on Ruben Amorim as the performances and results have been just as concerning under his watch as they were during Erik ten Hag’s tenure.Bruno Fernandes is doing his best to pull the standards up and it was the Portuguese playmaker who scored Man United’s goal at the Emirates in the FA Cup the night his side ultimately won a penalty shootout having played an hour with ten men.However, Mikel Arteta has generally had the upper hand in this match-up in recent years – his last visit to Old Trafford ended in a 1-0 win courtesy of Leandro Trossard.No team has allowed their opponents fewer shots on target than Arsenal this season.Our Prediction: 2-0 to ArsenalArsenal flexed their muscles in EindhovenCredit: GettyWest Ham v NewcastleThe Magpies will naturally have one eye on the Carabao Cup final and with Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon already unavailable for Wembley – and a minor doubt over Alexander Isak – it would be understandable if Eddie Howe’s troops lacked their usual enthusiasm on Monday night.As for the hosts, Graham Potter won a few admirers in the capital when he oversaw wins over Arsenal and Leicester at the end of February.The London Stadium faithful haven’t had all that much cheer this season as only five teams have earned fewer points at home but it feels like a good time to play a depleted Newcastle side that have lost four of their last six league games.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 2-1 to West HamProve you know better by entering your predictions for Matchweek 24 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

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      Still got a Booster in the holster? Consider playing one ahead of Gameweek 27 for bumper returns

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      HOW many Boosters have you got left in the holster?If the answer is more than zero you might want to consider playing one ahead of Gameweek 27, as long as your team is suitably set up for such a strategy.Dream Team bosses with all three Boosters still to play should probably get a move onCredit: Dream TeamSix teams are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 27, those still active in Europe: Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.And against the odds, all the English teams will be at home for the second leg of their respective round of 16 ties.GAMEWEEK 27 DOUBLE HEADERS:LIVERPOOL vs Southampton (h) & PSG (h)ARSENAL vs Man Utd (a) & PSV (h)ASTON VILLA vs Brentford (a) & Club Brugge (h)TOTTENHAM vs Bournemouth (h) & AZ Alkmaar (h)MANCHESTER UNITED vs Arsenal (h) & Real Sociedad (h)CHELSEA vs Leicester (h) & Copenhagen (h)Assuming your XI is heavily tailored to these fixtures, activating the Goal Bonus Booster is very much on the table.The prospect of Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) being unleashed upon Saints at Anfield is almost enough on its own to justify such a ploy.REMINDER: Each goal scored by your players is worth NINE points instead of the usual six when Goal Bonus is activated!Salah is due to face Southampton and PSG in Gameweek 27Credit: RexIvan Juric’s side are rooted to the bottom of the table having mustered just nine points in 27 league outings.Most read in FootballSouthampton also have the worst defensive record in the top flight and given Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar leads the Golden Boot race with 25 league goals, Saturday’s fixture has to be considered one of the biggest mismatches of 2024/25.Salah is the Reds’ main man but the likes of Cody Gakpo (£4.6m), Luis Diaz (£3.5m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£4.6m) will also fancy their chances of adding to their healthy goal tallies in Gameweek 27.PSG represent much tougher opposition but the headline here is that Liverpool have back-to-back home games in the same Gameweek and one of their opponents is Southampton.Palmer might be unleashed upon Leicester and Copenhagen this coming GameweekCredit: GettyCouple this with home double headers for Spurs, Man United and Chelsea and a midfield that contains Dejan Kulusevski (£4.4m), Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m) and Cole Palmer (£5.8m) strongly encourages the Goal Bonus Booster – that trio have scored 35 goals between already this season.More broadly, Gameweek 27 is likely to be the last time the English clubs still active in Europe have a clear advantage on paper.Arsenal and Aston Villa have all but sealed their Champions League last 16 ties having beaten PSV and Club Brugge in their respective first legs on Tuesday night.It’s simply the nature of knockout football that tougher opponents await them in the quarter-finals, when Dream Team points may be harder to come by.Double Gameweeks also get rarer as the campaign progresses.Aston Villa face Brentford and Club Brugge in Gameweek 27Credit: PAIf your team isn’t aligned with the fixture list and your transfer allotment won’t get you there either then it might be wise to hold Goal Bonus for later and activate 12th Man instead.REMINDER: 12th Man allows you to select an additional player from any position free of cost.Use this special ability to select a player who is likely to start two juicy fixtures in Gameweek 27 and you could improve your rank significantly.As for the Max Captain Booster, there are eventualities in which such a tactic would yield hugely beneficial results but the vast majority of engaged gaffers will be sticking the armband on Salah this coming Gameweek.Generally speaking, you want to wait for a Gameweek when the captaincy conversation is an open one to deploy Max Captain, using the Booster as a fail-safe.Liverpool’s double header is expected to yield healthy returnsThe worst case scenario with Max Captain is you decide to activate it only for the most popular skipper to finish among the Gameweek’s top performers, essentially wasting the Booster.The likelihood of this happening in Gameweek 27 is relatively high with Salah due to face both Southampton and PSG at Anfield.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn summary, it’s a good time to play your Goal Bonus Booster if your team is tailored to the Gameweek 27 schedule.If not, consider activating 12th Man to target the European fixtures before they become more difficult to predict.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

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      Martin Odegaard and Arsenal stars now tempting options for Gameweek 27 after PSV mauling

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      ARSENAL made an emphatic statement against PSV on Tuesday night.The Gunners have one foot firmly in the Champions League quarter-finals having thrashed their Dutch opponents 7-1 in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.Arsenal will already have one eye on the Champions League quarter-finalsCredit: GettyInjuries to several key attackers have reduced Arsenal’s firepower in recent outings but the absence of Bukayo Saka (£6.6m), Kai Havertz (£4.7m), Gabriel Jesus (£3.7m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.1m) did not hinder them at all in Eindhoven as six players different players got on the scoresheet.This emphatic performance might be a game-changer in the world of Dream Team.Suddenly, several of Mikel Arteta’s favourites appear to be strong options for Gameweek 27.Arsenal are one of just six teams with two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek and the dismal form of PSV makes their double header a favourable one.The North Londoners will travel to Old Trafford this weekend to face 14th-placed Manchester United before welcoming the Eredivisie side to the Emirates the following Wednesday.With such a comfortable aggregate lead, there’s a chance Arteta will rotate his squad against PSV to some degree but the club’s injury list means his options are limited in that regard.Teenage kicksCredit: GettyEthan Nwaneri (£2.2m) scored one goal and assisted another on Tuesday night for a 13-point return to remind Dream Team managers of his attributes.The 17-year-old averages a goal involvement every 102 minutes this season and the right wing spot is his while Saka is sidelined – the England winger is not due back until April.Most read in FootballMikel Merino (£3.6m) also banked 13 points via a goal and an assist.The Spain international is categorised as a midfielder in Dream Team but has been deployed as a makeshift striker in recent weeks.He hasn’t always looked effective in the role but it’s simply true he’s scored three goals in 278 minutes ever since he came off the bench against Leicester in Gameweek 24.Odegaard banked a cool 21 points against PSVCredit: EPAJurrien Timber (£4.3m), Riccardo Calafiori (£3m) and Leandro Trossard (£4.1m) also took advantage of PSV’s shambolic defending but the big winner on the night was Martin Odegaard (£4.8m).Arsenal’s captain scored two goals of his own before he set up his side’s seventh for a massive 21-point haul – his best performance of the campaign so far.The Norwegian playmaker has not provided as many goal involvements as he did last season but he proved himself capable of capitalising against out-of-form opposition in fine style.And with Man United and PSV to come in Gameweek 27, Dream Team bosses should at least consider Odegaard among the viable transfer options prior to Saturday’s 11am deadline.Defensive assets David Raya (£4.7m), William Saliba (£4.6m) and Gabriel (£4.9m) are the most popular in the squad – all are among the six most selected players in their respective positions – and they remain strong options despite failing to keep a clean sheet in Eindhoven.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

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      Which players have earned the most Dream Team points in Europe this season?

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      THE European competitions are once again in the Dream Team spotlight.Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea are all set to play the first legs of their respective round of 16 ties this week with the second legs to follow in Gameweek 27.Morgan Rogers and Christopher Nkunku have had success in Europe this seasonCredit: Dream TeamWith that in mind, let’s recap which players have earned the most points in Europe so far this season.51 pts – Emi Martinez (£3.6m)Aston Villa flew out of the blocks upon their return to the Champions League with wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna, all without conceding a goal.Naturally, their World Cup winning goalkeeper benefited hugely from these early clean sheets, which he fought tooth and nail for, especially against Harry Kane and company.In fact, 22 of Martinez’s 32 saves in Europe this season came in his first four outings in the competition.The Argentine stopper’s midweek returns have been a huge factor in him maintaining a lofty ranking among players in his position.51 pts – Marc Guiu (£2.3m)The 19 year-old forward has played just 70 minutes in the league for Chelsea this season but he’s thoroughly enjoyed himself on Thursday nights.Guiu has six goals in the Conference League at a rate of one every 47.3 minutes.His crowning moment came in Gameweek 15 when he bagged a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers.Most read in FootballIt will be interesting to see whether the young Spaniard continues to get minutes now the competition has reached the knockout stage.Maresca has rotated his squad in the Conference LeagueCredit: Reuters53 pts – Kai Havertz (£4.7m)Arsenal’s No29 cops plenty of criticism at times but he played a vital role in ensuring the Gunners’ relatively smooth progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.Havertz scored four goals and provided one assist in eight European outings before his injury.The Germany international’s hamstring problem may rule him out for the remainder of the campaign and so he’s not an option for Dream Team bosses going forward.54 pts – Morgan Rogers (£3.9m)Aston Villa’s silky midfielder made a huge statement in his most recent Champions League appearance when scored a hat-trick against Celtic for a 24-point return.That dominant display helped Unai Emery’s side progress to the round of 16 directly, avoiding the stress of play-offs.Rogers is one of the first names on the team sheet when available and he is expected to start against Club Brugge in Belgium this evening.With an ownership of 29.1%, the 22-year-old is currently Dream Team’s third-most popular midfielder and so big things are expected of him this month.Rogers produced a masterclass against Celtic back in Gameweek 21Credit: Getty56 pts – Bukayo Saka (£6.6m)Mikel Arteta would feel far more confident of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals if he was able to field his talismanic No7.Amazingly, Saka amassed 56 points from just five European games via four goals and two assists before his injury.More broadly, the England star averages 9.3 points-per-game in 2024/25, a rate only bettered by runaway points leader Mohamed Salah (£8.3m).How gaffers would love to be able to select Saka again before the end of the season.58 pts – Rasmus Hojlund (£3.2m)A surprise inclusion here as Manchester United’s Danish striker has looked relatively ineffective for much of the campaign.However, while Hojlund’s record of two goals in 22 league games is rather miserable, five goals in eight in the Europa League paints a far brighter picture.Given that Europe is the Red Devils’ last route to a trophy this season, Ruben Amorim will do everything he can to motivate Hojlund ahead of two legs against Real Sociedad.It would be a stretch to say that the former Atalanta speedster is a wise selection in Dream Team right now but gaffers should consider which players tend to perform better in Europe when the continental competitions take centre stage.Hojlund’s best performances have come in the Europa League this seasonCredit: Rex59 pts – Mohamed Salah (£8.3m)No list of top performers would be complete without Liverpool’s prolific No11.The only surprise is that the Egyptian superstar ranks just fourth given the Reds topped the Champions League league phase.Salah was rested against PSV in Gameweek 21 but he registered three goals and four assists in the seven outings previous at an average of one goal involvement every 86 minutes – incredibly, that’s a tad under par for him this season.He was slightly hindered by an inconsequential penalty miss against Real Madrid in late November but his numbers are staggeringly good nonetheless.With Ballon d’Or talk increasing, it’s all eyes on Salah ahead of Liverpool’s meetings with PSG in the very near future.64 pts – Phil Foden (£6.1m)Last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year has struggled this time around but he made hay in Europe before Manchester City’s untimely exit.Pep Guardiola’s side paid the price for their error-strewn performances when they were forced to meet Champions League specialists Real Madrid in the play-offs.Foden notched two goals, three assists and eight bonus points in nine games but that’s all in the past now – Man City were the only English team dumped out of Europe before the last 16.Foden’s viability has dropped significantly since Man City’s defeat to Real MadridCredit: Getty64 pts – Christopher Nkunku (£3.4m)The lesson here is that Conference League mismatches are bursting with potential.Chelsea’s French forward was largely restricted to midweek action for the first two thirds of the campaign and he proved himself too strong for the likes of Noah, Gent and Heidenheim.Nkunku averages a goal or assist every 48.3 minutes in Europe this season and there may well be more returns to come as the Blues are the bookies’ big favourites to lift the trophy come May.It would be a mistake for Dream Team bosses to disregard the Conference League as the season draws to a conclusion, providing Enzo Maresca’s troops make it past Copenhagen of course.85 pts – Erling Haaland (£8.1m)Man City’s No9 has been in a league of his own in Europe this term with eight goals from nine outings.But he will now have to watch his rivals catch up to his points tally from the comfort of his sofa following his elimination from the Champions League.It’s notable that Haaland’s ownership has dropped since City succumbed to Jude Bellingham and friends.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn fact, he was the second-most transferred-out player prior to Gameweek 26.Dream Team managers have become accustomed to Man City points aplenty in the season’s closing months but 2024/25 looks set to forge a different path.Haaland won’t be adding to his tally of eight Champions League goals this seasonCredit: 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 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      Which players are out-performing their team-mates the most in Dream Team this season?

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      THE Dream Team Stats Centre tells many stories.One interesting aspect to study is the gap between a team’s best performer and their closest team-mate.Leaving their team-mates in the dustCredit: Dream TeamThese are the seven most significant gaps in total points at this stage of the season, in reverse order.7th: NewcastleAlexander Isak (£6.3m) is 68 points ahead of Anthony Gordon (£5.1m) after the weekend’s FA Cup action, when the former scored his 22nd goal of the season while the latter was sent off for violent conduct.That indiscretion aside, the England winger has enjoyed another prosperous campaign to date and his overall tally of 202 points puts him joint-11th among midfielders.Lewis Hall (£4.2m) and Bruno Guimaraes (£4.5m) have also done well this season, it’s just that the Magpies’ Swedish striker has reached a sky-high level.Among forwards, only Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) and Erling Haaland (£8.1m) average more points-per-game than Isak’s 8.7.22 goals and countingCredit: Reuters6th: BrentfordYoane Wissa (£3.2m) and Mikkel Damsgaard (£3.7m) have performed admirably but the Bees’ main man is undoubtedly Bryan Mbeumo (£4.8m).The Cameroon international is 70 points clear of his next-best team-mate having scored 15 goals and registered six assists.Despite the fact Brentford have not had European commitments to bolster their schedule, only two midfielders have amassed more points than Mbeumo (248 pts).Most read in FootballThe four players with more Premier League goals this term are all categorised as forwards in Dream Team.No midfielder has scored more goals this seasonCredit: Rex5th: Manchester UnitedNo prizes for guessing which Old Trafford resident is carrying the team on his back.The Red Devils have endured a miserable season but Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m) has gone from strength to strength in Dream Team, to the point he’s now the outright best asset in his position.The Portuguese playmaker needs another 14 points to bring up a triple century, something only two other players have achieved at the time of writing.Amad Diallo (£4m) ticked past 200 points just before his season-ending injury (78 points difference) but Man United’s third-best performer, Alejandro Garnacho (£2.8m), is a full 98 points shy of Fernandes.Where would Man United be without their captain?Credit: Getty4th: WolvesMatheus Cunha (£5.2m) has a lead of 94 points over Rayan Ait-Nouri (£3.9m) and the difference would be even greater were it not for his disciplinary issues.Wolves have certainly looked like a one-man team at times this season as the Brazilian takes on numerous responsibilities – he ranks in the top three forwards for shots on target, big chances created, tackles and bonus points.Vitor Pereira’s side are 17th in the table with just 22 points from 27 league games and so it’s not a stretch to say they would be in serious danger of relegation had Cunha not dug deep.The 25-year-old’s lead among the squad will diminish in the coming weeks while he’s suspended but he’s still nailed on to finish as Wolves’ top points scorer.It would be interesting to see what he could achieve at a top-half club…One-man armyCredit: Reuters3rd: ChelseaHe may have gone off the boil a tad in recent weeks but the fact Cole Palmer (£5.8m) remains the Blues’ top star by a whopping 96 points is testament to his efforts across the entire season.The England international is both his side’s top scorer (14 goals) and chief playmaker (nine assists).No midfielder averages more points-per-game than Palmer (9.3) this season.Other Chelsea players have provided healthy returns in patches – Nicolas Jackson (£3.7m), Christopher Nkunku (£3.4m) and Enzo Fernandez (£4m) most notably – but consistency has been a problem.It’s telling that while Palmer is the second-most selected player in the game with an ownership of 56.1%, no other Chelsea asset appears in more than 6% of teams right now.Chelsea are hugely dependent on PalmerCredit: Getty2nd: Manchester CityDream Team managers have become accustomed to seeing several of Pep Guardiola’s favourites hover around the top of the rankings but that’s not the case this season.The likes of Bernardo Silva (£3.9m), Ilkay Gundogan (£3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£5.2m) have not supplied their usual returns and even Phil Foden (£6.1m) took a long time to get going this campaign.Hence why 28-goal Haaland is a full 115 points ahead of his closest team-mate.The Norwegian No9 has amassed 80 shots on target this season while only one other player has notched more than 42. Shot happyCredit: Getty1st: LiverpoolOf the 27 Dream Team players on 200+ points at this stage, five of them are Liverpool representatives.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) ranks first among defenders with Virgil van Dijk (£4.7m) not far behind in fourth while Luis Diaz (£3.5m) and Cody Gakpo (£4.6m) are ninth and sixth in their respective positions.And yet the Reds’ are the team with the biggest gap between their top performer and the chasing pack because Salah has gone supersonic.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Egyptian superstar has scored 30 goals and provided 22 assists on his way to a total of 433 – 175 points more than Alexander-Arnold.In fact, he’s in a league of his own among all players, 101 points ahead of Haaland.Ballon d’Or loadingCredit: 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 NOW More

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      Aston Villa differentials justify popularity surge but blank Gameweek looms large this month

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      ASTON VILLA are very much in the Dream Team spotlight right now.Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m) was the most popular recruit prior to the Gameweek 26 deadline but the next four players in the list were all Villa Park residents: Ollie Watkins (£5.2m), Marcus Rashford (£3.5m), Morgan Rogers (£3.9m) and Youri Tielemans (£4m).Smart loan movesCredit: Dream TeamGenerally speaking, the Villains have already justified their recent popularity surge as several players cashed in against Cardiff on Friday night.None more so than Marco Asensio (£3.5m), who also experienced an ownership increase before the favourable FA Cup match-up against Championship opposition.The Spanish loanee bagged a brace, his second in three games, to land a 17-point haul – only Kevin De Bruyne (£5.2m) earned more points among all assets over the weekend.Asensio has scored four goals in his last 194 minutes on the pitchCredit: PASimilarly, Ian Maatsen (£2.6m) is the second-best performer among defenders this Gameweek at present having banked 11 points on Friday night.While Rashford leads the way among forwards with 11 points following his fourth assist in his last five outings – he also registered three shots on target, two big chances created and a bonus point.Watkins also provided an assist on the night and notched eight points for his efforts.With a Champions League round of 16 away day to Club Brugge still to come on Tuesday night, gaffers who stocked up on Villa assets for Gameweek 26 are likely to be immensely satisfied.Watkins is almost guaranteed to start in Belgium on Tuesday nightCredit: GettyUnai Emery’s side are one of just two teams with two fixtures this Gameweek, with Manchester United being the other.Most read in FootballWatkins and company will also pull double duty in Gameweek 27: Brentford (a) and Club Brugge (h).However, Dream Team bosses should be aware that Villa will BLANK in Gameweek 28, as will Crystal Palace, these being the teams originally due to face Carabao Cup finalists Liverpool and Newcastle.This means managers currently heavy on Villa players will need an exit strategy.A failure to plan ahead puts on at risk of being lumbered with multiple non-active players in Gameweek 28, which could undo the good work of Asensio, Rashford, etc.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

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      Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 26: Latest on Alexander Isak ahead of FA Cup weekend

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      DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news for Gameweek 26 in one convenient location.Eddie Howe was characteristically vague when discussing Alexander Isak’s availability.Newcastle’s top scorer, who is the fifth-most popular player in the game at present, was absent from the squad at Anfield on Wednesday night because of a groin issue.Speaking in his Friday press conference, Howe said: “We’ll see today. I haven’t seen him since the [Liverpool] game, so we’ll have a discussion with him. We don’t think it’s a long-term problem. We’ll see how he is today.”Isak is a doubt having missed Newcastle’s trip to LiverpoolCredit: Dream TeamBoth Joelinton and Sven Botman “have a chance” of featuring against Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday but a final decision will be made after today’s training session.The Seagulls are expected to have the same squad available from their win over Bournemouth on Tuesday night.Unai Emery named Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Emi Martinez, Boubacar Kamara and Donyell Malen as doubts for tonight’s meeting with Cardiff.Ross Barkley and Pau Torres are definitely out.Morgan Rogers shook off his niggle and started against Crystal Palace in the week.There were some concerns about Alejandro Garnacho’s fitness after he headed straight down the tunnel after being substituted against Ipswich in midweek but Ruben Amorim has said there is “not an issue”.Most read in FootballThe Argentina winger did pick up a knock but will be involved in some capacity against Fulham.Patrick Dorgu starts a three-game domestic ban following his red card against the Tractor Boys.Dorgu was dismissed against IpswichCredit: GettyRyan Christie has played through a groin injury of late but the Bournemouth midfielder may have to sit out against Wolves on Saturday.Oliver Glasner reported no new injuries ahead of Millwall’s visit to Selhurst Park on Saturday, alleviating concerns about Marc Guehi, who underwent treatment last time out.Adam Wharton’s workload may be managed following his first start of the calendar year.Wharton impressed against VillaCredit: GettyARSENALInjuries: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai HavertzSuspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Pau Torres, Ross Barkley, Donyell Malen (doubt), Boubacar Kamara (doubt), Tyrone Mings (doubt), Emi Martinez (doubt), Matty Cash (doubt), Amadou Onana (doubt)Suspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Julian Araujo, Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Evanilson, Enes Unal, Ryan Christie (doubt)Suspensions: Illia ZabarnyiBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Igor Thiago, Rico Henry, Sepp van den Berg, Mathias Jensen, Christian NorgaardSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: James Milner, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jason Steele, Igor Julio, Lewis Dunk, Joel VeltmanSuspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Noni Madueke, Trevoh ChalobahSuspensions: Mykhailo MudrykCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Cheick Doucoure, Joel Ward, Chadi RiadSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Dwight McNeil, Armando Broja, Seamus Coleman, Orel Mangala, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman NdiayeSuspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson, Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe (doubt)Suspensions: Sasa LukicIPSWICHInjuries: Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Chaplin (doubt), Christian Walton, Wes Burns, Julio Enciso, Kalvin PhillipsSuspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Ricardo Pereira, Abdul FatawuSuspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Joe Gomez, Conor BradleySuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Manuel Akanji, John StonesSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Altay Bayindir, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Tom Collyer, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad DialloSuspensions: Patrick DorguNEWCASTLEInjuries: Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman (doubt), Joelinton (doubt), Alexander Isak (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Carlos MiguelSuspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Ross Stewart, Ryan Fraser, Juan Larios, Adam Lallana, Jan Bednarek, Kyle Walker-Peters (doubt), James BreeSuspensions: NoneTOTTENHAMInjuries: Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies (doubt)Suspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Michail Antonio, Vladimir Coufal, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville, Lucas PaquetaSuspensions: NoneWOLVESREAD MORE SUN STORIESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera, Leon Chiwone, Hwang Hee-chan, Sam Johnstone (doubt), Rodrigo Gomes, Emmanuel AgbadouSuspensions: None More