Dream Team

GAMEWEEK 30 features a full round of Premier League fixtures plus a generous smattering of European quarter-final first legs.Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and West Ham are the five teams that will be in action in midweek and should therefore be the focus for Dream Team managers.Granted, the European match-ups are likely to be hotly contested at this stage of the campaign with the Gunners, the Citizens and the Hammers facing particularly stiff competition in the form of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.Even so, these additional fixtures should yield bumper returns.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!File under: blindingly obviousCredit: GettyIn terms of transfer recommendations for Gameweek 30, it’s worth recapping some old ground first and foremost.Arsenal’s defence continues to go from strength to strength, Liverpool’s attack remains potent, and Wednesday night’s showing should have reminded everyone that Phil Foden (£5.7m) is a must-have asset this season.We’re not going to waste time extolling the attributes of Mohamed Salah (£6.7m), Ben White (£3.9m), Cole Palmer (£4.6m) and other players we’ve tipped recently – it goes without saying they’re still hugely viable.With that in mind, here’s some fresh suggestions…Rodri (£3.9m)Most read in FootballClass actCredit: Dream TeamFoden is clearly the top priority among Pep Guardiola’s midfielders but some gaffers may feel compelled to double up (or even triple up) with the defending champions set to face Crystal Palace, Real Madrid (twice) and Luton across the next two Gameweeks.And so Rodri has to be considered a worthy candidate.The Spain international is viewed as a defensive anchor but he’s so much more in reality, as evidenced by his tally of eight goals and 11 assists this season. Arguably the best player in his position in world football right now, the 27-year-old produced a masterclass against Aston Villa in midweek to bank 13 points, making it 18 for the Gameweek in total.Rodri has 199 points to his name this term and while he doesn’t offer the same explosiveness as Kevin De Bruyne (£6m) or Jeremy Doku (£3.5m), he’s ultra reliable and a guaranteed starter.He averages 5.7 points-per-game in 2023/24.Ezri Konsa (£3m)Bonus ball!Credit: GettyUnai Emery’s side may have conceded four in midweek but gaffers shouldn’t judge players based on what happens to them at the Etihad.Konsa is a potentially smart selection for Gameweek 30 because of his ability to earn bonus points – he notched three of them away to City despite shipping four goals!Villa’s fan favourite has collected 46 bonus points this season, seven more than the next-best defender.This coming Gameweek, he has the luxury of back-to-back home games against Brentford and Lille.Clean sheets aren’t guaranteed by any means but the Bees are desperately struggling for positive results at present.Konsa bagged 18 points in Gameweek 29 and the additional Europa Conference League fixture this coming Thursday makes him a decent option.Mohammed Kudus (£5m)Dribble kingCredit: GettyAnother player we’ve tipped regularly this season but one worth underlining ahead of Gameweek 30.Kudus is simply one of the best dribblers in Europe – he’s registered more successful dribbles than any other Premier League player this season – and he hoards bonus points for fun as a result.In fact, only Bruno Guimaraes (£4.3m) has more bonus points to his name at the time of writing.Add in 12 goals, seven assists plus a more-than-respectable tackle tally (74) and the Ghana international has to be considered one of breakout stars of the season.Despite Africa Cup of Nations commitments and an injury setback, Kudus is currently ranked fifth among all midfielders – a monumental effort.West Ham travel to Wolves and Bayer Leverkusen next and while that’s far from favourable (the German side remain undefeated this term) Kudus has proven himself capable of healthy returns regardless of the opposition’s quality.It’s criminal that he features in just 2.5% of teams.Martin Odegaard (£4.3m)The safe choice while Saka is a doubt?Credit: GettyMikel Arteta generally selects Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) even if the England winger is only half fit so for the the latter to be absent from the matchday squad in midweek is a huge cause for concern.The 42.7%-owned midfielder may yet be passed fit ahead of Gameweek 30 but his owners should be forming contingency plans at this stage.One possible option is a direct swap to Odegaard, who pocketed 12 points in Gameweek 29.The Norwegian playmaker ranks in the top ten midfielders for goals, shots on target and big chances created.Arsenal visit Brighton this weekend before a highly-anticipated Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich at the Emirates.READ MORE SUN STORIESAs captain, Odegaard is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit and his average of 5.8 points-per-game suggests it’s reasonable to expect a double-digit haul from him in Gameweek 30 with two fixtures at his disposal.Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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ONLY Erling Haaland (£7.4m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) have scored more goals than Alexander Isak (£4.2m) in all competitions among Premier League players this season.The Newcastle striker scored his 19th goal of the campaign during Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Everton to draw level with Jarrod Bowen (£4.9m), Joao Pedro (£4.3m) and Ollie Watkins (£4.8m)*.This tally is particularly impressive given he was sidelined for a total of two months with a groin injury across two separate layoffs.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!19 goals and countingCredit: Dream TeamIsak is averaging a goal every 120.8 minutes in 2023/24 having scored his 19 goals from 32 appearances – he’s been involved in 19 substitutions.MOST GOALS AMONG PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS IN 2023/24 (ALL COMPS):
29 – Erling Haaland
22 – Mohamed Salah
19 – Alexander Isak, Jarrod Bowen, Joao Pedro, Ollie Watkins*
18 – Dominic Solanke
17 – Phil Foden, Darwin Nunez
16 – Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka
15 – Son Heung-min
14 – Diogo Jota, Julian Alvarez
13 – Cody Gakpo, Rasmus Hojlund
12 – Chris Wood, Luis Diaz, Mohammed Kudus, Nicolas Jackson
*This tally does not include Watkins’ goals in the Europa Conference League play-off as neither leg was a Dream Team eligible fixtureWe included Isak at the very top of our transfer recommendations column ahead of Gameweek 29 and he repaid our faith handsomely.The Sweden international scored two penalties in the Magpies absurdly dramatic 4-3 win over West Ham on Saturday and opened the scoring against the Toffees in midweek with a typically composed finish.Most read in Dream TeamAdd in an assist against the Hammers plus few more shots on target and he finished the Gameweek having added 26 points to his totalAt the time of writing, Isak is the top performer of Gameweek 29, although he may yet be overtaken by those with fixtures remaining.Isak is prolific when fitCredit: GettyThe main point is that he produced three goals from what appeared to be a favourable double header on paper (Newcastle’s home record remains strong despite a dip in results in 2024) to deliver the goods for gaffers who followed our advice.Eddie Howe’s side are not among the five teams with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 30 but their game (a trip to Craven Cottage) has to be considered a relatively favourable one given Fulham conceded six goals against Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 29.What’s unquestionable is that Isak is a quality player with the attributes to reach an even higher level in the coming years.The 24-year-old has excellent technical skills and is a graceful dribbler, uncommon traits in a 6ft 4in striker.He’s scored 29 goals in 59 games for Newcastle with 25 of those goals coming in just 44 league appearances.And that’s with him having been blighted by injuries and forced to share many of his minutes with Callum Wilson (£3.9m).Newcastle’s first-choice forward line packs a punchCredit: GETTYIf Isak can stay available for months on end and earn a long run in the side, ideally when Newcastle are over the worst of their club-wide injury crisis, then he could establish himself as one of the best forwards in Europe, such is his ceiling.Such a development would be exciting for Dream Team bosses, many of whom are already convinced of his talent.READ MORE SUN STORIESIsak averages 6.3 points-per-game this season, putting above the likes of Watkins, Julian Alvarez (£4.2m), Ivan Toney (£4.5m), Diogo Jota (£4.3m), Dominic Solanke (£3.8m) and Darwin Nunez (£5.1m) in the same metric.He currently features in 8.8% of teams.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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IF Nottingham Forest are to avoid relegation then Chris Wood will seemingly have a huge role to play.The New Zealand international hasn’t always been the most prolific goalscorer in the Premier League but he’s prone to purple patches when his confidence is high, as is the case right now.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Wood is in sparkling formCredit: Dream TeamLast night, he scored the second goal of a first-half blitz as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Fulham 3-1 to take a step closer to safety.Wood caught Bernd Leno (£2.6m) flat-footed and unaware with a accurate shot from distance to make it eight goals in his last nine league games.Granted, this fruitful run was disrupted by an injury layoff but the stats don’t lie – Wood has been one of the most efficient strikers in the top flight of late.Usually, a forward in such fine form would have experienced a surge in popularity among Dream Team managers but the 32-year-old currently features in just 0.1% of teams.His lowly ownership is partly down to his aforementioned injury but it’s simply true that the vast majority of gaffers have let a load of points slip through their fingers.Wood has scored in each of his last three gamesCredit: ReutersAt the time of writing, only two assets in Wood’s position have scored more points across their last three outings, Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Alexander Isak (£4.2m).More broadly, he’s provided 90 points in his last 12 appearances.Most read in FootballWhether Forest’s No11 is a viable transfer option going forward is a more complicated debate but there’s no doubt his form is worthy of appreciation.It’s rare that a 0.1%-owned player provides such healthy returns.Forest have just seven fixtures left to fulfil this seasonCredit: PAThe main thing working against Wood is a lack of fixtures.Forest have just seven league games remaining with no additional commitments.By way of a comparison, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have at least 11 fixtures left to play at the time of writing, probably more depending on their respective fortunes in Europe.If Wood’s form extends into May then he might be a worthy differential option as he’s due to face Sheffield United and Burnley in the last three Gameweeks of the campaign.Dream Team bosses should keep an eye on his returns at the very least.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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NEWCASTLE and West Ham played out one of the most ridiculous games of the Premier League season on Saturday.One of the St James’ Park ball boys refusing to give up his stool to a celebrating Mohammed Kudus (£5m) was probably only the fourth or fifth weirdest thing to happen as the hosts came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 amid a cacophony of noise.Harvey Barnes (£2.7m) was the Magpies’ hero on the day as it was his late brace that sent the home fans into raptures.All smiles on SaturdayCredit: Dream TeamFrom a Dream Team perspective, the 26-year-old’s 15-point haul served as a timely reminder of his pedigree.Barnes has been one of the most free-scoring midfielders in the game when fit but Eddie Howe hasn’t been able to call upon him for the majority of the campaign.The ex-Leicester winger has missed over 30 games through injury this term but has set himself up for a bright finish to 2023/24 after his heroics against the Hammers.Barnes scored 37 goals across his last three seasons with the Foxes and even earned a senior England cap despite stiff competition in his position.In fact, he’s averaging a goal every 109 minutes for Newcastle since his transfer north, albeit from a limited sample size.A free-scoring midfielderCredit: GettyThe vast majority of Dream Team managers will need to see more from Barnes before being convinced he’s worthy of a transfer but at £2.7m he’s a potential bargain to monitor closely.Helpfully, gaffers will be able to get another look at him this Gameweek as Newcastle are due to host Everton this evening.Most read in FootballAnd with Anthony Gordon (£3.8m) having been shown a late red card on Saturday (as he was been heralded as Man of the Match) it seems likely that Barnes will start on the left flank, assuming he’s fit enough for such a task.It remains to be seen whether Howe can fit both Gordon and Barnes into the same starting line-up at the back end of the season.Both prefer to play from the left but the temptation to name the pair either side of Alexander Isak (£4.2m) in a front three must be strong.A truly weird gameCredit: GettyDavid Moyes was understandably frustrated with how the game played out in the North East but many gaffers were satisfied by the continued good form of Kudus, Jarrod Bowen (£4.9m) and Lucas Paqueta (£4.2m).All three were among the goal involvements with the Ghana star notching 16 points while the England and Brazil internationals pocketed 12 and six respectively.Bowen remains third among all midfielders having taken his overall tally to 264 points with Kudus up to sixth on 231 points.In Gameweek 30, the Irons take on injury-hit Wolves before travelling to Germany to face Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League quarter-finals.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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DREAM TEAM managers are spoiled for choice when deciding upon their transfers this week.With all 20 Premier League clubs set to play twice in Gameweek 29, there are arguably more viable options now than at any other juncture this season.And with Manchester City and Arsenal in direct competition this weekend, gaffers may reap rewards if they think outside the box.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Dangerous when fitCredit: Dream TeamAlexander Isak (£4.3m)Newcastle’s No14 is frustratingly injury-prone but he’s a prolific goalscorer when available, as he is expected to be in Gameweek 29.The Sweden international has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season a rate of one every 132 minutes.With Callum Wilson (£3.9m) sidelined, Isak will surely lead the line against West Ham and Everton in the coming days, with the Magpies having the benefit of back-to-back home games.Eddie Howe’s side have slipped to tenth in the table but their league record at St James’ Park remains impressive (nine wins, two draws and three defeats in 2023/24).This advantage coupled with Isak’s individuals statistics makes the rangy forward a good option.Most read in FootballAntonee Robinson (£3.1m)A smart short-term punt?Credit: GettyThe nature of Gameweek 29 opens up new possibilities and Fulham’s energetic left-back is certainly worthy of proper consideration.Marco Silva’s side beat Tottenham 3-0 before the international break and will therefore be confident of positive results against Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.Robinson provided an assist against Spurs and his haul of 14 points (his best of the season) made him the best performer among assets in his position last Gameweek.The USA international is currently joint-seventh among defenders having amassed 171 points, a total bolstered by his impressive tally of 37 bonus points.He’s the Premier League unmatched master of interceptions and he ranks highly for successful dribbles and accurate crosses too.Additionally, only one other defender, Emerson (£3.3m), has made more tackles than Robinson.Add in seven assists and the only thing missing from his game is the odd goal.Fulham arguably have the most favourable double header in Gameweek 29 and Robinson is well placed to capitalise.Mohamed Salah (£6.6m)The most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 29Credit: GettyWe try to avoid blindingly obvious transfer suggestions but this one is worth underlining several times over.There’s a chance Man City and Arsenal will cancel each other out to some degree on Sunday which would leave the door open for Liverpool assets to cash in, with all eyes on their Egyptian superstar.Jurgen Klopp’s side are undefeated at Anfield this season and, like Newcastle, they too have the benefit of two home fixtures this coming Gameweek in the form of Brighton and Sheffield United.Granted, the Seagulls have been a bogey team in recent years but it’s hard to envisage anything other than an emphatic home win on Thursday night when the Blades visit Merseyside.Salah has racked up 255 points via 21 goals and 13 assists despite Africa Cup of Nations commitments and an injury lay-off.His record speaks for itself over many years, hence why he’s the most-popular recruit by a wide margin ahead of Saturday’s deadline.Cole Palmer (£4.5m)Burnley bewareCredit: APChelsea also have the convenience of two home games in Gameweek 29 with the first being a favourable match-up against Burnley.The Clarets are 19th in the table and will probably struggle to contain the Blues’ in-form midfielder, who has 14 goals and 14 assists to his name since his switch from Man City.Palmer has been one of the standout stories of the Dream Team campaign and currently finds himself ranked fourth among midfielders with 236 points – a remarkable achievement without European commitments to bolster his schedule.Manchester United will provide a sterner test in midweek but the 21-year-old may have already registered a double-digit haul by then with Vincent Kompany’s side having lost nine of their 14 away games since promotion.READ MORE SUN STORIESLooking further ahead, Chelsea only have one fixture in Gameweek 30 but it’s against Sheffield United so Palmer may feast again.Lock in your transfers for Gameweek 29 before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline!talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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ALL 20 Premier League clubs are set to play twice in Gameweek 29.This virtually guarantees a high-scoring affair and so it’s imperative Dream Team managers get their strategy just right ahead of Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Captain fantastic?Credit: Dream TeamFirst things first, captaincy options.Erling Haaland (£7.7m) is the default choice and with good reason given he’s on the brink of becoming the first player to reach the 300-point mark this season.Manchester City have the luxury of back-to-back home games this coming Gameweek but it’s a tricky double header on paper.Arsenal visit the Etihad on Sunday before Aston Villa do the same in midweek.Haaland is at a level where the standard of the opposition doesn’t dent his viability all that much but two top-four teams represents a relatively stiff test – the Gunners boast the best defence in the league at present.So perhaps it’s best to look to Mohamed Salah (£6.6m) for double points in Gameweek 29.Liverpool also have two home fixtures and against more vulnerable opposition in the form of Brighton and Sheffield United.Most read in FootballGranted, the Seagulls have been something of a bogey team for Jurgen Klopp in recent years but that match-up is offset (and then some) by the Blades’ trip to Anfield in midweek.Haaland faces a tricky double header but may well add to his goal tallyCredit: GettyThe Reds’ Egyptian hero averages eight points-per-game this season and so it’s more than reasonable to expect a big double-digit haul from him once the dust has settled.Son Heung-min (£4.8m) is another candidate for the armband with Luton (h) and West Ham (a) up next but Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat to Fulham prior to the international break lingers in the memory.With Man City and Arsenal in direct opposition, it’s hard to look past Salah – he could feast against Sheffield United on Thursday night.Gaffers with Boosters in the holster should seriously consider activating one in Gameweek 29 as opportune moments are becoming increasingly rare as the season reaches the business end.A full double Gameweek allows Dream Team bosses the opportunity to craft a five-man Park the Bus defence to target a whopping TEN fixtures for double points (12 including the standard captain).Time to Park the Bus?Credit: GettyFor example, Antonee Robinson (£3.1m) is a potentially smart selection with Fulham set to play Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.The USA left-back was excellent against Spurs last time out and is currently joint-seventh among defenders having racked up 171 points – he collects bonus points for fun.Liverpool’s aforementioned fixtures suggest the likes of Virgil van Dijk (£4.2m) and Conor Bradley (£3.8m) may thrive while Newcastle’s double header of West Ham and Everton (both at St James’ Park) could be a profitable endeavour for Kieran Trippier (£4.3m) if he returns to the starting line-up as expected.Diogo Dalot (£3.5m), Pedro Porro (£3.6m) and Malo Gusto (£3m) are all tempting options worth mentioning too.Again, the Man City v Arsenal fixture is a spanner in the works but there’s almost certainly a successful Park the Bus defence available for those with the ability to identify it.Chelsea host Burnley and Manchester United in Gameweek 29Credit: GETTYMax Captain is probably the least appealing of the three Boosters this week as it would be a huge surprise if the familiar favourites (Haaland, Salah, ect) didn’t provide healthy returns.Gaffers yet to play 12th Man could choose one ahead of the weekend’s action with a view to capitalising on the busy Gameweek to an even greater extent.Most of the aforementioned players fit the bill and we’ll add Cole Palmer (£4.5m), Alexander Isak (£4.3m), Luis Diaz (£4.2m) and Dominic Solanke (£3.8m) into the mix.READ MORE SUN STORIESObviously, the likes of Phil Foden (£5.8m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) go without saying.Gameweek 29 is all set to be a decisive one – make sure your XI is set to succeed.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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