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    Kostas Tsimikas emerges as bargain route into Liverpool’s points-laden defence

    DREAM TEAM managers desperately looking for an affordable route into Liverpool’s starting line-up may have been presented with the perfect gift in the form of Kostas Tsimikas (£2.9m).At the time of writing, the Greece international is the top-performing defender in Gameweek 10 having taken 19 points off Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen.BARGAIN ALERTCredit: Dream TeamDespite Ferdi Kadioglu’s (£3m) goal at Anfield, Tsimikas banked nine points against the Seagulls through seven tackles, two big chances created, one shot on target and a bonus point.He then earned ten points against the reigning Bundesliga champions via a clean sheet and three bonus points on Tuesday night.Arne Slot has seemingly promoted the 28-year-old to first-choice left-back, which renders his current price of £2.9m very cheap indeed.Andy Robertson (£4.1m) has long been the Reds’ starting left-back but the Scotsman struggled against Noni Madueke (£3.1m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) in high-profile league games last month.The long-serving defender has been a great servant for Liverpool since his transfer from Hull in 2017 but it’s perfectly reasonable for a head coach to drop a player who has fallen out of form.Robertson was dropped in Gameweek 10Credit: PARobertson may earn his place back at some stage but for now it appears Tsimikas is above him in the pecking order.The latter currently features in just 0.7% of teams but his ownership will surely increase considerably in the wake of his 19-point haul.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 NOWSlot couldn’t have asked for a better start to life on Merseyside with his side currently on top of both the Premier League table and Champions League table.Most read in FootballIt’s no wonder Dream Team bosses are keen to back Liverpool to the hilt.One downside is that the most viable players come at a significant cost.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m), Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) and Ibrahima Konate (£4.7m) are ranked first, second and fifth respectively among Dream Team defenders but all three are also among the most expensive assets in their position.Given that Tsimikas is available for less than half the price of Alexander-Arnold right now, he has to be considered a potentially smart selection.Of course, this strategy would backfire if Robertson was chosen to start against Aston Villa this coming Saturday but Slot’s team selections against Brighton and Leverkusen (two competitive match-ups on paper) were rather revealing.Liverpool are flying high this seasonCredit: GettyTsimikas was far from the only Liverpool player to enhance his reputation in Gameweek 10.Luis Diaz (£4.4m) bagged a hat-trick on Tuesday night to leapfrog Cole Palmer (£6.3m) and become Dream Team’s second-best midfielder of 2024/25 – Saka holds top spot.While Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) jumped to the very top of the mountain with a 22-point return, leaving Erling Haaland (£8.9m) in his wake.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere were also double-digit hauls for Cody Gakpo (£4.3m), Curtis Jones (£3m), Caoimhin Kelleher (£2.1m) and Ryan Gravenberch (£3.4m), as well as the aforementioned duo of Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk.It remains to be seen whether Liverpool can maintain their high standards but Dream Team bosses should make hay while the sun shines.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

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    Should Dream Team bosses be concerned about Manchester City’s creaking form?

    HOW quickly things can change in the world of Dream Team.Prior to Gameweek 10, Manchester City were imperious Premier League leaders and undefeated in the Champions League.Suddenly, after consecutive defeats to Tottenham, Bournemouth and Sporting CP, they’re in crisis.Panic stations?Credit: Dream TeamPep Guardiola’s side aren’t truly in crisis of course; their 2-1 loss to the Cherries ended the fourth-longest unbeaten streak in Premier League history and the decorated tactician will still feel confident of a place in the Champions League knockout stage in the new year.But everything is relative to the standards expected of the club in question and the nature of City’s Gameweek 10 disappointments will have unnerved more than a few Dream Team managers.For starters, Erling Haaland (£8.9m) has been usurped at the top of the rankings by Mohamed Salah (£7.3m).The Norwegian No9’s tally of 150 points remains hugely impressive and he’s still comfortably the top goalscorer in all competitions (14) but gaffers who captained him in Gameweek 10 have been left unsatisfied.Haaland failed to convert any of his chances in Gameweek 10Credit: PAHaaland let fly with plenty of shots against Bournemouth and Sporting but failed to find the net with any of them, including a missed penalty in the Portuguese capital on Tuesday night.As a result, he notched just six points from the two outings while Liverpool’s Egyptian hero banked 22 points at the expense of Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen to claim top spot.Those who captained Salah over Haaland have benefited from a huge swing this week!Most read in FootballElsewhere, Gameweek 10 was also a nightmare for Rico Lewis (£4m).The talented teenager has been one of the best value-for-money assets in the game throughout the first quarter of the season but, with City having conceded six goals, he mustered just a single point across his two most recent outings.Dream Team’s new points leader!Credit: GettyLewis remains fourth in the defensive rankings on 86 points but it’s interesting that he’s currently among the five most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 11 – a significant chunk of gaffers have quickly lost faith.Josko Gvardiol (£4.8m) avoided a similarly damaging Gameweek as it was the Croatia left-back who scored City’s only goal at the Vitality Stadium.Generally speaking, it was a dismal Gameweek for the defending champions but Phil Foden (£6m) managed to earn 16 points amid the chaos via a goal and four bonus points – his resurgence is a minor point of optimism at least.Foden provided healthy returns despite Man City’s defeatsCredit: GettyDream Team bosses would be more inclined to remain loyal to their Man City assets if it wasn’t for a spate of troublesome injuries.Guardiola half-prepared fans for these results when he told reporters that he had just 13 players available after his side’s defeat to Spurs in the Carabao Cup in Gameweek 9.While that turned out to be an exaggeration, there’s no doubt the Citizens are feeling the impact of their absentees at present.It’s a well established trend by now that City’s results dip when Ballon d’Or winner Rodri (£4m) is unavailable.On the plus side, Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m) managed six minutes at the end against the Portuguese champions and may therefore play a more prominent role at Brighton this Saturday.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 NOWBut hopes of a clean sheet in Gameweek 11 appear relatively low after 19-year-old centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was given a baptism of fire by Sporting’s hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres.The Seagulls will be quietly confident of their chances on home soil having seen Guardiola’s men give up a string of big chances in recent outings.Guardiola rarely suffers three consecutive defeatsCredit: RexIt’s too soon to earnestly discuss whether Haaland still warrants a place in a competitive Dream Team XI as he took Sparta Prague and Southampton for a combined 31 points as recently as late October but another blank this weekend would set a cat among the pigeons.READ MORE SUN STORIESDream Team managers have rarely had to worry about the viability of Man City players in relation to the club’s form in recent years but three defeats on the spin has set tongues wagging.It will be interesting to see to what extent gaffers abandon the likes of Haaland, Lewis and Gvardiol during the international break if Gameweek 11 also ends badly.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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    Which Tottenham midfielder is the best option for Dream Team managers this season?

    TOTTENHAM’S victory over Aston Villa on Sunday was their ninth win in their last eleven games in all competitions.Much was made of the slip-ups against Brighton and Crystal Palace but there’s no denying the broader picture is an increasingly optimistic one for Ange Postecoglou’s side.Decisions, decisions…Credit: Dream TeamFurthermore, Spurs are currently the top scorers in the Premier League, a fact that Dream Team managers should not take lightly.At the time of writing, the North Londoners are the only club with three representatives inside the top 15 midfielders in terms of overall points.Brennan Johnson (£3.8m) and James Maddison (£4.6m) are ranked sixth and seventh in their position respectively with Dejan Kulusevski (£3.1m) nestled in 13th.Some Dream Team bosses will be more than happy to select a couple of Spurs midfielders but many will see that as overkill and so it begs the question: which of the three is the best option?If goals are the priority then Johnson is the main manCredit: AlamyJohnson has earned the most points (95) so far but Maddison is just two behind him at this stage.The Wales international has been the most prominent goal threat; his close-range finish against Villa was his seventh of the season in all competitions.Only Bryan Mbeumo (£4.6m) has scored more goals among midfield assets – Brentford’s talisman has eight to his name.Maddison’s picture-perfect free-kick against Unai Emery’s mob was just his third goal of the campaign but he’s hot on Johnson’s heels because he’s a bonus point magnet.Most read in Dream TeamSpurs’ No10 has earned 21 bonus points already – only Savinho (£4.1m) boasts a higher tally (22) – while Johnson is yet to muster a single one!Maddison has also registered five assists to Johnson’s two.Plenty of quality but Maddison’s minutes are a concernCredit: ReutersHowever, gaffers who own the ex-Leicester playmaker will be concerned about minutes going forward.Maddison was hooked at half time against West Ham in Gameweek 8, replaced after an hour against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 9, and given just eight minutes against Villa at the weekend.From a Dream Team perspective, his owners have largely escaped punishment as the 27-year-old has pocketed enough points from his limited minutes to satisfy but whether he’s able to maintain such a rate remains to be seen.Maddison will probably start against Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday night but Postecoglou is leaning towards a more conservative midfield balance in league fixtures.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWMaddison is also the most expensive Spurs midfielder by a relatively wide margin.In contrast, Kulusevski is currently available for just £3.1m and has to be considered one of the best value-for-money selections in Dream Team this season.The Sweden international is 20 points behind Maddison (and 22 shy of Johnson) but many Spurs fans will tell you he’s been the best of the lot.Previously a right winger, the ex-Juventus man has been reinvented as a No10 where his creative powers have come to the fore.Kulusevski has provided six assists – only Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) has more among midfielders – and he’s created twice as many big chances as Maddison.In fact, Kulusevski’s quality in central areas has contributed to Maddison’s declining minutes.Kulusevski has rediscovered his best form this seasonCredit: GettyIn conclusion, Johnson is the best option for gaffers who simply want the biggest goal threat but Kulusevski is the smart, value-for-money option.The latter is also the most in-form of the trio having taken more points from the last three games.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd Maddison, for all his quality, has to be considered a potential trap door given his high price and dwindling playing time.18th-placed Ipswich are set to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday so it’s a good time for gaffers to make sure they’re backing the right Spurs assets.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

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    Why Chelsea’s rotation policy is a significant problem for Dream Team gaffers

    CHELSEA are sitting pretty in fourth after ten Premier League games.Only Tottenham and Manchester City have scored more league goals than the Blues in what has generally been viewed as an encouraging start to Enzo Maresca’s reign at Stamford Bridge.Solid startCredit: Dream TeamIt’s only natural that Dream Team managers would be drawn to one of the league’s strongest teams but Chelsea’s bloated squad has caused an unusual problem for gaffers.Much has been made of the excessive strength and depth of the player list caused by Todd Boehly’s recruitment strategy.As a result, Maresca has consolidated a core group of regulars for the Premier League while making extensive use of rotation for the Conference League and the Carabao Cup.This is not totally unique to Chelsea but the extent to which the line-up changes from league fixtures to European outings is noticeably more pronounced when compared to the Champions League clubs.This is partly because the Conference League is not as prestigious (or competitive) as the Champions League and so the ex-Leicester manager feels comfortable resting his top stars.Jackson tends to make way for Nkunku in the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyThe problem is that Dream Team bosses don’t want the likes of Cole Palmer (£6.3m), Nicolas Jackson (£4.4m) and Noni Madueke (£3.1m) to be rotated.More appearances equal more opportunities to score points and so it’s painful for gaffers to see their Chelsea assets miss out against favourable Conference League opposition.Palmer wasn’t even included in the squad for the league phase of the continental competition, with Maresca keen to manage his talisman’s workload.Most read in FootballThe 22-year-old, who features in 61.8% of teams, averages 10.7 points-per-game this season compared to Mohamed Salah’s (£7.3m) average of 9.6.However, while Palmer rests in midweek, Liverpool’s main man has banked 26 points from three European outings to date, hence why the latter is ahead in the rankings despite his inferior average.Palmer boasts an incredible points-per-game average but misses out on midweek fixturesCredit: GettySimilarly, Jackson has scored six goals and provided three assists in just ten league outings but he hasn’t played a single minute outside the top flight – Christopher Nkunku (£4.2m) has led the line in the additional competitions.The Senegal international averages an impressive 7.9 points-per-game, a rate only bettered by four forwards, but his overall tally of 79 points put him just 11th among assets in his position.The fact he sits out on Thursday nights is a huge blow to his viability.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 NOWLast season, Dream Team managers were able to target the Conference League match-ups because many of Aston Villa’s regulars in the competition were also starters in the league.That simply isn’t the case with Chelsea this time around and so gaffers would almost be better off treating the West Londoners as a non-European team.Maresca might see things differently if his side qualify for the knockout stage, which they are well on course to do as current league leaders, but that’s a while away yet.READ MORE SUN STORIESPalmer is the second-most popular player in Dream TeamCredit: GettySuch is Palmer’s quality, his comparatively relaxed schedule hasn’t been an issue so far as he’s racked up 107 points from ten outings via seven goals and five assists – Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) is the only midfielder above him in the rankings.But his backers must be somewhat frustrated he won’t be unleashed upon the likes of FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana and Shamrock Rovers between now and Christmas.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

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    Dominic Solanke repays his backers’ loyalty with 21-point splurge – time for doubters to backtrack?

    DOMINIC SOLANKE (£4m) was the weekend’s biggest winner from a Dream Team perspective.The Tottenham striker scored two goals in the space of four minutes on his way to a massive 21-point haul against Aston Villa on Sunday.On targetCredit: Dream TeamSolanke was also credited with a ‘fantasy assist’ by stats providers Opta as he won the free-kick that was expertly converted by James Maddison (£4.6m) in stoppage time.Gameweek 10 is not done yet but at this stage the 27-year-old is the top performer.This points splurge couldn’t have come at a better time for Solanke’s backers as their patience has been tested in recent weeks.He mustered just 16 points from six outings prior to his brace against the Villains and, for all his neat link-up play and tireless running, his lack of threat in the penalty area was a notable issue.In fact, Solanke didn’t register a single shot on target in the six games leading into Sunday’s performance.Solanke produced a composed finish to end his goal droughtCredit: RexAlmost 10% of Dream Team managers will be hoping his latest showing will kickstart a fruitful spell in front of goal – he bagged 21 in all competitions for Bournemouth last season.Gaffers who replaced Solanke prior to Gameweek 10 will obviously be kicking themselves but it was a perfectly logical decision to move away from a striker without a single shot on target in his last six games.The Dream Team gods can be kind but they can also be cruel.Most read in FootballThe question now is worthy it’s a sensible move to bring the England striker back into the fold?Spurs are due to host 18th-placed Ipswich in Gameweek 11, one of just two top flight sides without a league win in 2024/25.Only Wolves have conceded more goals than the Tractor Boys at the time of writing and so it has to be considered an immensely favourable fixture for Solanke and company next weekend.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWGameweek 12 brings a tougher test in the form of Manchester City and Roma but there’s an international break to endure before then.It’s amazing how quickly things can change in Dream Team; Spurs’ No19 looked to be a sensible sell just a few days ago but now has to be considered a strong option for the upcoming Gameweek.It’s early days but Solanke is currently the most transferred-in player for Gameweek 11.Spurs have won nine of their last 11 gamesCredit: PAMore broadly, Spurs are now top scorers in the Premier League this season.This combined with a perfect start of three wins in three Europa League games indicates there’s certainly value to be had among Ange Postecoglou’s squad.READ MORE SUN STORIESBrennan Johnson (£3.8m), James Maddison (£4.6m) and Dejan Kulusevski (£3.1m) are all among the top 13 Dream Team midfielders while Solanke is up to fourth among strikers.Plus, Son Heung-min (£5.3m) averages eight points-per-game so far this campaign.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

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    Bruno Fernandes becomes Dream Team’s most in-form player ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival

    ALL of a sudden Bruno Fernandes (£5.9m) is Dream Team’s most in-form player.Manchester United’s captain scored a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday as part of an impressive 14-point haul.The Portugal international also created two big chances, made four tackles, and earned a bonus point at Old Trafford to continue his sharp upturn in form.On the upCredit: Dream TeamFernandes notched 23 points in Gameweek 9 at the expense of West Ham and Leicester, with the latter taking the brunt of the damage.A unmatched spree of 37 points across his last three outings has propelled the 30-year-old up the rankings – he’s now joint-ninth among midfielders.Goal involvements largely escaped Fernandes across the first seven Gameweeks of the season but three goals and an assist in his last four appearances have balanced the scales.Experienced Dream Team bosses will know that he always tends to end up among the top performers in his position and so this surge of form should not be overlooked.Fernandes’ numbers are heading in the right directionCredit: GettyThree goals represents a modest return at this stage but Fernandes is a viable selection because he offers multiple avenues to points.Only six midfielders have registered more assists but it could be argued that the Red Devils’ talisman deserves a higher rank in the metric as only Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) and Cole Palmer (£6.3m) have created more big chances for their team-mates.Fernandes has also made 29 tackles in all competitions, an impressive tally for a predominantly attack-minded player.Most read in FootballGameweek 10 isn’t done yet as Man United will host PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night with the English giants seeking their first win in the competition this campaign.Gameweek 11 then brings a home game against Leicester, which should favour Fernandes and company given they beat the Foxes 5-2 in the Carabao Cup just a few days ago.It will be interesting to see how Amorim uses FernandesCredit: PARuben Amorim will then officially take charge during the international break, ending Ruud van Nistelrooy’s spell as interim manager.It will be very interesting to see how Man United fare from Gameweek 12 onwards as the Portuguese tactician has overseen a spotless record of ten wins from ten league games as Sporting CP boss so far this term.Gaffers will be wary that Erik ten Hag also arrived at Old Trafford with a significant reputation and the Dutchman’s appointment didn’t result in an influx of plentiful points, quite the opposite for the most part.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 NOWHowever, Fernandes did thrive in the world of Dream Team despite the malaise that dogged the Red Devils for the majority of last season.If Amorim is able to get a sweeter tune out of this expensive squad then Fernandes is surely among the most likely beneficiaries?At the time of writing, Fernandes appears in 9.8% of teams – it’s rare that an asset with such a strong historical record features in fewer than 10% of teams.His price tag of £5.9m is a potential blockade as that makes him the fifth-most expensive midfielder in the game but 37 points since the start of Gameweek 9 speaks volumes.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

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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 10: Latest news on Gabriel, Eberechi Eze and other key players

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 10 in one easily digestible dose.Dream Team managers should know to take Mikel Arteta’s quotes with a pinch of salt but Arsenal’s head coach told reporters that Gabriel will be included in the matchday squad to face Newcastle if the defender makes it through the final training session without complaint.Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard remain sidelined while Ben White is also a major doubt having been unable to train.As for the Magpies, Eddie Howe admitted both Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are carrying “niggling injuries” with the pair to be assessed before confirmation of their availability.Gabriel is the most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 10Credit: ReutersPep Guardiola told journalists that he had just 13 senior players fit after Manchester City’s defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.While that may have been an exaggeration from the decorated tactician, the defending champions will be missing several key men again this weekend.Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are the certainties (plus long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb) while Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho were all flagged in midweek – the latter was stretchered off.It might not mean anything but Gvardiol posted a relatively positive update on social media on Thursday: “We keep moving forward with full focus on Saturday!”The Croatian left-back is the most-selected defender in Dream Team right now with an ownership of 28.9%.Elsewhere, Micky van de Ven suffered a hamstring injury in midweek and is expected to be unavailable until after the international break.Most read in FootballCristian Romero and Timo Werner are both doubts but Son Heung-min “should be okay” when Spurs host Aston Villa on Sunday.Unai Emery has nearly a complete squad to choose from – Ross Barkley is the only known absentee.Van de Ven has injured his hamstringCredit: ReutersArne Slot expects Alisson, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa to return after the international break.Lewis Dunk was initially expected to miss the next three or four weeks but Fabian Hurzeler said Brighton’s long-serving centre-back was set to undergo an assessment on Friday – it would still be surprise if he featured at Anfield on Saturday.Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley have returned to training but this weekend may come too soon in regards to competitive action.Dwight McNeil is considered a doubt for Everton’s trip to Southampton on Saturday.The 24-year-old, who ranks joint-sixth among Dream Team midfielders, supposedly “has a chance” of playing some part against Saints but he’s yet to train with the rest of the squad.Abdoulaye Doucoure is also due for an assessment.Eze is unavailable for Palace this weekendCredit: PANuno Espirito Santo kept his cards close to his chest in his press conference on Thursday but Chris Wood, Elliot Anderson, Jota Silva and Morgan Gibbs-White were all named as doubts.Nottingham Forest will definitely be without James Ward-Prowse as he’s ineligible to face his parent club.Crystal Palace will be without key players Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton for their visit to Wolves.The former will miss two league games with a hamstring injury while the latter may be sidelined for a month having had surgery on his troublesome groin.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWARSENALInjuries: Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel (doubt), Ben White (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Ross BarkleySuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Kepa Arrizabalaga (doubt), Dango OuattaraSuspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Rico Henry, Kristoffer AjerSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March, Matt O’Riley (doubt), James Milner, Joao Pedro (doubt), Adam Webster, Yankuba Minteh (doubt), Lewis Dunk (doubt), Ferdi Kadioglu (doubt)Suspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma, Joel WardSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam, James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucoure (doubt), Dwight McNeil (doubt)Suspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Sasa Lukic, Carlos Vinicius (doubt)Suspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: Axel Tuanzebe, Massimo Luongo, Ben Johnson (doubt), Jacob Greaves, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack TaylorSuspensions: Harry ClarkeLEICESTERInjuries: Patson Daka, Jakub Stolarczyk, Hamza Choudhury, Issahaku Fatawu, Victor Kristiansen (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Alisson, Diogo JotaSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Savinho (doubt), Manuel Akanji (doubt), Josko Gvardiol (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, AntonySuspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak (doubt), Anthony Gordon (doubt), Jacob Murphy Suspensions: NoneNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White (doubt), Chris Wood (doubt), Jota Silva (doubt), Elliot Anderson (doubt)Suspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will Smallbone, Ryan Fraser (doubt), Flynn Downes (doubt), Ryan Manning (doubt)Suspensions: NoneTOTTENHAMInjuries: Son Heung-min (doubt), Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero (doubt), Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner (doubt)Suspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Niclas FullkrugSuspensions: Mohammed KudusWOLVESREAD MORE SUN STORIESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Bastien Meupiyou (doubt), Yerson MosqueraSuspensions: NoneBetMGM 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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    Captaincy options for Gameweek 10: Should gaffers target Mohamed Salah’s Anfield double header?

    WITH Saturday’s 11am deadline drawing near, Dream Team managers need to choose a captain (and vice captain) for Gameweek 10.There are many, many gaffers who prefer to keep the armband on Erling Haaland (£8.9m) regardless of the fixtures and it’s difficult to argue with that approach given he averages 12 points-per-game this season.However, could it be that Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) is actually the better option for the coming Gameweek?Home comfortsCredit: Dream TeamManchester City are due to travel to Bournemouth and Sporting CP amid an injury crisis; Pep Guardiola claimed he had just 13 players available after his side’s midweek defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.The champions have a flawless record against the Cherries but Andoni Iraola’s side knocked off Arsenal in their last home game and held Aston Villa to a draw last weekend.And it’s a bad time to visit the Portuguese champions as Ruben Amorim’s side have won all nine of their league games this season and remain undefeated in the Champions League.Haaland is a prolific goalscorer who could easily make a mockery of this double header but with many of his providers sidelined it might be an opportune moment to captain somebody else.Haaland has a habit of punishing his doubtersCredit: GettyThis is not to say Salah has exceedingly favourable fixtures.Liverpool are due to face Brighton again after their 3-2 win in the Carabao Cup on the south coast, only this time on home soil. The Seagulls are currently sixth in the table and are not to be underestimated but they tend to concede their fair share of goals and an injury to Lewis Dunk might render them more vulnerable than usual.Most read in FootballArne Slot’s troops will then host Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.The defending Bundesliga champions represent tough opposition but they’re not the all-conquering underdogs they were last season – they’ve failed to win half their league games this term and are already five points behind Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.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 NOWWhat Salah has over Haaland is the luxury of back-to-back home games.Liverpool boast such a strong record at Anfield and their Egyptian No11 remains the most potent threat – he’s racked up 133 points via eight goals and seven assists across the first nine Gameweeks of the season.The temptation to back Salah in back-to-back home games is strongCredit: GettyElsewhere, Bukayo Saka (£6.8m) is the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 10 following his return to fitness and some Dream Team bosses may be tempted to strap the armband to Dream Team’s top midfielder.However, like Haaland, Arsenal’s No7 faces back-to-back away games in the form of Newcastle and Inter.The Magpies aren’t at their best right now but still those match-ups aren’t overly appealing.Last week, we suggested Bryan Mbeumo as a strong captaincy choice for those who wanted to go against the grain.Gaffers who took the risk were rewarded with a whopping 25-point return (doubled to 50!) from Brentford’s talisman.WildcardCredit: RexThis week, how about Alejandro Garnacho (£3.9m) as a left-field skipper?READ MORE SUN STORIESManchester United’s 20-year-old winger banked 20 points in Gameweek 9 and registered the most shots on target among midfield assets this season.The Red Devils will host Chelsea and PAOK in Gameweek 10 and if Garnacho starts both fixtures he could thrive again.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