Dream Team

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Captaincy options for Gameweek 20 – Darwin Nunez to star for Liverpool, Cole Palmer a popular choice

      by

      THE captaincy conversation has rarely been so open this Dream Team season.With Erling Haaland (£7.9m), Mohamed Salah (£6.7m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.8m), Jarrod Bowen (£5.5m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) among the considerable number of players flagged as unavailable, gaffers may have to think outside the box.
      Allow us to make the case for some potential skippers for Gameweek 20.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Sometimes a little chaos is a good thingCredit: Dream Team
      Darwin Nunez (£4.1m)
      Liverpool’s No9 is not a safe choice by any means.
      Few players in world football are capable of flitting between brilliance and farce so rapidly and his habit of squandering golden chances is an annoying one but he provides more than his far share of points and his tally of eight goals and 13 assists is more than respectable.
      A 10-point haul in Gameweek 19 bumped Nunez up to sixth in the rankings among forwards and he jumps to third if we exclude unavailable assets.
      With Salah and Alexander-Arnold temporarily out of commission, the Uruguay international is Liverpool’s main man in terms of total Dream Team points (154).
      And it remains an opportune time to back to the table-topping Reds.
      Most read in Football
      Gameweek 20 sees Jurgen Klopp’s side face Bournemouth in the league before a second Carabao Cup semi-final leg against Fulham.
      It would be a helpful time for Nunez to channel his sublime side, rather than the ridiculous.
      Cole Palmer (£3.6m)
      Many Dream Team managers are backing Palmer for double pointsCredit: Getty
      The 21-year-old added 13 points to his total in Gameweek 19 but it could have been so much more had he not misplaced his shooting boots against Middlesbrough in midweek.
      We’re willing to put that down as a rare off-night as Palmer has generally been superb since his transfer to Chelsea, as evidenced by his tally of eight goals and nine assists (albeit plumped by four penalties).
      The Blues are still a work in progress under Mauricio Pochettino but their No20 averages 6.2 points-per-game, a rate bettered by only five midfielders (three of which are currently injured).
      Chelsea have the luxury of two home fixtures in Gameweek 20 although it’s worth noting their record at Stamford Bridge is rather underwhelming this term.
      They host Fulham in a West London derby on Saturday before completing their Carabao Cup semi-final against Boro on January 23rd.
      The stats suggest Palmer will provide a double-digit this coming Gameweek and is therefore a worthy nominee for the captain’s armband.
      Phil Foden (£5.1m)
      Enjoying himselfCredit: Reuters
      Dream Team bosses should probably select a captain with two fixtures in Gameweek 20 but one only has to look at Pedro Porro’s (£3.5m) 20-point haul in Gameweek 19 (the joint highest among all players) to see that one favourable match-up is enough for an in-form talent if everything clicks.
      And boy is Manchester City’s resident wonderkid in form!
      The England international has amassed 38 points across his last three outings via three goals, an assist and five bonus points.
      Only three players have more points than Foden’s 193 at the time of writing and two of them, Haaland and Salah, are out of action.
      Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Newcastle on Saturday in what would usually be a tricky match-up but the Magpies’ defence has looked vulnerable in recent weeks.
      The underlying numbers suggest Liverpool should have put seven past Eddie Howe’s men on New Year’s Day.
      If Foden and company build up a head of steam then there could be bucket-loads of points on offer.
      See also: Julian Alvarez (£4.2m).

      Matheus Cunha (£3.6m)
      Not a West Ham player!Credit: Reuters
      A wildcard suggestion to finish because what’s life without whimsy?
      Out of all available players with two fixtures in Gameweek 20, nobody averages more points-per-game than Wolves’ No12 – fact!
      Cunha earns lots of bonus points for a forward and while his goal tally of six is relatively modest, he ranks highly for assists, big chances created and tackles in his position.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Gary O’Neil’s side play Brentford and Brighton this coming Gameweek – the former are without a win since the start of December and the latter have only kept one domestic clean sheet all season.
      The Brazilian appears in just 1.7% of teams but the stats suggest he’s a smart option for Gameweek 20 and maybe even a worthy captain.

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More

    • 225 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Phil Foden & Joao Pedro spearhead Team of the Week – one Dream Team boss now £100 richer!

      by

      DREAM TEAM managers only have to get their strategy bang on once throughout the season to top up their bank balance.We give away £100 every Gameweek to the gaffer who earns the most points and Gameweek 19’s champion, Joseph Lattimore, earned himself some beer money after notching 194 points!
      Let’s take a closer look at how he achieved such an impressive score…

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Points galore!Credit: Dream Team
      The first thing to note is that Joseph topped the weekly leaderboard despite the fact he only had ten active players.
      Everton’s FA Cup third round match-up with Crystal Palace was part of Gameweek 18 because of a scheduling quirk, meaning Jordan Pickford (£3m) didn’t have any fixtures this past Gameweek – he didn’t feature against the Eagles anyway.
      That minor blip was more than offset by a mightily effective use of the Park the Booster, which doubled the 64 points achieved by his five defenders to 128!
      Pedro Porro (£3.5m) was the star of the show after his superb all-round performance in an otherwise flat fixture between Tottenham and Burnley.
      The Spanish right-back scored a screamer to ensure his side progressed to the fourth round of the cup.
      Not only that, he earned five bonus points and contributed to Spurs’ clean sheet to finish with a 20-point haul – the second-best return by a defender from a single fixture this season.
      Most read in Football
      Porro was Spurs’ cup heroCredit: Reuters
      The ever-reliable Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.8m) played his part with a nine-point haul against Arsenal and would have surely added to his total had he not missed Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham through injury.
      Joseph is just one of many, many Dream Team bosses who will need to find a replacement for the game’s best defender before tonight’s Gameweek 20 deadline.
      Prior to Gameweek 19, we tipped Chelsea assets for a prosperous effort because of their favourable fixtures against Preston and Middlesbrough.
      As it happens, the Blues lost 1-0 to Boro in midweek but their 4-0 victory in the FA Cup ensured healthy returns all round nonetheless – Malo Gusto (£2.2m) was the pick of the defenders with 14 points.
      In midfield, Joseph targeted West Ham’s meeting with Bristol City and things got off to a great start when Jarrod Bowen (£5.5m) scored early on.
      However, the Hammers made heavy work of things after that and ended up drawing with little assistance from James Ward-Prowse (£4.1m), who has gone off the boil lately in Dream Team terms.
      Bowen’s helpful 14-point return was soured by the image of him limping down the tunnel at the end of the game and it’s now thought he’ll miss two or three weeks.
      Two of Joseph’s gems in Gameweek 19Credit: Dream Team
      Phil Foden (£5.1m) has been utterly brilliant this season and he continued to put pressure on Bukayo Saka (£6.1m) at the top of the Dream Team midfield rankings with a brace against a Huddersfield side low on confidence.
      Manchester City’s homegrown hero is statistically the most in-form player in the game having racked up 38 points across his last three outings and he’s now just nine points behind Arsenal’s No7.
      Martin Odegaard (£4.7m) could only muster four points against Liverpool as the Gunners once again failed to convert their chances.

      Last but by no means least, an inspired captaincy choice by Joseph in the form of Joao Pedro (£3.6m).
      The Brighton forward has punched well above his weight since his return to Dream Team, thanks predominately to a stream of converted penalties.
      But it doesn’t matter how they come, the fact is the Brazilian forward has amassed 169 points with 15 of them coming via a brace against Stoke last time out.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Only Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) have scored more goals in all competitions this season!
      Superb work, Joseph, enjoy your winnings!

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 20 – Matheus Cunha one of many tempting wildcards

      by

      GAMEWEEK 20 is a unique one in the Dream Team calendar.Due to the next round of Premier League fixtures being spread over two weekends to give the players a mini break, the following Gameweek will also last a fortnight – starting at 6:45pm this Friday (January 12th) and ending on January 25th.
      That time frame also encompasses FA Cup third round replays and Carabao Cup semi-final second legs.
      As it stands, Gameweek 20 will feature 17 relevant fixtures so gaffers need to get their strategy right if they are to bank plenty of points.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Go bold in Gameweek 20!Credit: Dream Team
      Allow us to propose some transfer recommendations…
      Matheus Cunha (£3.6m)
      Not the first wildcard suggestion this week, the Wolves forward features in just 1.3% of teams at the time of writing.
      Gary O’Neil’s side host an out-of-form Brentford in the FA Cup before travelling to Brighton (one domestic clean sheet all season) and Cunha seems most likely to benefit.
      He’s not a prolific goalscorer by any means – he’s bagged six goals this term – but he ranks highly among strikers for big chances created, assists, tackles and bonus points.
      Most read in Football
      Most importantly, he’s in good touch having pocketed 29 points across the last three Gameweeks.
      The Brazilian averages 6.2 points-per-game this season, putting him above the likes of Joao Pedro (£3.6m), Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.1m) in the same metric.
      Morgan Gibbs-White (£2.9m)
      Forest have improved since Steve Cooper’s departureCredit: Getty
      Another in-form differential who may not necessarily have long-term legs but could provide healthy returns across the next fortnight.
      Nottingham Forest’s talisman has posted 33 points since the start of Gameweek 17 via two goals and an assist.
      Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a New Manager Bounce at the City Ground and the draw against Blackpool in the FA Cup was actually a decent result for Gibbs-White’s backers as it has given him an extra fixture.
      Forest travel to Bloomfield Road in midweek before a visit to Brentford – a favourable league match-up on current form.
      Ross Barkley (£2.5m)
      Owned by just 0.2% of Dream Team bossesCredit: GETTY
      Yet another rogue punt but there’s logic behind it.
      First of all, Luton travel to Turf Moor on Friday night to face a Burnley side that have lost nine of their ten league games at home since promotion.
      The Hatters then face League One’s Bolton for an FA Cup replay.
      That’s an appealing double header on paper; it just depends whether Barkley and friends and capable of exploiting it?
      The 30-year-old has undoubtedly been rejuvenated by his switch to Kenilworth Road, as evidenced by his return of 47 points across his last seven outings – a run that includes two goals, two assists and nine bonus points.
      Following the theme of the week, Barkley may not be a set-and-forget asset for the next few months but his Gameweek 20 potential should not be overlooked.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      If you’re after more mainstream transfer suggestions then the likes of Darwin Nunez (£4.1m), Cole Palmer (£3.6m), Raheem Sterling (£3.6m) and Joe Gomez (£3.3m) are all strong options again because of the Carabao Cup semi-final second legs.
      Remember to lock in your transfer before Friday’s 6:45pm deadline and don’t forget to look at Gameweek 20 as a whole!

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More

    • 188 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Score Predictor tips ahead of Matchweek 22 – Somebody must win £500 Amazon gift card!

      by

      WE’RE giving away another £500 Amazon gift card with Score Predictor in Matchweek 22.Simply enter your predictions for five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracy; if you outperform all other users you’ll win the top prize!
      For clarity, you don’t have to predict the exact outcomes of all five games to land the top prize – that would be asking too much – you simply have to outscore your rivals, meaning somebody must win.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Check out our predictions for Matchweek 22 below…
      Play for free now!Credit: Dream Team
      Burnley v Luton
      A battle between two of the Premier League’s poorer teams, both threatened by relegation back to the Championship as its stands.
      The Clarets have played ten, won one and lost nine at Turf Moor in the top flight this season – comfortably the worst home record among the 20 clubs.
      The Hatters have fared marginally better than Burnley since promotion, they’re four points ahead with a game in hand, but 15 points from 19 games isn’t much to shout about.
      We’re tempted to edge it to the visitors but we suspect it may end in a stalemate that satisfies nobody.
      Most read in Football
      Our Prediction: 1-1 draw
      Chelsea v Fulham
      Cole Palmer has been good since his move but he missed some glorious chances last time outCredit: Getty
      Regular Score Predictor users will know that Mauricio Pochettino’s troops are predictably unpredictable.
      Take this week as an example, the Blues had won three games in a row and looked quite good in the process prior to their dismal 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg – you just don’t know what you’re going to get from them.
      Strangely, both these teams would prefer the fixture to be at Craven Cottage as Chelsea have a worse home record while Fulham have struggled only the road – only Newcastle and Sheffield United have earned fewer points away from home in 2023/24.
      Here’s the thing, only Liverpool have generated more xG than the Blues this season – even a slight improvement in finishing would yield substantial results.
      Our Prediction: 2-1 to Chelsea

      Newcastle v Manchester City
      Game-changerCredit: Getty
      The Magpies enjoyed a satisfying win over Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby but they’re in danger of a reality check this weekend against a Manchester City side bolstered by the returns of Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku from injury – Erling Haaland may join the party too.
      Eddie Howe’s side have suffered defeats to Everton, Spurs, Luton, Forest and Liverpool in their last six league games – a 3-0 win over Fulham provided some relief but there’s no denying their defence have floundered of late.
      City haven’t necessarily been at their fluent best but they head into this fixture have won their last five in a row in all competitions – Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez have thoroughly enjoyed themselves in recent outings.
      Newcastle still boast a formidable record at St James’ Park having won eight of their ten league games but that will be put to the test on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side boast the best away record this term.
      The hosts’ underlying numbers over the last month are a serious cause for concern – it could get messy for them against the reigning champions.
      Our Prediction: 4-1 to Manchester City
      Everton v Aston Villa
      Sean Dyche has done a good job but he could do with a win sooner rather than laterCredit: GETTY
      After an impressive spell, the Toffees have now gone four games without a win, including three consecutive losses in the league.
      In fairness, two of those defeats came against Spurs and Man City, which can happen, but if such a trend suggests they come unstuck against better sides then that should encourage the Villains, who are sitting pretty in second right now.
      Villa’s away record is modest compared to their imperious home form but Everton average just one point per home fixture this season so we may not see the best of either side
      Sean Dyche has improved his side’s defence considerably but Unai Emery’s men average over two goals per league game this season – a tougher match-up to call that it initially appears.
      Our Prediction: 1-1 draw
      Manchester United v Tottenham
      Timo Werner is expected to make his Spurs debut on SundayCredit: Rex
      Like Chelsea, the Red Devils have frustrated Score Predictor users this season by intermittently blowing hot and cold.
      They mounted a spirited comeback to beat Aston Villa on Boxing Day but followed that up with defeat to Forest at the City Ground a few days later.
      Spurs are hampered by key absentees with Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr having departed for the Asian Cup and AFCON respectively – not to mention an injury crisis at centre-back.
      Still, Ange Postecoglou has overseen five wins in his last six fixtures and the Australian coach’s brand of attacking football is certainly capable of overwhelming a Man United outfit with a soft underbelly.
      Only Liverpool and City have earned more points away from home than Spurs at this stage of the campaign.
      Our Prediction: 3-2 to Tottenham
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Think you know better? You almost certainly do!
      Play Score Predictor for free now to put yourself in contention for the £500 Amazon voucher!

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More

    • 188 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd vs Tottenham tips and free bets for Premier League clash with talkSPORT BET

      by

      SUPER SUNDAY comes from Old Trafford this weekend as Manchester United host Tottenham in an exciting contest.We’ve picked out our top tip for the clash with talkSPORT BET – who are offering brand new customers an incredible £30 in free bets when they stake just £10 on football!
      How to claim..talkSPORT BET offer

      Visit the talkSPORT BET website HERE*
      Opt in to this promotion via the OFFERS tab.
      Make a deposit via debit card
      Place your first bet of £10 on any sports market at odds Evens (2.00) or greater
      You must do this within 7 days of opening your account.
      You’ll then receive £30 (3x£10) in free bets!

      talkSPORT BET: Get £30 in free bets*

      Both sides head to this one off the back of FA Cup wins last time out.
      Tottenham are in fifth place and nine points clear of Sunday’s opponents having both played 20 games.
      Ange Postecoglou’s men will miss captain Son Heung-min while he represents South Korea, though have some good options in that final third – including the arrival of Timo Werner.
      They’ve won five of their last six games to recover from a sticky spell and are starting to get some of their injured stars back too.
      While United had won just one of their last six prior to beating Wigan on Monday night and desperately need something to kick them on.
      A lack of goals in the team is their major downfall, with just six goals scored in their last seven games – with three of those coming against Aston Villa.
      TIP
      Taking that into account, we actually see Tottenham claiming all three points here.
      They’ve some really good attacking options and, despite some issues with injuries in defence, will surely have too much going forward.
      United conceded two goals in three successive games before that Wigan clean sheet and something similar could follow here.

      TIP: Tottenham over 2.5 goals at 18/5 – CLAIM HERE

      What’s the talkSPORT BET offer?
      talkSPORT BET are offering new customers the chance to claim £30 in free bets for the big weekend clash in the Premier League between Manchester United and Tottenham.
      You’ll receive the free bets when signing up and staking £10 and you can place that first wager on the game!
      How do I claim this?
      New to talkSPORT BET? Then you could be eligible to claim this excellent offer!
      Simply head over to the talkSPORT BET site HERE*.
      Register a new account and deposit using a debit card.
      With your very first bet, stake £10 on any sports market at odds of 1/1 or greater – within seven days of opening your account.
      Then what happens?
      Your free bets will be credited as 3 x £10 free bet tokens!
      On settlement of the total qualifying bet amount, your account will be credited with:

      £10 free bet – Football Bet Builder
      £10 free bet – Any Sports Acca 4+ selection

      And the following free bets, which will be credited 24 hours after the first bonus funds

      £10 free bet – Any Sports Market

      talkSPORT BET: Get £30 in free bets*
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL

      *18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

      Remember to gamble responsibly
      A responsible gambler is someone who:

      Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
      Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
      Never chase their losses
      Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
      Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
      Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

      Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
      For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

    • 200 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Newcastle vs Man City: Get £30 in free bets when you stake £10 with talkSPORT BET

      by

      MANCHESTER CITY head east to face Newcastle in a crunch Premier League clash on Saturday.talkSPORT BET are offering brand new customers a stunning £30 in free bets when they stake just £10 on any of the football this week – including Saturday evening’s kick-off!
      How to claim..talkSPORT BET offer

      Visit the talkSPORT BET website HERE*
      Opt in to this promotion via the OFFERS tab.
      Make a deposit via debit card
      Place your first bet of £10 on any sports market at odds Evens (2.00) or greater
      You must do this within 7 days of opening your account.
      You’ll then receive £30 (3x£10) in free bets!

      talkSPORT BET: Get £30 in free bets*

      Eddie Howe’s side had a torrid end to 2023 which saw them slip down the Premier League table after being dumped out of Europe.
      The feel-good factor has returned to St James’ after last week’s win over local rivals Sunderland – though they know this is a significant step-up in opposition.
      For City, they sit five points off leaders Liverpool having played a game less.
      The return of Kevin de Bruyne for the second half of the season is another major boost for Guardiola’s men.
      What’s the talkSPORT BET offer?
      talkSPORT BET are offering new customers the chance to claim £30 in free bets for Saturday night’s clash between Newcastle and Manchester City in the Premier League.
      You’ll receive the free bets when signing up and staking £10 and you can place that first wager on the game!
      How do I claim this?
      New to talkSPORT BET? Then you could be eligible to claim this excellent offer!
      Simply head over to the talkSPORT BET site HERE*.
      Register a new account and deposit using a debit card.
      With your very first bet, stake £10 on any sports market at odds of 1/1 or greater – within seven days of opening your account.
      Then what happens?
      Your free bets will be credited as 3 x £10 free bet tokens!
      On settlement of the total qualifying bet amount, your account will be credited with:

      £10 free bet – Football Bet Builder
      £10 free bet – Any Sports Acca 4+ selection

      and the following free bets, which will be credited 24 hours after the first bonus funds

      £10 free bet – Any Sports Market

      talkSPORT BET: Get £30 in free bets*
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      *18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

      Remember to gamble responsibly
      A responsible gambler is someone who:

      Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
      Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
      Never chase their losses
      Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
      Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
      Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

      Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
      For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

    • 125 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Pervis Estupinan and other potential replacements for injured Trent Alexander-Arnold

      by

      SEVERAL popular Dream Team are flagged as unavailable right now.Between the Asian Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, and a smattering of frustrating injuries, many gaffers will have their work cut out for them ahead of Gameweek 20.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.8m) latest injury is particularly unwelcome as he is among the most-popular players in the game.
      Not only that, Liverpool’s homegrown hero is currently Dream Team’s outright best defender having amassed 169 points via two goals, 11 assists and nine clean sheets.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Decisions, decisions…Credit: Dream Team
      With the England international set to be sidelined for “a few weeks” we’ve identified five potential replacements.
      Pervis Estupinan (£3.1m)
      The Ecuador international averages five points-per-game this season and he’s been especially productive since returning from injury.
      Estupinan has notched 26 points in his last three outings, thanks mostly to his fantastic goals against Tottenham and Stoke.
      Brighton clean sheets are ultra rare but their left-back is a strong option nonetheless because of his attacking pedigree.
      Most read in Football
      In just 12 appearances, he’s scored three goals and provided three assists,
      Estupinan also ranks joint-third among defenders for shots on target and fifth for big chances created – remarkable given how few minutes he’s played.
      The Seagulls’ fixture appear favourable from now until mid-March.
      Virgil van Dijk (£4.2m) or Joe Gomez (£3.3m)
      Gomez is assured of playing time in the coming weeksCredit: The Mega Agency
      Many Dream Team bosses will opt for a direct replacement for Alexander-Arnold in the form of another Liverpool defender.
      It goes without saying that neither Van Dijk nor Gomez are capable of providing even a slither of the attacking threat of the Reds’ playmaking right-back but that goes for the vast majority of players in the position.
      Liverpool remain a great team to back in the coming weeks because they remain active in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, giving them a busy schedule.
      It won’t be long before they resume Europa League commitments either.
      Jurgen Klopp’s side face Bournemouth and Fulham in Gameweek 20 then Norwich/Bristol Rovers and Chelsea in Gameweek 21.
      Van Dijk’s viability depends on his condition after his bout of illness.
      Pedro Porro (£3.5m)
      Tottenham’s right-back has improved greatly this season and his spectacular 20-point haul against Burnley has propelled him up to third in the defensive rankings.
      The Spaniard also ranks third in his position for assists and big chances created.
      Perhaps most importantly, Porro averages 6.8 points-per-game in 2023/24, the joint-highest average among defenders alongside Alexander-Arnold.
      Of course, Spurs aren’t active in the Carabao Cup or Europe like Liverpool but his Premier League form has been highly impressive of late.

      Kieran Trippier (£4.9m)
      Back on track?Credit: Rex
      A few weeks ago, replacing an injured Alexander-Arnold with Newcastle’s right-back would have been a no-brainer.
      However, Trippier’s viability decreased when he suffered a severe dip in form either side of a one-game suspension.
      Not only that, Newcastle have shipped plenty of goals in recent weeks.
      Regardless, Trippier is a top-tier Dream Team asset, second among defenders and ninth overall.
      He’s provided eight assists and his tally of 36 bonus points is surpassed only by Bruno Guimaraes (£3.9m) at this stage.
      It’s worth noting that since his wobble in mid-December, Trippier has registered 25 points in three outings – normal service resumed.
      Kyle Walker (£3.1m)
      Points aheadCredit: Getty
      It feels as if it will soon be time to back Manchester City to the hilt.
      Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m) and Jeremy Doku (£4.1m) have returned from injury and Erling Haaland (£7.9m) is close to joining them.
      Pep Guardiola’s side will play Copenhagen over two legs in the Champions League round of 16, remain active in the FA Cup, and won’t play any other top-eight team in the league until March.
      Generally, it’s better to make use of City’s attacking assets as clean sheets have been harder to come by this season but Walker may well be a worthy replacement for Alexander-Arnold given his affordable price.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The experienced right-back is captain and seemingly the most immune to rotation among the treble-winners’ defenders.
      Make sure you replace Alexander-Arnold before Gameweek 20’s deadline: 6:45pm this Friday (January 12th).

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More

    • 213 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Ivan Toney set to return in Gameweek 20 but Dream Team managers wary of Brentford’s faltering form

      by

      IVAN TONEY (£5m) has thrived in the world of Dream Team ever since Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League.Gaffers have not been able to call upon the 27-year-old for eight months due to his suspension for gambling offences but he is set to return to action in Gameweek 20.
      The Bees’ FA Cup third round replay against Wolves on Tuesday comes one day too soon but Toney will surely feature at home to Nottingham Forest the following Saturday.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Time’s ticking…Credit: Dream Team
      The Bullish striker boasts an impressive top flight record having scored 32 goals and provided nine assists in 68 appearances.
      That boils down further to a goal involvement every 143.2 minutes.
      Needless to say, Toney’s effectiveness has translated to plentiful Dream Team points across the last two seasons and so his return is bound to pique the interest of more than a few Dream Team bosses, especially at a time when popular goalscorers such as Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) are flagged as unavailable.
      Thomas Frank will be desperate to call upon his prolific target man as he has overseen a miserable run of results of late.
      Brentford have lost five league games in a row and their only win in their last nine fixtures was the 3-1 victory over Luton at the start of December.
      Consequently, the Bees find themselves just four points above the relegation zone in 16th – they have a game in hand over most other bottom-half clubs but it’s against Manchester City…
      Most read in Football
      Brentford need Toney back as soon as possibleCredit: Getty
      Toney’s return should improve the outlook but still the form guide will perturb Dream Team gaffers.
      Toney would be a far more inviting option if he were about to take his place in a free-flowing, top-half outfit as the West Londoners earlier in the campaign.
      And yet the fact remains he scored more league goals than Salah last season – only Harry Kane and Haaland scored more among all players.
      For added spice, he scored a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the weekend.

      Of course, it’s also possible Toney will don different colours soon.
      Both Chelsea and Arsenal have been linked with a move for the England international in recent times.
      Certainly, a transfer to the Gunners (who have looked in desperate need of such a striker lately) would be something of a game-changer for Dream Team bosses.
      At the very least, Toney’s return is something to keep an eye on.

      talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
      Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 – CLAIM HERE
      18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
      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. Begambleaware.org More