Dream Team

NEWCASTLE defied their injury crisis to register an emphatic 4-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.Anthony Gordon (£3.6m) was the big winner from a Dream Team perspective.
The 22-year-old assisted his side’s second goal and scored the fourth to bank 12 points when all was said and done, his third double-digit haul of the season.
Gordon is enjoying a fine seasonCredit: Dream Team
Having started the campaign sharing his minutes with Harvey Barnes (£3m), Gordon has been one of the first names on the teamsheet since the ex-Leicester winger’s injury.
And points have flowed easily for him, particularly in recent weeks.
The Magpies’ No10 has produced 48 points across the last five Gameweeks with another fixture against PSG to come in midweek.
This surge of prosperous form has elevated Gordon up to joint-fifth in the midfield rankings, alongside Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) on 105 points.
With an ownership of 20.4%, he’s currently Dream Team’s fourth-most selected midfielder and he’s also the most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 14 among all players, though it’s early days in that regard.
Newcastle swept Chelsea aside at St James’ ParkCredit: Reuters
Gordon’s form is not the only reason he’s a popular man in the realm of Dream Team.
At £3.6m he’s very affordable, the cheapest midfielder among the top 12 performers in terms of total points.
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After the weekend’s success, he’s now got five goals and five assists in all competitions but goal involvements only tell half the story.
He ranks among the top eight in his position for shots on target and big chances created.
On top that, the hard-working winger has earned 13 points through tackles.
In fact, he’s made the most tackles among the Newcastle squad.
Newcastle face some tough fixtures in the next two monthsCredit: Getty
Gordon is perhaps not at the level where he could be considered fixture-proof but healthy returns against Aston Villa, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and now Chelsea are proof that he’s certainly no flat-track bully.
This should encourage gaffers ahead of what is a relatively tough run for Eddie Howe’s side.
After a trip to Paris this week, they have to face Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Villa before the end of January.
Gaffers should be aware that all but two of Gordon’s goal involvements have come St James’ Park with the exceptions being his goal and assist at Bramall Lane against lowly Sheffield United.

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LAST season, Dream Team managers were spoiled for choice when it came to attack-minded Arsenal assets.Bukayo Saka (£6.5m), Martin Odegaard (£4.9m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) were all among the game’s best midfielders while Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) also provided healthy returns when available.
There were times when Leandro Trossard (£3.3m) and Eddie Nketiah (£2.7m) were shrewd value-for-money options too.
This season, however, gaffers would be wise to switch strategy and target the Gunners’ defenders in search of plentiful points.
It’s like a throwback to the George Graham era!
A solid partnershipCredit: Dream Team
Saka continues to satisfy his backers having racked up 136 points, the highest tally among all players in his position right now.
But the England winger is the only Arsenal representative in the top ten midfielders or top ten strikers.
In contrast, William Saliba (£3.8m), Ben White (£4.4m) and Gabriel (£4.1m) are all among the top ten defenders at this stage.
This trend was perfectly illustrated by Saturday’s result at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side were not at their fluent best in attack but they beat Brentford courtesy of Kai Havertz’s (£3m) header to go top of the table.
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The victory was Arsenal’s sixth clean sheet in the league this campaign, the most in the top flight, and their tally of ten goals conceded is the outright lowest after 13 league fixtures.
Add in three other clean sheets across the Carabao Cup and the Champions League and it’s no wonder their defenders are among the best performers currently.
Havertz got the job done but Arsenal’s defence deserve plenty of credit as wellCredit: Alamy
An eight-point return against the Bees has put Saliba second in his position, behind only Kieran Trippier (£5.2m), with White now fourth and Gabriel ninth.
The French centre-back is Dream Team’s most-popular defender with an ownership of 40.1%.
It’s not that Arsenal have been lacking in goals as such, they’ve scored 27 in the league, the sixth-highest tally, but it’s clear their defence is the reason they’re once again competing for the title this time around.
A closer look at the underlying numbers reinforces this point.
The Gunners have generated 22.5 xG in the top flight, only the seventh-highest total, but they’ve conceded just 10.3 xG, making them the best defence according to this metric.
Essentially, they’ve done very well to restrict the quality of their opponents’ chances this season.

Looking forward, it seems reasonable to expect more points from Arsenal’s defenders in Gameweek 14 against Wolves and Luton.
And there’s a midweek meeting with Lens to fulfil before this Gameweek is complete.
Look back, not forward, when weighing up Arsenal’s options.

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DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 13 in one easily digestible dose.David Moyes was unable to provide much certainty around Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.2m) availability ahead of West Ham’s favourable match-up with Burnley this weekend.
The Hammers’ boss told reporters that he “hopes” his top scorer is available for the trip to Turf Moor but a final decision will be made tomorrow.
The 20.6%-owned midfielder is among the most-popular players in the game right now so a sizeable chunk of Dream Team bosses have a big decision to make.
Michail Antonio (£2.6m) will be sidelined for “a couple of weeks” having picked up a knee injury on duty for Jamaica.

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Dream Team bosses have some big decisions to makeCredit: Dream Team
Both Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and Ederson (£3.7m) have trained with Manchester City this week having incurred niggles during the international break.
In regards to the prolific Norwegian poacher, Pep Guardiola said: “He trained yesterday with some niggles but today we have the last training and hopefully he can be part of it.”
It would be a big surprise if the treble-winners’ No9 didn’t feature against Liverpool this Saturday lunchtime.
Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) came through a competitive game for Brazil unharmed and is therefore expected to be involved for Arsenal against Brentford.
Martin Odegaard (£4.9m) has “progressed well” and should also make the squad while a late decision will be made on Ben White (£4.4m).
Aaron Ramsdale (£3.4m) will start between the sticks for the Gunners as David Raya (£3.7m) is not permitted to play against his parent club in the league.
The Spanish goalkeeper is likely to start against Lens in midweek.
Andre Onana (£3.7m) is ready to face Everton on Sunday and Erik ten Hag may also be able to call upon Luke Shaw (£4.9m) for the first time since mid-August.
However, Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m) is scheduled to undergo a late fitness test.
Odegaard’s return would be a big boost for ArsenalCredit: Getty
Yves Bissouma (£2.6m) is suspended for Aston Villa’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while his midfield partner, Pape Matar Sarr (£2.2m), faces a race against time to recover from an issue that developed while away with Senegal.
In more positive news for Spurs, Destiny Udogie (£2.6m) is said to be “fine” despite withdrawing from Italy’s squad.
As for Unai Emery’s side, John McGinn (£3.4m) trained today and, barring any adverse effects, should feature this weekend.
The Scotland international is Dream Team’s ninth-best midfielder right now.
Emi Martinez (£3m) returned from Argentina duty with “a little bit of pain” but is expected to pull through without missing any games.
Taiwo Awoniyi (£2.3m) is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines having undergone groin surgery.
Steve Cooper could only say that the Nottingham Forest striker would return this season but he’ll certainly be out for at least three months.
Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) was pictured in training on Thursday but Roberto De Zerbi has ruled the Japanese winger out of Brighton’s visit to the City Ground.
In better news, Lewis Dunk (£2.5m) is available for the Seagulls.
Mitoma will not feature this weekendCredit: Alamy
Eddie Howe confirmed Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) is fine ahead of Newcastle’s home game against Chelsea – the reliable right-back is Dream Team’s top defender this season.
However, the Magpies’ gaffer kept his cards close to his chest in regards to Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) condition, refusing to give an indication either way in regards to the Swedish striker’s chances.
Lewis Hall (£2.6m) is not eligible to face his parent club, adding to the Magpies’ long list of absentees (see below).
Christopher Nkunku (£4m) and Romeo Lavia (£2.5m) are both close to making their Chelsea debuts but this weekend comes to soon – Levi Colwill (£2.6m) is fit and available.

ARSENAL
Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard (doubt), Ben White (doubt)
Suspensions: Fabio Vieira
ASTON VILLA
Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Diego Carlos (doubt), Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn (doubt)
Suspensions: None
BOURNEMOUTH
Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Tyler Adams, Alex Scott, Max Aarons
Suspensions: None
BRENTFORD
Injuries: Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade, Nathan Collins
Suspensions: Ivan Toney
BRIGHTON
Injuries: Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March, Danny Welbeck, James Milner, Kaoru Mitoma, Lewis Dunk (doubt), Tariq Lamptey (doubt), Adam Webster (doubt), Igor Julio (doubt)
Suspensions: Mahmoud Dahoud
BURNLEY
Injuries: Hjalmar Ekdal (doubt) Manuel Benson (doubt), Lyle Foster, Jack Cork, Arijanet Muric
Suspensions: None
CHELSEA
Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Moises Caicedo (doubt), Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell
Suspensions: None
CRYSTAL PALACE
Injuries: James Tomkins, Dean Henderson, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Suspensions: None
EVERTON
Injuries: Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli, Andre Gomes, Amadou Onana (doubt)
Suspensions: None
FULHAM
Injuries: Adama Traore, Issa Diop, Rodrigo Muniz
Suspensions: Joao Palhinha
LIVERPOOL
Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones (doubt), Ryan Gravenberch (doubt), Ibrahima Konate (doubt), Joe Gomez (doubt)
Suspensions: None
LUTON
Injuries: Dan Potts, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell, Mads Andersen, Reece Burke, Cauley Woodrow, Chiedozie Ogbene (doubt), Issa Kabore, Alfie Doughty (doubt)
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER CITY
Injuries: Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Gomez, Mateo Kovacic (doubt), Ederson (doubt), Erling Haaland (doubt), Matheus Nunes (doubt), Nathan Ake (doubt)
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER UNITED
Injuries: Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund (doubt)
Suspensions: None
NEWCASTLE
Injuries: Javier Manquillo, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak (doubt), Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron (doubt), Sean Longstaff (doubt)
Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Injuries: Danilo, Felipe, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Murillo (doubt), Anthony Elanga (doubt)
Suspensions: None
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Injuries: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster
Suspensions: None
TOTTENHAM
Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Pape Matar Sarr (doubt)
Suspensions: Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero
WEST HAM
Injuries: Jarrod Bowen (doubt), Mohammed Kudus (doubt), Michail Antonio
Suspensions: None
WOLVES
Injuries: Mario Lemina (doubt), Joe Hodge, Pedro Neto, Nathan Fraser, Nelson Semdo (doubt)
Suspensions: Craig Dawson
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CAPTAINCY is likely to be a pivotal factor in Dream Team Gameweek 13.With the game’s two most-popular captains, Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.6m), in direct competition this weekend and the former said to be carrying a minor injury, the field is wide open.

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Dare you take him on?Credit: Alamy
Many gaffers will stick by either Manchester City’s No9 or Liverpool’s Egyptian hero as they are the top two points scorers this season and could be seen as fixture-proof – fair enough.
Pep Guardiola’s side face RB Leipzig in midweek while Jurgen Klopp’s troops host LASK on Thursday night and so Saturday’s mega clash at the Etihad is not the only factor to consider when weighing up Haaland and Salah’s viability.
Regardless, if ever there was a Gameweek to take on the big two, now feels like the time.
Let’s run through some alternative options…
Bukayo Saka (£6.5m)
Rarely lets Dream team bosses downCredit: Dream Team
Arsenal’s No7 is just two points behind Salah in the rankings and is the game’s leading midfielder at this stage.
With six goals, nine assists and 22 bonus points to his name, Saka has picked up where he left off last season and is fully deserving of his status as Dream Team’s third-most popular player.
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The Gunners travel to Brentford this weekend which is no simple task but the Bees’ attack is stronger than their defence this season and Saka rarely misses out against bottom-half opposition – although Thomas Frank’s side are only 11th on goal difference.
Mikel Arteta’s side will then play Lens at home in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Arsenal lost to the Ligue 1 side in France but they’ve won all their other European games this term and will be clear favourites to exact revenge.
Saka may not be 100% fit but he always starts when available and so it may be worth opting to double his points against Brentford and Lens in Gameweek 13.
James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m)
Mr ConsistentCredit: Rex
The majority of Dream Team bosses are eagerly waiting an update on Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.2m) fitness ahead of Gameweek 13.
West Ham’s top scorer has bagged nine goals in all competitions already this season but a knee issue may force him to miss out favourable match-ups against Burnley and Backa Topola.
The thing is, Bowen is far from the Hammers’ only successful midfield option.
Ward-Prowse has 106 points to show for his efforts to date having provided nine assists – no asset in his position has created more big chances.
And the set-piece specialist’s tally of 25 bonus points is the highest in the game right now.
The ex-Southampton skipper averages eight points-per-game across his last three outings and so it would reasonable to expect a healthy double-digit haul from him in the coming days.
On paper, David Moyes’ side have the best fixtures this Gameweek.
Ollie Watkins (£4.7m)
108 Dream Team points and countingCredit: Getty
Aston Villa travel to Tottenham on Sunday in what could certainly be regarded as a tough test.
Unai Emery’s men are less potent on the road while Spurs remain fourth in the table but, upon closer inspection, this match-up could favour the Villains’ primary goal threat.
Watkins thrives against high defensive lines which Ange Postecoglou has made clear he will persevere with regardless of the match situation.
The hosts are also missing several key players, most notably, James Maddison (£4.2m) and Micky van de Ven (£2.9m).
Villa are the Premier League’s second-highest scorers in 2023/24.
To sweeten the deal, Watkins may get a decent run out in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night against Legia Warsaw at Villa Park.

Dream Team gaffers should also consider the possibility of activating their Max Captain Booster this Gameweek.
This would remove the captaincy headache altogether and guarantee the optimum selection.

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ALL three Boosters are best saved for double Gameweeks and so now is a perfectly good time to activate either Park the Bus, 12th Man or Max Captain.No fewer than eight clubs are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 13 with the European competitions set to resume after a full round of Premier League fixtures.
With that in mind, lets’s analyse how each of the three Boosters might be best deployed…

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A spanner in the worksCredit: Dream Team
Park the Bus
Dream Team’s most-powerful Booster doubles the points of all your defenders.
If you’re going to flip the switch this week then you should use your transfers to revert to a formation with five at the back.
The main reason not to activate Park the Bus ahead of Gameweek 13 is the headline fixture, Manchester City v Liverpool.
Generally, Park the Bus gaffers would hope to make use of the league’s top two sides but such a plan is scuppered when the clubs in question are in direct competition.
Arsenal boast the top flight’s joint-best defensive record alongside the Reds at this stage of the campaign but an away trip to Brentford is a match-up for medium difficulty at the vert least.
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The Gunners have a home game against Lens in midweek so it’s entirely possible William Saliba (£3.7m) and friends could provide healthy returns but there are likely to be more inviting opportunities to play Park the Bus in the coming weeks/months.
That being said, there are big returns to be had with some inviting European match-ups in midweek so if you strike upon a back five that feels strong then crack on.
Max Captain
Max Captain is always on the cards if Haaland isn’t a sure betCredit: Alamy
Saturday lunchtime’s mouthwatering clash at the Etihad may hinder the viability of Park the Bus but it increases the likelihood of an effective Max Captain deployment.
This Booster doubles the points of your XI’s best performer for the duration of the Gameweek, essentially ensuring the optimum choice.
Erling Haaland (£7.7m) is always the most-selected captain but there are question marks over his availability after he picked up a foot injury while on Norway duty.
City’s prolific No9 may well pull through but even so, Liverpool represent a tough weekend opponent – he’s got a great record against RB Leipzig though and the treble winners host the Bunesliga club in midweek.
Mohamed Salah (£6.6m) has scored more than his fair share of goals against Pep Guardiola’s men in the past but a trip to the Etihad can never be considered a truly favourable match-up.
Activating Max Captain would eliminate this week’s sizeable captaincy headache and act as insurance in case Haaland sits out.
However, if the prolific poacher is fit enough to play both games and he adds to his goal tally – as he tends to do – then there’s a risk of a Booster going to waste.
All things considered, the combination of availability issues and the standout options of Haaland and Salah facing tough opposition makes Max Captain a very appealing option.

12th Man
WildcardCredit: Dream Team
This Booster allows you to pick an additional player to score points on top of your usual XI for one Gameweek only.
So which individuals would fit the bill for the coming days?
West Ham’s double header of Burnley and Backa Topola seems ripe for points, especially given the Hammers have not one, not two, but three midfielders in Dream Team’s top six right now.
Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) is a major injury concern but James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m) and Lucas Paqueta (£3.9m) are more than capable of providing a double-digit haul in Gameweek 13.
It’s also possible Mohammed Kudus (£4.2m) will step up for David Moyes if Bowen has indeed joined Michail Antonio (£2.6m) on the sidelines.
Although the Ghana star is something of an injury doubt himself so seek out an update before fully committing.
Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) feels like too obvious a suggestion for 12th Man as he’s the third-most popular player in the game currently but it may be that some gaffers are unable to afford the Arsenal winger.
If that’s the case, using 12th Man to recruit Dream Team’s top midfielder for his outings against Brentford and Lens could be a very profitable strategy.
Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) is a decent shout too – he plays Everton then Galatasaray.
Good luck to you if you decide to pull the trigger on a Booster for Gameweek 13 – fingers crossed for a lorry-load of points!

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