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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 9 – Bargain Liverpool defender a tempting differential option

    DREAM TEAM gaffers have had the international break to mull over their transfers ahead of Gameweek 9 but nothing’s set in stone until the action gets underway.We won’t waste your time by suggesting the obvious candidates – Mohamed Salah (£6.5m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), etc – but here are some alternative options to consider.

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    Hear us outCredit: Dream Team
    Konstantinos Tsimikas (£2.7m)
    Early reports suggest Andy Robertson (£3.9m) may be sidelined for quite some time with a shoulder injury.
    The Scotland captain suffered the setback on international duty and may be out for up to ten weeks if surgery is deemed necessary.
    While that’s clearly a blow for the energetic defender and the Reds generally, it leaves the door open for Tsimikas to prove his worth at left-back.
    The Greece international has always been Robertson’s understudy and so Dream Team bosses have rightly been reluctant to back him due to insufficient game time.
    However, 19-year-old Luke Chambers, the other left-back in the squad, has also picked up an ill-timed injury so all signs point to a long run of starts for Tsimikas.
    From a Dream Team perspective, this coincides with a relatively favourable run of fixtures for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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    Liverpool face Everton, Toulouse (x2), Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton and Brentford before a trip to Manchester City at the end of November.

    Tsimikas isn’t as reliable as Robertson in defence but he’s not shy of getting forward and supplies plenty of crosses.
    The 27-year-old earned 22 points across his last three appearances when selected – including seven bonus points – so he has the potential to provide healthy returns in the coming weeks.
    And in terms of value for money, at £2.7m he’s very affordable and his current ownership of 0.4% makes him a massive differential option.
    You may be able to catch your Mini League rivals unaware with this transfer but there is an element of risk.
    Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m)
    First things first, it should be acknowledged that there’s no shortage of strikers for Dream Team gaffers to select from right now.
    Julian Alvarez (£4.7m) and Erling Haaland (£7.7m) are top two performers in the game overall, with Salah not far behind, while Alexander Isak (£4m), Ollie Watkins (£4.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) have all enjoyed themselves in recent weeks.
    That being said, Manchester United’s No11 looks to be appealing alternative for the weeks ahead.
    Old Trafford’s resident speedsterCredit: Getty
    Granted, Gameweek 10 looks rough (Manchester derby followed by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup) but a trip to Bramall Lane this weekend is about as friendly as it gets.
    Sheffield United have lost seven of their eight league games since promotion and they tend to give up a lot of chances in central areas, exactly where Hojlund will occupy this coming Saturday.
    The Blades have also looked vulnerable to crosses from open play and set-pieces – the Danish forward’s 6ft 3in frame should cause problems.
    Erik ten Hag’s will then take on Copenhagen, Hojlund’s former club, in the Champions League – narrative demands a goal in that one.
    Looking ahead, Man United also face Fulham, Copenhagen (again), Luton and Everton before the end of November.
    On a similar note, gaffers who have kept the faith in Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m) will expect just rewards in the coming weeks, starting with a double-digit return against Sheffield United.
    Rodri (£3.9m)
    IrreplaceableCredit: Getty
    Man City have won every game their metronomic midfielder has played this season and lost every game without him.
    There are other factors to consider but the Spaniard’s influence is impossible to deny, which is why the Etihad faithful will be thankful his suspension has been served in full.
    From a Dream Team perspective, £3.9m is a reasonable price for Rodri right now, a knock-on effect of his red card against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 6.
    Read More on The Sun
    The treble winner averages a goal involvement every 164 minutes this season – good going for a somebody fans think of primarily as a defensive midfielder – and he ranks highly for shots on target as well.
    Naturally, he was among the most transferred-out players during his suspension but it will be interesting to see how many gaffers bring him back in now he’s available domestically.

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    Score Predictor Tips: Rodri to guide Manchester City back to winning ways against Brighton

    THAT’S enough Harry Maguire/Kalvin Phillips discourse for one international break – England play again in a month’s time for crying out loud!Let’s refocus on the Premier League with some box-fresh Score Predictor tips.
    Somebody has to win an Xbox Serie X in Matchweek 10 – it might as well be you.

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    A mouthwatering clashCredit: Dream Team
    Manchester City v Brighton
    It’s a crime this match-up is a 3pm Saturday kick-off as it would make for great weekend television.
    Roberto De Zerbi’s tactics virtually guarantee goals (at both ends) and it will interesting to see whether the Italian goes for broke at the home of the treble winners.
    As for the hosts, the return of Rodri can’t be overstated.
    City lost all three fixtures during the Spaniard’s suspension but when their metronomic midfielder has been present, they’ve won every game.
    Pep Guardiola’s troops will have been pained by their defeat to Arsenal prior to the break and we suspect they’ll be highly motivated to remind their Premier League rivals of their pedigree.
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    The Seagulls have conceded 16 goals in eight league games so far and they registered consecutive 2-2 draws before the international fixtures so it’s tempting to predict two goals for the home side – although Brighton’s last league away day was that 6-1 loss at Villa Park.
    The visitors are the league’s top scorers while City boast the joint-best defence so it’s tricky to gauge how De Zerbi’s men will get on.
    Our Prediction: 2-1 to Man City
    Pochettino will be happy with Chelsea’s last three performancesCredit: Rex
    Chelsea v Arsenal
    The Gunners would have been extremely confident of a win in this one a few weeks back but there are signs the Blues have sorted themselves out to some degree.
    Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Brighton, Fulham and Burnley in succession before the break and while the former victory came in the Carabao Cup, the outlook suddenly looks much brighter for the West Londoners.
    Scoring goals has been a problem but Chelsea’s defence has functioned well – only City and Arsenal have conceded fewer league goals this term.
    There’s a possibility two frugal defences could cancel each other out but Mikel Arteta’s side pack a punch in attack, especially with Gabriel Martinelli back in the fold, and the hosts will have taken a lot of confidence from their four goals at Turf Moor.
    Chelsea’s underlying numbers are good and so, despite the considerable gap between these rivals in the table, we’re backing a draw.
    Our Prediction: 1-1 draw

    A goal for England could spark a run of form for RashfordCredit: The Times
    Sheffield United v Manchester United
    2023/24 has been a miserable campaign for the Blades so far.
    After eight games, they have just one point to show for their efforts and they suffered the indignity of an 8-0 walloping at the hands of Newcastle.
    In a way, their 3-1 defeat to Fulham last time out was just as disappointing as that’s the sort of fixture they need to target whereas the clashes with the Champions League clubs are free hits.
    As for the Red Devils, they eventually got the job done against Brentford courtesy of Scott McTominay’s clutch cameo but most fans would agree that vast improvements are needed if they’re to compete at an acceptable level this season.
    Defeat at Bramall Lane would be an interesting twist in United’s psychodrama but it’s hard to envisage – the hosts’ stats make for truly terrible reading.
    Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes all scored during the international break so Erik ten Hag should have a happy attacking unit on his hands this week.
    Watch out for Sheffield United’s weakness at set-pieces.
    Our Prediction: 2-0 to Man United
    Villa have a great record at home this seasonCredit: Getty
    Aston Villa v West Ham
    Sunday’s lone fixture is an intriguing one.
    Both sides have enjoyed a positive stat to the campaign and are separated by just two points in the table, with the Villains slightly better off in fifth.
    Unai Emery’s men have won all four of their home league games this season, including an emphatic 6-1 win over Brighton most recently.
    In fact, only Newcastle and the aforementioned Seagulls have scored more league goals than Villa in 2023/24 with Ollie Watkins averaging a goal or assist every outing.
    Both teams will have one eye on European away days this coming Thursday but it should be a competitive encounter with plenty of chances.
    We’re reluctant to bet against David Moyes’ functional side but home advantage does feel like a significant factor in this one.
    Our Prediction: 2-1 to Aston Villa
    Top of the league!Credit: Reuters
    Tottenham v Fulham
    With Arsenal and City facing relatively tough tests, this weekend is a great opportunity for Ange Postecoglou to cement his side’s position at the top of the table.
    Son Heung-min looked pained in action for South Korea and Yves Bissouma is set to serve a suspension for his foolish red card at Luton but the home side should still have enough to continue their unbeaten run in fine fashion.
    The Cottagers are currently 12th in the table but we believe they hold something of a false position.
    Marco Silva’s side allow their opponents too many shots and often rely on Bernd Leno’s shot-stopping to bail them out of trouble.
    They’re fairly tame in attack too, only Sheffield United, Burnley and Nottingham Forest have generated fewer xG in the top flight this season.
    Fulham may seem relatively safe now but if they don’t improve soon they’re at risk of being dragged towards the danger end.
    Our Prediction: 2-0 to Spurs
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    Think you know better? You’re almost certainly right!

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    Premier League – talkSPORT BET boost: Get Man City and Newcastle to win at 2/1 this weekend

    THE Premier League returns this weekend after the international break, and talkSPORT BET have boosted the price on Manchester City and Newcastle.Punters can now get enhanced odds of 2/1 for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and in-form Newcastle both to win their Premier League matches this weekend — that’s boosted from Evens!
    Premier League – talkSPORT BET boost: Get Man City and Newcastle to win at 2/1Credit: GETTY
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    Manchester City are odds-on favourites to get things back on track at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with Rodri now back and available for selection against Brighton.
    We’ve paired a home win for Pep Guardiola’s side with another home side in Newcastle to collect maximum points against Crystal Palace after four-consecutive wins at St James’ Park.
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    Which players have earned the most Dream Team points from tackles this season?

    FEW things satisfy football fans like a perfectly-executed tackle.This season, players are able to earn Dream Team points through tackles – one for every two registered in the context of any given fixture.
    This improvement means greater recognition for the individuals who excel in the defensive side of the game.
    Dream Team gaffers shouldn’t centre their strategy around tackles but they should be aware of which players are performing best in that particular metric so far this campaign.

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    A familiar faceCredit: Dream Team
    Without further ado…
    MOST POINTS FROM TACKLES THIS SEASON:

    Marvelous Nakamba (£1.9m) – 16 pts
    Joao Palhinha (£3.1m) – 15 pts
    James Garner (£2m) – 14 pts
    Conor Gallagher (£2.9m) – 13 pts
    Lucas Paqueta (£3.7m) – 13 pts
    Casemiro (£4.2m) – 12 pts
    Yves Bissouma (£2.9m) – 11 pts
    Solly March (£3.4m) – 11 pts
    Amadou Onana (£2.4m) – 11 pts
    Matty Cash (£3.1m) – 11 pts
    Vitaliy Mykolenko (£2.3m) – 11 pts

    Much has been made of the newly-promoted clubs’ struggles this term so it’s perhaps not a surprise to see Luton’s Nakamba at the top of the pile.
    He leads the way with 37 tackles in 2023/24 with the Hatters’ defensive midfielder often worked off his feet in the middle of the park.
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    In fact, over half of the 29-year-old’s total points (31) have come through tackles.
    Those who like their stats will have expected Palhinha’s lofty ranking too.
    Fulham’s midfield general was in a league of his own in terms of Premier League tackles last season and he’s right up there again this campaign despite missing the first couple of games while sidelined.
    However, the Portugal international’s overall tally of 39 points is modest.
    The Premier League’s two tackle kingsCredit: Getty
    The same can’t be said for Garner, Paqueta and Casemiro, who are all among the top 15 midfielders in Dream Team at this stage.
    This trio have topped up their returns with tackles while also registering the necessary goal involvements to reach that next level.
    As for Gallagher, he’s mustered just one assist and is yet to score this season but he’s quietly done a lot of the donkey work for Chelsea.
    The England international’s efforts are reflected by his respectable tally of 12 bonus points and his healthy tackle total.
    If the Blues’ homegrown midfielder can improve his tangible attacking output he may well be a smart bargain option somewhere down the line – he’s relatively viable now.
    March is another notable inclusion as, like Paqueta, his primary job is to provide a spark in the final third but he’s supplementing those attacking returns with a steady stream of tackle points.

    A perfect player for Roberto De Zerbi’s tacticsCredit: Getty
    Cash is Dream Team’s fourth-most popular defender at the time of writing and with good reason.
    Aston Villa’s No2 is a potent attacking threat – he leads the way with eight shots on target among assets in his position – but that doesn’t mean he shirks his defensive duties.
    Read More on The Sun
    The Poland right-back is like two players in one and still affordable at £3.1m.
    Keep an eye on the tackle stats as the season progresses – every little helps!

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    Alexander Isak and Dream Team’s other most in-form players ahead of Gameweek 9

    FORM is temporary, class is permanent.That old adage may be true but in the world of Dream Team, form is a very important factor to consider.
    With weekly transfers available, gaffers are able to benefit from flashes in the pan without worrying too much about long-term viability.
    It’s often the case that tight Mini Leagues are decided by inspired tinkering as one bold individual reaps the rewards of an in-form differential option at just the right time.
    With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Dream Team’s most in-form players right now, using points-per-game average over their last three outings as a measure.

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    Dream Team’s most-expensive defender for a reasonCredit: Rex
    Kieran Trippier (£5.6m)

    Defender
    Newcastle
    8.7 points-per-game (last three)
    75 total points

    Last season’s top defender has been on a tear since Gameweek 5, racking up four clean sheets and SIX assists in the blink of an eye.
    The 33-year-old’s unmatched ability to combine regular defensive returns with attacking contributions has made him a top-tier Dream Team asset in the last year.
    Most read in Football
    Trippier appears in this list mainly because of his 16-point haul against former club Burnley in Gameweek 7.
    No defender has earned more bonus points in 2023/24.

    Son Heung-min (£4.8m)

    Striker
    Tottenham
    9.7 points-per-game (last three)
    64 total points

    The South Korean superstar cemented his status as a Spurs hero with a brace in the North London derby before adding another goal to his collection against Liverpool the following weekend.
    Those two outings resulted in a 25-point influx but, strangely, Son was only able to muster four points against Luton – Yves Bissouma’s (£2.9m) red card disrupted that favourable match-up.
    Spurs’ skipper has slipped into top gear since being moved to centre-forward by Ange Postecoglou and his tally of six goals is only bettered by two other players at this stage.
    Dream Team bosses should be aware that Son looked to be in some discomfort on international duty – an update on his availability is expected prior to Gameweek 9.
    Everton fans have appreciated Garner’s efforts this seasonCredit: Getty
    James Garner (£2m)

    Midfielder
    Everton
    9.7 points-per-game (last three)
    61 total points

    While Trippier and Son are tried-and-tested Dream Team assets, the Toffees’ No37 falls under the category: hidden gems.
    The 22-year-old has earned six points from tackles alone in his last three outings and is one of the leaders in that metric so far this season.
    Garner scored against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and followed that up with another at home to Bournemouth just before the international break.
    The 1.5%-owned asset is technically Dream Team’s most in-form midfielder at present and he’s above the likes of Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m), Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) and Luis Diaz (£3.7m) in the overall rankings.
    Back to his bestCredit: Dream Team
    Alexander Isak (£4m)

    Striker
    Newcastle
    10.3 points-per-game (last three)
    72 total points

    Like Son, there are question marks over the Swedish forward’s fitness but he’s not been ruled out of The Magpies’ next game against Crystal Palace at the time of writing.
    Isak’s injury comes at an unfortunate time as he was back to his best before the break with five goals in as many games.
    His Dream Team form has fluctuated wildly so far; he’s been among the most transferred-in and most transferred-out players a couple of times each.
    The silky 24-year-old burst out the blocks with 15-point haul on the opening weekend but then mustered just nine points from Newcastle’s following five fixtures.
    Since then, he’s plundered 48 points from his last five outings.
    A brace against West Ham last time out has persuaded plenty of gaffers Isak is once again worthy of a spot in their XI but those who have recruited him will need to keep an eye out for Eddie Howe’s press conference quotes.
    11 goal involvements already this seasonCredit: Getty
    Ollie Watkins (£4.3m)

    Striker
    Aston Villa
    10.7 points-per-game (last three)
    65 total points

    Unsurprisingly, the England international tops this list because of his monstrous 25-point return at Brighton’s expense in Gameweek 7 – the best single-game haul this season.
    Watkins bagged a hat-trick against the Seagulls and also contributed two assists in that emphatic 6-1 victory.
    The Villains’ leading man has flexed his creative muscles this term – his tally of seven assists in all competitions is the highest among all players at this juncture.
    Read More on The Sun
    Unai Emery’s side host West Ham on Sunday but their fixtures look relatively friendly beyond that: AZ Alkmaar, Luton, Nottingham Forest, AZ Alkmaar, Fulham.
    Watkins may well be among the most in-form players for a few more weeks yet.

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    Kieran Trippier & Julian Alvarez star in Dream Team’s best XI of the season so far

    LET’S be honest.This international break is dragging.
    But at least this momentary pause allows Dream Team managers to reflect upon the season so far.
    And what better way to do that than constructing the best possible XI of the campaign based on total points scored?

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    Cream of the cropCredit: Dream Team
    GOALKEEPER: Nick Pope (£4.3m)
    As is often the case, the keeper with the most clean sheets leads the way in the rankings.
    Newcastle’s custodian registered five in a row between Gameweeks 5 and 7 which resulted in an influx of 42 points, over three quarters of his season total of 55.
    Pope is eight points clear of Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez (£2.9m) to take the gloves in our imaginary XI.
    DEFENDERS: Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), Ben White (£4.5m), Joachim Andersen (£3.1m)
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    Newcastle’s clean sheets have also benefited their reliable right-back.
    Although the key to Trippier’s success, as it was last season, is his ability to contribute at the both ends of the pitch.
    The 33-year-old has notched six assists already while only one other defender, Vladimir Coufal (£2.7m), has registered more than three.
    He’s created seven big chances and earned 15 bonus points – both season-best tallies among defenders in 2023/24.
    Trippier has 75 points to his name at this stage, nine more than White.
    Arsenal’s No4 has chipped in with a goal and an assist but his impressive total relies on his unmatched tally of six clean sheets in all competitions.
    Dream Team’s clean sheet kingCredit: Getty
    Crystal Palace’s centre-back completes our back three having scored two goals and contributed to four clean sheets.
    The Eagles have been a surprise package in the world of Dream Team at the start of this season and Andersen has punched above his weight since the get-go.
    The Denmark international’s 15-point at Old Trafford was a masterpiece – he’s on 60 points overall.
    MIDFIELDERS: Bukayo Saka (£6.4m), James Maddison (£4.3m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m), James Ward-Prowse (£4.3m)
    There’s a good reason Saka’s prolonged injury saga has caused such severe headaches for Dream Team bosses.
    If any other midfielder limped off in three consecutive games before missing a massive fixture against Manchester City, it would be easy enough to switch to an alternative but Arsenal’s No7 is such a prolific point-scorer when he’s on the pitch the prevailing instinct is to stick by him.
    The England winger has raced to five goals and five assists despite playing at half capacity for much of the campaign.
    His season total of 85 points owes plenty to his tackle count and a healthy supply of bonus points too.
    Maddison is thriving at his new clubCredit: AP
    Tottenham’s No10 is now the second-most popular player in the game with an ownership of 41.9% and it’s easy to see why.
    No midfielder has registered more shots on target or created more big chances and only Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) has earned more bonus points.
    Add in seven goal involvements and it’s no wonder Maddison has racked up 76 points in quick time.
    North London is the home of top-tier midfielders this season with Odegaard completing the podium, just a point behind the England playmaker.
    The Gunners’ skipper is level with Maddison on 13 shots on target among midfielders and has seven goal involvements to show for his efforts.
    West Ham’s new signing is a Swiss-army knife midfielder – he does it all!
    Big chances created, shots on target, tackles, bonus points, goals, assists… Ward-Prowse is like two players in one.
    The set-piece specialist has achieved 72 points in eight Gameweeks – no wonder he was such a popular recruit among gaffers before the international break.
    A popular man among Dream Team gaffers in recent weeksCredit: Getty
    STRIKERS: Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m)
    Manchester City’s striker partnership have combined for 173 points with the Argentine World Cup winner having contributed 87, one more than the Norwegian cyborg.
    Pep Guardiola’s side may have stumbled against Newcastle, Wolves and Arsenal prior to the break but it’s worth remembering that Haaland and Alvarez have scored 14 goals between them already this season with the latter also the joint-second best creator with six assists.
    Who else but Liverpool’s No11 to finish off our hypothetical XI?
    Salah is the very definition of a modern Dream Team legend, a player who delivers the goods year after year.
    Read More on The Sun
    The Egypt international has created ten big chances – no other player has notched more than seven – and has the same number of goal involvements.
    With 80 points to his name, he’s the third-best forward and the fourth-best asset overall – a class act for the ages!

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    5 questions Dream Team gaffers should ask themselves before activating a Booster

    THE introduction of Boosters is arguably the most significant improvement in the world of Dream Team this season.You get three Boosters to use throughout the 2023/24 campaign which, if played correctly, will provide power spikes in the form plentiful points.
    Here’s a quick reminder of each Boosters’ special impact:

    Park the Bus – Every defender in your team earns double points
    12th Man – Select an additional player on top of your regular XI
    Maximum Captain – Player who scores most points automatically selected as captain

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    Class is in sessionCredit: Dream Team
    Each Booster can only be played once and the effects last for the duration of one Gameweek.
    It’s therefore imperative that you activate each Booster at the opportune time.
    With that in mind, here are five questions you should ask yourself before playing either Park the Bus, 12th Man or Maximum Captain.
    Is this an impulsive reaction to a bad week?
    If you slip down a couple of places in your Mini League then the temptation to activate a Booster in hope of regaining your ranking as soon as possible will be strong but it’s best to remove emotion from the situation.
    Generally, your performance in the most recent Gameweek should not be a factor in your Booster strategy – what’s done is done.
    Making up for a dud week may feel good in the short term but playing a Booster rashly is likely to rob you of points in the long run.
    If you activate a Booster in a heated moment, you can deactivate it at any point before the Gameweek gets underway.
    Is my team set up correctly?
    This is most relevant when activating Park the Bus, the most powerful of the three Boosters.
    If you opt to double the points of all your defenders then it makes sense to ensure your XI contains as many defenders as possible that Gameweek.
    Activating Park the Bus when you’ve only got three defenders would be a tragic waste and even four defenders is sub-optimal.
    Use your weekly transfers to switch to either the 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 formation to maximise the effect of Park the Bus.
    Patience is a virtue in the world of Dream TeamCredit: Dream Team
    Are the fixtures appealing?
    As a general rule, it’s best to wait for a double Gameweek for all three Boosters.
    Or at the very least, the player(s) impacted by the Booster in question should have two fixtures at their disposal.
    And it’s not just the quantity of the fixtures that matters but the quality too.
    If your 12th Man is set to face Manchester City at the Etihad and Arsenal at the Emirates then that’s an unnecessarily difficult task for the player in question.
    Patience is a virtue, wait for two favourable match-ups to give your chosen player the best possible chance of cashing in – the same goes for your Park the Bus defenders.
    How many Boosters have I already played?
    Timing these power spikes over the course of the campaign is crucial.
    You could use all three in quick succession in hope of establishing an intimidating lead in your Mini League which may force your rivals to make foolish decisions.
    But don’t be surprised if your lead erodes away later on in the season as your rivals play their Boosters one by one.
    Equally, if you plan to save your Boosters for the run-in you will ensure a strong finish but you may find you have left yourself too much work to do.
    The state of your team and the fixtures are the main factors to consider but it’s always worth keeping an eye on how many Boosters your Mini League rivals have used at any given stage of the season.

    Will I regret this?
    Lastly, before committing to a Booster, make sure you’re not overlooking a better opportunity.
    Check the schedule and imagine how each Booster would work for each Gameweek and if at any point you realise there’s a superior opportunity elsewhere, then listen to your gut and wait for that moment.
    If you activate a Booster when everything seems just right then you can have no regrets, even if it doesn’t lead to the volume of points you expected.
    But if you play one through impatience and it backfires, that will be a bitter pill to swallow.

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    Tottenham top of the league but should Dream Team managers actually ditch Spurs stars?

    DREAM TEAM managers would usually have the green light to back the Premier League leaders to their hearts’ content.By very definition, the players who represent the team at the top of the table should be among the very best options at any given time.
    But is that true right now?

    PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN AN XBOX SERIES X!

    A class act but Maddison’s light workload is a potential problemCredit: Dream Team
    Tottenham are currently top of the Premier League tree on goals scored, marginally ahead of their North London rivals Arsenal.
    Guglielmo Vicario (£2.9m), Cristian Romero (£3.5m), James Maddison (£4.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) are all among the top performers in their respective positions this season but it could be argued that Dream Team gaffers should move away from Ange Postecoglou’s troops for the next month or so.
    This suggestion has nothing to do with the undeniably impressive form of Spurs’ top stars – it’s purely based on the schedule.
    Postecoglou’s men are unbeaten in the league this term but they fell at the first hurdle in the Carabao Cup and last season’s limp finish resulted in the club missing out on European qualification.
    This means that Spurs have just four fixtures to fulfil between now and the next international break in mid-November.
    Contrast that with Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Newcastle and Manchester United, who all have seven games in the same time frame.
    Most read in Football
    Spurs are purely focused on Premier League commitmentsCredit: Reuters
    Maddison and Son could quite easily outscore all their rivals in the Premier League arena but matching players with three additional fixtures at their disposal over the next month is a massive ask.
    This conundrum rears its head as soon as Gameweek 9 when the Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League group stages continue.
    Spurs actually have a favourable league fixture in the form of Fulham at home but, as an example, Jurgen Klopp’s side face Everton AND Toulouse – the Red Devils’ double header against Sheffield United and Copenhagen looks appealing too.
    But Dream Team bosses don’t see it this way as, at the time of writing, Maddison is the most transferred-in player ahead of the restart.
    In fact, the 26-year-old is now the second-most selected asset in the game with an ownership of 41.9%.

    Liverpool have three more fixtures than Spurs across the next four GameweeksCredit: PA
    Gaffers could also use their weekly transfers to enjoy the best of both worlds.
    One could theoretically replace Maddison and Son for more active assets in Gameweek 9 before bringing the Spurs pair back in for Gameweek 10.
    Gameweek 11 features another full contingent of European fixtures so the Spurs duo could be shipped out again before being brought back in ahead of Gameweek 12.
    This is a feasible strategy but it would require four whole weeks’ worth of transfers, potentially leaving gaffers unable to react to other developments in the next month.
    Read More on The Sun
    Playing hokey-cokey in this manner is fraught with danger.
    Whatever the case, Dream Team managers need to think carefully about how to handle Tottenham players while the schedule is against them.

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