Dream Team

MANY Dream Team managers would have been expecting Manchester City to register a more convincing victory over Southampton at the Etihad on Saturday.When Erling Haaland (£8.9m) opened the scoring within five minutes it seemed as if the points would flow freely all afternoon but the hosts failed to convert any of their other 21 shots.Haaland could (and should) have earned even more points against SaintsCredit: APA 1-0 result meant more clean sheet points for the likes of Rico Lewis (£4m) and Josko Gvardiol (£4.8m) but Savinho (£4m) was the only player other than Haaland to register a double-digit haul.The 20-year-old banked ten points when all was said and done, thanks primarily to five bonus points, the maximum available for a single fixture.Savinho is a winger in the truest sense in that he loves to take defenders on and seeks out team-mates in the final third.He ranks third for successful dribbles among all players, just behind Morgan Rogers (£3.3m) and Mohammed Kudus (£5.1m), and fourth for accurate crosses.Add in a respectable pass completion rate of 87% and a handful of fouls won and it’s no wonder Savinho is leading the way for total bonus points at the time of writing.Savinho has been in good form latelyCredit: ReutersThe Brazil international is level with James Maddison (£4.6m) on 21 bonus points midway through Gameweek 9.MOST BONUS POINTS THIS SEASONSavinho – 21 ptsJames Maddison – 21 ptsYouri Tielemans – 18 ptsRyan Gravenberch – 17 ptsEberechi Eze – 16 ptsBruno Guimaraes – 16 ptsDwight McNeil – 15 ptsAnthony Gordon – 14 ptsMost read in FootballSavinho is yet to score for his new club but his collection of bonus points, plus five assists, has resulted in an overall total of 68 points at an average of 6.2 per game.Furthermore, only three midfielders – Bryan Mbeumo (£4.4m), Facundo Buonanotte (£3.4m) and Matheus Nunes (£3.6m) – have taken more points from their last three outings.New kid on the blockCredit: GettyWith injuries to Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m), Jeremy Doku (£4.5m) and Jack Grealish (£3.4m), the former Girona wide man has taken advantage of his increased playing time with an influx of 26 points since the start of Gameweek 8.He may well extend his good form if given another appearance against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup last 16 on Wednesday night.Looking further ahead, Pep Guardiola’s side will face Bournemouth and Sporting CP in Gameweek 10 before a trip to Brighton in Gameweek 11 sees in the November international break.At the time of writing, Savinho features in just 4.2% of teams and therefore has to be considered a potentially smart differential option in midfield.He’s certainly a player to monitor closely.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

THE resurgence of Chris Wood over the last year has been one of the Premier League’s most surprising narratives.After hitting double figures in the top flight four seasons in a row for Sean Dyche’s Burnley, the New Zealand international earned a move to Newcastle midway through the 2021/22 season.However, he mustered just five goals in 39 appearances for the Magpies and was swiftly moved onto Nottingham Forest.Wood is thriving at ForestCredit: Dream TeamFor a while, it seemed as if Wood would have to be content with being a second-string player at the City Ground but the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo in the east midlands prompted a dramatic upturn.The experienced target man has scored 18 goals in 25 league games since the Portuguese tactician took charge!After his brace against Leicester on Friday night, Wood has seven goals from just nine outings this season – only Erling Haaland (£8.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) have scored more in all competitions among Dream Team forwards at this stage.Statistically, Wood is Dream Team’s most in-form striker right now having plundered 35 points from his last three games via four goals.Seven goals in nine league games has to be respectedCredit: AFPThe 32-year-old is undoubtedly one of Premier League’s sharpest shooters this term but Dream Team bosses will have noted his lack of extracurricular activities.Forest don’t have European commitments to pad out their schedule and Wood didn’t feature in his side’s only Carabao Cup of the campaign, when they were eliminated on penalties by Newcastle back in August.As a result, he’s played just 728 minutes in 2024/25.Most read in FootballFor comparison, Haaland and Salah, the game’s top two point scorers, have both played over 1,000 minutes already.Wood’s comparatively low playing time is why he ranks eighth among Dream Team strikers despite his impressive average of 8.1 points-per-game.Nuno is getting a fine tune out of WoodCredit: ReutersAs it stands, only Bryan Mbeumo (£4.4m) has taken more points than Wood from Gameweek 9 but the latter may be overhauled in midweek as Forest are among the minority of seven top-flight teams not involved in the Carabao Cup round 16.Looking further ahead, Gameweeks 10 and 12 feature European fixtures for those involved in the league phases of the continental competitions, meaning more game time for many of Wood’s rivals.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 NOWIf Forest’s No11 continues his league form heading into Christmas, when all 20 teams will fulfil four fixtures over the space of three Gameweeks, then he may well be a difference-maker for that particular period.But it will be tough for him to keep pace with assets active in Europe for the next month or so.That being said, credit where it’s due, Wood has played the best football of his career since he combined with Nuno – long may it continue!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

DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 9 in one easily digestible dose.Ange Postecoglou tossed a spanner in the works in his Friday press conference when he labelled Son Heung-min “unlikely” to feature for Tottenham at Crystal Palace this weekend.Son is a major doubt once again following his comeback game last weekendCredit: RexThe South Korean superstar returned from injury last weekend but complained of “soreness” after his impressive performance against West Ham.It remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old will feature against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek.Diogo Jota incurred a rib injury in Gameweek 8 and will not travel with the Liverpool squad to Arsenal this Sunday.Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley are doubts for the Reds while Alisson and Harvey Elliott remain sidelined.As for the Gunners, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were all missing from Friday’s open training session and are therefore major doubts for this weekend’s blockbuster clash.Mikel Arteta kept his cards close to his chest when asked about all three players, not that Dream Team bosses will place much trust in the Spaniard’s words after last week.Calafiori was forced off in midweekCredit: AlamyWhat is known is that this game comes too soon for Martin Odegaard while William Saliba is set to serve his one-game suspension following his much-discussed red card at Bournemouth.To round off the title challengers, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Kyle Walker are Manchester City’s absentees ahead of Southampton’s visit to Etihad on Saturday.While Aston Villa have a clean bill of health; Jaden Philogene is suspended having been sent off at Fulham last weekend.Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has undergone surgery on his knee and will be unavailable for at least six weeks.Luis Sinisterra’s injury is less severe but he also won’t feature for the Cherries at Villa Park on Saturday.Kudus is suspended after his red card against SpursCredit: PAMohammed Kudus starts his three-game ban (which may yet be extended) after his dismissal for violent conduct against Spurs last weekend.Julen Lopetegui offered no other availability updates during his press conference but Niclas Fullkrug most likely still incapacitated. As for the Hammers’ weekend opponents, Manchester United, Antony was stretchered off against Fenerbahce on Thursday night and will surely be absent from the next matchday squad.Bruno Fernandes is expected to return having skipped Europa League duties.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, Jurrien Timber (doubt), Bukayo Saka (doubt), Riccardo Calafiori (doubt), Takehiro TomiyasuSuspensions: William SalibaASTON VILLAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: Jaden PhilogeneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Luis Sinisterra, Alex ScottSuspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Rico HenrySuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March (doubt), Matt O’Riley, James Milner, Joao Pedro, Adam Webster, Danny Welbeck (doubt), Yankuba Minteh (doubt)Suspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi RiadSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam, James GarnerSuspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Sasa Lukic, Timothy Castagne, Jorge Cuenca (doubt)Suspensions: Joachim AndersenIPSWICHInjuries: Jens Cajuste (doubt), Axel Tuanzebe, Massimo Luongo, Ben Johnson, Jacob GreavesSuspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Patson Daka, Jakub Stolarczyk, Hamza Choudhury, Jannick VestergaardSuspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa (doubt), Alisson, Conor Bradley (doubt), Diogo JotaSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack GrealishSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Casemiro (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Matt Targett (doubt), Kieran Trippier, Martin Dubravka (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi (doubt)Suspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will SmallboneSuspensions: Ryan FraserTOTTENHAMInjuries: Son Heung-min, Djed SpenceSuspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Niclas FullkrugSuspensions: Mohammed KudusWOLVESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Bastien Meupiyou (doubt), Yerson Mosquera, Hwang Hee-chanSuspensions: 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. 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

IT’S that time of the week again.Ahead of a rare Friday deadline (6:30pm today!) Dream Team managers are once again mulling over captaincy options for the Gameweek ahead.Phil Foden is among the captaincy candidatesCredit: Dream TeamImmediately, Manchester City’s home game against Southampton leaps out of the schedule.A trip to Pep Guardiola’s lair is an unenviable task for any side let alone one that has lost seven of their eight league games since promotion.Naturally, Erling Haaland (£8.9m) is the first name that comes to mind as Dream Team’s leading point scorer (132) and top goalscorer (13 in all competitions).It would be remiss not to mention that the Norwegian poacher has failed to score in his last three league outings but an impressive brace against Sparta Prague in midweek meant he reclaimed top spot in the rankings.The safe choiceCredit: GettyHaaland is the most logical captain for Gameweek 9 but some gaffers may be tempted to go against the grain and back Phil Foden (£5.9m) instead.Saturday’s fixture at the Etihad is such a mismatch on paper it’s likely several City assets will take advantage of the visitors’ fragile defence.Haaland is the primary goal threat, which obviously counts for a lot, but a player of Foden’s profile is more likely to run the game, opening up other avenues to points.The England international was among the most prolific bonus point collectors last season, which was a key reason he ended the campaign atop the rankings.Most read in FootballScore 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 NOWThe 24-year-old has been eased in this season but is seemingly up to speed after a 17-point haul in Gameweek 8.With Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m), Jeremy Doku (£4.3m) and Jack Grealish (£3.5m) all said to be sidelined with injury for the upcoming Gameweek, Foden should get plenty of minutes – City will also face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in midweek.A consistently brilliant performerCredit: PAMohamed Salah (£7.4m) is always worth a mention in the captaincy conversation.Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Sunday before an away day to Brighton in the cup on Wednesday night.That’s a relatively tricky double header all things considered but the Reds’ Egyptian superstar is one of those rare talents who is essentially immune to the schedule, as evidenced by his 21-point haul in Gameweek 8 at the expense of Chelsea and RB Leipzig.Elsewhere, Cole Palmer (£6.5m) is among the most-popular captains ahead of the Gameweek 9 deadline.Chelsea are due to play Newcastle twice in the space of four days and given the Magpies are without a win in their last four outings, it may well be the case that the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year cashes in.However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Enzo Maresca rotated his sizeable squad in midweek, as he has done in the Conference League this season.The bold choiceCredit: GettyDream Team bosses keen on a genuine left-field skipper might be tempted by Bryan Mbeumo (£4.4m).Brentford’s double header of Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday is hugely appealing on paper.Again, the Cameroon international isn’t guaranteed substantial minutes in midweek but as the joint-top goalscorer among midfield assets, his backers will be hopeful of a prosperous Gameweek even if he’s limited to just one fixture.READ MORE SUN STORIESMbeumo averages 8.7 points-per-game in 2024/25.Don’t get caught out by Friday’s 6:30pm deadline – make sure you select your captain in time!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

YOU should know the procedure in regards to Score Predictor by now.Simply submit predictions for the five selected Premier League games and then sit back as you earn points for the accuracy of your forecast.Earn the most points and you’ll bank the £250 weekly prize – not bad for a free-to-play game, eh?Play Score Predictor ahead of this weekend’s action!Credit: Dream TeamBy all means trust your knowledge and/or gut instinct when entering your predictions if that’s how you roll but for those who prefer facts and figures, allow us to present some helpful context for each fixture…Everton v FulhamThere’s hardly a cigarette paper between these two sides in the form table with both outfits having won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six outings – both have scored nine goals in that time too.The Cottagers have had the edge over the Toffees in recent times and are unbeaten in their last six meetings in all competitions.Marco Silva’s side also come out on top in the underlying numbers (xG, shots, etc) but will that be negated by Everton’s home advantage?When unsure, we tend to opt for a score draw…Our Prediction: 1-1 drawMost read in FootballEverton’s results are heading in the right direction after a dismal start to the campaignCredit: ReutersChelsea v NewcastleThese teams will play each twice in quick succession with a Carabao Cup meeting to follow in midweek but Sunday’s league game is the only concern for Score Predictor users.The Magpies are without a win in their last four league outings while the Blues are still fourth in the form table despite defeat to Liverpool last time out.Chelsea won the corresponding fixture 3-2 back in March when both Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer were on the scoresheet – we’re tempted to back a repeat.That being said, Newcastle’s games have generally been more cagey, as evidenced by the fact they’ve scored and conceded just eight goals in their eight league games this season.Our Prediction: 2-1 to ChelseaJackson has scored five goals in eight league appearances this seasonCredit: GettyCrystal Palace v TottenhamMany neutrals had high expectations of the Eagles after they finished the 2023/24 campaign in such fine form but they’ve desperately struggled this season.It’s a scary time for Oliver Glasner with Halloween closing in and his side still without a league win to their name.And the Selhurst Park faithful will probably be dreading the visit of Spurs this weekend as the North London outfit have won the last five meetings between these teams, scoring 13 goals in the process.Ange Postecoglou’s troops capitulated against Brighton before the international break but the broader outlook is encouraging after six wins out of their last seven games in all competitions – that would extend to seven in eight if they beat AZ Alkmaar this evening.Our Prediction: 3-1 to SpursBrighton blip aside, Spurs are on a good run of resultsCredit: RexScore 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 NOWWest Ham v Manchester UnitedThe Hammers fell apart against Spurs last Saturday and their fans will be the first to acknowledge that wasn’t the first self-destruction of the campaign.Julen Lopetegui has also watched his side crumble against Chelsea and Liverpool in the last month.Erik ten Hag has endured a few sleepless nights of his own this season but he will have been buoyed by the Red Devils’ second-half display against Brentford, in which Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund combined for some tidy attacking moves.West Ham won this fixture 2-0 last season but Man United got their revenge with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford back in February.We don’t have much faith in either of these bottom-half sides at present but the visitors showed signs of improvement last time out while the hosts will be without key man Mohammed Kudus, who is suspended.Our Prediction: 3-2 to Man UnitedWest Ham won’t be able to call upon Kudus this weekendCredit: PAArsenal v LiverpoolThe main event.Much of the narrative leading up to this one has revolved around the Gunners’ potential absentees.It’s possible Mikel Arteta will be without Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori for the visit of the league leaders.Liverpool have some injury concerns of their own, not least Diogo Jota and Alisson, but Arne Slot will be able to name a strong starting line-up nonetheless.Arsenal have been defined by their parsimonious defence in recent times but they’re without a clean sheet in their last five domestic fixtures, not helped by their concerning disciplinary record.The North Londoners boast the best home record in the top flight this term but Liverpool have a 100% record on the road – something has to give on Sunday.Dare we say this might be a relatively good time to visit the Emirates?READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 2-1 to LiverpoolEnter your predictions for Matchweek 9 before Saturday’s 5:30pm deadline – £250 up for grabs!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

NO fewer than 13 teams are set to play twice in Gameweek 9.After a full round of Premier League fixtures, the Carabao Cup round of 16 will take place over Tuesday and Wednesday.With this in mind, we’ve identified some potentially savvy transfer targets for your perusal, beyond the blindingly obvious names such as Erling Haaland (£8.9m), Mohamed Salah (£7.4m), etc.Garnacho and Mbeumo are popular recruits this weekCredit: Dream TeamBRYAN MBEUMO (£4.4m)No midfielder has scored more goals in all competitions than Brentford’s talisman at this stage of the season.That statistic alone is enough to justify Mbeumo’s place in any Dream Team but he’s a particularly appealing option for Gameweek 9 because the Bees’ favourable double header.Thomas Frank’s side are set to host Ipswich on Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night.Given the Tractor Boys are yet to win a league game since their promotion to the top flight and the Owls are currently 18th in the Championship, these match-ups are ripe with potential on paper.Granted, Mbeumo may be rested to some extent in midweek – he’s played just 14 minutes in the cup so far – but Brentford’s head coach may decide to make more use of his star player with a spot in the quarter-finals up for grabs.Even if the Cameroon international only plays against Ipswich, he’s got a decent chance of a substantial haul – he averages 8.7 points-per-game this season!Most read in FootballALEJANDRO GARNACHO (£3.6m)Shot happyCredit: AFPNo midfielder has registered more shots on target than Manchester United’s No17 at the time of writing.Garnacho was instrumental in the Red Devils’ comeback against Brentford last weekend and earned a whopping 15 points for his efforts.Gameweek 9 brings a league meeting with West Ham and a cup encounter with Leicester – another relatively favourable double header (in theory).The Hammers capitulated at Tottenham last time out and will be without key man Mohammed Kudus when Man United come to town following the Ghana star’s red card.Erik ten Hag’s side are far from the finished article themselves but in Garnacho they possess a lively threat capable to penetrating vulnerable defences – the Argentine winger averages a goal involvement every 93.1 minutes this season.It’s worth noting that this suggestion predates Man United’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce – it should go without saying that an injury to Garnacho in Turkey would change the outlook.SON HEUNG-MIN (£5.1m)Back with a bangCredit: GettySpurs’ captain didn’t train in midweek because of “soreness” and won’t be involved against AZ Alkmaar this evening so gaffers would be wise to wait for another update before committing to this transfer if that way inclined.That being said, it would be a surprise if Son didn’t start against Crystal Palace on Sunday and with the Eagles languishing in 18th, he could feast.The South Korean superstar enjoyed himself against West Ham upon his comeback from injury to the tune of 13 points.Dream Team bosses shouldn’t require a breakdown of Son’s attributes, he’s been a proven performer for years now.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 NOWAnge Postecoglou’s side are set to host Manchester City in the Carabao Cup which is clearly a tough match-up but Pep Guardiola has struggled at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium historically.Two games in a week may be a stretch for Son if he’s still building his way back to full fitness but he’s a viable long-term selection rather than just a one-week punt.Be aware his price will increase after the deadline so if you’re planning to delay this transfer you will need to account for a little extra budget.SAVINHO (£3.9m)A suggestion for those who like to think outside the boxCredit: GettyWe mentioned Phil Foden (£5.9m) among last week’s transfer recommendations and he repaid our faith with a 17-point return in Gameweek 8 – he’s worth underling as a premium selection.Alternatively, Savinho could be a smart differential option in a more affordable price bracket.The Brazilian winger, who currently features in just 2.6% of teams right now, boasts the joint-highest points-per-game average (5.8) among City midfielders this season, as well as the most bonus points (16).With Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m), Jeremy Doku (£4.3m) and Jack Grealish (£3.5m) all sidelined for Gameweek 9 at the very least, Savinho should get plenty of minutes with the defending champions due to face Southampton and Spurs.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat home game against Saints could be a points explosion for several City assets.Don’t get caught out by the Gameweek 9 deadline – confirm your transfers before 6:30pm on Friday!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

FEW players have reversed their reputation as quickly as Nicolas Jackson (£4.3m) in recent times.When the Senegal international first arrived at Chelsea, many fans were left baffled by his erratic performances.He scored just two goals in his first nine outings for the Blues, during which time he missed several gilt-edged chances and incurred enough yellow cards to warrant a one-game suspension.However, as the 2023/24 season progressed, Jackson slowly found his feet.Who’s laughing now?Credit: Dream TeamNot discouraged by squandered opportunities or social media criticism, the ex-Villarreal striker scored five goals in his last eight outings to finish the campaign with 17 in all competitions – a perfectly respectable tally for a young player’s first term in English football.Crucially, Jackson has picked up where he left off so far this season having raced to five goals in his first eight league games.He still frustrates onlookers from time to time but his numbers are increasingly impressive.None more so than in the world of Dream Team where he averages 8.4 points-per-game.For context, Erling Haaland (£8.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) are the only forwards who boast superior averages at the time of writing.Jackson scored his fifth league goals of the season last weekendCredit: AFPJackson has registered three assists in addition to his five goals which means he’s averaging a goal involvement every 77.3 minutes this season.Most read in FootballPlus, Haaland, Salah and Kai Havertz (£5.2m) are the only forwards who have recorded more shots on target.Some neutrals may still be unconvinced about Jackson but the statistics paint the portrait of an in-form asset not to be underestimated.The main hindrance to 23-year-old’s viability relates to Chelsea’s sizeable squad.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 NOWWith so many players available to Enzo Maresca, the Italian tactician has opted to employ heavy rotation in the additional competitions.As a result, Christopher Nkunku (£4.5m) has led the line in the Carabao Cup and Conference League so far this season.In fact, Jackson hasn’t played a single minute outside his eight league outings (in Dream Team eligible fixtures).Hence why, despite his mighty points-per-game average, he is ranked seventh among strikers with 67 points overall.Whereas the likes of Marcus Rashford (£4m), Ollie Watkins (£5.7m) and the aforementioned Havertz have supplemented their totals with returns outside their league commitments.Nkunku has prospered in the other competitions this seasonCredit: PAStill, Jackson’s potency means a player to watch closely.READ MORE SUN STORIESChelsea face Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal in their next three league games but a goal at Anfield last weekend is proof that Jackson is capable of substantial points in unfavourable fixtures.An ownership of 12.2% makes him the fifth most-popular forward in the game at present.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

HEAVY hitters like Erling Haaland (£8.9m), Cole Palmer (£6.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) are big players in the world of Dream Team but their immense popularity means their returns often have little impact on Mini League standings and overall rank.Manchester City’s No9 appears in 72.6% of teams which means the majority of gaffers are in the same boat when he plays.It’s often the case that the cheaper, lesser-owned players are the ones who actually make a difference.Take Morgan Rogers (£3m) for example.A reminder that Rogers performed this celebration before Cole PalmerCredit: Dream TeamThe Aston Villa midfielder is currently the top performer in Gameweek 8 having banked 18 points from two outings.He scored against Fulham on Saturday, by virtue of a helpful deflection, but produced an even more impressive display against Bologna on Tuesday night.Rogers assisted Jhon Duran’s (£3m) goal against the Serie A outfit and earned three bonus points as a useful cherry on top, largely because of his impressive dribbling statistics.The 22-year-old registered SEVEN successful dribbles against Bologna to take his tally for the season to 31.MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES THIS SEASONMorgan Rogers – 31Mohammed Kudus – 29Jeremy Doku – 24Adama Traore – 21Eberechi Eze – 20Iliman Ndiaye – 20Bukayo Saka – 18Omari Hutchinson – 18Savinho – 18Luis Diaz – 17Most read in FootballThere’s generally a positive correlation between the most prolific dribblers and bonus points and so Rogers’ supremacy in this department is hugely encouraging.Catch him if you canCredit: PAThe England Under-21 star was used sparingly in the second half of 2023/24 following his mid-season transfer from Championship side Middlesbrough but he’s established himself as a regular starter this campaign.In fact, Pau Torres (£3.5m) and Youri Tielemans (£4m) are the only outfield players to have played more league minutes for Villa at this stage.Rogers’ overall tally of 61 points puts him joint-12th among Dream Team midfielders but the key to his viability is his affordability.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 NOWEven now, after a spree of 41 points from his last five appearances, he’s available for just £3m prior to Gameweek 9 – although his price will inevitably increase when the next changes occur.To put that into perspective, only two other players among the top 50 in the overall rankings are currently available at a lower price – Christian Eriksen (£2.8m) and Dejan Kulusevski (£2.7m), who both have fewer points than Rogers.This is all to say Villa’s No27 offers exceptional value for money.A Dream Team gem in terms of value-for-moneyCredit: AlamyRogers, who features in 9.7% of teams at the time of writing, has passed the eye test from the get-go but it was notable that his returns didn’t align with the impressive nature of his performances across the first few Gameweeks of the season.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, he’s reaped his deserved rewards more recently and looks a solid long-term selection.Essentially, Rogers is a key player for a top-four side, one with European fixtures to bolster their schedule, and an excellent enabler at £3m.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