More stories

  • in

    Compete for £500 CASH with Score Predictor this weekend – top tips for Matchweek 36!

    SCORE PREDICTOR has a new weekly prize – £500 in cold, hard cash!Actually, it’ll be a digital transfer so not cold or hard but a fantastic prize nonetheless.Score Predictor remains free to play and it couldn’t be easier to put yourself in contention for the dosh.Simply gaze into your crystal ball and foresee the scores of the five selected Premier League fixtures and you’ll earn points based on the accuracy of your predictions.You don’t have to get all five scores exactly correct, you just have to earn more points than your rivals.CLICK HERE TO PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR FREE – £500 CASH PRIZE MUST BE WON!Play now and you could be £500 richer by Sunday nightCredit: Dream TeamLet’s run through the five relevant fixtures for Matchweek 33.Manchester United v BurnleyOn the surface, this pits a team hopeful of European qualification against a side threatened by relegation but there’s more to this match-up than meets the eye.The Clarets are actually above the Red Devils in the form table having only lost one of their last seven games.Most read in FootballErik ten Hag’s troops are wildly unpredictable, as evidenced by their dramatic 3-3 draw with Coventry at Wembley last weekend, and have caused Score Predictor users headaches all season.A moment of magic from Bruno Fernandes decided the reverse fixture back in September but Burnley registered more shots than Man United in what was a relatively even contest at Turf Moor.Incredibly, there’s just a cigarette paper between these two sides in terms of xGA (expected goals allowed) in the league with the hosts marginally better off on 59 to the visitors’ 59.8 – worrying numbers for both managers.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawImpossible to predictCredit: AlamyEverton v BrentfordBoth these teams took significant steps towards safety last weekend with wins over Nottingham Forest and Luton respectively.The Toffees will be desperate for another positive result to further distance themselves from the drop zone but their home record this season counts against them.Sean Dyche’s side have won just five of their 16 league games at Goodison Park – only Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton have earned fewer points on home soil.Everton thoroughly deserved the win at the Gtech Stadium earlier in the campaign but a lot has changed since then; they lost 6-0 to Chelsea not even a fortnight ago.The Bees are undefeated this month and are in fine touch going forward having scored ten goals in their last three games.Our Prediction: 2-1 to BrentfordBrentford registered a big win over Luton last time outCredit: GettyAston Villa v ChelseaThe Blues’ hopes rest on the availability of Cole Palmer, who was ill in midweek when his side were embarrassed by Arsenal at the Emirates.If the Golden Boot contender is well enough to start then he will certainly pose a threat to a Villains’ defence that have conceded their fair share of goals.However, Mauricio Pochettino will be fearing the prospect of Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and company running at his brittle defence.Chelsea average two goals conceded per away game while Villa average a fraction over 2.5 goals scored per home fixture.Plus, only the three title contenders have earned more points at home than Unai Emery’s side.The visitors were on a decent run prior to their trip to the Emirates but it’s hard to back them after a 5-0 defeat.Our Prediction: 3-1 to Aston VillaFans have labelled Chelsea ‘Cole Palmer FC’Credit: RexTottenham v ArsenalSunday’s North London derby feels like the weekend’s headline act.Spurs will be highly motivated to crush their neighbours’ title hopes but a meek 4-0 defeat to Newcastle last time out suggests they may not be prepared for such a task.The Gunners boast the best away record in the top flight this season and morale will be high after their thrashing of Chelsea in midweek.However, form tends to go out of the window in emotionally-charged derbies.Son Heung-min scored a brace at the Emirates back in September to earn his side a draw and the South Korean superstar will surely have to fulfil a huge role again if the hosts are to unpick the league’s best defence.This one is dividing Score Predictor users at present and it’s easy to see why.Our Prediction: 2-1 to ArsenalArsenal are in good shape heading into the North London derbyCredit: GettyNottingham Forest v Manchester CityHistory tells us Pep Guardiola’s side come out on top in a title race with most pundits predicting yet another open-top bus parade for the defending champions.Man City have battled fatigue of late and that theme is set to continue with them travelling to Brighton on Thursday night before Sunday afternoon’s game at the City Ground.But it’s hard to look past the gulf in form between these two sides.Only Luton and Sheffield United have taken fewer points than Forest from their last ten games while City are the only team unbeaten in the same time frame.Nuno Espirito Santo may hope to channel the energy of a potentially raucous home crowd following the controversy of last weekend but the hosts will be thoroughly up against it.Our Prediction: 4-0 to Man CityREAD MORE SUN STORIESSurely City will have too much firepower for Forest to resist?Credit: GettyShow us how it’s really done by entering Score Predictor before the action gets underway on Saturday!CLICK HERE TO PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR FREE – £500 CASH PRIZE MUST BE WON!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

  • in

    Ben White, Gabriel & William Saliba only Dream Team defenders on 200+ points this season

    ARSENAL defenders cemented their foothold at the top of the Dream Team rankings on Tuesday night.The Gunners maintained their Premier League title challenge with an emphatic 5-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates.Mauricio Pochettino hoped his troops would be able to prove they are not merely ‘Cole Palmer FC’ but the Blues produced arguably their most feeble performance of the season in the absence of their Golden Boot contender, who was sidelined with illness.Ben White (£4.4m) was the unlikely chief beneficiary on the night, taking Chelsea for 19 points when all was said and done.It’s not too early to play our EUROS BRACKET CHALLENGE game – win an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB!Dream Team’s top defender!Credit: Dream TeamThe 26-year-old scored two goals, doubling his tally for the campaign in one fell swoop, albeit with a slice of good fortune involved in the second.There’s nothing fortuitous about his status as Dream Team’s outright top defender in 2023/24.As a key member of the Gunners’ unmatched defence, he’s earned 244 points through 20 clean sheets, four goals and six assists.Gabriel (£4.3m) is 16 points shy of his team-mate, second in the defensive rankings, while William Saliba (£3.7m) is a further 14 points behind in third.The three Arsenal regulars are the only assets in their position on 200+ points at the time of writing.Most read in FootballDREAM TEAM’S TOP DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:
    Ben White – 244 pts
    Gabriel – 228 pts
    William Saliba – 214 pts
    Kieran Trippier – 199 pts
    Trent Alexander-Arnold – 198 pts
    Virgil van Dijk – 198 pts
    Diogo Dalot – 195 pts
    Antonee Robinson – 189 pts
    Ezri Konsa – 187 pts
    Pedro Porro – 186 pts
    A formidable partnershipCredit: GettyMikel Arteta has forged a tight defence that has been far superior to all his rivals’ efforts this term.His side come out on top in every key metric, including the one that ultimately matters most – clean sheets.MOST CLEAN SHEETS AMONG DREAM TEAM ASSETS THIS SEASON:
    Ben White – 20
    William Saliba – 20
    Gabriel – 19
    David Raya – 18
    Emi Martinez – 13
    James Tarkowski – 13
    Jarrad Branthwaite – 12
    Vitaliy Mykolenko – 12
    Andre Onana – 12
    Fabian Schar – 12
    Due to their elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich, Arsenal have just four fixtures remaining in 2023/24 – the joint-fewest among the top-flight sides.However, such is the frugal nature of their defence, many top gaffers will choose to stick by the likes of White, Gabriel and Saliba until the final day of the season.READ MORE SUN STORIESArsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League this seasonCredit: AlamyThe Gunners face Tottenham in what promises to be a highly-competitive North London derby on Sunday but their last three fixtures – Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton – have to be considered relatively favourable.Barring something exceptional from Alexander-Arnold, it seems inevitable Arsenal will finish the campaign with three defenders on the podium.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

  • in

    Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta combined for 46 points against West Ham

    CRYSTAL PALACE are a completely different side when Eberechi Eze (£4m) and Michael Olise (£3.8m) are fully fit.When the talented duo play in tandem, unhampered my knocks or niggles, they cause huge problems for opposition defenders in a stylish manner.As West Ham found out the hard way on Sunday when they lost 5-2 at Selhurst Park.It’s not too early to play our EUROS BRACKET CHALLENGE game – win an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB!Soaring EaglesCredit: Dream TeamBoth Eze and Olise registered a goal and an assist each in what was a swashbuckling attacking display from Oliver Glasner’s side, particularly in the first half.While the midfielders caught the eye with their familiar swagger, it was striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (£2.8m) who ended up as the chief beneficiary.The 26-year-old banked 17 points via two goals and an assist, two more than Eze and three more than Olise.The trio combined for a whopping 46 points to dominate the weekend’s action.At the time of writing, Mateta is Gameweek 32’s top performer with Eze joint-second and Olise in fourth.Dream Team managers who took a punt on one (two or all three) of the Palace stars have already been handsomely rewarded with another fixture still to come in midweek – Newcastle visit Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.Most read in FootballMateta banked 17 points against the HammersCredit: RexUnfortunately, gaffers have been deprived of Eze and Olise for much of this campaign because of injury setbacks but their stats when available are undeniable.In fact, the latter averages 8.7 points-per-game this season – only Erling Haaland (£7m) boasts a better rate among all players.He’s racked up 122 points from just 14 appearances having scored seven goals, provided four assists and earned 28 bonus points.Eze has been available more often but he’s also been restricted to 27 outings; it’s clear he gets a boost from playing alongside Olise.The England international has eight goals and six assists to his name and his tally of 41 bonus points is only bettered by eight other assets in his position.Olise averages 8.7 points-per-gameCredit: PAAs for Mateta, he’s enjoyed his best season in a Palace shirt by a considerable margin.Last term, he mustered just two goals in 32 appearances but he’s scored 12 goals this season and seems well placed to add to that total before his summer break.He’s statistically Dream Team’s most in-form forward right now, just ahead of Alexander Isak (£4.6m), having notched 29 points from his last three games.READ MORE SUN STORIESFrom Gameweek 33 onwards, Palace’s remaining fixtures read: Fulham, Manchester United, Wolves, Aston Villa.Many Dream Team bosses will be interested to see where Eze and Olise will end up next season and even if they stay in South London, they may be justifiably popular selections from the get-go in August.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

  • in

    Clarification on Dream Team schedule as season reaches climax – target these teams to finish on a high

    AS the 2023/24 season draws to a close, Dream Team managers should continue to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.The mass exodus of English teams from the European competitions at the quarter-final stage has simplified the final Gameweeks of the campaign to some degree but there’s still an imbalance of fixtures that gaffers may be able to work to their advantage.It’s not too early to play our EUROS BRACKET CHALLENGE game – win an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB!Ollie Watkins is probably a must-have asset for the rest of the seasonCredit: Dream TeamAston Villa remain the only Premier League side still in contention for continental success this term as they’re set to take on Olympiakos over two legs in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.This gives the Villains four fixtures across Gameweeks 33 and 34 when every other club bar Chelsea and Tottenham will play just twice.Logic therefore dictates that backing Unai Emery’s troops should yield plentiful returns across the next two Gameweeks.In fact, Ollie Watkins (£5m) should be considered an essential asset for the season’s conclusion.The 28-year-old has racked up 291 points via 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions.If Villa get past the Greek giants, they will compete in the Europa Conference League final (vs Fiorentina or Club Brugge) in Gameweek 37 – most clubs will be done and dusted by the end of Gameweek 36.Man City are favourites to lift the FA Cup next monthCredit: PAThe Manchester clubs should also be highlighted as potentially worthy avenues of points in the coming weeks.Most read in Dream TeamBoth City and United have six fixtures to fulfil from the start of Gameweek 33.The inharmonious neighbours both double up on league fixtures in Gameweek 35 before their date with destiny at Wembley.The FA Cup final will be the only fixture in Gameweek 37 if Villa fail to beat Olympiakos.Phil Foden (£5.8m), Bruno Fernandes (£5.4m), Rodri (£4.1m), Diogo Dalot (£3.4m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£6.2m) spring to mind in terms of viable assets.Not to mention Erling Haaland (£7m) if the prolific poacher regains fitness.Chelsea and Tottenham are the other clubs with notably busier schedules.The London rivals both have six fixtures to complete from the start of Gameweek 33 as they’re due to meet each other in a rearranged midweek fixture.Cole Palmer (£5.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.6m) are the obvious candidates, assuming the former recovers from illness soon enough.Palmer is a doubt to face Arsenal tonightCredit: RexNUMBER OF FIXTURES LEFT TO PLAY THIS SEASON (FROM GW33 ONWARDS):
    Six (possibly seven) – Aston Villa
    Six – Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham
    Five – Newcastle, Brighton
    Four – Arsenal, Liverpool, Fulham, Brentford, West Ham, Everton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Luton
    Dream Team bosses should note that Arsenal and Liverpool are among the crop of teams with just four games remaining from the start of the next Gameweek.Between them, the Gunners and the Reds have eight players inside the top 25 of the overall Dream Team rankings at present but they’re at risk of being leapfrogged by busier assets.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat being said, the likes of Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) obviously remain strong options – the pair have 69 goal involvements between them this season.Gaffers should always take the schedule into account when plotting their next move.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

  • in

    Top tips ahead of Score Predictor Matchweek 35 – play now and compete for £500 Amazon gift card!

    SCORE PREDICTOR users have a mixture of Premier League fixtures and FA Cup semi-finals to sink their teeth into this weekend.Despite that twist, the top prize for Matchweek 35 is once again a £500 Amazon voucher.Simply submit your predictions for the outcomes of five selected games and you could land the fantastic prize by Sunday night.Remember, you don’t have to get all five predictions exactly correct to win the voucher, you just have to earn more points (based on accuracy) than anyone else.Score Predictor remains free to play and, if you opt for sheer gut instinct, it takes just seconds to enter your predictions.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Luton will be desperate for a win this weekendCredit: GettyLuton vs BrentfordMatchweek 35’s first fixture will go a long way to determining which teams drop down to the Championship.The Bees are probably safe from relegation but the Hatters are still fighting for their lives and will hope to harness a partisan home crowd on Saturday.Rob Edwards will be hopeful of a positive result as Brentford have lost 11 of their 16 league games on the road this season but Luton have also found wins hard to come by.Most read in FootballThe hosts’ recent victory over Bournemouth is their only triumph since the start of February.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawWill Cole Palmer haunt his former club at Wembley?Credit: GettyManchester City vs ChelseaPep Guardiola’s side will start as favourites for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final but Mauricio Pochettino shouldn’t have a problem finding reasons to be optimistic.The Blues drew 1-1 at the Etihad two months ago and the played their part in a thrilling 4-4 draw between the two teams at Stamford Bridge earlier in the campaign.Many of City’s players looked exhausted at the end of 120 minutes against Real Madrid on Wednesday night and so Chelsea should be considerably fresher.The West Londoners also have one of the country’s most in-form players in their ranks in Cole Palmer.That being said, most Score Predictor users will be understandably hesitant to bet against last season’s treble winners.Chelsea haven’t beaten City in any competition since the 2021 Champions League final.Our Prediction: 2-1 to Man CityArsenal need to bounce back after defeats to Aston Villa and Bayern MunichCredit: ReutersWolves v ArsenalAnother match-up with some intervening factors to mull over.Gary O’Neil’s side have had all week to prepare for this fixture while the Gunners were preoccupied with a high-intensity trip to Munich.Plus, Mikel Arteta’s troops lost to Aston Villa last time out in the league.Whether Wolves are in shape to capitalise is another debate entirely; they’ve won just once in their last seven outings in all competitions.The hosts have been boosted by Matheus Cunha’s return to fitness but they’ll be up against it as Arsenal have earned more points away from home than any other side this term.Our Prediction: 2-1 to ArsenalSurely Man United won’t lose to Coventry…Credit: ReutersCoventry v Manchester UnitedSunday’s FA Cup semi-final is an intriguing one.The Sky Blues are smartly coached by Mark Robins but at this stage they look set to miss out on the Championship play-offs having lost to Cardiff, Southampton and Birmingham this month.Coventry did beat high-flying Leeds recently to underline their giant-killing capabilities but they head to Wembley more vulnerable than they were this time last month.Speaking of vulnerability, Erik ten Hag’s side have allowed their opponents a laughable volume of shots since the turn of the year – their underlying defensive numbers are deeply concerning.All things considered, however, the firepower of Bruno Fernades, Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho should be more than enough to outscore second-tier opposition… right?Our Prediction: 3-2 to CoventryBeware the wounded animalCredit: PAFulham vs LiverpoolAt this stage of the campaign, 12th-placed Fulham have earned the right to be “on the beach” but their record of nine wins from 16 league games at Craven Cottage should not be taken lightly.In fact, only Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool have conceded fewer goals at home this season – Marco Silva deserves plenty of credit for that.Optimistic Cottagers will say it’s a good time to play Jurgen Klopp’s mob after their defeats to Crystal Palace and Atalanta but pessimists may fear the challenge of a wounded animal.The visitors remain highly motivated to deliver their long-serving coach a trophy in his farewell campaign and no top-flight team matches them for chance creation, as per the xG statistics.Once again, Score Predictor users should consider how Liverpool’s Thursday night trip to Atalanta will impact their weekend prospects.There’s enough evidence here for those who want to go against the grain but we’ll play it safe.Our Prediction: 3-1 to LiverpoolThink you know better? You’re almost certainly correct!READ MORE SUN STORIESSubmit your predictions now.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!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

  • in

    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 32 – Bruno Fernandes justifiably popular ahead of favourable double header

    ARSENAL and Manchester City’s joint exit from the Champions League has shaken the foundations of Dream Team.With Liverpool and West Ham expected to follow suit in the Europa League this evening, it may be that only Aston Villa remain active in Europe once the current Gameweek concludes – the Villains take a 2-1 lead to Lille tonight in their Europa Conference League tie.These developments will prompt a lot of Dream Team managers to change tact, starting with their transfers for Gameweek 32.Allow us to humbly put forward some recommendations.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!A man in form even if his team aren’tCredit: Dream TeamBruno Fernandes (£5.2m) Manchester United have plenty of problems to solve but that shouldn’t obscure the form of their midfield talisman.The Portugal international has notched 44 points across the last three Gameweeks via four goals.More broadly, he’s racked up 137 points in 16 outings at an average of 8.6 points-per-game since the turn of the year.This upturn has propelled Fernandes up to fifth in the midfield rankings on 268 points overall.Most read in Dream TeamAnd the 29-year-old arguably has the most favourable double header of Gameweek 32 in the form of Coventry (FA Cup) and Sheffield United (Premier League).The Sky Blues are a smartly-coached Championship side but Erik ten Hag’s men will obviously start as favourites at Wembley on Sunday.Man United then host the top flight’s bottom side on Wednesday night – the Blades have mustered just 16 points since promotion and have conceded 84 goals in 32 league games.Fernandes should feast, hence why he’s currently the most-popular recruit ahead of the deadline.Matheus Cunha (£3.9m)Back with a bangCredit: PAHaving recently misses seven games through injury, the Wolves forward banked 14 points upon his first start since his return in Gameweek 31.Cunha scored twice away to Nottingham Forest to remind gaffers of his considerably talent – his first goal was a brilliant solo effort.The Brazilian averages 6.8 points-per-game this season, a rate superior to that of Ollie Watkins (£4.8m), Alexander Isak (£4.5m), Dominic Solanke (£3.8m), Julian Alvarez (£4m) and Darwin Nunez (5.1m).Only Jordan Ayew (£3.1m) and Chiedozie Ogbene (£3.1m) have earned more bonus points among forwards and just three players in Cunha’s position have made more tackles.The former Atletico Madrid man faces a difficult fixture this weekend against Arsenal (although midweek exploits may have drained the Gunners) before a more friendly match-up against Bournemouth on Wednesday night.Looking further forward, he’s due to face Luton in Gameweek 33 in what will be his third consecutive match at Molineux.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m)Can he get Liverpool over the line?Credit: PAWhen it comes to Dream Team’s top-tier assets, it often pays to act fast when they return from injury.Liverpool’s No66 came off the bench against Crystal Palace last weekend and while he wasn’t able to salvage a result for the hosts at Anfield, his return will surely boost the Reds for the title run-in.Alexander-Arnold averages six points-per-game this campaign, the joint-highest rate among defenders, and his tally of 12 assists speaks of itself.Jurgen Klopp’s mob travel to Fulham and Everton in Gameweek 32, which has to be regarded as a favourable double header on current form.Conor Bradley’s (£3.6m) injury should mean back-to-back starts for Alexander-Arnold, assuming he’s fit enough for such a task.Cole Palmer (£5m)Golden Boot contenderCredit: GettyAn obvious recommendation but one worth underling.Chelsea face a daunting double header against Man City and Arsenal this coming Gameweek but Palmer’s form is so ridiculously strong right now the level of the opposition is almost irrelevant.After his four-goal masterclass against Everton on Monday night, the 21-year-old has banked 61 points across his last three games – obscene!Plus, the Blues are one of very few teams with two fixtures in Gameweek 33 – those who don’t recruit Palmer this week will probably be interested next week at a higher price.READ MORE SUN STORIESLock in your transfers for Gameweek 32 ahead of Saturday’s 2pm deadline.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

  • in

    Matheus Cunha averages more Dream Team points-per-game than Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak and Darwin Nunez this season

    MATHEUS CUNHA (£3.9m) has to be considered one of the most impressive hidden gems in Dream Team this season.The Brazilian’s ownership has never risen beyond 5% despite the fact he averages 6.8 points-per-game.To put that statistic into perspective, the likes of Ollie Watkins (£4.8m), Alexander Isak (£4.5m), Dominic Solanke (£3.8m), Darwin Nunez (£5.1m) and Julian Alvarez (£4m) all have lower averages at the time of writing.In fact, the only forwards who average more points-per-game than Cunha are Erling Haaland (£6.9m), Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Son Heung-min (£4.7m) – the cream of the crop.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Dream Team bosses should not underestimate the Wolves forwardCredit: Dream TeamWolves’ No12 currently features in just 0.5% of teams but that’s largely because he recently missed seven games through injury.That setback came at a frustrating time for the Molineux faithful as Cunha scored a hat-trick against Chelsea (for a 25-point return) immediately prior to the game in which he was forced off after just 20 minutes.Gary O’Neil eased the 24-year-old back into action with substitute cameos in Gameweeks 29 and 30 before starting him against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.And the result? Two goals and 14 points!This haul served as a timely reminder of Cunha’s talent and his Dream Team viability.Most read in FootballHis first goal in particular was impossible to overlook; a superb solo effort that highlighted his dribbling ability and masterful close control.Cunha has been excellent this seasonCredit: GettyCunha is not an out-and-out striker, he hasn’t got the razor-sharp instincts of a poacher, but his ability to carry the ball is unmatched in his position.He’s completed 64 successful dribbles in 2023/24, more than any other Dream Team forward.And the former Atletico Madrid man doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities either – only three forwards have registered more tackles (35).His brace at the City Ground on Saturday took his goal tally to 13 for the season, not forgetting his seven assists.Looking forward, Cunha should be considered a smart differential option for the next fortnight.Cunha earned Wolves a point at the City GroundCredit: ReutersWolves are among the ten Premier League clubs with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 32 – back-to-back home games against Arsenal and Bournemouth.Then in Gameweek 33, they welcome Luton to Molineux in what has to be considered a favourable match-up.O’Neil’s side will face Manchester City and Liverpool in May and their schedule looks a tad light without cup or European commitments but Cunha is seemingly an appealing option in the short term at least.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

  • in

    Sensational 30-point haul propels Cole Palmer onto Dream Team podium – only Manchester City pair above Chelsea star

    COLE PALMER (£5m) may well be Dream Team’s most-valuable player this season.The 21-year-old started 2023/24 at Manchester City, where it seemed he would have to be content with Carabao Cup starts and the occasional 15-minute cameo.However, Chelsea opted to fork out £42.5million for the talented youngster on deadline day, a move that set him on the path to one of the most remarkable campaigns in recent memory.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Player of the Year?Credit: Dream TeamEyebrows were raised at the transfer fee at the time given Palmer had made just 18 Premier League appearances (predominantly as a substitute) prior to the switch.The Blues have generally overspent on players in recent times but the acquisition of Palmer has to be considered smart business with the power of hindsight.The England international was already Chelsea’s runaway Player of the Year before Everton’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Monday night but now there’s a clamour for him to win one of prestigious, league-wide individual awards.Palmer scored a perfect hat-trick (left foot, header, right foot) within half an hour against the Toffees but even that wasn’t enough to satiate him.Midway through the second half, he scored a penalty, his ninth of the season, after some undignified bickering on the part of Nicolas Jackson (£3.5m) and Noni Madueke (£2.9m).Palmer eventually scored his ninth penalty of the seasonCredit: AlamyWhen all was said and done, Palmer banked a whopping 30 points via four goals, five shots on target, 80 minutes played and three bonus points.Most read in FootballIncredibly, he’s now level with Erling Haaland (£6.9m) on 20 league goals in the race for the Golden Boot.There’s no doubt that he’s benefited from a steady stream of spot-kicks but his tally of 14 non-penalty goals in all competitions should not be taken for granted.Palmer has registered 38 goal involvements (23 goals, 15 assists) from 39 appearances this season – a gargantuan effort given Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lingered in mid-table for almost the entire campaign.Monday night’s haul has propelled Palmer up to joint-third in the overall Dream Team rankings, level with Bukayo Saka (£5.7m) on 315 points.Only Manchester City duo Phil Foden (£5.9m) and the aforementioned Haaland have amassed more points at the time of writing.Palmer is now only ten points behind HaalandCredit: RexDREAM TEAM’S TOP PERFORMERS THIS SEASON:
    Phil Foden – 330 pts
    Erling Haaland – 325 pts
    Cole Palmer – 315 pts
    Bukayo Saka – 315 pts
    Mohamed Salah – 286 pts
    Ollie Watkins – 280 pts
    Jarrod Bowen – 273 pts
    Darwin Nunez – 272 pts
    Bruno Fernandes – 268 pts
    Mohammed Kudus – 257 pts
    To underline the extent of Palmer’s brilliance, it’s worth noting he’s the only player in the top ten who hasn’t had European football to bolster his schedule this term.Chelsea’s No20 averages 8.1 points-per-game, only Haaland and Michael Olise (£3.9m) boast better averages currently – the Norwegian poacher averages nine points-per-game while the Crystal Palace midfielder ticks along at a rate of 8.3.READ MORE SUN STORIESLooking forward, Palmer faces a tricky double header in the form of Man City and Arsenal (both away from home) in Gameweek 32 but Dream Team bosses won’t be perturbed by any fixtures on current form.Truly a Dream Team campaign for the ages!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