More stories

  • in

    Bonus point hoarder Mohammed Kudus a smart differential option for Dream Team bosses in Gameweek 27

    AT this stage of the season, many Dream Team managers will be searching for smart differential options.This is to say, players who are overlooked by the vast majority of gaffers but have the ability to rack up plentiful points.The likes of Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) and Phil Foden (£5.7m) are obviously fantastic assets but they’re so popular that their points are unlikely to change the outlook of most Mini Leagues.This is why somebody like Mohammed Kudus (£4.6m) has the potential to be a difference-maker.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!All the talent in the worldCredit: Dream TeamThe West Ham winger features in just 1.1% of teams and is therefore a massive differential.His low ownership is a result of his recent Africa Cup of Nations commitments and the Hammers’ poor form.David Moyes’ side started the year with eight games in a row without a win but they’ve addressed that dip with two consecutive wins most recently.It’s no coincidence that results have picked up since the first-choice front three were reunited with the return of Lucas Paqueta (£4m) from injury.West Ham have scored seven goals in two games since the Brazilian rejoined Kudus and Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m) in the starting line-up.Most read in FootballWith his side’s worst form seemingly over and AFCON no longer a factor, the ex-Ajax midfielder deserves to be more popular in the realm of Dream Team.Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta is a fantastic forward lineCredit: GettyKudus produced 68 points across four Gameweeks before he joined up with Ghana in January.And he’s earned 41 points in six outings since returning.In fact, the 23-year-old’s average of 6.1 points-per-game in 2023/24 is only bettered by eight midfielders.Kudus has scored nine goals and provided six assists but it’s his ability to rack up bonus points that makes him such an appealing option.Only four players have registered more than his 38 bonus points at this stage which is remarkable considering Kudus didn’t start his first game until late September and missed all of January while away at AFCON.As if to illustrate this point, he earned six bonus points across West Ham’s recent wins over Brentford and Everton.West Ham’s results have picked up latelyCredit: PAThose stats alone would be enough to justify a transfer for Kudus but this strategy becomes even more tempting when the schedule is also taken into account.West Ham have the luxury of back-to-back home games in Gameweek 27 against Burnley and Freiburg.The second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie promises to be competitive but the Clarets have been easy pickings in the Premier League.Suddenly Kudus’ ownership of 1.1% looks very, very low indeed.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

    Why Dream Team gaffers should delay transfers for Newcastle’s 200-point midfielders until international break

    NEWCASTLE are the only team with two midfielders on 200+ Dream Team points at the time of writing.Given that the Magpies are currently eighth in the Premier League table and were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, this may come as a surprise to many gaffers.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!415 Dream Team points between themCredit: Dream TeamAnthony Gordon (£3.9m) scored his tenth goal of the season in his side’s 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday for a nine-point return.The ex-Everton winger has also provided nine assists in all competitions.His overall tally of 209 points puts him fifth among assets in his position, one point ahead of Bruno Fernandes (£5m) and four points shy of Cole Palmer (£4.3m).Bruno Guimaraes (£4.4m) isn’t far behind as the seventh-best midfielder on 206 points.The Brazilian is a unique Dream Team asset as his style lends itself perfectly to the bonus system.In fact, just over 30% of the 26-year-old’s total is made up of bonus points.He’s amassed 63 bonus points to date, 17 more than his closest rival in the metric, Phil Foden (£5.7m).Most read in FootballBonus point kingCredit: GettyGaffers are able to view the breakdown of Guimaraes’ player performance marks (which determine bonus points) in the Stats Centre.In short, he wins a huge number of fouls and also ranks highly in his position for successful dribbles, blocks and interceptions.Add in 83 tackles, a tally only bettered by five other players, plus ten goal involvements and the numbers reflect what the St James’ Park faithful have observed, Guimaraes is a tremendously effective all-action midfielder.He too banked nine points at Wolves’ expense via an assist, three bonus points and a big chance created.Newcastle have not been at their best this season, mainly because they have been severely hampered by injuries, by Gordon and Guimaraes have emerged as top-tier midfield options for Dream Team managers.That being said, a quick glance at the schedule suggests gaffers might be wise to wait until the international break if they are tempted to recruit either (or both) of Eddie Howe’s favourites.19 goal involvements in 2023/24Credit: GettyNewcastle are not among the seven teams with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 27 and their only game, a trip to Chelsea, isn’t one that demands to be targeted.Then in Gameweek 28, they face Manchester City in the FA Cup.Once that difficult match-up is out of the way and the international break is complete, that’s when Gordon and Guimaraes will look like smart transfer options.Gameweek 29 consists of back-to-back home games against West Ham and Everton.One thing to be wary of, however, is Guimaraes’ disciplinary record.He’s racked 13 yellow cards already this season and is perhaps a tad fortunate not to have seen red at least once.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

    Don’t forget to use your three Boosters this Dream Team season: Park the Bus, 12th Man and Maximum Captain

    APPROXIMATELY half of all Dream Team managers are yet to play a Booster this season.Holding all three back with a view to maximising returns as the campaign reaches a dramatic crescendo is a viable tactic but that doesn’t mean you should naively turn a blind eye to opportune moments.Remember, you can only play each of your three Boosters once and so it’s wise to target the best possible Gameweek in each instance if you want to rack up enough points to propel you up the leaderboard.At the time of writing, just over 66,000 gaffers have played all three of their Boosters which means the vast majority still have at least one to activate between now and the season’s end.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Dream Team bosses need to channel their inner Premier League gafferCredit: Dream TeamWith that in mind, allow us to remind you of each Booster’s unique effect.Park the BusThis is the most-powerful Booster of the three as it essentially allows you to select multiple captains for the duration of one Gameweek, albeit with some limitations.Park the Bus doubles the points of all your defenders and so it’s best to take full advantage of this by adopting a 5-3-2 formation.Ideally, all five of your defenders would have two fixtures to fulfil as well.Most read in FootballAs the season has progressed, it’s become clear that Arsenal and Liverpool boast the best collective defences – these clubs currently provide six of the top eight defenders in the game.It should go without saying that you’re searching for clean sheets from your five-man Park the Bus defence but you should also consider which individuals provide the most attacking threat from the back.The likes of Virgil van Dijk (£4.1m), Gabriel (£4m) and Fabian Schar (£3.3m) have posed a persistent threat at set-pieces while Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£4.5m) and Pedro Porro (£3.6m) have provided boat-loads of assists – annoyingly, all three creative full-backs are currently flagged as injured.Looking forward, every single Premier League club will play twice in Gameweek 29 so that may be the time for you to activate Park the Bus if you still have it available.Play your Boosters before the season finishesCredit: Dream Team12th ManAs the name suggests, this Booster allows you to select an additional player from any position to score points for you for one Gameweek only.You don’t have to worry about formation or budgetary constrictions, simply select a player with (ideally) two favourable fixtures and enjoy the bumper points.For example, say you haven’t been able to afford Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m) as a permanent recruit; ahead of a friendly Manchester City double header worth targeting, you could use your 12th Man Booster to temporarily benefit from the Belgian’s returns.Another popular strategy involves selecting a 12th Man who has excellent short-term fixtures but limited long-term viability.Take Dominic Solanke (£3.9m) in Gameweek 27 as an example.Bournemouth host Sheffield United and Luton in quick succession and so it’s reasonable to expect big things from their No9 given he’s scored 16 goals and provided five assists already this season.Transferring the Cherries’ top scorer into your XI is a reasonable tactic but you’ll have to use another transfer to replace him before Gameweek 28 as Bournemouth don’t have a single fixture to fulfil.Instead of using multiple transfers to facilitate Solanke’s favourable double in Gameweek 27, it’s much simpler to nominate him as 12th Man.Solanke might be a smart 12th Man in Gameweek 27Credit: RexMaximum CaptainThis Booster simplifies the captaincy debate by guaranteeing the armband ends up on the player within your XI who scores the most points over the course of the Gameweek.Imagine Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) are all set to for juicy double Gameweeks against favourable opposition; chances are at least one of them will go seriously big.Activating Max Captain in such a scenario would ensure the optimum outcome.However, if all your rivals were to captain the Norwegian poacher in this situation and he outscored Saka and Salah, then you would have essentially wasted your Max Captain Booster.If the armband ends up on the player you were going to give it to anyway then that’s obviously a frustrating outcome. That’s why some gaffers prefer to activate Max Captain when all the familiar favourites are either unavailable or facing difficult fixtures.READ MORE SUN STORIESOr it may be that Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City all have one fixture at a time when several other clubs have two, blowing the captaincy conversation wide open.Lastly, be aware Boosters can’t be used them in conjunction with each other, only one at a time.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

    Clean sheet streak propelling Liverpool defenders up Dream Team rankings – Virgil van Dijk now third in his position

    LIVERPOOL scored a dramatic 99th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest on Saturday to maintain their lead in the Premier League.That Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) was the Reds’ hero at the City Ground came as a mocking twist of fate in the world of Dream Team as the Uruguayan striker was the most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 26.Outside of the last-gasp goal, the most notable aspect of the game was the visitors’ latest clean sheet.Just one of several in-form Liverpool defendersCredit: Dream TeamJurgen Klopp’s side prevented their opponents from scoring for the third game in succession – a streak that has greatly benefited Caoimhin Kelleher (£2.3m) and his defenders.The Irish goalkeeper is comfortably the most in-form asset in his position having taken 27 points from his last three outings.While FIVE Liverpool players are currently among among the top eight most in-form defenders.Conor Bradley (£3.5m) tops the list having amassed 28 points across his last three outings with Virgil van Dijk (£4.1m) not far behind on 25 points – the Dutchman is up to third in his position overall.With 21 points from his last three appearances, Joe Gomez (£3.6m) has quietly climbed up to joint-sixth among defenders for the season.The adaptable 26-year-old has played at centre-back, left-back, right-back and even in defensive midfield en route to 158 points.He features in just 3.1% of teams and is currently above William Saliba (£3.3m) in the rankings – although possibly only fleetingly with Arsenal due to face Sheffield United this evening.Most read in FootballGomez has contributed to 11 clean sheets this term – only Saliba, Ben White (£3.5m) and Gabriel (£4m) have registered more.Third among Dream Team defenders at the time of writingCredit: GettyIbrahima Konate (£2.9m) and Andy Robertson (£3.6m) are also among the most in-form defenders having pocketed 21 and 20 points respectively during their side’s clean sheet run.The latter came ever so close to missing out on his share of the clean sheet points against Forest as he was substituted in the 60th minute, fulfilling the necessary requirement by just a few seconds.Liverpool’s best defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m), missed out on the clean sheets against Forest, Southampton and Chelsea through injury but remains second in his position having racked up 179 points via 12 assists.It will be interesting to see if Klopp continues to give plenty of minutes to the impressive Bradley when Alexander-Arnold is available again.Bradley has deputised for Alexander-Arnold in recent weeksCredit: ReutersThe fact remains that half of the top six defenders in Dream Team right now are Anfield residents and more clean sheets will only improve the outlook.Klopp’s side face Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night before next weekend’s mouthwatering clash against Manchester City.Needless to say, clean sheets against Pep Guardiola’s troops are exceedingly rare.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut the pattern has seemingly been set for Dream Team bosses.In terms of block-picking multiple defenders from a single team – Liverpool and Arsenal assets are head and shoulders above the rest.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

    Dream Team stats back up Pep Guardiola’s claim that Phil Foden is Premier League’s “best player”

    MANCHESTER CITY reasserted their dominance over their neighbours thanks to another inspired display from Phil Foden (£5.7m) on Sunday.Manchester United took an unexpected lead at the Etihad through Marcus Rashford’s (£3.5m) long-range piledriver but the defending champions dominated the game and eventually ran out 3-1 winners.It was the hosts homegrown talent who emerged as the hero with a brilliant brace that prompted Pep Guardiola to hail Foden as “the best player in the Premier League right now” in his post-match interview.A world-class talentCredit: Dream TeamThe decorated tactician’s claim triggered a widespread debate among football fans on social media but it’s an opinion substantiated by the Dream Team rankings.Foden banked 20 points when all was said and done on derby day to take his overall tally for the season to 287, two more than his nearest rival, team-mate Erling Haaland (£7.7m).The Norwegian poacher missed an open goal when his team were 1-0 down but he later scored his obligatory goal to the seal the win in stoppage time.However, the striker’s eight-point haul wasn’t enough to preserve his number one ranking in Dream Team, such was the impressive nature of Foden’s outing.Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) previously held top spot and Arsenal’s No7 will have the chance to usurp his international team-mate this evening when he faces Sheffield United – he’ll need 17 points to jump above Foden.Foden dethroned Haaland in Dream TeamCredit: GETTYDespite the scintillating form of Ollie Watkins (£4.6m), the top three have started to pull away from the chasing pack of late.DREAM TEAM’S TOP PERFORMERS 2023/24Most read in Football
    Phil Foden (£5.7m) – 287 points
    Erling Haaland (£7.7m) – 285 points
    Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) – 271 points
    Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) – 234 points
    Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m) – 231 points
    Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) – 222 points
    Joao Pedro (£4.3m) – 216 points
    Julian Alvarez (£4.2m) – 216 points
    Cole Palmer (£4.3m) – 213 points
    Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) – 211 points
    Foden’s attacking output has been nothing short of extraordinary this season.After Sunday’s brace, he’s now scored 17 goals in all competitions – the joint-most among midfield assets.The 23-year-old has also registered 47 shots on target, comfortably the most among players in his position.287 points and countingCredit: PAHe ranks highly in the playmaking department too having created 14 big chances (third among midfielders) and provided 11 assists (joint-seventh).As if that wasn’t enough, only Bruno Guimaraes (£4.4m) has produced more bonus points than Foden at this stage of the campaign.Best in the Premier League, best in Dream Team… Foden has the world at his feet right now.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

    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 26 – latest on Dominic Solanke, Darwin Nunez and more

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 26 in one easily digestible dose.Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.9m) are both in contention for Liverpool’s trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday having returned to training on Thursday.Mohamed Salah (£6.7m), however, has again been ruled out – key players Alisson (£3.4m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m) also remain sidelined.In more positive news, Andy Robertson (£3.5m) and Wataru Endo (£2.3m) participated in training today.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Not fit to returnCredit: AlamyNo timescale has been given for Jack Grealish’s (£3.2m) return after the Manchester City midfielder limped off against Luton in midweek.Josko Gvardiol (£3.3m) is Pep Guardiola’s only other doubt – Sunday’s Manchester derby will probably come too soon for the Croatia international.As for Erik ten Hag’s side, Bruno Fernandes (£4.8m) and Raphael Varane (£2.4m) successfully shrugged off niggles to feature in the FA Cup in midweek but no other players are expected to return.A late decision will be made on Dominic Solanke (£4m) following the Bournemouth striker’s absence in the FA Cup.”It’s true he has pain in the knee,” Andoni Iraola told journalists. “At least with the MRI, everything is clear. Tomorrow I find out if we have a chance with Dom. It’s a matter of [whether] he still feels the pain or if it’s improved.”Mikel Arteta revealed that Thomas Partey (£2.6m) is likely to be among Arsenal’s squad on Monday night while late decisions will be made on Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.7m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.4m).A late decision will be made on SolankeCredit: Dream TeamKauro Mitoma (£3.5m) will unfortunately miss the remainder of the season with a back injury.In better news for Brighton fans, Evan Ferguson (£2.2m), Tariq Lamptey (£2m) and Joel Veltman (£2.3m) are all said to be available for Saturday’s trip to Craven Cottage.Roberto De Zerbi told reporters: “If you watch the game against Wolves, [Simon] Adingra didn’t play well… maybe he is tired. Facundo [Buonanotte] is the same, Pascal Gross suffered cramp at the end of the game. Lewis Dunk can’t play 90 minutes every three days.”First-choice defenders Ezri Konsa (£3.1m) and Pau Torres (£2.9m) will be included in Aston Villa’s squad to face Luton on Saturday but Unai Emery will judge the pair’s capacity to start closer to kick-off.Ben Mee (£2.4m) is the latest Brentford player to join the long-term injury list after he was forced off against West Ham on Monday night.The centre-back fractured his ankle against the Hammers and is therefore likely to be out for the rest of the campaign.Mitoma is out for the rest of the seasonCredit: AlamyRicharlison (£3.5m) won’t be available for “two to three weeks” after picking up a knee injury.Ange Postecoglou believes Destiny Udogie (£2.8m) has a chance to feature at home against Crystal Palace but Pedro Porro (£3.6m) will probably need another week of recovery.The Eagles will be boosted by the return of Eberechi Eze (£3.9m) to the matchday squad – Joachim Andersen (£2.2m) is also thought to be fine despite a minor concern earlier in the week.Hwang Hee-chan (£3.3m) tweaked his hamstring in midweek and will not travel with Wolves to Newcastle on Saturday.ARSENALInjuries: Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt), Takehiro Tomiyasu (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Jhon Duran, Boubacar Kamara, Diego CarlosSuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, James Hill, Max Aarons, Enes Unal (doubt), Dominic Solanke (doubt), Lloyd Kelly (doubt)Suspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, Josh Dasilva, Ethan Pinnock, Ben MeeSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March, Joao Pedro, James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru MitomaSuspensions: Billy GilmourBURNLEYInjuries: Luka Koleosho, Jordan Beyer, Nathan Redmond, Lyle Foster, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan Beyer (doubt)Suspensions: Josh BrownhillCHELSEAInjuries: Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwo, Reece James, Marc Cucurella (doubt), Beniot Badashile, Carney Chukwuemeka, Thiago Silva (doubt), Christopher NkunkuSuspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Cheick Doucoure, Rob Holding, Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Jesurun Rak-SakyiSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Dele Alli, Andre Gomes, Arnaut Danjuma, Amadou Onana (doubt), Lewis Dobbin (doubt), Idrissa Gueye (doubt)Suspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Raul JimenezSuspensions: Joao PalhinhaLIVERPOOLInjuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai (doubt), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Curtis Jones (doubt), Mohamed Salah (doubt), Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez (doubt), Andy Robertson (doubt), Wataru Endo (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLUTONInjuries: Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, Mads Juel Andersen, Elijah Adebayo, Jacob Brown, Gabriel Osho (doubt), Amari’i Bell (doubt), Dan Potts (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Josko Gvardiol (doubt), Jack GrealishSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Joelinton, Sven Botman (doubt), Callum WilsonSuspensions: Sandro TonaliNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly, Ola Aina, Nuno TavaresSuspensions: NoneSHEFFIELD UNITEDInjuries: Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock (doubt), Ben Brereton Diaz, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Max Lowe, Cameron Archer, Anis Ben SlimaneSuspensions: Mason HolgateTOTTENHAMInjuries: Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Fraser Forster, Destiny Udogie (doubt), Pedro Porro, RicharlisonSuspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Maxwel Cornet Suspensions: NoneWOLVESInjuries: Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chanSuspensions: NonetalkSPORT 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

    Captaincy & Booster options for Gameweek 26: Building a five-man Park the Bus defence around European fixtures

    DREAM TEAM managers have a lot to mull over ahead of Gameweek 26 but the captaincy debate is likely to be a short one.Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 41 points in Gameweek 25, over twice as many as the next-best performer, via an emphatic five-goal exhibition at Luton’s expense.Next in the Norwegian poacher’s sights are Manchester United and Copenhagen, who both face the daunting task of a visit to the Etihad in the coming days.In-form players from Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all look set for profitable outings this coming Gameweek but it’s almost impossible to look past Haaland for the armband after what he produced at Kenilworth Road.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Bradley appears in 2.9% of teams at presentCredit: Dream TeamIf the captaincy conversation is cut-and-dried then what about Booster options?Many gaffers are yet to activate Park the Bus, the most-powerful Booster in the game, and Gameweek 26’s fixtures look rather appealing on paper.Liverpool face Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header on current form.Conor Bradley (£3.2m) and Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) racked up 18 points each in Gameweek 25 while Joe Gomez (£3.5m), Kostas Tsimikas (£3.4m), Ibrahima Konate (£2.8m) and Andy Robertson (£3.5m) also registered double-digit hauls.Jurgen Klopp’s side kept their sheets clean against Chelsea and Southampton in what was a high-scoring week for the Reds.Most read in Dream TeamThe only issue is that identifying Liverpool defenders who will definitely start both fixtures this coming Gameweek is deceptively difficult.A popular man ahead of Gameweek 26Credit: GettyVan Dijk is the safest bet but it’s worth noting the Dutchman has played just 90 minutes of European football this season – surely Klopp is likely to call upon his skipper in a knockout environment?Bradley is probably a double starter as well with Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m) expected to be sidelined until after the international break – rotation is more likely at left-back.Elsewhere, Emerson (£2.8m) is a potentially shrewd option ahead of West Ham’s trips to Everton and Freiburg.Granted, the Hammers don’t keep all that many clean sheets but the industrious left-back has made more tackles (91) than any other defender in the game at this season.Add in four goal involvements plus 20 bonus points and Emerson boasts a respectable tally of 144 points in total – he’s certainly capable of a satisfying double-digit haul in Gameweek 26.Generally speaking, it’s best to target defenders with two fixtures when building a Park the Bus back line but with Arsenal up against Sheffield United this weekend, including one of Ben White (£3.6m), William Saliba (£3.4m) or Gabriel (£4.1m) could yield healthy returns.A couple of tempting optionsCredit: ReutersCombining Van Dijk, Bradley, Emerson, Gabriel and, say, Ruben Dias (£3.5m) would look pretty good as a Park the Bus back five.Ezri Konsa (£3.1m) is another defender to keep an eye on after he was pictured in training.The Villa man is a favourite of Unai Emery’s and a keen bonus point collector but it’s currently unclear whether he’s ready to start one game, let alone two.All that being said, it’s worth noting that Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all have back-to-back away games this Gameweek so waiting until Gameweek 27 to activate Park the Bus, when all four sides have two home fixtures, might be the smarter move.12th Man?Credit: APGaffers interested in playing a 12th Man this Gameweek would do well to peruse the players we recommended as transfer options.Ollie Watkins (£4.5m) has banked 60 points across his last six outings and therefore seems likely to thrive against Luton and Ajax, assuming he’s selected in the Europa Conference League round of 16 first leg in Amsterdam.Jarrod Bowen (£4.5m) bagged a hat-trick last time out and is once again a fantastic option now he’s been reunited with Lucas Paqueta (£4.1m) and Mohammed Kudus (£4.6m).READ MORE SUN STORIESKevin De Bruyne (£6.2m) is also a tempting 12th Man candidate for those gaffers who haven’t yet recruited him on a permanent basis.Remember to lock in your captaincy, transfers and any Boosters you wish to play before 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

    Key stats and facts ahead of Score Predictor Matchweek 29 – play for free and compete for £500 Amazon voucher!

    YOU should know the drill by now.Simply submit your predictions for five selected Premier League games via Score Predictor and you could win a £500 Amazon voucher by Monday night!Remember, you don’t have to get all five results exactly correct to win the to prize, you just have to earn more points (based on accuracy) than anyone else.Score Predictor remains free to play and, if you’re in a hurry, 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!Play now!Credit: Dream TeamIn the spirit of generosity, we’ve compiled some useful stats and facts for each of the relevant fixtures, as well as our own predictions.Brentford v ChelseaThis has been a bogey fixture for the Blues in recent times.Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 2-0 at home to the Bees back in October to make it four meetings in a row without a win.However, only Burnley and Bournemouth sit below Thomas Frank’s mob in the form table (last six games) at present and their underlying defensive numbers are a cause for concern.Most read in FootballChelsea continue to deliver a mixed bag; this month they’ve been soundly beaten by Wolves, won away at Aston Villa (no easy feat), beaten Crystal Palace, drawn with Manchester City, lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, and progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals via a win over Leeds, not without its hiccups.The visitors are hard to predict but the fact Brentford lost to a previously beleaguered West Ham last time out nudges us towards an away win.Our Prediction: 2-1 to ChelseaPredictably unpredictableCredit: RexNottingham Forest v LiverpoolThere’s probably no need to overthink this one, it’s 17th against the league leaders after all.Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are capable of spirited showings on home soil while the Reds are plagued by injuries (Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain major doubts) but Jurgen Klopp’s troops have a lot of momentum behind them at the moment.In the last week alone they’ve lifted a trophy and dispatched one of the better Championship outfits in Southampton; all while giving plenty of minutes to inexperienced youngsters.The Premier League remains Liverpool’s top priority and it’s hard to see them slipping up on Saturday, although they did come unstuck at the City Ground last season.Surely lightning won’t strike twice?Our Prediction: 3-1 to LiverpoolLiverpool are enjoying themselves at presentCredit: GettyLuton v Aston VillaThe Hatters have conceded ten goals in their last two games, albeit against extremely tough opposition in Liverpool and Man City.That being said, it was only three weeks ago they lost 3-1 to Sheffield United and so it seems reasonable to expect the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey to thrive at Kenilworth Road.We reckon the home supporters will have something to celebrate because Unai Emery’s men average 1.3 goals conceded per league game in 2023/24 but the visitors should have more than enough firepower.Our Prediction: 3-1 to Aston VillaA man in formCredit: GettyManchester City v Manchester UnitedSunday’s main event is surely the pick of the fixtures this weekend.The Red Devils suffered a reality check against Fulham last weekend without the in-form Rasmus Hojlund in their ranks.Prior to that upset, their first defeat of 2024, Erik ten Hag’s side had steadily built some momentum but suddenly a trip to the Etihad looks very daunting indeed, not least because Erling Haaland bagged FIVE goals in midweek.Pep Guardiola’s side were several levels above their neighbours at Old Trafford back in October and the added edge of home advantage could spell seriously bad news for United.City, Liverpool and Leeds are the only three teams in England’s top four tiers still unbeaten at home this season.Our Prediction: 3-0 to Man CityAn ominous performanceCredit: RexSheffield United v ArsenalIt’s difficult to envisage anything other than a comfortable away win on Monday night.The Gunners are the top flight’s most in-form team having won six in a row, scoring 25 goals in the process.Chris Wilder’s men got a win over Luton earlier in the month but it fell between a pair of demoralising 5-0 defeats.The Blades have mustered just 13 points since promotion – it could get messy for them up against a free-flowing side that includes Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, etc.Our Prediction: 4-0 to ArsenalREAD MORE SUN STORIESSubmit your predictions before this weekend’s action gets underway!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