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    Play Score Predictor now and compete for £500 Amazon gift card – tips, stats and facts!

    WE’RE giving away another £500 Amazon gift card with Score Predictor in Matchweek 30.Submit your predictions for the outcomes of five selected Premier League fixtures and you could land the fantastic prize by Monday 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!Play for free ahead of this weekend’s actionCredit: Dream TeamCheck out our predictions below…Crystal Palace v LutonThe Hatters have lost five games in a row but that doesn’t tell the full story.Rob Edwards’ side have faced Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa in their most recent outings, three of the current top four in the Premier League table.Carlton Morris and company should find life easier against a bottom-half opponent on Saturday – the 28-year-old striker has scored five goals and provided two assists in his last seven league games.Most read in FootballThe Eagles succumbed to Tottenham last time out but were boosted by the return of Eberechi Eze, who is likely to be fit enough to play 90 minutes this weekend if required.It’s early days for Oliver Glasner which makes Palace difficult to predict but 39% of Score Predictor users have gone for a 2-1 home win at this stage – the most-popular prediction.Luton have only mustered nine points on the road this season but we’re backing them to take something away from Selhurst Park.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawPalace are much better with Eze in midfieldCredit: RexArsenal v BrentfordThe Gunners have won six league games in a row, scoring 26 goals and conceding just three in the process.Mikel Arteta’s side have been in blistering form of late and it’s hard to envisage anything other than another comfortable win this weekend.Brentford have taken just one point from their last four outings, albeit against tough opposition.Arsenal have conceded the fewest league goals in 2023/24 and they’ve recently leapfrogged Liverpool to become the top flight’s top scorers as well – ominous signs.The Bees famously beat Arsenal in their first Premier League meeting but the North Londoners have generally registered narrow victories in this match-up since.Given that only the bottom three have conceded more goals than Thomas Frank’s side, the free-flowing hosts should have more than enough to get the job done.Our Prediction: 3-0 to ArsenalIn fine formCredit: GETTYAston Villa v TottenhamThis one has all the ingredients of a thriller.Ange Postecoglou’s approach tends to result in goals at both ends while the Villains always back themselves to assert their dominance on home soil.The hosts are fourth in the table with Spurs five points behind them in fifth with a game in hand – their records are very similar.Villa have had the better of this fixture of late and will be aiming to make it four consecutive wins over the North London outfit on Sunday.However, the visitors will be fresher as Unai Emery’s side face Ajax in Amsterdam this evening.We’re inclined to sit on the fence in this instance…Our Prediction: 2-2 drawSon v Watkins is a mouthwatering match-upCredit: GettyLiverpool v Manchester CityA gargantuan match-up in the title race.The Reds are one of just three sides in England’s top four tiers yet to suffer defeat at home but their immense record will be tested to the limit by Pep Guardiola’s formidable machine.City have generally come unstuck at Anfield in recent years although they did win 4-1 on Merseyside the season before last.This time around, it doesn’t feel as if either defence is equipped to withstand the quality of the opposing attacking unit, especially if Mohamed Salah is deemed available.The defending champions rested several key players against Copenhagen in midweek and they will have an extra day to prepare for this crunch clash with Liverpool away to Sparta Prague tonight.It will be interesting to see what line-up Jurgen Klopp goes with in the first of leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie.The hosts have more injury concerns and one suspects the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold may be a factor – the England international scored an excellent equaliser at the Etihad back in November.Our Prediction: 3-2 to Manchester CitySalah looms largeCredit: PAChelsea v NewcastleThe Blues 4-1 defeat at St James’ Park in November was arguably their worst performance of the season but plenty of Score Predictor users will have given up looking for patterns where Mauricio Pochettino’s side are concerned.Chelsea are frustratingly inconsistent, as their league position (11th) lays bare.They haven’t been good at home this season either, having won just five of their 12 league fixtures at Stamford Bridge.Mind you, the Magpies haven’t had much success on the road – they’ve mustered just 11 points away from home.Games involving Newcastle this season feature 3.8 goals on average but their lean away record combined with Chelsea’s underwhelming home record suggests a tepid stalemate of sorts.Our Prediction: 1-1 drawREAD 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
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    Transfer recommendations for Gameweek 27: Differential strikers from the bottom half and other options

    SEVEN teams are set to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 27 and Dream Team managers should shop around these clubs when confirming their latest transfers.Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton, Aston Villa, West Ham, Bournemouth and Luton are the sides in question.With that in mind, allow us to propose some transfer recommendations.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Well placed to cash in this coming GameweekCredit: GettyDominic Solanke (£3.9m)The Cherries have the luxury of back-to-back home games against two sides below them in the table this coming Gameweek.Andoni Iraola’s men will host Sheffield United on Saturday before welcoming Luton to the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.Both the Blades and the Hatters are currently in the relegation zone having conceded 72 and 54 goals respectively.All signs point to more success for a 3.8%-owned striker who has already scored 16 goals and provided five assists this season.Only Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) have scored more Premier League goals than Solanke this campaign.Most read in FootballThe 26-year-old is clearly a fantastic option for Gameweek 27 but Dream Team bosses should be aware that Bournemouth will blank in Gameweek 28.Still, as far as one-week punts go, this is right up there.Carlton Morris (£3.3m)Anyone for a wildcard?Credit: GettyLuton’s acting captain is a massive differential option as he currently features in just 0.2% of teams!Much of what applied to Solanke is also relevant for Morris.The Hatters face Crystal Palace at the weekend before their aforementioned trip to Bournemouth – a relatively favourable double header.Luton’s No9 has been in fine form of late; he’s banked 70 points across the last seven Gameweeks via five goals and three assists.Out of the two, Solanke is the better selection for Gameweek 27 but Morris has the advantage of a fixture in Gameweek 28 (Nottingham Forest at home) and so the latter won’t need to be replaced in a hurry.Many gaffers will be hesitant to back a Luton player but it’s simply a fact that Morris is one of the most in-form strikers in the game right now and one of very few assets with three fixtures across the next two Gameweeks.William Saliba (£3.3m), Gabriel (£4m) and/or Ben White (£3.5m)White bagged 15 points in Gameweek 26Credit: GettyFor those with more mainstream tastes, targeting Arsenal’s solid defence looks promising once again.The Gunners have been in magnificent form since the winter break and their fans will be hopeful of positive results at home to Brentford and Porto in Gameweek 27.Following their thrashing of Sheffield United, Gabriel, Saliba and White all feature in Dream Team’s top seven defenders.It’s mildly interesting that the Frenchman has the fewest points of the three but he’s by far and away the most popular – he’s also the cheapest.Ivan Toney packs a punch but the Bees have taken just one point from their last four league games and are in danger of being dragged into the relegation scrap – Mikel Arteta will feel confident of another comfortable victory.As for the Portuguese outfit, they breached Arsenal’s tight defence deep into stoppage time in the first leg but they are likely to be up against it at the Emirates.Arsenal boast the best defence in the Premier League this season and they’ve also kept the most clean sheets in all competitions.Once again, gaffers should be wary of the fact that the North Londoners don’t have a fixture in Gameweek 28.Targeting clean sheets in Gameweek 27 is all well and good but an XI that features three or more Arsenal players is at risk of being caught short next week.Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m) and/or Mohammed Kudus (£4.6m)West Ham’s first-choice front three is stacked with qualityCredit: GettyWest Ham are among the handful of clubs with three fixtures across the next two Gameweeks.This alone would be enough to justify the selections of their talented attacking assets but factor in a favourable match-up at home to Burnley on Sunday and this strategy appears that much sweeter.With 17 goals to his name, Bowen is the obvious choice, as evidenced by his ownership of 22.4%.The Hammers’ No20 is generously categorised as a midfielder but he’s played the vast majority of his minutes as a centre-forward this season.Gaffers seeking a potential difference-maker would do well to consider Kudus as he appears in 1.4% of teams at present.The Ghana star is one of the best dribblers in the league and he hoards bonus points as a result.Dream Team managers will be able to scout how David Moyes’ side get on against Freiburg this evening ahead of the second leg in East London next week.Elsewhere, it’s worth repeating a couple of names we’ve mentioned a fair bit of late in Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) and Leon Bailey (£3.1m).READ MORE SUN STORIESAston Villa host Tottenham and Ajax in Gameweek 27 before travelling to West Ham in Gameweek 28.Lock in your transfers prior to Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Leon Bailey’s undeniable stats suggest Dream Team bosses overlooking Aston Villa star

    LEON BAILEY (£3.1m) has ascended to another level this season.The Jamaica international’s first season at Aston Villa was blighted by injuries while his second campaign was an underwhelming one punctuated by inconsistent performances.So far in 2023/24, however, fans of the Villains have finally seen the player who made waves in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.In fact, he’s statistically one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking talents this term.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!One of the Premier League’s most-exciting players this seasonCredit: Dream TeamUsing Dream Team definitions, Bailey is averaging a goal or assist every 78.6 minutes in the top flight!This alone suggests he deserves to be more popular among gaffers as his current ownership of 2.6% means he features in fewer teams than Nicolas Jackson (£3.3m).The 26-year-old has scored nine goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions this season.Only four midfielders have registered more goal involvements at the time of writing: Bukayo Saka (£5.9m), Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m), Phil Foden (£5.7m) and Cole Palmer (£4.3m).All members of that quartet are significantly more popular than Bailey – Palmer is the least-selected of the four and his ownership of 16.6% is enough to make him the seventh most-popular asset in his position.Most read in FootballSurely Bailey deserves to be more popular among Dream Team managers?Credit: GettyThe fact Bailey rarely completes 90 minutes may be the reason his ownership doesn’t reflect the quality of his output.While that’s an understandable inclination, the only thing that should matter to gaffers is a player’s capacity to returns plentiful points.And Bailey has done just that in his last two outings having taken Nottingham Forest and Luton for 19 points via one goal and two assists.Dream Team bosses warming to the idea of transferring Bailey into their XI may be tempted to enact such a ploy prior to Gameweek 27.Unai Emery’s side one of seven teams with two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek and both games are due to played at Villa Park, where they have an excellent record.Granted, Tottenham and Ajax are hardly the most favourable opponents but both sides have conceded their fair share of goals this season.Watkins and Bailey have dovetailed superblyCredit: GettyDream Team gaffers will (correctly) been drawn to Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) first when targeting Villa’s attack but doubling up is a perfectly viable strategy.The England striker has developed a strong understanding with Bailey in recent months.Looking forward, Villa have a fixture in Gameweek 28, unlike Arsenal and Brighton.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn fact, Villa, Liverpool, West Ham and Luton are the only clubs with three fixtures across Gameweeks 27 and 28.All things considered, Bailey appears to be a smart option up until the international break.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Kevin De Bruyne among most transferred-out players this week – will perfect playmaker punish Dream Team gaffers?

    NO Dream Team manager wants to be in a position that forces them to bet against Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m).But that’s exactly how Gameweek 27 is shaping up for a sizeable chunk of gaffers.With the deadline still three days away there’s still time for the outlook to change but, as it stands, Manchester City’s playmaker-in-chief is the fourth most transferred-out player this week.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Not a player you want to bet againstCredit: Dream TeamDe Bruyne mustered just four points against Manchester United last time out but it was only a week ago he produced FOUR assists against Luton for a 15-point return in what was a truly brilliant display.Some Dream Team bosses are perhaps still frustrated by the fact he played just six minutes against Bournemouth and didn’t feature at all at home to Brentford.But again, prior to that he took Copenhagen and Chelsea for 24 points via one goal, two assists and five bonus points.Realistically, De Bruyne’s ability is not under scrutiny, he’s proven himself a world-class talent several times over at this stage of his career.The reason swathes of gaffers have ditched him this week is because Pep Guardiola’s side face an unfavourable Gameweek 27.A formidable combinationCredit: ReutersFor first time in over a month, the defending champions will only have one fixture to fulfil and that being a trip to Liverpool – the toughest match-up possible for them in the Premier League.Most read in FootballAnfield has not been a happy hunting ground for City during Jurgen Klopp’s reign, although De Bruyne did score in Merseyside the season before last.Many gaffers will feel they have to sacrifice the Belgium international in order to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth, replacing him with an attacking asset likely to start two fixtures in Gameweek 27.Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Luton are all set to pull double duty.The logic is relatively sound but the risk of being punished by De Bruyne is not easy to stomach, such is his pedigree.He only returned from a long-term injury on January 7th and yet he’s already registered 12 assists in all competitions, a tally bettered by just five players.More broadly, the 32-year-old is averaging 6.5 points-per-game this season.De Bruyne may feature against Copenhagen this eveningCredit: PAIn fairness, Phil Foden (£5.7m) and Erling Haaland (£7.7m) are the two top point-scorers in the game right now and so it’s understandable why some gaffers are turning towards De Bruyne for their City sacrifice.And yet still it feels counter-intuitive; De Bruyne is one of very few players who could justifiably be described as “fixture-proof”. There’s no downplaying the significance of this weekend’s headline showdown, both in terms of the title race and in relation to Dream Team.11 of the top 20 most-selected players in the game represent either Liverpool or Man City at present.READ MORE SUN STORIESWith so many popular players in direct opposition, Sunday’s game will go a long way to determining Mini Leagues all over the world. Those who have ditched De Bruyne may find it a stressful watch…talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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