Fantasy Football

DREAM TEAM managers should fix their sights firmly on the Premier League title contenders in Gameweek 24.Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the select group of five teams with two fixtures to fulfil, making their popular players even more appealing than usual.
Brentford and Luton are also set for double headers but while Ivan Toney (£4.9m) is a tempting differential option, gaffers who don’t need to do anything drastic should exclusively shop around the top three.
With that in mind, allow us to propose some transfer recommendations…

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A solid partnershipCredit: Dream Team
William Saliba (£3.1m) and/or Gabriel (£3.7m)
News of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.2m) latest injury setback will leave many gaffers in need of defender.
While it’s frustrating to have one’s hand forced, this turn of events invites Dream Team bosses to back Arsenal’s resolute defence ahead of their favourable visit to Turf Moor on Saturday.
Burnley have the worst home record in the top flight this season while the Gunners boast the best defensive record – it’s a huge clean sheet opportunity on paper.
Then in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s men travel to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Porto.
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The midweek match-up promises to be more competitive but it’s worth noting that the Primeira Liga outfit have been comprehensively outscored by Benfica and Sporting CP in the league this term.
If the combination of a friendly league fixture coupled with an additional midweek outing isn’t enough, the fact Saliba and Gabriel banked 29 points between them last time out should be sufficient evidence of their viability.
Arsenal have posed a serious threat from set-pieces this season, as evidenced by the goals scored by each of their first-choice centre-backs against West Ham last weekend.
The Brazilian is marginally ahead in the rankings on 150 points to the Frenchman’s 144 but the truth is there isn’t much between them – Saliba’s cheaper price may even make him the superior option but it’s a case of take-your-pick.
Doubling up on Arsenal defenders is a perfectly valid strategy.
The obvious choiceCredit: Rex
On a similar theme, Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) is essentially a must-have for Gameweek 24.
The England winger is the second-most popular player in the game and the current top scorer so this suggestion should go without saying.
Gabriel Martinelli (£4m) and Martin Odegaard (£4.1m) owners will feel confident of healthy returns too…
Nathan Ake (£3.2m)
Gaffers who would rather continue stocking up on Manchester City assets – an understandable inclination given they’ve won eleven games in a row – would do well to consider their Dutch defender.
Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy is cause for concern but Josko Gvardiol’s (£3.3m) injury should ensure back-to-back starts for Ake against Chelsea and Brentford in Gameweek 24.
Go Dutch!Credit: Getty
Granted, the defending champions haven’t kept as many clean sheets as they should have this season but they held firm against Everton last weekend and really should have kept FC Copenhagen at bay in midweek – the Danish side registered just one shot on target and 21% possession.
Ake banked 13 points in Gameweek 23 via a helpful (accidental) assist against the Toffees.
The 28-year-old is far from a short-term punt either as City play Luton and Bournemouth in Gameweek 25 – they’re also the only team with two fixtures scheduled for Gameweek 26 (Manchester United and Copenhagen).
We won’t waste any time justifying City’s blindingly obvious talents – Phil Foden (£5.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) and Erling Haaland’s (£7.3m) returns speak for themselves.
Agent of chaosCredit: PA
Diogo Jota (£4.3m) and/or Darwin Nunez (£4.5m)
Gaffers without a Liverpool forward in their XI will be nervous heading into Gameweek 24.
The Reds travel to Brentford on Saturday before welcoming Luton to Anfield on Wednesday.
Both opponents are capable of mixing it with bigger teams on their day but the fact remains the Bees and the Hatters are closer to relegation than Jurgen Klopp’s men at the top of the table.
Only Man City have scored more league goals than Liverpool at this stage of the campaign and they haven’t really felt the absence of Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) in recent weeks.
Jota has contributed 14 goals and six assists in 2023/24 while Nunez has provided 12 goals and 14 assists – impressive numbers to say the least.

Salah was pictured in training earlier this week and may get some minutes but the onus will once again be on the aforementioned pair to get the job done in the final third.
The Portugal international is way more efficient and methodical than the Uruguayan No9 but the latter’s unique brand of chaos typically results in plenty of points.
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Like Saliba and Gabriel, it’s a toss-up between the two but backing both Jota and Nunez alongside Haaland would constitute a fantastic front three.
Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.

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WE have a soft spot for Ivan Toney (£4.9m) here at Dream Team HQ.Ever since Brentford were promoted to the Premier League, their combative target man has punched above his weight and mixed it with the game’s top strikers despite his comparatively relaxed schedule (no European commitments).
And so when Toney became available again after his eight-month suspension for gambling offences, we promised we’d review his comeback performances soon after.

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Back with a bangCredit: Dream Team
The 27-year-old has hit the ground running since his return in Gameweek 20, banking 34 points across four outings to remind Dream Team managers everywhere of his pedigree.
A three-point haul against treble winners Manchester City is his only blemish so far with goals against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Wolves making him one of Dream Team’s most in-form forwards.
In fact, among assets in his position, only Erling Haaland (£7.3m) averages more points-per-game than Toney in 2023/24 – although of course the latter’s figure of 8.5 comes from a much smaller sample size.
What’s undeniable is that the Bees’ talisman is worthy of due consideration.
And a quick look at the schedule suggests he might be an interesting differential option in Gameweek 24.
That’s mainly because Thomas Frank’s side are one of just five teams with two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek.
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Brentford’s new double actCredit: Rex
However, it should be noted that Brentford’s double header is comfortably the most challenging on paper – they host Liverpool on Saturday before travelling to Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Those testing match-ups reduce the viability of every other Brentford player but Toney’s record sets him apart from his team-mates.
Remember, he scored 20 goals from 33 league games last season, even outscoring Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) in the top flight.
And three goals from his first four appearances this term suggests the lengthy suspension has not had a negative impact on his playing ability.

Admittedly, stocking up on Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool players in Gameweek 24 appears the wisest strategy as the three title contenders also have two fixtures each.
But Toney deserves to be shortlisted among the potential recruits this week.
His ownership of 1.8% makes him a huge differential, one that may appeal to gaffers who feel the need to think outside the box in order to gain ground in their Mini Leagues.

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WAS there any doubt Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) would put on an exhibition in Gameweek 23?Manchester City’s playmaker-in-chief has hardly missed a beat since returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, as Everton and FC Copenhagen discovered to their detriment.

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A world-class performerCredit: Dream Team
Initially, it seemed as if the Dream Team managers who resisted the urge to transfer the brilliant Belgian into their XI were justified as he was named on the bench against the Toffees for Saturday’s early kick-off.
However, De Bruyne was introduced just before the hour-mark with the score at 0-0 and helped the defending champions register their tenth straight win in all competitions.
The 32-year-old provided the assist for Erling Haaland’s (£7.3m) second goal to register four points from just over half an hour’s work.
A short weekend shift all but guaranteed De Bruyne’s place in the starting line-up in the Danish capital on Tuesday night and that’s where he really cashed in.
Those hesitant gaffers could only watch on and grimace as he scored City’s opening goal before assisting their second and third.
When all was said and done, De Bruyne claimed 16 points from the Champions League round of 16 first leg to make it 20 for the Gameweek.
De Bruyne produced a pinpoint finish to unlock Copenhagen’s defenceCredit: Getty
This combined haul means he finishes as the top performer in Gameweek 23, edging out team-mates Haaland and Phil Foden (£5.3m).
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De Bruyne has been among the top five most transferred-in players for the last four Gameweeks in succession but a significant portion of gaffers have been resistant, perhaps because his playing time remains somewhat uncertain.
His sizeable ownership of 26.7% is enough to make him the eighth most-popular player in the game but, such is the star midfielder’s pedigree, he’s historically been owned by approximately half of gaffers when fully fit.
In fairness, De Bruyne has only completed 90 minutes twice in seven outings since his return but the overriding point is that he doesn’t need much time on the pitch to change the course of a game.
He’s plundered 50 points across the last five Gameweeks via two goals and eight assists.
A formidable duoCredit: AFP

The Belgium international is known for his unmatched playmaking ability but even so his tally of eight assists is remarkable given he’s played just eight games in 2023/24.
For comparison, Bruno Fernandes (£4.9m) has registered seven assists and he’s played 32 games this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have six fixtures between Gameweeks 24 and 26, the most of any Premier League team, so De Bruyne’s backers should expect plenty more returns in the coming weeks.
And to those still reluctant to transfer him in – what are you waiting for?

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SINCE shots on target are worth a point each in Dream Team this season, gaffers should be aware of which players lead the way in the key metric.One point may not seem like much in isolation but they really add up over the course of a season.
Plus, those keeping goalkeepers honest most often are also likely to be among the top goalscorers.

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A keen shooter to say the leastCredit: Dream Team
Let’s analyse the current top ten…
MOST SHOTS ON TARGET THIS SEASON (ALL COMPETITIONS):

53 – Erling Haaland (£7.3m)
49 – Darwin Nunez (£4.5m)
42 – Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) & Julian Alvarez (£4.4m)
38 – Phil Foden (£5.3m)
37 – Matheus Cunha (£4.3m)
36 – Ollie Watkins (£4.3m)
33 – Cole Palmer (£4.4m) & Joao Pedro (£4.3m)
31 – Jarrod Bowen (£4.8m)

Such is the threat posed by Manchester City’s target man, he tops this list despite the fact he recently missed eight fixtures with a foot injury.
To put Haaland’s half-century into perspective, he’s earned the same number of points through shots on target alone as Marc Cucurella (£2.7m) and Emerson Royal (£2.2m) have mustered overall.
21 of the Norwegian poacher’s shots on target have resulted in goals.
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A relentless threatCredit: AP
It’s no surprise to see Liverpool’s No9 close behind as he’s taken more total shots than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Of course, the thing about Nunez is that, for all his impressive attributes, his finishing can be erratic.
Still, 49 shots on target underlines the barrage he unleashes on his opponents and perhaps indicates that he’s not too far away from a truly prolific run of form in front of goal.
Some gaffers may consider that wishful thinking but his almost freakish record of hitting woodwork suggests only a minor improvement would reap huge rewards.
One can’t help but notice Man City and Liverpool dominate this statistic once Salah, Alvarez and Foden complete the top five.
Like Haaland, the Egyptian superstar is particularly notable here because he’s been unavailable for the Reds’ last eight games and yet still he holds a lofty ranking.
Salah’s return is imminentCredit: AFP
As for Foden, he’s worthy of a special mention because he leads the way among midfielders, a reflection of his magnificent form this campaign.
The England international has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists already in 2023/24.
Wolves’ forward has been one of the surprise packages of the Dream Team season – only five assets in his position have racked up more points at this stage and those individuals all have the added benefit of European fixtures.
However, Cunha’s viability has been thrown into question since he was prematurely substituted against Brentford on Saturday with a suspected injury.
Approximately 2% of Dream Team bosses have benefited from the Brazilian’s superb form of late – including a 25-point haul via his hat-trick against Chelsea – but they may have to find a replacement ahead of Gameweek 24.

Dream Team’s most shot-happy midfielderCredit: Getty
As the second-ranked midfielder, Palmer is also worth flagging.
The 22-year-old has been Chelsea’s best player since he established himself as a regular starter and his tally of 12 goals and 11 assists speaks for itself.
Whether he plays as a centre-forward, No10 or from the right flank, Palmer rarely shies away from a shooting opportunity.
What’s clear (and hardly surprising) is that stocking up on City and Liverpool’s main goal threats is a strong, long-term strategy.
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And perhaps this list indicates that Haaland, Nunez and Salah is the optimum front three when the latter is fully fit?
Dream Team managers should keep track of shots on target as the season progresses – it’s a very useful stat.

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JARROD BOWEN’S (£4.8m) form is something of an elephant in the room for Dream Team managers at present.Like all his team-mates, West Ham’s No20 was a mere passenger against Arsenal on Sunday as the visitors waltzed to a 6-0 victory at the London Stadium.
A measly three-point return means Bowen has mustered just ten points across the last four Gameweeks – eight of which have come through minutes played.

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Bowen’s points are drying upCredit: Dream Team
The 27-year-old’s last notable haul came against Bristol City in the FA Cup when he bagged 14 points despite the Hammers’ draw against the Championship outfit.
He was spotted limping down the tunnel at the end of that game and was subsequently sidelined for the replay at Ashton Gate.
Bowen recovered quickly and was a surprise inclusion for David Moyes’ side at Bramall Lane in Gameweek 20 but he failed to take advantage of that favourable match-up against Sheffield United.
More broadly, the England international’s dip in form has coincided with West Ham’s poor run of results.
The East Londoners are yet to win a game in 2024 and heavy defeats to Manchester United and the Gunners have prompted complaints from previously content fans.
Bowen’s form is the major cause for concern in the world of Dream Team because he was has been among the game’s very best assets for most of 2023/24.
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Even now, he’s one of just seven players (and three midfielders) to have reached the 200-point mark at the time of writing.
Bowen was a must-have asset throughout the first half of the seasonCredit: GETTY
His tally of 14 goals and five assists speaks further to his pedigree but form is vital in Dream Team.
Bowen has registered just two shots on target in six outings since the turn of the year – a stark reflection of West Ham’s worrying downturn.
Optimists may be encouraged by his upcoming fixtures.
Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Everton and Burnley represents a relatively friendly run of games but the fact remains Moyes’ men are in the bottom three of the form table (last five league fixtures).

At £4.8m Bowen is an expensive asset (although his owners should anticipate another price drop) and with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool set for juicy double Gameweeks this month, it’s hard for his backers to justify keeping the faith.
Ahead of Gameweek 24, replacing Bowen with one of the following midfielders would surely pay dividends while also freeing up some extra budget to invest elsewhere: Martin Odegaard (£4.1m), Declan Rice (£3.4m), Luis Diaz (£3.7m), Gabriel Martinelli (£4m), Rodri (£3.6m).

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TOTTENHAM’S last-gasp winner against Brighton on Saturday elevated them back into the top four of the Premier League.Ange Postecoglou’s men are unbeaten in their last five league games at a time when Aston Villa’s results have tailed away.
Plus, only the current top three have scored more goals (51) – a byproduct of the Australian tactician’s front-foot approach.
On the surface, it appears like an opportune time for Dream Team managers to back Spurs to the hilt.

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Not so fast…Credit: Dream Team
In reality, that’s the absolute the last thing they should do.
The North Londoners may be in decent form but gaffers should always consider the schedule when weighing up any potential strategy.
And as it stands, Spurs only have one more fixture to fulfil this month!
This is because their league meeting with Chelsea in Gameweek 25 has been postponed due to the Blues’ meeting with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
Factor in a lack of European commitments plus their absence from the FA Cup fifth round and the end result is an exceedingly relaxed schedule across the next few weeks.
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Son Heung-min has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 22 games this seasonCredit: Reuters
This calendar quirk may actually help Spurs in their quest for Champions League qualification this season but it’s a severe hindrance in the world of Dream Team.
Fewer fixtures equals fewer point-scoring opportunities, massively limiting the viability of James Maddison (£4.1m), Richarlison (£3.5m), Son Heung-min (£4.8m), Pedro Porro (£3.7m) and co.
Dream Team bosses could conceivably hold their Spurs assets in Gameweek 24 for a home fixture against Wolves – most clubs only have one fixture to fulfil.
However, it would be wise to consider replacements from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal as the three title contenders all have two games in the upcoming Gameweek.
This is a very busy period for Man CityCredit: PA

Looking further ahead, nine clubs will play three times across the next two Gameweeks in the same time Spurs play just once, while Liverpool and Man City will play FOUR times.
In fact, Pep Guardiola’s men are set to fulfil SIX fixtures in the time it takes Spurs to play twice across the next three Gameweeks.
Needless to say, that should be the deciding factor for gaffers weighing up Porro or Kyle Walker (£3.1m), Maddison or Rodri (£3.6m), Son or Julian Alvarez (£4.4m), etc.
Those keen on Spurs players should wait until the schedule evens out in Gameweek 28 – at which point they play Fulham, Luton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest in quick succession.

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