Fantasy Football

GAMEWEEK 22 features a full round of Premier League fixtures and, perhaps crucially, two relevant FA Cup replays.Those midweek match-ups present Dream Team managers with an opportunity to target the handful of players with two fixtures at their disposal.
Which brings us neatly onto potential captains…

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In the spotlightCredit: Dream Team
Ollie Watkins (£4m)
Aston Villa’s No11 is set to be the main character in Gameweek 22.
The Villains’ 0-0 draw with Chelsea in the cup means Watkins is among the slim minority of players set to pull double duty (assuming he’s selected for both games) with the Blues’ visit to the Midlands coming after Unai Emery’s men meet with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The Blades are currently rooted to the bottom of the table having only won one of their two league games since promotion – they’ve also conceded the most goals in the top flight this season.
Having ended his mini drought with a goal against Newcastle (and a 13-point return in Gameweek 21), Watkins will be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on the league’s worst defence.
This match-up, coupled with an additional midweek fixture, makes the England international a strong captaincy option.
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Whatever happens, Watkins’ returns will be decisive as he’s currently among the most-popular recruits and the most transferred-out players ahead of Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.
One way or the other, a significant number of gaffers are likely to be disappointed.
Dividing Dream Team bosses this weekCredit: Alamy
Those with their 12th Man Booster still to play might consider activating it to temporarily recruit Watkins.
With Manchester City and Liverpool strikers understandably popular, some may feel it’s generally a good time to replace Villa’s top scorer.
Selecting Watkins as 12th Man would allow gaffers to benefit from his appealing Gameweek 22 while simultaneously implementing long-term ploys elsewhere.
Cole Palmer (£4.1m)
Chelsea’s double header isn’t quite as tempting as Villa’s although Wolves did concede four to low-scoring Manchester United on Thursday night.
The Blues welcome Gary O’Neil’s side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday before their trip to Villa Park on Wednesday.
Without over-complicating it, Palmer is Chelsea’s top performer at the time of writing having earned 171 points via 11 goals and nine assists.
20 goal involvements and countingCredit: Getty
Interestingly, the 21-year-old averages 6.6 points-per-game (and 8.7 across his last three outings) which puts him above Watkins (5.8 points-per-game) in the same metric.
Palmer earns more bonus points than the Villa striker and he has the benefit of being his side’s first-choice penalty taker.
Whether these elements outweigh Watkins’ more favourable fixtures is up for debate.
Honestly, both are good captaincy options this coming Gameweek.
Erling Haaland (£7.9m)
The first thing to say is that this suggestion hinges on Pep Guardiola’s Friday press conference as the decorated tactician may hint at his team selection.
The prolific Norwegian poacher appeared rather rusty upon his return to action as a second-half substitute against Burnley and it may be the case that he’s given another cameo before his first start.
A game-changer in the world of Dream TeamCredit: Rex
However, if Haaland is likely to start against Brentford on Monday night then of course he’s in the captaincy conversation – he scored 19 goals in 20 appearances before his foot injury.
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Pep Guardiola’s side are on a winning streak and their No9 is nothing short of a goal machine when fully fit.
If Haaland’s condition is uncertain then gaffers with him, Watkins, Palmer and other City stars in their XI should considering activating their Max Captain Booster if possible.

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DREAM TEAM managers are constantly having to weigh up short-term gains against long-term strategies.And Gameweek 22 encapsulates this divide perfectly.
Allow us to explain via some transfer recommendations.

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Game-changerCredit: Rex
Erling Haaland (£7.9m)
Manchester City’s No9 looked rusty upon his return to action against Burnley but, such is his pedigree, just the sight of him on a pitch in any capacity is more than enough to ensure he’ll be the most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 22.
Pep Guardiola’s side face Brentford on Monday night and given the Bees have conceded 16 goals in their last six games, all signs point towards healthy returns for City’s attack-minded assets.
The big question revolves around whether Haaland is fit enough to start?
Kevin De Bruyne (£6.2m) was eased back into action after his layoff and the Norwegian poacher may be given the same treatment, especially with Julian Alvarez (£4.2m) in such good form.
That being said, Haaland is one of those rare players who induces almost unbearable FOMO (fear of missing out) – he can severely punish those who dare to crack on without him.
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Keep your eyes and ears peeled for any team news prior to Saturday’s deadline.
A popular optionCredit: PA
Looking beyond Gameweek 22, Man City players should be hugely popular this month.
The treble winners face Copenhagen in the Champions League round of 16 in Gameweek 23 and will double up in Gameweek 24 because of their rescheduled league meeting with Brentford at the Etihad (initially postponed because of the Club World Cup).
Add in FA Cup commitments plus the second leg against the Danish outfit and City are booked in for FOUR consecutive double Gameweeks.
Simply put: it’s an excellent time to back Guardiola’s troops.
Haaland and De Bruyne will surely be essential while Phil Foden (£5.2m) is Dream Team’s third-top scorer at present.
Clean sheets have been hard to come by but the sheer volume of fixtures means Kyle Walker (£3.1m) and Ederson (£2.7m) are appealing options.
Then there’s Rodri (£3.5m), Jeremy Doku (£3.9m), Bernardo Silva (£4.1m)… it’s almost quicker to list which City assets aren’t viable in February.
Ollie Watkins (£4m)
Back on track?Credit: Getty
If the long-term view is fixated on Man City stars, those keen on short-term gains should target the FA Cup fourth round replays.
Aston Villa will host Chelsea in midweek following their 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Before that, the Villains have the luxury of a favourable league fixture in the form of a trip to Bramall Lane.
Watkins ended his mini drought with a consolation goal against Newcastle and he could not cherry-pick a more friendly weekend opponent than Sheffield United in hopes of kicking on again.
The Villains’ No11 banked 13 points in Gameweek 21, a decent return for gaffers who kept faith in him, and he’s a great option for Gameweek 22 as one of very few high-profile players with two fixtures to fulfil.

Cole Palmer (£4.1m)
They don’t call him ‘Cold Palmer’ for nothingCredit: Dream Team
The same logic applies to Chelsea’s young gun.
Although it’s probably fair to say the Blues’ double header is tougher than Villa’s, on paper at least.
They host a Wolves side undefeated in seven (at the time of writing) before their visit to Villa Park, a fortress for Unai Emery’s men in the last year.
Even so, Palmer is a strong option having scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions already this season.
Whether he plays from the right, as a No10, or centre-forward, the 21-year-old provides plenty of threat.
He averages 6.6 points-per-game this season so it’s reasonable to expect a double-digit haul from him in Gameweek 22 thanks to his extra fixture.
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Nottingham Forest are the other Premier League team involved in a FA Cup replay (vs Bristol City) but somebody like Morgan Gibbs-White (£3.1m) really would be a short-term punt as their fixtures turn nasty from Gameweek 23.
Ideally, your XI will feature some representation from Chelsea and/or Villa while also gearing up for City’s hectic schedule.

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CRYSTAL PALACE fans have been increasingly vocal in their frustration as this season has progressed.Currently 14th with 24 points from 22 Premier League games, the Eagles are set for yet another unremarkable campaign – seemingly safe from relegation but still firmly in the bottom half.
The South London club have been in the top flight for 11 straight seasons now and only once have they finished in the top half (10th in 2014/15).

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Hodgson has been under pressure latelyCredit: Getty
They have often been among the league’s lowest scorers too with the current campaign no exception – only Manchester United, Everton, Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer goals at this stage with the Red Devils and Clarets having a game in hand.
While supporters appreciate survival in the world’s most-watched league is not taken for granted, the growing sense of stagnation is understandable.
Amid the frustration, however, Palace boast one of the most joyous double acts in European football.
Eberechi Eze (£3.7m) and Michael Olise (£3.9m) blend style with substance, as evidenced by the pair’s inspired showings to help Roy Hodgson’s side to victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday night, despite the Blades having taken the lead in the first minute.
Olise assisted Eze twice before scoring a fantastic goal of his own as the hosts bagged a much-needed three points at Selhurst Park with a 3-2 win over the team currently rooted to the bottom of the table.
A formidable partnershipCredit: Dream Team
Naturally, the pair’s heroics translated to Dream Team success.
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Both banked 16 points for their respective efforts and are therefore Gameweek 21’s joint-best midfielders at the time of writing.
The problem is that Palace fans so rarely get to enjoy the two midfielders in tandem.
Tuesday night’s fixture was just seventh time this season that Eze and Olise started together.
Both have been blighted by injuries in recent years and, as if to underline the issue, Hodgson was forced to replace each of them in the final 25 minutes with the game on a knife-edge.
Speaking after the final whistle, the England international said: “I’m okay, it was just a precaution, it should be fine. [Michael Olise] is also fine. He’s good.”
Eze’s comments will be warmly welcomed by the Selhurst Park faithful but both players remain availability concerns ahead of Saturday’s game against rivals Brighton.

Both Olise and Eze were withdrawn against Sheffield UnitedCredit: PA
Many Dream Team managers will be just as frustrated as Hogdson.
Olise in particularly has exhibited immense pedigree when fit.
In fact, the 22-year-old averages ten points-per-game this season, the best rate among all assets – Erling Haaland (£7.9m) is second on 9.8 points-per-game.
He’s notched a whopping 68 points across his last five outings!
The France youth international has also racked up 26 bonus points in just ten appearances.
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Eze is a keen bonus point hoarder as well, his tally of 32 is only bettered by four players in his position and that with the ex-QPR playmaker having been sidelined for half a dozen games this term.
Here’s hoping the talented duo are able to play together for the remainder of the campaign – Dream Team and the Premier League are better off for it.

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WHEN Erling Haaland’s (£7.9m) foot injury coincided with Mohamed Salah’s (£6.7m) departure to the Africa Cup of Nations, the door was left ajar for Bukayo Saka (£5.6m) to sit the Dream Team throne.And Arsenal’s No7 did just that last night when he leapfrogged the Egyptian superstar at the top of the overall rankings.

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Top GunCredit: Dream Team
Saka scored the Gunners’ second goal, ultimately a decisive one, against Nottingham Forest to bank nine points when all was said and done.
His efforts at the City Ground pushed his season tally to 218 points, six more than Salah at this stage.
The England winger now has ten goals and 12 assists to his name in 2023/24 but his impressive haul of 35 bonus points is also a key factor in his success – only four players boast superior tallies.
DREAM TEAM’S TOP SCORERS THIS SEASON:

Bukayo Saka – 218 pts
Mohamed Salah – 212 pts
Joao Pedro – 204 pts
Phil Foden – 201 pts
Erling Haaland – 195 pts
Jarrod Bowen – 195 pts
Darwin Nunez – 181 pts
Kieran Trippier – 179 pts
Julian Alvarez – 175 pts
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 172 pts

Saka’s ownership of 50.5% is evidence of the fact Dream Team managers have largely kept the faith despite some criticisms of the 22-year-old’s performances of late.
It’s fair to say he looked a tad fatigued before the winter break but the short rest seems to have done him good.
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Plus, it’s a measure of Saka’s pedigree that his returns remained relatively healthy during his so-called ‘bad patch’.
Between Gameweeks 17 and 19, he registered a perfectly respectable 23 points across four fixtures at a time when Mikel Arteta’s side lost to West Ham, Fulham and Liverpool.
Simply put, Saka is a top-tier Dream Team asset.
22 goal involvements for the seasonCredit: Getty
But how long will be able to retain the crown?
Haaland is expected to return to action in some capacity against Burnley this evening.
Manchester City’s No9 has missed his side’s last nine fixtures and yet the gap to Saka is just 23 points – the Norwegian is capable of such a haul in one outing.
Haaland averages 9.8 points-per-game this season, a rate bettered only by Michael Olise (£3.9m).
HIGHEST POINTS-PER-GAME AVERAGE THIS SEASON (MINIMUM FIVE APPEARANCES):

Michael Olise – 10
Erling Haaland – 9.8
Mohamed Salah – 7.9
Bukayo Saka – 7.8
Son Heung-min – 7.4
James Maddison – 7.3
Jarrod Bowen – 7.2
Phil Foden – 7.2
Pedro Porro – 6.9
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.6

A home game against the Clarets has to be considered a favourable match-up for Haaland’s return fixture although he may be eased back in with a short cameo as a second-half substitute.
Haaland looms largeCredit: Getty

Looking forward, Pep Guardiola’s face Brentford, Everton and Copenhagen across Gameweeks 22 and 23 while Arsenal take on Liverpool and West Ham in the same time.
Not only is Saka at a numerical disadvantage in terms of the fixtures, the difficulty of his match-ups compared to Haaland’s also work against him – Liverpool are top of the Premier League table while West Ham currently sit sixth.
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Plus, Salah is expected to be available again at some point in the coming weeks.
The battle for Dream Team supremacy this season is set to be very competitive throughout the second half of the campaign, although the smart money is on the imperious Haaland if he avoids another spell on the sidelines.

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KIERAN TRIPPIER (£4.8m) has reclaimed top spot among Dream Team defenders following Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night.The experienced right-back provided his ninth assist of the season for the game’s opening goal with a typically threatening corner.
Ollie Watkins (£4m) scored a consolation goal for the hosts midway through the second half to vanquish Trippier and company’s clean sheet but the latter earned three bonus points by way of compensation to bank eight in total from what was a tricky fixture on paper – it was Villa’s first defeat at home in the league for almost a year.

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King of defenders once moreCredit: Dream Team
The former Atletico Madrid defender took Fulham for nine points in the FA Cup on Saturday so his combined haul for Gameweek 21 totalled an impressive 17.
This effort moved him onto 179 points for the season, seven more Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m), Dream Team’s next-best defender at the time of writing.
Trippier also became the first player in his position to reach 40 bonus points.
In fact, only team-mate Bruno Guimaraes (£3.7m) has claimed more bonus points (45) among all players at this stage of the campaign.
This should serve as a timely reminder to Dream Team bosses of the England international’s pedigree.
Trippier recently suffered a significant dip in popularity although his ownership of 26% still makes him the ninth-most selected asset in the game.
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A lean spell of seven points in four games (either side of a one-game suspension) in December prompted plenty of gaffers to ditch him but he’s struck back with 45 points across six fixtures since the start of Gameweek 17.
Alan Shearer, is that you?Credit: Getty
Trippier was far from the only Newcastle defender to come out of Gameweek 21 with their reputation enhanced.
Fabian Schar (£3.2m) catapulted himself into Dream Team’s top ten defenders with a 22-point return, 14 of them coming via a rare brace against the Villains.
The Swiss centre-back exhibited poacher-like instincts to score twice in four minutes for his best haul of the season so far.
Schar is now just above William Saliba (£3.3m) in the rankings which is notable given the Arsenal fan favourite features in 40.6% of teams!

Earlier this week, we flagged Dan Burn’s (£3.3m) impressive returns of late while Sven Botman (£3.5m) also added 14 points to his tally this Gameweek.
All in all, Newcastle’s first-choice back four combined for 72 points in Gameweek 21 and with Luton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth to come in their next three league games, there’s every chance of more healthy returns.

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ANY Dream Team gaffer worth their salt knows to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are the only teams set to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 22 and so their best assets should be given due consideration.
The Villains will host the Blues next Wednesday (February 7th) in a FA Cup fourth round replay to determine which side will face the winners of Plymouth v Leeds in the next stage of the competition.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are scheduled to meet Bristol City on the same night with the victor due to meet Manchester United in the fifth round.

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Must-have assets for Gameweek 22?Credit: Dream Team
GAMEWEEK 22 DOUBLE FIXTURES:

Aston Villa: vs Sheffield United (a), Chelsea (h)
Chelsea: vs Wolves (h), Aston Villa (a)
Nottingham Forest: vs Bournemouth (a), Bristol City (h)

Forest’s double header is inviting but they may not be in a position to take full advantage.
Results have improved since Steve Cooper was dismissed but defeat to out-of-form Brentford followed by a 0-0 draw to the Robins has come as something of a reality check for the team currently 16th in the Premier League table.
The good news is that Morgan Gibbs-White (£3.1m) returned from injury in the second half against Bristol City – the 24-year-old midfielder is his side’s best Dream Team performer this season having earned 110 points.
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Forest’s No10 would be the man to own for Dream Team gaffers who want to target the club’s Gameweek 22 fixtures but such a ploy would likely be nothing more than a hopeful, short-term punt.
Gibbs-White and company are due to face Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Brighton between Gameweeks 23 and 27 – a run that includes four of the current top seven.
Forest’s best Dream Team player this seasonCredit: Getty
Backing Chelsea and Villa assets seems to be a wiser strategy.
Gaffers losing patience with Ollie Watkins (£4m) amid a downturn in form would probably do well to retain him for Gameweek 22 – if he fails to deliver the goods across two fixtures then that would surely be the final straw.
Ezri Konsa (£3.2m) is a decent pick as he’s level with Kieran Trippier (£4.8m) on 37 bonus points this season, the joint-most among defenders.
And the midfield options of John McGinn (£3.6m), Douglas Luiz (£3.5m), Leon Bailey (£2.9m) and Moussa Diaby (£3m) all have their merits – all four have 100+ points to their name.
As for Mauricio Pochettino’s troops, Cole Palmer (£4.1m) is evidently the standout candidate.
With 11 goals and nine assists this season, the 21-year-old may also be the optimum captain for Gameweek 22.
151 Dream Team points and countingCredit: Getty

That being said, Wolves are unbeaten in their last seven games while a trip to Villa Park is statistically among the most difficult fixtures this season.
However, Chelsea are in good form themselves having lost just one of their last seven fixtures, scoring 16 goals in that time.
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Doubling up on Chelsea midfielders in Gameweek 22 with Palmer and Raheem Sterling (£4m) is certainly a viable tactic.
Dream Team managers shouldn’t alter their entire strategy because of three FA Cup replays but some representation in the next round of midweek fixtures could go a long way.

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DREAM TEAM managers should be keeping track of which players rank highly for shots on target and big chances created this season.Not only do assets earn one point for each of these acts as defined by stats gurus Opta, these metrics give a good indication of which individuals are likely to be among the most prolific goalscorers and assist providers in the long run.
Not every gaffer has the time or patience to trawl through the Stats Centre so here we’ve collated the top midfielders in regards to shots on target and big chances created.
Surprisingly productiveCredit: Dream Team
Most shots on target and big chances created among Dream Team midfielders 2023/24:

41 – Phil Foden (30 shots, 11 chances)
41 – Bruno Fernandes (26 shots, 15 chances)
39 – Jarrod Bowen (30 shots, 9 chances)
39 – Cole Palmer (29 shots, 10 chances)
36 – Bukayo Saka (23 shots, 13 chances)
32 – Anthony Gordon (21 shots, 11 chances)
30 – Martin Odegaard (22 shots, 8 chances)
28 – Moussa Diaby (21 shots, 7 chances)
27 – Raheem Sterling (17 shots, 10 chances)
26 – Enzo Fernandez (22 shots, 4 chances)

The first thing to note is that, when ranking players with equal combined totals, we’ve prioritised shots on target as goals are worth more points than assists.
Foden leads the way having been among Manchester City’s most-threatening players this season.
Interestingly, the England international has played predominantly as the most-advanced midfielder, the role usually occupied by Kevin De Bruyne (£6.2m).
Now that the Belgian superstar is fit and available again, will Foden’s minutes dip or will he simply revert to a wide forward role?
Surely Pep Guardiola will recognise that the 23-year-old is too good to leave out on current form?
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19 goal involvements and counting this seasonCredit: Getty
It will come as a surprise to many Dream Team bosses that no midfielder has registered more shots on target plus big chances created than Fernandes this season.
In the key creative metric, only Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) boasts a higher tally among all players than Manchester United’s captain.
It may not seem as if the Portuguese midfielder is among the best players in his position this season but the stats don’t lie – his team-mates simply aren’t making the most of his creative output.
For comparison, Fernandes has five assists from 15 big chances created while Pedro Neto (£3m) has ten assists from just five big chances created.
When everything clicks for Fernandes, he truly is a top-tier Dream Team asset.
It’s no surprise to see Bowen rank so highly, particularly for shots on target, as he’s essentially played as a centre-forward more often than not this term.
He’s followed closely by Palmer, who has emerged as an excellent value-for-money option over the last two months or so.
‘Cold Palmer’Credit: Rex
There is a perception among some onlookers that the Chelsea youngster is overly dependant on penalties but 29 shots on target suggests he offers plenty of threat from open play as well.
Looking further down the list, Diaby and Fernandez are intriguing inclusions as they’ve both scored just five goals from 21 and 22 shots on target respectively, indicating their finishing hasn’t been precise enough in key moments.
Compare that to Mohammed Kudus (£4.9m), who has scored nine goals from 13 shots on target this campaign.

Sterling makes it three Chelsea representatives in this list, more than any other club.
The Blues have created more than their fair share of chances this season but for a long while they were blighted by wastefulness.
However, just one defeat in their last seven fixtures and 16 goals scored in that time represents a significant uplift – they’re now just one point off the European places.
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Gaffers certainly shouldn’t underestimate Chelsea assets but it’s clear Palmer is the optimum selection among them.
Keep track of shots on target and big chances created as the season progresses.

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