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      Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 19: Late call on Kieran Trippier and more

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      DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 19 in one easily digestible dose.The first thing to note in regards to availability is that dozens of Premier League players have been called up to play in either the Asian Cup or Africa Cup of Nations.
      Son Heung-min (£4.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) and Mohammed Kudus (£4.9m) are the biggest names to have already departed.
      Andre Onana (£3.8m) will stay with Manchester United through to the end of Gameweek 20 so his backers have more time to identify a replacement.
      We haven’t listed AFCON/Asian Cup players as either injured or suspended in the lower section of this article so Dream Team bosses should ensure they’re aware of any relevant absentees.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Kieran Trippier features in almost a quarter of teamsCredit: Dream Team
      Kieran Trippier (£4.9m) faces a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s Tyne-Wear derby.
      Speaking about Callum Wilson’s (£4.3m) issue, Eddie Howe said: “It’s not too bad but it’s enough to keep him out of this game and next game. We’ll hopefully have him back for Aston Villa.”
      Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.8m) is expected to miss both of Liverpool’s Gameweek 19 fixtures but Jurgen Klopp hopes he’ll be fit again the following week.
      Pep Guardiola told reporters that John Stones (£3.5m) “is not training” but “progressing well”.
      When asked about Erling Haaland’s (£7.9m) availability, Manchester City’s decorated tactician said: “I don’t know about Sunday, maybe Newcastle.”
      Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m) was an unused substitute against Sheffield United but Guardiola suggested the Belgian’s comeback would not be rushed.
      Jeremy Doku (£4.1m) supposedly feels “really, really good” so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the tricky winger got some minutes against Huddersfield this weekend.
      Doku is close to a returnCredit: Getty
      Vladimir Coufal (£3m) and Lucas Paqueta (£4.2m) have returned to West Ham training but late calls will be made on both ahead of the Hammers’ trip to Bristol City on Sunday.
      Ben Chilwell (£3.8m) and Carney Chukwuemeka (£1.6m) resumed Chelsea training this week but Saturday’s FA Cup meeting with Preston comes too soon for both players.
      However, the duo may be in contention in midweek when the Blues face Middlesbrough in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
      Mauricio Pochettino “doesn’t know” when Romeo Lavia (£2.4m) will be available again after the midfielder suffered a setback upon his return to action.
      Roberto De Zerbi told journalists that he doesn’t expect Ansu Fati (£3.5m) or Julio Enciso (£2.2m) to be available again until early February.
      Van de Ven has been a big miss for SpursCredit: Getty
      Ange Postecoglou said he’s glad to have Micky van de Ven (£2.9m) in contention for Tottenham’s squad to face Burnley on Friday night.
      “Obviously, he’s missed a fair bit, so we’ll have to be careful with him,” the Australian coach told reporters.
      Spurs will also be able to call upon Dejan Kulusevski (£3.4m) after his one-game suspension.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.5m) is said to be “progressing well” but Mikel Arteta will make a late decision on the Ukraine international’s involvement against Liverpool.

      ARSENAL
      Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Mohamed Elneny, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      ASTON VILLA
      Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Bertrand Traore, Robin Olsen, Youri Tielemans, Matty Cash (doubt), Pau Torres
      Suspensions: None
      BOURNEMOUTH
      Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes (doubt), Tyler Adams, Lloyd Kelly, Hamed Traore, Antoine Semenyo (doubt), Milos Kerkez
      Suspensions: Marcos Senesi
      BRENTFORD
      Injuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, Kristoffer Ajer, Shandon Baptiste (doubt)
      Suspensions: Ivan Toney, Ben Mee
      BRIGHTON
      Injuries: Julio Enciso, Solly March, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster (doubt), Ansu Fati, Joel Veltman, Igor Julio (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      BURNLEY
      Injuries: Jack Cork (doubt), Luka Koleosho, Jordan Beyer (doubt), Hjalmar Ekdal
      Suspensions: None
      CHELSEA
      Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka (doubt), Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell (doubt), Lesley Ugochukwo, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez
      Suspensions: None
      CRYSTAL PALACE
      Injuries: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Cheick Doucoure, Joel Ward, Rob Holding, Sam Johnstone, Michael Olise
      Suspensions: None
      EVERTON
      Injuries: Dele Alli, Seamus Coleman (doubt), Ashley Young (doubt), Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil
      Suspensions: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
      FULHAM
      Injuries: Adama Traore, Tim Ream
      Suspensions: None
      LIVERPOOL
      Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ben Doak
      Suspensions: None
      LUTON
      Injuries: Dan Potts, Reece Burke (doubt), Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER CITY
      Injuries: Jeremy Doku (doubt), Erling Haaland (doubt), John Stones
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Injuries: Tyrell Malacia (doubt), Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire (doubt), Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial (doubt), Luke Shaw
      Suspensions: None
      NEWCASTLE
      Injuries: Javier Manquillo, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Nick Pope, Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier (doubt)
      Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
      NOTTINGHAM FOREST
      Injuries: Taiwo Awoniyi, Felipe (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      SHEFFIELD UNITED
      Injuries: Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies
      Suspensions: Anel Ahmedhodzic, Gustavo Hamer
      TOTTENHAM
      Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven (doubt), Alejo Veliz, Cristian Romero
      Suspensions: None
      WEST HAM
      Injuries: Lucas Paqueta (doubt), Michail Antonio, Vladimir Coufal (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      WOLVES
      Injuries: None
      Suspensions: None

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      Captaincy options for Gameweek 19: Liverpool & Chelsea assets top the bill

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      TRUTH be told, the captaincy conversation has often been a simple and short one for plenty of Dream Team managers.Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) have been worthy default options but the landscape has changed with Manchester City’s No9 sidelined and Liverpool’s top scorer off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
      Gameweek 19 is also a unique one as it features the FA Cup third round, a set of fixtures that usually prompts extensive rotation.
      Granted, Haaland may return against Huddersfield but, at this stage, his minutes are not certain by any stretch of the imagination.
      Deciding who to captain could be a real head-scratcher but gaffers have potentially been gifted a helping hand by the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Gameweek 19’s superhero-in-waiting?Credit: AP
      With that in mind, let’s run through the most prominent candidates.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m)
      Instinctively, Arsenal v Liverpool looks like a fixture to swerve as it’s among the most-competitive FA Cup match-ups and one that may well be contested between two second-string outfits.
      That being said, it would be a surprise if the Reds’ No66 didn’t feature in some capacity, especially as Jurgen Klopp has a few absentees in defence right now.
      Most read in Football
      Not that Alexander-Arnold spends much time at right-back these days, he’s essentially a midfielder in his current role.
      Liverpool are then set to host Fulham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
      Alexander-Arnold will surely start at least one of his Gameweek 19 fixtures while playing some role in the other – it wouldn’t be a surprise if he started both.
      With Salah on international duty, the England international is arguably Liverpool’s most-important player and the simple fact is he averages 6.7 points-per-game this season.
      The 25-year-old has registered ten assists in all competitions and no defender has created more big chances.
      Many Dream Team bosses will be reluctant to captain a defender but Alexander-Arnold is a different breed.
      Alternatively, look up top at Darwin Nunez (£4.1m), who is second behind Salah among Liverpool’s squad in terms of goal involvements.
      Cole Palmer (£3.4m)
      A popular man this weekCredit: Dream Team
      Chelsea’s in-form youngster is the most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 19 and there’s argument to be made that his new backers should immediately strap the armband on him.
      The Blues’ fixtures look favourable on paper in the form of Preston at home (FA Cup) followed by Middlesbrough away (Carabao Cup) – two mid-table Championship teams.
      Palmer may spend some time on the bench but he should get his fair share of minutes across the two games.
      The 21-year-old took Luton for 17 points last time out and now has eight goals and seven assists to his name.
      Only four midfielders have registered more shots on target in all competitions this campaign.
      Granted, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have blown hot and cold but Palmer averages 6.2 points-per-game in 2023/24 so the prospect of a double header against second-tier opposition has substantial potential.
      Pedro Porro (£3.5m)
      Rising up the rankingsCredit: Getty
      The midweek fixtures really do suggest Gameweek 19’s best captain plays for either Liverpool or Chelsea but some gaffers may prefer to target a single FA Cup match-up.
      Tottenham were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle and they don’t have European commitments – surely they should give it a good go in the FA Cup?
      Their campaign starts with a home game against Burnley on Friday night with the Clarets very much prioritising top-flight safety above everything else at present.
      Son Heung-min (£4.7m) would normally be the primary candidate among Spurs assets but he’s already joined up with South Korea ahead of the Asian Cup.
      Porro is statistically the next-best option among Ange Postecoglou’s troops having amassed 116 points – a total that puts him fourth among defenders.
      The Spanish right-back is only behind Kieran Trippier (£4.9m) and the aforementioned Alexander-Arnold in terms of assists and big chances created among players in his position and he ranks highly for bonus points as well.
      If selected to start, it’s certainly not unthinkable he could combine a clean sheet with an attacking return for a double-digit haul.

      Julian Alvarez (£4.1m)
      Worth a punt?Credit: PA
      One last suggestion as Manchester City v Huddersfield is a huge mismatch on paper.
      The Terriers are threatened by relegation in the Championship this term and so a visit to the treble-winners’ lair could be a humbling experience.
      Predicting Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up is not an easy task but only Kyle Walker (£3.1m) has played more minutes than the Argentine forward among City’s outfield assets – although that could suggest he’s due a rest.
      Read more on The Sun
      Alvarez has enjoyed himself at centre-forward lately, collecting 26 points from his last three outings.
      If he does start at home to Huddersfield then he should feast but this captaincy options comes with the risk that the World Cup winner will be on the bench watching Oscar Bobb (£1.7m) and/or Haaland have all the fun.

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      How Crystal Palace and Everton’s goalless draw earned one smart Dream Team gaffer £100 in Gameweek 18

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      GAMEWEEK 18 provided a timely reminder of why Dream Team gaffers should squeeze the schedule of all it’s worth.Anton Careti earned more points than anyone else this past Gameweek worldwide and he did so by targeting the extra fixture.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Unlikely heroesCredit: Dream Team
      After a full round of Premier League games, Crystal Palace and Everton met in the FA Cup at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.
      This scheduling quirk came about because all nine London-based clubs from the Premier League and Championship were gifted home draws in the FA Cup third round and so the fixtures had to be spread out over several days for practical reasons.
      Consequently, the Eagles and the Toffees had two fixtures within Gameweek 18 – presenting an opportunity for Dream Team bosses with eyes for the £100 weekly prize.
      And Anton did just that, banking 168 points thanks to the 0-0 draw in south London on Thursday night.
      A thing of beautyCredit: Dream Team
      As is customary, the Gameweek’s top manager made effective use of the Park the Bus Booster to double all their defenders’ points.
      Marc Guehi (£2.6m), Tyrick Mitchell (£2.6m), Joachim Andersen (£2.5m), Nathaniel Clyne (£1.7m) and James Tarkowski (£3m) all notched a clean sheet in the final fixture of the Gameweek to propel Anton to the top of the weekly leaderboard.
      The two England internationals in Palace’s defence made the most significant contributions as they both provided an assist during their side’s 3-1 win over Brentford last Saturday.
      Most read in Football
      Sean Dyche’s side succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Wolves in the league but Tarkowski limited the damage by earning three bonus points for his individual efforts.
      When all was said and done, Anton’s five-man defence combined for 53 points, doubled to 106 with Park the Bus!
      It’s worth noting here that Anton is likely to be in a pickle for Gameweek 19 as neither Palace nor Everton have a fixture to fulfil but for now let’s focus on the fact he’s £100 richer because of a fantasy football game – how’s that for a late Christmas present?
      Anton’s midfield chipped in with goals tooCredit: Getty
      It wasn’t just the defence that helped Anton to victory.
      Martin Dubravka (£2m) pocketed six points despite the fact Newcastle shipped four goals to Liverpool on Monday night.
      The Magpies would have been truly humbled had the Slovak goalkeeper not produced TEN saves.
      Arsenal may have lost to Fulham but Declan Rice (£3.7m) came away with a respectable haul thanks predominantly to three bonus points.
      Bukayo Saka (£6.2m) scored his ninth goal of the season and the Gunners’ No7 now needs just one more point to bring up his double century.
      Moussa Diaby (£3.2m) scored against Burnley for a nine-point haul while Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) provided two assists for an eight-point return as Aston Villa eventually won 3-2 on home soil.

      Last not least, Dream Team’s outright leader, Mohamed Salah (£6.5m).
      The Egyptian superstar ran amok against Newcastle to bank 18 points despite the fact he missed his first penalty.
      Read more on The Sun
      Liverpool’s No11 will be sorely missed while he’s away at AFCON.
      Superb work, Anton – treat yourself to something nice with the cash!

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      Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 19 – target Carabao Cup semi-finals after FA Cup lottery

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      GAMEWEEK 19 is a tricky one for Dream Team managers to negotiate.Attempting to predict the Premier League clubs’ starting line-ups for the FA Cup third round fixtures is a near-impossible task as it’s traditionally a weekend that involves extensive rotation.
      Looking at the schedule, it may be wise for gaffers to target the additional midweek games – in the form of the Carabao Cup semi-final first legs – in search of suitable returns in what could prove to be a banana skin of a Gameweek.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      A popular recruit this weekCredit: Getty
      With that in mind, allow us to suggest some recommendations.
      Cole Palmer (£3.4m)
      Some Dream Team bosses will see this suggestion as a ship that’s already sailed given the 21-year-old banked 17 points against Luton last weekend.
      And sure, those who transferred him in prior to Gameweek 18 will be happy as Larry but given Chelsea are one of only three teams set to pull double duty in Gameweek 19, there could be plenty more points to come.
      Mauricio Pochettino may choose to rotate his preferred starting line-up but Palmer should get his fair share of minutes across games against Preston (FA Cup) and Middlesbrough (Carabao Cup).
      Both opponents are currently languishing in the middle of the Championship table with the former having conceded plenty of goals so the Blues’ in-form No20 should enjoy himself if given a decent run out.
      Most read in Football
      After his Player of the Match display against the Hatters, Palmer has eight goals and seven assists to his name.
      The 21-year-old is now Chelsea’s top Dream Team performer too, having moved onto 124 points for the season.
      The Blues will fulfil their second semi-final leg against Boro next week, meaning consecutive double Gameweeks at a time when the schedule relaxes for most other teams.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m) and/or Joe Gomez (£3.4m)
      An affordable differential?Credit: Dream Team
      We try to avoid painfully obvious transfer recommendations in this weekly article and Alexander-Arnold certainly falls into that category as Dream Team’s top defender but he’s worth underlining this week in particular.
      Like Chelsea, Liverpool will be in action in both domestic cups in Gameweek 19 and while their games are against tougher opposition, the Reds themselves are considerably stronger than the Blues at present.
      Jurgen Klopp’s side face Arsenal on Sunday in what may end up a match-up between two second-string outfits before hosting Fulham in midweek.
      Again, the England international’s minutes are not guaranteed but he’ll probably feature in both fixtures in some capacity.
      On a similar theme, Gomez is a viable and potentially smart, value-for-money option.
      The 26-year-old doesn’t provide the same attacking threat as Alexander-Arnold – not many defenders do – but with Andy Robertson (£3.7m) and Kostas Tsimikas (£3.5m) both sidelined, he’s very much first-choice left-back for the time being.
      Some gaffers may not be able to afford Alexander-Arnold and so Gomez offers an affordable route into Liverpool’s defence ahead of back-to-back double Gameweeks.
      Pairing the two would be perfectly reasonable too – a clean sheet in either fixture would yield healthy returns.
      See also Virgil van Dijk (£4.3m), who splits the difference in terms of price.
      Darwin Nunez (£4.1m)
      An enigmatic figureCredit: AFP
      Seriously, Liverpool are a great team to back this month.
      Much of what applied to the defenders is also relevant when discussing the Uruguayan striker.
      Nunez can be a very frustrating Dream Team asset to own because he misses more than his fair share of chances but, on the other hand, he’s provided eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season.
      Only Dream Team’s top boy Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) has more goal involvements to his name among Anfield residents and with the Egyptian superstar off to AFCON, Nunez is arguably Klopp’s most-potent weapon.
      It’s not unthinkable that some combination of Luis Diaz (£3.3m), Cody Gakpo (£3.6m), Diogo Jota (£3.9m) and Harvey Elliott (£2.7m) will make up the starting front three at some stage but Nunez’s unique brand of chaos is irreplaceable.
      To ram the point home, Liverpool’s No9 squandered several chances against Newcastle last time out but he still added ten points to his total from just over an hour’s playing time.
      Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m)
      Loading…Credit: Getty
      A tongue-in-cheek suggestion to finish.
      Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian was an unused substitute against Sheffield United and is therefore expected to get some minutes against Huddersfield this weekend.
      The sensible thing to do would be to wait for a glimpse of De Bruyne in action before deciding on his Dream Team viability but such is the enormity of the playmaker’s talent, the thought of even a 20-minute cameo against a relegation-threatened Championship outfit is enough to spark the embers of temptation.
      One thing’s for sure, if De Bruyne returns and resumes normal service, his ownership will increase sharply – there’s something to be said for getting in early.
      Read more on The Sun
      At the very least, he’s one to keep a close eye on this weekend.

      The deadline for Gameweek 19 is 6:15pm on Friday – don’t get caught out by Brentford v Wolves kicking-off at 7:15pm!

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      Play Score Predictor this FA Cup weekend – somebody must win £500 Amazon voucher!

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      THE magic of the cup is set to take on a whole new meaning this weekend.Play Score Predictor alongside the FA Cup third round and you could win a £500 Amazon gift card!

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Fancy a late Christmas present?Credit: Dream Team
      Remember, you don’t have to predict the exact outcomes of all five fixtures to land the top prize – that would be asking too much – you simply have to outscore your rivals.
      Some of our previous winners this season claimed amazing prizes having submitted their predictions in ten seconds through sheer gut instinct – it takes no time at all to play and it’s completely free.
      Check out our predictions for Matchweek 21 below…

      Sunderland 1 – 3 Newcastle
      Chelsea 2 – 0 Preston
      Manchester City 5 – 0 Huddersfield
      Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool
      Wigan 1 – 2 Manchester United

      The Tyne-Wear derby promises to be a spicy one and while the Magpies have struggled of late, Eddie Howe will know full well what this fixture means to the fans.
      We’re backing the Black Cats to score though, probably via the in-form Jack Clarke, who has 12 Championship goals to his name already this season.
      Keep an eye out for Jobe Bellingham too, brother of Jude.
      Most read in Football
      Clarke has been one of the Championship’s best players this seasonCredit: Rex
      We’re not expecting any drama at Stamford Bridge as Preston have lost four of their last five league games and are therefore unlikely to pull off an upset, regardless of the team selections.
      Some of the best teams in the world have crumbled at the Etihad against Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning machine so the visit of a relegation-threatened second-tier outfit has to be considered a massive mismatch.
      Sure, City will probably play some of the kids but youngsters like Oscar Bobb are actually rather good.
      Who knows, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland may even be eased back into action at some point?
      Arsenal v Liverpool is the most eye-catching match-up of the third round but this could well end up as a contest between two second-string sides.
      Both teams maintain hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season and the two managers will have one eye on the European knockout stages looming on the horizon.

      Mikel Arteta could do with a win but the league remains his priorityCredit: Alamy
      We don’t expect either gaffer to forfeit the FA Cup but this feels like a good opportunity to rest some key players – Bukayo Saka looks in need of a reset, for example.
      To be honest, a draw would be a nuisance to both clubs but we’re inclined to sit on the fence on this occasion.
      Finally, we’re backing Erik ten Hag’s men to get past the team currently 17th in League One – although it should be noted Wigan would be comfortably in the top half were it not for their points deduction.
      However, the Red Devils can’t seem to do anything with much conviction at present so we’re envisaging nervy, narrow win on the road.
      Read more on The Sun
      Think you know better? You almost certainly do!
      Play Score Predictor for free now to put yourself in contention for the £500 Amazon voucher!

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      Which teams have the best fixtures this January? Dream Team managers to target cup competitions

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      THIS month is an intriguing one in the Dream Team calendar.With several players unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup commitments, plus a mini break for all 20 Premier League clubs, it might be wise for gaffers to target the cup competitions.
      The FA Cup third round is set to take place in Gameweek 19 with the fourth round fixtures scheduled for the end of month, in Gameweek 21.
      Then there’s the small matter of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

      PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THE FA CUP WEEKEND – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON VOUCHER!

      Smart option for January?Credit: Dream Team
      Let’s take a look at the current January fixtures for every club currently in the top half of the table.
      LIVERPOOL

      Arsenal (a)
      Fulham (h)
      Bournemouth (a)
      Fulham (a)
      Chelsea (h)

      The Reds’ participation in the FA Cup fourth round is far from certain as their trip to the Emirates represents one of most-competitive third round match-ups.
      However, a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against the Cottagers ensures Jurgen Klopp’s troops will be one of the busier teams this month.
      Most read in Football
      Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) isn’t around to cash in but the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m), Darwin Nunez (£4.1m) and Virgil van Dijk (£4.3m) will be popular selections.
      ASTON VILLA

      Middlesbrough (a)
      Everton (a)
      Newcastle (h)

      The Villains’ home record is their great strength and so it may be a quieter month for Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) and company if they end up with just one game at Villa Park.
      Eddie Howe’s side battered Villa at St James’ Park earlier in the campaign but it’s a good time to play Newcastle with them having lost three games in a row amid their sustained injury crisis.
      The FA Cup results will impact City’s schedule considerablyCredit: AFP
      MANCHESTER CITY

      Huddersfield (h)
      Newcastle (a)
      Burnley (h)

      The treble-winners against a side battling relegation in the Championship is a huge mismatch on paper and one that could yield massive returns but predicting Pep Guardiola’s line-up is far from easy.
      Again, Howe’s side are vulnerable at present so City’s league fixtures look friendly enough and it would be a huge surprise if they weren’t in the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw.
      There’s also a chance the postponed meeting with Brentford will be rearranged for this month.
      When will Erling Haaland (£7.9m) return to action? That’s the big question.
      ARSENAL

      Liverpool (h)
      Crystal Palace (h)
      Nottingham Forest (a)

      The Gunners will fancy their chances of stopping the rot in their league form although Forest are showing signs of Nuno Espirito Santo’s New Manager Bounce.
      It will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta views the FA Cup with the Champions League knockout stages on the horizon.
      TOTTENHAM

      Burnley (h)
      Manchester United (a)
      Brentford (h)

      Ange Postecoglou will have to contend with the absences of Son Heung-min (£4.7m), Yves Bissouma (£2.5m) and Pape Matar Sarr (£2m) on top of those currently injured.
      That being said, Spurs have won four of their last five and their next three opponents have all been out of form lately.
      Son will be a big miss for Spurs this monthCredit: PA
      WEST HAM

      Bristol City (h)
      Sheffield United (a)

      At this point, the Hammers have just two fixtures scheduled for the rest of January but don’t be fooled, they host Bournemouth on February 1st which falls under Gameweek 21.
      Plus, they’re favourites to get past the Robins this weekend although their squad looks stretched thin suddenly.
      BRIGHTON

      Stoke (a)
      Wolves (h)
      Luton (a)

      A relatively favourable run of games for the Seagulls as it stands although Gary O’Neil’s outfit are no pushovers by any means.
      Joao Pedro (£3.6m) and Pascal Gross (£4.3m) are best placed to take advantage this month with Karou Mitoma (£3.4m) and Simon Adingra (£3.2m) away on international duty.
      MANCHESTER UNITED

      Wigan (a)
      Tottenham (h)

      Like West Ham, the Red Devils have a game on February 1st (a trip to Wolves) and should progress in the FA Cup.
      However, most Dream Team bosses will be understandably hesitant to back any Old Trafford resident right now.

      Newcastle are under pressureCredit: PA
      NEWCASTLE

      Sunderland (a)
      Manchester City (h)
      Aston Villa (a)

      A fierce derby followed by two of the most difficult Premier League fixtures – a tough ask on current form.
      CHELSEA

      Preston (h)
      Middlesbrough (a)
      Fulham (h)
      Middlesbrough (h)
      Liverpool (a)

      Despite their inconsistent form, now is a great time to back the Blues as their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Boro means they’re busier than the vast majority of teams this month.
      Cole Palmer (£3.4m) appears to be the most likely player to capitalise – he’s Chelsea’s best asset this season having reached 124 points with a 17-point return against Luton in Gameweek 18.
      Read more on The Sun
      A trip to Anfield is a tough ask but it should be a productive few weeks nonetheless.
      It’s worth repeating that this weekend’s FA Cup results will shape the remainder of the January schedule so pay attention – there’s points to be had this month despite the disruption!

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      Is Darwin Nunez capable of stepping up for Dream Team gaffers while Mohamed Salah is at AFCON?

      by

      HOW do you solve a riddle like Darwin Nunez (£4.1m)?Liverpool’s No9 is one of the most unique players in world of football today.
      A whirlwind of chaos, he provides plenty of threat and must be a nightmare to defend against but he also misses more than his fair share of chances.

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      An enigmaCredit: Dream Team
      Nunez can look like a world-beater one minute and a lost cause the next.
      Equal parts frustrating and compelling, he’s a difficult player for Dream Team managers to properly gauge.
      Take his most recent outing as a prime example.
      Nunez actually banked ten points against Newcastle on New Year’s Day, an impressive haul on paper, but those who watched the game will know he should have plundered so many more.
      The Reds amassed a whopping 7.53 expected goals (xG) and while Mohamed Salah’s (£6.5m) initial penalty miss was a factor in the team’s under-performance, Nunez has to take the bulk of the blame.
      The Uruguay international registered FIVE shots on target and really should have converted at least one of his chances, though Martin Dubravka (£2m) deserves credit for his many saves.
      Most read in Dream Team
      Nunez assisted Liverpool’s first goal and, as already mentioned, bagged ten points from just over an hour’s action but his performance would have concerned some of his backers.
      When he’s good, he’s great, but…Credit: AFP
      Salah won’t be available to Jurgen Klopp until Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign comes to an end.
      This is a significant development in the Dream Team season as, at the time of writing, the 31-year-old is the game’s top scorer (and only double centurion) with 212 points to his name.
      Given Liverpool are top of the Premier League table, many Dream Team managers will be keen to replace Salah with one of his team-mates.
      The question is: can Nunez step up in the coming weeks?
      The ex-Benfica striker’s numbers are impressive enough, he’s registered eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
      That breaks down to a goal involvement every 81.2 minutes!
      Nunez has amassed 144 points at an average of 5.1 per appearance – that jumps to 6.3 when looking at his three most recent outings.
      He ticks a lot of boxes but every Dream Team gaffer knows that having Nunez in their XI also means a certain degree of frustration.
      But perhaps he’s worth it? A quick look at the schedule would suggest so.

      Salah’s absence is a huge factor in Dream Team this monthCredit: AFP
      Right now, most Premier League clubs have three fixtures left to fulfil in January (although most are expected to progress in the FA Cup) but Liverpool, Chelsea and Fulham have at least five games before the end of the month because of the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals.
      Klopp’s side will play the Cottagers in Gameweek 19 and Gameweek 20 alongside other fixtures against Arsenal and Bournemouth.
      The fact that Liverpool will be particularly busy during Salah’s absence surely makes Nunez a tempting option?
      Read more on The Sun
      Of course, it’s not unthinkable that Luis Diaz (£3.3m), Diogo Jota (£3.9m) and Cody Gakpo (£3.6m) could be named as the front three – Harvey Elliott (£2.7m) may even get some minutes from the right flank.
      That being said, playing time shouldn’t be a problem for Nunez in the coming weeks – only Salah has contributed more goal involvements among Liverpool’s squad this season.

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      Anthony Elanga produces 29 points in two Gameweeks to become wildcard Dream Team differential option

      by

      WITH dozens of Premier League players set to depart for the Asian Cup or Africa Cup of Nations, many Dream Team managers will be searching for in-form replacements this week.And some of those gaffers may feel they need to think outside the box to make up ground in their Mini Leagues.
      Enter Anthony Elanga (£2.5m).

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      Man of the momentCredit: Dream Team
      The 21-year-old currently features in just 0.7% of teams, making him a massive differential option.
      Despite what his low ownership would suggest, the Sweden international has been in fine form of late.
      He was instrumental against his old club in Nottingham Forest’s win over Manchester United on Saturday as he provided the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s (£2.8m) winner.
      Elanga also made a whopping five tackles, the joint-most among all players involved in the fixture, as well as earning a bonus point.
      He banked seven points when all was said and done to continue what has been a fruitful spell.
      In Gameweek 17, Elanga notched 22 points across two games against Bournemouth and Newcastle, scoring against the Cherries before assisting two of Forest’s three goals against Eddie Howe’s men.
      Most read in Football
      Elanga has registered ten goal involvements this seasonCredit: Getty
      Looking back further, the Malmo-born midfielder has scored three goals and provided three assists in nine appearances since the start of Gameweek 12.
      Impressively, he’s created six big chances in the same time frame, a measure of his creative influence of late.
      It’s simply a fact that Elanga is one of Dream Team’s most in-form players right now.
      Michael Olise (£3.7m) is the only midfielder who has bagged more points across the last three fixtures.

      The change of manger has worked well for Forest so farCredit: Rex
      More generally, consecutive wins over the Magpies and the Red Devils during the festive period under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo have changed the outlook at the City Ground.
      Whether it’s a temporary New Manager Bounce or a more fundamental change, it doesn’t really matter to Dream Team bosses.
      What’s most relevant is that Elanga is providing healthy returns at present and should therefore be duly considered when it comes to making transfers.
      Forest face Blackpool in the FA Cup this weekend before travelling to Brentford in Gameweek 20 – the Bees have lost five games in a row.
      Those in need of a wildcard could do a lot worse than Elanga, especially at his affordable price of £2.5m.

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