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

    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.
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    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.
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    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

    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.

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    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.
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    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?

    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.
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    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

    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).

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

    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.
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    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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    Michael Olise now Dream Team’s most in-form player – Crystal Palace midfielder features in 1% of teams

    CRYSTAL PALACE’S 3-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday ended a run of eight games without a win and Roy Hodgson was happy to herald Michael Olise (£3.7m) as the difference-maker after the final whistle.The 22-year-old scored a brace against the Bees to continue his fantastic form.
    In fact, Olise has scored five goals in his last seven starts to become Dream Team’s most in-form player.

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

    Different gravyCredit: Dream Team
    But goals are only one aspect of his rise to prominence.
    Much like his team-mate Eberechi Eze (£3.3m), Olise’s play style allows him to hoard bonus points at a rapid rate.
    The Eagles’ No7 has earned 23 bonus points across his last eight appearances, including a maximum of five from one fixture against Bournemouth in Gameweek 14.
    Olise, who currently features in just 1% of teams, completes plenty of successful dribbles, provides accurate crosses, and wins more than his fair share of free-kicks.
    The Palace winger has amassed 52 points since the start of Gameweek 16 across four fixtures, making him statistically Dream Team’s most productive player in that time frame.
    Additionally, Olise has earned 84 points in just nine games since making his first appearance of the season in Gameweek 12.
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    That works out at an average of 9.3 points-per-game, the best rate among players in his position and second only to Erling Haaland (£7.9m) among all assets.
    Olise has been in excellent form of lateCredit: Getty
    Simply put, he’s one of 2023/24’s absolute best Dream Team players so long as he’s available.
    Many Dream Team managers will be eager to recruit Olise after his 18-point haul at Brentford’s expense but there are a couple of interfering factors to consider.
    Firstly, he was seen limping at the very end of Saturday’s game and gestured to the bench that he needed to be removed.
    Speaking after the game, Hodgson said: “I spoke to him and he didn’t seem overly concerned. We don’t know until he gets back into training and we assess it. It would be really unlucky.
    “I don’t think it was a major snap of a muscle, but unfortunately, we’re in that period of football life where… people are going to pick up muscle injuries.”
    Thankfully, this uncertainty will be cleared up this Gameweek as Palace are due to face Everton in the FA Cup third round on Thursday night.
    Should Olise play and thrive once again, Dream Team gaffers would still do well to remain patient as the Eagles and the Toffees are the only two Premier League clubs without a fixture in Gameweek 19 (because of their early FA Cup meeting).

    Olise is the joint-top performer in Gameweek 18Credit: Reuters
    In theory, gaffers could bring Olise in as soon as possible to avoid an inevitable price increase but that would mean accepting a blank from him in Gameweek 19 – not ideal.
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    Assuming he’s fit, he would next be in action against Arsenal at the Emirates in Gameweek 20 – a difficult fixture on paper but perhaps nicely timed as the Gunners have stumbled lately.
    In summary, Olise is a great option because he’s scoring regular goals and collecting bucket-loads of bonus points but it’s best to delay a transfer if you are interested because Palace don’t play in the upcoming Gameweek – clarification is also needed on his fitness.

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    Which Dream Team stars will miss fixtures because of Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup?

    DREAM TEAM managers have a couple of sizeable hurdles to negotiate this month in the form of the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.Dozens of Premier League stars will miss domestic fixtures while they represent their countries in the prestigious international tournaments, including some of Dream Team’s most-popular assets.

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

    Some key absentees!Credit: Dream Team
    AFCON runs from January 13th until February 11th while the Asian Cup begins January 12th and concludes on February 10th.
    Naturally, players eliminated at the group stage will be available earlier than those who qualify for the knockout stages but plenty of Dream Team bosses will need to find temporary replacements this week with many players set to join up with their international team-mates in the coming days.
    Some squads are yet to be finalised but here’s a breakdown of which players are set to participate in the Asian Cup/AFCON.
    Arsenal

    Mohamed Elneny (£1.3m) – Egypt
    Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.8m) – Japan

    Thomas Partey (£2.6m) was named in Ghana’s provisional squad but the midfielder will remain in England this month, meaning the Gunners will only lose two players to the international tournaments.
    Aston Villa
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    Bertrand Traore (£1.2m) – Burkina Faso

    Just one inconsequential absentee for Unai Emery – Traore has only played ten minutes of Premier League football this season.
    Bournemouth

    Dango Ouattara (£1.3m) – Burkina Faso
    Antoine Semenyo (£2.4m) – Ghana

    The Cherries will be a touch light in attack without this pair but as long as Dominic Solanke (£3.8m) remains fit and in-form they shouldn’t suffer too badly.
    Semenyo has chipped in with three goals and three assists this campaign.
    Brentford will be without Wissa in the coming weeksCredit: Reuters
    Brentford

    Saman Ghoddos – Iran
    Kim Ji-soo – South Korea
    Frank Onyeka (£1.4m) – Nigeria
    Yoane Wissa (£2.4m) – DR Congo

    The Bees have been in free-fall of late and the departure of Wissa in particular will only make Thomas Frank’s job harder.
    Bryan Mbeumo (£3.8m) would have been a key player for Cameroon had he not picked up a significant injury.
    Ivan Toney’s (£5m) return from suspension can’t come soon enough.
    Brighton

    Kaoru Mitoma (£3.4m) – Japan
    Simon Adingra (£3.2m) – Ivory Coast

    Two big losses for the Seagulls, especially with Ansu Fati (£3.5m) also sidelined with injury.
    Mitoma and Adingra have combined for 201 Dream Team points this term via eight goals and nine assists.
    Burnley
    No Burnley players are set to take part in AFCON/Asian Cup.
    Chelsea

    Nicolas Jackson (£3.1m) – Senegal

    The 22-year-old has frustrated fans at times this season but his tally of eight goals is perfectly respectable.
    For just an additional £0.3m, Jackson’s owners could switch to Cole Palmer (£3.4m) if the change of formation is feasible.
    Jackson could have scored even more goals this seasonCredit: Alamy
    Crystal Palace

    Jordan Ayew (£3.1m) – Ghana

    Michael Olise (£3.7m) and Eberechi Eze (£3.3m) may be the headline grabbers among the Eagles but Ayew actually leads the way in terms of total points (111).
    The 32-year-old has earned 22 bonus points, the most among all strikers at this stage.
    Everton

    Idrissa Gueye (£1.9m) – Senegal

    James Garner (£2.9m) and Amadou Onana (£2.8m) have proved to be relatively reliable performers for Sean Dyche in the middle of the park so Gueye’s absence shouldn’t be all that disruptive.
    Saying that, the ex-PSG midfielder has started 13 of the Toffees’ 20 league games this term.
    Fulham

    Calvin Bassey (£1.9m) – Nigeria
    Alex Iwobi (£2.8m) – NIgeria
    Fode Ballo-Toure (£1.8m) – Senegal

    The Craven Cottage faithful will be hoping for an early exit from Nigeria at AFCON as Iwobi and Bassey are both regulars – the former produced arguably his best performance for the club at the weekend in Fulham’s win over Arsenal.
    Liverpool

    Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) – Egypt
    Wataru Endo (£2.3m) – Japan

    Salah’s absence will be the biggest change to the Dream Team landscape this month.
    The prolific Egyptian is currently the game’s top scorer and only double centurion having reached 212 against Newcastle on Monday night.
    How gaffers react to his departure will be crucial in determining the overall leaderboard, not to mention thousands of Mini Leagues worldwide!
    Don’t stay away for long!Credit: AFP
    Luton

    Issa Kabore (£1.6m) – Burkina Faso

    Just the one absentee for the Hatters but an annoying one as Kabore is his side’s first-choice right-back.
    Manchester City
    No Man City players are set to take part in AFCON/Asian Cup.
    Manchester United

    Sofyan Amrabat (£2.7m) – Morocco
    Andre Onana (£3.8m) – Cameroon
    Amad Diallo (£2m) – Ivory Coast

    Believe it or not, Onana is currently Dream Team’s best goalkeeper having mustered 112 points by the way of eight clean sheets.
    He’s also the third most-selected asset in his position with an ownership of 10.6%.
    Newcastle
    No Newcastle players are set to take part in AFCON/Asian Cup.
    Nottingham Forest

    Ola Aina (£1.7m) – Nigeria
    Serge Aurier (£1.7m) – Ivory Coast
    Willy Boly (£1.8m) – Ivory Coast
    Cheikhou Kouyate (£1.2m) – Senegal
    Moussa Niakhate (£1m) – Senegal
    Ibrahim Sangare (£2m) – Ivory Coast

    In terms of sheer volume of tournament absentees, Nuno Espirito Santo is the most-hampered Premier League manager this month.

    Sheffield United

    Yasser Larouci (£1.5m) – Algeria
    Anis Ben Slimane (£1.1m) – Tunisia

    This will barely make a ripple in the world of Dream Team as no Bramall Lane resident features in more than 0.1% of teams at the time of writing – ouch.
    Tottenham

    Yves Bissouma (£2.5m) – Mali
    Son Heung-min (£4.7m) – South Korea
    Pape Matar Sarr (£2m) – Senegal

    Son has registered 12 goals and five assists already this season and so it goes without saying he will be a huge miss for a side already riddled with injuries.
    Spurs’ No7 currently features in just under a quarter of Dream Teams.
    Ange Postecoglou started the season with a first-choice midfield of Bissouma, Sarr and James Maddison (£4.2m) – with the latter injured and the former duo off to AFCON, he’ll have to make full use of his squad in the coming weeks.
    Only Salah and Haaland have scored more league goals this seasonCredit: Reuters
    West Ham

    Mohammed Kudus (£4.9m) – Ghana
    Nayef Aguerd (£2.8m) – Morocco

    AFCON comes at a bad time for David Moyes too given Kudus’ recent form.
    The ex-Ajax midfielder has banked 49 points since the start of Gameweek 15 but Dream Team bosses will have to wait until Ghana’s business is over before they can enjoy his plentiful returns once again.
    Aguerd is also a significant loss for the Hammers as first-choice centre-back.
    Wolves

    Hwang Hee-chan (£3.2m) – South Korea
    Justin Hubner – Indonesia
    Rayan Ait-Nouri (£2.2m) – Algeria
    Boubacar Traore (£1.3m) – Mali

    Read more on The Sun
    Hwang is one of just six players to have scored ten Premier League goals so far this season while Ait-Nouri is an underrated member of Gary O’Neil’s squad.
    It will be interesting to see if Wolves’ results suffer in the absence of their top scorer.

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    Injuries and suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 18: Latest news on Erling Haaland, Chelsea doubt and Arsenal return

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 18 in one easily digestible dose.Erling Haaland (£7.9m) will remain sidelined for Manchester City’s clash with Sheffield United on Saturday.
    The centre-forward, 23, has missed City’s last six matches in all competitions. He’s joined on the sidelines by John Stones (£3.8m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m), who is close to a comeback but is unlikely to be risked.
    “Nothing changed from the last games, we have the same injuries plus John Stones,” Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

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    Tottenham’s Cristian Romero will be unavailable for the foreseeable futureCredit: getty
    Anel Ahmedhodzic (£1.3m) and Gustavo Hamer (£2.1m) are both suspended for Sheffield United, while James McAtee (£2m) is ineligible to face his parent club.
    Kai Havertz (£3.4m) will return after serving a one-match ban during the defeat to West Ham, while Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.8m), Fabio Vieira (£2.4m), Thomas Partey (£2.6m) and Jurrien Timber (£3.3m) remain out.
    Unai Emery has a few issues as Aston Villa host Burnley. Boubacar Kamara (£2.2m) is suspended, while Youri Tielemans (£2.7m) and Lucas Digne (£3m) are absent through injury. Pau Torres (£3.1m) could return to the starting XI.
    The injury crisis at Tottenham continues with Cristian Romero (£3.2m) now for up to five weeks with a hamstring strain. Dejan Kulusevski (£3.4m) will also miss the visit of Bournemouth after collecting his fifth booking of the season.
    “It’s a short turnaround for us. Hopefully we might get Oliver Skipp (£1.4m) back, which are probably the only fresh legs we’ll have to contribute to what we’re doing, said Ange Postecoglou.
    Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Chelsea duo Romeo Lavia (£2.5m) and Mykhailo Mudryk (£2.5m) would need to be evaluated after picking up knocks against Crystal Palace.
    Erling Haaland will not feature against Sheffield UnitedCredit: getty
    Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£3.2m) will be assessed in training on Friday to see if he can make a return against Newcastle on New Year’s Day. Diogo Jota (£4m) also returned from injury to score against Burnley on Boxing Day.
    There’s little change for Eddie Howe as he prepares his side for a visit to Anfield to take on Liverpool, but Joelinton (£3.6m) returned from a hamstring injury as a substitute against Nottingham Forest and should be pushing for a start.
    Hwang Hee-chan (£3m) could be available despite coming off during the win over Brentford with a back spasm. Sean Dyche is also optimistic of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s (£3m) chances after a spell out with a thigh injury.
    James Tarkowski (£3m) and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£2.7m) didn’t train on Thursday, but should be fit and available for the showdown at Molineux.
    Defender Willy Boly (£2m) returns from a ban while midfielder Ibrahim Sangare (£2.1m) serves his ban as Nuno Espirito Santo prepares to host Manchester United on Saturday.
    Luke Shaw (£4.2m), Sofyan Amrabat (£2.7m) and Anthony Martial (£2.3m) are unlikely to have recovered after missing United’s dramatic comeback against Villa on Boxing Day.
    Kurt Zouma (£1.9m) missed West Ham’s win over Arsenal through injury and will be assessed, it’s a similar story for Lucas Paqueta (£4.2m) who reported discomfort in his knee before his withdrawal on Thursday.
    The Hammers still haven’t had confirmation on when Mohammed Kudus (£4.7m) will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations and could possibly miss out.

    ARSENAL
    Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu
    Suspensions: None
    ASTON VILLA
    Injuries: Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, Bertrand Traore
    Suspensions: None
    BOURNEMOUTH
    Injuries: Hamed Traore, Tyler Adams, Milos Kerkez, Lewis Cook, Lloyd Kelly, Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes
    Suspensions: None
    BRENTFORD
    Injuries: Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Kristoffer Ajer, Joshua Dasilva
    Suspensions: Ivan Toney, Ben Mee
    BRIGHTON
    Injuries: Ansu Fati, Julio Enciso, Joel Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Solly March
    Suspensions: None
    BURNLEY
    Injuries: Luca Koleosho, Jack Cork, Hjalmar Ekdal
    Suspensions: None
    CHELSEA
    Injuries: Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk (doubt), Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka
    Suspensions: None
    CRYSTAL PALACE
    Injuries: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Cheick Doucoure, Joel Ward, Rob Holding, Sam Johnstone, Odsonne Edouard
    Suspensions: None
    EVERTON
    Injuries: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucoure
    Suspensions: None
    FULHAM
    Injuries: Adama Traore, Tim Ream, Willian (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    LIVERPOOL
    Injuries: Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Andrew Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Alexis Mac Allister (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    LUTON
    Injuries: Issa Kabore, Marvelous Nakamba, Reece Burke, Dan Potts, Jordan Clark, Thomas Lockyer
    Suspensions: None
    MANCHESTER CITY
    Injuries: John Stones, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    MANCHESTER UNITED
    Injuries: Luke Shaw, Sofyan Amrabat, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, Carlos Casemiro, Amad Diallo, Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho
    Suspensions: None
    NEWCASTLE
    Injuries: Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Jamaal Lascelles, Joseph Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo, Matt Targett
    Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
    NOTTINGHAM FOREST
    Injuries: Taiwo Awoniyi, Serge Aurier, Felipe
    Suspensions: Ibrahim Sangare
    SHEFFIELD UNITED
    Injuries: Chris Basham, John Egan, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison
    Suspensions: Anel Ahmedhodzic, Gustavo Hamer, James McAtee (unavailable against parent club)
    TOTTENHAM
    Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon
    Suspensions: Yves Bissouma
    WEST HAM
    Injuries: Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio, Nayef Aguerd (doubt), Kurt Zouma (doubt), Mohammed Kudus (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    WOLVES
    Injuries: Jonny Otto, Mario Lemina
    Suspensions: None

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    Get involved now for a chance to win a £500 Amazon voucherCredit: Dream Team
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    Check out our predictions for Matchweek 20 below…
    Manchester City vs Sheffield United
    Manchester City should claim maximum points against rock-bottom Sheffield United as they look to bridge the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool and Arsenal.
    The Cityzens made tough work of the reverse fixture back in August, but do boast a 100% record in their last six clashes against the South Yorkshire side.
    Though with six wins from six against Sheffield United since 2019, it’s rarely a rout.
    City have won 1-0 on three occasions and only twice by more than a two-goal margin. It could be a similar story with Chris Wilder back in charge and already showing huge improvement at Bramall Lane.
    Our Prediction: 2-0 to Manchester City
    Manchester City star Julian Alvarez is enjoying a profitable spellCredit: GETTY
    Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
    Both arrive after excellent results on Boxing Day.
    Nuno Espirito Santo claimed his first win since replacing Steve Cooper with a tremendous 3-1 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park.
    Chris Wood bagged a hat-trick in that contest, while Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga were outstanding on the break, causing all sorts of problems.
    It looked to be further misery for Erik ten Hag’s side against Aston Villa, but goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund completed an outstanding second-half comeback.
    Nuno hasn’t fared too well against United in his managerial career, winning just two of his 10 clashes in all competitions – losing four of those.
    Furthermore, only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals away from home in the Premier League than Manchester United this season, and with spirits high — we think they could be set for a narrow victory.
    Our Prediction: 0-1 to Manchester United
    Chris Wood bagged a hat-trick against Newcastle on Boxing DayCredit: GETTY
    Fulham vs Arsenal
    Revenge will be on the menu for Arsenal, who drew this clash 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium despite boasting a man advantage earlier this season.
    And it looks as though Mikel Arteta’s side meet Fulham at the opportune moment.
    After a great spell that included two five-goal victories, Marco Silva’s side have lost their last three league matches without scoring a goal.
    The Gunners have also won on their last five visits to Craven Cottage by an aggregate score of 15-2.
    Our Prediction: 0-2 to Arsenal
    Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard is starting to motorCredit: GETTY
    Tottenham vs Bournemouth
    Believe it or not, but Bournemouth are the most in-form side in the Premier League having taken 12 points from a possible 15.
    Andoni Iraola’s side have won six of their last seven matches, scoring 3+ goals on four occasions during that spell.
    Tottenham aren’t doing badly themselves after collecting nine points from their last three against Everton, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.
    Neither will be backing down in this contest, and that’s clear given three of the last five meetings have produced over 4.5 goals.
    Our Prediction: 2-2 draw

    Richarlison has settled into his role as No.9 at TottenhamCredit: GETTY
    Liverpool vs Newcastle
    Newcastle face a stiff task travelling to Anfield after a series of bad results.
    Eddie Howe’s Magpies look knackered after carrying a huge injury list into a busy fixture schedule. They arrive having lost successive matches to Luton Town and Nottingham Forest, and haven’t beaten Liverpool away since 1994.
    The same cannot be said for Liverpool, who are genuine title contenders having registered 42 points from 19 league games.
    Jurgen Klopp’s side returned to winning ways by beating Burnley 2-0 on Boxing Day, while they’ve only dropped four points at Anfield this campaign.
    Our Prediction: 2-0 to Liverpool
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