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      Andre Onana close to becoming Dream Team’s best goalkeeper but is Manchester United’s form a house of cards?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are the most in-form team in the Premier League.Just let that percolate for a moment.
      Erik ten Hag’s side have won five of their last six league games and now find themselves sixth in the table, just two points behind Tottenham.
      Things are looking up, aren’t they?Credit: Getty
      Not even the most partisan supporter would doubt that the Red Devils’ recent performances have not been as encouraging as the results suggest.
      Sunday’s win at Goodison Park being a prime example.
      The visitors took all three points via a 3-0 win over Everton when all was said and done with Alejandro Garnacho (£2.4m) scoring a Goal of the Season contender inside three minutes.
      However, Man United were also reliant on the Toffees’ wastefulness to some degree as the hosts were on top for long passages of the match.
      In fairness, Andre Onana (£3.8m) played his part between the sticks with some notable saves to come away with his seventh clean sheet of the season in all competitions.
      Incredibly, no goalkeeper has more clean sheets in 2023/24, a remarkable statistic given the Cameroon international’s shaky individual form throughout the first two months of the campaign.
      Breathing down Nick Pope’s neckCredit: Dream Team
      Naturally, this steady accumulation of clean sheets has translated to Dream Team success.
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      Improbably, Onana now has 86 points to his name and is just three behind leading keeper Nick Pope (£4.2m).
      Backing the ex-Inter custodian appeared fraught with danger but gaffers who rolled the dice have been handsomely rewarded of late.
      The question now is whether the points will continue to flow for Onana and company or if United’s current form is build on a house of cards that could tumble any moment?
      Their league results have been superb recently but Ten Hag’s side capitulated against Galatasaray and Copenhagen in the Champions League.
      They were thoroughly beaten by a third-string Newcastle outfit in the Carabao Cup and, in their one league defeat since the start of October, they were comprehensively outclassed by Manchester City.
      Not only that, the nature of their wins have not been entirely convincing.
      Scott McTominay (£2.7m) popped up with an unlikely brace in stoppage time to get the job done at home to Brentford, a rare Diogo Dalot (£3.5m) goal proved to be enough in a sloppy showing at Sheffield United, a drab affair at Fulham was settled by a comedic stoppage-time winner from Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m), and Victor Lindelof (£2.4m) was the surprise hero at home to Luton in a relatively even contest before the international break.
      Take nothing away from the quality of Garnacho’s goalCredit: Getty
      Man United fans are well within their rights to celebrate victories however they come – that’s football – but Dream Team bosses should consider whether this is truly a team destined for extended success.
      In 13 league games, Onana and friends have allowed their opponents 21.2 expected goals (xG) – only six Premier League clubs have conceded more this season.
      This suggests that United have been very fortunate not to have conceded more than 16 goals in the top flight – their Champions League results could be seen as a regression to the mean.

      In terms of xG generated in attack, United fair marginally better but their overall rank of 11th is still hugely underwhelming.
      It’s a tough one for Dream Team gaffers as Onana is currently producing healthy returns – he’s 18 points clear of the game’s third-best keeper, Alisson (£3.8m).
      And yet it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone if his side’s underlying numbers caught up with them in the coming weeks.
      United face Newcastle, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Aston Villa before the turn of the year.

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      Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 13: Jarrod Bowen uncertainty, Erling Haaland hopeful

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      DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 13 in one easily digestible dose.David Moyes was unable to provide much certainty around Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.2m) availability ahead of West Ham’s favourable match-up with Burnley this weekend.
      The Hammers’ boss told reporters that he “hopes” his top scorer is available for the trip to Turf Moor but a final decision will be made tomorrow.
      The 20.6%-owned midfielder is among the most-popular players in the game right now so a sizeable chunk of Dream Team bosses have a big decision to make.
      Michail Antonio (£2.6m) will be sidelined for “a couple of weeks” having picked up a knee injury on duty for Jamaica.

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      Dream Team bosses have some big decisions to makeCredit: Dream Team
      Both Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and Ederson (£3.7m) have trained with Manchester City this week having incurred niggles during the international break.
      In regards to the prolific Norwegian poacher, Pep Guardiola said: “He trained yesterday with some niggles but today we have the last training and hopefully he can be part of it.”
      It would be a big surprise if the treble-winners’ No9 didn’t feature against Liverpool this Saturday lunchtime.
      Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) came through a competitive game for Brazil unharmed and is therefore expected to be involved for Arsenal against Brentford.
      Martin Odegaard (£4.9m) has “progressed well” and should also make the squad while a late decision will be made on Ben White (£4.4m).
      Aaron Ramsdale (£3.4m) will start between the sticks for the Gunners as David Raya (£3.7m) is not permitted to play against his parent club in the league.
      The Spanish goalkeeper is likely to start against Lens in midweek.
      Andre Onana (£3.7m) is ready to face Everton on Sunday and Erik ten Hag may also be able to call upon Luke Shaw (£4.9m) for the first time since mid-August.
      However, Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m) is scheduled to undergo a late fitness test.
      Odegaard’s return would be a big boost for ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Yves Bissouma (£2.6m) is suspended for Aston Villa’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while his midfield partner, Pape Matar Sarr (£2.2m), faces a race against time to recover from an issue that developed while away with Senegal.
      In more positive news for Spurs, Destiny Udogie (£2.6m) is said to be “fine” despite withdrawing from Italy’s squad.
      As for Unai Emery’s side, John McGinn (£3.4m) trained today and, barring any adverse effects, should feature this weekend.
      The Scotland international is Dream Team’s ninth-best midfielder right now.
      Emi Martinez (£3m) returned from Argentina duty with “a little bit of pain” but is expected to pull through without missing any games.
      Taiwo Awoniyi (£2.3m) is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines having undergone groin surgery.
      Steve Cooper could only say that the Nottingham Forest striker would return this season but he’ll certainly be out for at least three months.
      Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) was pictured in training on Thursday but Roberto De Zerbi has ruled the Japanese winger out of Brighton’s visit to the City Ground.
      In better news, Lewis Dunk (£2.5m) is available for the Seagulls.
      Mitoma will not feature this weekendCredit: Alamy
      Eddie Howe confirmed Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) is fine ahead of Newcastle’s home game against Chelsea – the reliable right-back is Dream Team’s top defender this season.
      However, the Magpies’ gaffer kept his cards close to his chest in regards to Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) condition, refusing to give an indication either way in regards to the Swedish striker’s chances.
      Lewis Hall (£2.6m) is not eligible to face his parent club, adding to the Magpies’ long list of absentees (see below).
      Christopher Nkunku (£4m) and Romeo Lavia (£2.5m) are both close to making their Chelsea debuts but this weekend comes to soon – Levi Colwill (£2.6m) is fit and available.

      ARSENAL
      Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard (doubt), Ben White (doubt)
      Suspensions: Fabio Vieira
      ASTON VILLA
      Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Diego Carlos (doubt), Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      BOURNEMOUTH
      Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Tyler Adams, Alex Scott, Max Aarons
      Suspensions: None
      BRENTFORD
      Injuries: Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade, Nathan Collins
      Suspensions: Ivan Toney
      BRIGHTON
      Injuries: Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March, Danny Welbeck, James Milner, Kaoru Mitoma, Lewis Dunk (doubt), Tariq Lamptey (doubt), Adam Webster (doubt), Igor Julio (doubt)
      Suspensions: Mahmoud Dahoud
      BURNLEY
      Injuries: Hjalmar Ekdal (doubt) Manuel Benson (doubt), Lyle Foster, Jack Cork, Arijanet Muric
      Suspensions: None
      CHELSEA
      Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Moises Caicedo (doubt), Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell
      Suspensions: None
      CRYSTAL PALACE
      Injuries: James Tomkins, Dean Henderson, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
      Suspensions: None
      EVERTON
      Injuries: Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli, Andre Gomes, Amadou Onana (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      FULHAM
      Injuries: Adama Traore, Issa Diop, Rodrigo Muniz
      Suspensions: Joao Palhinha
      LIVERPOOL
      Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones (doubt), Ryan Gravenberch (doubt), Ibrahima Konate (doubt), Joe Gomez (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      LUTON
      Injuries: Dan Potts, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell, Mads Andersen, Reece Burke, Cauley Woodrow, Chiedozie Ogbene (doubt), Issa Kabore, Alfie Doughty (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER CITY
      Injuries: Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Gomez, Mateo Kovacic (doubt), Ederson (doubt), Erling Haaland (doubt), Matheus Nunes (doubt), Nathan Ake (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Injuries: Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      NEWCASTLE
      Injuries: Javier Manquillo, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak (doubt), Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron (doubt), Sean Longstaff (doubt)
      Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
      NOTTINGHAM FOREST
      Injuries: Danilo, Felipe, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Murillo (doubt), Anthony Elanga (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      SHEFFIELD UNITED
      Injuries: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster
      Suspensions: None
      TOTTENHAM
      Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Pape Matar Sarr (doubt)
      Suspensions: Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero
      WEST HAM
      Injuries: Jarrod Bowen (doubt), Mohammed Kudus (doubt), Michail Antonio
      Suspensions: None
      WOLVES
      Injuries: Mario Lemina (doubt), Joe Hodge, Pedro Neto, Nathan Fraser, Nelson Semdo (doubt)
      Suspensions: Craig Dawson
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      Captaincy options for Gameweek 13 – Manchester City v Liverpool creates open field

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      CAPTAINCY is likely to be a pivotal factor in Dream Team Gameweek 13.With the game’s two most-popular captains, Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.6m), in direct competition this weekend and the former said to be carrying a minor injury, the field is wide open.

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      Dare you take him on?Credit: Alamy
      Many gaffers will stick by either Manchester City’s No9 or Liverpool’s Egyptian hero as they are the top two points scorers this season and could be seen as fixture-proof – fair enough.
      Pep Guardiola’s side face RB Leipzig in midweek while Jurgen Klopp’s troops host LASK on Thursday night and so Saturday’s mega clash at the Etihad is not the only factor to consider when weighing up Haaland and Salah’s viability.
      Regardless, if ever there was a Gameweek to take on the big two, now feels like the time.
      Let’s run through some alternative options…
      Bukayo Saka (£6.5m)
      Rarely lets Dream team bosses downCredit: Dream Team
      Arsenal’s No7 is just two points behind Salah in the rankings and is the game’s leading midfielder at this stage.
      With six goals, nine assists and 22 bonus points to his name, Saka has picked up where he left off last season and is fully deserving of his status as Dream Team’s third-most popular player.
      Most read in Football
      The Gunners travel to Brentford this weekend which is no simple task but the Bees’ attack is stronger than their defence this season and Saka rarely misses out against bottom-half opposition – although Thomas Frank’s side are only 11th on goal difference.
      Mikel Arteta’s side will then play Lens at home in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
      Arsenal lost to the Ligue 1 side in France but they’ve won all their other European games this term and will be clear favourites to exact revenge.
      Saka may not be 100% fit but he always starts when available and so it may be worth opting to double his points against Brentford and Lens in Gameweek 13.
      James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m)
      Mr ConsistentCredit: Rex
      The majority of Dream Team bosses are eagerly waiting an update on Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.2m) fitness ahead of Gameweek 13.
      West Ham’s top scorer has bagged nine goals in all competitions already this season but a knee issue may force him to miss out favourable match-ups against Burnley and Backa Topola.
      The thing is, Bowen is far from the Hammers’ only successful midfield option.
      Ward-Prowse has 106 points to show for his efforts to date having provided nine assists – no asset in his position has created more big chances.
      And the set-piece specialist’s tally of 25 bonus points is the highest in the game right now.
      The ex-Southampton skipper averages eight points-per-game across his last three outings and so it would reasonable to expect a healthy double-digit haul from him in the coming days.
      On paper, David Moyes’ side have the best fixtures this Gameweek.
      Ollie Watkins (£4.7m)
      108 Dream Team points and countingCredit: Getty
      Aston Villa travel to Tottenham on Sunday in what could certainly be regarded as a tough test.
      Unai Emery’s men are less potent on the road while Spurs remain fourth in the table but, upon closer inspection, this match-up could favour the Villains’ primary goal threat.
      Watkins thrives against high defensive lines which Ange Postecoglou has made clear he will persevere with regardless of the match situation.
      The hosts are also missing several key players, most notably, James Maddison (£4.2m) and Micky van de Ven (£2.9m).
      Villa are the Premier League’s second-highest scorers in 2023/24.
      To sweeten the deal, Watkins may get a decent run out in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night against Legia Warsaw at Villa Park.

      Dream Team gaffers should also consider the possibility of activating their Max Captain Booster this Gameweek.
      This would remove the captaincy headache altogether and guarantee the optimum selection.

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      Booster strategies for Gameweek 13: Max Captain viable amid injury concerns, 12th Man options

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      ALL three Boosters are best saved for double Gameweeks and so now is a perfectly good time to activate either Park the Bus, 12th Man or Max Captain.No fewer than eight clubs are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 13 with the European competitions set to resume after a full round of Premier League fixtures.
      With that in mind, lets’s analyse how each of the three Boosters might be best deployed…

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      A spanner in the worksCredit: Dream Team
      Park the Bus
      Dream Team’s most-powerful Booster doubles the points of all your defenders.
      If you’re going to flip the switch this week then you should use your transfers to revert to a formation with five at the back.
      The main reason not to activate Park the Bus ahead of Gameweek 13 is the headline fixture, Manchester City v Liverpool.
      Generally, Park the Bus gaffers would hope to make use of the league’s top two sides but such a plan is scuppered when the clubs in question are in direct competition.
      Arsenal boast the top flight’s joint-best defensive record alongside the Reds at this stage of the campaign but an away trip to Brentford is a match-up for medium difficulty at the vert least.
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      The Gunners have a home game against Lens in midweek so it’s entirely possible William Saliba (£3.7m) and friends could provide healthy returns but there are likely to be more inviting opportunities to play Park the Bus in the coming weeks/months.
      That being said, there are big returns to be had with some inviting European match-ups in midweek so if you strike upon a back five that feels strong then crack on.
      Max Captain
      Max Captain is always on the cards if Haaland isn’t a sure betCredit: Alamy
      Saturday lunchtime’s mouthwatering clash at the Etihad may hinder the viability of Park the Bus but it increases the likelihood of an effective Max Captain deployment.
      This Booster doubles the points of your XI’s best performer for the duration of the Gameweek, essentially ensuring the optimum choice.
      Erling Haaland (£7.7m) is always the most-selected captain but there are question marks over his availability after he picked up a foot injury while on Norway duty.
      City’s prolific No9 may well pull through but even so, Liverpool represent a tough weekend opponent – he’s got a great record against RB Leipzig though and the treble winners host the Bunesliga club in midweek.
      Mohamed Salah (£6.6m) has scored more than his fair share of goals against Pep Guardiola’s men in the past but a trip to the Etihad can never be considered a truly favourable match-up.
      Activating Max Captain would eliminate this week’s sizeable captaincy headache and act as insurance in case Haaland sits out.
      However, if the prolific poacher is fit enough to play both games and he adds to his goal tally – as he tends to do – then there’s a risk of a Booster going to waste.
      All things considered, the combination of availability issues and the standout options of Haaland and Salah facing tough opposition makes Max Captain a very appealing option.

      12th Man
      WildcardCredit: Dream Team
      This Booster allows you to pick an additional player to score points on top of your usual XI for one Gameweek only.
      So which individuals would fit the bill for the coming days?
      West Ham’s double header of Burnley and Backa Topola seems ripe for points, especially given the Hammers have not one, not two, but three midfielders in Dream Team’s top six right now.
      Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) is a major injury concern but James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m) and Lucas Paqueta (£3.9m) are more than capable of providing a double-digit haul in Gameweek 13.
      It’s also possible Mohammed Kudus (£4.2m) will step up for David Moyes if Bowen has indeed joined Michail Antonio (£2.6m) on the sidelines.
      Although the Ghana star is something of an injury doubt himself so seek out an update before fully committing.
      Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) feels like too obvious a suggestion for 12th Man as he’s the third-most popular player in the game currently but it may be that some gaffers are unable to afford the Arsenal winger.
      If that’s the case, using 12th Man to recruit Dream Team’s top midfielder for his outings against Brentford and Lens could be a very profitable strategy.
      Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) is a decent shout too – he plays Everton then Galatasaray.
      Good luck to you if you decide to pull the trigger on a Booster for Gameweek 13 – fingers crossed for a lorry-load of points!

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      Somebody must win £500 Amazon voucher with Score Predictor this weekend – play now!

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      SCORE PREDICTOR will gift one shrewd football fan an early Christmas present this weekend in the form of a £500 Amazon voucher.Simply enter your predictions for five Premier League fixtures and watch on with glee as you earn points for accuracy.
      If your crystal ball proves to be reliable and you earn more points than anyone else, you’ll win a £500 Amazon voucher!

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

      How it feels to win Score PredictorCredit: Getty
      Remember, you don’t have to accurately predict the exact outcomes of all five games to land the top prize – that would be asking too much – you simply have to outscore your rivals.
      It takes no time at all to enter your predictions and any football supporter worth their salt has just as much chance of winning as anyone else.
      Some of our previous winners this season landed amazing prizes having submitted their predictions in ten seconds through sheer gut instinct.
      In the spirit of transparency, here are our predictions for Matchweek 15’s fixtures…
      Manchester City v Liverpool
      A modern classicCredit: Dream Team
      The weekend’s main event gets us underway this Saturday lunchtime.
      Most read in Football
      Pep Guardiola’s side are currently top of the table, one point ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s mob, and most of the the recent meetings between these two enterprising sides have been thrilling affairs.
      The treble-winners won this same fixture 4-1 last season but fans of both sides would probably agree the Reds are more functional this this campaign.
      Saying that, City average a shade under two and a half goals per league game against Liverpool at home since the start of 2020.
      The hosts have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last six league games and they shipped four to Chelsea last time out so the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz will feel confident of some success in the final third.
      Let’s try manifest a brilliant game to celebrate the end of the international break.
      Our Prediction: 3-2 to Man City
      Kieran Trippier made it clear to Newcastle fans that injuries were a factor at BournemouthCredit: Rex
      Newcastle v Chelsea
      Were it not for the clash at the Etihad, this could easily have been the standout fixture of the weekend.
      St James’ Park is a difficult place to go but the Magpies felt the impact of their injury list away to Bournemouth in their most recent encounter, a 2-0 defeat on the south coast saw them drop to seventh.
      Mauricio Pochettino’s men will have taken much heart from their games against Spurs and City – four points from those two match-ups represents something of a turning point.
      There’s nothing between these two in the form guide with both clubs having won two, drawn two and lost one in their last five.
      Injury updates from Eddie Howe’s press conference may change the outlook but for now…
      Our Prediction: 1-1 draw
      Arsenal’s defence has been solid this seasonCredit: Getty
      Brentford v Arsenal
      The Gunners have scored seven more goals than the Bees this season but the underlying numbers suggest the two attacking units are closer than some would expect.
      Thomas Frank’s side have actually generated more expected goals (xG) than Arsenal, meaning they’re marginally ahead from a creative perspective but notably less clinical when it comes to putting the ball in the net.
      There’s a big difference in defence though as Mikel Arteta’s side are statistically the best the top flight has to offer right now, having conceded ten goals from 9.2 expected goals allowed.
      Brentford’s slightly inefficient attack against the league’s tightness defence should favour the visitors but we still fancy the hosts to give their fans something to celebrate.
      All that being said, Arsenal are one point off top spot while Brentford are in the bottom half so we’re inclined to back Bukayo Saka and company to get the job done on the road.
      Our Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal
      Spurs have several key absenteesCredit: Reuters
      Tottenham v Aston Villa
      Another fascinating match-up on paper.
      Only City have scored more goals than the Villains this season but Unai Emery’s men are nowhere near as potent away from home.
      Ange Postecoglou’s side are equally dynamic in attack at full capacity but, like Newcastle, they’re hindered by a host of absentees with James Maddison and Micky van de Ven being major losses.
      Spurs’ injuries and Villa’s away record suggest both sides may be short of their best on Sunday but this game still has all the makings of another end-to-end thriller.
      The prospect of Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby against a high defensive line is an enticing one but we could just as easily see Son Heung-min running in behind Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres.
      Our Prediction: 2-2 draw

      Everton will be highly motivated in front of their home fans on SundayCredit: Getty
      Everton v Manchester United
      The Toffees’ recent points deduction should give this clash a unique atmosphere.
      Sean Dyche will hope to make use of a siege mentality at Goodison Park to extend his side’s improved form – they’ve lost just one of their last six games in all competitions.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin has rediscovered something close to his most effective form, backed by an energetic midfield that is capable of upsetting teams prone to capitulations, which has to include this current version of the Red Devils.
      Erik ten Hag’s have actually won four of their last five league games but unconvincing performances against Luton, Fulham and Sheffield United failed to inspire much confidence.
      Recent blow-ups against Copenhagen, Man City, a second-string Newcastle (Carabao Cup) and Galatasaray have put the Dutch tactician under pressure.
      The combination of a highly-motivated Everton at home to a United side with a vulnerable underbelly leads us to a semi-bold prediction.
      Our Prediction: 2-1 to Everton
      Think you know better? You’re almost certainly right.
      Play Score Predictor now and you could win a £500 Amazon voucher come Sunday night!

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      Pep Guardiola’s men dominate combined Manchester City-Liverpool XI determined by Dream Team points

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      DREAM TEAM managers will be rewarded for gritting their teeth through the international break with a Premier League clash between Manchester City and Liverpool this Saturday lunchtime.What better way to preview this mouthwatering match-up between the top flight’s two best sides than a combined XI determined by Dream Team points?

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

      Brazil’s No1Credit: Alamy
      Goalkeeper: Alisson (£3.7m)
      The Reds’ No1 has 64 points to his name after 12 Gameweeks, eight more than his compatriot at this stage.
      This is notable because Ederson (£3.7m) is more than twice as popular as his fellow Brazilian, perhaps unjustly?
      Alisson is Dream Team’s third-best custodian right now.
      Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m), Kyle Walker (£3.7m), Manuel Akanji (£4.4m)
      Liverpool’s homegrown right-back is a reliable performer in the realm of Dream Team and while he’s yet to activate his superhuman mode this season, only Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) has provided more assists among defenders.
      Alexander-Arnold has also contributed to five clean sheets and he’s also earned a respectable ten bonus points.
      Most read in Football
      The England international has amassed 77 points in total at an average of 5.5 per game.
      Akanji has scored in his last three gamesCredit: Rex
      City defenders have under performed against expectations this season with no representative in the top ten currently – unusual for a team top of the Premier League and a 100% record in the Champions League.
      Walker has 70 points while Akanji has reached 67 having scored in each of his last three appearances.
      Guardiola’s rotation policy has somewhat limited the returns of his defenders but there’s no doubt the treble-winners have not kept as many clean sheets as they would have liked.
      Midfielders: Phil Foden (£4.7m), Jeremy Doku (£4.2m), Rodri (£4m), Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.9m)
      It’s an all-City podium in midfield led by Foden who is among a select quartet of players in his position to have celebrated a century of points in 2023/24.
      Only three players have earned more bonus points than the England starlet, who has scored five goals and provided four assists in all competitions.
      A midfield stacked with talentCredit: Dream Team
      Doku is arguably the most-exciting asset in Dream Team right now with sky-high potential.
      The tricky Belgian has raced to 86 points despite the fact he’s played less than half the minutes available to him – if Guardiola increases his playing time his returns will go through the roof.
      Rodri is almost the polar opposite to his team-mate; he’s a consistent player who replicates almost the same excellent performance every week for a steady stream of points rather than a mismatch of blanks and double-digit hauls.
      The classy Spaniard has produced 80 points to date.
      Szoboszlai ensures some Merseyside representation in the middle of the park.
      The Hungary captain has looked right at home at Anfield since his Liverpool debut, although his returns have dropped off a tad lately.
      His tally of two goals and four assists only tells half the story as he’s contributed defensively as well as in possession – he’s earned 16 bonus points and has 80 in total.
      Strikers: Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.6m), Julian Alvarez (£4.3m)
      Dream Team’s cream of the cropCredit: AFP
      Given that Haaland and Salah are Dream Team’s two top points scorers overall their presence in this XI virtually goes without saying.
      The prolific Norwegian has racked up 164 points while Liverpool’s No11 has cruised to 132.
      This top-tier pair have scored 29 goals between them already this season!

      It was a close contest for the third spot in the forward line, with Alvarez edging out Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) by five points.
      The World Cup winner is on 108 points to the Uruguayan’s 103, though the latter is marginally ahead in terms of goal involvements.
      Both have scored seven goals but Nunez has eight assists to Alvarez’s seven and the duo are also level on 22 shots on target each – the only reason for the Argentine’s superiority is his tally of six bonus points.
      From a Dream Team perspective, it’s seven Man City players to four Liverpool assets in this combined XI.
      Does that give an indication of how Saturday’s fixture will play out? Only time will tell…

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      Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 13: Short-term punts, bonus point hoarders and hidden gems

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      CLUB football comes thick and fast for Dream Team managers once the current international break is complete.At least four clubs are set to pull double duty every Gameweek until the turn of the year.
      The festive period is always a crucial juncture in the Dream Team calendar and so it’s imperative gaffers get their strategy right over the next two months.

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      Let’s take it one step at a time, starting with some transfer recommendations for Gameweek 13.
      Not to be underestimatedCredit: Dream Team
      Dominic Solanke (£3.2m)
      We start with an outside-the-box, short-term punt in the form of Bournemouth’s No9.
      Solanke has scored or assisted 63.6% of the Cherries’ league goals so far this season and has 82 Dream Team points to his name as a result.
      The ex-Liverpool striker’s striker form may have gone unnoticed by Dream Team bosses because Andoni Iraola’s side had generally underwhelmed prior to their 2-0 win over Newcastle just before the international break.
      Solanke scored both his side’s goals in that win to bank 15 points in one fell swoop – only Erling Haaland (£7.7m) notched more all players in Gameweek 12.
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      This Saturday, Bournemouth travel to Bramall Lane to face a Sheffield United side that have scraped together five points since promotion.
      Gaffers who like to tailor their team to the fixtures could do a lot worse than backing Solanke, who features in just 0.5% of teams and is level with Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Julian Alvarez (£4.3m) in terms of goals scored this term, in hope of some short-term gains.
      The main drawback is that Bournemouth will obviously not be action midweek when the European competitions resume.
      It all depends how vulnerable the Blades will be this weekend – they have the worst defence in the league right now.
      Simon Adingra (£2.8m)
      Bright sparkCredit: Getty
      Another huge differential here as the Brighton winger appears in only 0.6% of teams.
      The Seagulls face Nottingham Forest on Saturday before a trip to AEK Athens on Thursday night and while they have struggled of late as a collective, Adingra’s individual form has caught the eye.
      The 21-year-old has plundered 26 points across the last two Gameweeks with his show-stealing display against Ajax in Amsterdam being the crown jewel of his campaign to date.
      With Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) having seemingly joined Solly March (£3.6m) in the treatment room, Adingra is expected to be a central figure for Brighton this coming Gameweek and recent form suggests he’s capable of providing healthy returns.
      Gameweek 13 is the first of four consecutive double Gameweeks for De Zerbi’s side.
      William Saliba (£3.7m) and/or Gabriel (£4.2m)
      Arsenal have kept it tight at the backCredit: Getty
      A more mainstream suggestion now.
      No top-flight team has kept more clean sheets than Arsenal in 2023/24 and so backing their defenders is a logical ploy generally.
      Saliba is the optimum option but with an ownership of 36.2% he seemingly falls under the category: too obvious to mention.
      Ben White (£4.4m) is actually the Gunners’ top-scoring defender and second only to Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) among all assets in his position but the Englishman is an injury doubt – Mikel Arteta should provide an update later this week.
      As things stand, pairing Gabriel with Saliba could be a profitable tactic for the coming weeks.
      Arsenal play Brentford this weekend, who pack a punch going forward, but a Champions League home game against Lens in midweek has to be considered a favourable match-up as the French outfit have scored just 13 goals in 12 league games this term – although Arteta’s men did lose in the reverse fixture.
      Looking ahead, Arsenal play Wolves and Luton in Gameweek 14.
      Eberechi Eze (£3.6m)
      Bonus ballerCredit: Rex
      A similar logic to the Solanke recommendation also applies to this suggestion.
      Crystal Palace’s No10 is a passionate hoarder of bonus points and he has the luxury of a fixture against Luton this weekend – the Hatters have only recently escaped the relegation zone via Everton’s points deduction.
      Eze has banked 15 points in 122 minutes of action since he returned from injury and, more broadly, he averages 7.1 points-per-game this season.
      Bukayo Saka (£6.5m), James Maddison (£4.2m) and Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) are the only midfielders with better averages at this stage and the latter pair are both injured.
      Again, the Eagles don’t have European commitments to bolster their schedule but Eze is perfectly capable of a double-digit haul in his only outing of Gameweek 13.

      Pretty much any West Ham midfielder
      Bowen may be unavailable but James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m), Lucas Paqueta (£3.9m) and Mohammed Kudus (£4.2m) are all perfectly viable options.
      The Hammers face 20th-placed Burnley on Saturday and Backa Topola on Thursday – a double-header ripe for returns, surely?

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      Three West Ham stars among Dream Team’s top six midfielders but availability doubt clouds strategy

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      MIDFIELDERS from Manchester City have tended to dominate Dream Team in recent years.At this moment in time, however, it’s West Ham who boast the best assets in the all-important position.
      After 12 Gameweeks, three of David Moyes’ troops are among the top six midfielders – no other team has more than one representative in the top ten!

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      Ward-Prowse and friends are thriving this seasonCredit: Dream Team
      Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) remains top dog on 130 points but Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) is just 11 points behind in second place on 119.
      The Hammers’ No20 is somewhat generously categorised as a midfielder as a fair share of his minutes have come as a centre-forward in recent weeks.
      Even when he plays from the right flank, Bowen is usually his side’s primary attacking threat – he’s scored nine goals in all competitions already this term.
      For comparison, no other midfielder has scored more than six goals at this stage.
      The 26-year-old is level with Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) on 18 shots on target, the joint-most among assets in his position.
      Bowen is a fantastic selection despite his lofty price of £5.2m but many Dream Team gaffers have potentially had their plans scuppered ahead of Gameweek 13 by an availability concern.
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      Bowen withdrew from the England squad with a knee injury and while West Ham are said to be hopeful the issue isn’t as significant as first feared, he may be unavailable this coming Gameweek.
      Moyes should provide an update during his press conference later this week.
      Nine goals and countingCredit: PA
      James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m) completes an all-English podium of Dream Team midfielders having amassed 106 points.
      The set-piece specialist is the game’s joint-top assist provider with nine to his name in all competition, alongside Saka.
      However, the true secret of the former Southampton captain’s success is his ability to earn plentiful bonus points.
      Ward-Prowse has earned 25 bonus points to date, the most among all players – that’s almost a quarter of his overall tally.
      Lucas Paqueta (£3.9m) is currently joint-sixth in his position alongside the injured James Maddison (£4.2m) on 94 points.
      The Brazil international has scored five goals this season with three of them coming in his last five outings.
      A talented playmaker in possession, the 26-year-old is also an excellent defensive asset high up the pitch.
      Paqueta has made 45 tackles already in 2023/24, the third-highest total among all players, an output that has earned him 19 points.
      Two midfielders in one!Credit: Getty

      West Ham’s midfield success is particularly relevant at this juncture as their double header this coming Gameweek appears favourable – Burnley in the Premier League followed by Backa Topola in the Europa League.
      If Bowen, who features in 23.3% of teams, is indeed sidelined with injury then Dream Team bosses could hope to earn healthy returns from either Ward-Prowse or Paqueta instead.
      Backing multiple Hammers may even be a profitable strategy!

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