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    Don’t forget to use your three Boosters this Dream Team season: Park the Bus, 12th Man and Maximum Captain

    APPROXIMATELY half of all Dream Team managers are yet to play a Booster this season.Holding all three back with a view to maximising returns as the campaign reaches a dramatic crescendo is a viable tactic but that doesn’t mean you should naively turn a blind eye to opportune moments.Remember, you can only play each of your three Boosters once and so it’s wise to target the best possible Gameweek in each instance if you want to rack up enough points to propel you up the leaderboard.At the time of writing, just over 66,000 gaffers have played all three of their Boosters which means the vast majority still have at least one to activate between now and the season’s end.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Dream Team bosses need to channel their inner Premier League gafferCredit: Dream TeamWith that in mind, allow us to remind you of each Booster’s unique effect.Park the BusThis is the most-powerful Booster of the three as it essentially allows you to select multiple captains for the duration of one Gameweek, albeit with some limitations.Park the Bus doubles the points of all your defenders and so it’s best to take full advantage of this by adopting a 5-3-2 formation.Ideally, all five of your defenders would have two fixtures to fulfil as well.Most read in FootballAs the season has progressed, it’s become clear that Arsenal and Liverpool boast the best collective defences – these clubs currently provide six of the top eight defenders in the game.It should go without saying that you’re searching for clean sheets from your five-man Park the Bus defence but you should also consider which individuals provide the most attacking threat from the back.The likes of Virgil van Dijk (£4.1m), Gabriel (£4m) and Fabian Schar (£3.3m) have posed a persistent threat at set-pieces while Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£4.5m) and Pedro Porro (£3.6m) have provided boat-loads of assists – annoyingly, all three creative full-backs are currently flagged as injured.Looking forward, every single Premier League club will play twice in Gameweek 29 so that may be the time for you to activate Park the Bus if you still have it available.Play your Boosters before the season finishesCredit: Dream Team12th ManAs the name suggests, this Booster allows you to select an additional player from any position to score points for you for one Gameweek only.You don’t have to worry about formation or budgetary constrictions, simply select a player with (ideally) two favourable fixtures and enjoy the bumper points.For example, say you haven’t been able to afford Kevin De Bruyne (£6.3m) as a permanent recruit; ahead of a friendly Manchester City double header worth targeting, you could use your 12th Man Booster to temporarily benefit from the Belgian’s returns.Another popular strategy involves selecting a 12th Man who has excellent short-term fixtures but limited long-term viability.Take Dominic Solanke (£3.9m) in Gameweek 27 as an example.Bournemouth host Sheffield United and Luton in quick succession and so it’s reasonable to expect big things from their No9 given he’s scored 16 goals and provided five assists already this season.Transferring the Cherries’ top scorer into your XI is a reasonable tactic but you’ll have to use another transfer to replace him before Gameweek 28 as Bournemouth don’t have a single fixture to fulfil.Instead of using multiple transfers to facilitate Solanke’s favourable double in Gameweek 27, it’s much simpler to nominate him as 12th Man.Solanke might be a smart 12th Man in Gameweek 27Credit: RexMaximum CaptainThis Booster simplifies the captaincy debate by guaranteeing the armband ends up on the player within your XI who scores the most points over the course of the Gameweek.Imagine Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) are all set to for juicy double Gameweeks against favourable opposition; chances are at least one of them will go seriously big.Activating Max Captain in such a scenario would ensure the optimum outcome.However, if all your rivals were to captain the Norwegian poacher in this situation and he outscored Saka and Salah, then you would have essentially wasted your Max Captain Booster.If the armband ends up on the player you were going to give it to anyway then that’s obviously a frustrating outcome. That’s why some gaffers prefer to activate Max Captain when all the familiar favourites are either unavailable or facing difficult fixtures.READ MORE SUN STORIESOr it may be that Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City all have one fixture at a time when several other clubs have two, blowing the captaincy conversation wide open.Lastly, be aware Boosters can’t be used them in conjunction with each other, only one at a time.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Clean sheet streak propelling Liverpool defenders up Dream Team rankings – Virgil van Dijk now third in his position

    LIVERPOOL scored a dramatic 99th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest on Saturday to maintain their lead in the Premier League.That Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) was the Reds’ hero at the City Ground came as a mocking twist of fate in the world of Dream Team as the Uruguayan striker was the most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 26.Outside of the last-gasp goal, the most notable aspect of the game was the visitors’ latest clean sheet.Just one of several in-form Liverpool defendersCredit: Dream TeamJurgen Klopp’s side prevented their opponents from scoring for the third game in succession – a streak that has greatly benefited Caoimhin Kelleher (£2.3m) and his defenders.The Irish goalkeeper is comfortably the most in-form asset in his position having taken 27 points from his last three outings.While FIVE Liverpool players are currently among among the top eight most in-form defenders.Conor Bradley (£3.5m) tops the list having amassed 28 points across his last three outings with Virgil van Dijk (£4.1m) not far behind on 25 points – the Dutchman is up to third in his position overall.With 21 points from his last three appearances, Joe Gomez (£3.6m) has quietly climbed up to joint-sixth among defenders for the season.The adaptable 26-year-old has played at centre-back, left-back, right-back and even in defensive midfield en route to 158 points.He features in just 3.1% of teams and is currently above William Saliba (£3.3m) in the rankings – although possibly only fleetingly with Arsenal due to face Sheffield United this evening.Most read in FootballGomez has contributed to 11 clean sheets this term – only Saliba, Ben White (£3.5m) and Gabriel (£4m) have registered more.Third among Dream Team defenders at the time of writingCredit: GettyIbrahima Konate (£2.9m) and Andy Robertson (£3.6m) are also among the most in-form defenders having pocketed 21 and 20 points respectively during their side’s clean sheet run.The latter came ever so close to missing out on his share of the clean sheet points against Forest as he was substituted in the 60th minute, fulfilling the necessary requirement by just a few seconds.Liverpool’s best defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m), missed out on the clean sheets against Forest, Southampton and Chelsea through injury but remains second in his position having racked up 179 points via 12 assists.It will be interesting to see if Klopp continues to give plenty of minutes to the impressive Bradley when Alexander-Arnold is available again.Bradley has deputised for Alexander-Arnold in recent weeksCredit: ReutersThe fact remains that half of the top six defenders in Dream Team right now are Anfield residents and more clean sheets will only improve the outlook.Klopp’s side face Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night before next weekend’s mouthwatering clash against Manchester City.Needless to say, clean sheets against Pep Guardiola’s troops are exceedingly rare.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut the pattern has seemingly been set for Dream Team bosses.In terms of block-picking multiple defenders from a single team – Liverpool and Arsenal assets are head and shoulders above the rest.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Dream Team stats back up Pep Guardiola’s claim that Phil Foden is Premier League’s “best player”

    MANCHESTER CITY reasserted their dominance over their neighbours thanks to another inspired display from Phil Foden (£5.7m) on Sunday.Manchester United took an unexpected lead at the Etihad through Marcus Rashford’s (£3.5m) long-range piledriver but the defending champions dominated the game and eventually ran out 3-1 winners.It was the hosts homegrown talent who emerged as the hero with a brilliant brace that prompted Pep Guardiola to hail Foden as “the best player in the Premier League right now” in his post-match interview.A world-class talentCredit: Dream TeamThe decorated tactician’s claim triggered a widespread debate among football fans on social media but it’s an opinion substantiated by the Dream Team rankings.Foden banked 20 points when all was said and done on derby day to take his overall tally for the season to 287, two more than his nearest rival, team-mate Erling Haaland (£7.7m).The Norwegian poacher missed an open goal when his team were 1-0 down but he later scored his obligatory goal to the seal the win in stoppage time.However, the striker’s eight-point haul wasn’t enough to preserve his number one ranking in Dream Team, such was the impressive nature of Foden’s outing.Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) previously held top spot and Arsenal’s No7 will have the chance to usurp his international team-mate this evening when he faces Sheffield United – he’ll need 17 points to jump above Foden.Foden dethroned Haaland in Dream TeamCredit: GETTYDespite the scintillating form of Ollie Watkins (£4.6m), the top three have started to pull away from the chasing pack of late.DREAM TEAM’S TOP PERFORMERS 2023/24Most read in Football
    Phil Foden (£5.7m) – 287 points
    Erling Haaland (£7.7m) – 285 points
    Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) – 271 points
    Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) – 234 points
    Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m) – 231 points
    Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) – 222 points
    Joao Pedro (£4.3m) – 216 points
    Julian Alvarez (£4.2m) – 216 points
    Cole Palmer (£4.3m) – 213 points
    Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) – 211 points
    Foden’s attacking output has been nothing short of extraordinary this season.After Sunday’s brace, he’s now scored 17 goals in all competitions – the joint-most among midfield assets.The 23-year-old has also registered 47 shots on target, comfortably the most among players in his position.287 points and countingCredit: PAHe ranks highly in the playmaking department too having created 14 big chances (third among midfielders) and provided 11 assists (joint-seventh).As if that wasn’t enough, only Bruno Guimaraes (£4.4m) has produced more bonus points than Foden at this stage of the campaign.Best in the Premier League, best in Dream Team… Foden has the world at his feet right now.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 26 – latest on Dominic Solanke, Darwin Nunez and more

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 26 in one easily digestible dose.Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.9m) are both in contention for Liverpool’s trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday having returned to training on Thursday.Mohamed Salah (£6.7m), however, has again been ruled out – key players Alisson (£3.4m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m) also remain sidelined.In more positive news, Andy Robertson (£3.5m) and Wataru Endo (£2.3m) participated in training today.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Not fit to returnCredit: AlamyNo timescale has been given for Jack Grealish’s (£3.2m) return after the Manchester City midfielder limped off against Luton in midweek.Josko Gvardiol (£3.3m) is Pep Guardiola’s only other doubt – Sunday’s Manchester derby will probably come too soon for the Croatia international.As for Erik ten Hag’s side, Bruno Fernandes (£4.8m) and Raphael Varane (£2.4m) successfully shrugged off niggles to feature in the FA Cup in midweek but no other players are expected to return.A late decision will be made on Dominic Solanke (£4m) following the Bournemouth striker’s absence in the FA Cup.”It’s true he has pain in the knee,” Andoni Iraola told journalists. “At least with the MRI, everything is clear. Tomorrow I find out if we have a chance with Dom. It’s a matter of [whether] he still feels the pain or if it’s improved.”Mikel Arteta revealed that Thomas Partey (£2.6m) is likely to be among Arsenal’s squad on Monday night while late decisions will be made on Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.7m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.4m).A late decision will be made on SolankeCredit: Dream TeamKauro Mitoma (£3.5m) will unfortunately miss the remainder of the season with a back injury.In better news for Brighton fans, Evan Ferguson (£2.2m), Tariq Lamptey (£2m) and Joel Veltman (£2.3m) are all said to be available for Saturday’s trip to Craven Cottage.Roberto De Zerbi told reporters: “If you watch the game against Wolves, [Simon] Adingra didn’t play well… maybe he is tired. Facundo [Buonanotte] is the same, Pascal Gross suffered cramp at the end of the game. Lewis Dunk can’t play 90 minutes every three days.”First-choice defenders Ezri Konsa (£3.1m) and Pau Torres (£2.9m) will be included in Aston Villa’s squad to face Luton on Saturday but Unai Emery will judge the pair’s capacity to start closer to kick-off.Ben Mee (£2.4m) is the latest Brentford player to join the long-term injury list after he was forced off against West Ham on Monday night.The centre-back fractured his ankle against the Hammers and is therefore likely to be out for the rest of the campaign.Mitoma is out for the rest of the seasonCredit: AlamyRicharlison (£3.5m) won’t be available for “two to three weeks” after picking up a knee injury.Ange Postecoglou believes Destiny Udogie (£2.8m) has a chance to feature at home against Crystal Palace but Pedro Porro (£3.6m) will probably need another week of recovery.The Eagles will be boosted by the return of Eberechi Eze (£3.9m) to the matchday squad – Joachim Andersen (£2.2m) is also thought to be fine despite a minor concern earlier in the week.Hwang Hee-chan (£3.3m) tweaked his hamstring in midweek and will not travel with Wolves to Newcastle on Saturday.ARSENALInjuries: Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt), Takehiro Tomiyasu (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Jhon Duran, Boubacar Kamara, Diego CarlosSuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, James Hill, Max Aarons, Enes Unal (doubt), Dominic Solanke (doubt), Lloyd Kelly (doubt)Suspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, Josh Dasilva, Ethan Pinnock, Ben MeeSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March, Joao Pedro, James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru MitomaSuspensions: Billy GilmourBURNLEYInjuries: Luka Koleosho, Jordan Beyer, Nathan Redmond, Lyle Foster, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan Beyer (doubt)Suspensions: Josh BrownhillCHELSEAInjuries: Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwo, Reece James, Marc Cucurella (doubt), Beniot Badashile, Carney Chukwuemeka, Thiago Silva (doubt), Christopher NkunkuSuspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Cheick Doucoure, Rob Holding, Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Jesurun Rak-SakyiSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Dele Alli, Andre Gomes, Arnaut Danjuma, Amadou Onana (doubt), Lewis Dobbin (doubt), Idrissa Gueye (doubt)Suspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Raul JimenezSuspensions: Joao PalhinhaLIVERPOOLInjuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai (doubt), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Curtis Jones (doubt), Mohamed Salah (doubt), Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez (doubt), Andy Robertson (doubt), Wataru Endo (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLUTONInjuries: Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, Mads Juel Andersen, Elijah Adebayo, Jacob Brown, Gabriel Osho (doubt), Amari’i Bell (doubt), Dan Potts (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Josko Gvardiol (doubt), Jack GrealishSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Joelinton, Sven Botman (doubt), Callum WilsonSuspensions: Sandro TonaliNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly, Ola Aina, Nuno TavaresSuspensions: NoneSHEFFIELD UNITEDInjuries: Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock (doubt), Ben Brereton Diaz, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Max Lowe, Cameron Archer, Anis Ben SlimaneSuspensions: Mason HolgateTOTTENHAMInjuries: Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Fraser Forster, Destiny Udogie (doubt), Pedro Porro, RicharlisonSuspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Maxwel Cornet Suspensions: NoneWOLVESInjuries: Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chanSuspensions: NonetalkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Captaincy & Booster options for Gameweek 26: Building a five-man Park the Bus defence around European fixtures

    DREAM TEAM managers have a lot to mull over ahead of Gameweek 26 but the captaincy debate is likely to be a short one.Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 41 points in Gameweek 25, over twice as many as the next-best performer, via an emphatic five-goal exhibition at Luton’s expense.Next in the Norwegian poacher’s sights are Manchester United and Copenhagen, who both face the daunting task of a visit to the Etihad in the coming days.In-form players from Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all look set for profitable outings this coming Gameweek but it’s almost impossible to look past Haaland for the armband after what he produced at Kenilworth Road.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Bradley appears in 2.9% of teams at presentCredit: Dream TeamIf the captaincy conversation is cut-and-dried then what about Booster options?Many gaffers are yet to activate Park the Bus, the most-powerful Booster in the game, and Gameweek 26’s fixtures look rather appealing on paper.Liverpool face Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header on current form.Conor Bradley (£3.2m) and Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) racked up 18 points each in Gameweek 25 while Joe Gomez (£3.5m), Kostas Tsimikas (£3.4m), Ibrahima Konate (£2.8m) and Andy Robertson (£3.5m) also registered double-digit hauls.Jurgen Klopp’s side kept their sheets clean against Chelsea and Southampton in what was a high-scoring week for the Reds.Most read in Dream TeamThe only issue is that identifying Liverpool defenders who will definitely start both fixtures this coming Gameweek is deceptively difficult.A popular man ahead of Gameweek 26Credit: GettyVan Dijk is the safest bet but it’s worth noting the Dutchman has played just 90 minutes of European football this season – surely Klopp is likely to call upon his skipper in a knockout environment?Bradley is probably a double starter as well with Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.1m) expected to be sidelined until after the international break – rotation is more likely at left-back.Elsewhere, Emerson (£2.8m) is a potentially shrewd option ahead of West Ham’s trips to Everton and Freiburg.Granted, the Hammers don’t keep all that many clean sheets but the industrious left-back has made more tackles (91) than any other defender in the game at this season.Add in four goal involvements plus 20 bonus points and Emerson boasts a respectable tally of 144 points in total – he’s certainly capable of a satisfying double-digit haul in Gameweek 26.Generally speaking, it’s best to target defenders with two fixtures when building a Park the Bus back line but with Arsenal up against Sheffield United this weekend, including one of Ben White (£3.6m), William Saliba (£3.4m) or Gabriel (£4.1m) could yield healthy returns.A couple of tempting optionsCredit: ReutersCombining Van Dijk, Bradley, Emerson, Gabriel and, say, Ruben Dias (£3.5m) would look pretty good as a Park the Bus back five.Ezri Konsa (£3.1m) is another defender to keep an eye on after he was pictured in training.The Villa man is a favourite of Unai Emery’s and a keen bonus point collector but it’s currently unclear whether he’s ready to start one game, let alone two.All that being said, it’s worth noting that Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all have back-to-back away games this Gameweek so waiting until Gameweek 27 to activate Park the Bus, when all four sides have two home fixtures, might be the smarter move.12th Man?Credit: APGaffers interested in playing a 12th Man this Gameweek would do well to peruse the players we recommended as transfer options.Ollie Watkins (£4.5m) has banked 60 points across his last six outings and therefore seems likely to thrive against Luton and Ajax, assuming he’s selected in the Europa Conference League round of 16 first leg in Amsterdam.Jarrod Bowen (£4.5m) bagged a hat-trick last time out and is once again a fantastic option now he’s been reunited with Lucas Paqueta (£4.1m) and Mohammed Kudus (£4.6m).READ MORE SUN STORIESKevin De Bruyne (£6.2m) is also a tempting 12th Man candidate for those gaffers who haven’t yet recruited him on a permanent basis.Remember to lock in your captaincy, transfers and any Boosters you wish to play before Saturday’s 2pm deadline.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Key stats and facts ahead of Score Predictor Matchweek 29 – play for free and compete for £500 Amazon voucher!

    YOU should know the drill by now.Simply submit your predictions for five selected Premier League games via Score Predictor and you could win a £500 Amazon voucher by Monday night!Remember, you don’t have to get all five results exactly correct to win the to prize, you just have to earn more points (based on accuracy) than anyone else.Score Predictor remains free to play and, if you’re in a hurry, it takes just seconds to enter your predictions.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Play now!Credit: Dream TeamIn the spirit of generosity, we’ve compiled some useful stats and facts for each of the relevant fixtures, as well as our own predictions.Brentford v ChelseaThis has been a bogey fixture for the Blues in recent times.Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 2-0 at home to the Bees back in October to make it four meetings in a row without a win.However, only Burnley and Bournemouth sit below Thomas Frank’s mob in the form table (last six games) at present and their underlying defensive numbers are a cause for concern.Most read in FootballChelsea continue to deliver a mixed bag; this month they’ve been soundly beaten by Wolves, won away at Aston Villa (no easy feat), beaten Crystal Palace, drawn with Manchester City, lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, and progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals via a win over Leeds, not without its hiccups.The visitors are hard to predict but the fact Brentford lost to a previously beleaguered West Ham last time out nudges us towards an away win.Our Prediction: 2-1 to ChelseaPredictably unpredictableCredit: RexNottingham Forest v LiverpoolThere’s probably no need to overthink this one, it’s 17th against the league leaders after all.Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are capable of spirited showings on home soil while the Reds are plagued by injuries (Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain major doubts) but Jurgen Klopp’s troops have a lot of momentum behind them at the moment.In the last week alone they’ve lifted a trophy and dispatched one of the better Championship outfits in Southampton; all while giving plenty of minutes to inexperienced youngsters.The Premier League remains Liverpool’s top priority and it’s hard to see them slipping up on Saturday, although they did come unstuck at the City Ground last season.Surely lightning won’t strike twice?Our Prediction: 3-1 to LiverpoolLiverpool are enjoying themselves at presentCredit: GettyLuton v Aston VillaThe Hatters have conceded ten goals in their last two games, albeit against extremely tough opposition in Liverpool and Man City.That being said, it was only three weeks ago they lost 3-1 to Sheffield United and so it seems reasonable to expect the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey to thrive at Kenilworth Road.We reckon the home supporters will have something to celebrate because Unai Emery’s men average 1.3 goals conceded per league game in 2023/24 but the visitors should have more than enough firepower.Our Prediction: 3-1 to Aston VillaA man in formCredit: GettyManchester City v Manchester UnitedSunday’s main event is surely the pick of the fixtures this weekend.The Red Devils suffered a reality check against Fulham last weekend without the in-form Rasmus Hojlund in their ranks.Prior to that upset, their first defeat of 2024, Erik ten Hag’s side had steadily built some momentum but suddenly a trip to the Etihad looks very daunting indeed, not least because Erling Haaland bagged FIVE goals in midweek.Pep Guardiola’s side were several levels above their neighbours at Old Trafford back in October and the added edge of home advantage could spell seriously bad news for United.City, Liverpool and Leeds are the only three teams in England’s top four tiers still unbeaten at home this season.Our Prediction: 3-0 to Man CityAn ominous performanceCredit: RexSheffield United v ArsenalIt’s difficult to envisage anything other than a comfortable away win on Monday night.The Gunners are the top flight’s most in-form team having won six in a row, scoring 25 goals in the process.Chris Wilder’s men got a win over Luton earlier in the month but it fell between a pair of demoralising 5-0 defeats.The Blades have mustered just 13 points since promotion – it could get messy for them up against a free-flowing side that includes Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, etc.Our Prediction: 4-0 to ArsenalREAD MORE SUN STORIESSubmit your predictions before this weekend’s action gets underway!PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 26 – Ollie Watkins & Jarrod Bowen justifiably popular

    ERLING HAALAND’S (£7.5m) mega haul ensured Gameweek 25 was a high-scoring affair but focus now turns to Gameweek 26.Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa are the only five teams with two fixtures to fulfil and so Dream Team managers should probably shop around these clubs when weighing up their next transfers.Allow us to put forward some recommendations.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!A popular choice this weekCredit: Dream TeamOllie Watkins (£4.5m)It wasn’t that long ago gaffers were ditching the Aston Villa striker in their droves amid a downturn in form.But Watkins’ lean spell seems a lifetime ago now he’s banked 60 points across his last six games via five goals and four assists.The England international has gone to another level under Unai Emery and his season tally of 31 goal involvements is only bettered by Haaland after 25 Gameweeks.On Saturday, Watkins and company travel to Kenilworth Road where Luton shipped six goals to Man City last time out.Then on Thursday night, the Villains visit Ajax for the first leg of their Europa Conference League round of 16 tie – the Dutch giants are without a win in their last four league games.Most read in FootballAt the time of writing, Watkins is the most-popular recruit ahead of Saturday’s deadline and justifiably so.Jarrod Bowen (£4.5m)Hat-trick heroCredit: PATipping a player who just scored hat-trick isn’t exactly a shrewd insight (might as well suggest Haaland!) but it’s worth underlining West Ham’s top scorer ahead of Gameweek 26.Chasing lost points can be a futile endeavour but the Hammers’ double header of Everton and Freiburg looks ripe for further returns.Monday night’s win over Brentford ended a miserable run for David Moyes’ side and while it’s probably sensible to remain somewhat unconvinced, it’s simply a fact that the East Londoners play so much better when they’re able to field their first-choice front three of Mohammed Kudus (£4.6m), Lucas Paqueta (£4.1m) and Bowen.The difference between the latter’s returns with and without his partners in crime is stark and it’s no coincidence that the Brazilian’s return from injury coincided with his side’s win over the Bees.Remember, Bowen is generously categorised as a midfielder in Dream Team despite the fact he’s predominately played as a centre-forward this season.This is a key factor in him being the top goalscorer (17 goals) in his position.Only Watkins has been transferred into more teams than Bowen so far this week.Pascal Gross (£4.5m)Change the record…Credit: APRegular readers of our content are probably sick to death of us tipping Brighton’s No13 so we’ll keep this brief.The German midfielder is simply one of Dream Team’s most in-form players (45 points across last four Gameweeks) and also one of the game’s most-passionate bonus point hoarders – only three players have earned more than his 40 this season.The Seagulls travel to Fulham at the weekend before flying to the Italian capital to face Roma in the Europa League.It’s worth noting here that Brighton, West Ham, Liverpool and Aston Villa are the only teams with FOUR fixtures across the next two Gameweeks due to the scheduling of the European competitions.Gross will play Nottingham Forest and Roma (both at home) in Gameweek 27.Caoimhin Kelleher (£2m)An excellent short-term solutionCredit: AFPLiverpool’s schedule is certainly one to target but injury concerns mean it’s not all that clear which specific players are best placed to take advantage.However, the Reds’ Irish goalkeeper is surely a guaranteed starter all the while Alisson (£3.4m) is sidelined – the Brazilian isn’t expected back until after the international break.The 25-year-old bagged 19 points in Gameweek 25 and will be hopeful of healthy returns against Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in Gameweek 26.Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez’s (£4.5m) absences against Chelsea and Southampton mean both have to be considered major doubts.Barring an encouraging update from Jurgen Klopp, it’s probably best to stay clear of the forwards for now.At this juncture it’s worth repeating our tip from last week in Luis Diaz (£4.1m).READ MORE SUN STORIESIn defence, Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and Conor Bradley (£3.2m) appear the best options – both pocketed 18 points each in Gameweek 25.Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 2pm deadline!talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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    European fixtures key to huge points for Dream Team managers across next two Gameweeks

    ANY Dream Team manager worth their salt knows to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.The logic is simple and undeniable: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
    This ploy isn’t totally fool-proof but it generally pays dividends over the course of a season.

    PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

    Smart options for Gameweeks 26 and 27?Credit: Dream Team
    Looking at the next fortnight or so, it appears the upcoming European games hold the key to plentiful points.
    In Gameweek 26, five teams will fulfil two fixtures with Manchester City, Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League games at the weekend.
    Pep Guardiola’s side host neighbours Manchester United on Sunday before welcoming FC Copenhagen to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
    Given Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 40 points in Gameweek 25, the captaincy debate is likely to be a simple one for most gaffers.
    Elsewhere, Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header.
    Dream Team bosses eagerly await availability updates on Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
    Most read in Football
    Salah will be a popular recruit if deemed availableCredit: Getty
    Brighton also have back-to-back away days in the form of Fulham in the league then Roma in the Europa League.
    Pascal Gross (£4.5m) is among Dream Team’s most in-form players at present having earned 49 points across his last five outings.
    West Ham are the third and final English team still active in the Europa League.
    The Hammers face Freiburg (again) after a trip to Everton at the weekend.
    Jarrod Bowen’s (£4.5m) hat-trick against Brentford on Monday suddenly looks very timely indeed.
    The England international provided healthy returns for much of last season thanks in no small part to his ultimately triumphant Europa Conference League commitments.
    This season it’s Aston Villa who are set to take part in the knockout stages of the continent’s tertiary competition.
    31 goal involvements and countingCredit: Getty
    Unai Emery’s side drew a big name in the round of 16 in the form of Ajax but it’s worth noting that the Dutch giants have been below par for much of 2023/24.
    Jordan Henderson and company are without a win in their last four league games and currently reside fifth in the Eredivisie table.
    Ollie Watkins (£4.5m), Douglas Luiz (£3.9m), John McGinn (£3.7m), Emi Martinez (£3.1m) and Leon Bailey (£3m) are therefore all tempting options.
    The former has scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions this season while the latter has quietly amassed 20 goal involvements.
    The Villains travel to Luton on Saturday for their Premier League match-up with the Hatters having just shipped six goals to City in the FA Cup.
    Back among the goalsCredit: Getty

    Looking forward to Gameweek 27, it’s Arsenal who will be in Champions League action in Man City’s place for their second leg against Porto.
    Whereas Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa will all fulfil their respective second legs in consecutive Gameweeks.
    These four clubs are therefore the only teams with two fixtures each in Gameweeks 26 and 27.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    This clearly hasn’t escaped Dream Team bosses as the four most-popular recruits ahead of Saturday’s deadline are currently: Watkins, Bowen, Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and Douglas Luiz.
    Targeting the midweek European fixtures is likely to be a profitable strategy.

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