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      Timely 17-point return shines spotlight on Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal’s favourable double Gameweek

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      SUNDAY’S game at the London Stadium could not have gone much worse for West Ham.Not only did the Hammers suffer an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Arsenal to extend their miserable run of form, Declan Rice (£3.4m) was essentially the mastermind behind the humiliation.

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      A world-class playerCredit: Dream Team
      The 25-year-old was the heartbeat of David Moyes’ side prior to his big-money transfer to North London and while many West Ham fans showed their appreciation for their former player, even the most gracious supporter would have been pained by the influential nature of Rice’s performance.
      The England international is expected to do the dirty work at the base of midfield and the home fans wouldn’t have been surprised by his surging carries either but not even Rice’s family members would have hoped for THREE goal involvements.
      He provided the assist for the Gunners’ opening goal in East London with a corner converted by William Saliba (£3.1m) before repeating the trick minutes later from a wider angle via an indirect free-kick nodded home by Gabriel (£3.7m).
      Rice later capped the rout with long-range stunner, allowing him the luxury of a non-celebration.
      Despite playing just 67 minutes, he banked 17 Dream Team points at West Ham’s expense and is currently the joint-top performer in Gameweek 23 alongside team-mate Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher (£3.3m).
      Not a celebration…Credit: Getty
      In many ways, this was a timely reminder of Rice’s viability as Arsenal players should be popular ahead of Gameweek 24.
      On Saturday, they travel to Turf Moor in what has to considered one of the most favourable match-ups of the Premier League campaign – Burnley have taken just five points from 12 home league games since promotion.
      Most read in Football
      Conversely, only Manchester City have earned more points on the road than Arsenal.
      Following that, Arteta’s men fly to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Porto.
      By it’s very nature that should be a sterner test but Rice and company are favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
      It’s worth noting that Porto have scored 35 goals from 21 games in the league this term which is under par for one of Portugal’s “big three”.
      A friendly league game plus an additional midweek fixture makes for an appealing Gameweek from an Arsenal perspective, even accounting for back-to-back away days.
      Dream Team’s top performerCredit: Alamy
      Saka should be the first port of call given he’s currently Dream Team’s overall leading points scorer with 243.
      However, the England winger already features in over 50% of teams so his returns aren’t likely to have much of an impact at the top end of Mini Leagues.
      Coupling Saka with a second Arsenal midfielder is certainly a viable strategy for Gameweek 24 and Rice’s 17-point haul automatically puts in him contention.

      Martin Odegaard (£4.1m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4m) are more attack-minded but both have scored fewer points than Rice across their last three outings.
      The latter also earns more bonus points and gets through plenty more tackles.
      Admittedly, Odegaard and Martinelli have greater potential to plunder double-digit hauls from individuals games but Rice might actually be the sensible selection as his returns are generally more consistent.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Dream Team bosses should also mull over Gabriel, Saliba and David Raya’s (£3.1m) viability ahead of Gameweek 24 as Arsenal’s defensive numbers are the best in the Premier League right now.

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      Dream Team bosses to avoid Tottenham stars until schedule evens out – must avoid Gameweek 25 blank

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      TOTTENHAM’S last-gasp winner against Brighton on Saturday elevated them back into the top four of the Premier League.Ange Postecoglou’s men are unbeaten in their last five league games at a time when Aston Villa’s results have tailed away.
      Plus, only the current top three have scored more goals (51) – a byproduct of the Australian tactician’s front-foot approach.
      On the surface, it appears like an opportune time for Dream Team managers to back Spurs to the hilt.

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      Not so fast…Credit: Dream Team
      In reality, that’s the absolute the last thing they should do.
      The North Londoners may be in decent form but gaffers should always consider the schedule when weighing up any potential strategy.
      And as it stands, Spurs only have one more fixture to fulfil this month!
      This is because their league meeting with Chelsea in Gameweek 25 has been postponed due to the Blues’ meeting with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
      Factor in a lack of European commitments plus their absence from the FA Cup fifth round and the end result is an exceedingly relaxed schedule across the next few weeks.
      Most read in Football
      Son Heung-min has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 22 games this seasonCredit: Reuters
      This calendar quirk may actually help Spurs in their quest for Champions League qualification this season but it’s a severe hindrance in the world of Dream Team.
      Fewer fixtures equals fewer point-scoring opportunities, massively limiting the viability of James Maddison (£4.1m), Richarlison (£3.5m), Son Heung-min (£4.8m), Pedro Porro (£3.7m) and co.
      Dream Team bosses could conceivably hold their Spurs assets in Gameweek 24 for a home fixture against Wolves – most clubs only have one fixture to fulfil.
      However, it would be wise to consider replacements from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal as the three title contenders all have two games in the upcoming Gameweek.
      This is a very busy period for Man CityCredit: PA

      Looking further ahead, nine clubs will play three times across the next two Gameweeks in the same time Spurs play just once, while Liverpool and Man City will play FOUR times.
      In fact, Pep Guardiola’s men are set to fulfil SIX fixtures in the time it takes Spurs to play twice across the next three Gameweeks.
      Needless to say, that should be the deciding factor for gaffers weighing up Porro or Kyle Walker (£3.1m), Maddison or Rodri (£3.6m), Son or Julian Alvarez (£4.4m), etc.
      Those keen on Spurs players should wait until the schedule evens out in Gameweek 28 – at which point they play Fulham, Luton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest in quick succession.

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      Erling Haaland wastes no time regaining top spot among Dream Team strikers with 14-point haul

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      IT was a case of normal service resumed at the Etihad on Saturday.Manchester City made it ten wins in a row in all competitions with a routine 2-0 victory over Everton and no prizes for guessing who made the headlines.
      It was none other than Erling Haaland (£7.3m), in his first start at home since recovering from a foot injury, who scored both goals to send out another statement to the defending champions’ rivals.
      The Norwegian poacher previously looked a tad rusty against Burnley and Brentford but the vast majority of Dream Team managers correctly anticipated a return to form as he was the most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 23.
      Not only that, he was the most-selected captain across the last nine Gameweeks.
      21 goals and counting this seasonCredit: Dream Team
      Haaland slammed home the hosts’ opener in the 71st minute when the ball fell to him from a set-piece.
      And the 23-year-old sealed the three points with a typically clinical finish in a one-on-one situation having brushed aside Jarrad Branthwaite (£2.7m).
      When all was said and done, Haaland banked 14 points at the Toffees’ expense to reclaim top spot among Dream Team strikers.
      He’s currently level with Joao Pedro (£4.3m) on 216 points – the Brighton forward was unavailable at the weekend.

      The impressive haul boosted Haaland’s points-per-game average to 9.4 points in 2023/24 – once again putting him top of the key metric.
      Most read in Football
      At the time of writing, he’s the joint-fifth best performer of Gameweek 23 but he’s not done yet.
      City’s No9 needs just four points against Copenhagen on Tuesday night to overtake Declan Rice (£3.4m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.5m), who banked 17 points each against West Ham.
      With Pep Guardiola’s side heavy favourites to win in the Danish capital, it’s a likely outcome.
      Haaland currently features in 73.6% of Dream TeamsCredit: AP
      Haaland finishing as the top scorer of the Gameweek would be nothing more than confirmation of what most Dream Team bosses know already – he is a must-have asset when fit and the default captaincy option.
      His latest brace moved him onto 21 goals for the season, the highest tally among all Premier League players.
      He’s also the first player to register 50 shots on target – only three others have recorded more than 40.
      These stats are even more ominous considering Haaland gave most of his rivals a chance to catch up while he was sidelined for the best part of seven Gameweeks.
      A reminder that this is the first of FOUR consecutive double Gameweeks for Haaland and company…

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      Gabriel & William Saliba now among top five Dream Team defenders – Arsenal’s set-piece threat a game-changer

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      ARSENAL produced yet another statement victory on Sunday.Following on from their win over Liverpool, the Gunners thrashed West Ham 6-0 at the London Stadium to underline their title credentials.
      One notable aspect of the visitors’ performance was their set-piece supremacy.
      On the riseCredit: Dream Team
      William Saliba (£3.1m) started the rout with a header from a corner which opened the floodgates.
      Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) converted a penalty soon after before Gabriel (£3.7m) connected with a wide free-kick to head home from close range, making it three set-piece goals in a 12-minute blitz.
      In what was a miserable day for the Hammers, David Moyes would have been particularly disappointed to see his side comprehensively outmatched at set-pieces – an aspect of the game his teams usually prioritise.
      In recent years, Arsenal have been synonymous with nimble, technical, diminutive footballers who ensure a certain panache in open play but can be overpowered in certain situations.
      This season, however, Mikel Arteta’s side are arguably the most solid and robust in the Premier League.
      They’ve conceded the fewest goals and the underlying numbers (expected goals against) suggest they have been most effective at restricting their opponents.
      Couple this with their strength at set-pieces and the Gunners now boast a strong backbone rather than a soft underbelly.
      Most read in Dream Team
      Arteta’s side have returned from the winter break in fine formCredit: AFP
      From a Dream Team perspective, this is best exhibited by the lofty statuses now held by their first-choice centre-backs.
      Gabriel banked 15 points against West Ham while Saliba pocketed 14 – the pair are the best-performing defenders of Gameweek 23 right now.
      More broadly, both are now among the top five assets in their position in terms of total season points.
      DREAM TEAM’S TOP DEFENDERS 2023/24

      Kieran Trippier – 191 pts
      Trent Alexander-Arnold – 179 pts
      Pedro Porro – 158 pts
      Gabriel – 150 pts
      William Saliba – 144 pts

      The Brazilian centre-back has scored three goals this campaign – only Dan Burn (£3.5m) and Fabian Schar (£3.4m) have scored more among defenders at this stage.
      Whereas Saliba is Dream Team’s leader in terms of clean sheets, having contributed to 12 in all competitions – Gabriel, Ben White (£3.3m) and James Tarkowski (£3.3m) are just behind the Frenchman on 11 each.
      Gabriel is already among the most transferred-in players ahead of Gameweek 24Credit: EPA
      Looking forward, it’s potentially the perfect time for Dream Team gaffers to back Arsenal’s most-productive defenders.
      In Gameweek 24, Arteta’s troops travel to Turf Moor to face a Burnley outfit that have mustered just 13 points since promotion before facing Porto in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
      It’s worth noting that while the Portuguese side scored plenty in the group stages of Europe’s premium competition, they’ve registered 33 goals from 20 league games this term – below par for one of the Primeira Liga’s big three.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Given Arsenal’s defensive record, it would be reasonable for Dream Team managers to expect at least one clean sheet from Gabriel and Saliba – two would yield massive returns.
      Arsenal are one of just five teams (Manchester City, Liverpool, Brentford and Luton being the other two) with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 24 so their best performers are likely to be popular recruits this week.

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      Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 23 – Ezri Konsa, Anthony Gordon, Joao Pedro among those sidelined

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      DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 23 in one easily digestible dose.Joao Pedro (£4m) was deemed fit enough to play against Crystal Palace last weekend but the Brazilian, who is currently Dream Team’s top striker, has been ruled out of Brighton’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday.
      It’s not yet known when 22-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, will be available for selection again.
      Mikel Arteta told reporters that Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) “looks okay” following his substitution against Liverpool last weekend.
      Arsenal’s No7 is the second-most popular player in Dream Team and is expected to start against West Ham on Sunday.
      The Gunners’ coach kept his cards close to his chest in regards to the availability of Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.7m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.5m) and Gabriel Jesus (£4.8m) so all three have to be considered doubts at this stage.

      Captaincy & Booster Strategies for Gameweek 23: Focus on Manchester stars for BIG points!

      Saka should be fineCredit: PA
      As for the Hammers, Michail Antonio (£2.5m) is back in training but this weekend comes too soon – Lucas Paqueta (£4.1m) also remains out.
      Lucas Digne (£3.1m) has returned to training this week and has a chance of featuring for Aston Villa against Manchester United on Sunday.
      Pau Torres (£3m) returned to the squad in midweek and is also in contention to start.
      However, Dream Team favourite Ezri Konsa (£3.2m) has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a knee injury.
      Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) won’t be involved as Liverpool host Burnley but the Egyptian superstar may return to training next week, giving him a chance of some minutes in Gameweek 24.
      Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.9m) won’t feature either while Thiago Alcantara (£2.5m) has suffered another setback and is awaiting a full assessment.
      Conor Bradley (£3m) is still on compassionate leave while Ibrahima Konate (£3.1m) is set to serve a one-match suspension.
      Villa defenders have been dropping like flies recentlyCredit: Dream Team
      Hwang Hee-chan (£3.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) have returned from South Korea duty are said to be available for Wolves and Spurs respectively.
      The former scored 11 goals prior to his departure for the Asian Cup while the latter bagged 12 in the same time frame.
      Anthony Gordon’s (£3.7m) injury isn’t as serious as first feared but Newcastle’s No10 hasn’t trained all week and will almost certainly not travel to Nottingham Forest.
      The Magpies will be without Alexander Isak (£4.4m) once again but Eddie Howe told journalists the Swedish striker is “not too far away”.

      Lisandro Martinez (£2.8m) is expected to be out for at least eight weeks following the knee injury he incurred last time out.
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£2.6m) was scheduled to return but the Manchester United full-back pulled out of training on Thursday and therefore remains a major doubt.
      Crystal Palace will be without key players Marc Guehi (£2.4m), Eberechi Eze (£3.9m) and Michael Olise (£4.1m) against Chelsea on Monday night.
      Harvey Barnes is expected to replace GordonCredit: Getty
      ARSENAL
      Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus (doubt), Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      ASTON VILLA
      Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Lucas Digne (doubt), Jhon Duran, Ezri Konsa
      Suspensions: None
      BOURNEMOUTH
      Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, James Hill, Max Aarons
      Suspensions: Philip Billing
      BRENTFORD
      Injuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, Josh Dasilva
      Suspensions: None
      BRIGHTON
      Injuries: Julio Enciso, Solly March, Joel Veltman, Joao Pedro, James Milner
      Suspensions: None
      BURNLEY
      Injuries: Luka Koleosho, Jordan Beyer, Charlie Taylor (doubt), Hannes Delcroix (doubt), Nathan Redmond
      Suspensions: None
      CHELSEA
      Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah (doubt), Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwo, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill (doubt), Beniot Badashile (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      CRYSTAL PALACE
      Injuries: Cheick Doucoure, Joel Ward (doubt), Rob Holding, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
      Suspensions: None
      EVERTON
      Injuries: Dele Alli, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Andre Gomes, Arnaut Danjuma, Amadou Onana (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      FULHAM
      Injuries: Adama Traore, Issa Diop, Harry Wilson, Raul Jimenez, Armando Broja (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      LIVERPOOL
      Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Kostas Tsimikas, Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah
      Suspensions: Ibrahima Konate
      LUTON
      Injuries: Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, Mads Juel Andersen, Teden Mengi (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER CITY
      Injuries: None
      Suspensions: None
      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Injuries: Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (doubt), Lisandro Martinez
      Suspensions: None
      NEWCASTLE
      Injuries: Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Nick Pope, Joelinton, Alexander Isak, Jamaal Lascelles (doubt), Anthony Gordon
      Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
      NOTTINGHAM FOREST
      Injuries: Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White (doubt), Gonzalo Montiel
      Suspensions: None
      SHEFFIELD UNITED
      Injuries: Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock (doubt), Max Lowe (doubt), Ivo Grbic, Oli McBurnie (doubt)
      Suspensions: None
      TOTTENHAM
      Injuries: Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon
      Suspensions: None
      WEST HAM
      Injuries: Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio
      Suspensions: None
      WOLVES
      Injuries: None
      Suspensions: None

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      Captaincy & Booster strategies for Gameweek 23: Is Erling Haaland once again default skipper?

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      THE spotlight is firmly on Manchester City in the world of Dream Team right now.The defending champions are the only team with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 23 and so gaffers should stock up on Pep Guardiola’s favourites.
      Everton visit the Etihad on Saturday in the first Premier League game of the weekend before the treble winners travel to Copenhagen for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in midweek.
      With that in mind, let’s talk captaincy options.

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      An ominous figureCredit: Dream Team
      Dream Team bosses have had to think carefully about which players to elect for double points in recent weeks while Erling Haaland (£7.6m) was sidelined with a foot injury but the prolific poacher’s return may simplify the conversation.
      The Norwegian No9 was the default captain for the vast majority of switched-on gaffers throughout the first half of the campaign and with good reason.
      Haaland averages 9.2 points-per-game in 2023/24 – a figure only matched by the injury-prone Michael Olise (£4.1m) – and no player was able to surpass his tally of 19 goals in all competitions while he was unavailable.
      He’s looked a tad rusty in his last two outings but with City purring (nine straight wins in all competitions) it surely won’t be long before he’s back among the goals.
      Some gaffers may be tempted to take Haaland on in regards to captaincy in Gameweek 23 by strapping the armband to the in-form Phil Foden (£5m).
      Most read in Football
      Statistically City’s most in-form Dream Team assetCredit: Reuters
      The England international bagged a hat-trick against Brentford on Monday night to draw level with Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) at the top of the overall rankings.
      With 13 goals and ten assists to his name this season, Foden is certainly an appealing option.
      Any concerns that Haaland’s return would dampen the midfielder’s eye for goal were thoroughly dispatched at the Gtech Community Stadium and he looks well placed for a double-digit return this coming Gameweek.
      Then there’s Kevin De Bruyne (£6m).
      The Belgian’s return from injury has contributed to a feeling of inevitability about City’s form going forward.
      He’s provided 27 points across the last three Gameweeks via a goal and four assists.
      A class actCredit: PA
      In terms of playmaking, De Bruyne is unrivalled but, if anything, his relentless chance creation only makes Haaland a more attractive captaincy option as it’s the latter who usually benefits.
      It surely has to be one of City’s superstars for the armband in Gameweek 23 and, despite Foden’s impressive form, it’s hard to look past Haaland.
      BOOSTER STRATEGIES
      Many gaffers will be eyeing up City’s double header as an opportunity to reap the rewards of Park the Bus.
      It’s a nice idea on paper but Guardiola’s rotation policy introduces a certain degree of risk.
      Setting up an XI with Kyle Walker (£3.1m), Josko Gvardiol (£3.3m), Ruben Dias (£3.1m) and Nathan Ake (£3.2m) – plus either Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m) or Kieran Trippier (£4.8m) – has huge potential but it wouldn’t be all that surprising if significant minutes for John Stones (£3.3m), Manuel Akanji (£3.6m) and/or Rico Lewis (£2.9m) scuppered such a plan.
      Plus, City have actually found clean sheets relatively hard to come this term.
      Looking ahead, there are other double Gameweeks to come that look ripe for less risky Park the Bus combinations.
      Unless you feel extremely confident you can strike the right balance of City defenders, it’s probably best to keep the strongest Booster in the holster.
      All eyes on Man CityCredit: Alamy
      12th Man is certainly a viable Booster to activate ahead of the deadline.
      If your standard XI looks a little light on City players ahead of what should be a high-scoring Gameweek then simply play 12th Man and select one of the aforementioned superstars as your secret weapon.
      Even those with Haaland, De Bruyne and Foden already in their team might think about electing Julian Alvarez (£4.3m) as 12th Man given the schedule.
      Finally, if you’re helplessly undecided between the heavy hitters then activating Max Captain will guarantee the optimum choice.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      However, be warned that if you go down this route and Haaland (the default option) goes big then you may end up wasting one of your precious Boosters.
      Lock in your strategy before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline!

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      One Dream Team gaffer now £100 richer thanks to two hat-trick heroes – despite Park the Bus clanger!

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      FIRST things first, credit where it’s due to Samuel Bexton.He earned a whopping 158 points in Gameweek 22 to beat every other Dream Team manager in the world to the £100 weekly prize.
      But he did so in an unorthodox manner.

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

      That’s not how you’re supposed to use Park the BusCredit: Dream Team
      There’s a lot to admire about Samuel’s XI but for the sake of shared information, his sub-optimal use of the Park the Bus Booster has to be analysed.
      Park the Bus is the most-powerful Booster in the game as it doubles the points of all your defenders for the duration of the Gameweek – essentially giving you extra captains.
      To make the most of this special effect, you should use your transfers to ensure you have FIVE defenders in your team at the time Park the Bus is activated.
      Whereas Samuel opted to play the precious Booster in Gameweek 22 despite having just three defenders in his team.
      Kieran Trippier (£4.8m) played his part with a goal and an assist amid the chaos of Newcastle’s 4-4 draw with Luton for a nine-point return but Pedro Porro (£3.8m) and Matty Cash (£3.2m) combined for just four points.
      All in all, Park the Bus earned Samuel an additional 13 points, which is significantly under par.
      Most read in Football
      Dream Team’s top defender once againCredit: Getty
      He would have been better off saving his best Booster for a future Gameweek where he could craft an XI with five defenders, all with two fixtures to fulfil.
      While this alternate route would have been much better for Samuel in the context of the entire season, the fact remains that he wouldn’t have won £100 through Dream Team had he not activated Park the Bus, such are the fine margins at the top of the weekly leaderboard.
      At the end of the day, he’s earned himself some spending money through a fantasy football game so he probably doesn’t care one jot that his strategy wasn’t fully optimised for maximum returns across the season – that’s the beauty of the weekly prize!
      Now that we’ve picked holes in Samuel’s approach, let’s lavish him with overdue praise for his smart selections.
      Emi Martinez (£3m) was the top-performing goalkeeper in Gameweek 22, mostly thanks to his nine-point return against Sheffield United.
      Familiar favourites Cole Palmer (£4.2m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) scored a goal each with the former benefiting from some extra points via his midweek outing at Villa Park.
      And Kevin De Bruyne (£6m) continued his ominous comeback with fantastic assist against Brentford on Monday night as part of an eight-point haul.
      Sensational formCredit: Alamy
      However, Phil Foden (£5m) was the star of the show at the Gtech Community Stadium with a classy hat-trick.
      The England international’s 21-point haul saw him draw level with Saka at the top of the overall season rankings.
      But the Manchester City wonderkid wasn’t Samuel’s only hat-trick hero as Matheus Cunha (£4m) produced something very special against Chelsea for a massive 25-point return.
      Samuel was among the 2.5% of gaffers who benefited from the Wolves forward’s latest exhibition – an inspired choice!
      Captaining Ollie Watkins (£4m) always looked a smart decision as Villa had the luxury of playing the Blades prior to their FA Cup replay with Chelsea.
      As it happens, Unai Emery’s men were soundly beaten by the Blues but their top scorer had already produced the goods in the form of FOUR goal involvements (one goal, three assists) against Chris Wilder’s beleaguered troops.
      One of the best stories of the Dream Team seasonCredit: Dream Team
      Last but not least, Samuel did very well to resist the temptation of Erling Haaland (£7.6m) as the Norwegian poacher was outscored by team-mate Julian Alvarez (£4.3m) in West London.
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      The World Cup winner registered eight points and was unlucky not to hit double figures as he notched five shots on target – it’s rare such a barrage doesn’t result in at least one goal.
      Well played, Samuel – enjoy your winnings!

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      Score Predictor tips for Matchweek 26 – Somebody must win £500 Amazon gift card!

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      THE top prize in Score Predictor Matchweek 26 is once again a £500 Amazon gift card!Take a stab at the outcomes of five Premier League fixtures and you could land the top prize by Monday night.
      Remember, you don’t have to get all five predictions bang on to win the gift card, you just have to earn more points (based on accuracy) than anyone else.
      Score Predictor remains free to play and, if you opt for sheer gut instinct, 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 for free now!Credit: Dream Team
      For full transparency, check out our very own predictions below…
      Manchester City v Everton
      Pep Guardiola’s side are in ominous form heading into this one having won their last nine games in all competitions.
      Everton fought for a spirited 2-2 draw against Tottenham last time out but that volume of goals is rare.
      Only the current top three have conceded fewer league goals than the Toffees this season but, on the flip side, only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer goals in the top flight.
      Most read in Football
      As if to illustrate this point, Sean Dyche’s men were involved in three 0-0 draws in January (all comps).
      Everton would be sandwiched between Chelsea and Bournemouth in mid-table were it not for their points deduction and they’re solid enough to avoid a thrashing at the Etihad but have they got what it takes to earn a point?
      The reverse fixture occurred between Christmas and New Year and finished 3-1 to City so the safe money is on a win for the favourites again this Saturday.
      Our Prediction: 2-0 to Man City
      City are in ominous formCredit: Reuters
      Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
      The Magpies have caused all sorts of issues for Score Predictor users lately.
      Eddie Howe’s men sprang a surprise win at Villa Park to end Unai Emery’s long unbeaten streak on home soil before last weekend’s chaotic 4-4 draw with Luton.
      It’s hard to get a read on them right now.
      Forest could have done without their FA Cup replay against Bristol City going the distance to a penalty shootout on Wednesday night – increasing the likelihood of some tired legs this coming Saturday.
      This match-up pits the team with the fifth-worst home record against the side with the fifth-worse away record.
      Although what that means exactly, it’s hard to say.
      Our Prediction: 2-1 to Newcastle
      Newcastle’s results have been difficult to predictCredit: Getty

      West Ham v Arsenal
      These teams are separated by just four places in the table but they were worlds apart last weekend when the Gunners triumphed over table-toppers Liverpool on the same day the Hammers succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
      David Moyes’ side are without a win since late December but it’s worth noting that victory came at the Emirates.
      However, Mikel Arteta’s troops have refocused since then while West Ham fans have grown increasingly discontent with their team’s performances.
      Arsenal boast the joint-best defensive record in the league at this stage and the underlying numbers (xGA) suggest they have restricted their opponents better than any other unit.
      It’s not often we predict a clean sheet for the away side but on this occasion…
      Our Prediction: 2-0 to Arsenal
      Arsenal enjoyed a morale-boosting win last time outCredit: Reuters
      Aston Villa v Manchester United
      As previously mentioned, Villa Park was an impenetrable fortress prior to Newcastle’s victory there and Chelsea’s 3-1 result in the midlands in midweek dealt further damage to the Villains’ lair.
      The Red Devils will also take heart from their previous meeting with Villa – that impressive comeback win on Boxing Day.
      Erik ten Hag’s troops desperately struggled to score goals in the first half of the season but they seemed to have turned a corner with Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund all among the goals in their last seven outings.
      That being said, the fact remains that only Liverpool and Man City have scored more league goals than Villa in 2023/24.
      Our Prediction: 2-2 draw
      Man United are back among the goalsCredit: Getty
      Crystal Palace v Chelsea
      The Blues continue to blow hot and cold under Mauricio Pochettino.
      Last weekend’s defeat to Wolves prompted a torrent of criticism but pundits were forced to praise their efforts at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
      Such swings are a nightmare for Score Predictor users.
      It might be wise to focus on the Eagles in this match-up as they will once again be without the talented duo of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
      First-choice centre-back Marc Guehi has joined the injury-prone midfielders on the sidelines as well.
      It won’t take much for the mood to turn sour at Selhurst Park on Monday night…
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      Our Prediction: 3-1 to Chelsea
      Think you know better? Play Score Predictor now and you could win a £500 Amazon voucher by Monday night!

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