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      Dream Team’s new scoring system explained: More points for defensive midfielders and other improvements

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      WHETHER this is your first season playing Dream Team’s fantasy game or you’re a veteran of 20 years, you should familiarise yourself with the scoring system for the 2023/24 campaign.We’ve revolutionised how players earn points this season in hope of maximising transparency and satisfaction.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

      Dream Team gaffers should take note of how players will earn points this seasonCredit: DREAM TEAM
      Firstly, while Dream Team gaffers should take all elements of the scoring system into consideration when selecting their XI ahead of the new season, there’s no need to overcomplicate things if you’re not keen on stats.
      Primarily, you want your strikers and midfielders to get goals and assists, and you want your goalkeeper and defenders to keep clean sheets – that’s the classic formula for a reason.
      Here’s the full breakdown of how points are gained and lost:
      All Players

      Goal +5 points
      Assist +2 points
      Appearance (0-59 minutes) +1 point
      Appearance (60+ minutes) +1 point
      Shot on target +1 point
      Big chance created +1 point
      Successful tackles +1 point per two
      Yellow card -1 point
      Red card -3 points
      Penalty miss -3 points
      Own goal -2 points

      Goalkeepers & Defenders Only

      Clean sheet (minimum 60 minutes played) +5 points
      Each goal conceded over one goal -1 point

      Goalkeepers Only

      Saves +1 point per two
      Penalty save +3 points

      This is mostly self explanatory but it’s worth expanding on a few aspects, particularly those unfamiliar to experienced Dream Team bosses.
      Most read in Football
      Bruno Fernandes created more big chances than any other Premier League player last seasonCredit: GETTY
      As you can see, players will earn one point per shot on target, as defined by OPTA – it’s important to realise that a shot on target is different to a goal-bound shot that is blocked by a defender (registered as a blocked shot).
      The average number of shots on target in a Premier League game last season was eight and of course these were generally spread out among several players from both sides.
      In fact, only two top-flight players averaged 2+ shots on target per 90 minutes in 2022/23, Julio Enciso and Darwin Nunez.
      Big chances created are defined by stats boffins OPTA as “a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one on one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter.” 
      For perspective, Bruno Fernandes created the most big chances in the Premier League last term, 32 in 37 appearances.
      Again, please note that a ‘big chance created’ is different to the more common ‘chance created’ – we’re only rewarding genuinely brilliant moments of creativity.
      Joao Palhinha: tackle machineCredit: GETTY
      Defensive midfielders are long overdue proper recognition in the realm of Dream Team.
      This season, their diligent work will be rewarded as players will receive one point per two successful tackles.
      To be clear, if a player registers two/three successful tackles they will receive one point, if they make four/five tackles they will earn two points, and so on. 
      Combative midfielders will benefit from this addition the most but players from all positions are eligible to score points this way.
      Fulham’s Joao Palhinha was in a league of his own in terms of tackles last season with 147 attempted in the league alone at an average of 4.2 per game, with 83 of them being registered as successful.
      But the Portugal international was a huge outlier.
      Moises Caicedo was his closest competitor and the Brighton midfielder attempted 100 tackles with half of them being successful.
      Similarly, goalkeepers will earn one point per two saves – as with all these stats, we align with OPTA’s definition.
      David Raya made more saves than anyone else in the top flight last termCredit: GETTY
      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

      David Raya led the way in terms of Premier League saves last season, he registered 154 in 38 appearances for Brentford at an average of just over four per game.
      For comparison, Dream Team’s top two keepers in 2022/23, David de Gea and Nick Pope, averaged 2.7 and 2.4 saves per league game respectively. 
      In addition to the core points, each player involved in any given fixture has the opportunity to earn bonus points; zero, one, three or five depending on their performance.
      These bonus points are determined by a combination of the following following stats: completed crosses, successful dribbles, pass completion rate, interceptions, blocks, fouls won and goals scored from outside the area.
      Offsides, fouls conceded and errors leading to goals will negatively impact a player’s chances of earning bonus points.
      Read More on The Sun
      When using our app or site, Dream Team managers will be able to view how many points players would have got last season if the new system had been implemented – a helpful tool when selecting an XI.

      Click here for the general terms and conditions for The Sun Dream Team 2023/24. More

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      Everything you need to know about Dream Team 2023/24 – new transfer process, game-changing Boosters, and more!

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      STOP the presses, Dream Team is live!You can now register to play The Sun’s much-loved fantasy game for free ahead of the 2023/24 season via our app or website.
      We’ve made a host of significant improvements to Dream Team for the coming season while maintaining the tried-and-tested essence of the game that has compelled football fans in their millions over the years.
      Not only have we revolutionised the scoring system and the transfer process, we’ve introduced several new features to enhance your experience of the game throughout the duration of the season.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

      Allow Dream Team to unleash the Premier League manager within youCredit: DREAM TEAM
      Team Entry & Prize Pool
      This season, users will be limited to one team each. This ensures maximum competitiveness and challenges gaffers to commit fully to a single XI of Premier League stars.
      For the first time ever, users from all over the world can enter Dream Team and international gaffers are eligible to bank a share of the prize pool if they excel.
      This season’s overall winner will take home £50,000 with the following 20 runners-up banking £1,000 each, there’s also £100 for every Gameweek’s top gaffer – meaning more cash winners than ever before!
      Compete for bragging rights and play in Mini Leagues alongside your friends, colleagues, family members, etc.
      Team Selection
      You will have an initial budget of £50million to select your team of eleven players from the vast pool of talent provided by the 20 Premier League clubs for the 2023/24 campaign.
      Most read in Football
      This season, you have the choice of seven formations: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 5-4-1, 5-3-2.
      There is no limit on the number of players you can select from any one club so if you want to pick Luton’s entire starting line-up then crack on.
      This season’s most-expensive player? Erling Haaland (£8.5m) of course.
      Erling Haaland is the most-expensive player in Dream Team prior to Gameweek 1Credit: DREAM TEAM
      Scoring System
      Dream Team features an improved scoring system this season, one that recognises individual performance levels in more detail than ever before.
      All Players

      Goal +5 points
      Assist +2 points
      Appearance (0-59 minutes) +1 point
      Appearance (60+ minutes) +1 point
      Shot on target +1 point
      Big chance created +1 point
      Successful tackles +1 point per two
      Yellow card -1 point
      Red card -3 points
      Penalty miss -3 points
      Own goal -2 points

      Goalkeepers & Defenders Only

      Clean sheet (minimum 60 minutes played) +5 points
      Each goal conceded over one goal -1 point

      Goalkeepers Only

      Saves +1 point per two
      Penalty save +3 points

      Transfers
      Once the season is underway, transfers become the most important element of the game as they allow you to swap under-performing players for replacements in sparkling form – that’s the idea at least.
      This season, you will have the opportunity to make two transfers per Gameweek.
      If you choose not to make any transfers in a given Gameweek then one of them will carry over, meaning you’ll have three available the following Gameweek.
      It’s possible to carry over again but four is the maximum number of transfers you’ll have available at any one time.
      Hypothetically, if you were to only use one of your two weekly transfers then you would have two available again the following Gameweek – transfers only carry over if you don’t use any at all. 
      All players will be locked out one hour before the first fixture of the Gameweek kicks off.
      More prize winners than ever before guaranteed this season!Credit: DREAM TEAM
      Captaincy
      Each Game Week you will be invited to select one of your players as captain – the chosen player will receive DOUBLE points for the duration of the Gameweek.
      If you forget to set your captain then the armband will default to your most recently-selected captain and they will score double points.
      Boosters
      Now for the most exciting new feature in the world of Dream Team.
      This season you will have three Boosters at your disposal which, if used wisely, will provide a lorry-load of points in one fell swoop.
      Each Booster can only be played once per season and only applies for the duration of the given Gameweek.

      PARK THE BUS: All defenders score double points

      12TH MAN: Select a 12th player to score points for your team

      MAX CAPTAIN: Whichever player earns the most points will automatically be selected as captain

      Boosters give you the opportunity to make up serious ground in your Mini Leagues in the blink of an eye but all your rivals have the opportunity to do the same so endeavour to play each one at the best possible moment.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

      Turn your love of football into cash with Dream Team this seasonCredit: DREAM TEAM
      Eligible Competitions
      One of the reasons Dream Team is such a rewarding fantasy football game is that scoring is not limited to the Premier League.
      The league fixtures make up the bread and butter of the season but players also score points in the domestic cups and European competitions.
      In regards to the 2023/24 season specifically, all 20 clubs will of course be active in the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
      Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League while Liverpool and Brighton will compete in the Europa League, as will West Ham by virtue of their triumph over Fiorentina in Prague.
      Aston Villa will qualify for the Europa Conference League group stages if they win their play-off, please note that Unai Emery’s troops will not score points in the two play-off legs.
      It goes without saying that you should ensure your team is packed with players active in Europe once the continental groups stages are underway as there’ll be plenty of points on offer. 
      Be aware Pep Guardiola’s side will not score points in the Club World Cup, so you can disregard that sneaky tactic immediately.
      Variable Pricing
      All player prices are fixed prior to Gameweek 1 but once the season gets underway all players are subject to variable pricing. 
      Without over-complicating it, if a player performs well his price will increase but if he finds points hard to come by then his value will decrease.
      Once the action starts, it’s likely many teams will have a total value in excess of the initial £50million limit – that’s all part of the game – successful gaffers know how to work Dream Team’s stock market to their advantage.
      Read More on The Sun
      Dream Team will be on hand in the coming weeks with plenty of information and advice to ensure you understand every aspect of the game before the new season gets underway on August 11th.

      Click here for the general terms and conditions for The Sun Dream Team 2023/24. More

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      Just one Arsenal player features in Dream Team’s best XI of 2022/23 – while four Manchester United stars make the cut!

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      The 2022/23 season is officially in the record books and Manchester City fans couldn’t have wished for a more satisfying finale.Pep Guardiola’s side beat Inter in Saturday’s Champions League final to claim a historic treble and bring the curtain down on another captivating Dream Team campaign.
      Given City’s dominance, one might expect an overwhelming presence of Etihad assets in Dream Team best XI of the season… but that’s not the case.
      In fact, just three treble-winners make the cut once the numbers have been crunched.
      For clarity, we’re exclusively interested in which players earned the most Dream Team points across the 36 Game Weeks, nothing else matters.
      GOALKEEPER: David de Gea
      Four Manchester United players feature in Dream Team best XI of 2022/23
      It was a two-horse race between the sticks for the majority of the campaign with Manchester United’s No1 ultimately edging out Nick Pope, 163 points to 147.
      De Gea’s individual performances were subject to justified criticism at times but 25 clean sheets in all competitions was a formidable tally.
      To put that into perspective, the Spaniard earned the same number of points through clean sheets (125) alone as Ederson did overall.
      DEFENDERS: Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw
      Most read in Football
      Ruben Dias’ late charge wasn’t quite enough to earn him a place in this XI but it seems likely the Portuguese centre-back would have finished as runner-up in his position had he not suffered a spell on the sidelines with injury.
      As it was, Liverpool’s homegrown hero claimed the silver medal by virtue of a creative outpouring that produced seven assists across the last eight Game Weeks.
      Alexander-Arnold was exposed defensively throughout the first two thirds of the season but only a fool would underestimate his talent in possession – how he mustered 167 points despite the Reds’ defensive woes is a compelling mystery.
      A league of his ownCredit: GETTY
      Shaw completes the podium having impressed for Man United at both left-back and centre-back when required.
      Again, the Red Devils’ mountainous clean sheet total is the main factor but the England international was worthy of the 73 points he earned through match ratings – he finished on 158 overall.
      In regards to top spot, any tension evaporated long before Christmas as Trippier took a commanding lead through a combination of regular clean sheets, 7+ ratings and Star Man awards.
      Newcastle’s set-piece specialist was among the Premier League’s most prolific chance creators and a key cog in the top flight’s joint-best defence (33 goals conceded).
      This double life produced 230 points across the 36 Game Weeks, giving him a lead of 63 over his nearest rival when the fat lady sang.
      MIDFIELDERS: Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Bukayo Saka
      Most Dream Team gaffers will know by now that Man United’s playmaker-in-chief topped the charts in relation to 7+ ratings and Star Man awards.
      Fernandes built on his impressive World Cup form to stride clear of De Bruyne, himself a potent asset, in the second half of the season to end on 283 points, 31 clear of the Belgian superstar.
      With 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, the Portugal international once again proved that his play style is perfectly suited to Dream Team.
      Arsenal’s only representativeCredit: GETTY
      Mahrez didn’t feature in the FA Cup final or the Champions League final but his ruthless efficiency once again made him a perplexing yet brilliant Dream Team asset.
      Despite starting just 22 of City’s 38 league games and six of their 13 European fixtures, the Algerian winger notched 197 points thanks mostly to 15 goals and 13 assists.
      Completing our midfield, Arsenal’s resident Star Boy.
      Given the Gunners’ lengthy title challenge, it’s rather surprising that Saka is his side’s only representative in this XI.
      Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White and Gabriel were all among the best players in their respective positions but the standards are high among the cream of the crop.
      Saka’s form may have faded somewhat in the final Game Weeks of the season but 15 goals and 12 assists in all competitions justified his popularity throughout 2022/23.
      FORWARDS: Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
      There are no superlatives left to describe Man City’s No9 debut Dream Team campaign.
      Europe’s apex predator plundered 431 points when all was said and done, 130 more than his closest competitor, to become just the second player ever to reach the status of quadruple centurion.
      Haaland finished on 52 goals having scored SIX hat-tricks over the course of the season, including a five-goal rampage at RB Leipzig’s expense.
      The Norwegian captains our side.
      A phenomenonCredit: GETTY
      Man United’s top scorer was arguably the world’s most in-form player for a while this season.
      Rashford bagged 90 points in the space of just five Game Weeks at his rampant best and his final tally of 301 earned him the silver medal not just among forward but all Dream Team assets.
      The battle for the final forward spot was hard fought between Tottenham’s main man and Mohamed Salah, who both posted mightily impressive individual campaigns despite their teams’ problems.
      Read more on The Sun
      Anfield’s favourite Egyptian banked 275 points in all but a brace to relegate Leeds on the final day meant Kane finished on 30 league goals and 289 points.
      The England skipper essentially fought a one-man battle for much of 2022/23 to cement his status as a Dream Team legend. More

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      Ilkay Gundogan’s Wembley masterclass underlines Manchester City’s midfield dominance in Dream Team

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      Once again, Manchester City will finish the season as the team with the most Dream Team points among the 20 eligible clubs.When analysing the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s side, the temptation is to focus solely on Erling Haaland’s (£10.1m) record-breaking exploits.
      And that’s understandable given the Norwegian poacher’s tally of 52 goals in all competitions and his mountainous total of 432 Dream Team points.
      However, while the Premier League Golden Boot winner has undoubtedly spearheaded City’s campaign, the extent of their midfield dominance can hardly be understated.
      Too many Man City midfielders to choose from
      Sure, Bruno Fernandes (£7.2m) may be the leading asset in his position having amassed 283 points, thanks in no small part to a dozen Star Man awards.
      But in terms of sheer quantity, City reign supreme with six representatives inside the top 16 midfielders.
      MANCHESTER CITY’S TOP SIX MIDFIELDERS

      Kevin De Bruyne (£8.6m) – 252 points
      Riyad Mahrez (£6.3m) – 197 points
      Phil Foden (£5.6m) – 186 points
      Jack Grealish (£5.2m) – 145 points
      Ilkay Gundogan (£3.8m) – 144 points
      Rodri (£3.7m) – 134 points

      It’s remarkable that City’s sixth-best midfielder has more points than Alexis Mac Allister (£3.8m), Eberechi Eze (£4.4m), James Ward-Prowse (£3.6m) and James Maddison (£5.5m) – a talented quartet of viable options.
      Another measure of the double winners’ depth is the fact Gundogan, who has tapped into truly masterful form at the back end of the season, is just the Etihad’s fifth-best midfield asset in 2022/23.
      Most read in Football
      The German technician shocked Wembley with an instantly iconic volley within 15 seconds of kick-off in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
      The 32-year-old then cemented his class with a left-footed volley (albeit not as cleanly executed) in the second half which proved to be the cup-winning goal.
      Gundogan has once again saved his best form for the season’s climaxCredit: GETTY
      Naturally, Gundogan claimed the Star Man award in north-west London to bank 18 points in one fell swoop.
      He’s earned 56 points in his last six outings and has been a genuine difference-maker throughout the season’s final Game Weeks.
      Pretty much every top Dream Team gaffer has Haaland in their XI so in essence, the striker’s returns haven’t affected mini-league standings in months but Gundogan appears in just 8.2% of teams – his owners have benefited hugely in recent weeks.
      More broadly, gaffers who have juggled City’s numerous midfield stars effectively have reaped the rewards but those who stuck by Foden and Mahrez during their relatively inactive spells will have been immensely frustrated.
      Dream Team managers will no doubt have to solve this problem again next season as the theme of multiple City midfielders at the top of the rankings has been consistent over the last three or four years now. More

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      RANKED: Every Premier League club’s top Dream Team performer for the 2022/23 season

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      JUST three fixtures remain before the 2022/23 Dream Team season is condemned to the history books.This Saturday, Wembley plays host to a special Manchester derby edition of the FA Cup final while West Ham face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final next Wednesday.
      Then on June 10th, the curtain closes with the Champions League final as Pep Guardiola’s side take on Inter in Istanbul.
      Those games promise to be engrossing affairs but for the vast majority of Premier League clubs, school’s out for summer.
      In the spirit of wrapping up, we’ve ranked all 20 teams on their best Dream Team player’s points tally, with some added stats and facts along the way.
      20th Bournemouth – Philip Billing

      94 points
      Position rank: 34th
      Overall rank: joint-81st

      Top billingCredit: GETTY
      Bournemouth are the only club without a single member in the 100 Club™ and a general look at the Dream Team stats makes one realise what a great job Gary O’Neil did to ensure the club’s top-flight status.
      The Cherries’ Norwegian midfielder racked up 44 points in the space of five games early on in the campaign and was a genuinely viable bargain option but he regressed to the mean as the season progressed.
      19th Chelsea – Thiago Silva
      Most read in Football

      101 points
      Position rank: 21st
      Overall rank: joint-75th

      A truly damning reflection of the Blues’ dismal season.
      The veteran Brazilian centre-back was named as Chelsea’s Player of the Year and rightfully so as he is one of very few Stamford Bridge residents who can hold his head high.
      Silva actually ended on the same total of points as Kai Havertz but he averaged more points-per-game than the Germany international so he gets the nod from us – plus, he was consistently among the top ten defenders prior to his injury.
      18th Wolves – Ruben Neves

      102 points
      Position rank: 32nd
      Overall rank: joint-73rd

      The Portuguese midfielder earned six Star Man awards in what was an unremarkable term for Wolves.
      Julen Lopetegui’s appointment propelled the club out of the relegation scrap but there wasn’t much for the Molineux faithful to write home about if truth be told.
      17th Leeds – Rodrigo

      106 points
      Position rank: 17th
      Overall rank: joint-69th

      Rodrigo played his part for LeedsCredit: GETTY
      The Whites cycled through Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce but they couldn’t swerve the drop because of their disastrous defence.
      However, they packed a decent punch up top thanks mostly to Rodrigo’s finishing – the Spaniard bagged 15 goals in all competitions despite being restricted to 23 league starts because of injury setbacks.
      =15th Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White

      108 points
      Position rank: joint-27th
      Overall rank: joint-67th

      Forest’s No10 pulled three times his weight to preserve his side’s Premier League status.
      Gibbs-White registered five goals, nine goals and seven Star Man awards through some genuinely talismanic performances.
      Gareth Southgate could have done a lot worse than calling the 23-year-old up for England’s games against Malta and North Macedonia in June.
      =15th Everton – Dwight McNeil

      108 points
      Position rank: joint-27th
      Overall rank: joint-67th

      Similarly, McNeil saved his best form for the final third of the campaign to help the Toffees edge out Leeds and Leicester to stay afloat.
      Just 0.1% of Dream Team managers took a punt on the ex-Burnley midfielder but that slim minority were rewarded with 62 points across the last eleven Game Weeks.
      14th Fulham – Aleksandar Mitrovic

      113 points
      Position rank: 15th
      Overall rank: joint-59th

      A defender’s/referee’s worst nightmare
      The Serbian target man averaged more points-per-game than Gabriel Martinelli, Alexander Isak and Julian Alvarez but his efforts were undermined by occasional penalty misses, injury niggles, and disciplinary issues.
      Mitrovic burst out of the traps with 76 points in his first eleven outings and was a Golden Boot contender before Erling Haaland made it a one-horse race.
      It will be interesting to see what Fulham’s No9 can do next season if he’s more available as he averaged a goal every 143.9 minutes this season when on the pitch.
      13th Leicester – James Maddison

      118 points
      Position rank: 20th
      Overall rank: joint-53rd

      Not even 19 goal involvements from their playmaker-in-chief could save the Foxes from a bitterly relegation.
      Dream Team gaffers should feel confident that they’ll be able to select Maddison again in 2023/24 as several Premier League clubs will be desperate to sign him this summer.
      12th Southampton – James Ward-Prowse

      121 points
      Position rank: 19th
      Overall rank: 51st

      Much of what applies to Maddison is also relevant to Southampton’s captain.
      Ward-Prowse is a one-club man at 28 years old but he’s simply too good for the Championship and he’s proven in recent years that he’s more than a one-trick pony – although his set-pieces are truly remarkable.
      11th Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze

      129 points
      Position rank: 17th
      Overall rank: 45th

      Eze does it
      The Eagles’ No10 benefited massively from Roy Hodgson’s return to Selhurst Park and was among the most in-form assets in Dream Team during the run-in.
      Eze plundered 70 points across the last nine Game Weeks of the season, forming a fruitful partnership with Michael Olise, Palace’s only other centurion.
      10th West Ham – Jarrod Bowen

      149 points
      Position rank: 10th
      Overall rank: 25th

      Said Benrahma could edge out his team-mate with some Europa Conference League final heroics but as it stands, Bowen will finish top of the Hammers’ rankings for the second consecutive season.
      The wholehearted winger has thoroughly enjoyed himself on Thursday nights, banking 48 points in the continental arena.
      West Ham will have to beat Fiorentina next week if they are to qualify for Europe again next season, which will massively impact their assets’ viability one way or the other.
      9th Brighton – Solly March

      153 points
      Position rank: joint-7th
      Overall rank: joint-21st

      Kaoru Mitoma also produced 153 points but we’ve given March the honours because of his superior points-per-game average.
      No fewer than four Brighton midfielders achieved 100+ points and the worst of the quartet, Alexis Mac Allister, was the 15th best asset in his position overall!
      With the Seagulls having qualified for the Europa League, March and company should be popular selections next season.
      8th Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

      162 points
      Position rank: 7th
      Overall rank: 16th

      The Villains’ heroCredit: GETTY
      A fruitful spell of 95 points in the space of eleven games made Aston Villa’s top scorer a big player in the realm of Dream Team between Game Weeks 21 and 30.
      The England international regained his best form as Unai Emery moulded the Villains into one of the league’ s most in-form teams after the World Cup and Watkins’ lofty ranking among forwards is extra impressive given he didn’t have European fixtures to bolster his schedule.
      7th Brentford – Ivan Toney

      184 points
      Position rank: 5th
      Overall rank: 12th

      Dream Team managers will miss Brentford’s target man while he serves his suspension for gambling breaches.
      Toney bagged 20 league goals this season and cemented his status as an ultra reliable mid-range striker.
      6th Arsenal – Bukayo Saka

      195 points
      Position rank: 4th
      Overall rank: 9th

      Eight Arsenal players made it to three figures in terms of Dream Team points but none of them made into the exclusive 200 Club™.
      The Emirates’ resident star boy came closest via 15 goals, 12 assists and five Star Man awards.
      Saka’s returns may have fallen away at the very back end of the campaign but there’s no denying he enjoyed an outstanding season – he edged out the equally brilliant Martin Odegaard on the final day.
      5th Newcastle – Kieran Trippier

      230 points
      Position rank: 1st
      Overall rank: 7th

      A league of his ownCredit: GETTY
      No other defender achieved more than 167 points and that stat alone justifies Trippier’s status as one of Dream Team’s most elite assets of 2022/23.
      The Magpies’ vice-captain hoarded clean sheets, 7+ ratings and Star Man awards for fun during the first two thirds of the season and the fact none of his rivals got anywhere near him at the death despite a dip in returns speaks volumes of his supremacy.
      4th Liverpool – Mohamed Salah

      275 points
      Position rank: 4th
      Overall rank: 4th

      A disappointing season for the Reds all things considered but that didn’t hinder everyone’s favourite prolific Egyptian, who posted 29 goals and 15 assists in all competitions.
      It’s remarkable to think that more than a few critics deemed Salah to be well under par for long spells.
      A undisputed Dream Team legend.
      3rd Tottenham – Harry Kane

      289 points
      Position rank: 3rd
      Overall rank: 3rd

      Like Salah, Spurs’ leading light broke away from his side’s mediocrity to produce yet another spectacular individual campaign.
      The England skipper notched 30 league goals for the second time in his career, becoming the Premier League’s second-top goalscorer and Spurs’ outright top scorer in the process.
      2nd Manchester United – Marcus Rashford

      301 points
      Position rank: 2nd
      Overall rank: 2nd

      Triple centurionCredit: GETTY
      The Red Devils’ No10 was one of the world’s most in-form players for a couple of months following the World Cup.
      A rampage of 158 points in ten Game Weeks put pressure on Rashford’s bionic cross-town rival for a while and even though he couldn’t sustain his challenge to the ultimate throne, a triple century of points is a serious achievement.
      Bruno Fernandes needs to make a 26-point difference in the FA Cup final if he’s to usurp his team-mate – an unlikely outcome.
      1st Manchester City – Erling Haaland

      432 points
      Position rank: 1st
      Overall rank: 1st

      What is there left to say about the Norwegian predator?
      Read More on The Sun
      Most goals in a Premier League season, six hat-tricks in all competitions, just the second man in history to reach 400 Dream Team points in a single campaign, and many more utter obscene milestones.
      The scary thing is it wouldn’t be a surprise if he got even better in 2023/24… More

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      Star Man machine Bruno Fernandes set to edge out Kevin De Bruyne at midfield summit

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      NO matter what happens in the remaining fixtures, Bruno Fernandes (£7.2m) will finish this season as the Dream Team asset with more Star Man awards than anyone else.Manchester United’s midfield maestro topped the match ratings against Chelsea in Game Week 35 and did the same thing at home to Fulham on Sunday.
      Game Week 36’s Star Man gong was his 12th of the season, a tally that puts him in a bracket all of his own.
      His closest competitors, Kevin De Bruyne (£8.6m) and Erling Haaland (£10.1m), have nine each at this late stage with just two fixtures remaining.
      A Dream Team juggernaut
      The nature of the system means each of the Manchester City superstars have missed out on Star Man awards to the other in games in which they have both been brilliant.
      Although, that’s the same for every player in the game to some extent and Fernandes certainly lost out on a couple to Marcus Rashford (£7.4m) during the England international’s red-hot streak.
      However you look at it, a dozen Star Man awards is a remarkable effort.
      Similarly, Fernandes has earned more 7+ ratings than any other player this season, 44, nine more than second-placed Rashford.
      It’s the Portuguese playmaker’s mastery of WhoScored’s ratings that means he’s likely to edge out the aforementioned De Bruyne to finish the campaign as Dream Team’s top midfielder.
      275 Dream Team points and counting
      A 13-point haul at the Cottagers’ expense meant Fernandes boosted his overall total to 275, 30 ahead of his Belgian counterpart, who didn’t feature for Pep Guardiola’s side at Brentford.
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      De Bruyne is capable of making up the difference in the FA Cup final and Champions League final but given that he averages 5.3 points-per-game this season, the crown seems bound for Fernandes’ head.
      The Old Trafford favourite has 13 goals and 15 assists to his name in all competitions in 2022/23 with the FA Cup showdown at Wembley still to play.
      Dream Team managers who transferred Fernandes into their XI just after the World Cup (or held him throughout) were greatly rewarded and many gaffers will already have categorised as a ‘must-have player’ ahead of next season’s game.
      Cue back-to-back De Bruyne masterclasses… More

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      Game Week 36 completes the 2022/23 Dream Team season – make sure to use any remaining transfers!

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      This is an important public service announcement.All Dream Team gaffers should be aware that Game Week 36 will be the last Game Week of the 2022/23 season.
      That means the final day of the Premier League campaign falls under the same umbrella as the FA Cup final, Europa Conference League final and the Champions League final.
      Sunday promises to be a tense day for Leicester, Leeds and Everton supporters
      To be clear, every player will be subject to lockout from 4:30pm Sunday when every team kicks off at the same time, meaning Dream Team managers won’t be able to make any transfers after that time.
      May’s transfer refresh was the last batch of the season so Dream Team bosses should use any remaining transfers before Sunday’s games get underway to tailor their XI to the final fixtures.
      Naturally, players likely to appear in the last round of league games plus one (or two) of the subsequent finals seem best placed to register serious points.
      Manchester United host Fulham before yet another visit to Wembley, the site of their Carabao Cup victory a few months ago.
      West Ham travel to relegation-threatened Leicester before their meeting with Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague.
      However, Manchester City are once again the central protagonists as they will compete three times in Game Week 36.
      Manchester City will play three times in Game Week 36
      The Premier League champions visit Brentford on Sunday, face their local rivals in the FA Cup the following Saturday, and take on Inter in the Champions League final a week later as they chase a historic treble.
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      Pep Guardiola may opt for a second-string starting line-up again this coming weekend – the likes of Sergio Gomez (£4.6m), Kalvin Phillips (£1.2m) and Rico Lewis (£3.9m) were given rare starts against Chelsea in Game Week 35 – but even if that’s the case, the popular favourites will surely be reinstalled for the two major finals.
      Whatever strategies Dream Team gaffers decide upon, it’s crucial everyone understands that (a) any remaining transfers need be implemented before 4:30pm on Sunday and (b) there will be no transfers issued on the first Friday of June. More

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      Dream Team’s end of season awards for 2022/23 – Biggest Flop, MVP and more…

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      IT’S time for an annual event that blows the Oscars out of the water, it’s Dream Team’s end of season awards for 2022/23!Please humour us as we rattle through a host of imaginary gongs designed to recognise the good, the bad and the ugly of an eventful campaign.
      The Value-For-Money Award
      WINNER: Kieran Trippier (£5.3m)
      King of the defendersCredit: GETTY
      While the England international’s price has been lofty for a few months now, it’s important to remember that he started the season at just £3m.
      Trippier was half the price of Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) prior to Game Week 1 and he’s produced 98 more points than the Dutchman at this stage.
      With 222 points in total, he’s 57 ahead of his closest rival among defenders and has been in a bracket of his own since August if truth be told.
      It could be argued that a Brighton player deserves this award but it’s incredibly rare that an asset dominates to Trippier’s degree having started at such an affordable price.
      The Breakout Star Award
      WINNER: Kaoru Mitoma (£4.4m)
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      From an unknown entity to a household nameCredit: GETTY
      There can only be one winner here.
      The Seagulls’ winger is the very definition of a breakout star in that 99.99% of Dream Team gaffers had no idea who he was at the start of the campaign but the majority have admired his efforts since.
      Mitoma has registered ten goals, eight assists and five Star Man awards in his debut Dream Team season.
      The Japan international’s total of 153 points is only bettered by by six midfielders at this late juncture – Bruno Fernandes (£6.9m) and the best offerings from Manchester City and Arsenal.
      Hearty congratulations to any gaffers who backed Mitoma when he cost just £1.5m!
      The Constantly Overlooked Award
      WINNER: Solly March (£4.8m)
      Justice for MarchCredit: GETTY
      Some more appreciation for Brighton here and well deserved given the south coast club have officially qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.
      Dream Team bosses were quick to jump on Mitoma and at one point even Pascal Gross (£3,3m) was among the most-popular players in the game but March’s ownership never got above 3% for whatever reason.
      The 28-year-old is a man reborn under Roberto De Zerbi; where before he was a dutiful utility player, now he’s a fully-fledged attacker who enjoyed by far his best spell for the club in terms of tangible returns before his recent injury.
      The long-serving No7 has nine assists, seven goals and six Star Man awards in 2022/23 – nobody predicted that prior to Game Week 1.
      March deserved to be more popular than he was this season – we suspect he’ll receive a boost in 2023/24, especially with European fixtures to bolster his schedule.
      The Biggest Game Week Haul Award
      WINNER: Erling Haaland (£10.2m)
      Hat-trick heroCredit: GETTY
      Gabriel Jesus (£5.6m) won this award last season thanks mostly to a four-goal rout at home to Watford that steered him towards a haul of 43 points.
      Incredibly, Man City’s new No9 has equalled or bettered that score THREE times in 2022/23.
      Haaland took Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig for 43 points in Game Week 26 and he registered 45 points in Game Week 8 at the expense of Man United and Copenhagen.
      But his greatest haul came early on in Game Week 4 when he plundered 51 points against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest through back-to-back hat-tricks – talk about a statement of intent.
      The Biggest Flop Award
      WINNER: Mason Mount (£2.8m)
      A season to forgetCredit: GETTY
      We hate to be harsh but there’s no denying that popular players who underperform play a significant role in how a Dream Team campaign plays out.
      Several Chelsea assets were in contention for this award but we gave it to the English midfielder purely because gaffers have come to expect so much more from him.
      Last season, Mount was one of just three players who made it into double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League, a noble effort that resulted in plentiful points.
      This term, the Cobham graduate tapped out with three goals and four assists in all competitions for a return of 50 points in total.
      Circling back to the last award, Haaland earned more points in the space of one fruitful Game Week than Mount did all season!
      The David-vs-Goliath Award
      WINNER: Fabian Schar (£3m)
      Newcastle defenders have performed superbly this season
      This award goes to the asset who has ferociously punched above his weight.
      The aforementioned Solly March was a strong candidate for this one, as was last season’s winner, Ivan Toney (£6.1m), but in the spirit of spreading out the love and crowning a new winner, Newcastle’s Swiss centre-back takes the accolade.
      Schar started emphatically with an 18-point haul in his first outing and a steady stream of clean sheets throughout the first two thirds of the season meant he’s spent months on end above expensive assets from Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the rankings.
      2022/23 has been the 31-year-old’s best Dream Team campaign by far and despite a dip in returns recently, his tally of 139 points still puts him sixth among defenders.
      The Most Valuable Player Award
      WINNER: Erling Haaland (£10.2m)
      Who else?Credit: GETTY
      The most predictable winner of the lot and the most worthy too.
      It’s easy to forget that one of the most prevalent conversations before Christmas revolved around whether or not the Norwegian had actually made Pep Guardiola’s side worse.
      That talk soon evaporated as Haaland rapidly chased down the record for most goals in a Premier League season while also putting Man City on track to win a historic treble.
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      The prolific poacher has 430 points to his name with four fixtures still to fulfil – Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 477 is under threat.
      For Dream Team gaffers, 2022/23 will always be known as ‘the Haaland season’. More