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    Which teams have the most favourable fixtures this December?

    CHRISTMAS is a time for friends, family and football.The games come thick and fast throughout the festive period and Dream Team managers will need to have their wits about them if they are to come out the other side with an improved rank.The festive period is a crucial juncture in the Dream Team calendarCredit: Dream TeamMany gaffers like to take each Gameweek as it comes but it’s often beneficial to plan further ahead.With that in mind, let’s analyse each Premier League team’s fixtures between Gameweeks 13 and 17 – some teams will play NINE games during this crucial period.LIVERPOOLManchester City (h)Newcastle (a)Everton (a)Girona (a)Fulham (h)Southampton (a)Tottenham (a)Leicester (h)West Ham (a)Everything’s coming up roses for the Reds right now.Arne Slot’s side are top of the league and well on course for safe passage through to the Champions League round of 16.And it’s a great time to play Man City with the defending champions in the midst of a rare crisis.No fewer than five Anfield residents have achieved 100+ points to date – they’re flying.Most read in FootballMANCHESTER CITYLiverpool (a)Nottingham Forest (h)Crystal Palace (a)Juventus (a)Manchester United (h)Aston Villa (a)Everton (h)Leicester (a)Pep Guardiola’s winless run has extended to six games in all competitions and so it has to be considered a terrible time to visit Anfield.Erling Haaland (£8.6m) addressed his minor blip with a brace against Feyenoord but points have severely dried up for the likes of Rico Lewis (£3.4m) and Josko Gvardiol (£4.6m).Dream Team’s transfer activity suggests many gaffers have lost patience with City assets… at least for the time being.Guardiola has problems to solveCHELSEAAston Villa (h)Southampton (a)Tottenham (a)Astana (a)Brentford (h)Shamrock Rovers (h)Everton (a)Fulham (h)Ipswich (a)The Blues are one of five teams with nine fixtures to fulfil from this weekend until New Year’s Day.However, Enzo Maresca has made extensive use of rotation in the Conference League so it’s likely to be Christopher Nkunku (£4.5m), Joao Felix (£4.4m) and Mykhailo Mudryk (£3.1m) who cash in against Astana and Shamrock Rovers.Those three league games at the end of the month could be profitable for Cole Palmer (£6m) backers if Chelsea’s talisman is in the mood.ARSENALWest Ham (a)Manchester United (h)Fulham (a)Monaco (h)Everton (h)Crystal Palace (h)Crystal Palace (a)Ipswich (h)Brentford (a)The Gunners won’t be leaving London until 2025 and one suspects minimal travel time will be an advantage when the schedule gets hectic.A double header against the Eagles has to be considered a stroke of luck (facilitated by the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw) given Oliver Glasner’s men are currently languishing 19th in the table.Bukayo Saka (£6.4m) could well be a must-have asset for December as ninth-placed Fulham is his toughest domestic opponent according to the league table.EssentialCredit: RexBRIGHTONSouthampton (h)Fulham (a)Leicester (a)Crystal Palace (h)West Ham (a)Brentford (h)Aston Villa (a)Just the seven games for the Seagulls but a string of bottom-half opponents (and Fulham) until the end of Gameweek 16 appears ripe with potential.Joao Pedro (£4.1m) averages 8.7 points-per-game at the time of writing, a rate only bettered by Haaland and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) among forwards.Kaoru Mitoma (£3.7m) and Georginio Rutter (£3.4m) might prove to be smart differential midfielders.TOTTENHAMFulham (h)Bournemouth (a)Chelsea (h)Rangers (a)Southampton (a)Manchester United (h)Liverpool (h)Nottingham Forest (a)Wolves (h)There’s almost no point looking at Spurs’ schedule because their inconsistency defies the form table; as typified by their mighty 4-0 win over Man City in the wake of their defeat to Ipswich.Son Heung-min (£5.3m) and company will be busy boys in the coming Gameweeks though with plenty of points on offer.As well as the skipper, Pedro Porro (£4.4m), Dejan Kulusevski (£3m), Brennan Johnson (£3.7m), James Maddison (£4.5m) and Dominic Solanke (£4.3m) are all perfectly viable options.Plus, Fraser Forster (£1.8m) is a potential bargain while Guglielmo Vicario (£3.1m) recovers from a fractured ankle.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWNOTTINGHAM FORESTIpswich (h)Manchester City (a)Manchester United (a)Aston Villa (h)Brentford (a)Tottenham (h)Everton (a)After a flying start to the campaign, consecutive losses to Newcastle and Arsenal either side of the international break have come as a reality check for Forest.Chris Wood’s (£3.8m) owners will be hopeful of healthy returns at home to the Tractor Boys this weekend but the schedule takes a nasty turn from Gameweek 14.ASTON VILLAChelsea (a)Brentford (h)Southampton (h)RB Leipzig (a)Nottingham Forest (a)Manchester City (h)Newcastle (a)Brighton (h)In complete contrast to last season, the Villains have earned more league points away from home this time around.Unai Emery’s men are in a bad moment right now having gone seven games without a win in all competitions.Emi Martinez (£3.9m), Ollie Watkins (£5.3m), Lucas Digne (£3.5m) and Morgan Rogers (£2.8m) are all popular selections in the realm of Dream Team but gaffers will need to see an upturn from Villa sooner rather than later.Villa’s form has fallen away in recent weeksCredit: ReutersFULHAMTottenham (a)Brighton (h)Arsenal (h)Liverpool (a)Southampton (h)Chelsea (a)Bournemouth (h)The West Londoners have enjoyed a positive start to the campaign but their next four opponents are all within the top six of the table – a tough test.Fulham will be desperate to get one over their local rivals on Boxing Day but their record against Chelsea is miserable – they haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 1979!NEWCASTLECrystal Palace (a)Liverpool (h)Brentford (a)Leicester (h)Brentford (h)Ipswich (a)Aston Villa (h)Manchester United (a)Gaffers keen on backing Alexander Isak (£5.4m), an understandable inclination, might want to target the Magpies’ fixtures in Gameweeks 15 and 16 (Leicester, Brentford, Ipswich and Villa).Eddie Howe’s side looked to be heading the right direction after wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Forest but an unexpected defeat to West Ham on Monday night has slowed their momentum.Truth be told, Newcastle games have been a tad light on Dream Team points this season.Always a tempting optionCredit: GettyBRENTFORDLeicester (h)Aston Villa (a)Newcastle (h)Chelsea (a)Newcastle (a)Nottingham Forest (h)Brighton (a)Arsenal (h)The Bees boast the best home record in the top flight but the second-worst away record.Given the nature of their away fixtures in December, their problems on the road could extend until the new year.That being said, Bryan Mbeumo (£4.3m) is a decent midfield option for Gameweek 13 – the Cameroon star averages 8.1 points-per-game this season.MANCHESTER UNITEDEverton (h)Arsenal (a)Nottingham Forest (h)Viktoria Plzen (a)Manchester City (a)Tottenham (a)Bournemouth (h)Wolves (a)Newcastle (h)The last of our teams with nine fixtures to fulfil.A match-up with the Toffees represents a relatively favourable first league game at Old Trafford for Ruben Amorim but the Portuguese tactician faces some tough tests in December.A trip to Czechia in the Europa League might provide some relief before a tricky Gameweek 15 (Man City and Spurs) but if the Red Devils come through relatively unscathed there could be healthy returns up for grabs against the Cherries and Wolves.Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m), Alejandro Garnacho (£4.2m), Noussair Mazraoui (£4.1m) and Diogo Dalot (£4m) have all provided their fair share of points across the first 12 Gameweeks of the season.Can Amorim get a tune out of Man United in the coming weeks?Credit: APBOURNEMOUTHWolves (a)Tottenham (h)Ipswich (a)West Ham (h)Manchester United (a)Crystal Palace (h)Fulham (a)Antoine Semenyo (£2.9m) is the only player in the squad to make any waves in Dream Team so far and he’s suspended for this weekend’s trip to Molineux.And with just seven games for the Cherries, let’s move on…WEST HAMArsenal (h)Leicester (a)Wolves (h)Bournemouth (a)Brighton (h)Southampton (a)Liverpool (h)The Hammers have just seven fixtures with testing match-ups bookending this run but a few Dream Team managers may feel Jarrod Bowen (£5.3m) is worth a whirl at some stage.The England international has amassed 105 points at an average of 7.5 per outing via four goals and four assists.Bowen has almost twice as many points as West Ham’s next best performers, Mohammed Kudus (£5.1m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£3.3m), who are level on 56 each.A reliable performerCredit: PAEVERTONManchester United (a)Wolves (h)Liverpool (h)Arsenal (a)Chelsea (h)Manchester City (a)Nottingham Forest (h)There’s no sugarcoating the Toffees’ December; it’s a brutal run.Dwight McNeil (£3.7m) has impressed this season but gaffers should probably stay well clear of all Everton assets in the run-up to New Year’s Day.LEICESTERBrentford (a)West Ham (h)Brighton (h)Newcastle (a)Wolves (h)Liverpool (a)Manchester City (h)The Foxes are in desperate need of a new manager bounce and they’ll probably need to get their points early in December as they face an extremely taxing end to the month.WOLVESBournemouth (h)Everton (a)West Ham (a)Ipswich (h)Leicester (a)Manchester United (h)Tottenham (a)Wolves are a tad light without European fixtures or a Carabao Cup quarter-final but six consecutive bottom-half opponents could yield plenty of points for Matheus Cunha (£4.8m).Gary O’Neil’s star player averages 8.3 points-per-game this season and is in particular strong form right now having banked over 50 points in his last four appearances.A strong wildcardCredit: RexIPSWICHNottingham Forest (a)Crystal Palace (h)Bournemouth (h)Wolves (a)Newcastle (h)Arsenal (a)Chelsea (h)Liam Delap (£2.4m) is the only Tractor Boy with an ownership above 0.3% and that’s unlikely to change any time soon, despite Kieran McKenna’s admirable efforts in Suffolk.CRYSTAL PALACENewcastle (h)Ipswich (a)Manchester City (h)Brighton (a)Arsenal (a)Arsenal (h)Bournemouth (a)Southampton (h)The Carabao Cup draw has cruelly given the Eagles a double header against the Gunners but at least they have eight fixtures, one more than nine other clubs.Palace have found it hard going this season but Eberechi Eze (£5m) is player to keep an eye on as he tends to collect Dream Team points for fun when fit – he’s due back from injury any day now.Palace need Eze back sooner rather than laterCredit: GettySOUTHAMPTONBrighton (a)Chelsea (h)Aston Villa (a)Tottenham (h)Liverpool (h)Fulham (a)West Ham (h)Crystal Palace (a)With all due respect to Saints, there aren’t many Dream Team bosses out there keen on a club rooted to the bottom of the table.READ MORE SUN STORIESTheir next six opponents are all top-half clubs too – it could get messy for Russell Martin and his troops.Target the right fixtures with the right players and you will surge up the leaderboard this Christmas!BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Bukayo Saka among most transferred-out players prior to Gameweek 13 – punishes doubters with 30-point mega haul

    BUKAYO SAKA (£6.4m) was among the most transferred-out players in Dream Team prior to Gameweek 12.And managers who ditched the Arsenal star have been severely punished after two spellbinding performances in the last four days.Dream Team’s top midfielder by a distanceCredit: Dream TeamSaka scored one goal and assisted another during the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday for a 14-point return.As if that wasn’t bad enough for gaffers who sought a replacement for the England international prior to the deadline, he then notched a goal and an assist away to Sporting CP in Lisbon on Tuesday night as part of a 16-point haul.Saka is currently Gameweek 12’s top performer on 30 points and whether he retains that crown once the remaining fixtures are complete is largely irrelevant, the point is that bosses who stuck by him have been handsomely rewarded for their loyalty.The 23-year-old returned just three points in Gameweek 11 but the reason he was ditched in droves is because he was deemed an injury doubt.Arteta has frustrated Dream Team bosses in regards to Saka’s availability this seasonCredit: ReutersDream Team managers are accustomed to availability uncertainty with Saka but it remains as difficult as ever to see through Mikel Arteta’s mind games.Earlier in the campaign, the Spanish tactician gave an optimistic view of Saka’s chances of featuring against Bournemouth in Gameweek 8.However, not only did the electric winger miss the trip to the south coast, he didn’t play a single minute at home to Shakhtar Donetsk three days later.This sparked a huge number of transfers prior to Gameweek 9, amplified by more Arteta vagueness, only for Saka to start and score against Liverpool in the following fixture.Most read in FootballScore PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWSaka pulled out of England duty for the November international break and had his training workload managed prior to the Forest game, which clearly prompted a significant portion of gaffers to look elsewhere – a foolish decision with the power of hindsight.Inevitably, Saka will be among the most transferred-in players for Gameweek 13 and with good reason.Martin Odegaard’s (£5.1m) return from injury has certainly improved Arsenal’s attacking play with Saka openly acknowledging his understanding with the Norwegian playmaker after victory in Portugal.Odegaard’s return to the team only boosts Saka’s viabilityAdditionally, Arteta’s side have relatively favourable fixtures from now until the new year, a run that could yield plentiful points.ARSENAL FIXTURESGW13: West Ham (a), Manchester United (h)GW14: Fulham (a), Monaco (h)GW15: Everton (h), Crystal Palace (h)GW16: Crystal Palace (a), Ipswich (h)GW17: Brentford (a)Saka’s mega haul has seen him carve out a bracket of his own among Dream Team midfielders.He’s now on 155 points for the season, 36 clear of his nearest rival, James Maddison (£4.5m).READ MORE SUN STORIESOnly Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) and Erling Haaland (£8.6m) have more points among all assets.Saka ranks first for big chances created (15), third for shots on target (22) and joint-first for assists (10) – he’s a top-tier Dream Team asset worthy of his price.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Ibrahima Konate and other top defenders selected by fewer than 10% of Dream Team gaffers

    DREAM TEAM managers should always be aware of potential differential options, players who appear in relatively few teams.These individuals are often the difference-makers as their returns are more likely to impact Mini League standings and overall rank than the popular superstars.With Manchester City on a losing streak and several other high-profile defenders out injured, many gaffers will want to refresh their back line ahead of Gameweek 13.Here we’ve simply identified the defenders with the most points who currently feature in fewer than 10% of teams.Takes no prisonersCredit: GettyDaniel Munoz£3.4m1.5% ownership68 ptsThe Crystal Palace wing-back has made a whopping 55 tackles already this season.Only Noussair Mazraoui (£4.1m) has registered more but he’s only ahead of Munoz because he’s had additional European fixtures to pad out his schedule.Plus, Rico Lewis (£3.4m) is the only defender with more assists than the Colombia international at this stage.The Eagles are struggling this term with just eight points from their first 12 league outings but scoring goals is their primary problem – they’ve conceded the same number of goals as Manchester City.Most read in FootballLewis Hall£3.8m2% ownership72 ptsRising up the ranksCredit: GettyThe fact the Newcastle left-back was just capped by England is a good indicator of his recent form.Only six defenders have earned more points from their last three outings – Hall even mustered a respectable five points on Monday night despite the Magpies’ 2-0 defeat to West Ham.The ex-Chelsea youngster also ranks joint-fourth for bonus points among assets in his position.A meeting with Liverpool aside, Newcastle’s fixtures appear rather favourable from now until Boxing Day.Destiny Udogie£3.5m5.6% ownership75 ptsUnfairly overlooked?Credit: GettyPedro Porro (£4.4m) is clearly the optimum Tottenham defender but the Spaniard’s counterpart on the left is considerably more affordable and ranks 11th among players in his position.Udogie hasn’t provided the same attacking threat as last season but only the aforementioned Mazraoui and Munoz have made more tackles (among defenders).Ange Postecoglou’s side are frustratingly inconsistent, as typified by their 4-0 win over Man City in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich.But Spurs have got plenty of potential and Udogie deserves more recognition in the world of Dream Team.Diogo Dalot£4m9.3% ownership89 ptsTicking boxesManchester United’s No20 has been a decent Dream Team asset for a while now.He was one of the more reliable performers under Erik ten Hag’s watch and while that doesn’t say much, he ticks a few useful boxes.Dalot ranks fourth among defenders for big chances created, fifth for tackles, and sixth for clean sheets.The Portugal international was deployed as a wing-back in Ruben Amorim’s first game as the Red Devils’ head coach and if he continues in the role his backers may enjoy an increase in attacking returns.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWIbrahima Konate£4.8m8.9% ownership90 ptsImperiousCredit: GettyIt’s easy to understand why over 91% of gaffers are overlooking the Frenchman right now.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) are the only defenders to have brought up a century of points at the time of writing while left-backs Andy Robertson (£4.1m) and Kostas Tsimikas (£3.2m) have offered a more affordable route into the top flight’s best defence.Konate lands in the middle in terms of points and price and has been consequently underutilised.The physically imposing 25-year-old is now just one point behind fourth-placed Josko Gvardiol (£4.6m) in the rankings.READ MORE SUN STORIESArne Slot’s side are due to face Man City and Newcastle in Gameweek 13 but they’ve got a relatively favourable run from Gameweek 14 until the new year.Selecting two or even three Liverpool defenders for that spell could be a profitable strategy.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Dream Team managers can repeat Caoimhin Kelleher ‘trick’ with Fraser Forster following Guglielmo Vicario’s ankle injury

    DREAM TEAM managers have been presented with an opportunity to repeat a useful trick.Guglielmo Vicario (£3.1m) has been ruled out for the foreseeable future having undergone surgery on a fractured ankle.Toittenham’s No1 sustained the injury against Manchester City on Saturday and bravely played through the pain to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad and contribute to his side’s impressive 4-0 victory.No timescale has been given in regards to the Italian goalkeeper’s rehabilitation at the time of writing but he will surely be unavailable for several weeks.Are you watching closely?Credit: Dream TeamDream Team bosses don’t like to see players get injured and most will wish Vicario a speedy recovery but it’s simply a fact that incidents such as this create an opportunity in the world of fantasy football.Suddenly, Fraser Forster (£1.8m) is in line to start between the sticks for Spurs over the busy festive period.The 36-year-old is the established deputy having played three games this season, two in the Europa League and one in the Carabao Cup.Currently available for just £1.8m, he is ridiculously affordable for a player who is now a starter for one of the more prominent Premier League clubs.TOTTENHAM’S DECEMBER FIXTURES:Fulham (h)Bournemouth (a)Chelsea (h)Rangers (a)Southampton (a)Manchester United (h)Liverpool (h)Nottingham Forest (a)Wolves (h)Most read in FootballForster should get plenty of minutes across the next few GameweeksCredit: GettyIf this strategy sounds familiar it’s because many Dream Team bosses have followed the same path with Caoimhin Kelleher (£2.6m) recently.The Irish keeper has deputised for the injured Alisson (£5.1m) with aplomb across the last five Gameweeks.In that time, Kelleher has notched 40 points from seven outings via three clean sheets and 19 saves, including one to deny Adam Armstrong (£2.7m) from the penalty spot.The 26-year-old is currently level with Andre Onana (£4.2m) as the most in-form asset in his position.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWKelleher has provided excellent value for money while Alisson has been sidelinedCredit: GettyGaffers who opted to recruit Kelleher not only freed up some budget to invest elsewhere, they have been rewarded with a steady stream of points.However, with Alisson having returned to training, Kelleher’s time as starting keeper for the Reds is coming to an end.In this sense, Forster’s emergence as a viable option is perfectly timed.Granted, this latest interpretation of the reserve goalkeeper trick is not quite as appealing as Spurs are not as strong as Liverpool and, with all due respect, Forster is not as reliable as Kelleher – the latter would be first choice at several other top flight clubs.That being said, Forster’s current price of £1.8m is hugely inviting.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Bundle-of-joy Matheus Cunha excels again ahead of favourable Gameweek 13 fixtures

    MATHEUS CUNHA (£4.8m) is a popular man here at Dream Team HQ.We’re forever singing the Wolves forward’s praises and tipping him as a smart differential option when appropriate.And it’s time to beat that drum again after a thoroughly deserved 20-point haul on Saturday.A man in formCredit: Dream TeamCunha stole the show at Fulham with an assist and two goals as Gary O’Neil’s side won 4-1 at Craven Cottage.The hosts took the lead in West London but struggled to contain Cunha’s brilliance as the game progressed.The former Atletico Madrid player displayed a Bergkamp-esque first touch to facilitate the visitors’ equaliser while his second goal came in the form of a sumptuous curled effort from 20 yards out.In between those two efforts, he found Joao Gomes (£2.8m) with a neat pass into the box for his third assist of the campaign.Truth be told, Cunha has deserved considerably more assists this season as he’s created nine big chances for his team-mates in total, a tally only bettered by four players.For comparison, Manchester City’s Savinho (£4.1m) has created the same number of big chances but has twice as many assists (six).108 Dream Team points and countingCredit: RexAfter his brace against the Cottagers, Cunha has seven goals to his name this term, putting him level with Kai Havertz (£4.5m) and Nicolas Jackson (£4m) among strikers.Most read in FootballThe 25-year-old is undoubtedly his side’s talisman and his all-round contribution to Wolves’ attacking play is reflected in his tally of eight bonus points – Son Heung-min (£5.3m) is the only player in his position above him in the metric.In fact, Cunha ranks among the top three forwards for successful dribbles, accurate crosses, interceptions, fouls won and goals scored from outside the area among – he does it all!When discussing Wolves’ brilliant No10 we are usually forced to state the caveat that his viability is limited by the schedule.He doesn’t have European commitments to bulk out his fixture list and O’Neil’s troops were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the third round, meaning he’s confined to just league games until the top flight clubs enter the FA Cup in the new year.Generally speaking, it’s wise to target as many fixtures as possible and so it’s understandable why so many Dream Team bosses are hesitant to select Cunha over the likes of Dominic Solanke (£4.3m), Ollie Watkins (£5.3m) and Havertz.Wolves are due to face Bournemouth and Everton in Gameweek 13Credit: GettyHowever, Gameweek 13 is a double Gameweek for all 20 Premier League clubs with Wolves set to take on Bournemouth and Everton.Given that Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) and Erling Haaland (£8.6m) are the only forwards with more points than Cunha right now, the latter surely has to be considered a fantastic option ahead of two games against bottom-half opposition.A lack of European fixtures may limit him in the long run but he’s well placed to deliver plentiful returns in Gameweek 13.Cunha’s current ownership? A mere 2.4%…BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Dream Team bosses turning their backs on top goalscorer Erling Haaland amid Manchester City crisis

    SOMETHING unthinkable is happening.Dream Team managers are turning their backs on Erling Haaland (£8.6m).Say it ain’t soCredit: Dream TeamIncredibly, the Norwegian poacher is currently the most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 13.Things could change with the deadline still a few days away and a full round of European fixtures to come in midweek but it’s remarkable that Manchester City’s downturn in results has prompted a significant portion of gaffers to ditch arguably the best goalscorer in the world football.Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten 4-0 for Tottenham at the Etihad on Saturday for what was their fifth consecutive loss in all competitions – a crisis for a coach and squad who pride themselves on sky-high standards.Needless to say, it was a disastrous afternoon for the likes of Josko Gvardiol (£4.6m), Rico Lewis (£3.4m) and the other defenders.In fact, those two named individuals are also among the most transferred-out players in the wake of the weekend’s action.Guardiola has serious issues to addressCredit: ReutersBut it really can’t be understated how remarkable it is that Haaland, of all people, has suffered a notable dip in popularity.Despite City’s woes, their No9 remains the top scorer in the Premier League and all competitions this season with 15 goals to his name.And his tally of 164 points is only bettered by Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) among all Dream Team assets at this stage.Most read in FootballTo say the gaffers prepared to ditch Haaland are making a bold move is a huge understatement.That being said, it’s simply true that he has mustered 20 points across his last four outings which, while respectable, is not a return befitting the most expensive player in the game.For comparison, 18 forwards are above Haaland in regards to form (most points across last three games) including Sammie Szmodics (£2.5m), Jordan Ayew (£2.5m) and Jorgen Strand Larsen (£3.6m).Tough timesCredit: GettyThe usually prolific 24-year-old has been uncharacteristically wasteful in recent weeks having scored just once in his last four appearances – this run includes a missed penalty against Sporting CP.Then there’s the issue of the schedule.Three league defeats in a row has left Man City eight points adrift of Liverpool ahead of their trip to Anfield at the weekend.On current form, Arne Slot will be very hopeful of a victory over the defending champions.The Reds also boast the best defensive record in the top flight, limiting Haaland’s viability for Gameweek 13 further.Plenty of gaffers are also rushing to ditch GvardiolCredit: AlamyThere are enough reasons for Dream Team bosses to justify replacing Haaland but such a move comes with significant risk.Across his time with Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Man City, he’s scored 220 goals in 231 games – he has the pedigree to severely punish his doubters.It should be noted that even after a flurry of transfers in reaction to his latest blank, Haaland remains Dream Team’s most popular asset by a wide margin.READ MORE SUN STORIESGaffers don’t have to rush this decision as City are due to play again (against Feyenoord at the Etihad) before the Gameweek 13 deadline.It will be interesting to see how many Dream Team managers join the turning of the tide if Haaland fails to provide suitable points against the Dutch outfit on Tuesday night.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 12: Trent Alexander-Arnold yet to train

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 12 in one easily digestible dose.Both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice participated in Arsenal training today but neither fulfilled a fully intensive session.A late decision will be made on the England internationals ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit to the Emirates but Mikel Arteta seemed relatively optimistic.Leandro Trossard “seems to be okay” despite a knock in Belgium colours and Riccardo Calafiori is expected to return to the squad but the Gunners will be without Ben White for the foreseeable future following knee surgery.Long-term absentees Danilo and Ibrahima Sangare are the only known players missing for the Nuno Espirito Santo’s side but the Portuguese gaffer alluded to other doubts without naming any individuals.Saka is pushing to be available this weekendCredit: GettyTottenham will be without both first-choice centre-backs at the Etihad this weekend with Cristian Romero joining Micky van de Ven on the sidelines.The World Cup winner compounded an existing injury on duty for Argentina but may return as early as Gameweek 13.Rodrigo Bentancur starts a seven-game ban after he was found guilty of using racially insensitive language about team-mate Son Heung-min.As for Manchester City, they see to be over the worst of their injury crisis with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji all in strong contention to feature against Spurs in some capacity.Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Ruben Dias remain notable absentees, with Mateo Kovacic added to the list.Most read in FootballIt would be a big surprise if Alexander-Arnold featured against SouthamptonCredit: AFPAlisson was initially expected to make his comeback after the international break but Gameweek 12 comes too soon for Liverpool’s No1 and so Caoimhin Kelleher will retain his place between the sticks.The Reds may also be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, who hasn’t trained following his premature substitution against Aston Villa a fortnight ago.Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are definitely unavailable for the trip to Southampton.In more positive news, Arne Slot told reporters that Virgil van Dijk is “all good” despite concerns during the break with Harvey Elliott possibly in contention having resumed training.Saints will have to face the league leaders without first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Poland international Jan Bednarek.Elsewhere, key players Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez have been passed fit for Bournemouth ahead of their game against Brighton on Saturday but Ryan Christie is suspended having picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign before the international break.Palmer is expected to play this weekendCredit: GettyCole Palmer was pictured in Chelsea training alongside Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill and Jadon Sancho – the former pulled out of England duty but is expected to start against Leicester on Saturday.Blues captain Reece James has incurred yet another hamstring injury and faces a spell on the sidelines.As for the Foxes, the unfortunate Abdul Fatawu has been ruled out for the rest of the season having suffered an ACL tear.Facundo Buonanotte is suspended while Jamie Vardy is a doubt – the veteran striker has taken part in “modified training” this week.Oliver Glasner confirmed that Eberechi Eze has returned to training but the talented midfielder will not travel to Villa Park this weekend.Ezri Konsa, Jacob Ramsey, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara are said to be Aston Villa’s absentees with Matty Cash and Ross Barkley back in contention.Unai Emery didn’t offer an update on either Pau Torres or Ian Maatsen and so both are presumed available.Gameweek 12 comes too soon for EzeCredit: GettyThomas Frank expects to be able to call upon Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Ethan Pinnock for Brentford’s trip to Everton.Summer signing Igor Thiago may also make his debut for the Bees this weekend having played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly.Sean Dyche is hopeful of Jarrad Branthwaite’s chances of a return with Dwight McNeil also coming off a “good week” of training.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWARSENALInjuries: Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Declan Rice (doubt), Bukayo Saka (doubt), Leandro Trossard (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Boubacar Kamara, Ezri Konsa, Amadou Onana, Jacob RamseySuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Dango Ouattara, Julian AraujoSuspensions: Ryan ChristieBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Rico Henry, Kristoffer AjerSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March, James Milner, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (doubt), Yasin Ayari (doubt), Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood (doubt), Tariq LampteySuspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: Reece James, Levi Colwill (doubt), Romeo Lavia (doubt), Wesley Fofana (doubt)Suspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Chris Richards (doubt), Chadi Riad, Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma, Eddie Nketiah, Daichi KamadaSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam, James Garner, Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite (doubt)Suspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Harrison ReedSuspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: George Hirst, Jacob Greaves, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack Taylor, Janoi Donacien, Nathan Broadhead (doubt), Wes Burns (doubt), Kalvin Phillips (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Jakub Stolarczyk, Ricardo Pereira, Jamie Vardy (doubt), Abdul Fatawu, Bobby De Cordova-Reid (doubt), Jordan Ayew (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Harvey Elliott (doubt), Federico Chiesa, Alisson, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Luke Shaw (doubt), Leny Yoro (doubt), Tyrell Malacia (doubt), Kobbie Mainoo (doubt), Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo (doubt), Lisandro Martinez (doubt), Victor LindelofSuspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson (doubt), Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier (doubt)Suspensions: Dan BurnNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Ibrahim SangareSuspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Flynn Downes, Aaron Ramsdale, Jan BednarekSuspensions: NoneTOTTENHAMInjuries: Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, RicharlisonSuspensions: Rodrigo BentancurWEST HAMInjuries: Niclas FullkrugSuspensions: Mohammed KudusWOLVESREAD MORE SUN STORIESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Bastien Meupiyou (doubt), Yerson Mosquera, Hwang Hee-chan (doubt)Suspensions: NoneBetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Captaincy options for Gameweek 12: Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah lead nominees

    IT’S once again time for Dream Team managers to select their captain (and vice captain) for the Gameweek ahead.Gameweek 12 is set to feature a full round of Premier League fixtures as well as the continuation of the European competitions in midweek, meaning double headers for Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea.We strong advise gaffers to pick a captain who is likely to play twice – let’s run through the strongest candidates.Dream Team’s leading point scorerCredit: ReutersDream Team bosses who have opted to double Mohamed Salah’s (£7.3m) points in recent weeks have gained ground on those who have remained loyal to Erling Haaland (£8.6m).Liverpool’s main man has matched or bettered the Norwegian poacher’s score for four consecutive Gameweeks.And there’s every chance he’ll extend that streak to five with Arne Slot’s side due to face 20th-placed Southampton this weekend.The Reds will then welcome Real Madrid to Anfield in midweek.Los Blancos are the kings of the Champions League as 15-time winners but they’ve already been beaten by Lille and Milan in this season’s competition – a trip to Merseyside comes at a bad time for Jude Bellingham and company.Haaland is capable of punishing his doubters but Man City’s form is a concernCredit: GettyAs for Haaland, he’s due to face Spurs and Feyenoord and could easily plunder plentiful points, especially with the North Londoners missing key defenders through injury.But it’s simply true that Pep Guardiola’s side are in a bad moment having lost four games on the spin.Most read in FootballSalah is seemingly the logical choice for Gameweek 12.Elsewhere, many gaffers will be tempted to stick the armband on Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m).The Red Devils’ skipper is both Dream Team’s most in-form player right now and the most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 12’s deadline.Dream Team’s form manCredit: ReutersRuben Amorim’s first game in charge of Man United comes away to Ipswich, quickly followed by a Europa League meeting with plucky Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford.All things considered, that’s a favourable double header for the former Sporting tactician and so there’s every chance Fernandes continues his fine form.The 30-year-old notched more points than any other player in Gameweek 11 and that alone makes him a viable captaincy option.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWSome gaffers will be tempted to captain Cole Palmer (£6.2m) now the Chelsea talisman is expected to be available for the Blues’ trip to Leicester on Saturday.However, please be aware that the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year will not feature against Heidenheim on Thursday night because he is not part of Chelsea’s Conference League for the league phase.In fact, Enzo Maresca tends to rotate pretty much his entire starting line-up for European games.That’s not to say Palmer isn’t capable of a big double-digit haul against the Foxes, he’s produced several such performances in the last year, but gaffers aiming to play the odds by targeting two fixtures in Gameweek 12 will have to look elsewhere.Saka is a doubt for Gameweek 12 at this stageBukayo Saka (£6.6m) is usually a relative popular captain but Arsenal’s No7 is an availability doubt at this stage.Plus, high-flying Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP is a deceptively tricky double header on current form.READ MORE SUN STORIESOther nominees to consider include Alejandro Garnacho (£4.1m), Luis Diaz (£4.6m) and Dominic Solanke (£4.3m) but it looks to be between Salah, Fernandes and Haaland for captain this time around.Elect your skipper for Gameweek 12 before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More