Fantasy Football

GAME WEEK 31 was a high-scoring affair but no gaffer made hay quite like Yousef Abu Khdair.The Liverpool supporter racked up 159 points thanks to some truly inspired selections.
Let’s take a closer look at how he did it…
Yousef’s Newcastle assets came good this past weekCredit: DREAM TEAM
It could be argued that David Raya (£3.2m) has been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
Brentford’s custodian, who features in 1.2% of teams, has made 136 saves in the top flight this term, by far and away the most, and his contribution to a clean sheet against Chelsea on Wednesday night helped him edge out his team-mates to claim the Star Man award.
A 13-point haul at Stamford Bridge more than made up for the Spaniard’s blank against Aston Villa last weekend – he’s now the fifth-best asset his position.
It was a fantastic week for Newcastle as they registered emphatic victories over Tottenham and Everton although they weren’t able to keep their sheets clean so Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) had to settle for three points.
Fabian Schar (£3.6m) fared better as he provided two assists during that opening onslaught at St James’ Park on Sunday – the Switzerland international produced seven points to reclaim second place among defenders in the rankings.
Raya has made more saves than any other keeper this season
Kyle Walker (£3.9m) enjoyed his best Game Week of the season, banking eleven points, 19.3% of his season’s total.
The speedy right-back has spent a lot of time on Manchester City’s bench recently but Nathan Ake’s (£4.8m) injury meant he started against Sheffield United and Arsenal.
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He earned 7+ ratings in both fixtures and a clean sheet against the Blades.
Speaking of City’s comfortable FA Cup semi-final win, Riyad Mahrez (£6.2m) was undoubtedly the big winner at Wembley as he scored all three of his side’s goals.
The Algerian winger cashed in to the tune of 28 points to propel himself up to fourth in the midfield rankings.
Arsenal may have endured a disappointing week but Bukayo Saka (£5.4m) ended his mini drought with a ten-point return, taken from last Friday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Southampton.
Jarrod Bowen (£4.1m) has provided healthy returns throughout April and he added five more to his tally this past week via an assist and 7+ rating at Bournemouth.
1.5%-owned Joelinton (£3.8m) completed Yousef’s midfield with aplomb.
The Magpies’ fan favourite scored a brace against hapless Spurs before helping himself to another at Goodison Park in midweek.
Add in a pair of 7+ ratings and the Brazilian pouched a whopping 21 points when all was said and done in Game Week 31.
403 points and counting
Yousef’s front three was perfect in the sense in that they were the best-performing strikers this past week.
No matter how bleak things get for Spurs, Harry Kane (£8.9m) continues to stack up Dream Team points at a rapid rate.
The England captain scored his side’s consolation goal at St James’ Park and he provided the assist for Son Heung-min’s (£5m) equaliser against Manchester United on Thursday.
An 18-point return meant Kane leapfrogged Mohamed Salah (£8.5m) to reclaim the bronze medal position among Dream Team forwards.
Erling Haaland (£10.2m) let the Blades off the hook last weekend but he produced arguably his best all-round performance of the season yet against Arsenal.
The prolific Norwegian notched two assists before netting his customary goal in stoppage time to edge out Kevin De Bruyne (£8.4m) for the Star Man award.
City’s No9 now has 403 points overall – simply ludicrous.
Clinical
Last but not certainly not least, Yousef’s masterstroke, Callum Wilson (£4.1m).
The 31-year-old, who has an ownership of just 2.7%, has been forced to share his minutes with Alexander Isak (£4.2m) of late but even so he found time to plunder 26 points in Game Week 31!
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Newcastle’s No9 scored his side’s sixth goal against Spurs before helping himself to a brace against Everton.
Superb work, Yousef! Good luck to you and all other gaffers ahead of Game Week 32. More

MANCHESTER CITY vs Arsenal was billed as a climatic title-decider between two top teams.In reality, the contest resembled bottom-half club’s typical visit to the Etihad.
A meeting between title contenders is supposed to feel different but what occurred on Wednesday night was all too familiar; Pep Guardiola’s side dominated, Kevin De Bruyne’s (£8.1m) class shone through, and Erling Haaland (£9.9m) scored.
Same old, same old.
The Gunners still hold a two-point lead over City but the latter have two games in hand and a more favourable set to fixtures to boot.
The Fat Lady isn’t singing just yet but she’s finished her vocal warm-ups and the sound check is complete.
De Bruyne and Haaland ripped Arsenal apart in tandemCredit: GETTY
City’s performance was a monumental one in the context of Dream Team as well.
Their two central protagonists, De Bruyne and Haaland, both made significant moves after ripping through Arsenal’s core time and time again.
The brilliant Belgian scored twice and provided the pinpoint cross for John Stones’ (£5.8m) header while the prolific poacher notched two assists before he bagged his customary goal in stoppage time once he’d let his hair down, quite literally.
That late strike helped Haaland leapfrog his team-mate in the match ratings to claim the Star Man award, his ninth of the season – the joint-highest tally of 2022/23.
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When all was said and done, the 22-year-old added 17 points to his total to take him past an historic milestone.
Haaland is now officially just the second player in Dream Team history to pass 400 points in a single season (403 and counting).
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first quadruple centurion and his all-time record of 477 points is under serious threat with City’s No9 still active in three competitions.
Inevitable
The defending English champions have seven league fixtures remaining, at least two Champions League games, and an FA Cup final to fulfil.
Given that Haaland averages 9.6 points-per-game, the legendary Portuguese forward should fear for his record’s safety.
As for De Bruyne, a 15-point haul at the Gunners’ expense meant he reclaimed the midfield throne from Bruno Fernandes (£6.7m).
Man United’s midfield talisman travels to Spurs this evening but he’ll need seven points to draw level with his cross-town rival on 227.
Dream Team’s top midfielder once againCredit: GETTY
It’s worth noting that De Bruyne’s average of 5.5 points-per-game is in a bracket of its own among assets in his position to have played a substantial number of games – Fernandes’ is 4.4 by comparison.
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Haaland reaching milestones and De Bruyne reigning supreme among midfielders is hardly fresh news but for both of them to stamp their authority on the title race and Dream Team in the same night is quite something.
Good luck to any gaffers trying to make it to the end of the season without both of City’s main men in their XI… you’re going to need it. More

THE Dream Team stock market can be a volatile environment.Take your eye off the ball and all of a sudden one of your under-performing assets has shed £1million in value and you’re therefore limited in terms of potential replacements.
Conversely, pick an underrated gem at the right time and in no time you’ll be “banking reddies” as Danny Dyer would say.
Here we’ve assembled a workable XI of players who have increased in price the most from the start of the season to this point in time.
GOALKEEPER: Nick Pope £2.5m > £4.2m
A bargain ahead of Game Week 1Credit: GETTY
Newcastle’s custodian started the campaign as the most-popular asset in his position as Dream Team gaffers recognised that £2.5m was a generous starting price.
The England international had been relegated with Burnley the previous season but joining Eddie Howe’s organised troops instantly improved his clean sheet prospects.
In fact, only David de Gea (£3.9m) has kept more Premier League clean sheets at this stage and the Spaniard is just one ahead of Pope on 14 in the race for the Golden Glove.
DEFENDERS

Kieran Trippier £3m > £5.6m
Lewis Dunk £2m > £4.1m
Nathan Ake £3m > £4.8m

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Newcastle’s unexpectedly parsimonious defence is evidenced again here but the Magpies’ vice captain has carved out a bracket of his own among defenders because of his contributions at both ends of the pitch.
Set-piece specialist Trippier has provided eight assists and claimed eight Star Man awards en route to 214 points at this stage of the season – his closest rival is 71 points adrift.
Again, with the power of hindsight, a price of £3m prior to Game Week 1 was too good to pass up.
Praise for a consistent performerCredit: GETTY
Brighton’s midfielders have earned plenty of headlines this season – more on them in a moment – so it’s easy to overlook the fact their skipper has more than doubled in price.
An ultra reliable performer, Dunk has contributed to 13 clean sheets in 2022/23 and he’s been on a tear of late, registering 68 points across the last 12 Game Weeks.
Completing the back three is Manchester City’s Dutchman, who deserves plenty of credit for his efforts in recent months.
Having been a peripheral figure in his first two seasons at the Etihad, Ake has been a regular starter this term and a key contributor to a side still chasing a historic treble.
The 28-year-old certainly won’t start as cheap next season.
MIDFIELDERS

Solly March £1m > £4.6m
Kaoru Mitoma £1.5m > £4.8m
Miguel Almiron £1.5m > £3.6m
Mathias Jensen £1m > £2.8m

Brighton’s long-serving midfielder is the player who has increased in price the most this season!
March was not much more than a useful utility player under Graham Potter while Mitoma was virtually unknown just a few months ago but the pair have thrived and enthralled under Roberto De Zerbi.
With 17 goals and 16 assists between them in all competitions, the Seagulls’ assets have to be considered among the standout performers of the Dream Team season based on their performances against pre-season expectations.
Full credit to any gaffers who picked either of them up for cheaper than £2.5m.
One of many underrated gems at BrentfordCredit: GETTY
Nobody can criticise us for giving Almiron a modest starting price.
The Paraguayan winger works his socks off but he didn’t make much of a splash in the world of Dream Team during his first four years at Newcastle.
With 11 to his name this season, he’s bagged more Premier League goals in 2022/23 than his first four seasons combined.
Brentford may be on the beach now but a comfortable mid-table position is evidence of yet another campaign in which they have performed above the level expected of a club with their resources.
In this hypothetical XI, Jensen symbolises the Bees as a whole – a consistent performer who rarely grabs headlines but who opponents underestimate at their peril.
The Danish midfielder started among the joint-cheapest players in the game but he’s notched ten goal involvements in the league and plenty of 7+ ratings.
FORWARDS

Marcus Rashford £3.5m > £7m
Ollie Watkins £3.5m > £6.4m
Erling Haaland £7m > £9.9m

It’s easy to forget that Manchester United’s No10 endured a torrid 2021/22.
Rashford mustered just five goals in 32 appearances last season with many pundits wondering whether a transfer was needed to reinvigorate his career.
As it turned out, a change of head coach at Old Trafford did the trick as the 25-year-old has reached a new peak under the guidance of Erik ten Hag – his season tally of 28 goals is a career best already.
The contrast between where he was a year ago and now is the reason he’s increased £3.5m in price since Game Week 1.
Rashford’s form this season compared to 2021/22 is night and day
Aston Villa’s top scorer has scored 11 goals in his last 13 games, a prosperous streak that has catapulted his price upwards.
Many gaffers will feel £6.4m is too pricey for Watkins but it’s simply a reflection of the undeniable fact that’s been one of the league’s best players in recent months.
Last but not least, it’s Man City’s ominous poacher.

Haaland started the season among the game’s most-expensive players but his game-breaking exploits have pushed every boundary that exists in Dream Team.
The prolific Norway international has plundered 386 points with plenty more fixtures yet to fulfil. More

SUNDAY’S game at St James’ Park was billed as a tense contest between two top-four hopefuls but what actually materialised was a one-sided demolition job.Newcastle were 3-0 up on Tottenham within nine minutes and 5-0 up within 22 minutes.
The final result was 6-1 but the game was decided during the opening exchanges as the visitors pathetically crumbled amid a Geordie cauldron of noise.
Naturally, many pundits have focused on Spurs’ embarrassing shortcomings but here at Dream Team HQ we feel it’s worth highlighting Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) merits.
A precise finisherCredit: GETTY
The Sweden international scored a brace on Sunday, latching onto Joe Willock’s (£2m) supreme pass before he slotted past Hugo Lloris (£3.3m) only to again beat the beleaguered Frenchman from a tight angle moments later.
The 23-year-old has now scored ten Premier League goals in 15 appearances (eleven starts).
This impressive strike rate boils down further to a goal every 97.3 minutes in the top flight.
By way of a comparison, Harry Kane (£8.6m), who scored his 24th league goal of the season by way of a consolation strike in the second half, averages a goal every 119.5 minutes in the league this term.
Isak’s first season with Newcastle has been disrupted by injuries but he’s been ruthlessly efficient in front of goal when available.
And his Dream Team stats make for impressive reading too.
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His overall tally of 82 points looks modest but that’s only because of his limited involvement this campaign.
What’s telling is his average of 4.1 points-per-game when selected, a rate bettered by only seven other forwards in 2022/23.
Gabriel Martinelli (£4.8m), who has 174 points overall and is the sixth-best asset in his position, also averages 4.1 points-per-game.
Isak couldn’t believe Spurs’ defending in the first halfCredit: GETTY
Dream Team gaffers should certainly be thinking about Isak’s viability for next season as it looks highly likely he’ll have European fixtures to bolster his schedule but is he also an option for the remainder of the current campaign?
Generally, Newcastle defenders have been the ones to provide regular healthy returns but Howe’s side have scored 15 goals in five games this month so far with their attack-minded players coming to the fore.
A 13-point haul at Spurs’ expense means Isak has plundered 56 in his last seven outings.
And there could be more returns to come as the Magpies face Everton and Southampton in their next two games, two teams currently in the relegation zone.
Isak’s ownership currently sits at 1.7% so he’s a viable differential for those who need an out-of-the-box option. More

A HEARTY round of applause for Andy Rogers, Dream Team’s top gaffer for Game Week 30.The Northampton Town fan amassed 115 points, nine more than his closest rival, when all was said and done.
Let’s take a closer look at how he did it…
Andy’s team ‘Beardster FC’Credit: DREAM TEAM
David de Gea (£3.9m) earned five points against Nottingham Forest at the weekend but had something of a howler against Sevilla on Thursday night to incur minus two points as Man United were eliminated from the Europa League.
Diogo Dalot (£4m) also lost two points to the La Liga outfit but he was still the best-performing defender of the Game Week because of his goal/clean sheet combination at the City Ground.
An 11-point Game Week has moved the Portuguese full-back onto 129 overall, putting him sixth among assets in his position.
Liverpool failed to keep a clean sheet against Leeds at Elland Road despite their domination but Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.3m) and Virgil van Dijk (£4.7m) combined for ten points nonetheless, mostly thanks to the former’s brace of assists.
The 24-year-old has played his fair share of minutes in midfield of late and his Dream Team returns have increased as a result.
Bowen has made good use of his busy schedule this month
Dream Team’s top two midfielders, Kevin De Bruyne (8.1m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6.7m), combined for 15 points.
The pair have nine Star Man awards each, more than any of their rivals – what a duo.
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Here at Dream Team HQ we tipped Jarrod Bowen (£4.2m) for a prosperous April and the West Ham winger delivered this past week.
He scored against league leaders Arsenal for an eight-point return before adding five more to his tally via an assist and 7+ rating against Gent in the Europa Conference League.
Martin Odegaard (£4.1m) also produced 13 points for Andy with a goal and Star Man showing against the Hammers.
The Gunners’ captain is close to overtaking Phil Foden (£5.1m) to become Dream Team fourth-best midfielder this season.
Andy was among just 1.1% of gaffers who benefited from Gakpo’s double-digit haulCredit: GETTY
Another Game Week, another 20 points for Erling Haaland (£9.9m) – what else is there to say about Man City’s predatory No9?
He’s ever so close to costing £10m, which is simply obscene.
Full credit to Andy for his other forward picks as Ollie Watkins (£6.4m) features in just 2.5% of teams while Cody Gakpo’s (£3.7m) ownership is even lower at 1.1%.
Aston Villa’s main man made it 11 goals in 12 games with a masterclass at home to Newcastle for a 20-point return while Liverpool’s Dutchman helped himself to ten points against Leeds’ shambolic defence.
Love your work, Andy, best of luck to you and all other gaffers for Game Week 31. More

CHELSEA are the only team that won’t be pulling double duty in Game Week 31.That’s because of Manchester United, Brighton and Manchester City are all in action in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend before a full allotment of Premier League fixtures in midweek.
Needless to say, it’s a bad week to own Stamford Bridge assets (a bad season if truth be told) but which players are well placed to bag plentiful points in GW31?
Allow us to suggest some short-term options…
Eberechi Eze (£3m)
Soaring EagleCredit: GETTY
Even experienced Dream Team gaffers can be caught out by how quickly things change in the world of football.
One moment Crystal Palace are a turgid outfit without a win in months and then suddenly they’re a swaggering side stringing wins together with artistic flourishes.
The Eagles’ No10 has been the primary beneficiary of the Roy Hodgson revolution having claimed two Star Man awards in three outings since the septuagenarian’s return to Selhurst Park.
Eze has taken 33 points from Leicester, Leeds and Southampton since Game Week 28 and this Saturday he’s got a home fixture against a struggling Everton side before a trip to Wolves on Tuesday night.
Palace have scored nine goals in their last three games with Eze and Michael Olise (£3.1m) being the chief threats – a double header against teams below them in the league should yield more healthy returns.
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The ex-QPR midfielder features in just 0.7% of teams so he’s an ultra differential, an appealing factor for those who can’t afford to have an identical team to their mate above them in the mini-league.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5m)
The key to Liverpool’s midfield rebuild?Credit: GETTY
Liverpool are finished. Liverpool are back! Liverpool are finished. And repeat.
That’s been the cycle in the recent months and Dream Team bosses will know by now not to get carried away by a convincing win for the Reds, like the one they registered at Elland Road on Monday night.
Saying that, Jurgen Klopp’s men outplayed Arsenal prior to their mauling of Leeds (albeit for in a 2-2 draw) and in both games fans were treated to lengthy glimpses of Alexander-Arnold the midfielder.
The 24-year-old has looked vulnerable defensively this season but his creative powers have never been in doubt and three assists in his last two outings have underlined his positive attributes.
And Game Week 31 looks ripe for points for those keen on Liverpool assets with a home game against Nottingham Forest followed by a trip to West Ham.
In fact, the Reds’ fixtures appear relatively friendly for the remainder of the campaign.
Alexander Isak (£4.1m)
EfficientCredit: GETTY
Most Dream Team managers will have a settled forward line at this late stage of the season but those in need of making a move could opt for someone in the mould of Newcastle’s record signing.
Isak averages a goal every 113.4 minutes in the Premier League this season and he’ll fancy his chances of maintaining that impressive record with Eddie Howe’s side set to take on a dejected Tottenham, Everton and Southampton before the end of the month.
Granted, the Magpies produced an uncharacteristically poor display away to Aston Villa last weekend but they had won five in a row before that in a run that featured 13 goals.
The Sweden international has been limited to just 14 league appearances this term because of injury setbacks but his strike rate when available makes him a viable option.
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For much of the campaign it made sense to back Newcastle defenders to the hilt while mostly staying clear of their forwards but there’s been something of a reversal in recent weeks.
Although Kieran Trippier (£5.8m) remains an immensely popular choice with good reason. More

YES, it’s another article about Erling Haaland (£9.6m).But with good reason; the Norwegian poacher’s first season in English football has been truly extraordinary and nobody knows this better than Dream Team gaffers.
But how well do you really know the mind-blowing numbers propping up this historic campaign?
Time for a quiz…
Here we will present seven stats and all you have to do is separate the fact from the fiction before scrolling down a little further to find out the answer.
1. Haaland has scored more Premier League goals than Chelsea this season
Prolific doesn’t even do him justice
ANSWER: FACT
Manchester City’s No9 has bagged 32 in the top flight at this stage which is two more than the Blues have mustered as a collective.
This is truly incredible when consider how much Todd Boehly (and his predecessor) forked out to assemble the squad at Stamford Bridge which includes Raheem Sterling (£3.8m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£3.5m), Kai Havertz (£3.8m), Hakim Ziyech (£2.2m), Joao Felix (£3.5m) and several other highly-rated attackers.
2. Nobody has ever scored more goals in a Premier League season than Haaland has in 2022/23
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Records are tumblingCredit: GETTY
ANSWER: FICTION
When the 22-year-old notched his 32nd league goal he drew level with Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) for most goals in a 38-game campaign but he still needs two more to equal Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s record of 34, both achieved when there were 22 teams in the division.
Of course, the key factor to consider here is that Haaland potentially has eight more fixtures at his disposal and so he’s likely to breeze past the legendary English strikers of old and break new ground in the coming weeks.
3. Haaland has earned more points from his last five games than Aleksandar Mitrovic (£3.8m) has produced all season
True or false?
ANSWER: FACT
Barring disciplinary issues, it’s generally accepted that Fulham’s No9 has been an effective target man for the Cottagers during their impressive return to the top flight.
Mitrovic averages a league goal every 165.5 minutes this term and his performances, particularly in the first half of the season, are a big reason Marco Silva’s side look set for a top half finish.
And yet his overall Dream Team tally of 96 points fails to match the 101 Haaland has plundered since March 14th!
4. Haaland averages over twice as many points-per-game as the next-best Dream Team’s asset this season
Part man, part machineCredit: GETTY
ANSWER: FICTION
The Etihad’s resident cyborg averages 9.8 points-per-game which is remarkable when you consider a goal and a 7+ rating returns eight points.
This average puts him in a league of his own but it’s not quite double that of Marcus Rashford (£7.1m) who has ticked along at 5.8 points-per-game to amass 274 overall, a massive total by non-Haaland standards.
However, Haaland’s average is comfortably double that of Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m, 4.4 points-per-game) which is saying something given the Portugal international is the best midfielder in the game right now.
5. Haaland is on track to post the highest season points tally in Dream Team history
Haaland is still active in three competitionsCredit: GETTY
ANSWER: FACT
Assuming Man City are able to convert their 3-0 first leg lead over Bayern Munich into an aggregate victory then Haaland will have at least two more Champions League fixtures on top of eight league games and whatever minutes he’ll get in the FA Cup semi-final/final.
If he maintains his current average of 9.8 points-per-game then he will go past Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 477, achieved in 2007/08, a campaign that won the Portuguese superstar his first Ballon d’Or.
93 points is a tough ask in the given time frame but given he’s added a century across the last five Game Weeks, it’s well within Haaland’s grasp.
6. Haaland has more points than Harry Kane (£8.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) combined
Kane has played brilliantly for 222 points but Haaland’s on another planet
ANSWER: FACT
This stats underlines just how far the Norway international has ventured into the realms of the absurd because by normal standards both Kane and Watkins have been excellent.
The two Englishmen have 37 goals between them in the Premier League alone (23 for Kane, 14 for Watkins) and are fourth and seventh in the Dream Team forward rankings respectively.
And yet somehow their combined points tally of 376 is eight short of Haaland’s at this late juncture.
7. Right now, Haaland is the most-popular player in Dream Team history
When the hair goes up, the goals go inCredit: GETTY
ANSWER: FICTION
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While his ownership of 74% is gargantuan, it falls just short of the peak Bruno Fernandes achieved a couple of seasons back.
We’re guessing that those who went without Haaland at the start of the season gave up hope pretty quickly… More