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    Which teams have the most favourable fixtures this November? Dream Team managers take note…

    WEEKLY transfers mean Dream Team gaffers can tailor their teams to the Gameweek fixtures to a greater degree than previous seasons.However, it still pays to consider the schedule on a monthly basis to differentiate between short-term punts and players who are likely to produce healthy returns for the foreseeable future.
    With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at November’s fixtures for every team currently in the top half of the Premier League.

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    Maddison and Son are in great formCredit: Getty
    Tottenham

    Chelsea (h)
    Wolves (a)
    Aston Villa (h)

    Once again, the league leaders’ lack of European commitments is laid bare.
    The likes of James Maddison (£4.5m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) are unquestionably among the most in-form players in the top flight and they’ll have to continue to shine if they’re to hold off rival players with additional fixtures at their disposal.
    It’s a relatively tough little run for Ange Postecoglou’s side as well – Gary O’Neil’s men are unbeaten in their last five league games and the Villains haven’t tasted defeat in the top flight since the first weekend of September.
    Arsenal
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    Newcastle (a)
    Sevilla (h)
    Burnley (h)
    Brentford (a)
    Lens (h)

    We haven’t included the Gunners’ trip to West Ham in the Carabao Cup that occurs on November 1st because that’s included in Gameweek 10, meaning it’s too late for gaffers to do anything about it now.
    A visit to St James’ Park represents a stern test but Mikel Arteta will be confident of positive results elsewhere – although Lens did beat his side in France a month ago.
    Sevilla are currently 14th in La Liga.
    Man City are coming off the back of arguably their best performance of the season so farCredit: Getty
    Manchester City

    Bournemouth (h)
    Young Boys (h)
    Chelsea (a)
    Liverpool (h)
    RB Leipzig (h)

    Gameweek 11 is a belter for the treble-winners and the luxury of four home games out of five should yield plentiful returns.
    Mauricio Pochettino’s side were on a decent run before the weekend – defeat to Brentford at Stamford Bridge reiterated the fact the Blues still aren’t anywhere near their best.
    Liverpool’s visit to the Etihad after the international break should be a cracker.
    Liverpool

    Luton (a)
    Toulouse (a)
    Brentford (h)
    Man City (a)
    LASK (h)

    That meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side should be the only notable concern for Jurgen Klopp in November.
    The Reds hammered Toulouse at Anfield and will be hopeful of more goals in France next Thursday after what should be all one-way traffic at Luton this weekend.
    Surely plenty more points on the way for Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and company in the coming weeks.
    Aston Villa

    Nottingham Forest (a)
    AZ Alkmaar (h)
    Fulham (h)
    Tottenham (a)
    Legia Warsaw (h)

    Unai Emery’s troops are on a lengthy winning streak on home soil so Dream Team bosses should expect healthy returns from three relatively friendly match-ups at Villa Park in November.
    A trip to Spurs will provide a stiff challenge on current form but, generally speaking, Villa assets remain extremely viable.
    Clean sheets may be hard to come by in November for NewcastleCredit: Getty
    Newcastle

    Arsenal (h)
    Borussia Dortmund (a)
    Bournemouth (a)
    Chelsea (h)
    PSG (a)

    Nick Pope (£4.3m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.7m) are the best performers in their respective positions right now but will that still be the case in a month’s time?
    The Magpies will be clear favourites against the Cherries but the other four fixtures should be competitive affairs.
    Newcastle overwhelmed PSG at St James’ Park but Kylian Mbappe and friends will be more of a threat on French soil.
    Brighton

    Everton (a)
    Ajax (a)
    Sheffield United (h)
    Nottingham Forest (a)
    AEK Athens (a)

    Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he’s found it challenging juggling European games on top of the domestic schedule this season but optimism will be restored on the south coast if the Seagulls are able to take advantage of a friendly November.
    Ajax away would normally be a daunting prospect for a club like Brighton but the four-time European Cup winners are in crisis right now – the Dutch giants are currently bottom of the Eredivisie!
    Four away days out of five isn’t ideal but the match-ups favour Brighton.
    Brighton and Man United have favourable fixtures on paper this coming monthCredit: Dream Team
    Manchester United

    Fulham (a)
    Copenhagen (a)
    Luton (h)
    Everton (a)
    Galatasaray (a)

    Few Dream Team gaffers will be keen on backing the Red Devils after their dismal showing in the Manchester derby but Erik ten Hag will be hopeful of regaining some faith in the next month.
    Again, four away trips out of five is unfortunate but there will be points on offer if the squad can refocus.
    A failure to cash in against Fulham, Copenhagen and Luton would surely lead to a mass exodus of United assets in the world of Dream Team.
    West Ham

    Brentford (a)
    Olympiakos (h)
    Nottingham Forest (h)
    Burnley (a)
    Backa Topola (a)

    The Hammers’ form has fallen away of late so it’s hard to know what to make of this set.
    There’s nothing to worry about in particular – they even finish the month against a team few fans knew existed prior to the Europa League draw – but confidence has dropped somewhat after just one win in October.

    Brentford

    West Ham (h)
    Liverpool (a)
    Arsenal (h)

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    Three fixtures, two of them difficult – enough said.
    Bryan Mbeumo (£3.6m) owners will have a decision to make soon.

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    John Stones among Dream Team’s most-expensive defenders but hybrid role should ensure healthy returns

    PRETTY much every Manchester City player involved at Old Trafford on Sunday was worthy of individual praise.Erling Haaland (£7.5m) was involved in all three goals, Bernardo Silva (£3.6m) ran the show, Josko Gvardiol (£4.1m) had fun with some Iniesta-esque dribbles, and Rodri (£4m) set the tempo with aplomb.
    But for the purposes of this exercise, the focus is on John Stones (£4.5m) and his welcome return to the world of Dream Team.

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    Less ‘Barnsley Beckenbauer’ more ‘Barnsley Busquets’ these daysCredit: Dream Team
    The 29-year-old missed the first seven Gameweeks of the season through injury and while he featured against Arsenal and Brighton, this weekend’s Manchester derby was the first time he played 90 minutes in 2023/24.
    Perhaps not coincidentally, the reigning champions’ 3-0 win over Manchester United was their first clean sheet in over a month.
    Stones once again performed the hybrid role in Pep Guardiola’s sophisticated system – part centre-back, part holding midfielder.
    The England international starred in such a role at the back end of last season and was undoubtedly a key contributor to City’s treble.
    Whether he’s mucking in alongside Ruben Dias (£4.4m) at the heart of defence or pulling the strings next to Rodri at the base of midfield, Stones has been one of his side’s most-influential players in the last year.
    Stones played a key role in City’s treble last seasonCredit: Getty
    It’s important to note that he’s categorised as a defender in the realm of Dream Team and so he registered five points for City’s clean sheet on Sunday – plus two for playing the full 90 minutes.
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    Looking forward, it seems to reasonable to expect some extra points from Stones if he’s to continue taking up midfield positions with regularity.
    The very nature of his unique role means he’s more likely to register shots on target and create big chances (both worth a point each in Dream Team this season) than traditional centre-backs.
    He should also earn his fair share of bonus points as the season progresses.
    Having only just returned to full fitness, it’s understandable that Stones’ ownership sits at a relatively modest 4.6%.
    It will be interesting to see what extent that increases after an impressive showing in Gameweek 10.

    Guardiola’s side exhibited ominous form in Gameweek 10Credit: Getty
    City’s Gameweek 11 fixtures look ripe for points as well – they have the luxury of back-to-back home games against Bournemouth and Young Boys.
    Some Dream Team gaffers may be put off by Stones’ price, at £4.5m he’s the fourth-most expensive asset in his position at the time of writing.
    However, there’s every chance that may be seen as good value in a fortnight’s time.

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    Will Aston Villa’s best midfielder please stand up! Dream Team gaffers undecided

    DREAM TEAM managers don’t need to be told that Aston Villa players are super viable this season.The Villains have popular assets in every position right now and with good reason.
    After ten league games, no team have scored more goals than Unai Emery’s side and, in regards to the table, they’re just two points behind treble-winners Manchester City and one behind Liverpool.

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    Villa midfielders are ticking over but it’s unclear who is the best optionCredit: Dream Team
    However, while it’s clear that Emi Martinez (£3.3m), Matty Cash (£3.3m) and Ollie Watkins (£4.7m) are the best options in their respective positions, gaffers are having a hard time settling on Villa’s best midfielder right now.
    There’s a cigarette paper between Douglas Luiz (£3.3m), John McGinn (£3.1m) and Moussa Diaby (£3.3m) in terms of both cost and total points.
    The latter pipped his team-mates on Sunday with an 11-point haul at home to Luton but McGinn wasn’t far behind on ten while Luiz registered an assist for a six-point return.
    Time for a three-way statistical analysis.
    Total Points

    Douglas Luiz – 74
    John McGinn – 71
    Moussa Diaby – 67

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    It’s the Brazilian who leads the way in the metric that matters most having plundered 40 points in his last six outings.
    Luiz has enjoyed a fine start to the campaignCredit: Reuters
    Average Points-Per-Game

    Douglas Luiz – 5.3
    Moussa Diaby – 5.2
    John McGinn – 5.1

    A perfect illustration of how evenly-matched these three midfielders have been this term – no wonder Dream Team gaffers are torn.
    Goals

    Douglas Luiz – 5
    John McGinn – 4
    Moussa Diaby – 3

    Villa’s No6 leads the way because he is the club’s first-choice penalty taker – that’s a bonus!
    Ownership

    Moussa Diaby – 10.2%
    Douglas Luiz – 4.6%
    John McGinn – 1.7%

    The Frenchman is comfortably the most-popular of the trio – he’s the 14th-most selected asset in his position overall.
    This is perhaps slightly curious given he’s marginally behind McGinn and Luiz in terms of total points but perhaps the following stats explain his popularity.
    Goals are flowing freely at Villa ParkCredit: Getty
    Assists

    Moussa Diaby – 5
    John McGinn – 3
    Douglas Luiz – 1

    Shots on Target

    Moussa Diaby – 12
    Douglas Luiz – 7
    John McGinn – 6

    Big Chances Created

    Moussa Diaby – 7
    John McGinn – 4
    Douglas Luiz – 2

    The former Bayer Leverkusen man leads the way in three key attacking metrics, perhaps indicating he’ll end up with a considerably greater tally of goal involvements than McGinn and Luiz by the end of the season.
    Certainly Diaby is the most attack-minded of the three but midfielders are able to earn points through other methods this season.
    Tackle Points

    Douglas Luiz – 11
    John McGinn – 4
    Moussa Diaby – 0

    Bonus Points

    John McGinn – 7
    Douglas Luiz – 6
    Moussa Diaby – 0

    Diaby’s attacking supremacy is offset here and a pair of goose eggs may be a slight cause for concern for his backers.
    The Scotsman leads the way for bonus points – a reflection of his all-round contributions – but the fact this is the only metric he tops among the three midfielders probably indicates he’s not the optimum choice.
    A reliable performerCredit: Getty
    Yellow Cards

    Douglas Luiz – 5
    John McGinn – 3
    Moussa Diaby – 1

    It’s no surprise that the two more combative players have worse disciplinary records.
    Luiz owners may be have to contend with a frustrating suspension at some stage.
    So what’s the conclusion?
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    If we absolutely had to choose one of these three fine Villa midfielders we’d probably edge it to Diaby because of his superior attacking threat.
    Goals remain Dream Team’s primary currency and while Luiz’s penalties are a spanner in the works, the fact Diaby is sixth among all assets in his position for shots on target in 2023/24 suggests a greater potential for substantial double-digit hauls.

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    Erling Haaland once again in a league of his own among Dream Team players after Manchester derby clinic

    THERE’S a much more familiar feel to the top of the Dream Team rankings after the weekend’s events.Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) have all taken turns in the coveted number one spot in recent weeks but Erling Haaland (£7.5m) has reclaimed his crown in emphatic style.

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    IrrepressibleCredit: Dream Team
    Manchester City’s No9 has carved out a bracket of his own once again having plundered 19 points at Old Trafford on Sunday.
    Pep Guardiola’s side put on a clinic against a beleaguered Manchester United outfit to win the derby 3-0, with Haaland scoring twice before he assisted the third.
    Only hat-trick hero Eddie Nketiah (£2.4m) registered more points (20) than the Norwegian cyborg at the weekend.
    This substantial haul follows on from the 26 points Haaland collected from Gameweek 9, spread over two fixtures against Brighton and Young Boys.
    He ended his mini goal drought against the Seagulls before scoring two more in Switzerland in the Champions League.
    This explosion of 45 points in the space of two Gameweeks has propelled Haaland to a season total of 131.
    All of a sudden, he’s 22 points clear of Salah at the top of the rankings – which is remarkable because Liverpool’s main man has hardly been slacking of late.
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    Haaland gifted Phil Foden a goal to cap an impressive outing at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
    So what’s the message here? Haaland is very good – hardly a shocking revelation, is it?
    The 23-year-old currently appears in 87.3% of teams, making him the most-popular player in the game by a huge margin.
    It’s not like anyone needs convincing of his abilities but the precise nature of his performances should be monitored closely because of the weekly captaincy debate.
    Those who opted to double Haaland’s returns these past two Gameweeks received 90 points compared to 45 earned by those who stuck the armband on Salah, Ollie Watkins (£4.7m), etc.

    Even accounting for the points scored by the alternative captains, gaffers with maximum faith in Haaland are likely to have benefited from a significant swing.
    Looking forward, there are a few favourable fixtures in Gameweek 11 but it’s a brave Dream Team boss who bets against Haaland vs Bournemouth and Young Boys with both those games to take place at the Etihad.
    He let his rivals sit on the throne momentarily but it seems as if the king has returned.

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    Hat-trick hero Eddie Nketiah features in just 2.1% of Dream Teams – more points likely in coming weeks

    EDDIE NKETIAH (£2.4m) was Dream Team’s big winner this weekend.The 24-year-old may not have featured at all at the Emirates on Saturday had Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) not suffered a hamstring injury against Sevilla in Gameweek 9.
    But with the Brazilian forward sidelined, Nketiah was selected to lead the line for Arsenal against Sheffield United and he obliged with an excellent hat-trick before the hour-mark.
    Nketiah added a Premier League match ball to his private collection of memorabiliaCredit: Dream Team
    The Gunners registered a comfortable 5-0 victory over Paul Heckingbottom’s side and while there were plenty of Dream Team points to go around, nobody came close to the club’s homegrown poacher.
    Nketiah took the Blades for 20 points when all was said and done, notching almost a third of his season total in one fell swoop.
    It’s no surprise that Arsenal’s No14 currently features in just 2.1% of teams – he was a rotational player just a few days ago.
    However, with Jesus expected to be out for “a few weeks” Nketiah is virtually guaranteed his fair share of minutes throughout November.
    This neatly coincides with a relatively favourable run of fixtures for Mikel Arteta’s side, meaning there could be more points to come in the immediate future.
    Easy as 1, 2, 3Credit: Getty
    Granted, a trip to St James’ Park first up in Gameweek 11 has to be considered a tough test but Arsenal will feel confident of a home win over Sevilla in the Champions League having beaten the La Liga side in Spain.
    Arsenal then face Burnley, Brentford, Lens, Wolves and Luton to take them into early December.
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    Given that Aston Villa and Newcastle are the only two teams that have scored more league goals than the Gunners this season, Nketiah should be assured a steady stream of chances in the coming weeks.
    And if Gameweek 10 is anything to go by, he should convert those opportunities into healthy returns.
    Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) remains Arsenal’s primary threat in the realm of Dream Team – he’s one of just four assets into triple figures (101 points) in 2023/24.
    However, the England winger is expensive while Nketiah is cheap as chips at £2.4m right now, offering an affordable route into Arsenal’s attack.

    Plenty of points to come for Arsenal in November?Credit: Getty
    The main drawback is that Dream Team bosses may find it impossible to fit the striker into their XI.
    Erling Haaland (£7.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) are going about their elite-level business as usual with Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Ollie Watkins (£4.7m), Son Heung-min (£4.8m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.2m) all thriving as well – not forgetting Newcastle’s strikers.
    Gaffers are spoiled for choice up front at the moment and Nketiah’s hat-trick brings him into the mix.
    Decisions, decisions…

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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 10: Alexander Isak sidelined, Gabriel Jesus injured

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 10 in one easily digestible dose.Alexnader Isak (£4.2m) is not available for Newcastle this weekend after he re-aggravated his troublesome groin injury against Borussia Dortmund.
    The Swedish striker was in good form, earning 51 points across his last seven fixtures, but 14% of Dream Team managers will need to replace him before the deadline (7pm this evening).

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    A frustrating setbackCredit: Dream Team
    Jacob Murphy (£2m) also injured himself on Champions League duty and is set to see a specialist while Eddie Howe told reporters he expects Sandro Tonali (£2.2m) so be able available for the Magpies trip to Molineux, though a lengthy ban is imminent for the midfielder.
    Destiny Udogie (£3m) is a doubt to face Crystal Palace this evening – the Tottenham left-back was substituted before the hour-mark in Gameweek 9 with Ange Postecoglou citing “tightness”.
    In better news for Spurs fans, Yves Bissouma (£2.7m) is available again having served his suspension.
    Manuel Akanji (£4.3m) is suspended for the Manchester derby having been sent off deep into stoppage time against Brighton last weekend.
    The Manchester City defender features in 7% of Dream Teams at the time of writing.
    Pep Guardiola suggested that both Julian Alvarez (£4.7m) and Phil Foden (£4.7m) had minor issues following the treble-winners’ Champions League victory in Switzerland but the pair are thought to be among the squad this coming weekend.
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    As for Manchester United, Casemiro (£4m) faces a “race against time” to be fit for Sunday’s headline clash.
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£2.8m) has returned to training but whether he’s ready to return to competitive action is unclear.
    Jesus won’t feature against Sheffield United this weekendCredit: Getty
    Gabriel Jesus (£5m) faces a few weeks on the sidelines after a scan revealed a hamstring injury – he limped off late on against Sevilla.
    The Brazilian striker pouched 16 points in Gameweek 9 but Mikel Arteta will have to do without him for a while as Arsenal continue to be frustrated by injuries.
    Thomas Partey (£2.6m) is expected to be unavailable for a similar amount of time.
    Cody Gakpo (£3.3m) will be included Liverpool’s matchday squad for Sunday’s home game against Nottingham Forest – he came off the bench against Toulouse on Thursday night and suffered no ill effects.
    Roberto De Zerbi told journalists that his squad came through their Europa League meeting with Ajax without further damage but both Solly March (£3.6m) and Danny Welbeck (£2.4m) will be out for “a long period”.
    Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto (£2m) will be sidelined until after the next international break at the earliest having suffered an ankle injury in training this week.

    ARSENAL
    Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus
    Suspensions: None
    ASTON VILLA
    Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia,, Jacob Ramsey, Alex Moreno
    Suspensions: None
    BOURNEMOUTH
    Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Tyler Adams, Neto
    Suspensions: Lewis Cook
    BRENTFORD
    Injuries: Shandon Baptiste, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade, Keane Lewis-Potter
    Suspensions: Ivan Toney
    BRIGHTON
    Injuries: Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Solly March, Danny Welbeck
    Suspensions: None
    BURNLEY
    Injuries: Michael Obafemi, Hjalmar Ekdal, Manuel Benson, Johan Berg Gudmundsson, Jordan Beyer
    Suspensions: Connor Roberts
    CHELSEA
    Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja
    Suspensions: None
    CRYSTAL PALACE
    Injuries: Michael Olise, James Tomkins, Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Nathan Ferguson (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    EVERTON
    Injuries: Seamus Coleman (doubt), Dele Alli, Andre Gomes
    Suspensions: Ashley Young
    FULHAM
    Injuries: Tosin Adarabioyo, Adama Traore, Kenny Tete, Issa Diop
    Suspensions: None
    LIVERPOOL
    Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson, Ben Doak
    Suspensions: Curtis Jones
    LUTON
    Injuries: Dan Potts, Jordan Clark, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell, Mads Andersen, Reece Burke (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    MANCHESTER CITY
    Injuries: Kevin De Bruyne
    Suspensions: Manuel Akanji
    MANCHESTER UNITED
    Injuries: Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo (doubt), Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (doubt), Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    NEWCASTLE
    Injuries: Joe Willock, Emil Krath, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Elliot Anderson
    Suspensions: None
    NOTTINGHAM FOREST
    Injuries: Danilo, Nuno Tavares, Taiwo Awoniyi, Gonzalo Montiel, Felipe, Divock Origi, Callum Hudson-Odoi
    Suspensions: None
    SHEFFIELD UNITED
    Injuries: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Max Lowe, Will Osula, George Baldock, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Oli McBurnie, Anel Ahmedhodzic
    Suspensions: None
    TOTTENHAM
    Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Rodrigo Bentacur, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon, Destiny Udogie (doubt)
    Suspensions: None
    WEST HAM
    Injuries: Vladimir Coufal (doubt), Lukasz Fabianski (doubt)
    Suspensions: Emerson
    WOLVES
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    Injuries: Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (doubt), Joe Hodge
    Suspensions: None

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    Captaincy options & Booster strategies for Gameweek 10: Erling Haaland or favourable match-ups?

    AT first glance, the captaincy conversation for Gameweek 10 appears an open-and-shut case.Erling Haaland (£7.4m) is the default selection on account of him being a goal machine – he’s scored 11 in all competitions already this season.

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    InevitableCredit: Getty
    There are times to take on Manchester City’s No9 but such a ploy is harder to justify in the wake of a significant points haul from the big striker.
    Haaland scored against Brighton last weekend before bagging a brace away to Young Boys on Wednesday night for a return of 26 points, doubled to 52 with the captain’s armband.
    The prolific Norwegian was the best performer in Gameweek 9 so surely Dream Team managers should opt to double his points again, right?
    At this stage, Haaland is by and away the most-selected captain ahead of Gameweek 10 but several seemingly one-sided fixtures are due to take place this weekend, creating tempting alternatives.
    Aston Villa have won 11 home games in a row and are currently the Premier League’s second-top scorers this season.
    Unai Emery’s side welcome relegation-threatened Luton to Villa Park on Sunday in a contest that could yield huge returns for Ollie Watkins (£4.5m) – Matty Cash (£3.2m) may also enjoy himself.
    A man in formCredit: Getty
    Elsewhere, Arsenal host a Sheffield United outfit with just one point to show for their efforts since promotion.
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    Bukayo Saka (£6.4m) averages 8.8 points-per-game this season and he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on a beleaguered defence that have conceded 24 league goals already in 2023/24.
    Liverpool v Nottingham Forest is another favourable match-up to consider.
    Mohamed Salah (£6.6m) has amassed 35 points across the last two Gameweeks and gaffers who backed him over Haaland in Gameweek 9 were handsomely rewarded.
    The Egyptian superstar is over 50% more popular among captaincy-pickers ahead of Gameweek 10 than he was this time last week.
    Of the names mentioned, Saka and Salah potentially have an additional midweek fixture at their disposal but it wouldn’t be a surprise if both players were rested in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
    It boils down to Haaland or a favourable fixture, although some fans would argue that the Manchester derby is also a favourable match-up for Pep Guardiola’s side given the unconvincing performances of the Red Devils this term.
    A Dream Team legendCredit: Dream Team
    Booster Strategies
    First things first, the usual caveat that Boosters are generally best deployed during double Gameweeks.
    Half the top-flight clubs are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 10 but extensive rotation is expected in midweek.
    Saying that, a back five of Cash, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.3m), Ben White (£4.6m), Pedro Porro (£3.1m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.6m) looks fantastic to combine with Park the Bus on paper.
    The aforementioned captaincy dilemma may provoke some to activate Max Captain.
    This would give gaffers peace of mind, guaranteeing them the best captain when all is said and done, but if Haaland prospers then there’s a risk of a Booster going wasted.
    The worst case scenario when playing Max Captain is that the player you were going to captain anyway ends up as the best performer in your XI that Gameweek.

    12th Man is definitely best saved for a juicy double Gameweek but those desperate for returns this weekend could use this Booster to bolster their forward line.
    Read More on The Sun
    With Haaland and Salah virtually must-haves, there’s only room for one of Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Son Heung-min (£4.8m) or Watkins to join them in a standard three-man attack.
    12th Man would allow gaffers to back four in-form strikers for Gameweek 10 only, a tempting option given the fixtures, but the truth is there are more appealing opportunities to come later in the campaign.

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    Diogo Dalot & Douglas Luiz feature in Gameweek 9’s best XI – one Dream Team manager now £100 richer!

    ALL hail Christopher Davey!Why? Because he racked up 247 points in Gameweek 9 to beat hundreds of thousands of Dream Team managers and claim the £100 weekly prize.
    Let’s take a closer look at how he achieved such a mammoth score this past week.

    PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN AN XBOX!

    Bus thoroughly parkedCredit: Dream Team
    As is usually the case, the best XI of the Gameweek is supercharged by the Park the Bus Booster.
    Christopher decided to target Newcastle and Manchester United’s double headers and, despite the fact the former lost to Borussia Dortmund and the latter conceded to Sheffield United, his strategy paid off handsomely.
    When the Blades equalised against Erik ten Hag’s side on Saturday it seemed as if Diogo Dalot’s (£3.2m) best chance of points (clean sheet) had gone up in smoke but the Portuguese full-back ended up as the visitors’ match-winner at Bramall Lane via a well-struck goal from 20 yards out.
    The 24-year-old pouched a bonus point too to leave the Steel City with nine points, which he increased to 16 with a clean sheet at home to Copenhagen in midweek.
    Dalot was the best-performing asset in his position in Gameweek 9.
    Similarly, Andre Onana (£3.5m) topped the pile among goalkeepers because of his semi-redemptive penalty save in the Champions League.
    Most read in Football
    Two brilliant selections for Christopher in Gameweek 9Credit: Dream Team
    Chistopher’s Newcastle contingent combined for 36 points, doubled to 72 with Park the Bus, thanks primarily to the Magpies’ 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in the league.
    Kieran Trippier (£5.6m) remains the jewel in the crown; he’s now provided seven assists in 2023/24, only Ollie Watkins (£4.5m) has more among all players.
    The ever-reliable right-back has 90 points in total, 22 more than the next-best defender.
    Christopher did the right thing in switching to 5-3-2 to make the most of Park the Bus but the one drawback is that such a ploy leaves room for just five midfielders/strikers.
    However, this relative lack of attacking assets was countered by an inspirational selection in the form of Douglas Luiz (£3.1m).
    The Brazilian was his side’s unlikely hero against West Ham last weekend, bagging a brace and 16 points in the process (he added three more against AZ Alkmaar).
    Primarily a combative midfielder, he has the added edge of being the Villains’ first-choice penalty taker and Unai Emery’s attacking tactics allow him to take up advanced positions more often than before.
    Luiz’s ownership has doubled this week ahead of Villa’s home game against Luton in Gameweek 10.
    A persistent threatCredit: Getty
    Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) did well to pocket seven points at the Etihad (three bonus points, two shots on target, maximum appearance points) and he assisted one of Brighton’s two goals against Ajax on Thursday night.
    The Japan international is up to seventh in the midfield rankings and his fixtures look rather friendly throughout November.
    Seven points across two fixtures represents a below par Gameweek for James Ward-Prowse (£4.3m) but the set-piece specialist continues to collect more than his fair share of bonus points.
    The West Ham midfielder has earned 19 bonus points this term, only James Maddison (£4.3m) and Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) boast superior tallies.
    Up front, Christopher put his faith in Dream Team’s two biggest names and was justly rewarded.
    Back among the goalsCredit: Getty
    Erling Haaland (£7.4m) responded to some half-hearted digs at his form with three goals against Brighton and Young Boys for a 26-point return (doubled to 52 with the captain’s armband).
    Was there any real doubt about the prolific poacher’s viability?
    As for Mohamed Salah (£6.6m), he joined Haaland in the 100 Club on Thursday night when he came off the bench against Toulouse to put the cherry on top of Liverpool’s comfortable Europa League win.
    Read More on The Sun
    Prior to that, the Egyptian superstar had scored a brace in the Merseyside derby to make it 28 points from his last two league outings – what a player!
    Congratulations, Christopher – good luck to you and all gaffers ahead of Gameweek 10!

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