Fantasy Football

ASTON VILLA’S 5-1 defeat to Newcastle on the opening weekend of the season feels a long time ago.Since their humbling at St James’ Park, Unai Emery’s team have won six of their eight league games, scoring 22 goals in the process, and are three points above the Magpies in the table on the cusp of the top four.
The Villains are a force to be reckoned with at home having extended their 100% record at Villa Park with a 4-1 win over West Ham on Sunday – their previous home league fixture was a 6-1 victory against Brighton.
A hidden gemCredit: Dream Team
Naturally, this upsurge in domestic form, coupled with Europa Conference League outings, has resulted in a deluge of Dream Team points.
Gaffers have long been aware of the impressive returns delivered by the likes of Matty Cash (£3.2m), Ollie Watkins (£4.5m) and Moussa Diaby (£3.4m) but Douglas Luiz’s (£3.1m) success has come as a pleasant surprise.
Primarily a combative midfielder, the 25-year-old has bagged five goals already this campaign (six if we include the European play-offs but those fixtures didn’t count in the world of Dream Team).
This puts him level with Bukayo Saka (£6.4m), Callum Wilson (£4.2m) and team-mate Watkins in the all-important metric.
And the list of players Luiz is outscoring includes big names such as Darwin Nunez (£4m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m) and Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m).
Luiz is one of several players loving life under EmeryCredit: Reuters
Granted, three of the Brazilian’s goals have come from the penalty spot but Dream Team bosses should be aware of the most prolific spot-kick takers – they all count.
Emery’s attacking approach, particularly at home, allows Luiz the freedom to get forward more often and he’s proved to be an effective shooter around the edge of the box.
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Having scored just five goals in 111 appearances across his first three seasons at the club, he’s notched his most recent 13 goals in little over a year.
Luiz’s 16-point haul at the Hammers’ expense is the joint-best haul of Gameweek 9 at the time of writing, alongside Chris Wood (£1.6m) who also scored a brace at the weekend.

Villa are very strong at home this seasonCredit: Alamy
Incredibly, the former Vasco de Gama midfielder is now Villa’s second-best performer in 2023/24.
His overall total of 65 points puts him above the aforementioned Diaby (55 pts) and Cash (62 pts) with only Watkins (76 pts) denying him number one rank among Emery’s squad.
In the broader scheme of things, Luiz is now joint-ninth among all midfielders, level with Fernandes and Anthony Gordon (£3.2m) – two assets significantly more popular than him.
In fact, with an ownership of 1.6%, Luiz appears in fewer teams than Sandro Tonali (£2.2m), Mason Mount (£3.2m) and James Garner (£2.2m) among others.
Villa’s No6 is likely to be a relatively popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 10, especially with a home fixture against Luton in diary.

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Dream Team brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 9 in one easily digestible dose.Andy Robertson (£3.9m) is set to undergo surgery on his shoulder after injuring himself on Scotland duty.
The Liverpool left-back may not return until after Christmas with Kostas Tsimikas (£2.7m) most likely to deputise for the foreseeable future, starting with this weekend’s Merseyside derby.
As for Everton, all their internationals have returned fully fit while Idrissa Gueye (£2.2m) is available again after sitting out Gameweek 8.

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Robertson may miss the next three monthsCredit: Dream Team
Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) withdrew from Japan’s squad with fatigue/illness but Roberto De Zerbi did not mention the skilful winger when discussing Brighton absentees.
However, Tariq Lamptey (£2.1m) has joined Pervis Estupinan (£3.2m) in the treatment room, leaving the Seagulls slightly short at full-back for their trip to Manchester City.
Rodri’s (£3.9m) return from suspension and John Stones’ (£5m) comeback from injury means the treble-winners’ only absentee right now is Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m).
Casemiro (£4.2m) is not available for Manchester United’s trip to Sheffield United on Saturday night after picking up a “short term” injury during the international break.
It’s not yet known whether the Brazilian midfielder will feature against Copenhagen in midweek.
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In better news for the Red Devils, Raphael Varane (£3.4m) and Sergio Reguilon (£2m) have returned to full fitness, somewhat alleviating Erik ten Hag’s injury crisis in defence.
Mikel Arteta continues to keep his cards close to his chest in regards to Bukayo Saka’s conditionCredit: Rex
The uncertainty around Bukayo Saka’s (£6.4m) condition rumbles on with Mikel Arteta telling reporters: “He’s been working so hard to be fit for this game. Let’s see where he is today.”
Arsenal’s gaffer also confirmed that William Saliba (£3.5m) continues to be hampered by a persistent toe injury but the Frenchman should be fine if he comes through the week’s final training session unscathed.
Mauricio Pochettino told journalists that both Enzo Fernandez (£3.1m) and Moises Caicedo (£2.4m) “are ready” after World Cup qualifiers in South America.
Reece James (£4.5m) has trained with Chelsea in recent days but will be assessed before his involvement against the Gunners is confirmed – the same is true for Axel Disasi (£3.5m) and Nicolas Jackson (£2.6m).
Beniot Badiashile (£3m) may also be included in the Blues’ matchday squad for the first time this season.
A late call will be made on Alexander Isak (£4m) but the Newcastle striker hasn’t trained since he was forced to remove himself from Sweden’s squad.
It’s not known whether Sven Botman (£4.1m) has recovered from his injury but Eddie Howe is hopeful Joelinton (£2.7m) will be able to play some part against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Isak features in 16.3% of Dream TeamsCredit: Rex
Wolves’ disciplinary issues continue to impact Gary O’Neil’s team selections.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (£1.8m) is set to return from his red card back in Gameweek 6 but Mario Lemina (£1.9m) and Nelson Semedo (£2.4m) are now suspended.
Ange Postecoglou said in his press conference that all of Tottenham’s international players “should be available” for his side’s game against Fulham on Monday night.
Son Heung-min (£4.8m) appeared in discomfort on South Korea duty but the 19.7%-owned forward is evidently okay to participate in Gameweek 9.

ARSENAL
Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Leandro Trossard (doubt), Bukayo Saka (doubt), William Saliba (doubt)
Suspensions: None
ASTON VILLA
Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Tim Iroegbunam (doubt), Jacob Ramsey, Alex Moreno
Suspensions: None
BOURNEMOUTH
Injuries: Alex Scott, Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Chris Mepham, Lloyd Kelly, Tyler Adams
Suspensions: None
BRENTFORD
Injuries: Josh Dasilva, Shandon Baptiste, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Ben Mee (doubt), Kevin Schade, Keane Lewis-Potter, Ethan Pinnock (doubt)
Suspensions: Ivan Toney, Aaron Hickey
BRIGHTON
Injuries: Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan, Adam Lallana, Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio (doubt)
Suspensions: None
BURNLEY
Injuries: Michael Obafemi, Hjalmar Ekdal, Nathan Redmond (doubt), Manuel Benson (doubt), Johan Berg Gudmundsson (doubt), Ameen Al-Dakhil (doubt), Jordan Beyer
Suspensions: None
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, Jeffrey Schlupp
Suspensions: None
EVERTON
Injuries: Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli, Andre Gomes
Suspensions: None
FULHAM
Injuries: Tosin Adarabioyo, Adama Traore, Kenny Tete, Issa Diop
Suspensions: None
LIVERPOOL
Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson
Suspensions: Curtis Jones
LUTON
Injuries: Dan Potts, Jordan Clark, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell (doubt), Mads Andersen
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER CITY
Injuries: Kevin De Bruyne
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER UNITED
Injuries: Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro
Suspensions: None
NEWCASTLE
Injuries: Joe Willock, Emil Krath, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman (doubt), Alexander Isak (doubt), Joelinton (doubt)
Suspensions: None
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Injuries: Danilo, Nuno Tavares, Ola Aina, Serge Aurier (doubt), Taiwo Awoniyi, Gonzalo Montiel, Felipe
Suspensions: None
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Injuries: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Max Lowe, Ben Osborn (doubt), Will Osula, George Baldock, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies
Suspensions: None
TOTTENHAM
Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Rodrigo Bentacur, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Brennan Johnson, Manor Solomon
Suspensions: Yves Bissouma
WEST HAM
Injuries: Aaron Cresswell (doubt), Ben Johnson (doubt)
Suspensions: None
WOLVES
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Injuries: Hugo Bueno, Rayan Ait-Nouri (doubt)
Suspensions: Nelson Semdo, Mario Lemina

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ERLING HAALAND (£7.7m) remains Dream Team’s most-popular captain by a wide margin but gaffers who have taken him on have been rewarded for their bravery of late.In fact, all the alternatives we put forward for Gameweek 8 outscored Manchester City’s No9 and would therefore have been a better option for the armband.
Dream Team bosses who backed Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) watched on with glee as he registered 14 points (doubled to 28) against Brighton while Haaland mustered just three against Arsenal.
We also suggested James Maddison (£4.3m) as a strong option because of his favourable fixture against Luton – he obliged with an eight-point return.

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An ominous presenceCredit: Getty
Looking forward to Gameweek 9, Haaland is a perfectly viable choice for captain as he’s set to take on Brighton, who have conceded 16 goals in eight league games, and Young Boys, who have earned just one point from their first two Champions League fixtures.
However, the Norwegian poacher has scraped together ten points across his last three outings and he hasn’t returned a double-digit haul since his trip to the London Stadium in mid-September.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some tempting alternatives.
Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m)
Due a big haulCredit: Dream Team
Manchester United have not been at their best this season but they have the luxury of the most-favourable Premier League match-up possible this weekend in the form of Sheffield United.
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The Blades have played eight, drawn one, lost seven in the top flight since promotion and the wounds inflicted by Newcastle during that 8-0 mauling at Bramall Lane are yet to fully heal.
Wes Foderingham (£1.9m) has been forced to make 45 saves in the league already, nine more than the next busiest goalkeeper, and he’s also picked the ball out of his net 22 times, meaning Paul Heckingbottom’s side hold the worst defensive record at this stage.
Fernandes leads the way among United players for both shots on target and big chances created so he seems the man most likely to take advantage of Sheffield United’s woes on Saturday.
Plus, the Red Devils welcome Copenhagen to Old Trafford in midweek.
The Portuguese midfielder averages a shade under six points-per-game this season so even if he maintains that rate he would return 24 points as captain this coming Gameweek and that doesn’t even account for additional points likely to be conceded by the Blades.
Mohamed Salah (£6.5m)
Mr ConsistentCredit: Getty
Liverpool’s main man provided the goods last time out and he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Salah has notched four goals and an assist in his last six games against Everton.
The Egyptian superstar has raced to ten goal involvements this season (six goals, four assists) and he can count himself unlucky not to have more given he’s created TEN big chances – no other player has registered more than seven.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are also scheduled to play Toulouse in the Europa League but Salah’s minutes are uncertain – he’s played 61 of a possible 180 minutes in Europe this term.
Not that Salah needs many minutes to cash in on Thursday nights, he’s earned 12 points in the competition so far.
Kieran Trippier (£5.6m)
Dream Team’s best defenderCredit: Getty
Saturday’s visitors to St James’ Park, Crystal Palace, have enjoyed a positive start to the season and are currently just one point behind Newcastle in the table.
However, the Eagles have scored just seven goals in the league – only Luton, Bournemouth and Sheffield United have a worse attacking record – and with key man Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) injured, Eddie Howe’s men will feel confident of a clean sheet.
Defensive returns are only one aspect of Trippier’s game.
Only Ollie Watkins (£4.3m) has more assists (seven) than the 33-year-old right-back’s six at the time of writing.
To hammer the point home, Trippier is also the defender with the most bonus points (15) after eight Gameweeks.
A clean sheet looks less likely against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night but the Magpies will have home advantage in that clash and they beat PSG in fine style last time out in the Champions League.
Trippier has amassed 60 points across the last four Gameweeks!

With Arsenal, Aston Villa, West Ham and Brighton also pulling double duty in Gameweek 9, there is no shortage of captaincy options.
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Gaffers may even be tempted to activate their Max Captain Booster to ensure the optimum choice.

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IF you haven’t played a Booster yet this season then Gameweek 9 is a great time to pop your cherry.With no fewer than eight teams set to pull double duty, all three Boosters are viable if deployed in combination with a well-crafted XI.

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Goals for Hojlund this week?Credit: Dream Team
12th Man
Dream Team gaffers are spoiled for choice up front right now with Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m), Alexander Isak (£4m), Ollie Watkins (£4.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) all boasting impressive points tallies.
With the exception of Tottenham’s captain, all those forwards have two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek and the temptation to use the 12th Man Booster to select FOUR in-form strikers is strong.
Say your current front three is Haaland, Alvarez and Salah, selecting Isak (vs Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund) or Watkins (vs West Ham, AZ Alkmaar) as your 12th Man would ensure maximum firepower across multiple fixtures, most of them favourable.
Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m) is another appealing candidate for this role.
Manchester United haven’t been at their best this season but a trip to Bramall Lane this Saturday represents the most friendly match-up in the Premier League right now.
Sheffield United have conceded 22 goals in eight league games since promotion with Wes Foderingham (£1.9m) having been by far the busiest goalkeeper in the top flight – he’s been forced to make 45 saves on top of the 22 times he’s picked the ball out of his net.
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The Blades are vulnerable to crosses from open play and set-pieces so the Red Devils’ 6ft 3in striker should enjoy himself.
And Hojlund will be looking forward to Copenhagen’s visit to Old Trafford in midweek too – narrative demands a goal against his former club, surely?

Max Captain
Is Haaland still the best choice for captain?Credit: Getty
This Booster is best activated when there’s plentiful points up for grabs but it’s hard to identify a standout candidate for captain amid several decent options.
Gameweek 9 seems to fit the bill as the traditional choice, Haaland, has gone three games without a goal – if you took him on in Gameweek 8 by strapping the armband to Salah then you were handsomely rewarded.
That being said, Manchester City’s No9 could easily feast against Brighton (averaging two conceded goals per league game in 2023/24) and Young Boys.
But the European fixtures mean there are a host of viable captains of similar pedigree – Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m), Alvarez, Salah, Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m) and several others appear well placed to provide heathy returns.
Activating Max Captain removes this dilemma and essentially guarantees a prosperous Gameweek.
Looking ahead, Gameweek 11 also seems like a good time to pull this particular lever but if you want to come out swinging from the international break then crack on this week.
Park the Bus
There’s a lot to be said for doubling this man’s points on current formCredit: Getty
Dream Team’s most-powerful Booster doubles all your defenders’ points for one Gameweek only.
Hypothetically, what would the perfect back five look like to complement Park the Bus in Gameweek 9?
Matty Cash (£3.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), Diogo Dalot (£3.1m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m) and Ben White (£4.5m) would be quite the quintet.
Granted, that’s a costly back line that might not be feasible but you could opt for cheaper alternatives while targeting the same fixtures.
For example, Alexander-Arnold is pricey but Kostas Tsimikas (£2.7m) is very affordable and looks set for a run as Liverpool’s starting left-back while Andy Robertson (£3.9m) is sidelined.
Park the Bus is so strong because of the ginormous potential returns of a back five who all get their points doubled across two fixtures each.
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Such an outcome is possible this coming Gameweek but you need to make sure your team is just right.
If your XI is not quite there, be patient and wait for a better opportunity later in the campaign.

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DREAM TEAM gaffers have had the international break to mull over their transfers ahead of Gameweek 9 but nothing’s set in stone until the action gets underway.We won’t waste your time by suggesting the obvious candidates – Mohamed Salah (£6.5m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), etc – but here are some alternative options to consider.

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Hear us outCredit: Dream Team
Konstantinos Tsimikas (£2.7m)
Early reports suggest Andy Robertson (£3.9m) may be sidelined for quite some time with a shoulder injury.
The Scotland captain suffered the setback on international duty and may be out for up to ten weeks if surgery is deemed necessary.
While that’s clearly a blow for the energetic defender and the Reds generally, it leaves the door open for Tsimikas to prove his worth at left-back.
The Greece international has always been Robertson’s understudy and so Dream Team bosses have rightly been reluctant to back him due to insufficient game time.
However, 19-year-old Luke Chambers, the other left-back in the squad, has also picked up an ill-timed injury so all signs point to a long run of starts for Tsimikas.
From a Dream Team perspective, this coincides with a relatively favourable run of fixtures for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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Liverpool face Everton, Toulouse (x2), Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton and Brentford before a trip to Manchester City at the end of November.

Tsimikas isn’t as reliable as Robertson in defence but he’s not shy of getting forward and supplies plenty of crosses.
The 27-year-old earned 22 points across his last three appearances when selected – including seven bonus points – so he has the potential to provide healthy returns in the coming weeks.
And in terms of value for money, at £2.7m he’s very affordable and his current ownership of 0.4% makes him a massive differential option.
You may be able to catch your Mini League rivals unaware with this transfer but there is an element of risk.
Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m)
First things first, it should be acknowledged that there’s no shortage of strikers for Dream Team gaffers to select from right now.
Julian Alvarez (£4.7m) and Erling Haaland (£7.7m) are top two performers in the game overall, with Salah not far behind, while Alexander Isak (£4m), Ollie Watkins (£4.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) have all enjoyed themselves in recent weeks.
That being said, Manchester United’s No11 looks to be appealing alternative for the weeks ahead.
Old Trafford’s resident speedsterCredit: Getty
Granted, Gameweek 10 looks rough (Manchester derby followed by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup) but a trip to Bramall Lane this weekend is about as friendly as it gets.
Sheffield United have lost seven of their eight league games since promotion and they tend to give up a lot of chances in central areas, exactly where Hojlund will occupy this coming Saturday.
The Blades have also looked vulnerable to crosses from open play and set-pieces – the Danish forward’s 6ft 3in frame should cause problems.
Erik ten Hag’s will then take on Copenhagen, Hojlund’s former club, in the Champions League – narrative demands a goal in that one.
Looking ahead, Man United also face Fulham, Copenhagen (again), Luton and Everton before the end of November.
On a similar note, gaffers who have kept the faith in Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m) will expect just rewards in the coming weeks, starting with a double-digit return against Sheffield United.
Rodri (£3.9m)
IrreplaceableCredit: Getty
Man City have won every game their metronomic midfielder has played this season and lost every game without him.
There are other factors to consider but the Spaniard’s influence is impossible to deny, which is why the Etihad faithful will be thankful his suspension has been served in full.
From a Dream Team perspective, £3.9m is a reasonable price for Rodri right now, a knock-on effect of his red card against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 6.
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The treble winner averages a goal involvement every 164 minutes this season – good going for a somebody fans think of primarily as a defensive midfielder – and he ranks highly for shots on target as well.
Naturally, he was among the most transferred-out players during his suspension but it will be interesting to see how many gaffers bring him back in now he’s available domestically.

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THAT’S enough Harry Maguire/Kalvin Phillips discourse for one international break – England play again in a month’s time for crying out loud!Let’s refocus on the Premier League with some box-fresh Score Predictor tips.
Somebody has to win an Xbox Serie X in Matchweek 10 – it might as well be you.

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A mouthwatering clashCredit: Dream Team
Manchester City v Brighton
It’s a crime this match-up is a 3pm Saturday kick-off as it would make for great weekend television.
Roberto De Zerbi’s tactics virtually guarantee goals (at both ends) and it will interesting to see whether the Italian goes for broke at the home of the treble winners.
As for the hosts, the return of Rodri can’t be overstated.
City lost all three fixtures during the Spaniard’s suspension but when their metronomic midfielder has been present, they’ve won every game.
Pep Guardiola’s troops will have been pained by their defeat to Arsenal prior to the break and we suspect they’ll be highly motivated to remind their Premier League rivals of their pedigree.
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The Seagulls have conceded 16 goals in eight league games so far and they registered consecutive 2-2 draws before the international fixtures so it’s tempting to predict two goals for the home side – although Brighton’s last league away day was that 6-1 loss at Villa Park.
The visitors are the league’s top scorers while City boast the joint-best defence so it’s tricky to gauge how De Zerbi’s men will get on.
Our Prediction: 2-1 to Man City
Pochettino will be happy with Chelsea’s last three performancesCredit: Rex
Chelsea v Arsenal
The Gunners would have been extremely confident of a win in this one a few weeks back but there are signs the Blues have sorted themselves out to some degree.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Brighton, Fulham and Burnley in succession before the break and while the former victory came in the Carabao Cup, the outlook suddenly looks much brighter for the West Londoners.
Scoring goals has been a problem but Chelsea’s defence has functioned well – only City and Arsenal have conceded fewer league goals this term.
There’s a possibility two frugal defences could cancel each other out but Mikel Arteta’s side pack a punch in attack, especially with Gabriel Martinelli back in the fold, and the hosts will have taken a lot of confidence from their four goals at Turf Moor.
Chelsea’s underlying numbers are good and so, despite the considerable gap between these rivals in the table, we’re backing a draw.
Our Prediction: 1-1 draw

A goal for England could spark a run of form for RashfordCredit: The Times
Sheffield United v Manchester United
2023/24 has been a miserable campaign for the Blades so far.
After eight games, they have just one point to show for their efforts and they suffered the indignity of an 8-0 walloping at the hands of Newcastle.
In a way, their 3-1 defeat to Fulham last time out was just as disappointing as that’s the sort of fixture they need to target whereas the clashes with the Champions League clubs are free hits.
As for the Red Devils, they eventually got the job done against Brentford courtesy of Scott McTominay’s clutch cameo but most fans would agree that vast improvements are needed if they’re to compete at an acceptable level this season.
Defeat at Bramall Lane would be an interesting twist in United’s psychodrama but it’s hard to envisage – the hosts’ stats make for truly terrible reading.
Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes all scored during the international break so Erik ten Hag should have a happy attacking unit on his hands this week.
Watch out for Sheffield United’s weakness at set-pieces.
Our Prediction: 2-0 to Man United
Villa have a great record at home this seasonCredit: Getty
Aston Villa v West Ham
Sunday’s lone fixture is an intriguing one.
Both sides have enjoyed a positive stat to the campaign and are separated by just two points in the table, with the Villains slightly better off in fifth.
Unai Emery’s men have won all four of their home league games this season, including an emphatic 6-1 win over Brighton most recently.
In fact, only Newcastle and the aforementioned Seagulls have scored more league goals than Villa in 2023/24 with Ollie Watkins averaging a goal or assist every outing.
Both teams will have one eye on European away days this coming Thursday but it should be a competitive encounter with plenty of chances.
We’re reluctant to bet against David Moyes’ functional side but home advantage does feel like a significant factor in this one.
Our Prediction: 2-1 to Aston Villa
Top of the league!Credit: Reuters
Tottenham v Fulham
With Arsenal and City facing relatively tough tests, this weekend is a great opportunity for Ange Postecoglou to cement his side’s position at the top of the table.
Son Heung-min looked pained in action for South Korea and Yves Bissouma is set to serve a suspension for his foolish red card at Luton but the home side should still have enough to continue their unbeaten run in fine fashion.
The Cottagers are currently 12th in the table but we believe they hold something of a false position.
Marco Silva’s side allow their opponents too many shots and often rely on Bernd Leno’s shot-stopping to bail them out of trouble.
They’re fairly tame in attack too, only Sheffield United, Burnley and Nottingham Forest have generated fewer xG in the top flight this season.
Fulham may seem relatively safe now but if they don’t improve soon they’re at risk of being dragged towards the danger end.
Our Prediction: 2-0 to Spurs
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FEW things satisfy football fans like a perfectly-executed tackle.This season, players are able to earn Dream Team points through tackles – one for every two registered in the context of any given fixture.
This improvement means greater recognition for the individuals who excel in the defensive side of the game.
Dream Team gaffers shouldn’t centre their strategy around tackles but they should be aware of which players are performing best in that particular metric so far this campaign.

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A familiar faceCredit: Dream Team
Without further ado…
MOST POINTS FROM TACKLES THIS SEASON:

Marvelous Nakamba (£1.9m) – 16 pts
Joao Palhinha (£3.1m) – 15 pts
James Garner (£2m) – 14 pts
Conor Gallagher (£2.9m) – 13 pts
Lucas Paqueta (£3.7m) – 13 pts
Casemiro (£4.2m) – 12 pts
Yves Bissouma (£2.9m) – 11 pts
Solly March (£3.4m) – 11 pts
Amadou Onana (£2.4m) – 11 pts
Matty Cash (£3.1m) – 11 pts
Vitaliy Mykolenko (£2.3m) – 11 pts

Much has been made of the newly-promoted clubs’ struggles this term so it’s perhaps not a surprise to see Luton’s Nakamba at the top of the pile.
He leads the way with 37 tackles in 2023/24 with the Hatters’ defensive midfielder often worked off his feet in the middle of the park.
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In fact, over half of the 29-year-old’s total points (31) have come through tackles.
Those who like their stats will have expected Palhinha’s lofty ranking too.
Fulham’s midfield general was in a league of his own in terms of Premier League tackles last season and he’s right up there again this campaign despite missing the first couple of games while sidelined.
However, the Portugal international’s overall tally of 39 points is modest.
The Premier League’s two tackle kingsCredit: Getty
The same can’t be said for Garner, Paqueta and Casemiro, who are all among the top 15 midfielders in Dream Team at this stage.
This trio have topped up their returns with tackles while also registering the necessary goal involvements to reach that next level.
As for Gallagher, he’s mustered just one assist and is yet to score this season but he’s quietly done a lot of the donkey work for Chelsea.
The England international’s efforts are reflected by his respectable tally of 12 bonus points and his healthy tackle total.
If the Blues’ homegrown midfielder can improve his tangible attacking output he may well be a smart bargain option somewhere down the line – he’s relatively viable now.
March is another notable inclusion as, like Paqueta, his primary job is to provide a spark in the final third but he’s supplementing those attacking returns with a steady stream of tackle points.

A perfect player for Roberto De Zerbi’s tacticsCredit: Getty
Cash is Dream Team’s fourth-most popular defender at the time of writing and with good reason.
Aston Villa’s No2 is a potent attacking threat – he leads the way with eight shots on target among assets in his position – but that doesn’t mean he shirks his defensive duties.
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The Poland right-back is like two players in one and still affordable at £3.1m.
Keep an eye on the tackle stats as the season progresses – every little helps!

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FORM is temporary, class is permanent.That old adage may be true but in the world of Dream Team, form is a very important factor to consider.
With weekly transfers available, gaffers are able to benefit from flashes in the pan without worrying too much about long-term viability.
It’s often the case that tight Mini Leagues are decided by inspired tinkering as one bold individual reaps the rewards of an in-form differential option at just the right time.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Dream Team’s most in-form players right now, using points-per-game average over their last three outings as a measure.

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Dream Team’s most-expensive defender for a reasonCredit: Rex
Kieran Trippier (£5.6m)

Defender
Newcastle
8.7 points-per-game (last three)
75 total points

Last season’s top defender has been on a tear since Gameweek 5, racking up four clean sheets and SIX assists in the blink of an eye.
The 33-year-old’s unmatched ability to combine regular defensive returns with attacking contributions has made him a top-tier Dream Team asset in the last year.
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Trippier appears in this list mainly because of his 16-point haul against former club Burnley in Gameweek 7.
No defender has earned more bonus points in 2023/24.

Son Heung-min (£4.8m)

Striker
Tottenham
9.7 points-per-game (last three)
64 total points

The South Korean superstar cemented his status as a Spurs hero with a brace in the North London derby before adding another goal to his collection against Liverpool the following weekend.
Those two outings resulted in a 25-point influx but, strangely, Son was only able to muster four points against Luton – Yves Bissouma’s (£2.9m) red card disrupted that favourable match-up.
Spurs’ skipper has slipped into top gear since being moved to centre-forward by Ange Postecoglou and his tally of six goals is only bettered by two other players at this stage.
Dream Team bosses should be aware that Son looked to be in some discomfort on international duty – an update on his availability is expected prior to Gameweek 9.
Everton fans have appreciated Garner’s efforts this seasonCredit: Getty
James Garner (£2m)

Midfielder
Everton
9.7 points-per-game (last three)
61 total points

While Trippier and Son are tried-and-tested Dream Team assets, the Toffees’ No37 falls under the category: hidden gems.
The 22-year-old has earned six points from tackles alone in his last three outings and is one of the leaders in that metric so far this season.
Garner scored against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and followed that up with another at home to Bournemouth just before the international break.
The 1.5%-owned asset is technically Dream Team’s most in-form midfielder at present and he’s above the likes of Bruno Fernandes (£5.8m), Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) and Luis Diaz (£3.7m) in the overall rankings.
Back to his bestCredit: Dream Team
Alexander Isak (£4m)

Striker
Newcastle
10.3 points-per-game (last three)
72 total points

Like Son, there are question marks over the Swedish forward’s fitness but he’s not been ruled out of The Magpies’ next game against Crystal Palace at the time of writing.
Isak’s injury comes at an unfortunate time as he was back to his best before the break with five goals in as many games.
His Dream Team form has fluctuated wildly so far; he’s been among the most transferred-in and most transferred-out players a couple of times each.
The silky 24-year-old burst out the blocks with 15-point haul on the opening weekend but then mustered just nine points from Newcastle’s following five fixtures.
Since then, he’s plundered 48 points from his last five outings.
A brace against West Ham last time out has persuaded plenty of gaffers Isak is once again worthy of a spot in their XI but those who have recruited him will need to keep an eye out for Eddie Howe’s press conference quotes.
11 goal involvements already this seasonCredit: Getty
Ollie Watkins (£4.3m)

Striker
Aston Villa
10.7 points-per-game (last three)
65 total points

Unsurprisingly, the England international tops this list because of his monstrous 25-point return at Brighton’s expense in Gameweek 7 – the best single-game haul this season.
Watkins bagged a hat-trick against the Seagulls and also contributed two assists in that emphatic 6-1 victory.
The Villains’ leading man has flexed his creative muscles this term – his tally of seven assists in all competitions is the highest among all players at this juncture.
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Unai Emery’s side host West Ham on Sunday but their fixtures look relatively friendly beyond that: AZ Alkmaar, Luton, Nottingham Forest, AZ Alkmaar, Fulham.
Watkins may well be among the most in-form players for a few more weeks yet.

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