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The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
5 value-for-money Dream Team midfielders who might be the missing puzzle piece
Nick Elliott Published: Invalid Date, MANY Dream Team managers have discovered the initial £50million budget doesn't stretch as far as they would like this season. The big names and proven performers come at a cost which means gaffers will have to shop around for cheaper options to balance the books. 5 Here we've identified five value-for-money midfielders who might be the missing piece of the puzzle ahead of Gameweek 1. Jack Grealish (£3.5m) Dream Team bosses have made their feelings clear about the 29 year-old maverick following his loan move to Everton. In less than 24 hours, Grealish has gone from being a player who appeared in only a handful of teams to the tenth-most popular midfielder in the game! The England international's star has faded in recent years but it shouldn't be forgotten that he was a key contributor to Manchester City's treble in 2022/23. His talent is undeniable and if this move to Merseyside proves to be a clean slate that allows him to regain form then he may well be a smart selection at £3.5m. Experienced gaffers will remember that Grealish was one of Dream Team's best assets in Aston Villa colours. The Toffees are due to face Leeds, Brighton and Wolves (plus a Carabao Cup opponent) this month in what has to be deemed a relatively friendly start to the new campaign. Elliot Anderson (£3.5m) 5 Nottingham Forest's No8 never gives less than 100% and his work rate is the main reason he achieved 180 points last season. Anderson was one of just eight midfielders to register 100+ tackles in 2024/25 and his return of 29 bonus points shouldn't be overlooked either. Granted, the ex-Newcastle midfielder scored just two goals and frequently featured in the referee's book but he's a consistent performer who keeps things ticking over. Anderson should benefit from additional fixtures in 2025/26 with Forest now confirmed for the Europa League after Crystal Palace's appeal was rejected. New signing Dan Ndoye (£3m) might emerge as a bargain option if he hits the ground running under Nuno Espirito Santo. The Swiss winger has joined from Bologna and is expected to replace Anthony Elanga on the right flank. Alex Iwobi (£3.5m) No player priced at £3.5m or cheaper earned more points in 2024/25 than Fulham's underrated talisman. Iwobi has honed and developed his game a lot since his days as an Arsenal youngster. His surging runs and desire to enter the opposition's box make him an effective asset who deserves more recognition. Last season, he contributed nine goals and six assists but also ranked highly for shots on target and big chances created among midfielders in his price range. Iwobi may not seem like the most exciting pick but his numbers speak for themselves; the list of midfielders he outperformed last time out includes Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.5m), Kaoru Mitoma (£4m), Mohammed Kudus (£4.5m), Anthony Elanga (£4m) and Savinho (£4.5m). Jhon Arias (£3m) Wolves have lost Matheus Cunha (£5m) but that leaves the door open for somebody else to be the main man at Molineux. And perhaps that man is their new signing from Fluminense? Arias has taken Cunha's No10 shirt and is expected to be Vitor Pereira's new creator-in-chief. The Colombian playmaker averaged a goal or assist every 151.6 minutes last season. Wolves get underway with a home game against Manchester City which isn't the opening fixture they would have chosen but Arias might be a viable budget option from Gameweek 2. Georginio Rutter (£3.5m) 5 No midfielder in the skilful Frenchman's price range boasted a better points-per-game average (5.2) last season. Rutter won over the Brighton fans in quick time with his entertaining style of play that combines effort and flair. The 23-year-old scored eight goals and registered seven assists in 2024/25 and he will be hopeful of improving on those stats this time around if given more playing time. With Joao Pedro (£4.5m) having followed the well-trodden path from the Amex to Stamford Bridge, Rutter should get more minutes for the Seagulls. He operates best as a No10 but it wouldn't be a surprise if he led the line in certain fixtures. Dream Team managers love it when a player categorised as a midfielder is converted into a fully-fledged striker so this is a situation to monitor closely.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The best fantasy football forfeits for 2025/26: From Ronaldo haircuts to open mic humiliations
Nick Elliott Published: Invalid Date, DREAM TEAM is best enjoyed when played in Mini Leagues against your friends. As well as battling it out for bragging rights at the top of the table, why not spice things up with a forfeit for the loser? 4 The threat of a forfeit should ensure everyone remains engaged throughout the campaign and the ultimate pay-off of watching your mate endure a partially/fully humiliating experience can be a magical moment. Allow us to present some forfeit ideas of varying intensity. PERFORM A STAND-UP COMEDY SET AT AN OPEN MIC NIGHT This one only works if everyone in your Mini League has at least a mild aversion to public speaking. Head down to your nearest open mic night and watch as your friend attempts to make dozens of strangers laugh (the bigger the crowd the better) over the course of five excruciating minutes. Try to stifle your laughter while they're on stage - it'll work better as a forfeit if their 'jokes' are met with total silence. This is an increasingly popular forfeit among fantasy football managers. Once the Mini League standings are confirmed, the loser has to spend 24 hours at their nearest open-all-hours McDonald's. They can reduce their time by eating certain items - one hour for a large Big Mac meal, 15 minutes for a McFlurry, etc - but the more they eat the more full and uncomfortable they'll become. The rest of you might want to keep the loser company in shifts or you could simply request regular photos/videos as proof the punishment is being served in full. GET YOUR HAIRCUT LIKE RONALDO IN 2002 This one is a classic for a reason. The legendary Brazilian striker fired his nation to World Cup glory in 2002 but even amid such greatness, the haircut was deemed an absolute shocker by all. It's up to you how long the loser has to keep the dodgy barnet but one big night out is surely the absolute minimum. Complete the look with an old Brazil shirt or simply let the hair (or lack thereof) do the talking - it's up to you. GET A TATTOO For those who prefer something a little more permanent, why not book a slot at the local tattoo parlour? The world is your oyster in terms of the actual design; you could opt for a simple 'LOSER' label or a more descriptive 'DREAM TEAM MINI LEAGUE LOSER 2025/26'. Get creative! 'RAW DOG' A LONG TRAIN JOURNEY You might decide that Mini League failure deserves to be met with a test of psychological endurance. If your group lives in the south of England, for example, make the loser get a train to Scotland and back the same day with photographic evidence as proof (beware Photoshop cheats). Ramp up the punishment by restricting what they can take on board with them: no snacks, no books, no laptops, nothing that could be construed as entertainment. Ideally, it should just be them, the train, and a heavy sense of regret. The loser hands over control of their social media accounts to the rest of the group for an afternoon/day/weekend. We're sure you can be trusted not to take it too far... APOLOGISE TO 500 PEOPLE It's important the loser seeks forgiveness for their poor performance. Have them apologise to 500 people with a set phrase of your choosing, something like: "I finished last in my Dream Team Mini League. I'm sorry I disappointed you. I will try better next season." The apologies have to be personal, face-to-face interactions with strangers - they can't just shout through a megaphone in the town centre and claim it's done. Add a humiliating outfit to ram the point home. 4
The Sun
08-08-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Which teams have the best fixtures this August? Smart Dream Team gaffers will target favourable match-ups
Nick Elliott Published: Invalid Date, THE very best Dream Team managers tailor their XI to the schedule by targeting favourable match-ups. This approach requires a certain degree of foresight. 5 Weekly transfers allow you to roll with the punches but it's generally wise to look a few Gameweeks ahead when devising your strategy. With that in mind, let's take a whistle-stop tour of the August fixtures for all 20 Premier League clubs. ARSENAL Manchester United (a) Leeds (h) Liverpool (a) The Gunners will be thankful for a newly-promoted team first up at the Emirates but the two away days are demanding match-ups. ASTON VILLA Newcastle (h) Brentford (a) Crystal Palace (h) A middling set for the Villains on paper but if you extend the calendar to September their start appears rather favourable. Might Morgan Rogers (£5.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£5.5m) fly out the blocks? BOURNEMOUTH Liverpool (a) Wolves (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Spurs (a) It's a brutal curtain-raiser for the Cherries with a trip to the Europa League winners to follow soon after but Gameweek 2 could yield healthy returns thanks to the Carabao Cup second round. BRENTFORD Nottingham Forest (a) Aston Villa (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Sunderland (a) Many pundits are tipping the Bees to struggle in the wake of Thomas Frank's departure (not to mention Bryan Mbeumo) and we might get a clear gauge on that common prediction after the first fortnight of the campaign. Defeat at the Stadium of Light would be horribly ominous. 5 BRIGHTON Fulham (h) Everton (a) TBC (Carabao Cup) Man City (h) The Seagulls will be hopeful of getting some points on the board before Pep Guardiola's troops roll into town. A reminder that all the clubs not involved in Europe will enter the Carabao Cup at the second round. BURNLEY Spurs (a) Sunderland (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Man United (a) Away days to two of the country's biggest stadiums will make the Clarets realise they are back in the big time but is it too soon to dub their game against Sunderland a six-pointer? CHELSEA Crystal Palace (h) West Ham (a) Fulham (h) The Club World Cup winners get underway with three consecutive London derbies - whether that's an advantage or a disadvantage is open to interpretation. CRYSTAL PALACE Chelsea (a) Nottingham Forest (h) Aston Villa (a) A reminder that the Eagles' two-legged Conference League play-off does NOT count in the world of Dream Team, hence why those fixtures aren't included here. A tough opening on the domestic front against three of last season's top seven. 5 EVERTON Leeds (a) Brighton (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Wolves (a) The Toffees can't complain about their first few games this term but Elland Road under the lights in the season's first Monday night game is a potential banana skin. FULHAM Brighton (a) Man United (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Chelsea (a) Could be better, could be worse. Marco Silva's side were competitive throughout 2024/25 but, Antonee Robinson (£4m) aside, gaffers were reluctant to spend their budget at Craven Cottage - will it be a similar story this time around? LEEDS Everton (h) Arsenal (a) TBC (Carabao Cup) Newcastle (h) The Whites will fancy their chances of a positive start amid a potentially raucous atmosphere but a trip to the Emirates might come as a reality check - Arsenal's home record has been immense in recent years. LIVERPOOL Bournemouth (h) Newcastle (a) Arsenal (h) At this stage it's hard to envisage anything other than a confident home win on the first Friday of the season but Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta will smell blood if the defending champions stutter against the Cherries. Dream Team bosses won't pay much attention to Liverpool's schedule as the likes of Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.5m) are essentially fixture-proof. 5 MANCHESTER CITY Wolves (a) Spurs (h) Brighton (a) Gaffers will be very interested to see how Pep Guardiola organises his troops this season with the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.5m), Tijjani Reijnders (£4.5m) and Rayan Cherki (£5m) raring to go. Spurs have been a bogey team for City in recent years but the most notable capitulations have come in North London. MANCHESTER UNITED Arsenal (h) Fulham (a) TBC (Carabao Cup) Burnley (h) The Red Devils will enter the Carabao Cup at the second round for the first time in over a decade. The opening weekend will be a tough test but Gameweeks 2 and 3 could yield satisfying returns for popular assets such as Bruno Fernandes (£6m), Matheus Cunha (£5m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£5.5m). NEWCASTLE Aston Villa (a) Liverpool (h) Leeds (a) The Magpies' frustrating summer could easily be exacerbated if they find themselves on zero points when they head to Elland Road at the end of the month. In fact, the fixtures don't turn for Eddie Howe's side until the autumn. NOTTINGHAM FOREST Brentford (h) Crystal Palace (a) West Ham (h) Last season's likeable underdogs start this campaign with four successive games against London-based opposition as they are due to visit the Emirates after the above fixtures. It's worth noting that Forest will also play Burnley and Sunderland before the end of September - it's a favourable opening all things considered. 5 SUNDERLAND West Ham (h) Burnley (a) TBC (Carabao Cup) Brentford (h) Life in the top flight has been mostly miserable for the newly-promoted clubs in recent times but the Black Cats couldn't have asked for a friendlier August. It will be interesting to see how Sunderland's new recruits get on as many pundits have praised their business this summer. TOTTENHAM Burnley (h) Man City (a) Bournemouth (h) One favourable, one unfavourable, and one to split the difference. Over to you, Thomas Frank. WEST HAM Sunderland (a) Chelsea (h) TBC (Carabao Cup) Nottingham Forest (a) The combination of a newly-promoted opponent to start and a potential double header in Gameweek 2 makes Jarrod Bowen (£5m) an appealing option for August. WOLVES Man City (h) Bournemouth (a) TBC (Carabao Cup) Everton (h) Dream Team managers are understandably reluctant to back Vitor Pereira's troops following the departures of Cunha and Ait-Nouri but we'll get a better idea of their prospects by the end of the month. Is Jorgen Strand Larsen (£3.5m) a smart differential for Gameweeks 2 and 3?
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Play Score Predictor ahead of this weekend's Premier League action – key stats and facts for each fixture!
Nick Elliott Published: Invalid Date, THE season may be nearing an end but there's still time to enhance your bank balance through Score Predictor. Matchweek 30 features the customary weekly prize of £250 and is once again free to play. Simply submit your predictions for the five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the action unfolds. If you earn the most points then you'll claim the weekly prize! PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR NOW! Arsenal v Bournemouth One of the most important factors to consider here is that the Gunners are in the midst of a Champions League semi-final. The North Londoners will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit against PSG in the French capital next Wednesday and with little to play for in the league it would be understandable if Mikel Arteta viewed this weekend's game as a low priority. That being said, Arsenal have lost three league games all season and just once at home. Granted, one of those defeats came against the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium but Andoni Iraola's side have faded at the back end of the campaign. In fact, only West Ham and the three relegated sides have taken fewer points than Bournemouth from their last ten games. Only Everton have drawn more times than Arsenal in the top flight this term. Our Prediction: 1-1 draw 5 Brentford v Manchester United The Red Devils may also be distracted by their two-legged European semi-final this weekend. If their Europa League tie with Athletic Bilbao hangs in the balance after the first leg then Ruben Amorim may even choose to rest key players at the Gtech Stadium. Score Predictor users will get another chance to scout the Bees when they take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Thursday night but fans, rivals and neutrals alike should know what Thomas Frank's troops offer by now. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are one of the most effective partnerships in Europe having scored 34 league goals between them - both are among the top six scorers in the Premier League at present. Man United have won five of seven meetings with Brentford since the latter were promoted but will head into Sunday's match-up seven points and three places behind the West Londoners. We may tweak our prediction after Thursday night's fixtures but for now... Our Prediction: 2-1 to Brentford 5 Brighton v Newcastle The Magpies are finishing the season in fine style with only Wolves above them in the form table (last six games) ahead of this weekend's action. Eddie Howe's side have won seven of their last eight outings in all competitions and averaged three goals per game throughout April. In contrast, the Seagulls late win over West Ham last weekend was their first victory since early March. Like Bournemouth, Brighton's push for European qualification has stalled at a crucial time but they may yet snatch a place in the Conference League. Newcastle have won more league games on the road then Fabian Hurzeler's side have managed at home in 2024/25 but this has been something of a bogey fixture for the Toon in recent times. Brighton have won three of the last four meetings (plus a draw) including victories in both the league and FA Cup this season. Even so, we're inclined to follow the form guide on this occasion. Our Prediction: 3-1 to Newcastle 5 Chelsea v Liverpool There's a danger that Sunday's main event may fall a little flat. The Reds have already confirmed their league triumph and will likely bring a last-day-before-summer-holiday vibe to their remaining commitments. But sometimes a release of pressure allows players to express themselves with great effect. Chelsea can't afford to slack off as they find themselves firmly among the scrap to finish in the top five but if Enzo Maresca is to lift a trophy in his first year at Stamford Bridge then it will have to be the Conference League. If the Blues make mincemeat of Djurgarden in the first leg then it will be easier to focus on the task at hand when Liverpool come to town but if the Swedish underdogs put up a fight then the hosts may have one eye on the second leg. A tricky fixture, one easy to overthink. Our Prediction: 2-0 to Liverpool 5 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest The theme of this Matchweek seems to be teams distracted by other commitments as the Eagles will surely be prioritising their date with destiny in the FA Cup final. However, that's still a fortnight away and so Oliver Glasner's side should be suitably focused on Monday night and they could do with a league win having mustered just two points from their last four outings. As for Forest, they will be highly motivated to secure Champions League qualification - a win over Brentford this evening would help. The two-time European champions are unbeaten against Palace since their return to the top flight with Chris Wood providing the winner in the latest encounter back in October. This match-up has been a low-scoring affair in recent years with just six goals scored in the last five meetings.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Top tips for Score Predictor Matchweek 29 – £250 cash prize up for grabs!
Nick Elliott Published: Invalid Date, WE'RE once again offering Score Predictor users the chance to turn their football knowledge into cash winnings. £250 is the weekly prize for Matchweek 29 while dozens of fans are still in contention to claim a chunk of the £5,000 season prize pot! Simply submit your predictions for the selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the drama unfolds over the weekend. If you earn the most points then you'll claim the weekly prize! PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR NOW! Allow us to present some key stats and facts to help inform your decisions... Brighton v West Ham The Seagulls' push for European qualification isn't dead in the water but their chances have reduced dramatically after five games without a win. Fabian Hurzeler will be hopeful of stopping the rot this Saturday as the Hammers are one of very few teams below Brighton in the form table. The atmosphere at West Ham is growing increasingly toxic as their dismal season draws to a close. A draw at home to relegated Southampton last time out was met with much derision. The reverse fixture ended 1-1 back in December but we're backing a home win this time around. Our Prediction: 2-1 to Brighton 5 Newcastle v Ipswich The Magpies were soundly beaten by Aston Villa last weekend but they remain among the top flight's most in-form side having won their previous five in the league. Only Manchester City have scored more home goals than Newcastle this campaign and Alexander Isak will be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on the league's third-worst defence on Saturday. The Swedish striker scored a hat-trick at Portman Road earlier this season. The Tractor Boys have earned twice as many points on the road than at home this season but that isn't saying much if truth be told. Our Prediction: 3-0 to Newcastle 5 Wolves v Leicester These two sides are separated by just four places in the table but they're worlds apart in terms of form. Vitor Pereira's side are flying having made it five consecutive wins when they picked up three points at Old Trafford last Sunday. They've had a favourable run of fixtures and that continues this weekend against the Foxes, now confirmed to be a Championship outfit in 2025/26. Statistically, this is the league's most in-form side at home to the most out-of-form side. Our Prediction: 3-1 to Wolves 5 Bournemouth v Manchester United The Cherries have won just one of their last ten games in all competitions but they remain in pole position to qualify for the Conference League as it stands. It wasn't that long ago this match-up would be considered a laughable mismatch in favour of the Red Devils but most impartial neutrals would deem Bournemouth the superior team at this moment in time. Andoni Iraola watched his troops stroll to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford just before Christmas and he'll feel confident of a repeat as Ruben Amorim will surely be prioritising the Europa League semi-finals. Bournemouth rank in the Premier League's top four for shots and xG this season whereas Man United sit in the bottom half for both metrics. Our Prediction: 3-1 to Bournemouth 5 Liverpool v Tottenham The Reds need just a single point to confirm themselves as champions of England but you're deluded if you think the hosts will be happy to play out an easy draw. Arne Slot's side smashed Spurs 4-0 at Anfield in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final in February and the last league meeting was the unhinged 3-6 result around the festive period when both Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz bagged braces. With Liverpool motivated to seal their triumph in fine style and Spurs distracted by Europa League commitments, Sunday afternoon could get very messy for the visitors. Ange Postecoglou may even rest some of his key players ahead of Bodo Glimt's visit to North London. On paper this is a fixture between two of the top flight's so-called 'big six' but the reality is this particular meeting is the league leaders at home to 16th.
