IT is with a heavy heart that we must confirm there are just four Gameweeks between this international break and the next one.
The 2023/24 Dream Team campaign will pause again in mid-November for the last of the Euro 2024 qualifying group fixtures.
However, European fixtures and the continuation of the Carabao Cup means this little period will be action packed.
As always, gaffers should consider the schedule when formulating their plans for the upcoming weeks so let’s take a look at which teams have the most favourable fixtures from now until the next international break.
Dream TeamLiverpool and Aston Villa appear to have favourable fixture across the next few weeks[/caption]
TOTTENHAM
Fulham (h)Crystal Palace (a)Chelsea (h)Wolves (a)
The fact Ange Postecoglou’s men play just four times before the next international break is a key thing for Dream Team bosses to note.
Having already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup and without European commitments, Spurs assets will do very well to keep pace with their busier rivals in the coming weeks.
In James Maddison (£4.3m), Son Heung-min (£4.8m) and Cristian Romero (£3.5m) they have in-form individuals capable of double-digit hauls every time they step onto a pitch and with ninth-placed Palace their hardest opponent according to the league table, Spurs have a decent chance of holding onto top spot over the next month or so.
However, stocking up on too many of Postecoglou’s stars in the relam of Dream Team risks failing to make proper use of the schedule.
ARSENAL
Chelsea (a)Sevilla (a)Sheffield United (h)West Ham (a)Newcastle (a)Sevilla (h)Burnley (h)
In contrast to their North London rivals, the Gunners will be very active in the coming weeks.
A trip to the London Stadium in the Carabao Cup is likely to be low priority while away days to Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park represent tricky league match-ups – there are signs the Blues have sorted themselves out.
A Champions League double header against Sevilla should be profitable as the Spanish outfit are currently 14th in La Liga – although Arsenal did lose to Lens who are also struggling domestically this season.
Martin Odegaard (£5.1m) and company should also enjoy themselves at home to the Blades and the Clarets – much has been made of the newly-promoted clubs’ problems this term.
All eyes on Bukayo Saka’s (£6.4m) fitness once the action resumes.
GettyDream Team’s top midfielder in 2023/24[/caption]
MANCHESTER CITY
Brighton (h)Young Boys (a)Manchester United (a)Bournemouth (h)Young Boys (h)Chelsea (a)
The Cherries aside, it could be a relatively testing domestic run for the reigning champions, although the Old Trafford faithful may be fearing another derby day humbling.
Naturally, Pep Guardiola’s side will be heavy favourites in their two fixtures against the Swiss champions in Champions League Group G but the biggest boost post-break will be Rodri’s (£3.9m) return from suspension.
City have won every game in which the Spaniard has featured this season and lost every game without him.
LIVERPOOL
Everton (h)Toulouse (h)Nottingham Forest (h)Bournemouth (a)Luton (a)Toulouse (a)Brentford (h)
Now here’s a set of fixtures that should tempt most right-thinking Dream Team gaffers.
Granted, the Reds have rotated in the Europa League but with all five of their domestic opponents comfortably in the bottom half of the league table right now, it should be fun few weeks for Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) and friends.
A slight quirk in schedule means Jurgen Klopp’s men will play three consecutive home games immediately after the break followed by three away days in a row but visits to Bournemouth and Luton (19th and 17th respectively) have to be considered favourable match-ups on current form.
AlamyPlenty of points up for grabs[/caption]
ASTON VILLA
West Ham (h)AZ Alkmaar (a)Luton (h)Nottingham Forest (a)AZ Alkmaar (h)Fulham (h)
Another friendly batch of games here for Dream Team bosses to potentially target.
The Hammers are no pushovers by any means but home advantage should serve the Villains well this coming weekend – they smashed Brighton 6-1 in their last league fixture at Villa Park.
The Europa Conference League hasn’t been a platform of much joy as of yet for Villa assets – they lost 3-2 to Legia Warsaw before leaving it late to beat Zrinjski Mostar 1-0 – and AZ Alkmaar are their most difficult group stage opponents on paper.
Still, the likes of Matty Cash (£3.1m), Ollie Watkins (£4.3m) and Moussa Diaby (£3.5m) should provide healthy returns in the coming weeks.
BRIGHTON
Manchester City (a)Ajax (h)Fulham (h)Everton (a)Ajax (a)Sheffield United (h)
The first thing to note is that while a double header against Ajax would usually be a stiff European challenge, the famous Dutch giants are in disarray this season.
The four-time European champions are currently third from bottom in the Eredivisie having mustered just five points from six outings.
A trip to the Etihad is always a daunting task although City’s recent losses to Wolves and Arsenal mean it’s a relatively good time to play the treble-winners – if such a concept exists.
We know what to expect from Brighton by now – plenty of goals at both ends.
PAEntertainment guaranteed[/caption]
WEST HAM
Aston Villa (a)Olympiakos (a)Everton (h)Arsenal (h)Brentford (a)Olympiakos (h)Nottingham Forest (h)
A busy schedule only boosts the viability of James Ward-Prowse (£4.3m) and Jarrod Bowen (£4.8m) further, Dream Team’s fourth and fifth best midfielders at the time of writing.
Things are going swimmingly for David Moyes’ mob on the continent once again as they’re currently top of their Europa League group with six points from a possible six – Olympiakos have just one point to their name.
NEWCASTLE
Crystal Palace (h)Borussia Dortmund (h)Wolves (a)Manchester United (a)Arsenal (h)Borussia Dortmund (a)Bournemouth (a)
The good news is that the Magpies are another team with seven fixtures to fulfil between international breaks but the bad news is four of them are potentially tough match-ups.
Borussia Dortmund are undefeated in the Bundesliga this term but they did lose to PSG in the Champions League, who Eddie Howe’s side mauled in the same competition.
Newcastle’s meeting with the Red Devils is a Carabao Cup game so rotation is to be expected from both sides but there’s no doubt a meeting with Arsenal the following weekend will be a stern test.
Nick Pope (£4.3m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.6m) will be hopeful of clean sheets against the likes of Palace, Wolves and Bournemouth to maintain their places at the top of their respective positional rankings.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Newcastle (a)Tottenham (h)Burnley (a)Everton (h)
Just the four games for the Eagles and two of them are against difficult opponents.
With Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) sidelined, it’s probably best to stay clear of Roy Hodgson’s lads during this upcoming period – though they’ve proved their doubters wrong so far in 2023/24.
No Eze, no partyReuters
MANCHESTER UNITED
Sheffield United (a)Copenhagen (h)Manchester City (h)Newcastle (h)Fulham (a)Copenhagen (a)Luton (h)
A record of won four, lost four from eight league games sums up Erik ten Hag’s troops so far this season.
Surely they’ll leave Bramall Lane with three points on Saturday night – Sheffield United have just a single point to their name since promotion – but a double header against Danish opposition in the Champions League represents another potential banana skin following their capitulation against Galatasaray.
A tricky set of fixtures to read given Man United’s own inconsistencies.
CHELSEA
Arsenal (h)Brentford (h)Blackburn (h)Tottenham (a)Manchester City (h)
The Blues only play one away game before the next international break – what a luxury.
Saying that, playing Arsenal, Spurs and City in quick succession will give gaffers a true indication of just how resolute Chelsea’s defensive assets are this season – they boast the joint-third best record in the league currently.
After a frustrating start to the campaign, consecutive wins over Brighton, Fulham and Burnley have given Mauricio Pochettino a reason to be optimistic.
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We’ll cut it off there as, by very definition, it’s hard to argue any of teams from 12th down in the Premier League have fixtures favourable enough for Dream Team managers to target.
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