Which Teams Have the Most Favorable Matchups This December? -

CHRISTMAS is a time for coming together with loved ones, friends, and, undoubtedly, football.

During the festive period, matches happen quickly, and Dream Team managers need to remain vigilant to improve their standings following this hectic time.

The festive period is a critical time in the Dream Team seasonCredit: Dream Team

While some managers opt to address each Gameweek individually, anticipating future challenges can provide considerable advantages.

With that said, let’s examine each Premier League team’s schedule from Gameweeks 13 to 17, a time when multiple teams will contest NINE matches in this pivotal phase.

LIVERPOOL

Manchester City (h)
Newcastle (a)
Everton (a)
Girona (a)
Fulham (h)
Southampton (a)
Tottenham (a)
Leicester (h)
West Ham (a)

The Reds are currently in excellent form.

Arne Slot’s squad is at the top of the league and appears to be smoothly progressing into the Champions League knockout stage.

Additionally, encountering Man City at this time is opportune as the reigning champions are undergoing an unusual dip in performance.

Five players from Anfield have already surpassed 100 points this season – they’re in great shape.

MANCHESTER CITY

Liverpool (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
Crystal Palace (a)
Juventus (a)
Manchester United (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Everton (h)
Leicester (a)

Pep Guardiola’s winless streak has stretched to six matches across all competitions, so a visit to Anfield is far from favorable.

Erling Haaland (£8.6m) broke his recent scoring drought with a brace against Feyenoord, but players like Rico Lewis (£3.4m) and Josko Gvardiol (£4.6m) have seen their points dwindle.

Dream Team’s transfer trends reveal many managers are temporarily losing confidence in City players.

CHELSEA

Aston Villa (h)
Southampton (a)
Tottenham (a)
Astana (a)
Brentford (h)
Shamrock Rovers (h)
Everton (a)
Fulham (h)
Ipswich (a)

The Blues are among five teams set to play nine matches from this weekend through to New Year’s Day.

However, Enzo Maresca has consistently rotated his squad in the Conference League, suggesting Christopher Nkunku (£4.5m), Joao Felix (£4.4m), and Mykhailo Mudryk (£3.1m) might stand out in matches against Astana and Shamrock Rovers.

These three league games at the end of the month could prove beneficial for Cole Palmer (£6m) if Chelsea’s standout player performs well.

ARSENAL

West Ham (a)
Manchester United (h)
Fulham (a)
Monaco (h)
Everton (h)
Crystal Palace (h)
Crystal Palace (a)
Ipswich (h)
Brentford (a)

The Gunners won’t leave London until 2025, which may prove advantageous as the calendar fills up.

A double fixture against the Eagles is fortunate (thanks to the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw), especially since Oliver Glasner’s team currently sits in 19th place.

Bukayo Saka (£6.4m) is likely to be a vital asset in December, with ninth-placed Fulham being the toughest opponent on paper based on league standings.

BRIGHTON

Southampton (h)
Fulham (a)
Leicester (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
West Ham (a)
Brentford (h)
Aston Villa (a)

The Seagulls have only seven matches scheduled, but they face several bottom-half sides (along with Fulham) leading up to Gameweek 16, offering plenty of opportunity.

Joao Pedro (£4.1m) boasts an impressive average of 8.7 points-per-game, second only to Haaland and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) among forwards.

Picks like Kaoru Mitoma (£3.7m) and Georginio Rutter (£3.4m) could turn out to be excellent differential options in midfield.

TOTTENHAM

Fulham (h)
Bournemouth (a)
Chelsea (h)
Rangers (a)
Southampton (a)
Manchester United (h)
Liverpool (h)
Nottingham Forest (a)
Wolves (h)

Analyzing Spurs’ schedule may be futile given their inconsistency; their recent 4-0 triumph over Man City following a defeat to Ipswich exemplifies this unpredictability.

However, Son Heung-min (£5.3m) and his colleagues have numerous opportunities for points in the coming Gameweeks.

Along with their captain, potential options include Pedro Porro (£4.4m), Dejan Kulusevski (£3m), Brennan Johnson (£3.7m), James Maddison (£4.5m), and Dominic Solanke (£4.3m).

Furthermore, Fraser Forster (£1.8m) could be a budget-friendly choice while Guglielmo Vicario (£3.1m) recovers from an ankle injury.

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Ipswich (h)
Manchester City (a)
Manchester United (a)
Aston Villa (h)
Brentford (a)
Tottenham (h)
Everton (a)

After a promising start, consecutive defeats to Newcastle and Arsenal before the international break have offered a stark reality check for Forest.

Owners of Chris Wood (£3.8m) will hope for a strong return at home against Ipswich this weekend, yet the upcoming fixtures become more daunting from Gameweek 14 onward.

ASTON VILLA

Chelsea (a)
Brentford (h)
Southampton (h)
RB Leipzig (a)
Nottingham Forest (a)
Manchester City (h)
Newcastle (a)
Brighton (h)

This season, unlike the previous one, the Villains have accrued more points away compared to at home.

Unai Emery’s side is currently struggling, with seven matches without a win across competitions.

Emi Martinez (£3.9m), Ollie Watkins (£5.3m), Lucas Digne (£3.5m), and Morgan Rogers (£2.8m) are popular choices within Dream Team, but managers need Villa to get back on track soon.

Villa's recent form has declined — Villa’s recent form has declinedCredit: Reuters

FULHAM

Tottenham (a)
Brighton (h)
Arsenal (h)
Liverpool (a)
Southampton (h)
Chelsea (a)
Bournemouth (h)

Having had a solid start to the season, the West London team now faces a challenging test with their next four opponents all currently in the top six.

Fulham will be eager to secure a win against local rivals on Boxing Day, but their historical performance against Chelsea is poor – they haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 1979!

NEWCASTLE

Crystal Palace (a)
Liverpool (h)
Brentford (a)
Leicester (h)
Brentford (h)
Ipswich (a)
Aston Villa (h)
Manchester United (a)

Those considering Alexander Isak (£5.4m) may want to closely evaluate Newcastle’s fixtures in Gameweeks 15 and 16 (Leicester, Brentford, Ipswich, and Villa).

Eddie Howe’s squad seemed to be gaining pace with victories over Chelsea, Arsenal, and Forest, but a shocking loss to West Ham recently dampened their momentum.

Honestly, Newcastle’s matches haven’t been very fruitful for Dream Team points this season.

BRENTFORD

Leicester (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Newcastle (h)
Chelsea (a)
Newcastle (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
Brighton (a)
Arsenal (h)

The Bees boast the best home record in the Premier League but struggle on the road, rated as the second-worst in this aspect.

The difficulty of their upcoming away fixtures this December may extend into the New Year.

On a positive note, Bryan Mbeumo (£4.3m) could be a solid midfield choice for Gameweek 13, averaging 8.1 points-per-game this season.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Everton (h)
Arsenal (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
Viktoria Plzen (a)
Manchester City (a)
Tottenham (a)
Bournemouth (h)
Wolves (a)
Newcastle (h)

United also have nine fixtures on the agenda.

A match against the Toffees presents a favorable chance for Ruben Amorim’s league debut at Old Trafford, although tough matchups are on the horizon in December.

A trip to the Czech Republic for the Europa League could offer some ease before a demanding Gameweek 15 (against Man City and Spurs), but if the Red Devils emerge relatively unscathed, they could face lucrative encounters against Bournemouth and Wolves afterwards.

Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m), Alejandro Garnacho (£4.2m), Noussair Mazraoui (£4.1m), and Diogo Dalot (£4m) have all collectively contributed to points throughout the first 12 Gameweeks of the season.

Can Amorim inspire Manchester United in the upcoming weeks?Credit: AP

BOURNEMOUTH

Wolves (a)
Tottenham (h)
Ipswich (a)
West Ham (h)
Manchester United (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
Fulham (a)

Currently, Antoine Semenyo (£2.9m) is the sole player making an impact in Dream Team from Bournemouth this season, but he’s suspended for the upcoming trip to Molineux.

With just seven matches ahead for the Cherries, let’s move on…

WEST HAM

Arsenal (h)
Leicester (a)
Wolves (h)
Bournemouth (a)
Brighton (h)
Southampton (a)
Liverpool (h)

West Ham has seven fixtures lined up, including demanding matchups at either end, but Dream Team managers might find Jarrod Bowen (£5.3m) to be a player worth considering.

The England international has amassed 105 points, averaging 7.5 per game, with four goals and four assists to his name.

Bowen has nearly double the points of West Ham’s next best players, Mohammed Kudus (£5.1m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£3.3m), both tied at 56 points each.

EVERTON

Manchester United (a)
Wolves (h)
Liverpool (h)
Arsenal (a)
Chelsea (h)
Manchester City (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)

The Toffees have a challenging December ahead; it will be a tough period for them.

While Dwight McNeil (£3.7m) has been decent this season, fantasy managers should likely avoid Everton players during the holiday rush.

LEICESTER

Brentford (a)
West Ham (h)
Brighton (h)
Newcastle (a)
Wolves (h)
Liverpool (a)
Manchester City (h)

The Foxes are in dire need of a managerial boost and need to pick up points early in December before a demanding schedule sets in.

WOLVES

Bournemouth (h)
Everton (a)
West Ham (a)
Ipswich (h)
Leicester (a)
Manchester United (h)
Tottenham (a)

Although Wolves may lack European fixtures or a Carabao Cup quarter-final involvement, they face six consecutive bottom-half opponents, which could create chances for Matheus Cunha (£4.8m).

Gary O’Neil’s star attacker is averaging 8.3 points-per-game this season and is in great form, having amassed over 50 points in his last four matches.

IPSWICH

Nottingham Forest (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
Bournemouth (h)
Wolves (a)
Newcastle (h)
Arsenal (a)
Chelsea (h)

Liam Delap (£2.4m) remains the only player garnering more than 0.3% ownership from the Tractor Boys, and that’s unlikely to change soon despite Kieran McKenna’s commendable efforts in Suffolk.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Newcastle (h)
Ipswich (a)
Manchester City (h)
Brighton (a)
Arsenal (a)
Arsenal (h)
Bournemouth (a)
Southampton (h)

The Carabao Cup draw has placed the Eagles in a challenging back-to-back situation against the Gunners; nevertheless, they do have eight matches, one more than nine other teams.

This season has posed challenges for Palace, but Eberechi Eze (£5m) is a player to keep an eye on as he tends to rack up Dream Team points when fit – he is expected back from injury shortly.

Palace's urgent need for Eze's return — Palace’s urgent need for Eze’s returnCredit: Getty

SOUTHAMPTON

Brighton (a)
Chelsea (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Tottenham (h)
Liverpool (h)
Fulham (a)
West Ham (h)
Crystal Palace (a)

Realistically, Dream Team managers may not look to players from a team languishing at the bottom of the table.

Their next six adversaries also rank in the top half, making this a potentially tough spell for Russell Martin and his squad.

With the right matchups and players, you can ascend the leaderboard throughout this festive period!

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