Keen foresight crucial for Dream Team managers ahead of international break

DREAM TEAM managers will need to dig out their crystal balls ahead of Friday’s 6:30pm deadline. Gameweek 5 looks simple enough but we strongly advise you to take Gameweek 6 into consideration when deciding upon your latest strategic moves. Dream Team bosses will have to channel their inner Arteta in the coming weeks Credit: Getty On the surface, this seems simple enough. You are probably accustomed to looking ahead two or three Gameweeks when formulating your plans but, at this juncture, a lengthy international break looms large. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Gameweek 5 gets underway this Friday (18th September) with Brentford v Chelsea but Gameweek 6 doesn’t start until Leeds travel to Arsenal on Saturday 10th October. The home nations will play four fixtures each during the intervening three weeks with the Nations League taking centre stage. Dream Team bosses hate international breaks because there’s a risk that one or more of their players will get injured. The fear of availability woes will be particularly strong during this upcoming mega break. Even so, we’re encouraging you to look forward to Gameweek 6 because it will be the first full European double of the season. By which we mean, all nine Premier League clubs involved in Europe will play twice while the other 11 clubs will have just one fixture to fulfil. Most read in Football Sunderland’s European fixture in GW6 is an interesting one Credit: Getty Images The European double Gameweeks are always hugely influential and so it’s probably worth bearing these fixtures in mind when making your transfers for Gameweek 5. Let’s take a closer look at the next two Gameweeks for each of the nine sides. GW5 + GW6 FIXTURES (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLUBS) ARSENAL vs Brighton (a), Leeds (h), Lille (h) ASTON VILLA vs Spurs (a), Brentford (h), Fenerbahce (h) LIVERPOOL vs Bournemouth (a), Man City (h), LASK (a) MANCHESTER CITY vs Sunderland (h), Liverpool (a), PSG (h) MANCHESTER UNITED vs Fulham (a), Spurs (h), Atletico (a) Man City’s Gameweek 6 double header of Liverpool and PSG looks tough on paper but neither opponent has been at their best in recent weeks. In fact, both the Reds and the European champions have won just one of their first four league games of the campaign — PSG are currently 7th in Ligue 1! Man United haven’t exactly flown out of the flocks but their next two domestic fixtures catch the eye — Fulham and Spurs are both waiting for their first league win this term. Bournemouth have played better than their results suggest Credit: Shutterstock Editorial GW5 + GW6 FIXTURES (EUROPA LEAGUE CLUBS) BOURNEMOUTH vs Liverpool (h), Chelsea (a), Sturm Graz (h) CRYSTAL PALACE vs Leeds (a), Nott’m Forest (h), Lyon (a) SUNDERLAND vs Man City (a), Brighton (h), Torreense (a) You would be brave to back a Cherries’ defender against Liverpool and Chelsea but Marcus Tavernier (£3.4m), Justin Kluivert (£3.4m) and the other attack-minded assets will fancy their chances, especially in Gameweek 6. The Black Cats’ second European outing will come against a team from Portugal’s second tier. Torreense failed to earn promotion to the top flight last season but they upset Sporting CP in the Portuguese Cup final to earn a place in the Europa League. Although this favourable match-up is offset by two difficult league fixtures — the Seagulls are the top scorers in the Premier League at present. Play Score Predictor! Available on the Dream Team app Predict results for the weekend’s football Every correct prediction earns an entry into a £10,000 prize draw Free to play PLAY NOW GW5 + GW6 FIXTURES (CONFERENCE LEAGUE) BRIGHTON vs Arsenal (h), Sunderland (a), Kauno Zalgris (h) Many gaffers will be itching to recruit one or two of Fabian Hurzeler’s favourites after their 5-0 win over Coventry but their Gameweek 5 fixture is annoyingly tough. If they weren’t facing the Gunners then there’d be no reason to shy away from shopping at the Amex but, given the defending champions’ strength, it might be wise to wait until the break. That being said, Pascal Gross (£3.4m), Lewis Dunk (£2.9m) and several others will be more expensive prior to Gameweek 6. If you’re budget is tight then you could bring in your Brighton player of choice ahead of their price increase and hope Arsenal don’t dish out too much damage. How to claim £30 in football free bets Midnite offer Download the Midnite app or create an account online HERE* Register using the code: BETGET30 Deposit a minimum of £10 Place a £10 sportsbook bet at minimum odds of 1/1 Free Bets will be credited upon settlement of your qualifying bet Comment now