Out-of-position gift Maxim De Cuyper dominates Dream Team on opening weekend

MAXIM DE CUYPER (£3.5m) earned more points than any other Dream Team player over the first weekend of the new Premier League season. The Belgium international banked 18 points as Brighton blitzed Aston Villa at the Amex on Sunday. Defender turned poacher Credit: Dream Team De Cuyper’s mega haul emphatically illustrates what is possible when players are deployed out of position. The 25-year-old is a full-back by trade, hence why he’s categorised as a defender in Dream Team, but Fabian Hurzeler selected him as a left winger for the Seagulls’ opener, a decision that yielded tremendous results. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Key players Kaoru Mitoma (£4m) and Yankuba Minteh (£4m) are sidelined with injury at present and so most expected De Cuyper to be pushed forward against the Villains — he fulfilled the same role a few times last season. The hosts’ No29 could hardly have been higher up the pitch for Brighton’s first goal. He anticipated a wayward pass from Paul Torres (£3.5m) and forced Victor Lindelof (£3m) into an own goal to register a fantasy assist in just the eighth minute. Brighton blew Villa away in the first half Credit: Reuters 10 ten minutes later, De Cuyper got the goal he deserved when he popped up in the six-yard box like a seasoned poacher to convert Georginio Rutter’s (£3.5m) low cross. Jack Hinshelwood (£3.5m) scored a quickfire brace soon after as Unai Emery’s side fell apart in a disastrous first half for the visitors. The adaptable 21-year-old notched 17 points for his efforts and is currently second in the overall rankings at this embryonic stage of the campaign. Most read in Football De Cuyper leads the way because he’s classified as a defender and therefore claimed his share of the clean sheet points from the 4-0 victory. If the former Club Brugge man is going to continue as Brighton’s starting left winger – and why not after this impressive performance – then Dream Team managers would be wise to consider whether they are able to accommodate him. At the time of writing De Cuyper features in just 0.9% of teams — very few gaffers benefited from his 18-point masterclass. Nightmare start Credit: AFP Mats Wieffer (£3.5m) also cashed in with a double-digit return of 12 points courtesy of three bonus points and four tackles (two points) on top of his clean sheet. As for Aston Villa, the red flags are impossible to ignore. Lindelof, Torres, Matty Cash (£4m) and Joao Gomes (£3.5m) all registered minus points on the day — the latter was sent off for violent conduct and will now serve a three-game domestic ban. Lucas Digne, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers have already exited this summer with Ollie Watkins (£5m) and Emi Martinez (£4m) expected to follow suit in the coming days. Gameweek 2 is unlikely to bring reprieve as champions Arsenal are due at Villa Park next Monday. Dream Team bosses would be advised to stay well clear of Villa until the outlook improves significantly. 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