Analysing the state of play in the European competitions and what it all means for Dream Team

EVERY Dream Team manager worth their salt knows the importance of the European competitions.

With just one round of league phase fixtures remaining before the knockout stages of the Champions League and Europa League get underway, it’s time to analyse the state of play for the English teams involved.

ARSENAL

The Gunners are the only team in the Champions League to have won all seven of their commitments this season, having scored 20 goals and conceded just two.

In Gameweek 21, the leaders have the luxury of a home game against Kairat, the worst team in the competition.

From a Dream Team perspective, this match-up should yield plentiful points but Mikel Arteta is likely to rest his key men for what is essentially a dead rubber.

The Spanish tactician named a much-changed XI against Inter at San Siro and so it would be strange if he opted for a full-strength team against Kazakh opposition next Wednesday.

Gaffers may have to wait until March’s round of 16 for their next dose of European points from Arsenal’s top performers.

ASTON VILLA

The Villains booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce on Thursday night.

The exact placings of the top eight do matter to a certain degree but Unai Emery will almost certainly view next week’s game against Red Bull Salzburg as a low priority.

The likes of Morgan Rogers (£5.5m), Matty Cash (£3.7m) and Ezri Konsa (£3.8m) start all the games that matter and will surely be among the first names on the team sheet once the knockout phase begins in March but their owners shouldn’t bank on substantial European minutes in Gameweek 21.

More broadly, Villa are the bookies’ favourites to lift the Europa League trophy this season — Emery has won the competition four times already.

There could be some inviting double Gameweeks to target in the final third of the campaign.

CHELSEA

The Blues are currently in the top eight of the Champions League but only on goal difference (and a single goal at that).

In fact, the West Londoners are one of eight teams on 13 points heading into the final matchday of the league phase.

This means Liam Rosenior will have to name a strong XI at Napoli in hope of a positive result that secures Chelsea’s spot in the round of 16 without the hassle of a play-off.

This is good news for owners of Enzo Fernandez (£4.5m), Reece James (£4.4m) and Pedro Neto (£4.2m) as they are likely to get 150+ minutes out of their assets in Gameweek 21 — enough time to accumulate a good amount points if all goes to plan.

If Chelsea finish outside the top eight then they will have additional fixtures in Gameweeks 24 and 25 with PSV, Athletic Club and Olympiakos among the likely opponents at this stage.

CRYSTAL PALACE

The Conference League works differently as participants play six league phase games instead of eight.

Surprisingly, the Eagles finished 10th which means they must traverse a two-legged play-off if they are to reach the last 16.

Oliver Glasner’s side are scheduled to face Zrinjski on February 19th (Gameweek 24) before welcoming the Bosnian side South London on February 26th (Gameweek 25).

Like Villa, Palace are favourites to win their European competition this season but subdued performances in the league phase left many Dream Team bosses underwhelmed.

The likes of Daniel Munoz (£5.9m), Jean-Philippe Mateta (£4m) and Yeremy Pino (£4.1m) could run amok in the continent’s tertiary competition but recent results (and off-field developments) have soured the mood at Selhurst Park.

LIVERPOOL

A 3-0 win over Marseille this week has the Reds well placed to finish in the top eight of the Champions League.

Arne Slot’s troops are currently fourth, level on points with third-placed Real Madrid, but while it’s unlikely they will drop into the play-off spots, it’s not inconceivable.

A home game against Qarabag has to be considered a favourable match-up but not to the extent Liverpool’s best performers can be rested from the get-go.

It’s more probable that Hugo Ekitike (£4.8m), Dominik Szoboszlai (£4.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.3m) will only get to rest their legs once the result is beyond doubt.

Liverpool’s upcoming double header of Bournemouth and Qarabag is an appealing one on paper taking the context of both fixtures into account.

MANCHESTER CITY

Incredibly, Pep Guardiola’s side are the only English team outside the top eight of the Champions League table after seven matchdays.

A dismal defeat to Bodo/Glimt meant they slipped to 11th and so they may need a comfortable win over Galatasaray and other results to go their way if they are to swerve the play-offs.

Truthfully, Dream Team managers would quite like two additional Man City fixtures in February as there could be healthy returns on offer.

Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and company will need to sort themselves out though as Gameweek 20 was nothing short of a horror show.

NEWCASTLE

The Magpies are level on points with Chelsea, Man City and five other teams ahead of a tense showdown next Wednesday.

Whereas most Premier League teams have relatively friendly opponents, Eddie Howe’s side are scheduled to face PSG in the French capital.

Newcastle are certainly capable of upsetting the holders but a place in the play-offs is a plausible outcome — the fact Bruno Guimaraes (£5.6m) is currently an injury doubt doesn’t help matters.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

A 1-0 loss to Braga means Sean Dyche’s mob will almost certainly add a Europa League play-off to their schedule next month.

If things go wrong at home to Ferencvaros next Thursday, Forest may even finish in the bottom half of the table which would result in a slightly more difficult draw.

Elliot Anderson (£3.9m) was shown a straight red card in Portugal, meaning one of the few viable players in the squad (from a Dream Team viewpoint) is no longer a smart selection for Gameweek 21.

Forest’s play-off might yield some useful points but gaffers hoping to make the most of the Europa League in the long term should look to Villa Park from March.

TOTTENHAM

Improbably, Spurs are doing rather well in Europe.

Thomas Frank is under huge pressure on the domestic front but his side have mustered 14 points from seven Champions League games this season.

Like Liverpool, the North Londoners have every right to be hopeful of a stress-free progression to the last 16 but must be wary of complacency next Wednesday, when they will face Frankfurt.

Spurs have performed better away from home this campaign so they won’t mind a trip to Germany.

Combine this with a league game against struggling Burnley and Gameweek 21 could be productive for Pedro Porro (£4.4m), Cristian Romero (£3.7m), Xavi Simons (£4.1m) and company.

It’s vital Dream Team managers recognise the significance of next week’s results.

Gameweeks 24 and 25 will look very different depending on which English teams have European play-offs to fulfil with the potential for some juicy double headers.

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