Clarification on Dream Team Gameweeks over festive period – don’t get caught out by schedule quirks

DREAM TEAM managers need to be aware of the schedule throughout the festive period.

Gameweeks typically run from Friday night or Saturday morning until Thursday evening but there are some quirks to be aware of in the coming weeks.

Gameweek 16 contains a full round of Premier League fixtures to be played over the weekend followed by eight games on Boxing Day (Thursday 26th December) as well as two more the day after (Friday 27th December).

Usually, those Friday night games would kickstart the following Gameweek but to simplify things, the two fixtures due to take place on 27th December — Brighton v Brentford and Arsenal v Ipswich – will be included in Gameweek 16.

Simply put, all 20 teams will play twice in Gameweek 16 and just once in Gameweek 17 – this is the most important point for gaffers to bear in mind.

Looking ahead to January, Gameweek 18 is also little unusual because of a quirk in the FA Cup scheduling.

The majority of the FA Cup third round games will take place in Gameweek 19 but three fixtures have been scheduled for the preceding Thursday and will therefore be part of Gameweek 18.

Sheffield United v Cardiff is irrelevant in the context of Dream Team since it’s a meeting between two Championship sides but points will be scored during Everton v Peterborough and Fulham v Watford.

This means the Toffees and the Cottagers are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 18.

And they won’t be alone since the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals are scheduled for Gameweek 18 — four of the following teams will be involved: Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, Brentford.

All teams except Everton and Fulham will then double up in Gameweek 19 when a full round of Premier League games follows in midweek after the bulk of the cup action.

If that all seemed like a word scramble, here’s a concise summary.

DREAM TEAM FESTIVE SCHEDULE:

• GAMEWEEK 16: All 20 teams play twice
• GAMEWEEK 17: All 20 teams play once
• GAMEWEEK 18: Everton, Fulham and Carabao Cup semi-finalists play twice, 14 other clubs play once
• GAMEWEEK 19: All clubs except Everton and Fulham play twice

UPCOMING GAMEWEEK DEADLINES:

• GAMEWEEK 16: 11am Saturday 21st December
• GAMEWEEK 17: 1pm Sunday 29th December
• GAMEWEEK 18: 11am Saturday 4th January
• GAMEWEEK 19: 6:30pm Friday 10th January

The schedule is subject to change, as Dream Team bosses recently discovered when the Merseyside derby was postponed on the morning of the game, but you can always check consult the Match Centre if in doubt.

You’ll have other things on your mind in the coming weeks but remember to stay on top of all things Dream Team as there will be plenty of points on offer.