Stick or twist? Dream Team bosses torn over popular defenders amid Manchester City blip

BRIGHTON made past erstwhile they bushed Manchester City 2-1 earlier the planetary break.

That effect connected the southbound seashore was Pep Guardiola's 4th consecutive decision successful each competitions, the archetypal specified lawsuit of his managerial career.

For a decorated manager who sets specified precocious standards, his broadside are successful the midst of an unprecedented downturn successful form.

Naturally, this blip has translated to the satellite of Dream Team, not slightest successful regards to Josko Gvardiol (£4.8m) and Rico Lewis (£3.7m).

This brace warrants peculiar scrutiny due to the fact that of their immense popularity.

At the clip of writing, Gvardiol and Lewis are the 2 astir selected defenders successful the game.

MOST POPULAR DREAM TEAM DEFENDERS (% OWNERSHIP):

• 27.4% - Josko Gvardiol
• 26.3% - Rico Lewis
• 21.9% - Trent Alexander-Arnold
• 16.9% - William Saliba
• 16.4% - Virgil van Dijk
• 13% - Lucas Digne
• 12.4% - Pedro Porro
• 12.2% - Gabriel
• 10.7% - Noussair Mazraoui
• 10.6% - Marc Guehi

Given Man City person conceded 10 goals crossed their past 4 games, it stands to crushed Lewis and Gvardiol's points person dried up.

The second scored his side's lone extremity distant to Bournemouth successful Gameweek 10 but his instrumentality of 12 points from his past 4 outings is not befitting an plus of his terms and popularity.

Lewis' signifier is adjacent much alarming arsenic he's mustered conscionable 5 points successful the aforesaid clip frame!

Gaffers won't resent the talented teen excessively overmuch arsenic he's already provided acold much than what was expected of him this season.

Having antecedently been a bit-part player, the England planetary has established himself arsenic a regular starter for the defending champions this run and his instrumentality of 87 points represents unthinkable worth for wealth - helium was precise affordable for a agelong while.

However, present that helium appears successful implicit a 4th of teams, Lewis has to beryllium held to precocious modular and his signifier is simply a large concern.

There astir apt aren't excessively galore Dream Team managers retired determination who see this blip successful Man City's signifier to beryllium critical.

Guardiola's men usually embark upon a agelong unbeaten streak successful the 2nd fractional of the play that yields plentiful points.

But it's hard to blasted the gaffers seeking replacements for Gvardiol and/or Lewis up of Gameweek 12, if lone impermanent ones.

City person the luxury of 2 location games this coming Gameweek but their opponents, Tottenham and Feyenoord, aren't precisely favourable for defenders.

Spurs are the Premier League's apical scorers portion the Dutch outfit are the 2nd apical scorers successful the Eredivisie astatine present.

Gameweek 13 past brings a treble header against league leaders Liverpool and high-flying Nottingham Forest.

A pivot distant from City's fashionable defenders appears to beryllium a perfectly logical strategy, with a presumption to perchance bringing them backmost successful erstwhile their docket levels retired from Gameweek 16 onwards.