THE longest international break of all time (citation needed) is almost over.
Gameweek 6 gets underway this Saturday lunchtime with Arsenal v Leeds and so it’s time for Dream Team managers to refresh their memories.
We have compiled the best XI of the season so far, using total points as the determining metric.
Goalkeeper
- Jordan Pickford (£4.1m)
Everton’s No1 has kept five clean sheets in seven outings across the first five Gameweeks of the campaign, including three in a row prior to the break.
And Pickford has had to work for his clean sheets as he ranks joint-fourth for saves and joint-first among keepers for bonus points.
This all adds up to an impressive total of 50 points, 11 more than than his closest rivals: David Raya (£5.4m) and James Trafford (£3.3m).
Defenders
- Lewis Hall (£4m)
- James Tarkowski (£3.8m)
- Maxim De Cuyper (£3.8m)
Newcastle’s left-back leads the way in his position with a whopping 58 points.
His incredible ability to earn bonus points (15 and counting this season) makes him a special asset in the world of Dream Team.
However, Hall’s owners will be concerned about the Magpies comparatively light schedule from Gameweek 6 onwards.
Everton’s tight defence is evidenced again by the presence of Tarkowski, who has amassed 54 points.
The grizzled 33-year-old has contributed a goal and an assist on top of his defensive duties.
As for De Cuyper, he’s been a cheat code.
Brighton have been plagued by injuries in attack at the start of this season, which makes the fact they are the Premier League’s top goalscorers at this stage even more remarkable.
The Belgian wing-back has been deployed as an emergency left winger, with tremendous results.
De Cuyper (51 points) has repaid Fabian Hurzeler’s faith with two goals and three assists in six outings, while also benefiting from three clean sheets as he’s categorised as a defender.
Midfielders
- Cole Palmer (£5.6m)
- Pascal Gross (£3.7m)
- Morgan Rogers (£5.7m)
- Rayan Cherki (£5.3m)
- Bruno Fernandes (£7m)
Chelsea have conceded far too many goals under Xabi Alonso to date but they look good in attack.
Palmer (67 points) has scored four goals and provided two assists while Rogers (57 points) has three goals and five assists to his name since his big-money switch from Aston Villa.
A lack of European fixtures will surely hinder the Blues once the action resumes but their two star midfielders’ combined tally of 124 points over the first five Gameweeks is an outstanding return.
35-year-old Gross has arguably been Dream Team’s MVP of 2026/27 so far.
Brighton’s midfield maestro has offered immense value for money through four goals and four assists for a return of 60 points.
If Gross starts the Seagulls’ upcoming Conference League games then he may even become the game’s leading points scorer.
Cherki and Fernandes complete the five-man midfield with 55 points each.
The latter earned 29 points in one fell swoop with a hat-trick against Ipswich in Gameweek 2.
Whereas Manchester City’s talented No10 has been more consistent with goal contributions against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Norwich and Sunderland.
Both playmakers will relish their Champions League commitments this month.
Strikers
- Erling Haaland (£8.8m)
- Thierno Barry (£2.5m)
The price difference between our two forwards tells a story.
Haaland’s success is almost taken for granted these days as the game’s most popular player by a huge margin.
The Norwegian poacher has plundered 68 points via seven goals and is the top performer overall — which is about par for the course given the sky-high standards he’s set for himself.
In contrast, Barry has been the very definition of a surprise package.
Everton’s No11 scored eight goals from 41 in all competitions in 2025/26 but has raced to five goals in his first seven appearances this season.
Granted, a hat-trick against Preston in the Carabao Cup helped a lot, providing 29 of his 59 points, but he’s looked threatening in the league from the get-go.
The handful of gaffers who took a punt on Barry as a bargain option have been handsomely rewarded.
How many of these players will still be among the best XI come the November international break?
Only time will tell.
