There are plenty of good captaincy options this gameweek. We’ll be looking at some premium options, an in-form differential, and a punt worth taking.
Please bear in mind that at time of publication there are still x6 GW32+ matches to be played.
Premium options
Kevin De Bruyne (10.7m) Vs SOU (A)
Who else than the highest scorer, and most owned asset. De Bruyne is the most consistent player in the FPL with 9 goals and 17 assists. He can assist from corners, score from free kicks and penalties, assist from crosses, score from 30 yards out, score from 5 yards out, I could go on.. That, coupled with the fact that Southampton have managed only 2 clean sheets at home all season, makes sticking with a trusted option all the more appealing this week.
Pep roulette will always cause rotation worries, and it’ll be interesting to see how many minutes he plays against Liverpool on Thursday evening. If he doesn’t play the full 90 you can almost guarantee he starts on Sunday, and, if there is one player Pep, and we, can rely on, it’s KDB. If you’re ahead in your mini leagues and want a reliable captain, Kevin is your man.
Mohamed Salah (12.7m) Vs AVL (H)
Salah scored 11 points in his first game back since the restart and it was as though he’d never been away. The lack of Anfield crowd appear to have had no effect on Liverpool and Salah’s fine home form. Liverpool have scored 2 or more goals in each of their 6 home games of 2020, with Salah returning in all of them. Much like KDB, Salah is a reliable asset who rarely blanks when his team are on form.
In contrast, Aston Villa haven’t kept a clean sheet away all season, and whilst Liverpool have been consistently scoring two goals at home, Villa have conceded at least two goals away, against all of the other teams in the top 7. A devastating stat for Villa fans, who will eye that as a key reason for their inevitable fate.
With the title wrapped up, Klopp could be tempted to rest his key men and give opportunities to veteran squad players who require extra matches to gain a PL medal, and some young prospects, with an eye on next season. Salah though, if started, could deliver a potentially mouthwatering points return and is well worth a consideration. Sadio Mane is also worth a look-in, and if you have one or the other, either could score big.
Bruno Fernandes (8.7m) Vs BOU (H)
Manchester United host a Bournemouth side who have lost each of their last seven away matches in the premier league, shipping 15 goals along the way.
Fernandes, has an average of 8.1 points per match since joining United, and offers an under-priced alternative to the likes of Salah, KDB and Mane. His presence in FPL has become a must for most managers, and his arrival has transformed United’s attacking prowess. He has consistently been able to pick up points with his eye for creating chances, an innate ability to score goals, and having become the concrete penalty taker in the team, he offers a bit of everything.
He appears to be an untouchable starter, having started against Brighton, despite a full 120 minutes at Norwich. His departure on 63 minutes, on Tuesday night, also indicates that Ole was keen to give him a rest before Saturday.
Despite his 23.82% ownership, as few as 3.44% as a whole captained him in GW32+, and 7.02% in the top 10k. This is likely to be a reaction from his previous blank, however, and it’s important to note that with his performance against Brighton and the perceived easier fixture, his captaincy percentages are likely to soar in GW33+.
If you are chasing in your mini leagues, or looking to move up the rankings, a bigger punt may be required.
Raul Jimenez (8.3m) Vs Ars (H)
Those who captained Jimenez in GW32+ (a whopping 31.7% in the top 10k) will still be licking their wounds, and may wish to look to another asset this week. However, he’s still in the top 3 points scorers for forwards, thanks to his 15 goals, and will fancy his chances against a leaky Arsenal defence.
He got a goal and 3BPS in the return fixture, and consistently plays a pivotal role in the wolves attack. He’s a player who is nailed on to start, given Wolves’ week off, and his fresh legs come up against an arsenal team who’ll have to recover within 3 days.
One stat worth considering is that of the 15 goals Jimenez has scored this season. All but one have been scored whilst Adama Traore has been on the pitch. With Traore starting on the bench Vs Villa, and a week of recovery, you’d expect Traore to start against Arsenal. This could potentially open up Jimenez’ chances of returning.
If you did captain Jimenez last week, just remember, a player always hauls when you start giving up on them, so keep the faith. Wolves have won 3 in 3, and are viably chasing a champions League place, particularly given that City’s spot could be handed to 5th place if they lose their appeal with UEFA. They have it all to play for, and if Wolves are to be successful in their quest, you can guarantee Jimenez will have a hand in it.
Differential (C)
Danny Ings (7.3m) Vs MCI (H)
In-form Ings had a blistering GW32+, scoring twice and rewarding his owners (25.8%) with 13 points. Many have questioned his ability to continue his fine form with the likes of City, Everton and United up next.
Ings’ stats suggest that he is able to carve out points with little opportunity. He scored 2 goals from 2 shots on target against Watford, and 1 goal from his only shot on target against Norwich. Those who have watched Southampton’s matches will know that the team as a whole have returned as one of the physically fitter teams, and Ings himself has looked hungry and sharp since the restart.
Hasenhuttl has confirmed that Ings will start their remaining games of the season, to support his bid for the golden boot, and so, whilst many assets are at risk of rotation, Ings is a sure starter.
Manchester City’s defensive fragilities which have hampered their league form this season, were again at the forefront in their loss at Stamford Bridge. With both goals coming from defensive mistakes, and with Fernandinho banned, their defensive woes look set to continue. Added to that, Southampton will have seven days rest before facing City, whilst the likes of Laporte and Otamendi will play their third match in the same time frame.
Whilst many managers are airing on the side of caution on keeping Ings, let alone giving him the armband, his form, coupled with City’s defence, could result in differential delight.
A punt worth taking?..
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.8m) Vs AVL (H)
If you’d have suggested placing the armband on a defender at the start of the season I’d have laughed in your face. Yet, the potential for clean sheets, assists and goals from the young Liverpudlian is an opportunity that is becoming hard to avoid.
Trent has delivered double digit hauls in six gameweeks, which in itself doesn’t sound spectacular. Yet, when you consider Liverpool only kept two clean sheets in their opening 15 games of the season, it’s a pretty impressive feat. Trent has gained a whopping 119 points in his last 15 gameweeks, in comparison to 68 gained in his first 16, and sits third in the rankings across all positions.
The revival of Liverpool’s defensive capabilities have enhanced Trent’s offering, but it’s his attacking prowess that put him above the rest. The defender has 14 assists, second only to KDB, and has the ability to get the odd goal from free-kicks, as we saw against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool come up against a Villa side who have only picked up 2 points from 12 since the restart, and failed to score against typically trusted defenses in Sheffield United and Wolves. Off the back of the title confirmation, you’d fancy Liverpool to blow Villa away, and if they do, Trent is guaranteed to be in on the action. A clean sheet, combined with an attacking return would see you reaching double digits. A defensive captaincy pick gives you the opportunity to gain points both from defense and attack, and if you are chasing in your mini-leagues, it could prove to be a vital strategy to make up some ground on your opponents who are likely to be making safe picks.
There are many captain choices this week, and it’s an extremely difficult yet important decision to make at this time of the season.
If you are happy and confident with your current ranking, play it safe and choose a premium pick, in form, with an easier fixture.
If you are looking to push on or make up ground, now is the time to take those risks and choose the differentials.
Whatever decision you make, go with your gut and enjoy the ride. The FPL agony is nearly over, and we’ll miss these decisions when it’s gone.
FPL_LiverGirl 